Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska
A shallow water table limits basements on 34% of Bristol Bay Borough's mapped land, a higher share than 52% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 0%.
None of the county is in drought on the November 3, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list no flood losses here since 2016. 38% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1985.
Data as of November 3, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, November 3, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Bristol Bay Borough
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.0% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 34.0% |
| Septic fields very limited | 69.0% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 1.2% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.0% |
| Mapped soil | 440,600 acres |
What the numbers mean here
On 34% of Bristol Bay Borough's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 24.66 in, 2.81 in above the 1991-2020 average year of 21.85 in.
USDA rates 69% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the November 3, 2026 map. No part of the county was in drought in the last 52 weeks.
| Category, November 3, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 0% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Bristol Bay Borough since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 21.85 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 24.66 in (+2.81) |
| 2025 | 25.61 in (+3.76) |
| Wettest year since 1925 | 1935: 31.43 in |
| Driest year since 1925 | 1959: 11.57 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at KING SALMON (14 mi away) | 0.7 |
Homes
| Housing units | 798 |
| Median year built | 1985 |
| Built before 1980 | 38% |
| Built 2000 or later | 13% |
| Owner-occupied | 54% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $245,800 |
| Single-family detached | 80% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK | 49 mi | n/a | n/a |
| Dillingham Census Area, AK | 72 mi | 0% | 61% |
| Kodiak Island Borough, AK | 132 mi | 0% | 27% |
| Bethel Census Area, AK | 187 mi | n/a | n/a |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 199 mi | 0% | 39% |
| Aleutians East Borough, AK | 306 mi | 0% | 11% |
| Anchorage Municipality, AK | 315 mi | 0% | 28% |
| Kusilvak Census Area, AK | 323 mi | n/a | n/a |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 5, 2026) · US Drought Monitor (November 3, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status