Category: Restoration & Mitigation

  [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"]    

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…