Flood in Tanana Valley, Alaska

Heavy rain over the central Tanana Valley on August 12th and 13th (1.2 inches to 2.4 inches) caused flooding on a number of rivers. The Chena River at Mile 40 Chena Hot Springs Road reached flood stage the afternoon of the 13th, and continued high until the morning of the 17th. Meanwhile, the Chena River at the Moose Creek Dam reached flood stage the morning of the 15th at 24.5 feet, the dam thereafter limiting the height of the crest during the next 44 hours before receding. The Salcha River had the highest water in 14 years; it reached flood stage early on the 14th (14.0 feet) and crested at 16.9 feet; flood duration there was 49 hours. The Tanana River at Fairbanks crested at 24.8 feet, just 0.3 feet above flood stage, and stayed above flood stage for 6 hours. The Tanana River at Nenana crested at the flood stage of 12.0 feet, then began falling after one hour.