The Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition will be visiting Hoonah next week to provide information on the proposed Southeast Alaska Mitigation Fund and opportunities for aquatic resource mitigation! Please join us to learn more about opportunities to restore, create, or enhance aquatic resources in your community through the Southeast Alaska Mitigation Fund! [gview file="https://www.alaskawatershedcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/SAMF-Meeting-Flyer_Hoonah.pdf"] The primary goal of the Southeast Alaska Mitigation Fund is to maintain and improve the quantity and quality of aquatic resources throughout Southeast Alaska To meet this goal, SAWC incorporates the following objectives into the SAMF: Provide habitat restoration or enhancement as an option to mitigate for unavoidable, site-specific impacts to aquatic resources in SE Alaska Utilize a watershed approach to identify the most appropriate off-site mitigation options available. Work in an efficient and transparent manner with an Inter-Agency…
[caption id="attachment_5510" align="aligncenter" width="903"] Photo courtesy of US Forest Service[/caption] According to the US Forest Service, the streams and lakes of the Tongass National Forest produce 80% of the annual Southeast Alaska commercial salmon catch. In an effort to steward this important resource, Tongass Fisheries and Watershed staff are strategically targeting watersheds in the region that have been heavily impacted by past management activities for collaborative efforts to restore critical salmon habitat and enhance ecological function of these aquatic resources. The Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition is excited to work with the US Forest Service to support and advance regional watershed restoration efforts. Learn more about the Tongass National Forest Watershed Restoration Program and their 2015-16 program priorities: [gview file="https://www.alaskawatershedcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/TNFWatershedRestorationProgram2015.pdf"] [gview file="https://www.alaskawatershedcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/TNF_Watershed_Restoration_Fishpass_Enhancement_Programs_2015_2016_06022015.pdf"]
Please join the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition for a community meeting in Klawock on May 13th! This meeting will provide information on the proposed Southeast Alaska Mitigation Fund; how communities can interact with this program to plan and carry out aquatic resource mitigation and restoration. Please visit https://www.alaskawatershedcoalition.org/programs/aquaticresourcemitigation for more information on aquatic resource mitigation in Southeast Alaska
The Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition will be in Sitka Monday May 11 to provide information on the proposed Southeast Alaska Mitigation Fund and aquatic resource mitigation in Southeast Alaska! Learn more about aquatic resource mitigation in Southeast Alaska
SAWC is coming to Wrangell and Ketchikan to talk about the proposed Southeast Alaska Mitigation Fund In-Lieu Fee program & how it can be used as a tool to advance aquatic resource mitigation in Southeast Alaska communities! Mark your calendars, we hope to see you there! If you would like to discuss potential mitigation sites in your community while SAWC is in town, please contact Angie Eldred to schedule a site visit
Join us for an informational and Q/A session to learn more about SAWC's proposed In-Lieu Fee program & how it can be used as a tool to advance aquatic resource mitigation under the Clean Water Act Section 404 Program in the region! More information coming soon!
On February 28th, the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition’s Aquatic Resource Mitigation Coordinator will facilitate a meeting in Haines to discuss community wetlands identification and planning with a local advisory committee. The meeting is hosted by the Chilkoot Indian Association and is part of a tribal initiative to develop a public education tool that will inform the public and developers on the presence and value of wetlands in Haines. The CIA and SAWC have invited Teri Camery, a senior planner and wetland review board lead for the City and Borough of Juneau, to present at the meeting and share with participants the experience of the CBJ in mapping and assessing wetlands in their community. SAWC works to support local governments and tribes to play an active role informing natural resource management…
The Army Corps of Engineers has approved the proposed ILF program Prospectus and has sent a letter of approval encouraging SAWC to move forward with developing a Draft Instrument for the program. While SAWC does not yet have an approved ILF program, approval to begin developing a Draft Instrument is big step and a great milestone in the complex process of developing an approved program! Learn more about In Lieu Fee programs and compensatory mitigation at the links below: http://www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/corps%20in-lieu-fee%20guidance.pdf http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/CMitigation.pdf SAWC thanks all those who offered their initial support for the Southeast Alaska Mitigation Fund and for offering resources, statements of qualifications, and/or critical information to ensure its success. Though there is still a significant amount work as we move forward, SAWC looks at this as a tremendous achievement- not only…