Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership

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10th Annual Mat-Su Salmon Science & Conservation Symposium

2017 marks the 10th year of bringing people together to network, information share, collaborate and stay updated on the latest salmon and salmon habitat related efforts in the Mat-Su Basin through the annual Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium.  We are beginning planning for this year’s event. Do you have a keynote speaker or session topic you think would be of particular interest? Do you have ideas on how we could make this year’s Symposium even better? If so please get in touch – and consider joining the 2017 Symposium Planning Committee. For more information, contact Jessica Speed.

We are also continuing fundraising for 2017. Thank you to our many past supporters, please get in touch with Jessica Speed at above contact if you would like to provide support this year.

Photo by S. Hinman

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Proposed Ordinance to Maintain Shoreline Vegetation

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

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Funding Opportunity!

The Mat-Su Salmon Habitat Partnership is requesting proposals for funding for fiscal year 2017

 

Since 2006, the Mat-Su Salmon Habitat Partnership, a National Fish Habitat Partnership, has offered funds in support of salmon habitat conservation activities and priorities, as identified in the Mat-Su Salmon Partnership Strategic Action Plan . The deadline for proposals is September 30th, 2016.

 

Find the detailed guidelines and application on the Partnership website at https://matsusalmon.org/what-we-do/types-of-projects/ . Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their projects with listed contacts in the application before submitting proposals.

 

Other funding opportunity:
  • The National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at the University of California, Santa Barbara is requesting proposals for salmon data synthesis. Closing date is September 20th, 2016. Click the following link to learn more https://alaskasalmonandpeople.org/.

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Save the Date: 2016 Salmon Symposium November 17th & 18th

The 9th annual Mat-Su Salmon Science & Conservation Symposium will be November 17th & 18th, 2016 in Palmer, Alaska!

Keynote speaker: Dr. Daniel Schindler, Associate Professor, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, and Biology, University of Washington.

The Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium is an annual forum to share information about salmon and their habitat in the Mat-Su Basin. Presentations span a wide range of topics — fish passage restoration projects on Mat-Su streams and assessment of their benefits to salmon; studies about geology, erosion, and salmon distribution on the Matanuska River; wetlands mapping and management; community assets planning; salmon distribution throughout the Mat-Su Basin; conservation of public lands; and more! 

Symposium information and updates will be posted at www.matsusalmon.org, facebook, and sent to the Partnership email list. 

Planning for the 2016 Symposium is full swing! Is there a training or workshop your organization would like to host preceding or following the Symposium? Do you have ideas about how we can make this year’s Symposium even better? Let us know! Contact Jessica Speed at jspeed@tnc.org

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