View Drive Flooding

Overview

The neighborhood of View Drive has experienced significant flooding from annual glacial lake outburst events. Following a technical and engineering analysis, the US Army Corps of Engineers determined that temporary flood barriers (i.e. HESCO barriers) are not an effective community solution for View Drive due to soil stability, home elevations and other considerations. As such, the USACE is not authorized to provide temporary flood protection for this area.

CBJ is pursuing other flood mitigation options for View Drive residences, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Program. 

NRCS Emergency Watershed Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP) a recovery effort aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural disasters. All projects must have a project sponsor (typically a local or Tribal government). NRCS may bear up to 75 percent of the eligible construction cost of emergency measures (90 percent within limited-resource areas as identified by the U.S. Census data). The remaining costs must come from the project sponsor.

  • In May 2025, CBJ formally requested federal assistance from NRCS through the EWP program, specifically for the protection and remediation options for the low-lying properties in the area of View Drive that have experienced repeated flood events and are most likely to experience flooding from future GLOF events. The NRCS identified property buyouts as an eligible solution for the area, and conducted Damage Survey Report to identify estimated costs (see below).
  • At the October 30, 2025 Special Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting, the NRCS presented on the buyout process available to View Drive homeowners via the Emergency Watershed Protection program, including the scope, potential cost and parameters of the program. View the details presentation slides, meeting recording, and other meeting materials from the October 30 Special COW here.

Damage Survey Report

The NRCS prepared a Damage Survey Report (DSR) for the View Drive Recovery Buy Out project scope estimated through the Emergency Watershed Protection program. Read the Report.

Latest Updates

3/09/2026: The Assembly approved a motion for CBJ to enter into a formal agreement with NRCS to participate in the View Drive buyout and to draft an appropriating ordinance for up to $558,000 for appraisals and project cost estimates. An amendment was also approved allowing staff to draft the ordinance with funding options from either the General Fund or Emergency Reserves, with the final funding source to be determined later by the Assembly. You can view the Assembly meeting materials and recording here.

2/23/2026: The results of the informal ballot submitted by View Drive residents were presented to the Assembly at the February 23 Assembly Committee of the Whole Worksession. You can find the associated memo here.  You can view the Assembly meeting video here.

1/07/2026: At the January 7, 2026 Assembly Finance Committee Meeting, the Assembly directed staff to distribute an informal ballot to View Drive residents. The ballot asked residents whether or not they would like to participate in the buyout program and be willing to pay the project cost share (25%) associated with their respective properties. Ballots were due on February 16. 

View the detailed presentation slides, meeting recording, and other meeting materials from the January 7 Assembly Finance Committee Meeting here.

10/30/2025: At the October 30, 2025 Special Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting, the NRCS presented on the buyout process available to View Drive homeowners via the Emergency Watershed Protection program, including the scope, potential cost and parameters of the program.

View the details presentation slides, meeting recording, and other meeting materials from the October 30 Special COW here.

Contact Us

  • To comment, provide input, or for general project inquiries, please email [email protected]