Tyonek Tribal Conservation District

PURPOSE: SUSTAINING NATIVE VILLAGE OF TYONEK'S SUBSISTENCE SALMON THROUGH FISH PASSAGE BARRIER REMOVAL IN WEST COOK INLET, ALASKA RECIPIENT: TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT RECOMMENDED FEDERAL FUNDING*: $3.8 MILLION CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT(S): AK-001 SUMMARY: TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT, A TRIBALLY-GOVERNED NON-PROFIT WITH REPRESENTATION FROM THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF TYONEK AND THE TYONEK NATIVE CORPORATION, WILL RESTORE SPAWNING AND REARING HABITAT FOR ALL FIVE SPECIES OF PACIFIC SALMON BY REMOVING FOUR FISH PASSAGE BARRIERS IN WEST COOK INLET. THIS WORK WILL BENEFIT THE ENDANGERED COOK INLET BELUGA WHALE, A NOAA SPECIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT, WHICH PREYS ON SALMON. IT WILL ALSO HELP PROTECT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE RELATED FLOODING AND SUBSEQUENT ROAD WASHOUTS.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR RURAL FOOD SECURITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

THIS GRANT WILL ADDRESS THREATS ON THE COOK INLET CHINOOK SALMON POPULATION, A SALMON STOCK OF CONCERN FOR SPORT, COMMERCIAL, AND SUBSISTENCE FISHERIES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS FINANCIAL AWARD IS TO ERADICATE CHINOOK SALMON PREDATORS AND MODERNIZE DATA COLLECTION THAT INFORMS FISHERY MANAGEMENT DECISIONS. HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE POPULATIONS OF PACIFIC SALMON ARE KEY TO THE U.S. COMMERCIAL FISHERIES AND TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE DOMESTIC SEAFOOD SUPPLY CHAIN. IF THIS ACTION IS NOT APPROVED, THREATS TO PACIFIC SALMON WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE, THERE WILL BE A REDUCTION IN FISHERIES-RELATED JOBS, A REDUCTION IN ACCURATE DATA AVAILABLE TO FISHERIES MANAGERS ON WHICH TO MAKE DECISIONS, REDUCED FI SHING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE COOK INLET OF ALASKA, AND AN ECONOMIC LOSS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

TYONEK FISH PASSAGE 2021

TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT TTCD REPRESENTS A LARGE LAND BASE IN SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA ON WESTERN COOK INLET THAT CONTAINS A NETWORK OF BOTH FISH BEARING STREAMS AND ROADS, WHICH OFTEN INTERSECT SINCE 2012, TTCD HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO FISH PASSAGE, RESULTING IN 10 SUCCESSFUL CULVERT REPLACEMENTS AS OF 2020 THE BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE SEVERAL SPECIES OF ANADROMOUS FISH WITHIN TTCD SALMON IS A PRIMARY SUBSISTENCE RESOURCE FOR TYONEK THE DISTRICT CONTAINS OVER 30 CULVERTS ON KEY RIVER SYSTEMS WITH SEVERAL DEFINED AS IMPASSABLE, INCLUDING THE CULVERTS AT THE PROPOSED PROJECT SITES THEREFORE, ADDRESSING FISH PASSAGE BARRIERS IS A PRIMARY CONCERN FOR TTCD AND THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF TYONEK NVT ADDRESSING FISH PASSAGE IS OUTLINED IN TTCD S WATERSHED ACTION PLAN AS A PRIMARY CONCERN, AS WELL AS NVT S LONG TERM ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN WITH THIS PROJECT, TTCD PLANS TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE TYONEK CREEK CULVERT LISTED AT THE HEAD OF THEIR PRIORITY LIST AK DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 20601540 WITHIN THIS AGREEMENT, TTCD WILL FACILITATE THE COMPLETION OF ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING WORK, MANAGE THE RFP FOR CONSTRUCTION, AND WORK TOGETHER WITH USFWS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CONDUCT SITE VISITS

THE TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT WILL SUPPORT THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF TYONEK IN CONDUCTING ACTIONABLE SCIENCE TO GUIDE PLANNING FOR RESTORATION IN THE CHUITNA RIVER. THEY WILL COLLECT AND ANALYZE INFORMATION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAUSES OF THE DECLINE OF CHINOOK SALMONA KEY TRIBAL SUBSISTENCE RESOURCEIN THE RIVER. THEY WILL ALSO WORK TO PROTECT EXISTING SALMON HABITAT, IDENTIFY KEY SPAWNING LOCATIONS, AND CONDUCT YEARLY SURVEYS OF SALMON NESTS.

