Anchorage, Alaska offers what most big-city residents can only dream about: a chance to view and even catch a king salmon just a short walk from downtown. To sustain these salmon—and the many benefits they bring to the community  Mayor Mark Begich and the Municipality of Anchorage have implemented a multi-agency stewardship initiative called Salmon in the City.  

PARTNERSHIPS: This program is implemented in partnership with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) - Southeast Sustainable Salmon Fund, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, US Fish and Wildlife Service, ConocoPhillips, Anchorage Waterways Council and two dozen other local, state and federal agencies, community groups and the public.

Salmon in the City supports a larger national effort to ensure healthy populations of Pacific salmon.  The United States Congress established the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund in 2000 to support state, local, and tribal salmon conservation and recovery activities.  The Recovery Fund is overseen by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service and is managed by the states, local communities, and tribes.

Working through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Southeast Sustainable Salmon Fund, the Municipality receives funds designated for projects on three of its urban creeks: Ship, Chester, and Campbell Creek. Alaska’s Congressional delegation has been instrumental in securing funding for Salmon in the City and other salmon recovery programs throughout Alaska.

Salmon in the City is an outstanding example of effective salmon restoration in an urban setting. The initiative aims to build strong public support for rejuvenating and sustaining local salmon populations and enhancing resident and visitor fishing and recreational experiences. A key to its success is the involvement of over two-dozen state and local government and private partners working collaboratively to achieve program goals and objectives.

Several projects are underway to remove barriers to fish passage, maintain and restore riparian habitats, and increase public involvement in salmon and watershed stewardship in Anchorage. In addition to implementing projects with immediate on-the-ground results, Salmon in the City is also working to formalize city policies and procedures to sustain salmon and watershed health for the long term.

RECOGNITION: In 2007, the Salmon in the City initiative was among a select group of programs to receive two prestigious awards - the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries and Habitat Conservation Award and the Coastal America Partners Award from the Office of the President. These awards recognize Salmon in the City for its holistic efforts to bring together agency expertise and community resources to sustain salmon in urban Anchorage.

SALMON LEGACY: For thousands of years, Pacific salmon have been returning to the creeks in the area now called Anchorage, and the local peoples have welcomed their arrival. Today, Salmon in the City draws together diverse perspectives and fosters an integrated understanding of the economic, cultural, and recreational importance of sustaining Anchorage’s salmon legacy.

The City has identified numerous potential projects along these three creeks.  State and federal agencies and members of the public contribute to the City's program through participation on a Watershed Task Force.

Anchorage's Salmon in the City initiative has three primary objectives:

Projects that improve fish passage. Salmon require easy access into and out our creeks.

Projects that maintain and restore creek corridors.  Undisturbed creek reaches have the highest quality salmon habitat. Salmon need clear, cool water, gravel creekbeds to spawn, and stream banks with healthy vegetation - providing shade, preventing erosion, and offering a place to hide from predators.  These projects can also help protect private property by improving our ability to mitigate flood hazards.

Projects that build long-term stewardship and provide public access. Interpretive trails, citizen water quality monitoring, volunteer creek clean up activities, public education and outreach programs and fishing access improvements are important aspects of Anchorage's Salmon in the City initiative.