TALKEETNA NEEDS A WATER TANK....BUT NOT IN THE FRONT STREET BEAR TRAIL WOODS WIPING OUT THE WOODS, TRAILS, & ACCESS UPDATE: DNR has progressed to the preliminary decision phase to convey the Bear Trail acreage to the Matsu Borough but the land has not yet been conveyed. DNR awaits  "Requests for Reconsideration" from anyone who sent in comments on the initial Public Notice. Please send your updated comments of you want to avoid the $200 fee to me and I will consolidate the comments.  Anyone of the 18 people who submitted comments  is invited to put in comment for "Request for Reconsideration" . My email:  Andrea@skybluerent.com.   Please add your contact information and I'll submit payment and file for these comments comprehensively by Tuesday afternoon, (July 14th)  contact info. still remains anonymous on their public site.

A couple points you may want to keep in mind are: 

 Evaluation of Reasonable  more adequate Alternative Sites (remain and upgrade existing site,  explore other valid sites presented to the borough/test well site)
Adequacy of DNR's Evaluation of Existing State Interests  (Trails, Recreation, Wildlife Tourism)
Adequacy of DNR's Evaluation of Public Health and Groundwater Suitability  (Floodplain, nearby septic source protection separation requirements, applicable DEC guidance AS 38.05.035(e)
Existing Public Recreational and Economic Interests 
Alaska Constitution, SMP, Talkeetna Comprehensive Plan 

NO WATER RESERVE FOR FUTURE FIRES, AND EMERGENCY WATER SHUTOFFS? 

By not starting this water tank project at the current site now,  Talkeetna citizens and visitors could wait up to 3 years for a  storage tank on this property (Ref: DNR's recent response) leaving the town without water in a fire or water shut-off emergency.  The Borough could have already completed this project as they refuse to construct at the present site because they simply don't like leasing from the railroad as they have for decades. They have been reportedly sitting on multiple federal grant money up to $9M in federal grants to spend for a tank that costs $1.5M.  They DO NOT NEED TO OWN THE LAND as claimed. They can continue to lease from the Alaska Railroad and get this project completed.   If the Matsu Borough gets this property,  due to septic distances, local opposition, the Talkeetna Comprehensive Plan, they will discover they can't use this 1.4 acres ONLY AFTER they clear out the woods and trails for permitting and testing.  The Talkeetna Community  will be left with a field of old growth demolished dead trees and a gravel parking pad at best.  They are disregarding and not listening to what  the Talkeetna Citizens and business owners are pleading with them not to do.  Keep the Community's vision and the keep the qualities that does not eliminate Talkeetna's  historical walking town. 

 

Preserve the 1.4 acres Woods on Bear Trail Front Street in East Talkeetna!  Block 26 Lot 3 & 4

Barbed wire fences will block access to town trails for  for these wooded trails. DNR lots  Talkeetna, Alaska and are under threat of being torn down making room for the construction of a 375,000 steel gallon tank by Matsu Borough along with a relocation of the current facility. This heavily wooded 1.4 acre property on the 100-year flood zone sits in the back yard of the old Family-Run Swiss Alaska Inn and across from the Boat Launch Campground. These woods have documented Native Burial Grounds and would level the old Birch & Spruce woods down to gravel to squeeze this facility between the back yards of “The Swiss”  and Trailside Cabins. There are private septic systems within 50 feet on each side of this proposed  DNR property.  It is also the only narrow dirt road in and out of the Boat Launch for Mahay's & Tri-River Phantom Charters, & Trailside Cabins.

Construction - Block 26 Lot 3 & 4:  The project that has been submitted and has moved to preliminary stages for DNR to convey it to the Borough for destruction of the woods. The project consists of  approximately a 375,000-gallon steel tank, a new Water Facility, (currently on C street out of sight downtown),  large (and loud) Generator/Diesel Tank and all enclosed by chain-link fencing and a parking lot. Please sign to support remaining at the existing location where there is ample room (roughly two acres) to add the tank and consider upgrading the current facility or explore VALID alternate locations that we have listed. Let's not eliminate these woods and town trails disurb the Historical Grounds and infringe on properties & long-time family businesses, including the Swiss Alaska Lodge where visitors walk on the town trails and thousands will  unnecessarily be subjected to the industrial eyesore, traffic,  and noisy facility of  this industrial site instead of the  natural environment that is Talkeetna. 

UPDATE: DNR has progressed the preliminary phase to convey this land to the Matsu Borough but the land has not been conveyed yet. We are in the "Reconsideration" state. 

Concerns: Negative Visual Impact, Eliminates the trails  and corridor trail for locals & visitors,  Disturbing Native Historical Sites,  Economic Impact, and Diminishes the unspoiled experience visitors come to Talkeetna to find.

Please email John.king@alaska.gov to submit your opinion.  One sentence has a big impact👍🐻.  Be sure to get confirmation from DNR  that it was received. 

 

Solutions: 

#1 Add the tank & upgrades at the existing location.

#2 Use the test-well site (w/ good  arsenic levels)

#3 Choose an alternate, less impactful location. 

 

More information can be found here:  

https://matsugov.us/data/ProjectDetail.html?id=60527b64-8c1a-414d-90bc-ae201f1e3906