Getting the Lay of the Land
Understanding past land-use and current conditions is fundamental to stewarding our lands and waters for communities, salmon, and wildlife. In collaboration with our partners, SAWC uses local knowledge, historical records, reports, geospatial data, and on-the-ground surveys to identify and assess watershed problems. In the field, we wade through streams and wetlands, crawl through dense young-growth forest, and pilot drones to collect the information we need to understand damaged watersheds and plan future restoration work.
SAWC staff consult geospatial data on a field tablet at Slide Creek on Prince of Wales Island.
Ketchikan Indian Community indigenous stewards document fish presence in the Ward Creek watershed near Ketchikan.
Preparing a drone for a survey of Indian River on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska.