P.O. BOX 1560, CORDOVA, 99574 tel 907.424.3334 email [email protected] web COPPERRIVER.ORG

COPPER WATERSHED PROJECT FALL 2019

But it means that thousands of people come here COPPER RIVER CLEAN UP: to fish each year, and sadly, you can also find trash Leave It the Way You Found It left along the banks of the river, including several KRISTIN CARPENTER, Outgoing Executive Director abandoned vehicles. The Copper River Watershed Project and several public and private landowner The bridge spanning the Copper River just east of partners are pursuing funding to excavate the Chitina is a great vantage point. You can see two abandoned vehicles. Inc., the Chitina mighty coming together, the and Corporation, the Chitina Village Council, the Alaska the Copper River, to merge just before they begin Departments of Fish & Game and Natural Resources, carving their way through the the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve on their way to the . The glacial waters (WRST) are all partners in working toward cleaning chugging under the bridge are the migration corridor up the shoreline of the Copper River. for thousands of making their way up the banks of the Copper River to spawn in its tributaries. These partners, WISE (Wrangell Institute for Science You can see a river bank full of fish wheels designed and Environment) and two dozen community to scoop salmon out of the river’s current for volunteers came together on August 13, 2019 to subsistence harvest, a centuries-old practice of help clean up the trash that could be collected by putting up fish for winter stores. hand. The group picked up about 9 cubic yards of trash (almost one dump truck load) and pulled white In the age of mega-dams and shoreline development, sweet clover, an invasive plant, at a Chitina road we are fortunate to live in one of the few fully intact intersection. Tom and Beth Kelly of Chitina provided watersheds in where we are still able a grill for us to use in serving lunch to volunteers, and to harvest salmon, a thriving renewable resource. WRST staff capped the day by hauling and disposing The Alaska Department of Fish & Game manages of the trash that was collected. salmon fishing in this drainage using escapement goals, sonar, harvest data and in-river counting data Together, we’re working to get a message out to folks to help sustain salmon populations for subsistence, who visit this watershed for salmon fishing: we hope personal use, sportfishing, and commercial fisheries. visitors will “leave it the way you found it,” and help keep This particular location also happens to be one of the trash out of the river that feeds thousands of people. most accessible for Alaskans who don’t live in the Thank you to all of our hard-working volunteers and watershed wanting to catch Copper River salmon. partners for your stewardship of our watershed!

CRWP MISSION The CRWP promotes a salmon-rich, intact watershed and culturally diverse communities by forming partnerships for watershed-scale planning and projects. OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DEAR FRIENDS, ROBIN: For the Board of Directors, the process of finding a new Executive Director included initial denial, KRISTIN: Fall is a time of transitions: kids are back a steep learning curve, and the exciting process of in school, for us it’s a shift from summer field work interviewing many bright people who aspired to the job. and programs to the season of planning, meetings As we realized what big shoes we needed to fill, we also and grant writing. Right now we have some big had to recognize that the job is very different from the transitions going on here at the CRWP that we’d like one Kristin first took 20 years ago, as sole employee of a to share with you. After a months-long, deliberate brand-new dream. search process for its next staff leader, the CRWP is introducing its selection of Lisa Docken as its new With input from the board and staff, the search Executive Director. committee sorted through several dozen resumes, and interviewed interesting people from near and far. We are Of all the partnerships we work on throughout the thrilled to have found a new ED who we feel embodies watershed, the teamwork between an executive the passion and professionalism that this job requires. director and the Board of Directors and between The Board of Directors looks forward to supporting Lisa an executive director and staff are the most crucial. and the staff as they pivot into this new chapter. That’s why I’m excited to be welcoming Lisa to the organization, because I believe her creativity and LISA: I am very honored to begin working with the research training will be a great foundation for leading incredible staff and Board of Directors as appointed the CRWP in its next chapter. Executive Director for the CRWP. Kristin has fostered and nurtured this organization for two decades, so I look We have another new staff members too. Ashley forward to absorbing as much information from her as Taylor, Alexis Cooper, and Kari Rogers, who is now possible during our transition. Also, I am very excited working as a Project Manager for the CRWP in the to meet all the partners that have been critical for Copper River basin (more inside). numerous collaborative projects throughout the entire Copper River watershed. Thank you for this opportunity.

We look forward to sharing more about these transitions with you as we move into our fall and winter “planning season,” Kristin, Robin, Lisa

MEET LISA DOCKEN

CRWP STAFF CRWP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lisa Docken, Executive Director Robin Mayo, President, Kenny Lake Kendra Harder, Copper Center Chantel Adelfio, Invasive Plants Program Manager Pete Mickelson, Vice President, Cordova Shae Bowman, Operations Manager Nik Merlino, McCarthy Alexis Cooper, Finance Director Matt Piche, Treasurer, Cordova Amanda Wiese, Cordova Kate Morse, Program Director Jackie McMahan, Secretary, Gakona Kari Rogers, Copper Basin Project Manager Ashley Taylor, Invasive Plants Technician, Cordova CLASSROOM CURRENTS CONNECTING COMMUNITIES with their CORNER of the WATERSHED

KARI ROGERS & KATE MORSE

Dip your hands in its chill water. The river will carry your touch around the bend, riding in the current. Downstream, it meets the Copper River itself, scratchy with grit and pearled a silty grey from its glacial source high in the .

