A lawsuit could alter the Mendenhall River levee project, but construction continues

HESCO flood barriers line the Mendenhall River on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Clarise Larson/KTOO)
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Tensions over a levee that’s taking shape in backyards along Juneau’s Mendenhall River have come to a head, with one homeowner filing a lawsuit against the city seeking to exempt his property or be paid for it. 
Win or lose — city officials say the levee will go up. 
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