Heavy equipment digging on Greenbelt Trails

PALMER — The Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension center is undergoing test excavation for possible gravel extraction sites. The farm surrounding Mat-Su College and extending across the Greenbelt Trail system became a topic of discussion at last week’s Assembly meeting. Assembly member Stephanie Nowers asked Governor Dunleavy’s Mat-Su Office Director Todd Smoldon what could be done from the Governor’s office about the test excavation.

“I was really disappointed to see that the Matanuska Experiment Farm, the University of Alaska is looking at graveling that farm space and that would be a very short term gain and cost of some real long term potential,” said Nowers. “That is a real resource for us and that whole area is a real resource beyond farming. There’s lots of people that use that trail system and that’s an asset for drawing people to our Valley.”

The excavation began on Aug. 3 and will test two areas for possible future gravel extraction, one existing gravel pit in the core area that would not affect public access and a 70-acre tract close to the eastern border of the property that would run adjacent to trails. In a post on the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center Facebook page, staff wrote that excavation will be ongoing for weeks and a drill rig will test subsurface conditions in nine boring locations.

“The assessment work is being done in response to budget reductions and a request from the University of Alaska Board of Regents that universities find ways to generate revenue for their property. As part of that effort, UAF has decided to evaluate the gravel resources at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center,” reads the post.

The pits will be filled in after testing and staff warns those using the trails to be cautious for heavy equipment in the area.