Timeline from 1970-1997
Project Features of Moose Creek Dam (Chena River)
Length-8.1 miles
Height - 50 ft. (above streambed)
Width - 24 ft.
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Tanana River Levee - 20.7 miles
Height - 10 ft. (average)
Width - 12 ft.
(USACE.website)
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Project Usage: This project provides protection to Fairbanks and adjacent areas, including Fort Wainwright, from recurring flood damage from the Chena and Tanana Rivers. In addition, the project is a popular recreational area averaging 133,000 visitor days of use per year since 1993.
Progress of Work:
Planning began on Moose Creek Dam in 1970 and the Moose Creek Dam was operational by 1979, however, major channel work was not completed until 1980. The project had one step to be considered finished. An 8.1 mile Levee along the Tanana river needed to be completed by pouring a groin (concrete grouting) along the levee on the side of the Tanana river. This work would continue until its completion in 1985. Settling and other problems plagued the dam but it did hold several high water events successfully in 1986. The dam has construction projects ongoing most all of the time because of the nature of the soil and the area’s climate. Cold winters with hard freezes challenges maintenance crews to keep up with the repairs that are needed.
Costs of the Moose Creek Dam and other improvements to the Chena River Project
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Since the completion of the dam, additional work was required to modify the emergency and spare gates and guides for the lock gate. The upper section of racks designed to collect trash from the river were shortened to keep them from extending above the service deck of the structure. The Chena River Lakes Project was in full operation during the additional completion of work.
Relief wells were installed downstream of the dam’s stability beam. This was done to vent pressure and movement of groundwater passing beneath the dam during impoundment situations. No major deficiencies were found during a periodic inspection in 1997. The Chena River Flood Control project had an "environmental review guide for operation" assessment and was given good marks by the reviewers (USACE.army.mil)“The University of Alaska-Fairbanks completed the fourth and final year of the fish migration study through the dam, and the fish wheels furnished by the Corps for the study were pulled from the Chena for the final time (usace.army.mil).” “Chena River Staff and various organizations and volunteers undertook a number of habitat enhancement projects. Moose browse in select locations was increased using a vegetation crushing technique utilizing heavy equipment; grouse habitat was improved through several timber stand improvement projects; and a water feature was reshaped and manipulated for waterfowl habitat. Through a cooperative effort with the Wildlife Society, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and the Corps, the project saw the addition of 50 cedar nesting boxes for golden eye ducks. These nesting structures will become the basis of a long-term study to determine the reasons for the dramatic decline in this species numbers on a national scale (usace.army.mil).”
A reimbursable service agreement with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks helped Chena River become the Alaska district’s leader in the use of geographic information system technology and applications. The Alaska District covers also is responsible for the areas of Hawaii and Japan.The first salmon watch brought in 3,600 visitors and exhibited the project’s efforst to develop and highlight wildlife viewing as a recreational activity. Almost 150,000 visitors were counted during 1997 in the Chena River Project. The same year over 2,000 volunteer hours were clocked with an estimated value at 1997’s dollars of $27, 780 (usace.army.mil)The visitor kiosk was manned throughout the recreation season by four sets of volunteer hosts who performed visitor assistance, maintenance duties and passive security work. The project’s volunteer host program is already a nationwide model for other Corps projects with no shortage of applicants from across the country (usace.army.mil).
Sources
ALASKA DISTRICT. US Army Corps of Engineers. Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project. Retrieved July 29, 2018, from http://www.poa.usace.army.mil/Locations/Chena-River-Lakes-Flood-Control- Project/
US Army Corps of Engineers. Headquarters. Beginnings. History of the Corps of Engineers. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from Corps/Beginnings/
https://www.usace.army.mil/About/History/Brief-History-of-the-Corps/Beginnings/
US Department of Commerce, & NOAA. (2018, January 08). Fairbanks Flood of 1967 Walking Tour Brochure. Retrieved August 1, 2018, from https://www.weather.gov/aprfc/FairbanksFlood1967