TYONEK YOUTH CONSERVATION SCIENCE (TYCS) PROGRAM FOR ALASKA NATIVE STUDENTS

TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT (TTCD) PROPOSES TO REPLACE A CULVERT BLOCKING 15 MILES OF SPAWNING AND REARING HABITAT ON TYONEK CREEK NEAR THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF TYONEK, A DENAINA ATHABASCAN COMMUNITY IN REMOTE WESTERN COOK INLET, ALASKA. THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF TYONEK IS RELIANT ON SALMON HARVEST FOR CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND NUTRITIONAL NEEDS. REMOVING FISH PASSAGE BARRIERS DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE SUBSISTENCE, ECONOMIC, AND NUTRITIONAL HEALTH OF TYONEK BY RESTORING STREAM HABITAT CONNECTIVITY FOR NATIVE PINK AND COHO SALMON FOR SPAWNING AND REARING LIFE STAGES. THIS WORK WILL COMPLETE A TEN-YEAR, MULTI-AGENCY EFFORT TO REMOVE ALL BARRIERS IN THE TYONEK CREEK WATERSHED, OPENING A TOTAL OF 31 MILES OF HABITAT. THE FOCUS OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE TO COMPLETE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR THE UPPER TYONEK CREEK CULVERT REPLACEMENT PROJECT, A DOUBLE BARREL CULVERT IMPEDING SALMONID PASSAGE TO 15 UPSTREAM MILES. CONSTRUCTION OF FISH PASSAGE PROJECTS IN TYONEK PRESENT MANY LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES, AS ALL CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT ARRIVE BY BARGE OR SMALL PLANE TO THIS REMOTE VILLAGE. WHILE PROJECT PARTNERS ARE USING THEIR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO ENSURE SUCCESS OF RESTORATION EFFORTS, THIS FUNDING WILL ALSO PROVIDE A CONTINGENCY THAT WILL BE USED, IF NEEDED, TO COMPLETE THE REMOVAL OF THE LOWEST BARRIER ON TYONEK CREEK, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BREAK GROUND IN JULY OF 2023. IN TOTAL, THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL COMPLETE WORK TO RESTORE FULL FLUVIAL FUNCTION AND AQUATIC CONNECTIVITY TO THIS IMPORTANT WATERSHED, WHICH IS INTEGRAL TO THE FOOD SECURITY AND CULTURE OF THIS ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITY. TTCD PROJECT PARTNERS ARE USFWS, ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, USDA-NRCS, NOAA, THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF TYONEK, AND TYONEK NATIVE CORPORATION.

FISH PASSAGE RESTORATION IN TYONEK, AK

TYONEK FISH PASSAGE IMPROVEMENTS 2026

YOUTH CONSERVATION SCIENCE PROGRAM FOR ALASKA NATIVE STUDENTS

THE TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT WILL ESTABLISH A FOOD HUB TO ADDRESS A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN THE REGIONS FOOD SYSTEM. THIS PROJECT WILL AGGREGATE PRODUCE FROM SMALLSCALE FARMERS AND TRADITIONAL FOOD PROCESSORS AND SUPPORT LOCAL FOOD HARVESTERS IN TYONEK THROUGH TARGETED ASSISTANCE. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP A REGIONAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN ENABLING GREATER ACCESS TO A WIDER RANGE OF FOOD PRODUCTS FOR THE COMMUNITY. TO ACHIEVE THIS THE PROJECT WILL CONDUCT A TWOPHASE FOOD SYSTEM ASSESSMENT METICULOUSLY EXAMINING THE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS AND BARRIERS IMPACTING FOOD AVAILABILITY AND DISTRIBUTION WITHIN TYONEK AND FOR ITS SHAREHOLDER POPULATION. THIS ASSESSMENT WILL IDENTIFY KEY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT AND FACILITATE THE GATHERING OF INPUT REGARDING THE COMMUNITYS FOOD SYSTEM PRIORITIES. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOME IS A STRENGTHENED AND MORE RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEM BETTER POSITIONED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FARMERS RANCHERS AND PROCESSORS OPERATING WITHIN THE REGION. THE PROJECT WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BY INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOD OPTIONS ENSURING GREATER FOOD SECURITY AND SELFSUFFICIENCY FOR THE BENEFICIARIES. THE TYONEK FOOD HUB REPRESENTS A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN THE REGIONS FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE INTENDED TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL STABILITY AND RESPONSIVENESS OF THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.

EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND TRAINING TO ALASKA NATIVE BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS

F14AC00752 - FISH PASSAGE ON OLD TYONEK CREEK

FES TYONEK TRIBAL CONSV DISTRICT IS MGT

TO LEVERAGE EXISTING DATA, PROJECTS, AND AGENCY RESOURCES WITHIN OUR CONSERVATION DISTRICT TO ENSURE THAT CURRENT SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION, CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS, AND PROJECTS ARE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.

NATIVE ALASKAN TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS: OUTREACH AND EDUCATION WITH USDA PROGRAMS

TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT (TTCD) IS A TRIBAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 2005 TO CONSERVE,ENHANCE, AND ENCOURAGE THE WISE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES. TTCD WORKS WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL PARTNERS TOACHIEVE OUR MISSION THROUGH COMMUNITY-DRIVEN CONSERVATION. TYONEK IS HOME TO THE TEBUGHNA, OR BEACH PEOPLE.SUBSISTENCE RESOURCES, INCLUDING SALMON, ARE A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF THE DIET AND CULTURAL IDENTITY OF THETEBUGHNA. FOR THIS REASON, PROTECTING AND IMPROVING FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR TTCD SINCEOUR FORMATION.INVASIVE SPECIES, INCLUDING NORTHERN PIKE, ELODEA, AND HIGH-PRIORITY TERRESTRIAL PLANTS, ARE SIGNIFICANT THREATSTO SUBSISTENCE RESOURCES WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND TO THE SURROUNDING FEDERAL, PRIVATE, AND STATE LANDS WHERE THESEINVASIVE SPECIES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SPREAD. TTCD HAS WORKED WITH THE US FISH WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) ANDOTHER PARTNERS SINCE 2011 TO ADDRESS THESE THREATS. MULTIPLE PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE USFWS, HAVE SIGNIFICANTLYAND EFFECTIVELY INVESTED IN FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT RESTORATION EFFORTS IN THE TTCD AREA. EARLY DETECTIONSURVEYS, RAPID RESPONSE, AND OUTREACH ON INVASIVE SPECIES ARE NEEDED TO SECURE THESE INVESTMENTS AND TO PREVENTNEW INTRODUCTIONS INTO FEDERAL, PRIVATE, STATE, AND TRIBAL LANDS.IN 2023-2026, THE TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT WILL EXPAND AN AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) PARTNERSHIPACROSS THE MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BASIN TO ADVANCE PREVENTION, EARLY DETECTION, AND RAPID RESPONSE ACROSS THE TTCD AND THE MAT-SU BOROUGH. TTCD WILL ADDRESS NORTHERN PIKE WITHIN THE DISTRICT THROUGH PREVENTION, EARLY DETECTIONSURVEYS, NORTHERN PIKE SUPPRESSION AND ERADICATION, AND POST-TREATMENT SALMON POPULATION MONITORING. TTCD WILLADDRESS ELODEA BY ADVANCING AN ELODEA WATERBODY PRIORITIZATION PROCESS AND PARTNERSHIP EVENTS TO BUILD THECAPACITY FOR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS TO ASSIST IN PREVENTION, EARLY DETECTION SURVEYS, CONTAINMENT, ERADICATION, ANDPOST-TREATMENT MONITORING. THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS AND RESULTING TOOLS WILL INFORM FUTURE IMPLEMENTATIONPLANS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND FUNDING PROPOSALS. TTCD WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE MAT-SU ELODEA TASK FORCE, CONDUCTEARLY DETECTION SURVEYS THROUGHOUT THE MAT-SU AND TTCD AREAS, AND FACILITATE RAPID RESPONSE OF INFESTATIONS. FORTERRESTRIAL INVASIVE PLANTS, TTCD WILL CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER ITS SUCCESSFUL EARLY DETECTION RAPID RESPONSEPROGRAM TO ERADICATE NOVEL INFESTATIONS ALONG THE WESTSIDE ROAD SYSTEM BEFORE ESTABLISHMENT.THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, TTCD WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION, EARLY DETECTION, AND RAPIDRESPONSE IN WESTERN COOK INLET AND THE SUSITNA BASIN TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKAS NATIVE FISHPOPULATIONS, VEGETATION COMMUNITIES, AND PRODUCTIVE AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS.

F13AC00206 - TYONEK CREEK CULVERT DESIGN AND INSTALLATION

THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO STRATEGICALLY AND AGGRESSIVELY MITIGATE FACTORS KNOWN TO LIMIT THE PRODUCTIVITY OF TYONEKS SUBSISTENCE PACIFIC SALMON POPULATIONS WHILE BUILDING A ROBUST DATABASE OF HARVEST DEMOGRAPHICS, SALMON POPULATION DATA, AND TEMPERATURE TRENDS, PROVIDING FISHERY AND LAND MANAGERS WITH THE BEST INFORMATION TO ENABLE THE PROTECTION AND CONTINUATION OF THIS VITAL RESOURCE. THE CURRENT DECLINE OF CHINOOK SALMON HAS LED THE ADF G TO DECLARE COOK INLET CHINOOK AS STOCKS OF CONCERN AND TO IMPLEMENT SPORT, COMMERCIAL, AND SUBSISTENCE FISHING RESTRICTIONS ANNUALLY. THIS REQUEST WOULD PROVIDE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO ADDRESS FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR DECLINES IN THE TYONEK SUBSISTENCE FISHERY POPULATIONS BY IMPLEMENTING INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION AND ERADICATION PROJECTS AND ADDING PERMANENT HABITAT PROTECTIONS IN CRITICAL HABITATS, WHILE FILLING CRITICAL DATA GAPS ON SALMON POPULATIONS IN WESTERN COOK INLET WITH THE FOLLOWING LONG-TERM GOALS: 1) PREVENT AND ERADICATE INVASIVE SPECIES FROM SALMON REARING HABITATS CRITICAL TO THE TYONEK SUBSISTENCE FISHERY POPULATIONS. 2) PROTECT CRITICAL RIPARIAN HABITATS ACROSS THE TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT. 3) RESTORE TYONEK SUBSISTENCE SALMON POPULATIONS.

TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT OF WEST COOK INLET, ALASKA, SEEKS TO RESTORE, ENHANCE, AND PROTECT FRESHWATER SYSTEMS AND SUBSISTENCE SALMON RESOURCES IMPORTANT TO THE NATIVE VILLAGE OFTYONEK, A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE. SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS SPP.), AND PARTICULARLY CHINOOK SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS TSHAWYTSCHA), ARE NOT ONLY A VITAL FOOD RESOURCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF TYONEK,(THE TEBUGHNA, OR BEACH PEOPLE), BUT SERVE AN IMPORTANT CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL ROLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. COOK INLET CHINOOK SALMON HAVE BEEN IN DECLINE OVER THE PAST DECADE, RESULTING IN LOWER PROPORTIONS OF CHINOOK BEING CAUGHT IN TYONEK SUBSISTENCE SETNETS. THE WEST, SUSITNA, ANDYENTNA AREAS OF WEST COOK INLET PROVIDE IMPORTANT SPAWNING AND REARING HABITAT FOR MANY OF THE CHINOOK SALMON DESTINED FOR TYONEK SETNETS, YET WATER TEMPERATURE, FLOW, AND HABITAT DATA IS SPARSE FOR THIS LARGE, REMOTE REGION. WITH ONGOING WARMING AIR AND WATER TEMPERATURES, ALTERED FLOW REGIMES, DOCUMENTED VEGETATION SHIFTS, AND INVASIONS OF NORTHERN PIKE (ESOX LUCIUS) AND THE AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT ELODEA CANADENSIS IN SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA, ESTABLISHING A BASELINE FOR IMPORTANT SPAWNING AND REARING LOCATIONS IS CRITICAL AND HELPS TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF HIGH QUALITY HABITAT FOR CONSERVATION EFFORTS. MUCH OF THE TYONEK SUBSISTENCE CHINOOK SALMON IMPORTANT SALMON SPAWNING AND REARING HABITAT FALLS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE 6.6 MILLION ACRE TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT (TTCD).TTCD CURRENTLY MONITORS FRESHWATER STREAM HABITAT WITHIN THE SMALLER TYONEK AREA WATERSHED DIRECTLY SURROUNDING THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND TTCD S SCOPE BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE TYONEK WATERSHED TO COLLECT AND ANALYZE WATER QUALITY, TEMPERATURE, WATER FLOW, FISH,AND HABITAT DATA ON STREAMS IMPORTANT FOR CHINOOK SALMON SPAWNING AND REARING ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THIS TWO YEAR PROJECT WILL IDENTIFY PRIORITY WATERSHED AND AQUATIC RESOURCE ISSUES, KEY HABITATS WITHIN DISTINCT AQUATIC SYSTEMS, ESTABLISH BASELINE WATER QUALITY, TEMPERATURE, AND FLOW MONITORING ON A TOTAL OF 8 FRESHWATER SYSTEMS IMPORTANT FOR CHINOOK SALMON SPAWNING AND REARING WITHIN THE DISTRICT, COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF FRESHWATER STREAM RESOURCES OF THE TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT, INCREASE THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF TYONEK S CAPACITY TO COLLECT AQUATIC DATA AND MANAGE THEIR FRESHWATER RESOURCES, AND DISSEMINATE DATA IN A WIDELY ACCESSIBLE MANNER USING MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND WEB BASED DATA SHARING.

TYONEK AREA WATERSHED ACTION PLAN

SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKAS BIG LAKE IS THE STATES BUSIEST INLAND BOAT LAUNCH AND THE AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT ELODEA CANADENSIS (ELODEA) WAS FIRST DISCOVERED IN BIG LAKE IN 2019. IN 2022, ELODEA HAD SPREAD UP TO FIVE MILES AWAY FROM THE SITE OF THE INITIAL INFESTATION, AND FLOATING MATS OF ELODEA WERE OBSERVED. DUE TO THIS SPREADING INFESTATION AND THE RECREATIONAL POPULARITY OF BIG LAKE, THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE RISK OF ELODEA BEING TRANSPORTED TO OTHER REGIONAL WATERBODIES ON BOAT PROPELLERS, TRAILERS, OR FLOATPLANE RUDDERS. TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT (TTCD) AND KNIK TRIBE (KT) PROPOSE TO JOINTLY CONDUCT RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY BOAT AND FLOATPLANE VECTORS AND ELODEA DISPERSAL PATHWAYS FROM ELODEA-INFESTED BIG LAKE IN BIG LAKE, ALASKA, THROUGH FLOATPLANE PILOT AND BOATER SURVEY AND OUTREACH TO BETTER IDENTIFY AT-RISK WATERBODIES DUE TO THE SPREADING ELODEA INFESTATION IN BIG LAKE. WE WILL CONDUCT ADDITIONAL VIDEO AND PRINTED OUTREACH TO THE BIG LAKE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ELODEA AND PREVENT SPREAD AND NEW INFESTATIONS. WE PROPOSE TO INCORPORATE THIS INFORMATION TO INFORM REGIONAL WATERBODY PRIORITIZATION EFFORTS THAT WILL ALLOW PROJECT PARTNERS TO BETTER TARGET AT-RISK WATERS, INCREASING REGIONAL CAPACITY FOR SUCCESSFUL ELODEA EARLY DETECTION RAPID RESPONSE (EDRR) TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKAS FISHERIES AND FISH HABITAT FROM ELODEA-CAUSED HABITAT DEGRADATION.

