The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – Alaska District in partnership with the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) will begin the first phases of the Phase 2 HESCO barrier project installation along the Mendenhall River during the week of March 16, 2026. USACE contractor Sealaska Constructors will be leading the work, which will begin with bank armoring along Clinton Drive and move south along the unprotected areas of the river. The public is asked to avoid the construction area for their safety and the safety of workers, residents and property owners.
In late October 2025, USACE accepted CBJ’s request for USACE Public Law 84-99 Advance Measures Assistance to provide technical assistance and temporary flood protection against the increasing future glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) at 100% Federal cost with no cost to the Public Sponsor (CBJ). The Advance Measures scope will include riverbank armoring and installation of temporary (HESCO) flood barriers to construct a fortified, complete temporary flood barrier along the unprotected, populated riverbank areas of the Mendenhall River – referred to as Phase 2 – prior to July 15, 2026.
USACE is also providing technical assistance for the repairs, fortification, raising, bank armoring and other associated items related to the Phase 1 HESCO flood barrier installation to continue to protect against the increasing GLOF events. CBJ is responsible for the implementation and construction of the work with its contractors. Mobilization of Phase 1 HESCO barrier repairs will begin later this month for completion by July 2026. The estimated cost of the Phase 1 repairs will be funded by an Assembly transfer of funds from the Capital Civic Center project and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation State Revolving Fund Loan.
CBJ’s Engineering and Public Works department has spent the six months since the last major GLOF event documenting damage, analyzing impacts and utilizing the latest available hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to develop plans to raise, repair and reinforce the existing Phase 1 HESCO barriers. The goal of this ongoing work, in coordination with the USACE, is to ensure that these critical but temporary flood fighting projects provide as much protection as practicable until a longer-term solution is in place.
CBJ project managers have and will continue to coordinate directly with property owners and impacted residents along both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 project areas. More information about flood fighting, flood emergency preparedness and the pursuit of an enduring solution is available at bit.ly/CBJGLOF.
For more information about the Phase 1 and Phase 2 HESCO Barrier Flood Fighting projects, please contact floodresponse@juneau.gov.