Years of efforts to clean up Jim Creek paying off

PALMER — Years of cleanup efforts by local volunteers and outdoor activists have come to fruition as Jim Creek and the Knik River Public Use Area have seen marked improvements in safety and access to trails and outdoor recreation opportunities. The Mat-Su Borough held a ribbon cutting on May 26 for the new maintenance facility. The Department of Natural Resources leases an office in the brand new building and it will also provide a base for Alaska State Troopers in the area. The efforts from community members and outdoor enthusiasts have seen the riverbed in the Butte go from a party destination full of trash to a family friendly environment for all who wish to recreate there on fourwheelers, fat bikes, horses, runners, and 4x4 drivers.

Three miles of beginner ATV loops have also been put in as part of the cleanup efforts. An 18-site RV park now sits at the trailhead to the Knik Glacier with 28 camp sites, a service that had not been previously offered in the area. The new MSB maintenance facility also bolsters the Borough presence in the Butte. The previous facility in Palmer was farther away from many trails that require maintenance than the new facility.

Three-and-a-half dumpsters full of trash were collected in this year’s cleanup by volunteers. The number of trash bags and burned out cars that have been removed from KRPUA has significantly decreased in recent years with efforts to make the area a more friendly environment for those who wish to recreate in the area safely.

Patrick Rowe has been president of Alaska Extreme Fourwheelers for six years, and has been using the area for 12 years. He makes a trip out to the Butte monthly, and has been instrumental in the efforts to clean up the area.

“It is absolutely night and day,” Rowe said. “When I first came out, there was garbage, trash, partying, burned out vehicles... It went from being a really trashy part of our neck of the woods to really clean safe and fun place to be.”

Clark Cox is the Regional Manager for DNR. He has taken part in cleanups for 18 years and seen the commercial availability of ATV, helicopter and boat tours increase as the area has progressed.

“To me, it demonstrates the progress,” Cox said. “We’ve moved forward. That shows the evolution of the area how much safer it’s become. Those cleanups are an integral part. We need those good community members, no matter where they come from, to get involved, spend the day picking up trash and contribute to the overall good.”