About the Matanuska River Watershed
What the Coalition is Working to Preserve
Castle Mountain Fault and Earthquakes
Chickaloon Coal Field- UPDATE!
The Matanuska River watershed is 2070 square miles in size, stretching over 90 miles eastward from Palmer to Eureka Summit, bounded by the rugged Talkeetna Mountains on the north and the coastal Chugach Mountains on the south.
The Matanuska River finds its way from the toe of the Matanuska Glacier to its confluence with the Knik River through 80 miles of wide flat valleys and steep rock canyons.
Along the way, the river channels bend and braid as the water volume and sediment loads change with the seasons.
River rafting, bird watching and hiking are popular summer activities along the Matanuska River with adventure around every corner.
The upper sections of the river provide whitewater excitement as the glacially fed river squeezes between lateral moraines and the massive Lion Head formation.
The Glenn Highway, a National Scenic Byway, is the only major road through the watershed providing scenic views for travelers coming into Southcentral Alaska.
The watershed is home to the Matanuska Valley Moose Range and is a main route for trumpeter swans, raptors and waterfowl on their annual migration to and from Alaska.
Rich, fertile soils deposited over the years by the wind and Matanuska Glacier make the Matanuska Valley the most productive agricultural land in the State of Alaska.
With the combination of long daylight in the summer and loess (wind-deposited soils) Matanuska Valley farmers grow world-record sized vegetables, the most famous being the giant cabbages.
The above text is taken directly from the Matanuska River poster created by the Palmer Soil and Water Conservation District with support from the National Resources Conservation Service.