Chugach Children’s Forest

Annual Report 2012

AlaskaGeographic

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Compiled by Haley HuffOctober 29th, 2012

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Expeditions Find Youth-Produced Media at: http://www.chugachchildrensforest.org/programs/expeditions/upcoming-2012-expeditions Habitat Restoration Kayaking Expeditions

Chugach Children’s Forest launched two new stewardship expeditions in 2012 to bring under-represented youth from a variety of cultural and economic backgrounds to the stunning Prince William Sound for habitat restoration projects. These kayak-based expeditions also focused on recreational opportunities available on the Chugach National Forest, and participants included seventeen teens from around the Chugach including Valdez, Tatitlek, Whittier, Girdwood, and Anchorage. Restoration projects included weed removal and trail and campsite improvements. These ten-day trips were completed in partnership with Alaska Geographic, Chugach School District, REI, and APU. Major funding came from Prince William Sound RAC with significant donations from REI, Chugach School District, and gear discounts from a variety of businesses. This was the first of three years of funding for this program.

Expedition Coordinator Participants Age Projects Partners Donations

JuneAlaska Geographic

9, Targeting Underserved 14-16

Weed Removal, Trail & Campsite Improvements

Chugach School District, REI, APU

RAC Funding, Gear Discounts and Donations, Travel Discounts and Donations

AugustAlaska Geographic

9, Targeting Underserved 13-16

Weed Removal, Trail & Campsite Improvements

Chugach School District, REI, APU

RAC Funding, Gear Discounts and Donations, Travel Discounts and Donations

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Marine Stewardship Expedition

This boat-based expedition on the research vessel Babkin brought eight middle school students from Chenega Bay, Cordova, Valdez, and the Anchorage area to PWS to monitor oil spill recovery efforts and remove marine debris from area beaches. Now in its fourth successful year, two new partners joined the crew: the Center for Alaska Coastal Studies and the Gulf of Alaska Keepers. Funding from this program comes from EVOS (through the Gulf of Alaska Keepers), PWSRCAC, Chugach National Forest, and REI.

2012 Ice Patch Expedition Alaska Native youth from the Kenaitze Indian Tribe and the Quteckak Native Tribe rode ten miles by horseback into the Kenai Mountains for a week of archaeology surveys and cultural and natural resource education. The youth climbed to heights of 4500’ to survey ice patches for artifacts left by their ancestors thousands of years ago. Youth learned traditional uses of native plants and about the geologic history of the area. They also created rhythm sticks to play traditional songs and participated in other cultural activities such as beading and learning how to throw spears using the atl-atl, a traditional hunting tool. Now in its third year, the Ice Patch Expedition is funded by Forest Service Heritage and Diversity Grant funding and contributions from the Kenaitze Indian Tribe and the Quteckak Native Tribe.

Expedition Coordinator Participants Age Projects Partners

BabkinAlaska Geographic

12, Targeting Underserved 12 to 14

Marine Debris Removal & Oil Spill Recovery Monitoring

Chugach School District, Homer School District, Gulf of Alaska Keepers, PWSRCAC, Center for Alaska Coastal Studies

Expedition Coordinator Participants Age Projects Partners

Ice Patch USFS

13, Targeting Alaska Native Kenaitze and Quteckak Youth 14-18

Lowland and Ice Patch Archaeology Surveys, Plant ID, Horseback Riding, Rhythm Sticks & Traditional Music, Camp Chores

Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Quteckak Native Tribe, Alaska Geographic, Alaska Horseman Trail Adventures

Haley with Jaren, Julianne, and Masha conducting an ice patch survey

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American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation Traveling from across the United States, six members of the American Hiking Society met to spend a week volunteering on the Chugach National Forest. Under the direction of Betty Charnon, Kenai Peninsula Zone Ecologist, the group removed hundreds of dandelions and bird vetch from Resurrection Creek, Gull Rock Trail, Portage Valley, and Hope Point Trail. One member of the crew was a United States Marine, returning for another year of volunteering on the forest. American Hiking Society volunteers funded the trip.

Brave New Alaskan Voices Weed Smackdown Micro-Expedition Anchorage youth from the poetry group Brave New Alaskan Voices volunteered for a weekend of weed pulling, starting with removing invasive bird cherry trees from Valley of the Moon Park as part of Anchorage Park Foundation’s Anchorage Weed Smackdown. From there, BNAV traveled to Bertha Creek Campground, waking early to hike the 6.25 mile Gull Rock Trail, where Betty Charnon guided the group in pulling invasive dandelions. After a very eventful day, the group used the inspiring environment surrounding them to draft new poetry and reach new creative potential. This 2-night expedition was made possible by funding from REI and gear rental donations.

