It is notable for being a severe flooding hazard due to the volume of summer glacier melt and its frequently changing course.

[2] The channel of Kautz Creek is very steep and narrow, because it has eroded through the relatively soft material that the lahars and mudflows have deposited.

The creek is notorious for its history of severe floods and mudflows.

On October 2 and 3, 1947, heavy rains triggered a jökulhaup (glacial lake outburst flood) from the Kautz Glacier- the largest flood after the establishment of the park.

The flood (similar to a volcanic lahar) moved 40,000,000 cubic metres (1.4×109 cu ft) of earth and boulders of up to 13 feet (4.0 m) in diameter for 6 miles (9.7 km).