Fish Hub

Fish and Wildlife Commission

The MSB Fish and Wildlife Commission, formerly the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Sportsmen's Committee, was formed in February 2007 to represent the interests of the Borough in the conservation and allocation of fish, wildlife and habitat.

The commission advises the MSB Assembly and the State of Alaska Boards of Fish and Game regarding fish and wildlife practices and policies that affect the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

The commission consists of eight representatives from the following segments of the community:

• Two representative from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly
• One sport fishing representative
• One hunting representative
• Four at-large positions

Visit https://www.matsugov.us/boards/fishcommission for more information about upcoming meetings

Mat-Su Fishing during the COVID-19 Pandemic

A statewide group has been working to develop plans on how to responsibly conduct sport, personal use, and guided sport fishing activities in a safe fashion during the COVID-19 pandemic. FWC member Andy Couch was the Mat-Su representative to this work group.

For details on how to fish safely given COVID, or run a fishing business safely, please review the materials at http://www.krsa.com/covid-19

A. Angler Resources

B. Fishing Business Resources

C. Health Mandates and Community Safety

D. Travel

Board of Fisheries Proposals

NOTE: The next Board of Fisheries Upper Cook Inlet Finfish meeting is scheduled for February 23 - March 7, 2024. Public comment deadline for this meeting is February 8, 2024. Tentative meeting location is the Egan Civic and Convention Center, Anchorage (meeting will be livestreamed).

Mission:

The MSB Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC), a public commission formed in 2007, represents the interest of the Borough in the conservation and allocation of fish, wildlife, and habitat.

What: 

The FWC had five proposals before the Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) for consideration at their February 7-17, 2020, Upper Cook Inlet Finfish meeting at the Egan Center in Anchorage. These proposals were designed to return more salmon to MSB waters, You can read more about the proposals here:

Proposal 133: Central District Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan.

Proposal 199: Northern District King Salmon Management Plan.

Proposal 215: Create a Susitna and Yentna Rivers King Salmon Fishery Mgmt. Plan.

Proposal 217: Create a Deshka River King Salmon Fishery Mgmt. Plan.

Proposal 219: Create a Little Susitna River King Salmon Fishery Mgmt. Plan.

Why:

Salmon fishing in the Mat-Su has long been a popular and important activity enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Recent economic studies show that salmon fishing in the Mat-Su has a huge economic impact, but angler effort and economic impact has been declining as salmon returns to local streams have declined. The FWC proposals submitted to the BOF for consideration, especially Proposal 133, are designed to increase salmon returns and the benefits they bring to the Mat-Su economy and residents.

Gratitude:

The MSB FWC would like to thank the many partners, allies, staff, and the public who spoke up in support of returning more salmon to the Mat-Su using science-based proposals and rationales. The FWC's goals for the 2020 BOF were met, and we are full of gratitude - thank you.

More information (Websites):

Learn more about the FWC's work at the BOF in February 2020: 

Interact with our GIS Story Map detailing this project, rationale and results.

MSB Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Larry Engel's presentation on Mat-Su salmon fisheries issues: LINK

Alaska BOF:

Alaska Board of Fisheries home page

Questions?

Please contact Kim Sollien, Planning Division Manager:

It Takes Fish to Make Fish

It Takes Fish to Make Fish a booklet prepared by the MSB FWC to:

• Enhance the Conservation Corridor in the Central District Drift Gillnet Fishery Management Plan
• Continue protection for identified Stocks of Concern - particularly Susitna Sockeye
• Increase inriver returns of coho salmon to Northern Cook Inlet river systems
• Adopt Chinook management plans and strategies that address early run King salmon in the Northern Cook Inlet
• Personal Use Fisher: Maintain or extend personal use fishing opportunities for Alaskan residents of the Northern Cook Inlet
• Establish inrivier or OEG (Optimal Escapement Goals) for salmon escapement in the Northern Cook Inlet

Check out the booklet by clicking here.

Experience the Story Map that uses images to make the case for our BOF proposals:  http://www.matsugov.us/bof

Economics of Sportfishing in MSB

Two economic studies examined the economic impacts of sportfishing in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough using similar methodologies in 2007 and 2017. Sportfishing had a large economic impact in both studies, but showed significant declines from 2007 to 2017 as follows:

•  Angler Days: These dropped 48% from 296,000 angler days in 2007, to 155,400 angler days in 2017.
• Direct Spending: Spending fell 59%, from $141 million in 2007, to $57 million in 2017 (shown in 2017 dollars).
• Employment: The number of sportfishing-related jobs fell 60%, from 1,180 jobs in 2007, to 474 jobs in 2017 (these figures include both full time and part time jobs).
• Tax Revenues: Local/state/federal tax revenue tied to sportfishing fell 36%, from $9.2 million in 2007, to $5.9 million in 2017 (shown in 2017 dollars).

