(Soldotna) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Sport Fish is currently accepting proposals for the 2025 Kenai Peninsula Habitat Rehabilitation & Protection Cost-Share. The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. Saturday, September 30, 2024.

The Kenai Peninsula Habitat Rehabilitation & Protection Cost-Share, administered cooperatively by ADF&G and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), is a financial incentive and educational outreach program directed towards private landowners and public land managers. The program provides technical expertise about rehabilitation practices, state and federal permitting assistance, and funding for salmon habitat rehabilitation and protection projects along streambanks on the Kenai Peninsula. Funds are limited and not all projects can be funded; however, selected landowners could have up to 50% of the cost of their project reimbursed. Additionally, ADF&G staff provides educational opportunities to landowners, public land managers, and the public on the techniques and value of fish habitat. The program uses and funds proven bioengineering techniques such as coir logs, willow plantings, cabled spruce trees, rootwads, and elevated light penetrating walkways to help stabilize, revegetate, and rehabilitate streambanks.

“With summer in full swing and people spending the long days outdoors, this is a time of year when landowners often notice erosional issues occurring on their property” stated Streambank Rehabilitation Coordinator Jessica Johnson. “Participation in this program will provide landowners with a hands-on learning experience and an opportunity to be actively involved in maintaining healthy juvenile salmon habitat and populations while also making their property more resilient to erosion.”

For additional information, please contact Streambank Rehabilitation Coordinator Jessica Johnson at (907) 267-2403 or by email at DFG.DSF.StreambankRehab@alaska.gov. Additional information is also available on the ADF&G Cost-Share Program website.

#24-3704