Alaska's Kenai River Water Quality Monitoring Project: 22 Years of Community Supported Research

Author: Meyer, Benjamin E., Kenai Watershed Forum

Video Presentation

Abstract

The Kenai River in southcentral Alaska is among the world's most famed wild salmon rivers, and continues to support diverse fisheries and the people who rely on them as it has for millennia. In the year 2000 a group of local residents concerned about water quality issues worked with scientists to develop a water quality monitoring plan, which has been carried out continuously each year to present day. Today the nonprofit Kenai Watershed Forum coordinates the efforts of state, federal, tribal, municipal, and nonprofit partners to monitor water quality trends throughout the river. The twenty-two year continuous dataset represents a long and robust water quality dataset and has been applied successfully to identify and solve critical local conservation issues. For example, in the mid-2000's increases in hydrocarbon pollution from two-stroke boat motors led to their ban, as well as a tribal-supported motor buy-back program, gradually transitioning all boats to cleaner four-stroke engines. More recently, observed increases in levels of dissolved zinc and copper have helped focus future efforts towards solutions including green storm water infrastructure. The partnership serves as a model of diverse interests and institutions joining to support the common cause of keeping rivers healthy for fish, wildlife, and humans.

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