Following the 1972 Matanuska River Flood, the dikes that were built prevented the river from crossing the Old Glenn Highway. They lasted 40 years, even though they were barely maintained. Unfortunately, even though the legislature (thanks to Bill Stoltze) appropriated funds for repair/rebuild several years ago, the Mat-Su Borough reallocated these funds for other purposes. 
These dikes not only protected the land owners who live along the Matanuska, but also protected the majority of property-tax-generation structures in Butte, as well as Butte School.