SEAKFHP’s NFHP Funded Projects: (FY23 and FY22 fully funded)
FY23
TWC Ecosystem-Based Conservation Plan for the Greater Chilkat Watershed: This project will generate a comprehensive watershed plan with extensive vegetation, wetland, and fish and wildlife habitat maps and associated information that can be shared with others, independent of the conservation plan itself. An ArcGIS Online platform is already forming for sharing this growing dataset with project partners. As the project evolves, this platform will also be used to share data with agencies and the public. Outcomes from this project will inform a clearinghouse for ecological, hydrological, and geographical information and provide land managers, project developers, agencies, and also educators, with up-to-date and accurate information about the Greater Chilkat Watershed.
Funds Requested $70,000 Project Cost $207,560 Cost Sharing Provided $137,560
ADFG Instream Flow Protection in Southeast Alaska: This project will use streamflow data collected at the existing ADF&G Freshwater Bay, Central Prince of Wales Island, and Davies Creek stream gauge and discharge station networks to prepare 10 Reservations of Water (ROW) applications. Completed ROW applications will be submitted to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) for reaches of Freshwater Creek (and tributary), Kennel Creek, Pavlof River, Davies Creek, Cowee Creek, Control
Creek, Luck Creek (and tributary), Eagle Creek, Ratz Creek, and Log Jam Creek.
Funds Requested $72,712 Project Cost$ 145,424 Cost Sharing Provided $72,712
SAWC Fish Habitat and Restoration Assessments: Filling Gaps in Southeast Alaska: This project will focus on conducting watershed assessments in Gustavus (HUC8 19010302), Yakutat Forelands (HUC8 19010405), and Ketchikan Area (HUC8 19010102) of Southeast Alaska. These areas are prioritized due to high-value habitat, assessment gaps or a lack of previous assessment work, land ownership, and land management activities. It is anticipated that this project will result in over 500 acres and 650 miles of anadromous salmon stream under improved management.
Funds Requested $50,000 Project Cost $100,000 Cost Sharing Provided $50,000
TU AK Fish Habitat Mapping and Community Science Project: Through the work of the project anadromous fish habitat identified in the survey area will qualify for recognition in the State of Alaska’s Anadromous Waters Catalog (AWC) and, as a result, will receive additional protections under state law. As a result of these protections, anadromous habitat across SE Alaska will remain intact and connected, allowing the best possible future for salmon and other anadromous species to thrive.
Funds Requested $50,300 Project Cost$ 101,483 Cost Sharing Provided $51,183
Metlakatla Indian Community Fish Passage Improvements: Restoring bi-directional fish passage is critical to maintaining stocks of anadromous Pacific salmon. This project will fund engineering designs for 2 culverts that currently restrict fish passage for Coastal cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden Char, Coho Salmon, and Pink Salmon on Graveyard Creek, located on Annette Islands Reserve. This is the only Native American reservation in the State of Alaska and is home to the village of Metlakatla and the Metlakatla Indian Community (MIC) who rely on local salmon stocks for their robust commercial fishing industry and for subsistence harvest. This project will produce shovel ready engineers designs that will be used to leverage future Infrastructure BIL funding for implementation. This project helps set the stage for building local technical expertise and capacity to address fish passage needs across Annette Island through a new partnership between the MIC, Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition (SAWC), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Funds Requested $95,975 Project Cost$ 98,975 Cost Sharing Provided $3,000
Engaging Tribal and Community Partners for Salmon Habitat Hand Tool Restoration in the Margaret Creek Watershed, Tongass National Forest AK: The Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC), Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition (SAWC), and US Forest Service (FS) are partnering to restore habitat for four species of salmon, trout, and char in the Margaret Creek Watershed on the Tongass National Forest, Southeast Alaska. This project will restore fish habitat by utilizing hand tool techniques to stabilize streambanks within the watershed and thin associated floodplain forests to accelerate recovery of old-growth conditions; which collectively will provide resilience within the watershed providing improved aquatic conditions for both anadromous and resident fish species. At the same time, this project will continue to build important partnerships between agency and community interests that foster watershed
stewardship. This proposal builds on the broader Margaret Creek Restoration Project that was funded through FY22 NFHP funding enabling KIC to initiate a tribal work crew that is currently initiating stream restoration and riparian forest enhancement in the watershed this summer (2022). In providing another year of funding to this project, the project will benefit in having a more stable workforce and a greater impact will be made at the project site.
Funds Requested $70,023 Project Cost$ 70,023 Cost Sharing Provided $TBD
FY22
Collaborative Stream Restoration in Hoonah, Alaska (Westport Humpback Creek):
The Hoonah Indian Association is a member of the Hoonah Native Forest Partnership (HNFP). Through the partnership they have trained a local workforce to implement stream restoration. This project will utilize this workforce to restore ~180 meters of stream in the Humpback Creek watershed that is not functioning properly and has a downward trend in function. Past timber harvest along the riparian area has reduced the number of trees available for instream wood that is important to the function of the stream, the condition for fish habitats and the resilience to changing climate. The restoration will enhance channel complexity, increasing spawning and rearing habitat for coho, chum, and pink salmon. The project will also design a new fish passage structure at the site. The proposal addresses SEAKFHP’s Conservation Action Plan 2017-2021 Goal FCS3 objectives FCS3-1 and FCS3-2 as the work strategically and effectively restores and enhances fragmented and degraded fish habitats. It is strategically prioritized through a watershed assessment process and will continue to support HNFP’s record of successful fish habitat restoration actions.
Funds Requested $69,721 Project Cost$79,721 Cost Sharing Provided $10,000
Engaging Tribal and Community Partners in Salmon Habitat Restoration in the Margaret Creek Watershed, Tongass National Forest:
The Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC), Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition (SAWC), and US Forest Service (FS) are partnering to restore habitat for four species of salmon, trout, and char in Margaret Creek on the Tongass National Forest, Southeast Alaska. This project will restore fish habitat by constructing log jams in the channel and thin floodplain forest to accelerate recovery of old-growth conditions, while at the same time building an important partnership between agency and community interests that will foster watershed stewardship, create jobs and bring resilience to both the creek and to nearby communities. This proposal will build on the broader Margaret Creek Restoration Project by enabling KIC to run a tribal work crew that will conduct stream restoration and riparian forest enhancement. The proposal addresses SEAKFHP’s Conservation Action Plan 2017-2021 Goal FCS3 objectives FCS3-1 and FCS3-2 as the work strategically and effectively restores and enhances fragmented and degraded fish habitats. The project is a regional priority based on the Forest Service’s Watershed Condition Framework and supported by an Integrated Resource Management Plan and Environmental Assessment.
Funds Requested: $69,482. Total Funds Leveraged: $415,683