Visual Stories

Photos: Matanuska River flooding threatens homes

SUTTON -- With the Matanuska River swamping his property, Terry Van Wyhe spent Monday moving a historic building out of the water's path and applying for flood insurance.

The river, swollen with glacial melt since last weekend and carving sandy banks like butter, already sent one home and a half-dozen buildings at the Luch property toppling into the water near Mile 64 of the Glenn Highway just east of Sutton. Three more homes were in imminent danger Monday.

In all, seven properties are at risk as the river has devoured 50 to 60 feet of bank in the past week -- as much as 150 feet over the years in total -- in what's become an annual erosion event pinned to summer melting of the Matanuska Glacier and runoff from rain-swollen tributaries.

READ MORE: As Matanuska River threatens more homes, residents push for government help

ADVERTISEMENT