Expedition Coordinator Participants Age Projects Partners ValueAmerican Hiking Society (AHS) USFS

6, American Hiking Society 22-65

Invasive Weed Removal AHS $5,126

Expedition Coordinator Participants Age Projects Partners DonationsBrave New Alaskan Voices

USFS & Alaska Geographic

6, Brave New Alaskan Voices 14-18

Invasive Weed Removal

Anchorage Park Foundation, REI Gear Rental

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Hempnettle Havoc Micro-Expedition

Micro-expeditions are single-day stewardship projects offered to teens from past CCF programs. Reconnecting with program youth helps maintain the strong connections forged between the youth and the Chugach Forest. In July, eight youth from a variety of past trips traveled with Betty Charnon to Black Bear Campground in Portage Valley to remove invasive hempnettle from around the lake. A BBQ and hike to Byron Glacier rounded out the day. Funding for this micro-expedition came from the USFS, REI, and Alaska Geographic.

StreamWatch Stewardship Micro-Expedition In August, seven program youth headed to the Russian River to work with StreamWatch volunteers to help protect one of Alaska’s most important watersheds. The teens pulled down nearly five miles of protective habitat fencing under the guidance of Bobbie Jo-Skibo, who discussed river ecology and the importance of preventing stream bank erosion. The group was treated to great (and safe) looks at two brown bear cubs, an adult brown bear, and a juvenile black bear. Funding for this micro-expedition came from the USFS, REI, and Alaska Geographic. Expedition Coordinator Participants Age Projects Partners Value

Streamwatch Stewardship Micro-Expedition

Alaska Geographic

7, Targeting Underserved 14 to 19

Removal of Habitat Fencing for Winter Storage USFS, StreamWatch $598

Expedition Coordinator Participants Age Projects Partners ValueHempnettle Havoc

Alaska Geographic

8, Targeting Underserved 12 to 19

Invasive Weed Removal USFS, REI $726

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Careers Student Conservation Association Chugach 1 Crew: Alaskan Native Youth on Seward Ranger District

Six Alaskan Native youth from all over Alaska – Galena, Seward, Gustavus, Fairbanks, and Anchorage, worked together for four weeks to accomplish a variety of projects. In the first two weeks, the crew worked with Pat O’Leary on trail projects on the Resurrection River Trail, the Lost Lake trail, and the Six Mile Creek Trail. Projects included the addition of drainage features, reroutes, trail widening, and trail hardening. The crew was educated in sustainable trail design and Leave-No-Trace practices. During the second week, the youth partnered with Kenai Fjords National Park, the King Career Center, and the USFS in a multi-agency weed pull on Exit Glacier Road. During their third week, the crew worked with John Lang and the fisheries management crew. The crew cleaned and maintained gabion baskets, removed a beaver dam, and placed woody-debris in Meridian and Jerome Lakes. Additionally, the crew spent two days replacing and maintaining the habitat fencing along the Russian River in partnership with StreamWatch. The youth learned about salmon habitat and life-cycle and sustainable fishing practices while working alongside the fisheries management team. In the fourth week, the crew worked with Pat Cook, Karen Kromrey, and Sherry Nelson to restore the historic Hubbard Cabin. This work entailed digging around the cabin’s foundation to remove rotted base logs, adding cribbing and new base logs for support, removing the cabin floor, and cleaning the cabin. The crew learned the mining history of the region, the value of historic structures, and potential careers in archeology and cabin restoration. Crew Length Location Age Projects Value

Chugach I 4 WeeksSeward Ranger District High School

Trail Maintenance, Invasive Weed Removal, Cabin Restoration, Fisheries Management $20,506

Photo Credited to Student Conservation Association

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Chugach II Crew: High School Youth on the Seward Ranger District

Photo credited to Student Conservation Association

This high school crew of six came from across the country – Maryland, New Hampshire, Texas, Illinois, and Montana to work together for four weeks on a variety of projects on the Chugach National Forest. During the first and third weeks, the teens worked with Nicole Longfellow and the hazardous fuel reduction crew to remove potentially hazardous forest fire fuel and open up wildlife viewing corridors along the Bean Creek Trail. The youth also collected brush and small logs to create piles to be strategically burned in the fall. The youth were educated about wildfire risk and management, bear and moose safety, Leave-No-Trace principles, and potential careers in fire management. During the second and fourth week, the teens worked with Pat Cook, Karen Kromrey, and Sherry Nelson to continue restoration efforts of Hubbard Cabin. The youth removed and replaced the cabin’s roof; de-limbed, peeled, saddle notched, and placed replacement logs; replaced windows and door frames; and built a rock patio. The teens learned about the mining history of the region, the value of historic structures, and potential careers in archeology. The youth also participated in a one-day invasive weed pull along the Sterling Highway.

