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.

The NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation and the Recreational Fisheries Initiative are seeking to identify and support projects within coastal Fish Habitat Partnerships (FHPs) that protect or restore habitat AND engage recreational fishing partners.

Read full request for proposals here.

Proposals are due by April 15th, 2024

Find summaries of FY23 funded projects – including one in the Mat-Su, here.

The Mat-Su Basin Salmon Partnership is now accepting proposals for funding through the National Fish Habitat Partnership! Salmon habitat related projects must address the conservation activities and priorities identified in the Partnership’s 2019 Addendum to the Strategic Action Plan.

The deadline for Applications has been extended to February 27th, 2024. All applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposal with the Partnership Coordinator. Contact jessica.speed@tu.org.

With the passage of the America’s Conservation (ACE) Act  through the National Fish Habitat Partnership, there are newer timelines and modifications to the request for proposals (RFP).  For instance, individual projects must meet a 1:1 non-federal match (cash or in-kind) requirement – with the exception of Tribes, who are exempt. Please read the guidelines carefully and note that we are continuing to transition to the new law guiding the National Fish Habitat Partnership program. 

• FY25 Application and Guidelines

Scroll down this page to learn about some of the past funded projects

Photo credit: Michelle Beadle/Trout Unlimited