Register & consider submitting a presentation abstract, session or collaborative dialogue topic idea! April 21-22, 2025 at the BP Energy Center, Anchorage.

The intent of the symposium is to support healthy fisheries, people and economies on the Kenai Peninsula and in the Mat-Su by better connecting people and organizations working on salmon watershed stewardship in the region, particularly Kenai and Mat-Su fish habitat partnerships and the Tikahtnu Cook Inlet Intertribal Fisheries Commission. The call for presentation abstracts, sessions and collaborative dialogue topics is open, and closes March 7th. There is also an opportunity to reserve space on the UAA campus on April 23^rd, for additional gatherings. Click this link to submit an abstract or discussion topic and learn more. Register here. This event is sponsored by the Salmon Watershed Stewardship Project and organized by UAA Alaska Center for Conservation Science and Kachemak Bay Estuarine Research Reserve. Contact Rosie Masui, rmmasui@alaska.edu with questions.

Map author: Cook Inletkeeper

The Mat-Su Salmon Partnership is pleased to announce our FY26 call for proposals for National Fish Habitat Partnership funding! Salmon habitat related projects must address the conservation activities and priorities identified in the Partnership’s 2019 Addendum to the Strategic Action Plan. Deadline for proposal submissions is Wednesday, February 12th, 2025.

• FY26 Funding Application and Guidelines

Still have questions? Contact Jessica Speed, Partnership Coordinator,  email: jessica.speed@tu.org

Find a list of past funded projects and learn more here.

Susitna River Coalition, the Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership, Knik Tribal Council, Trout Unlimited, Mat-Su Borough, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are hosting the 2nd Annual Plants for Salmon community planting event on Montana Creek, Talkeetna. On Saturday, June 15, these partners will join with community members to restore a section of Montana Creek next to the Yoder Road bridge. This family friendly event will include informational booths, crafts, and a minnow trapping presentation. Volunteers can enjoy complimentary food and drinks, and everyone can bring home a small white spruce.

For the second year, partners and community volunteers will be planting 200+ native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to improve habitat and water quality on Montana Creek after a successful event last year. Streamside vegetation plays an important role in maintaining the health of our fisheries by providing shelter, shade and nutrients for wild salmon. This is part of a multi-year project to revegetate 450 feet of rip rap armor that was applied following a significant flood event in 2012, to protect the downstream bridge.

Who: We want to give a big shout out to the partners who made it all happen: Susitna River Coalition, the Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership, Matanuska Susitna Borough, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Knik Tribal Council, and Trout Unlimited. Added thanks to additional event and greater project sponsors – Trout Unlimited Southcentral Alaska Chapter and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Montana Creek is one of four projects NOAA Fisheries is funding in 2023 to restore habitat through the coastal National Fish Habitat Partnerships.

What: A community planting day to restore the streambank along Montana Creek

When: Saturday, June 15 from 10am-2pm

Where: Montana Creek, next to Yoder Road bridge, Talkeetna, AK

Agenda: Opening remarks will begin at 10am. Lunch will be around noon, including a group photo. At 12:30, FWS Biologist Joe Lyon will show live juvenile salmon to participants and teach everyone some of the ways plants are important to those fish. Closing remarks will happen either during the group photo or at 1pm. Planting continues until about 2pm.

Event flyer below. Contact jessica.speed@tu.org or info@susitnarivercoalition.org with any questions.