MATANUSKA SUSITNA BASIN SALMON HABITAT PARTNERSHIP THE MATANUSKA SUSITNA BOROUGH S WESTERN COOK INLET IS REMOTE, WITH CURRENT ACCESS LIMITED TO AIR, WATER, AND SNOW THOUGH REMOTE, SALMON HABITAT DEGRADATION AND IMPACTS TO SALMON POPULATIONS CAN OCCUR VIA BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS, I E , THE AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT ELODEA CANADENSIS HEREAFTER, ELODEA , AND INCREASED ACCESS FROM PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS THE WEST SUSITNA INDUSTRIAL ACCESS CORRIDOR THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON FILLING TWO DISTINCT DATA GAPS IDENTIFYING DATA GAPS IN THE STATE ANADROMOUS WATERS CATALOG AWC NEAR TO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND CONDUCTING FISH SURVEYS TO ADD WATERBODIES AND OR SPECIES AND LIFE STAGES TO THE AWC AND CONDUCTING PRESENCE ABSENCE SURVEYS FOR THE AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT ELODEA IN HIGH RISK WATERBODIES WE WILL IDENTIFY REGIONS WHERE THESE NEEDS OVERLAP AND FOCUS SAMPLING EFFORTS ON SELECTED SUBREGIONS AS PART OF A MULTI PHASE PROJECT PHASE I INCLUDES PARTNER COLLABORATION, LOGISTICAL PLANNING, AND FISH AND ELODEA SURVEYS, WITH THE DELIVERABLES OF FIVE ELODEA SURVEYS AND SAMPLING AT TEN SITES FOR ANADROMOUS FISHES THIS PROJECT S OBJECTIVES ARE IN LINE WITH THE MATANUSKA SUSITNA SALMON HABITAT PARTNERSHIP S FY22 RFP PRIORITY DATA GAPS AND CS7 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIP THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH S WESTERN COOK INLET IS REMOTE, WITH CURRENT ACCESS LIMITED TO AIR, WATER, AND SNOW THOUGH REMOTE, SALMON HABITAT DEGRADATION AND IMPACTS TO SALMON POPULATIONS CAN OCCUR VIA BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS, I E , THE AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT ELODEA CANADENSIS HEREAFTER, ELODEA TO SUPPORT SALMON AND SALMON HABITAT, WE WILL IMPLEMENT EARLY DETECTION, RAPID RESPONSE SURVEY METHODS FOR ELODEA, A PLANT WITH DEMONSTRATED NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON WATER QUALITY AND SALMON HABITAT SURVEYING AT RISK WATERBODIES PREVENTS FURTHER ELODEA SPREAD AND HABITAT DEGRADATION BY ALLOWING FOR TREATMENT IF AN INFESTATION IS DETECTED THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, THE STATE AGENCY TASKED WITH ELODEA TREATMENT AND ERADICATION, HAS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED SURVEY ASSISTANCE AS A PRIMARY MEANS THAT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS CAN SUPPORT ELODEA ERADICATION MANY WATERBODIES IN KENAI S WESTERN COOK INLET HAVE YET TO BE SURVEYED, DESPITE HIGH LEVELS OF FLOATPLANE TRAFFIC EARLY DETECTION OF ELODEA INFESTATIONS IS KEY TO SUCCESSFUL, COST EFFECTIVE ERADICATION, AND SURVEYING ALL FLOATPLANE ACCESSIBLE WATERBODIES WILL ENSURE THAT ELODEA IS NOT PRESENT AND BEING TRANSPORTED TO OTHER AT RISK WATERBODIES IN YEAR 1 OF THIS TWO YEAR PROJECT, WE WILL IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE REMOTE WATERBODIES FOR PRESENCE ABSENCE SURVEYS OF ELODEA ON THE KENAI PENINSULA LANDS OF WESTERN COOK INLET AND CONDUCT ELODEA PRESENCE ABSENCE SURVEYS AT 2 WATERBODIES WE WILL COLLABORATE WITH THE KENAI WATERSHED FORUM AND COOK INLET AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION TO SURVEY THE FLOATPLANE ACCESSIBLE WATERBODIES IN THE BIG RIVER LAKES AREA AS A PARTNERSHIP, WE SEEK TO SURVEY ALL BIG RIVER LAKES USED BY FLOATPLANES IN YEAR 1 IN YEAR 2, WE WILL CONDUCT ELODEA PRESENCE ABSENCE SURVEYS AT FOUR ADDITIONAL WATERBODIES COLLABORATIVELY WITH COOK INLET AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION PACKERS CREEK LAKE ON KALGIN ISLAND, AND THREE UNNAMED WATERBODIES SOUTH OF THE MCARTHUR RIVER THESE FOUR WATERBODIES ARE THE LARGEST WITHIN THE REGION BORDERED BY THE WESTSIDE ROAD SYSTEM TYONEK BELUGA HIGHWAY TO THE NORTH, AND LAKE CLARK NATIONAL PARK TO THE SOUTH THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN SURVEYED FOR ELODEA

