The 6th annual Mat-Su Salmon Science & Conservation Symposium was November 13th & 14th, 2013 in Palmer, Alaska!
The 6th annual Symposium was another great success thanks to the dedication, input and perspectives of many people from a range of tribal, local, state, and federal government, private business, NGO, private citizen and fishing interest organizations. This year’s theme was healthy salmon, healthy communities with keynote speaker David Batker, Co-founder, Executive Director and Chief Economist of Earth Economics, who spoke about the importance of recognizing the value of salmon and salmon habitat in the Mat-Su.
There were over 140 people in attendance over the two days, with more than 25 presenters covering topics including the value and management of salmon, Susitna river studies, salmon habitat conservation and restoration, invasive species, climate change, fish distribution and stream mapping. With a current revision of the Partnership’s Strategic Action Plan, Corinne Smith and Bill Rice also shared a summary of the Salmon Partnership’s accomplishments over the last 5 years, as well as a look to where the Partnership is heading.
Click on the following links to see the 2013 Salmon Symposium Booklet including Symposium Agenda and downloadable 2013 Symposium Flyer.
Click on the link for a list of Symposium media coverage, and find Symposium photos on our facebook page
Get future Symposium updates by getting on our Mat-Su Salmon Partnership list serve. Contact Jessica Speed at matsusalmon@tnc.org
2013 Symposium Presentations
Wednesday November 13th
Kocian, Maya – The Natural Economy of Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Basin
Schwoerer, Toby – A Contingent Valuation of Ecosystem Services in the Mat-Su:Local Willingness to Pay For Conservation and Access to Recreation
Harrison, Hannah – Understanding Conflict in the Context of Sustainability in Cook Inlet Salmon Fisheries
Cassidy, Catherine – A Watershed Perspective On Salmon Production in the Mat-Su Basin
Delo, Howard – Where Have all the Salmon Gone?
Miller, Joe – Ecological Risk Assessment of Large-scale Hydropower on Pacific Salmon Populations Within the Susitna River
Keefe, MaryLouise – An Overview of the Fish and Aquatics Study Program for Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project
Nass, Bryan & Habicht, Chris – Chinook Salmon Above Devils Canyon on the Susitna River, a Sink or Self-sustaining Population
Roon, David- Winter Study of Juvenile Anadramous and Resident Fishes in the Susitna River
Thursday November 14th
Meg, Perdue – Prioritizing Riparian Habitat Protection and Restoration What Strategic Habitat Conservation Looks Like on the Ground
Sollien, Kim – King Makers- Leaving a Legacy of Wild Salmon for Future Generations
Benolkin, Libby – Overview of Assessments & Impacts to Riparian Habitats in the Mat-Su Basin
Kaucic, Chuck & Phillips, Joseph – Wasilla Soil & Water Conservation District Summer 2013 Field Operations on Big Lake, Cottonwood Creek, & the Little Su River Assessment, Recording, Evaluation, Plan for Action!
Inman, Catherine – Septic Smart – Cottonwood Creek
Loso, Mike – Impacts of Variable Glacier Coverage on Downstream Fluvial Discharge a Case Study from the Eklutna Basin
Mauger, Sue – Landscape Controls on Stream Temperature and Thermal Sensitivity Assessing Climate Change Impacts in Mat Su Salmon Streams
Rutz, David – Invasive Northern Pike Suppression on Alexander Creek (A Salmon Restoration Project)
Rice, Bill – Where the Partnership Has Been – a Look at Partnership Successes and Challenges in the Last Five Years
Smith, Corinne – Future of the Mat-Su Salmon Partnership
Bornemann, Branden – A Collaborative Approach to Creating, Updating, and Managing Alaska Hydrography Datasets
Branchflower, Louisa – Upper Cottonwood Stream Mapping
Gerken, Jonathon – Juvenile Coho Salmon Overwintering Habitat in Blodgett Lake, Alaska
Foley, Kevin – Effectiveness of Low-effort, Single-pass Backpack Electrofisher Use for Estimation of Juvenile Coho Salmon Abundance in Alaskan Headwater Streams
Thank you to the symposium sponsors/supporters: Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership, Mat-Su Borough, Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, ConocoPhilips, Wasilla Soil & Water Conservation District, US Geological Survey, Great Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Mat-Su Conservation Services, Earth Economics, Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund & Wallace Research Foundation.
