Chena River Flood Control

Chena River Flood Control. . , The 1967 flood in Fairbanks made one thing clear-the city and nearby Fort Wainwright needed better flood control., Planning Ahead , The Chena River has a history of flooding, but the damage from the 1967 flood was so extensive that it prompted Congress to pass a national flood insurance program. Planning for a flood control project began and a diversion dam on the Chena River was selected in conjunction with a levee on the Tanana River. A lab in Oregon built scale models to study different scenarios of water velocity and flow in order to best protect both the community and the fish., Laying the Groundwork , The United States Army Corps of Engineers acquired land for the Moose Creek Dam 17 miles east of Fairbanks on the Chena River and the Fairbanks North Star Borough acquired land for the Tanana River levee. Construction began in 1973 and, by 1978, a 20.7-mile levee and 8.1-mile dam comprised the largest federal civil works program in Alaska and the northernmost flood risk management project., Recreation Benefit , New recreational opportunities emerged as a bonus to the protection that the new flood control project offered. The depressions formed by gravel removal for use in the dam construction became the center of activity on 20,000 acres of public land. Biking, camping, fishing, swimming, paddling, cross-country skiing, dog mushing, and snowmachining are just some of the ways people can enjoy the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project every day, not just when it floods., Background photo: During 1992, Moose Creek Dam held back floodwaters., [Photo captions, top to bottom, read] , . Engineers work on the Moose Creek Dam model in the lab in Oregon., . A dozer piles gravel during construction of the Moose Creek Dam., . The popular Chena Lake Recreation Area is part of the 20,000 acres set aside for public use.