Matanuska River continues to gnaw shoreline

July 26, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - The raging waters of the Matanuska River continue to chew away prime shoreline real estate in Circle View subdivision, taking a nearly 100-foot bite out of several properties there earlier this month.

Now Mat-Su Borough officials say the problem is only getting worse.

"We are experiencing aggressive river erosion from the river right now," Borough Manager John Duffy said in a release. "The unusually high water levels this season have had a serious effect on erosion rates."

Duffy said one home there has lost more than 60 feet of property and its owner is working on moving the house before losing it to the river.

"We're working with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to try and get emergency relocation funds to assist in the move," Duffy said. "That's about all we can do for them right now."

Life along the river has been scary since 1991, when the wandering water began to eat away at the shore. Residents on the banks of the Matanuska are helpless, only able to listen and watch as their property washes away.

"More of it's going downstream every day," longtime Circle View resident Ron Thornsley said of watching the river swallow land last week. "It's unsettling, to say the least."

Thornsley, who has lived on the shore of the river for 34 years, is determined to stay.

"I'll be here until it forces me out, or I die, one of the two," Thornsley said. "For three decades, I've watched the river slowly tear away at my land, I'm not ready to move just yet."

With the aid of the state and borough, residents were able to slow the erosion by building four large dikes along the shore. But, according to Thornsley it was those dikes that led to the recent loss of land.

"When they installed dike three it was about 50 feet too short," Thornsley said. "And then they put in dike four and several large rocks, which just slowed the water and it took the land where the fifth dock is to be installed.

"Right now, the dikes are just moving the erosion down the river," he said. "Where it is happening now is 100 yards from where it was last year."

Duffy reported that in addition to the danger to property owners, that electrical transmission lines are again likely to fall victim to the eroding river.

There is about 100 feet of high ground left before an area where the river may breach. Should it breach, the water will flood low ground near the transmission line.

"We have contacted both Matanuska Electric and Chugach Electric and have advised them of the situation," Duffy said. "We have also advised the relevant state agencies about the erosion."

The borough has consulted with the Palmer Water and Soil Conservation Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service about some temporary measures to halt potential erosion. They are considering a self-launching rip rap system as a means to control the erosion in the same vicinity where the erosion is presently occurring. This method involves placing large rocks (one to three tons each) on the river bank, which fall into the river when the current erodes the bank and it collapses into the channel.

The danger with that plan is that it could possibly accelerate the erosion or shift it to developed areas or both. Due to the questionable results of the concept, the very high potential of actually worsening the scour, and the high expense ($135,000) have eliminated the proposal from consideration.

The borough last week received a proposal from Wilder Construction to build dike five. That contract will be on the assembly agenda for its Aug. 2 meeting if members can identify a funding source to make up a budget shortfall of $86,000.

"We're looking at building the fifth dike, but that is not enough," Duffy said. "It will help, but it is no way the final answer. Ideally, the river would need five or six more dikes in the area."

Duffy said the borough has requested funding for the additional dikes from U.S. Rep. Don Young, but is still waiting.

"We're doing what we can to help the residents along the river," Duffy said. "But it is not a borough problem. We don't have the authority to address erosion. The state is the ultimate authority when it comes to river erosion. We're willing to work with them in any way we can."

Contact Darrell Breese at 352-2267 or darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.