Gun shows and possible major developments in the MSB.

I’ve been a little derelict in mentioning gun shows over the past couple of months, but we’ll attempt to correct that oversight right now. The Matanuska Valley Sportsmen’s shooting range is hosting a gun show at Raven Hall, on the state fair grounds in Palmer, this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 19th and 20th.

They have over two hundred tables available and all proceeds from the show go toward the MVS range development and supporting the shooting sports. They are also sponsoring an online raffle for a Ruger 10-22 rimfire rifle. Go to the Frontiersman website to enter. Entries are limited to one per day per person and you must be at least 18 years old to enter.

It’s rare that I miss attending a gun show, but I haven’t been to one yet this year. I’m having a challenging time walking any distance because of my ankle, so I’ve just stayed home. I’ll be seeing an orthopedic specialist later this month to find out what can be done to alleviate the ankle problem. I’m hoping in a year or so, I’ll be back to my hunting and fishing endeavors and able to walk pain free.

Let’s switch gears and look at a few local development projects that appear to be moving ahead in the Mat-Su Borough.

The first is the West Susitna Access Road. This one-hundred-mile-long road access project would run from the Point MacKenzie area and head west, across the Susitna River and create access for a mining development and other associated activities. If this road is built, it would open a pristine wilderness area to various recreational, tourist, hunting, and fishing activities in a currently fairly inaccessible area.

The state is pushing to eliminate the Recreational Rivers Act to make this road construction easier, since the projected path of the WSAR would cross something like 156 rivers and streams, requiring several bridges and many culverts. This road would run right through a large area of the most productive salmon habitat in the Mat-Su Borough.

On a separate but related issue, the Governor has resurrected the Recreational Rivers Advisory board. The purpose of this board is to consult with the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources in preparing, adopting, and revising the recreational river management plan and regulations affecting use and management of the recreational rivers.

The Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) is proposing to construct and extend a powerline north of Wasilla and toward the Willow area. One proposed route runs primarily along the road system and on existing rights-of-way. The MEA-favored route would cross a lot of undeveloped land, again destroying wild land habitat.

The last item I want to mention is a proposed Susitna Valley Gas Exploration License. There are two extensive areas west of the Susitna River where these potential explorations could occur.

I’ve seen a letter written in 2017 by the Willow Area Community Organization requesting that certain areas within the defined boundaries of the proposed exploration area be excluded from the exploration because of population densities, and established land use patterns.

The letter states, in part, “WACO’s Willow Area Community Comprehensive Plan (2013) reflects how highly the community values recreation, natural resources, and a rural lifestyle. The plan encourages economic growth through tourism, by ‘maintaining stream quality and views that support recreation’ (p. 34), and by ‘maintaining the rural character of the community.’ (p. 34). Oil and gas exploration would threaten the recreation-based economy and the rural lifestyle of its residents.”

There are other folks who object to the proposed oil and gas exploration because of potential environmental damage and because the whole situation is not well known and understood in the public sector. Folks want more time to learn about and comment on this process.

If you live in or near any of these listed projects, it will behoove you to learn as much as possible about them so you can have meaningful input in these projects as they develop. Your objection to any or all these developments, if that’s how you view them, would need to be voiced in a timely manner as well.

I’ve had no direct contact with any of the principals involved with any of these development scenarios, so I can’t give you specific direction on who to contact to find out more. Obviously, a call to MEA should land you information on that extension. A call to the Borough’s Planning Department should also help you gather some information, or at least, get you pointed toward someone who can supply information.