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Tongass Home » About the Tongass » Hubbard Glacier
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2003 Update
Glaciologists predict that Hubbard Glacier will block Russell Fiord again, but they cannot predict when. Hubbard Glacier, unlike most glaciers in North America, is predicted to continue to advance for the next century.
Hubbard’s advance will eventually block the entrance to Russell Fiord, creating a large ice-dammed lake. At that time, Russell Fiord could drain southward into the Situk River drainage, affecting this important world-class fishery and inundating national forest and private land. The economy of Yakutat could be affected because the Situk River is the main sport, commercial and subsistence fishery in this community.
Hubbard Glacier may continue this cycle of blockage and dam breakage, as occurred in 1986 and 2002. However, it is possible at some point, the ice dam would remain stable. Should a stable ice dam form, and if the lake level rises to an elevation of about 135 feet, water would overflow at the southern end of the lake into the headwaters of the Situk River. The Situk River is a world-renowned steelhead and salmon stream.
The Yakutat Ranger assembled a team of resource specialists to review reports done in 1986 and to evaluate the need for additional inventory. Since it is likely that the glacier could close again in the near future, the District is continuing to plan for this event. Additional work includes updating topographic maps, more refined floodplain modeling in the Situk watershed, additional cultural resource inventories, and assessing options for infra-structure protection (roads, trails, cabins).
Because of the cultural, environmental and economic consequences of Russell Lake draining into the Situk River, citizens and officials of the community of Yakutat, as well as representatives of several State and Federal agencies, are showing keen interest and concern about the behavior of Hubbard Glacier.
The glacier originates in Canada and is mostly on National Park Service land; however, the fiord and potential impacts of a blockage are all on lands of the Tongass National Forest. The lands immediately surrounding Russell Fiord lie within Russell Fiord Wilderness.
USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest Accessibility Statement
Last Modified: November 21, 2007