The National Park Service and the University of Washington will collaborate in a project to estimate the current and near-future outburst flood potential from the Nisqually Glacier and associated downstream hazards along the Nisqually River and the Longmire work area. Recent survey data indicates that lower glacier ice velocities are slowing down to an alarming level. Stagnant ice is strongly associated with destructive summer j?kulhaups (glacier outburst floods). J?kulhaups usually turn into highly erosive and damaging debris flows, as they course down glacier-sourced rivers. They can produce flood peaks greatly in excess of floods from precipitation events. The only time Longmire, a major visitor and work center next to the Nisqually [...]
