Three Southeast communities are among 14 statewide recipients of the Alaska Clean Water Actions grants. The combined $295,493 in grants are awarded by a partnership of the Alaska Departments of Environmental Conservation, Fish and Game, and Natural Resources to help the state achieve its clean water goals by focusing on waters in greatest need of protection and restoration.
The Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition received $9,997 for the Duck Creek and Nancy Street Wetland Assessment in Juneau. This two-year project evaluates the effectiveness of the best management practices that have been installed on Duck Creek by working with the Juneau Watershed Partnership and the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau to collect water quality data.
In Petersburg, the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition received $25,949 for a recreational beach monitoring program at Sandy Beach Park. In its second year, the program seeks to monitor and raise awareness of potential sources of bacterial contamination.
In Haines, the Takshanuk Watershed Council received $14,652 to create a 3,000 square foot wetland to filter stormwater prior to entering Sawmill Creek. They also received $10,863 for two 700 square-foot snow removal bioswales to capture snowmelt runoff along the Fort Seward Parade Grounds. The bioswales will filter out pollutants before the water is discharged into Portage Cove, an anadromous waterbody that supports all five species of Pacific salmon.
For more information about ACWA and the list of priority waters and actions, see www.dec.state.ak.us/water/acwa/acwa_index.htm.
