Kenai River gets spring health check-up
Kenai Watershed Forum’s biannual Kenai River Baseline Water Quality Monitoring program was recently featured on our local public radio station KDLL. Spring 2022 marked the 22nd consecutive year of this program that works with community partners to gather water quality data, which helps identify both challenges and solutions for water quality in the Kenai River.
Thanks as always to reporter Sabine Poux at KDLL! Volunteers interested in this program can contact Water Quality Coordinator Benjamin Meyer.
Click here to listen to the story: https://www.kdll.org/local-news/2022-05-16/river-monitoring
Check out a short video from sampling day on our Kenai Watershed Forum Facebook Page!
As local streams warm, cold water inputs could be crucial for salmon
In summer 2021, KDLL public radio reporter Sabine Poux joined us a day of fieldwork at Beaver Creek, near the city of Kenai. Kenai Watershed Forum is working with other local nonprofits including Cook Inletkeeper and Kachemak Heritage Land Trust to identify and conserve cold water inputs important for salmon habitat in local streams like Beaver Creek.
We’d like to congratulate Sabine for her award on this story at the 2022 Alaska Press Club awards for “Best Audio Science Reporting.” Thanks for helping us share our work with the community!
Read the story at the link below:
Volunteers Needed for Salmon Habitat Mapping Research
Kenai Peninsula Chapter of Trout Unlimited is partnering with Kenai Watershed Forum in summer 2022 to identify, map, and conserve undocumented salmon habitat in our area. We can use your help!
Join us for local fieldwork this summer. For dates and more information, contact Benjamin Meyer (Water Quality Coordinator) at ben@kenaiwatershed.org.
USGS and Kenai Watershed Forum to Collaborate on Fish Habitat and Groundwater Research Project in Kenai, Alaska
With funding from the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Alaska Climate Action Science Center, USGS scientists will collaborate with Kenai Watershed Forum to study Beaver Creek as an example of how climate change may affect the future water needs of both humans and fish. With a combination of on the ground fieldwork and modeling, local managers and stakeholders will have access to the best available science to inform decisions. The project will rely on volunteer support from local stakeholders including tribal and nonprofit organizations.
For questions and additional details, contact Benjamin Meyer, Kenai Watershed Forum Water Quality Coordinator Benjamin Meyer.
Pick.Click.Give!
As you prepare to apply for your Permanent Fund Dividend on January 1st, consider making a donation through Pick.Click.Give. Last year numerous community organizations throughout Alaska benefited from donations through this program
to keep our communities thriving.
Consider Pick.Click.Giving! It makes investing in our communities easy and by choosing to invest in the Kenai Watershed Forum, you will be making a clear choice to support healthy rivers and strong salmon runs for future generations.
Salmon Stream Research Published!
Kenai Watershed Forum Wetlands Project Manager, Michael Gracz, has been working with a team of researchers to investigate Southcentral Alaskan peatlands and salmon streams in the face of climate change.
The group’s research, Analyzing peatland discharge to streams in an Alaskan watershed: An integration of end-member mixing analysis and a water balance approach, was recently published in the Journal of Hydrology.
Salmon spawning streams are potentially perturbed by climate change in Southcentral Alaska and therefore peatland contributions using specific approaches should be analyzed. Their research indicated that peatland discharge accounts for 50% of streamflow during dry times and could provide an important buffer for fluvial ecosystems impacted by climate change.
Read the research in its entirety here!
Make a Difference in 4-Hours!
Get hands-on in the great outdoors! In less than half a day you can have a positive impact on Kenai Peninsula rivers that will last for decades! Register now to protect sensitive fish habitat with Stream Watch!
Calling All Volunteers: Stream Watch Orientations!
Stream Watch Volunteers are ordinary people making an extraordinary difference on and off of Kenai Peninsula Rivers. Volunteers receive all of the training to share river protection information and complete hands-on projects throughout the summer. Start your adventure by learning more!
KWF Summer Camp Registration Open!
Every child dreams of camp–exploring creeks, singing silly songs and frolicking in the forest. Make your child a happy camper! Register them for the week-long day camp, Fur, Fins, Feathers, Flowers, and Fun, in the KWF Yurt. New this summer–Wild About Art sessions! Find out more about this popular program!
Salmon Run Series Spawns Again!
The very popular Salmon Run Series will start in July 2017 and continue for five consecutive Wednesday nights. Proceeds from this run series go to support our very important work on the Kenai Peninsula watersheds..