Matanuska

temperature in Butte


	“Where the Matanuska Flows” There’s a beautiful vale in Alaska, Where a laughing river flows, Framed by the mountains majestic Its beauty their grandeur enfolds.... Excerpt from “The Colorful Matanuska Valley” by Don L. Irwin (c) 1968

	150 truck loads of rock is all it takes initially and another 150 loads next year to ensure the stability of the banks and the safety of Butte residents. 150 truck loads of locally available rock will repair & replace a 20x20x150’ section of the dike that’s been eaten away by the Matanuska since 1985.

	Residents are concerned. The record rains of 2010 eroded the Matanuska River dike and revetment between Maud Road and Ye Olde River Road. The parking lot and access road to the dike are gone. There are two feet of ground left between the Matanuska and the drainage ditch that goes to the Old Glenn Highway and will allow the waters of the Matanuska to flow into the most densely settled area of our community. (August 18-19, 2010 photos (c) by Christine and Clint Nelson.) Clint and Christine Nelson’s letter and photos as submitted with the petition. Email them or call Encore Mechanical 746-2705 if you’d like to help distribute the petition or find out where to sign it.






			Mark your Calendar: September 21, 6:00 Mat-Su Assembly Hearing on Matanuska River Management Plan. Call MSB 746-7439 for Details


	Here is a letter by another resident to a federal organization which he wrote since local and State of Alaska Agencies admit that there is concern but that no repairs would be made. The answer to this letter is below.

August 19, 2010
To: customerservice@americasflood.com
Hello America’s Flood Services, Inc.,

I am writing to let you know what’s happening here in Palmer, Alaska. The Matanuska River has a history of flooding and there are several dikes and revetments that, somewhat, hold this river in check.

After a solid month of rain though, the river has lately been eroding it’s way behind a revetment that was built in the mid 1980’s. It’s trying to take the same path it did when it flooded in 1971.

Some maintenance on the revetment is what’s needed here but residents are being told there is no money available. They are also being told there is lots of money available for disaster relief so it would seem the current mindset is to do nothing until the problem is so big it cannot be ignored.

Water levels are receding now but without the required maintenance on the compromised revetment it’s very possible the river could flood again. Current estimated value of homes and buildings in the Butte, the area downstream of that revetment that would be affected, is reportedly $143 million.

I don’t know how many of those buildings are insured by you but that sounds like a pretty big hit that could be avoided.


	From: FEMA Correspondence [mailto:recovery-hq@mailps.custhelp.com] Based on the information you provided, the answer below has been prepared for you. August 24, 2010 Dear Mr. .... Thank you for sharing with FEMA the letter from Butte Area Residents Civil Organization Inc. to a State legislator concerning road and dike repair in its area. As a part of two recent disaster declarations in Alaska, DR-1865, declared December 18, 2009, and DR-1843, declared June 11, 2009, all boroughs and Regional Educational Attendance Areas in the State of Alaska are eligible to apply for assistance under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. *This program assists State and localities in mitigating against damage from future disasters*. You may wish to contact your local Office of Emergency Management to determine if it has sought HMGP funds to address any eligible components of your issue. Best wishes in coping with any future disasters. Sincerely, Richard Barnes FEMA Disaster Recovery Directorate

	The above correspondence lead to our inquiry into a FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant. Working with both the Mat-Su Borough and the Alaska Disaster Office towards submitting an application, we were told the sad truth that, for various reasons, our “plugging the dike” project to avert erosion and flooding didn’t meet the grant’s perimeters.

	Local Media covers the stories of the neglected dikes: http://www.adn.com/2010/08/31/1433820/along-old-glenn-highway-homeowners.html http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2010/08/30/local_news/doc4c79fbc609ddb777826264.txt http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-valley-commission-considers-flooding-081610,0,3365608.story http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2010/08/30/opinion/letters/doc4c7769e8005dd654342506.txt http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/490413/permanent_fix_elusive_for_ravenous_matanuska/index.html

	BACKGROUND:

	August 10, 2010, was the anniversary of the 1971 flood, as reported in “The Frontiersman” newspaper. Several measures were taken in the past to protect the community of Butte from a similar disaster as the flood of 1971, including dikes, revetments and a levee which were allowed to deteriorate. Some of these structures are now gone, leaving the community open to the Matanuska breaching its banks. Here is a report from 2003 of the status of the river, its dikes and revetments, and simple measures - such as regular maintenance - which should have been taken since to keep the Matanuska in its banks - Published by US Army Corps of Engineers. Here is a map of how much of its bank the Matanuska River had whitttled away over the years. The map also shows the location of the revetments and dikes. BUTTE FLOOD MAPPING Includes most everything you may want to learn about local flooding issues, including elevation data, studies and reports and recommendations which were ultimately ignored.