Crew Length Location Age Projects Value

Chugach II 4 WeeksSeward Ranger District High School

Hazardous Fuels Management, Cabin Restoration, Invasive Weed Removal $20,506

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Chugach III Crew: High School Youth on the Cordova Ranger District

Photo Credited to the Student Conservation Association

Five high school youth from across the country and one from Anchorage worked together for fourteen days on the Cordova Ranger District, repairing and maintaining Crater Lake Trail with direction from Bobby Scribner and Dave Zastrow. The crew restored 1000 feet of trail: they installed a system of rail-on-grade construction in areas of tread failure, replaced three water bars and installed one new water bar, repaired washed out trails to trail standards, placed eight wood steps and six stone steps, and hauled out seventy 2x12x10 all-weather boards from spike camp to the trail for future trail upgrades. The crew leaders educated the youth in food waste reduction, watershed connections, local flora and fauna, and Leave-No-Trace ethics. The youth visited the Prince William Sound Science Center, an abandoned mine site, and the Ilanka Cultural Center. Crew Length Location Age Projects Value

Chugach III 2 WeeksCordova Ranger District High School Trail Maintenance $10,252

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SCA Interns on the Glacier Ranger District Adam Gottschalk Adam Gottschalk worked as an intern for the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center (BBVC) where he provided information services for the public at the front desk. He also provided interpretive services for the MV Ptarmigan in Portage Lake (a partnership with Holland America-Princess, Royal Highway Tours), and guided the hikes to Spencer Lake (as part of the Whistle Stop Partnership with the Alaska Railroad). He presented 20-minute interpretive programs at BBVC on glaciers and salmon and led Ice Worm Safaris to Byron Glacier and hikes on the Gary Williams Moraine Trail. Adam was also excited to don the Smokey Bear costume for the public. He worked for the BBVC from mid-May to the end of August then stayed on as a volunteer into September… he just couldn’t get enough! Adam next headed for Atlanta, GA before pursuing his education in Environmental Engineering in New York. Stephanie Wright Stephanie Wright worked with Katy Toth-Stauble with the “Vantastic” Mobile Interpretive Center. This consisted of tables displaying bones, skulls, furs, and other wildlife specimens at key Watchable Wildlife locations on the Kenai Peninsula. The team set up several days a week and met hundreds of people from Memorial Day through mid-August. They also participated in special events like EA Days & National Trails Day at Kenai Peninsula Campgrounds/Trails, Outdoor Days at Potter Marsh in Anchorage, and Summer Solstice Festival in Moose Pass. Stephanie provided the public with information about the wildlife they were seeing and helped them learn to view animals through spotting scopes and binoculars. For the special events she helped Katy create and lead educational activities with children and their families. In addition, Stephanie researched and wrote the text for several “Sound Stories” that will later be recorded and included on the Sound Stories link of the Alaska Geographic web site. Stephanie chose to leave her internship 3 weeks early to take a paid position as a Trail Ranger for the SRD. She is planning to stay in Alaska this winter and to find work in the Seward area, not far from her grandparents.

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ANSEP Abby Fisher Abby Fisher is a recent graduate of Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka, Alaska. She is a natural science major at the University of Alaska Anchorage, focusing on environmental issues. During her internship at the SO, she rotated through the office, spending a week each with ecology, public affairs, wildlife, and GIS. Her internship continued through September in GIS by diversity funding. Clarissa Zeller Clarissa Zeller worked on the Cordova Ranger District as a Biology Intern under the direction of Erin Cooper. Clarissa is a 2nd-year ANSEP student and a sophomore at the University of Alaska Fairbanks majoring in Biological Sciences. This summer, she spent a majority of her 8-week internship working on the installation and maintenance of Dusky Canada Geese nest islands and assisted in the construction of a new ATV trail. Clarissa was thrilled to see the goslings in the nests, as they were “so cute and surprisingly yellow.” On trails, she really enjoyed working with her crew. They were the most musical group she ever worked with and would sing about everything; from what they were cooking, cleaning, and working on. Her physical and mental strength were tested as she spent three weeks carrying 50 pound loads of gear, pounding rocks, widening trails, and adding stair-steps to steep terrain; but seeing the end result and what she accomplished “made it worthwhile.” SAGA Crater Lake Trail Seven SAGA crew members spent two weeks repairing and reconstructing 2.4 of the Crater Lake Trail. Trail maintenance included installation of tread, switchbacks, log steps, drainage structures, log bridges, rock cribbing, rock retaining walls, rock steps, trail signage, and step/run boardwalk. This work alleviated unsafe trail conditions and resource impacts due to erosion and foot traffic. Dusky Canada Geese Nest Islands A crew of seven SAGA members headed out to the Copper River Delta for two weeks to install twenty-four new Dusky Canada Geese nests and to maintain fifty existing nests. This habitat improvement is important for increased geese reproduction and has been proven to

