The Matanuska River has been damaging this summer. It has washed several homes down the river along with septic systems and fuel tanks. There’s a foul smell in the air today along the Old Glenn Highway. Just this morning there was a steady stream of flotsom running down the middle of the river including building materials with nails sticking out and wires hanging off.
It didn’t have to happen this way. At one time, local contractors mined the river for gravel. They were able to take gravel out of the river in the winter and sell it the next summer. This could easily be done again and would serve to guide the river away from the populated banks.
Instead, “the powers that be,” will not give a permit to touch the riverbed. I’m really not sure who is responsible for holding back the permits but I’m sure the land owners would love to receive some ability to protect their property. I don’t believe it is the government’s job to protect these properties, but they should not prevent the homeowners from doing what they can to save their homes.
