FY 2014 USDA Grant and Partnership Programs to Address Invasive Species
[gview file="http://alaskawatershedcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/USDA-Grants-Workbook-FY-2014-FINAL-5-Dec-13.pdf"]
Recap: The 2013 Sustainable Southeast Network Annual Meeting
This November community leaders and practitioners from 7 Southeast communities gathered for two days to share their stories, goals, opportunities, and challenges faced working toward sustainable community development and resource management in Southeast Alaska. [one_half] [/one_half] [one_half_last] Those individuals that attended this meeting actively participate in a collaborative network of professionals and organizations with the common goal of supporting community efforts through information, knowledge, and resource exchange to build projects, programs and strategies that respond to the most pressing issues facing our communities, economies, and environments in Southeast Alaska. Coordinated by SAWC in partnership with the Tongass People and Place Program, this collaborative effort is called the Sustainable Southeast Network. This first Annual Meeting of the Sustainable Southeast Network brought together community-based professionals from Haines, Skagway, Juneau, Sitka,…
Students working with Young Growth in Sitka Highschool
Building innovative and sustainable economic models in rural communities starts with educating and inspiring the people who will drive these economies in the future From Trees to Timber: Young Growth in Use at Sitka High “It is exciting to bring local wood back into the classroom. There will be some differences in using young growth than what we usually build with, so it should be a good experiment to see the best ways to use the wood,” said Sitka High School industrial arts teacher, Randy Hughey. “It will also be a great opportunity for the students to learn about the local resources available and how they can support the Sitka economy.” Funding for this project came from the National Forest Foundation to use local wood and plan watershed restoration projects…
In Lieu Fee Program Prospectus- we want your feedback
The Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition Mitigation Fund Currently there are two ILF programs that services Southeast Alaska: The Southeast Alaska Land Trust and the Great Alaska Land Trust. Both of these third party mitigation program offer only preservation opportunities to Section 404 permit applicants. There are no active and approved third party mitigation programs (mitigation banks and/or In lieu Fee Programs) that carryout restoration, enhancement and/or creation to offset unavoidable permitted impacts to aquatic resources in Southeast Alaska. Currently SAWC is engaged in a process with the Army Corps of Engineers to develop an In Lieu Fee program that will provide permit applicants with restoration, enhancement and/or creation opportunities to fullfill their permit requirements. [button url="http://alaskawatershedcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/SAWC_Prospectus_September_2012-1.pdf" color="blue" width="full" ]The Prospectus in PDF[/button] [button url="http://www.poa.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/SpecialPublicNotices.aspx" color="green" width="full" ]Access Alaska District Army Corps Public…
Promoting Outdoor Recreation in Alaska is HUGE for the ECONOMY!!
Outdoor Recreation is BIG Business These days, many sectors of the economy are under harsh scruenty from different sides of the ideological arugement. Weather it be health insurance, natrual resource extraction, renewable energy, the industrial food system - very rarely can we all agree that what drives are economy is good for all of us... However, there is a silent giant amongst us that the majority of us in Southeast Alaska can get behind and promote without hesitation. The outdoor recreation economy grew approximately 5% annually between 2005-2011- this during an economic recession when many of the traditional sectors contracted. Take a look at this report recently released by the Outdoor Industry Association: [button url="" color="aqua" width="full" ]The Outdoor Recreation Economy[/button] Does your community have an outdoor recreation opportunity…
Salmon in The Trees Author Amy Gulick in Haines AK
Award wining author and photographer Amy Gulick will be in Haines Alaska October 17th-20th Join us in Haines for a week of photography workshops, Chilkat River Tours, and a celebration of the rich cultural and natural wonders of the Chilkat Valley. [styledbox type="information" ]Scheduled Events[/styledbox] This week of events was made possible by the organization and coordination of 7 Echoes Homestead in Haines Alaska. For more information please visit the website of this community-based effort.
Identifying Potential Mitigation Sites in Juneau
On September 17th, Melany traveled to Juneau and met with John Hudson from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct site assessments for as many as 12 potential mitigation sites. It was extremely informative and productive. I quickly learned how tedious it can be to view each site from the perspective of a habitat biologist, fisheries biologist and ecologist, which are all important scopes in identifying potential mitigation projects. Check out an example of the Project Report from one of the sites we identified at Fish Creek on North Douglas Island: Fish Creek-West Pond Enhancement This was an excellent example of a site that needs enhancement to improve fish habitat. Google Earth image of West Pond site West pond has very steep side banks that would benefit from a…
Wetland Functional Assessment training in Haines AK
Natural Resource Managers and Practitioners trained in WESPAK-SE The Chilkoot Indian Association and the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition brought Dr. Paul Adamus to Haines Alaska last week to train 17 participants in the Wetland Ecosystem Service Protocol that he developed specifically for Southeast Alaska. WESPAK-SE is a rapid functional assessment methodology that is used to generate scores for wetland functions and values. These scores support informed aquatic resource management. The class learned how to rapidly assess and score 23 functions and values of tidal and non-tidal wetlands in Southeast Alaska. Participants learned how to interpret and use these scores to prioritize wetlands in a watershed or community, as well as evaluate impacts for wetland permit applications, as well as identify ways to enhance specific wetland functions. [styledbox type="information" ]"> WESPAK-SE PowerPoint Presentation[/styledbox]…