Chugach Census Area, Alaska
A shallow water table limits basements on 29% of Chugach Census Area's mapped land. 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. 52% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1979.
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 Chugach Census Area
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.0% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 29.2% |
| Septic fields very limited | 80.5% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 0.3% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.0% |
| Mapped soil | 9,427,594 acres |
What the numbers mean here
On 29% of Chugach Census Area'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: 153.11 in, 2.76 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 155.87 in.
USDA rates 80% 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 Chugach Census Area since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 155.87 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 153.11 in (-2.76) |
| 2025 | 152.64 in (-3.23) |
| Wettest year since 1925 | 1928: 255.24 in |
| Driest year since 1925 | 1950: 100.93 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at CORDOVA M K SMITH AP (26 mi away) | 22.6 |
Homes
| Housing units | 3,922 |
| Median year built | 1979 |
| Built before 1980 | 52% |
| Built 2000 or later | 15% |
| Owner-occupied | 64% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $346,200 |
| Single-family detached | 53% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Municipality, AK | 114 mi | 0% | 28% |
| Copper River Census Area, AK | 131 mi | 3% | 37% |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK | 164 mi | n/a | n/a |
| Yakutat City and Borough, AK | 201 mi | 0% | 23% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | 209 mi | 0% | 39% |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK | 252 mi | 0% | 62% |
| Denali Borough, AK | 253 mi | n/a | n/a |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK | 289 mi | 0% | 56% |
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