Preventing Overflow Conditions and Potential Spring Break-up Flooding on Nutirwik Creek on the Dalton Highway and the Importance of Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Staff Observations in Assessing Hydrologic Conditions on Transportation Corridors

Author: Michael R. Lilly, Geo-Watersheds Scientific; Ken Monzulla, Tim Fickus, and Gordon Scott.

Video Presentation

Abstract

Nutirwik Creek is located along the Dalton Highway, Alaska. It drains a significant watershed and has bridge crossing structure. Nutirwik Creek flows into the Dietrich River downstream of a bridge crossing. During winter months, groundwater discharge to Nutirwik Creek supports winter baseflow conditions. Previous summer rainfall in the Nutirwik Creek watershed, early-winter snow cover condition and low temperature conditions will influence how overflow icing, or aufeis, is formed in streams and drainage structures along the Dalton Highway. This is also an area of very limited basic weather (including rainfall) and stream flow data and information. Similar to remote village elders in Alaska, seasoned M&O operators can provide important observations to help better understand hydrological trends and conditions. This information can help inform design efforts for hydrologic structures, future weather and hydrologic monitoring locations and other aspects of maintaining transportation corridors in the remote regions typical in Alaska. The presentation will show examples of current conditions and runoff control activities for Spring 2026.

Citation

Please use the following citation when citing this presentation: