Best Practices Federal Emergency Management Agency / Region 10

Disaster Mitigation Working in Kasilof River Road Relocation

Kenai Peninsula

Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska - The Kasilof River gains strength as it approaches its destination at . This is very busy and popular river for salmon and trout fishing, but it periodically causes trouble by ris- ing two to four feet above it’s banks. In recent years the Kasilof has under- encroach onto private property. $187,500.00, or about $54 / foot of mined a boat launch, scoured out pe- new road), and fund the project Fortunately, a better route through destrian foot trails and, during the through the FEMA Hazard Mitigation upland terrain with a relatively flat 2002 flood disaster, ultimately Grant (HMGP) Program. topography was available. Another brought “the end of the road” to the happy circumstance was that the new Develop engineering proposals. river bank portion of River Road. roadway could be constructed along a Select engineering consultant. The need to re-locate that section of public easement (section-line) that roadway was evident after studying was owned by the State of Alaska. Develop bid documents. the alternatives. Abandoning it entire- All of the stars were in alignment, ly would leave 19 residential lots Bid the project. but what would it take to turn com- (with 9 developed) without access. plete a safe, durable, Kenai Penin- Award the contract. Repairing the damage and providing sula Borough certified and main- erosion protection along approxi- tained roadway along this conven- Track administrative expenses. mately 2,000 feet of riverbank would iently located public easement? be very expensive in order to design a Construct the project. fish habitat friendly project. Plan project and secure funding. Survey; Clear and grub site, Remove Even if erosion control measures such The Kenai Peninsula Borough worked organic material under proposed road as placement of rock or root wads with the Federal Emergency Manage- prism; Excavate where needed; Lay were feasible, future floods would ment Agency (FEMA) Public Assis- 36’ wide geotextile fabric over silty almost certainly bring additional tance Division, and the Alaska Divi- subgrade; Install culverts in strategic damage. The existing road was not in sion of Homeland Security and Emer- locations; Place and compact 36” of a dedicated right-of-way, so widening gency Management (ADHS&EM) to gravelly fill; Abandon, obliterate and after each erosion event would plan, estimate the cost (approximately seed the old roadway. Go Fishing! This Publication was produced by FEMA Region 10 Mitigation Division and Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management