The projects below are just a few selected examples of local efforts to improve our creeks and sustain salmon.  Go to Contact Us for more information on these and other projects.

Ship Creek
Campbell Creek
Chester Creek
All Creeks

Ship Creek Fish Passage Project
In 2005, the community identified a dangerous situation with the embankment supporting a road crossing of Ship Creek near Ship Creek Point.  This road provides the only access to Ship Creek Point and is well traveled in the summer by local sport fishermen, the boat storage users and launch area users.  The road crossing was supported by three arch culverts and several deficiencies were noted creating both a fish passage problem and a public safety hazard: 

• The embankment crossing Ship Creek was substantially degraded, threatening the integrity of the road and further detracting from the ecosystem of Ship Creek.
• The existing three arch culverts were corroding and collapsing, affecting the hydraulic capacity of the culverts and limiting fish passage. Makeshift supports inside the culverts also complicate fish passage.
• Much of the original three-foot-thick layer of riprap had fallen from the face of the embankment on both the upstream and downstream sides of the crossing affecting the hydrology of the existing creek for fish passage. 
• Water flow through the culverts was also restricted by debris blocking the inlets, which affects fish passage.

In partnership with NOAA and ADFG, salmon restoration funds were used to remove the existing culverts and channel obstructions and to restore the open channel habitat, improve fish passage in Ship Creek and angler safety.

Ship Creek Fishing Access Plan

Bank trampling has caused significant erosion to Ship Creek.  Plans are in place to improve angler access to Ship Creek. Photos: USFWS

The Ship Creek fishery is extremely popular among local residents and visitors alike - with over 40,000 angler days recorded in 2004. That is about 10,000 people (or 20,000) feet walking the banks of the creek.  Therefore, it is important to provide safe public access to this heavily used creek, while rejuvenating and rehabilitating critical stream banks.

HDR Consultants received a contract from the City in February 2006 to conduct a design study in support of the project goal stated above. An invitation to bid on this project was issued in June 2007 and a contractor will be selected in July 2007. Construction should begin in fall 2007. ConocoPhillips, NOAA, Alaska Department of Fisn and Game and US Fish and Wildlife Service are providing funding for this project.

Campbell Creek Interpretive Program

Educational panels about salmon and watershed stewardship have been installed along the popular Campbell Creek trail. The Campbell Creek trail provides an excellent venue for increasing public understanding of the link between healthy watersheds and a vibrant community. Additional panels are being prepared for sections of Ship Creek and Chester Creek.

This collaborative effort was initiated in 2005 to prepare a bold vision for the Campbell Creek Interpretive Trail. This partnership includes the Anchorage Waterways Council, the Municipality of Anchorage, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

This trail is very popular among Anchorage families, local school children, resource agencies, nature-based tour operators, local outing groups, military personnel, to name just a few. The annual salmon and outdoor education programs sponsored by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Anchorage School District are held at points along this trail.

Little Campbell Creek Restoration Initiative

A multi-agency initiative is underway to help restore the natural functions and salmon values of Little Campbell Creek. Activities include: water quality monitoring, stream bank and channel restoration,  and education/stewardship. Restoration efforts will require significant participation and financial support from the private sector and local landowners. Go to www.littlecampbellcreek.com for more information.

Channel alterations, such as straightening have affected flow rate and contribute to erosion.	Fish kills including juvenile salmon have been collected along Little Campbell Creek reinforcing the need to take action.	Debris found in the creek causes pollution and impedes fish passage.
(Photos courtesy of Mark Schroeder, US Fish & Wildlife)

Campbell Creek Bank Rehabilitation

In coordination with the Watershed Task Force, Salmon in the City is implementing bank restoration projects at various points along Campbell Creek. Bioengineering techniques including brush layering and root wads are being employed. These projects restore creek banks to help reduce erosion, improve fish passage, and provide for public access.

Little Campbell Creek Restoration Initiative 

A watershed plan has been prepared in order to restore the natural functions and salmon values of Little Campbell Creek. (www.littlecampbellcreek.com). There are many culverts in this watershed that do not meet fish passage standards. Restoration designs are being prepared to address the top ranking problem culverts and construction will occur in 2009.

