Fish Habitat Mapping Community Subawards – Application Period Open from January 5th – April 4th, 2026

Jan 5, 2026

Got an idea for a project to help support local freshwater fish habitat conservation? We have funding for you to make it happen!

The Kenai Peninsula Borough is home to tens of thousands of miles of rivers, streams, and lakes, which are home to millions of wild fish. However, only a portion of these waters have been fully mapped and surveyed to document fish habitat, a critical step for responsible management and conservation. Kenai Watershed Forum and other local organizations are working to fill this gap with innovative research; read more on our blog at https://www.kenaiwatershed.org/news-media/fish-habitat-mapping-2025/.

We need the community’s help to help make this work happen. There are several fun ways to get involved, including signing up for our Stream Watch program or getting involved with Cook Inletkeeper’s Backyard Salmonscapes program.

If you have an idea to support this work that could use funding support, we have financial support available. Four (4) awards of up to $2,500 each, will be distributed to support innovative, community-based projects that improve conservation, mapping, or outreach associated with freshwater fish habitat within the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

Project ideas include, but are not limited to:

  • Covering expenses for fieldwork (travel costs, equipment purchases, etc)
  • Covering expenses for an invited speaker for a public event
  • Hosting an educational or outreach events

What’s your idea? We’d love to hear from you and help bring your idea to life. For questions, reach out to ben@kenaiwatershed.org or bookeeper@kenaiwatershed.org.

Thanks, and we can’t wait to hear from you!

– Benjamin Meyer, Research Coordinator

Kenai Watershed Forum Announces $15,000 in Environmental Education Sub-Grants

Applications Now Open for Adopt-A-Stream Programming Partnerships 

Thanks to support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we’re offering approximately $15,000 in sub-grants to bring hands-on watershed education to K-12 students through our acclaimed Adopt-A-Stream program. 

Access the Request for Proposal (RFP) here: Download Adopt-A-Stream Subaward RFP 2026 

Submit your application using the Google Form linked here: EPA Adopt-A-Stream Subawards – Application Form 

We’re seeking three partner organizations to receive approximately $5,000 each to design and deliver engaging environmental education projects that connect students with their local streams and watersheds. For over ten years, our Adopt-A-Stream program has transformed how Kenai Peninsula students understand and protect their environment through interactive classroom visits, field trips, and our popular summer camp. Now we want to expand this impact across the Peninsula with your help! 

Your project can incorporate exciting Adopt-A-Stream components, such as salmon life cycles, macroinvertebrates, stream ecology, ecosystem management, and water quality monitoring. Whether you’re planning classroom activities, field investigations, or outdoor learning experiences, we’re looking for creative approaches that foster environmental stewardship and literacy in young Alaskans. 

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, local education agencies (such as KPBSD schools), and environmental agencies located within the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Selected partners will receive support from KWF staff in completing bi-annual and final reports, making the administrative side manageable so you can focus on inspiring the next generation of watershed stewards. 

Ready to bring watershed education to life for your students? We can’t wait to see your ideas for engaging young people with the streams and ecosystems right in their backyard.

Interested? Please submit your application via this Google Form, and let’s work together to create a generation of informed environmental stewards on the Kenai Peninsula! 

For any questions regarding this project, please contact KWF’s Education Specialist, Brandon Gustafson, at (brandonedu@kenaiwatershed.org) or call/text at (907) 252-3443.