Juneau leadership changes in fishing industry and flood mitigation talks

Thatcher Brouwer has been appointed as the new executive director of United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA), the state’s commercial fishing trade association. A Juneau fisherman with over 20 years of experience in the industry and a background in the state legislature, Brouwer succeeds Tracy Welch. His leadership begins during a critical period for fisheries policy, as the Board of Fisheries prepares to address finfish issues in the Lower Cook Inlet, Kodiak, and Upper Cook Inlet.

In Juneau, the local Assembly is evaluating funding strategies to mitigate the risk of a catastrophic glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF). City manager Katie Koester reported that officials are considering borough-wide funding, such as bonds or the creation of a flood control district, to protect commercial and public infrastructure. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to provide a cost estimate for an emergency water conveyance prototype system by spring or summer 2027.