Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Fish Passage Program

Fish Passage Maps

Across the country, millions of barriers fragment rivers, which block fish migration and put communities at higher risk to flooding. Improving fish passage is one of the most effective ways to help conserve vulnerable species while building safer infrastructure for communities.

In the Borough, 586 culverts have been surveyed regarding fish passage.

  • 33% are likely to pass juvenile and adult salmon
  • 62% may be some kind of salmon barrier
  • 5% still need to be assessed

Trail Care Program

In order to maintain the hundreds of miles of trails in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the borough is partnering with trail user groups to maintain and improve trails throughout the area.

Green Infrastructure

Linking Landscapes and Communities

What is Green Infrastructure?

Green Infrastructure is an interconnected network of protected land and water that supports native species, maintains natural ecological processes, sustains air and water resources and contributes to the health and quality of life for our communities, people and wildlife.

Why Green Infrastructure?

What Goes into Green Infrastructure?All across the country, open spaces and natural areas are being altered and fragmented so they no longer effectively protect air, soil and water quality, nor can they adequately provide wildlife habitat or recreational opportunities.  In rapidly growing areas of the Mat-Su Borough, green infrastructure elements can easily be lost or negatively impacted if not included in community planning and land conservation efforts. Using a green infrastructure approach in community planning, land and water conservation efforts can be strategically planned in coordination with local communities to protect natural systems and the benefits they provide.

Green Infrastructure Benefits

  • Provides space for recreation, trails and outdoor activities
  • Protects wildlife habitat & migration corridors
  • Filters pollutants from entering water bodies
  • Maintains working lands and farms
  • Absorbs stormwater & reduces costs for man-made drainage systems
  • Connects public facilities (schools and parks)
  • Prevents soil erosion and sedimentation of water bodies
  • Reduces global warming
  • Increases opportunities for active transportation(biking and walking)
  • Attracts tourists and tourism business
  • Provides flood prevention & mitigation

 

Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch promotes neighbors helping neighbors for security and to fight against crime in the community. Neighborhoods participating in the program are identified by “Neighborhood Watch” signs that let everyone know that trained eyes are watching out for the safety of residents and their property.

Interested residents need to contact the Alaska State Troopers for more information. The Mat-Su Borough is no longer the point of contact for this program.

Tips for Discouraging Criminals

  • Do not leave valuables visible in sight (in your house or vehicle).  A wallet, purse, cell phone, gun or jewelry near a door or window can be irresistible to a thief.
  • All entry doors to your home should be equipped with dead bolt locks. If your door has a window in it, the lock should be keyed on both sides.
  • Equip your home with security lights.
  • Do not leave your doors unlocked, or your house unattended, even for a short time. The thieves are opportunists who have victimized our neighbors in situations where the opportunity presented was quite brief, during the day.
  • Lock all ground floor level windows at night.
  • Keep a cell phone nearby to be certain you can contact law enforcement in event of an emergency.
  • Be alert. If you see something suspicious, REPORT it to the police!

Tips for Protecting your Valuables

  • Write down your serial numbers. So simple, yet often neglected.
  • Keep a copy someplace else: bank safety deposit box, or with a trusted family member or a friend. Why? Because if you home burns, floods, or is otherwise destroyed,  your only copy will be gone too.
  • Engrave your drivers license number on tools and equipment without serial numbers. This will help you identify what is yours without question.
  • Photograph and/or video the items everything, especially items which don't have serial numbers or can't be engraved: jewelry, furs, china, paintings, artwork, or other heirlooms. Keep a copy on hand, and another in the bank or off site. This can help you document items to the police or insurance company in case of theft, fire, flood or other destruction.

Traffic Data Program

Traffic data is now published to an interactive ArcGIS map which can be found here.
 
Traffic data consists of timestamped geolocation data that indicates the speeds and directions at which vehicles are moving on a particular roadway or area. Traffic data has uses in traffic management applications for smart cities, mapping, navigation and route planning, and location intelligence.

Traffic data collection is a worldwide activity used to determine current traffic patterns and help predict future traffic trends. Our goal is to be a trusted source of data, information and maps for transportation decision-makers.

NOTE: Data not adjusted for seasonal variances.

Data

Traffic Count Datasets


Traffic Count Maps

 

What are Traffic Counts?

What are traffic counts, and what are they used for?

Traffic volume counts are basic to all phases of highway development and operation. No other single reference tells an engineer as much about a road as the number of vehicles which use it. Traffic volumes are needed for street and highway project development, financing considerations, project cost-benefit comparisons, project priority determinations, analyzing, monitoring and controlling traffic movement on roadways, traffic accident statistics, research purposes, street and highway maintenance, public information, highway legislation and other public and private purposes.

NOTE: Data not adjusted for seasonal variances.

 

Other Websites of Interest

  1. Recycling
  2. Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program