Alaska Section, American Water Resources Association

Michael R. Lilly, Alaska Section AWRA Northern-Region Director

I would like to invite you to the March 1997 Brown-Bag presentation by Roger Post, Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Roger's talk is of interest to those involved in the current application of watershed approaches to environmental problems in Alaska. Roger is the lead coordinator for an effort to develop a plan for the Lower Chena River Watershed. The issues that face watershed management plans can be vary diverse and the Lower Chena River has been no exception. We look forward to seeing you come to the meeting.

Alaska Section, AWRA, Northern Region Brown-Bag Lunch Meeting Presentation
Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Large Conference Room
October 8, 1997, Noon to 1300

"Current Status of the Lower Chena River Watershed Management Plan"
Roger Post, Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has received initial funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop a watershed management plan for the Lower Chena River. The plan would address wetlands and water quality in the basin and is based on a multi-agency, citizen-participation approach. Task 1, developing interagency conceptual support and direction for the planning project occurred between October 1995 and May 1996. Task 2, assembling a planning team with citizen-volunteer and agency representatives and developing watershed management strategies, began in May 1996 and is expected to be complete by December 1997.

The community identified four major watershed topics of concern: water quality, channel problems (bank erosion and protection, modified hydrology and morphology of the Lower Chena system, navigation, and fish habitat), flooding and drainage, and wetlands management. The Planning Team has developed draft management strategies for each topic and shortly will do a final side-by-side review of the strategies. Improved regulatory and information interfaces between agencies and the public are key provisions of the strategies. Remaining tasks include data/information collection or synthesis necessary to prepare a draft management plan based on the management strategies, preparation and public review of the draft plan, and finalization and implementation of the plan through interagency agreements, as necessary. Current funding is sufficient to complete data/information collection or synthesis and initiate preparation of the draft plan. ADF&G will seek continued funding increments.