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be twice as effective as natural sites because their provided protection from land-based predators. Ibeck Creek OHV Trail Re-Route For this project, six SAGA members spent a week rerouting a popular ATV trail to restore damage caused by off-highway vehicles on spawning and rearing habitat used by Coho salmon. This work required installing low-water fords, blocking selected stream crossings with boulders, and re-vegetating stream banks with native plants such as alder, willow, and spruce. Project Length Location Age Value

Crater Lake Trail 2 WeeksCordova Ranger District 20-27 $8,554

Dusky Canada Geese Nest Islands 2 Weeks

Cordova Ranger District 20-28 $11,961

Ibeck Creek OHV Trail Re-Route 1 Week

Cordova Ranger District 20-29 $5,126

SCEP/ STEP Justin McKoy Justin is a SCEP intern, whose primary focus was revamping the marketing aspect of the Regional Rec Fee Program public website for Region 10, and then became the Rec Fee Program Manager for the Chugach National Forest. He recently transferred from the University of Alaska Southeast to the University of Alaska Anchorage where his major is accounting. He plans to continue his education and receive an MBA. Upon graduation, he wants to continue his career with the Forest Service in Alaska. As a lifelong Alaskan, Justin wants to work for an agency that he can relate to, whose mission statement he feels strongly about and wants to support. Shannon Smith Shannon is a STEP intern that has been working for Region 10 since 2008. She has enjoyed working on the Chugach since 2009, after moving from Juneau. Shannon is a fleet intern working for Roy Mitchell. She is a UAA Student majoring in Psychology, minoring in Anthropology. She will graduate from UAA with her BA in the Spring of 2013. Upon graduation, she plans to apply to graduate school.

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Gerhard Sells Gerhard Sells is a freshman at the University of Alaska Anchorage majoring in International Studies. This was his second summer working on the Ecology crew with Betty Charnon removing invasive weeds from sensitive habitat on the Chugach National Forest. Before he was hired on as an intern, Gerhard volunteered in many of the community weed pulls throughout previous years. He was a valuable member of the Brave New Alaskan Voices Weed Smackdown and the American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation and sang many songs to keep the crews motivated. Gerhard left his position on the forest early to pursue an opportunity to study in Germany for a month. Margeaux Zwang Margeaux Zwang is a senior studying geological science at the University of Montana in Missoula. This was her first summer working for Betty Charnon and the Ecology crew. She spent a majority of the summer removing invasive weeds from sensitive habitat and conducting sensitive plant surveys across the Kenai Peninsula Zone, but was also an important crew leader in the Brave New Alaskan Voices Weed Smackdown, Hempnettle Havoc, American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation, and kayak habitat restoration expedition. Abe Schmidt Abe Schmidt is a junior at University of Montana studying geology. He worked with the Seward Ranger District minerals program as a minerals technician. His work consisted of working with another Minerals technician to inspect placer gold mining operations to ensure mining operators were following their approved plan of operations, reducing physical hazards at abandoned mine sites, and cleaning up debris from abandoned mining operations. He hiked up many mining access routes along most of the streams on the Seward Ranger District and monitored many mining operations on the Seward Ranger District. He plans to complete his undergraduate degree in geology and find a permanent position as a geologist.

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Americorps Jillian Jablonski Jillian is an AmeriCorps volunteer working for the Cordova Ranger District. She has her BA in Spanish from the University of Illinois Chicago and is finishing a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Oregon, with a focus in fish & wildlife. She is passionate about natural resources and likes to share her enthusiasm with others, especially those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. The focus of her AmeriCorps term will be to integrate citizen science activities into the community of Cordova. She is currently hosting monthly activities at a local nursing home, beginning with bird watching, and is starting up programs within the Latino and Filipino communities.

MobilizeGreen Haley Huff

Haley Huff, a geological sciences student at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), is the USFS Alaska Region’s MobilizeGreen intern on the Chugach National Forest. MobilizeGreen internships are developmental opportunities for college students or recent graduates interested in acquiring experience in natural and cultural resources and developing awareness of Green and Environmental Sustainability strategies. Interns work with professional Forest Service employees, partners and the public to strengthen volunteerism and service on the National Forests and Grasslands. Haley is assisting the Chugach to improve efforts to engage individuals and local organizations in volunteer opportunities. She works closely with Alaska Geographic and other Chugach Children’s Forest partners.

