Glacier’s Ice Dam Ruptures

The Hubbard Glacier ice dam finally ruptured today, sending pent-up water pouring from the freshwater lake that had become home to marine mammals trapped by the advancing ice four months ago.

Helen Clough, a spokeswoman for the Tongass National Forest, said that the ice dam began failing shortly after midnight and that at last report, the level of newly formed Russell Lake had dropped by about 30 feet. Clough said it was not yet known if any of the trapped porpoises managed to escape when the ice dam failed.