Short-Term Erosion Mitigation Projects

At last week’s stakeholder coordination meeting on Talkeetna’s ongoing erosion and flooding problem, they decided to undertake four short-term erosion mitigation projects. 

These projects include airstrip repairs, property buy-outs, Talkeetna Spur Road erosion mitigation and a new evacuation plan. 

The Mat-Su Borough and the Talkeetna Airmen’s Association are working together to repair the airstrip. They expect the project to take place this winter, when water levels recede. Borough Public Works is managing the repairs, funded by state emergency management assistance.

MSB is also working to facilitate buy-outs of affected private properties near the Spur Road. According to Borough Manager Mike Brown, the primary goal is to get property owners out of harm's way, including financially. The buy-outs could eventually transfer the land to the state right-of-way. MSB aims to complete this project in the next nine months or by next summer. After the meeting, Brown signed a grant agreement for a non-federal match to help fund this work.

The Alaska Department of Transportation created a plan to place about 300 feet of riprap in the right-of-way to protect the Spur Road. The Department of Fish and Game and the Corps of Engineers approved the start of this work. Eventually, a long-term federally funded protection plan is anticipated. 

Finally, MSB and Alaska’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management are working on an evacuation route. They are evaluating a road to connect Beaver Road and Old Comsat Road. This would provide an alternate route out of Talkeetna and a way in for emergency vehicles if the Spur is impassable. The new road would be used primarily for emergencies. 

The Borough is also developing additional long-term solutions to protect from further erosion and flooding.