Chester Creek Aquatic Habitat Restoration Project

The Municipality of Anchorage (MOA), in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Army Corps of Engineers, Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility, Tesoro, Coastal America, AFSC, Anchorage Waterways Council and other public and private entities, is implementing an aquatic restoration project at the mouth of Chester Creek in Anchorage, Alaska.  The project will make improvements to the Chester Creek outfall in order to improve flood hazard mitigation, restore fish passage, and contribute to the overall restoration of Chester Creek.

The project has two primary phases:  Phase One includes utility relocation/partial channel reconstruction on the Cook Inlet side of the railroad tracks. This phase was successfully completed in June 2007. Phase Two includes final engineering design and construction of outfall improvements on the lagoon side of the railroad tracks. We anticipate that Phase II engineering work will begin in early Fall 2007, with construction beginning in 2008 and completed by 2009. For more information contact: 343-8135.

The City is also working with the Watershed Task Force to identify other important Chester Creek fish passage and water quality improvements including replacing perched culverts, improving storm water treatment, working with land owners to restore stream banks and keeping an eye out for invasive plants harmful to salmon, such as purple loosestrife.

Upper Chester Creek Restoration

In 2001, Venture Development, LLC an Cook Inlet Housing Authority bought a portion of the land which surrounded Chester Creek at the site of the proposed Creekside Town Center in Muldoon.  This quarter-mile section of Chester Creek had been straightened prior to 1965 to accommodate a trailer park development.  The developers recognized the need to restore the creek channel in order for it to be an aesthetically pleasing centerpiece of the proposed new town center. In addition, the developers are interested in providing better fish habitat and flood control.  Over a five year period, the developers and several other public and private groups partnered to perform a large scale creek channel restoration.

• Public Partners
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Anchorage Field Office (Lead agency partner)
  • National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Anchorage Field Office
  • Municipality of Anchorage
• Private Partners
  • Venture Development Group, LLC
  • Cook Inlet Housing Authority
  • Koonce Pfeffer Bettis, Inc.
• Funding Sources
  • NRCS - Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Grant
  • USFWS - Partners for Fish and Wildlife Grants
  • USFWS - Private Stewardship Program Grant
  • Private match for grants
  • Donations from non-profit organizations
  • Private donations
  • Great Land Trust
  • Anchorage Waterways Council
  • Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership

The restoration effort is the largest of its kind so far in Anchorage.  The cost of restoring the creek channel was about $580,000 followed by another $100,000 for riparian revegatation.

The re-channeled stream more closely resembles its original form and includes natural meanders, a pool-riffle structure and a wider floodplain area.  The result is a more hospitable habitat for salmon and site improvements for future development.

The Watershed Task Force and the City is also interested in implementing additional creek restoration work upstream of this project location.

Before restoration: Creek channel was straightened to accommodate development. Straightened channels fail to properly regulate creek flow resulting in increased erosion increasing sediment loads in the water. Photo: USFWS

After restoration: A more natural, curved channel is formed that better controls creek flow and creates the pools and riffles necessary for good salmon habitat. Photo: USFWS

Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring
The Municipality of Anchorage provides funds to the Anchorage Waterways Council to conduct the Stream Team Monitoring Program. This program is designed to:

• Monitor water quality for Ship, Chester and Campbell Creeks to support healthy salmon populations and their food sources.
• Contribute to salmon sustainability by educating the public about factors affecting salmon productivity and enlisting public involvement in volunteer stewardship activities.

Local volunteers learn how to use kits provided by the AWC to monitor flow, temperature, turbidity, ph, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform bacteria, conductivity, and total dissolved solids. They learn what physical factors lead to changes in these important parameters and how to reduce the negative impacts of these changes.

Training events are held four to five times per year and usually reach capacity well before the event date. The popularity of these training events indicates that there is an ongoing desire among residents to learn more about how to help keep our creeks healthy.

The Stream Team program maintains twenty-five monitoring sites including a combined total of 15 stations on Ship, Chester, Campbell and Little Campbell in Anchorage.

Creek Clean Up
The City is a major sponsor of the annual creek clean up event. The event is organized by the Anchorage Waterways Council. In May of each year, volunteers through out the community participate in creek clean up and stewardship activities.  This project builds community understanding and awareness of local creek and watershed systems. Volunteer activities help remove barriers and obstacles to safe fish passage.

Continue to check out http://salmoninthecity.muni.org for details on future projects.