Takeaway: Sportfishing has an important economic impact in the Mat-Su Borough, but recent economic declines indicates the importance of returning salmon to their natal streams in the borough, while offering sportfishing opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

Visual: See the vibrant Mat-Su through these images: https://youtu.be/VJXkiEd4Bjc

References:

• Colt, S, and T. Schwoerer. 2009. Economic Importance of Sportfishing in the Mat-Su Borough. Prepared for the Mat-Su Borough Economic Development Department. UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research.
• Southwick Associates. 2019. Contribution of Recreational Fishing in the Mat-Su Borough to the Local Economy in 2017. Prepared for the MSB Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Mat-Su Salmon Habitat Partnership

The Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership was formed in 2005 to connect organizations, agencies, and individuals who want to better  understand, enhance, and preserve salmon habitat in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The Partnership, a diverse group with over 60 organizations, is part of a broader network of fish habitat partnerships in the U.S., and one of three recognized fish habitat partnerships in Alaska. As such, it is inspired by the approach outlined by the National Fish Habitat Partnership's mission to protect, restore, and enhance the nation's fish and aquatic communities through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people. The Mat-Su Borough is a member of the Salmon Habitat Partnership.

Notable events sponsored by the MSBSHP:

• Organize a summer fish habitat project site tour for stakeholders.
• Sponsor an annual salmon symposium every November.
• Help disburse NFHP monies for local salmon habitat research and restoration projects.

Learn more here: https://www.matsusalmon.org/

Fish Passage

Culverts

Culverts that carry water under highways, neighborhood roads and driveways can impede the passage of fish to their spawning and rearing habitats if not adequately sized or properly installed.  The Mat-Su Borough, in partnership with ADF&G, US Fish and Wildlife Service and other organizations has an ongoing program to identify and replace culverts that block fish passage.  As an example of progress made, in 2008, 39% of the culverts in the core area of the Mat-Su were identified as inadequate to pass juvenile fish, 41% as marginal, 9% restored and only 11% classified as adequate.  By 2017, after several years of restoration projects, 16% of the culverts had been restored and 33% were adequate for fish passage, improvements of 5% and 22%, respectively, over that nine year period.

As of March, 2021, over 100 culverts have been made passable through the fish passage program since 2001, and the work continues today. This effort has opened up significant  amount of waterway to fish including over 66 stream miles and 6,224 lake acres of fish habitat. This effort represents a conservative investment of over $20 million into fish passage. The Mat-Su Borough and its partners have been given national recognition for this work that improves infrastructure while adding fish habitat to the borough.

Please download the 2021 fish passage maps (upper right of this section) for a visual representation of fish passage work in the Mat-Su .                     

Fish-friendly Roads

In 2013, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly adopted construction standards for design and installation of culverts to provide for adequate fish passage (Ord 13-097).  Any new roads that cross anadromous (salmon) streams, must be constructed according to MSB standards for culvert design and installation. This fish passage priority is also reflected in the Assembly approved Subdivision Construction Manual (Ord. 20-015).

For more information about culvert construction standards and fish passage restoration projects, contact MSB Public Works, Alex Senta (861-7763).

For a dynamic video showing an example of one of our fish passage projects, visit this LINK. 

Salmon Research, Monitoring & Evaluation Projects

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough received a grant of $2.5 million in FY 2014 from the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. The grant directed $900,000 to removal of culvert fish passage barriers. The remaining $1.6 million were directed to research planning and projects.

Planning Goal

Develop a strategic plan that provides guidance to partners and governing agencies regarding information needed to manage, protect and improve Upper Cook Inlet salmon stocks for optimum benefits while maintaining biological productivity and diversity. The plan will be used to identify projects for funding with Borough grant funds and other state and federal funds that may become available in the future. These are the Projects that support the plan.

Accomplishments

• Information Inventory and Gap Analysis: A report was prepared documenting and indexing the state of knowledge regarding Mat-Su salmon status, fisheries, and the ecosystem.

• Stakeholder workshop: Used to identify and prioritize research, monitoring and evaluation issues and options for filling knowledge gaps.

• Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: Details project mission, scope, methods, goals, objectives, issues, options and priorities.

[project articles added]

·         Economic Contributions of Sportfishing in Cook Inlet

·         Coho Genetics for the Yentna River

·         Conditions of Temperature Sensitive Streams

·         Alexander Creek Pike Suppression

·         Beaver Dams, Fish Passage & Stream Ecology

·         Coho Genetic Stock Identification

·         Fishing Depths of ESSN Setnets

·         Jim Creek Coho Salmon Weir

·         Juvenile Salmon Monitoring

·         Pike Eradication in Cottonwood Creek

·         Shell Lake Sockeye Salmon Monitoring

·         Alexander Lake Elodea Eradication

Wetlands

Wetlands are important fish and wildlife habitats that provide many ecological services that help support Mat-Su fisheries and the high quality lifestyle to be found here. The Mat-Su Borough has about 25% of its land area classified as wetlands. These wetlands help maintain quality fisheries habitat and the fish who need this habitat to thrive.

Check out our very attractive and interactive Wetland Story Map HERE.

Lake Monitoring Program

In 2018 the Mat-Su Borough decided to retire the VLMP after a nearly 20 year run. Dozens of area lakes were monitored for multiple years. We appreciate the many volunteers and staff who helped measure the health of their favorite lakes - thank you!

Additonal Information: 

Frontiersman Article

Storm Water Mgmt in the MSB: A GIS StoryMap Introduction

Best Mgmt. Practices for Development Near Water Bodies

Building a Fish-friendly Mat-Su