Alaska's Glacial Lakes Expand, Flood Risk Increases
Alaska's glacial lakes are expanding rapidly, increasing the risk of outburst floods, particularly from Suicide Basin, a glacier-dammed lake near Juneau. A study found that these lakes are growing about 120% faster on average than they did from 1986 to 1999, with projections indicating they could become more than four times larger as glaciers continue to melt. In response to nearly 15 years of damaging floods, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering a costly solution to create a permanent drain from Suicide Basin, with initial cost estimates ranging from $613 million to $1 billion.