Click below for the current draft agenda for the Southeast Environmental Forum: March 18-22, 2013 Vocational Training & Resource Center (VTRC) 3239 Hospital Drive - Juneau, Alaska 99801 [button url="http://alaskawatershedcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/2013-SE-Environmental-Forum-Agenda-03-14-2013-HRB.pdf" color="aqua" ]Southeast Environmental Forum Draft Agenda PDF[/button]
The deadline to apply for the National Forest Foundation's Southeast Alaska Community Capacity and Land Stewardship Grant Program has been extended to April 19, 2013 Through this Community Capacity Land Stewardship (CCLS) grant program, the NFF is administering USDA agency funds to provide capacity building support for local collaborative efforts that work toward achieving watershed restoration objectives within the geographic focus areas. The purpose of this grant program is to provide the tools and support necessary to achieve watershed and landscape scale restoration while also furthering goals that contribute to the economic sustainability of communities. The NFF has partnered with USDA agencies and other partners in the Pacific Northwest to create and implement this innovative capacity building grant program in support of collaboratives and community-based organizations throughout the…
The Kake Community Forest project supports the engagement and empowerment, capacity development, and sustainable economic development within the community of Kake. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Kake mill owner Kevin Merry inspects a likely cull Yellow-cedar on a resource inventory field trip.[/caption] In 2011 a collaboration between SEACC, SEAWEAD, and the Organized Village of Kake produced the Kake Community Forest project report. This report included a summary of community and ecological values for the community of Kake as well as descriptions for opportunities to develop a sustainable forest stewardship economy that reflects customary and traditional practices of the local people. Ongoing work stemming from the information included in this report is currently focused on developing capacity for stewardship contracting, development of a small timber and biomass business model and feasibility…
The Wrangell BioBrick Energy Collaborative is a partnership effort aimed at supporting the development of a local BioBrick manufacturing business in the community of Wrangell. [caption id="attachment_1019" align="aligncenter" width="534"] BioBricks[/caption] Concerns about the availability of sustainable and cost-effective energy sources in rural Southeast communities has prompted the formation of this Collaborative with partners including Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, the Wrangell Cooperative Association, local residents and business owners, the City and Borough of Wrangell, the US Forest Service, Wrangell Resource Council, Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA), Alaska Energy Authority, and the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Tongass People and Place Program. The Wrangell BioBrick Energy Collaborative is looking into the feasibility of developing a Wrangell-based biofuel manufacturing facility. Waste generated from the community in the form of…
The Kake Renewable Energy Planning project coordinates with community partners and stakeholders in an effort to reduce high energy costs and increase community capacity in Kake. [caption id="attachment_1014" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Angel and Todd of SEACC work with Loyd, Bob and Nick of OVK on installing a solar panel array pole mount.[/caption] The Tongass People and Place Program has partnered with Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, the Organized Village of Kake, the City of Kake, Kake Tribal Corportaion, the National Renewable Energy Lab, and a number of regional organizations and private energy consultant in project and planning efforts aimed at reducing high energy costs and increasing community capacity in Kake. The goal of this project is to increase community engagement and empowerment, capacity development, innovative projects, sustainable economic development, and…
The Hoonah Community Forest project promotes opportunities to develop a sustainable forest stewardship economy that reflects customary and traditional practices of the local people. [caption id="attachment_1011" align="aligncenter" width="300"] USFS staff meet with Hoonah Indian Association Natural Resource Manager John Hillman to discuss the Kennel Creek Forest Restoration project.[/caption] A partnership between the Tongass People and Place Program, SEACC, Hoonah Indian Association, the City of Hoonah, the US Forest Service, Alaska Department of Labor, and SEAWEAD has developed the Hoonah Community Forest project in an effort to promote engagement and empowerment, capacity development, ecological restoration, sustainable economic development, and storytelling in the community of Hoonah. The purpose of the Hoonah Community Forest project is to provide tools and recommendations for management of the landscape that is immediately accessible to the community…
Hydaburg Cooperative Association has implemented a Salmon Stream Habitat Assessment program to assess anadromous stream habitat to properly classify stream systems and to nominate any assessed streams that qualify under state criteria as "fish habitat" for cataloging. [caption id="attachment_1007" align="aligncenter" width="444"] Jim Giese, Minnie Kadake, Herbert Nix and Tony Sanderson next to the Hetta Fish Weir[/caption] Partnering with the Sustainable Salmon Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Kai Environmental, and the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Hydaburg Cooperative Association is working to assess anadromous stream habitat to ensure that everything is accurately classified in order to maximize the amount of protection available for habitat in areas of concern facing growing development. The information collected provides baseline data on fish habitat in the stream systems identified. The stream…
Hydaburg Cooperative Association has partnered with the Office of Subsistence Management, AK Department of Fish and Game, the US Forest Service, and Kai Environmental to develop the Hetta Lake Sockeye Stock Assessment project. The goal of this project is to increase the number of returning adult sockeye salmon to the Hetta Lake stream system. This assessment program is also used to enhance local management of fisheries resources by gathering the harvest information of local subsistence users and accurately reporting harvest data to the State and Federal departments of Fish and Game. This data provides an estimate of the total return of sockeye to the Hetta Lake stream system, which is the primary stream used for subsistence by Hydaburg residents. This sockeye stock assessment project has been implemented to…
Taiya Inlet Watershed Council has partnered with the Municipality of Skagway, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program to develop the Pullen Creek Streamwalk. [caption id="attachment_990" align="aligncenter" width="728"] Conceptual design for Pullen Creek Streamwalk[/caption] The Pullen Creek Corridor has long been an area of interest to visitors and residents of Skagway. The creek's proximity to the cruise ship docks and downtown area as well as annual runs of king, pink, and coho salmon in the creek make it an attractive and accessible nature retreat. Unfortunately, a network of informal social trails lead people onto the riparian zone and into the creek, which degrades salmon spawning and rearing habitat, causes erosion, and tramples riparian vegetation.…
