Taku River flood peaks at 43 feet

The annual Taku flood peaked Thursday evening, and cabin owners say it wasn't too bad.

Each year, two lakes dammed by the Tulsequah Glacier breach and flood the Taku River. In 2004, Lake Nolake's outburst took the river up to 45 feet and flooded the banks on which some 40 cabins sit. That was the record flood, and 2007 was nearly as high.

Large debris floats down in these floods, endangering docks or boats. The water becomes a lot colder, and at high water levels, cabins flood or float downstream themselves.

"The threat is that when it floods like that, the banks get eroded, and these huge trees fall down into the river and just go flying," said Robyn Paul, whose husband went out to the Taku River on Thursday to check on their cabin.

He reported that the river peaked at about 6 p.m. that day. Weather forecasters had worried the flood might last longer and reach major flood stage, but they said such things are tricky to predict.

The water had risen to 43 feet, which is "moderate" flood stage, U.S. Geological Service gauge data shows. That was the peak, though.

Cabin owners tend to be prepared for the annual event, but never know how much to expect.

Paul said it was a relief that the flooding was over.

"Hopefully that's it for the year," she said.