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Volunteer/Service School Service Projects Fall 2012 Highland Technical High School In mid-September, Ayme Johnson and her teaching team from Highland Tech High School in Anchorage brought eighty students to the Chugach National Forest, where they integrated math, science, social studies, and language arts into service projects to restore habitat in the Portage area. Forty of the hardiest students ventured through the Tunnel to Whittier, to work alongside a Forest Service trail crew to repair erosion damage on the Portage Pass

Trail. The cleared brush and spread gravel and rock along a stretch of trail with drainage issues.

On the other side of the mountain, students helped build a salmon nursery from logs tied together into a large triangle filled with brush. The structure will be dragged onto river ice in the winter to sink as the ice melts, providing shelter for young salmon. Other students helped forest service botanists with re-vegetation of stream backs with native sedges grown in native soils to reduce the possibility of introducing nonnative species. See the story in Townsquare49!

Begich Middle School

Teacher Scott McKim brought sixty technology students on a

remarkably rain-free trip to Portage Valley to work help the forest service finish up the salmon nursery project, and help out with a habitat enhancement project to protect pale poppies, a beautiful little flower that doesn’t compete well with non-natives. Begich students were also treated to a hike featuring fresh bear-scat and great views of salmon spawning grounds. Support for the fall school service projects in the Chugach NF come from the Kenai Peninsula-Anchorage Borough Resource Advisory Committee and the Prince William Sound Resource Advisory Committee through the Rural Schools Act.

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Spring 2012

It was a busy spring! We sponsored 7 field trip days, reaching a total of 540 students participated in stewardship projects that included: bird cherry removal, trash clean-up, mini-Bioblitzes (geo-located bird and invertebrate surveys for long term data sets) and Project

Budburst data collection (target species: poplar, dandelion and yarrow).

We also worked with students in the classroom to prepare ESRI maps using ArcGIS Online. A total of 22 teachers were involved, along with 4 USFS biologists, 32 adult volunteers, and many partners including BLM, Anchorage Parks Foundation, Anchorage Waterways Council, Anchorage MUNI, and Audubon Alaska. Four of the teachers had been through the iTREC! Program.

Date School Site Description #Participants Coordinators PartnersIn-Kind

Donations

14-Sep Begich Portage Valley

Fish Habitat/Protection, pale polly habitat enhancement 64 AkGeo

25-SepRogers

Park Chester CreekChester Creek Water Quality Monitoring 86 AkGeo AWWC

3-Oct Mears Campbell

Creek Estuary

Revegetation of home sites, estuary / geoglogy, birch forest studies 63 AkGeo GLT, AWWC

Audubon Alaska

5-Oct Mears Campbell

Creek Estuary

Revegetation of home sites, estuary / geoglogy, birch forest studies 63 AkGeo GLT

Audubon Alaska

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Date School Site Description #Participants Coordinators PartnersIn Kind Donations

9-May Mears Middle School Campbell Creek

Bird Cherry Weed Pull, cleanup, bioblitz, art, invertebrates/water quality 120 AkGeo

APF, AWC, BLM, Aud. AK

Subway, ASD (Discount)

10-May Mears Middle School Campbell Creek

Bird Cherry Weed Pull, cleanup, bioblitz, art, invertebrates/water quality 120 AkGeo

APF, AWC, BLM, Aud. AK

Subway, ASD (Discount)

14-May Mears Middle School Campbell Creek Estuary

Bioblitz/Budburst, fence removal, poetry-in-place 120 AkGeo GLT

15-May Begich Middle School Kincaid ParkGarbage Removal, hike, natural history 40 AkGeo Muni

16-May Begich Middle School AK State Park

Hike up Bird Ridge, geology, garbage pick up, budburst, bioblitz 60 AkGeo Aud. AK

17-MayMachetaz Elementary School Palmer IBA

Geocache, bird survey, garbage pickup 60 AkGeo AkGeo Aud. AK

18-MayMachetaz Elementary School

Machetaz Elementary School ESRI Mapping 40 AkGeo

13-Jun King Career Center Portage Valley

Trail clearing with Alison; 2-night camping trip, visist to BBVC, Ranger talk 11

USFS, AkGeo, KCC REI

REI, AkGeo (T-Shirts)

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Conservation Education iTREC! iTREC! is a yearlong professional development program that provides teachers with place-based service learning skills to help today’s youth become lifelong stewards of Alaska’s public lands, natural resources and cultural heritage. iTREC! teachers develop their own curriculum to increase student literacy skills and foster student understanding of and appreciation for the public lands and resources connected by over 2,400 miles of the Iditarod National Historic Trail (INHT). These curricula integrate hands-on study of the natural and cultural resources of communities from Seward to Nome addressing concepts in ecology, sense of place, civics, outdoor recreation and volunteerism. This targeted investment is producing impressive results. In its three years, iTREC! has trained 40 teachers who are now effectively reaching nearly 3000 K-12 students in 7 rural and urban communities along the trail. Within the next 5 years, the iTREC! program goal is to include all communities along the trail, expanding its reach to approximately 10,000 students. Committed Partnership iTREC! is a flagship effort of the Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance (a 501c3 nonprofit organization) which has established a robust collaboration of federal, state, school, business and community partners from Seward to Nome. lead partners include the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Alaska Geographic. In addition to dozens of statewide and local partners, iTREC! continues to attract many innovative partners each year. This engaged partnership is the foundation of iTREC!’s tremendous success. 2010-2012 iTREC! Curriculum Projects • Interpretive signs along the INHT • ABC books about the INHT and communities along the trail • Developing historical timelines and documenting oral histories • INHT discovery quests for schools and communities • Trail maintenance projects • Raising awareness of the INHT through Public Service Announcements • INHT watershed monitoring, Adopt a Stream and water quality sampling • Developing INHT schoolyard pioneer gardens and rain gardens • Identification and marking of the trail • Developing INHT community visitor guides

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Conservation Education on the SRD #Presentations Content Activity

4 Wildlife

Build a Bat; Animal Homes; Habitat Hike

4 Watershed Wild Water Cycle1 Plants/Vegetation Hooray for Leaves!

Conservation Education on the CRD # Presentations Content Partners

7Watershed Ecology

Cordova School District, Copper River Watershed Project, Loyola University

Additional Information: In April, the fisheries crew partnered with the Cordova School District (CSD) and the Copper River Watershed Project (CRWP) on a pond ecosystem event at Odiak Pond. Seventh grade students learned about aquatic invertebrates, water quality testing, and sampling fish populations. In September, the crew worked with 10th grade students and CRWP on a wetlands analysis study at Odiak Pond. Students sampled vegetation and soil types across transects from the pond to the upland areas, noting the differences caused by moisture, soil, and topography. Crew members and a graduate student from Loyola University worked with two classes of fourth grade students sampling aquatic invertebrates at One Eyed Pond. We emphasized the different types of creatures found in the different habitat areas, their life histories, and their role in the ecosystem. Additionally, fisheries personnel gave two presentations at the local high school. One presentation covered the fish populations in a local pond, their habitat requirements, and diet. Biologists anesthetized fish and helped students flush the stomachs to see what the fish had been eating. Fish crew members also participated in the Ocean Science Fair at the high school. They presented posters showing Forest Service fish ladder projects and restoration work and explained the link between the ocean and freshwater ecosystems through the returning adult salmon.

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BBVC Field Trip Visits Field Trips Students Educators

33 1028 209 Vantastic Marine Highway Program

M/V Chenega Route Whittier - Valdez Valdez - Whittier - CordovaTotal Passengers 2211 1166Rove Contacts 1465 604Program Contacts 731 roveTotal Contacts 2196 604

Program Content and Delivery The MV Chenega is home ported in Cordova, Alaska and traveled to Whittier and Valdez on both Wednesday and Thursday. Our Interpreter, Janet Hoppe, boarded the vessel in Valdez for the Wednesday run of Valdez – Whittier – Cordova. She mirrored the route on Thursday traveling from Cordova – Whittier – Valdez. Program topics she covered either addressing the interested group or sharing the story at tables were marine mammals, the oil spill, fox farming, the Harriman expedition, mining, the ’64 Earthquake, and glaciers. Janet’s program delivery varied based on the needs of the audience. During the Valdez – Whittier runs most of the passengers were visiting the area and Janet presented information to front group and brought information to back tables as informal roving. The route from Cordova and Whittier were predominately local commuters and Janet circulated engaging passengers who wanted to ask questions or share information. Mobile Team

Location Time Spent ContactsTern Lake 18 Days 1064Sheep View 2 Days 114Russian River 1 Day 30Dave's Creek 5 Days 178Moose Creek 1 Day 34

Total Contacts 1420

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Junior Ranger Program Partner Boat Badges EarnedMajor Marine Fairweather Express II 351Major Marine Kenai Star 333Phillips Glacier Quest 327Phillips Klondike Express 916

Total 1927 Project Budburst NFWF Botany

Phenology is the study of biological events in relation to seasonal changes. The timing of these events is directly linked to climate so monitoring these events over time can offer insight into organism response to climate change. For plants, events that can be monitored include first leaf, budburst, full flower, fruiting (seeds) and senescing of leaves. Variability in timing is common from year to year, but drastic and sudden shifts can have lasting impacts on many organisms including humans. There is a nation-wide effort to monitor these changes in a growing list of plants. The Project Budburst website

(http://neoninc.org/budburst/) offers a detailed description of how and what to monitor in the plant world and displays a nation-wide map with observations as they come in throughout the season. A majority of these observations come from citizen scientists and youth that can choose to observe a single plant once or make multiple observations throughout the growing season. On the Chugach, plant ecologists and public affairs staff organized several education and observation outings for the public to introduce them to Project Budburst. As part of this effort, four species were selected from the Project Budburst national monitoring list and were highlighted as species to monitor on the Chugach National Forest. These species were selected because they are common, easy to identify, and are easy to monitor. They include the common dandelion, black cottonwood, large leaf lupine and common yarrow. Using modified templates from the Project Budburst website, a brochure was produced featuring these target species with information on how to identify them, observe phenophases, and report data to the national website. A second brochure was also produced for the Melibee project (see below). A total of 350 brochures were printed with

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funding from Alaska Geographic and were distributed at various project budburst events and at Mt. Eccles Elementary school in Cordova. One article on Project Budburst was published in the Delta Sound Connection annual publication, and two articles were posted on the My Alaska Forests web log by public affairs staff. In addition to publications, several presentations and outings were conducted throughout the growing season and included: presentations to both fourth grade classes at Mount Eccles Elementary school in Cordova on plant phenology monitoring and one observation outing with these students the following month at Alaganik Slough (37 youth), several short presentations over a two day period at the Potters Marsh Discovery days (150+ youth), and a presentation and observation outing at Girdwood Elementary school (25 youth). Additionally, Alaska Geographic supplied travel funding to cover a PhD candidate and her advisor’s travel expenses from the University of Fairbanks to present at the Potters Marsh Discovery days and provide a more formal presentation and demonstration at the Alaska Botanical Garden in Anchorage to an audience of 15 citizen scientists on their Melibee Project. While they touched upon Project Budburst, their primary focus was to get citizen scientists trained to observe and submit flowering and fruiting data on native berry producing species and a non-native clover species. These researchers will then use that data to determine if the non-native clover might be out competing native berry producing plants for pollinators.

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Volunteer Programs StreamWatch StreamWatch had a very busy season this year with 79 StreamWatch Ambassadors, 10 Stewardship work days, participation in 5 outreach events, and 5 local presentations. The lower river program was managed by Lisa Beranek and covered Bings Landing, Moose Range Meadows (East & West), Centennial Park, and the Kasilof River. The upper river program was managed by Remy McBride and covered Russian River Falls, Russian River Campground, and the Russian River/Kenai River Confluence. Partners participating in StreamWatch include Alaska State Parks (DNR); City of Soldotna; Chugach National Forest (USFS); Department of Mining, Land and Water (DNR); Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS); and the Kenai Watershed Forum. Supporters of StreamWatch include Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund, Chugach National Forest (USFS), Conoco Phillips, Kenai Watershed Forum, and Kenai River Sport Fishing Association. Additionally, StreamWatch was highlighted by the Department of the Interior’s America’s Great Outdoor River Initiative. Volunteer Statistics

2012 2011 2010 2009Total Volunteer Hours 1607 1022 816 1130Public Contacts 4041 3620 2358 4175Trash Collected (lbs) 850.76 610 378 1035

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Outreach Events Location Activity Audience

The Great Alaska Sportsman Show

Tabling session; Volunteer recruitment 5000

Kenai Watershed Forum River Festival

Children's activity; Program Information 2000

Kenai River Classic

Outreach Display; Volunteer Recruitment 250

SalmonStock Festival

Outreach Display; Volunteer Recruitment; Stream Education 300

Kenai River Clean-Up

Outreach Display; Volunteer Recruitment 50Total Reach: 7600

Presentations: Location Audience

Salmon Stock Festival 12Kid's Fishing Day (BBVC) 84 Boys and Girls ClubSoldotna Rotary Club 39Kenai Soil & Water Conservation District 9Kenai River Special Management Area Board 10

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Stewardship Projects Event Participants Project CompletedRussian River Fence Installation

McLaughlin Youth Center

Installation of 2 miles of River Protection Fencing

Russian River Fence & Sign Installation Community Members

Installation of Fencing & Site Signage

Moose Range Meadows Fence Installation Community Members

400" of River Protection Fencing installed

Soldotna Creek Fence Removal

Kenai Peninsula Borough & Trout Unlimited

Removal of a Fish Passage Barrier

Leaf Creek Fish Passage Removal

Kenai Peninsula Borough

Removal of a Washed Out Culvert & an Abandoned Foot Bridge

StreamWatch Shed Maintenance

Kenai Peninsula Care Center Volunteers Shed Painting

Kasilof Beach Clean-Up

Alaska Women's Environmental Network Beach Clean-Up

River Habitat Fencing Removal Trout Unlimited

Removal of the Habitat Fencing at the Moose Range Meadows Site

Rotary Park Clean-Up Soldotna Rotary Club

Clean-Up at the Soldotna Rotary Park; 35.95 lbs. of Debris Removed

Russian River Fence Removal

Chugach Children's Forest

Removed Fence from the Russian River

Additional Recruitment

Online: National Forest Foundation, Friends of National Forests, VolunteerMatch, Indeed, Facebook, Alaska Women’s Environmental Network “What’s Up” Newsletter, Chugach National Forest Website, Department of Natural Resources, and Craigslist Flyers: Distributed in public spaces of Anchorage, Seward, Girdwood, Cooper Landing, Homer, Soldotna and Kenai Radio: KRSM

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Volunteers

Individual & Group Volunteers on the GRD Volunteer Project Location HoursAdam Gottschalk Visitor's Services BBVC 96Julie Roetman Visitor's Services and

Gold Rush DaysCrooked Creek Information Site

480

Barbara Bryson Visitor's Services and Gold Rush Days

Crooked Creek Information Site

40

Janice Whalen Visitor's Services and Gold Rush Days

Crooked Creek Information Site

8

Kathleen Keusenkothen Science Fair Judge Girdwood School 81st and 2nd Grade Classes, 40 students, 2 Teachers

Budburst Girdwood School 126

2nd and 3rd Grade Classes, 20 Students, 1 Teacher

Budburst Girdwood School 63

5th and 6th Grade Classes, 20 Students, 1 Teacher

Sedge Planting for Rain Garden and Restoration Projects on CNF

Girdwood School 63

High School Class, 17 Students Trail Maintenance Portage Pass Trail 17

Individual Trail Maintenance Portage Pass Trail 50Total Hours Volunteered 951

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Individual and Group Volunteers on the SRD Volunteer Project Location HoursCooper Landing Community Club Ski Trail Grooming

Russian River Campground 172

Seward Nordic Ski Club Ski Trail Grooming

Trail River Campground 220

Jim and Lois TudorHope Area Recreation Site Maintenance Hope, AK 432

Seward Trail Blazers Trail BrushingIditarod National Historic Trail 64Total Hours Volunteered 888

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Events Events on the CRD Event Participants Partners

Shorebird Festival 200

Cordova Chamber of Commerce, USFS International Programs, Audubon

Wetland Ecology High School Seminar 24

Copper River Watershed Project, Cordova School District

Fungus Festival 150

Cordova Chamber of Commerce, Copper River Marketing Association

Kid's Fishing Day 35Cordova Chamber of Commerce

Kid's Hike and Fish 20

Cordova Family Resource Center

Additional Information:

Kid’s Hike and Fish The Kids’ Hike and Fish event provides kids with healthful outdoor exercise, education about the forest ecosystem, and a lesson on a variety of fish topics – such as habitat and anatomy. Most of all, the kids have a fun day of catching fish and then eating the fish they catch, cooked by Forest Service chefs. This year we partnered with the Cordova Family Resource Center which provides a summer day camp for underserved kids in the community. Fifteen kids and five chaperones participated, with the adults enjoying the experience

almost as much as the kids. Kid’s Fishing Day Our ever-popular Kids’ Fishing Day was held at Hollis Hendricks Park in Cordova. We registered 35 kids for prizes and a large number of parents attended as well. Activities included lure-making, fish dissection to learn about salmon anatomy, fish painting and

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printing, stream ecology, spin casting practice, smoked eulachon, and a boat safety game. Ruby the Red Salmon visited with the kids as they travelled booth to booth. Community businesses contributed over food and raffle prizes to the event. Events on the SRD

Events on the GRD Event Participants Partners

Bear Aware Week 200Wild & Aware Girdwood and the Anchorage Bear Committee

Fungus Fair 500

Anchorage Park Foundation, Girdwood Inc., Girdwood Parks and Recreation, South Central Alaska Mycological Society, Alyeska Resort

Kid's Fishing Day at Moose Flats 200

Anchorage Municipality Watershed Management Division, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Kid's Fishing Day in Valdez 109

Crooked Creek Information Site, Cordova Ranger District

Event Participants Partners

Jammin Salmon 53Alaska Department of Fish & Game

Owl Release 45EA Days 116Qutekcak Native Tribe BBQ 70 Qutekcak Native TribeMoose Pass Summer Solstice Festival 158Kid's Trail Day 40