THE AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES NORTHERN PIKE ESOX LUCIUS ELODEA CANADENSIS AND DREISSENID MUSSELS DREISSENA SPP. THREATEN THE MATSU BOROUGH MSBS FRESHWATER RESOURCES IMPACTING SUBSISTENCE COMMERCIAL AND SPORT FISHERIES THAT RELY ON HEALTHY SALMON HABITAT. THE MSB LACKS AN INTEGRATED NETWORK COMPOSED OF COMPREHENSIVE AIS SURVEY PRIORITIZATIONS AND ROBUST AISFOCUSED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THE REGIONAL EARLY DETECTION CAPACITY AND SUPPORT PREVENTION OUTREACH AND RAPID RESPONSE. COORDINATED EARLY DETECTION RAPID RESPONSE EDRR PROTOCOLS PROTECT MSBS PRODUCTIVE HABITAT FROM DEGRADATION BY INVASIVE SPECIES. IN THIS PROJECT TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT TTCD AND KNIK TRIBE KT PROPOSE TO CREATE A BOROUGHWIDE NETWORK FOCUSED ON COORDINATED AIS EDRR EFFORTS BY ESTABLISHING A PRIORITIZED RANKING OF AIS SURVEY NEEDS BY TAXA AND DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AN AISFOCUSED TRAINING CURRICULUM AND ONTHEGROUND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TRAINED EARLY DETECTION OBSERVERS TO STRENGTHEN AIS SURVEY CAPACITY INTHE MATSU BOROUGH AND ESTABLISH A CLEAR AIS SURVEY PRIORITIZATION SO THAT SITES AT THE GREATEST INVASION RISK OR THREAT OF ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE ARE EASILY IDENTIFIABLE.

F12AC01611:TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT INDIAN CREEK AND ROBERT'S CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT

THE PROPOSED PROJECT ANADROMOUS WATERS AND ELODEA SURVEYS IN THE REMOTE WESTERN MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH ADDRESSES TWO OBJECTIVES: ADDING NEW WATERWAYS SPECIES LIFE STAGES TO THE ALASKA ANADROMOUS WATERS CATALOG (AWC) IN AREAS OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND SURVEYING PREVIOUSLY UNSURVEYED WATERBODIES FOR THE PRESENCE ABSENCE OF THE AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT ELODEA CANADENSIS. THIS PROPOSAL IS TO IMPLEMENT PHASE 2 OF THIS PROJECT, BUILDING UPON ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONDUCTED IN PHASE 1, WHICH WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN 2022. IN PHASE 2, TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT(TTCD) WILL SURVEY AN ADDITIONAL 15 SITES FOR POSSIBLE ADDITION TO THE AWC AND SURVEY AN ADDITIONAL 5 NEW WATERBODIES FOR ELODEA CANADENSIS. WE PROPOSE TO FOCUS AWC FISH SAMPLING EFFORTS IN AREAS OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE BASIC STREAM PROTECTIONS, SUCH AS PREVENTING FUTURE INSTALLATION OF FISH PASSAGE BARRIERS ON ANADROMOUS STREAMS, WHILE ALSO ADDING TO THE COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE OF SALMON HABITAT WITHIN THIS REGION. THE AQUATIC INVASIVE PLANT ELODEA CANADENSIS IS CURRENTLY KNOWN TO EXIST IN THREE WATERBODIES IN THE MAT-SU TWO OF WHICH ARE IN THE REMOTE WESTERN REGION OF THE BOROUGH. ELODEA HAS DEMONSTRATED NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON WATER QUALITY AND SALMON HABITAT AND CAN DRAMATICALLY ALTER AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES. EARLY DETECTION SURVEILLANCE EFFORTS ARE CRITICAL TO DETECTING INFESTATIONS EARLY IN THE INVASION CURVE, RESULTING IN A MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AND SUCCESSFULTREATMENT, PROTECTING SALMON HABITAT FROM LARGE-SCALE INFESTATION IMPACTS, AND REDUCING POTENTIAL SPREAD. WITH THE COMPLETION OF AN ADDITIONAL FIVE WATERBODIES SURVEYED FOR ELODEA IN PHASE 2 OF THIS PROJECT (10 TOTAL WATERBODIES SURVEYED IN PHASES 1 AND 2), NEARLY ALL FLOATPLANE-ACCESSIBLE WATERBODIES IN THE REGION WILL HAVE BEEN SURVEYED AT LEAST ONCE FOR THE PRESENCE OF ELODEA, AND FUTURE EFFORTS CAN SHIFT TO FOLLOW UP MONITORING ON PREVIOUSLY SURVEYED WATERBODIES. THUS, THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THESE TWO PROJECT OBJECTIVES WILL RESULT IN SIZEABLE BENEFITS TO SALMON AND SALMON HABITAT WHILE ALSO ADDING TO THE COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE OF KNOWN SALMON HABITAT IN THE REMOTE WESTERN MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH.

