Understanding the condition and trend of aquatic resources is key component of the Bureau of Land Management’s Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) program.  Matt Varner delivered this presentation on the Bureau’s aquatic resource focused AIM framework and how its being implemented across areas of Alaska to the Partnership’s Science & Data Committee on April 28, 2022. In it he provides examples of how the data are being used to assess impacts from land use, evaluate the effectiveness of restoration, and track how habitats are changing over time. While the AIM program is specific to the Bureau of Land Management the study design and methods are compatible with efforts being used by the Alaska DEC and have been adopted by several units of the National Park Service in Alaska.

Matt Varner is the Aquatic Resources Program Leader and a Fisheries Biologist with the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska. Over the last 20 years, Matt has worked on a variety of fish habitat conservation issues with much of the last 14 years in Alaska being focused on regional stream habitat assessments and the development of innovative approaches for improving stream reclamation. Matt earned a BS is Fisheries and Wildlife Management from West Virginia University. He joined the Mat-Su Salmon Partnership Steering Committee in March of 2022 and lives in Wasilla with his wife, Danielle, and kids, Morgan, Mason, and Maverick.