Would you like to be more involved with the Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership?

 Why not join the Steering Committee? 

The Steering Committee is the guiding body for a Partnership that brings together over 60 organizations who share a vision of thriving fish, healthy habitats, and vibrant communities in the Mat-Su. The Steering Committee ensures that the Partnership follows guidelines set forth by the National Fish Habitat Partnership and achieves goals set out in the Mat-Su Salmon Partnership Strategic Action Plan.  Committee members actively seek and encourage partner participation and support partner projects through endorsements for funding, technical assistance, and recommendations for collaboration and funding sources. The Steering Committee meets every two months in Palmer.  Visit page 30 of the Partnership’s Strategic Action Plan to learn more about the Steering Committee’s activities and expectations of members. 

Two At-large seats, each with  two-year terms open in January. Preference will be given to organizations based in the Mat-Su Basin and with missions closely aligned with the National Fish Habitat Partnership (www.fishhabitat.org). To learn more about the operations of the Partnership click here. 

If you are interested, please send a letter explaining why you want to join the Steering Committee and what you can do to help the Partnership achieve its goals.  Send the letter to Kelly Ingram (kelly.ingram@tnc.org, or matsusalmon@tnc.org) by Wednesday December 27th, 2017.  

Learn more about the Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership at www.matsusalmon.org

Thank you!

 

An ordinance (ORD 2016-051) proposing maintenance of a 50ft shoreline vegetation area (‘riparian buffer’) on 25 high priority salmon streams was introduced to the Mat-Su Borough (MSB) Planning Commission for public hearing and deliberation in May, 2016. The ordinance is intended to conserve salmon habitat, prevent property damage from erosion, and reduce pollution entering waterbodies.
Adopting standards for riparian buffers next to streams and rivers that are recognized as high priority habitat for salmon addresses critical goals for salmon conservation identified in the Partnership’s Strategic Action Plan. The Partnership supports establishment of these standards, and the Steering Committee wrote a letter to the Mat-Su Borough Mayor and Assembly indicating this support and why. Click here to read the letter.
The proposed ordinance has moved to the MSB Assembly, and was considered at their August 2nd meeting, where it was sent back to the Planning Commission for further deliberation and a requested public education process.  Planning Commission review and public education is to be completed, with the ordinance back to the Assembly by December 6, 2016.

Full text and associated materials can be found here  http://www.matsugov.us/docs/meetings/15392/080216-clerks-assembly-packet.pdf  – pages 1040 to 1072.

For more information, or to submit public comment, contact Frankie Barker at MSB Planning Department (907)861-8439, frankie.barker@matsugov.us