2020 NATIONAL FISH HABITAT ACTION PLAN

REED CANARY GRASS AND OTHER INVASIVE PLANTS MONITORING AND CONTROL ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE COOK INLET PROJECT

THE PROPOSED PROJECT ADDRESSES THREE OBJECTIVES OF THE FY2025 RFP BY ADDING NEW WATERWAYS, SPECIES, AND LIFE STAGES TO THE ALASKA ANADROMOUS WATERS CATALOG (AWC) IN AREAS OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDING FOR THE NOVEL DETECTION OF NORTHERN PIKE, AND ENSURING NO NEW HABITAT OBSTRUCTIONS ARE CONSTRUCTED ON THESE STREAMS BY DESCRIBING THE FULL EXTENT OF ANADROMOUS HABITAT. BY PROVIDING TIMELY AND ACCURATE INFORMATION REGARDING THE STATUS OF ANADROMY AND ANY POTENTIAL INVASIVE SPECIES PRESENCE TO RELEVANT DECISION MAKERS, THIS PROJECT WILL BENEFIT SALMON IN THESE TWO CRITICAL SALMON PRODUCING WATERSHEDS. SALMON STOCKS (ESPECIALLY CHINOOK SALMON) ORIGINATING FROM THE THEODORE AND IVAN RIVERS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE SUBSISTENCE HARVEST OF UPPER COOK INLET DENA INA RESIDING AROUND THE NATIVE VILLAGE OF TYONEK, AND THOSE STOCKS HAVE DECLINED IN RECENT YEARS. INVASIVE NORTHERN PIKE RESIDING IN ADJACENT STREAMS, AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN AND AROUND THE WATERSHEDS FURTHER THREATEN THE FRESHWATER HABITAT OF THIS IMPORTANT FOOD AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE. THOUGH THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE THEODORE AND IVAN RIVERS IS WELL KNOWN, MUCH OF THE HEADWATER TRIBUTARIES OF BOTH SYSTEMS IS NOT LISTED AS ANADROMOUS HABITAT AND THE STATUS OF INVASIVE PIKE IS UNKNOWN. USING ANADROMOUS FISH SURVEY METHODS AND EDNA COLLECTION, TTCD STAFF AIM TO MORE FULLY DESCRIBE THE EXTENT OF ANADROMOUS HABITATS AND DETERMINE IF NORTHERN PIKE ARE A PART OF THE REASON THESE STOCKS ARE IN DECLINE. HAVING A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE OF THE HABITAT MOSAIC NEEDED TO SUSTAIN THESE SALMON STOCKS WILL ENSURE THAT ANY DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA IS CONDUCTED RESPONSIBLY. KNOWING THE STATUS OF INVASIVE PIKE WILL ALSO HELP INFORM FUTURE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS IN THESE SYSTEMS.

PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE - INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL IN WESTERN COOK INLET

TTCD HABITAT ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN