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.