With a watershed’s intricate geometry, branching creeks, streams and rivers merge and empty into the meandering Copper River. After some days, the water you touched will braid across the wide Copper River Delta where it will blend its milky waters with the blue-green Gulf of Alaska.” Wendy Erd wrote these words for an interpretive sign we installed at a wayside by the Slana River some years ago, and still the message resonates with our work to engage residents of all ages in outdoor explorations and adventures in their backyard. Not only do we encourage people to emotionally connect with the streams or lakes where they recreate, hunt, or fish, we want them to understand how where they stand, swim, or float is structurally connected to the greater Copper River watershed.

In early August, CRWP hosted two separate community Canoe Days in the headwaters of the Copper River. Our first event found us on standing on the shore of the crystal-clear water of Mentasta Lake, surrounded by children and their families, each eager to begin explorations of their home waters. Once safely equipped with PFDs, the children paddled around and peered down into the shallow water at the bright red backs of spawning salmon. Eagles flew from tree top to tree top, caught up in the children’s excitement of waterborne freedom and their wonder for the intriguing life cycle of salmon on display and so close at hand.

A day later and twenty-some miles down the road, 31 nature loving adventurers set out on a half day exploration of the Slana River, enjoying the easy-flowing waters of the Slana River as they worked their way downstream to its confluence with Ahtell Creek.

While getting to experience these incredible parts of Alaska, we gained a better understanding of our connection to each other and to the building blocks of the Copper River watershed: glaciers and snow-crusted ridgelines and deep valleys, precipitation falling from clouds, rocks and soil supporting plants of all sizes, abundant wildlife and fish, and the innumerable waterways funneling ever downward, leading to a brilliant blue ocean.

Time on the water provided us with a renewed commitment to care for the sum total of the Copper River watershed and all of its inhabitants. Whether for good or bad, we recognize that our daily actions translate into a downstream ripple effect for our neighboring communities and for the salmon that also claim the Copper River watershed as their home.

For these incredible experiences and stewardship reminders, we give our thanks to BLM, Huck Hobbit’s Homestead, and Mentasta Traditional Council for your generous support of CRWP’s annual community canoe day outings. THE CHALLENGE OF WHITE SWEET CLOVER BY KARI ROGERS, Copper Basin, Project Manager when i consider white sweet Hope is not lost, if we work together COPPER RIVER WATERSHED clover’s ability to mass produce seeds we still have the opportunity to PROJECT’S NEW COPPER BASIN from a single mature plant at the rate combat this intruder and win! of 350,000 seeds per year, it’s easy to Treatment methods of WSC include Kari Rogers recognize the importance of facing hand pulling, mowing, and herbicide this challenge head on to prevent treatment. When pulling WSC, It didn’t take Kari long to realize that its spread within the Copper River completely remove the taproot to the wild placesstaff where shemember2 lived and Valley. White sweet clover (WSC) is prevent resprouting of the same roamed in the Lower 48 were missing not native to Alaska, and flourishes plant. Once the flowering stage of a lot of integral parts and pieces in areas of natural and human-caused the plant is underway, the maturing to the whole, healthy ecosystem disturbance to the ground cover; plant should be bagged and disposed puzzle. Working to replace the roadways or trails, gravel parking of to prevent seed dispersal. If the missing pieces within an established lots, within gravel pits, and most plants have set their seed (usually agricultural system was never realistic unfortunately, on gravel bars and late July), we recommend not pulling or satisfactory, and always met with rocky shorelines of our river systems. them at all, as there is a greater risk of resistance. Consequently, she and White sweet clover is easily spread inadvertently dispersing the seed to her husband Bruce set their sights on through seed being transported by other areas. making a life for themselves in Alaska vehicles, contaminated soil and gravel where all the parts and pieces of a used for construction projects, and Copper Basin partners are actively truly wild landscape are still intact and waterways carrying seed downstream. working to control the spread of WSC highly valued by those who call Alaska in our communities and outlying home. For the past 18 years, Kari and This extremely invasive plant is areas. However, even with all these her family have lived along the banks known to successfully outcompete efforts, more public involvement is of the Copper River, overlooking vast native plants for soil nutrients, water, needed. The CRWP and its partners wild landscapes and staying in tune with and sunlight. After WSC dies back, hold community weed-pulling events the rhythm of nature and the seasons. the seed continues to spread to areas annually to increase awareness and They place great value on friendships, via our clothing or in the tread of encourage local residents to join the community involvement, and living a tires, etc. Seeds of WSC remain viable good fight against invasive plants. simple, back-to-the-basics life. Kari in the soil for up to 81 years, easily We need all hands on deck to views her work with Copper River creating a seedbank that must be preserve and protect Alaska’s Watershed Project as a privilege which managed repeatedly. beautiful natural environments! enables her to share a lifelong love of nature with the next generation of natural resource stewards.

to TO GIVE SAVE WILD

eat wild Drifter’s Fish is morethe husband andways wife team of Michael and Nelly Hand whose business model is a Community Supported Fishery (CFS) that allows Drifter’s Fish to supply high quality, sustainably caught salmon directly to CSF customers year-round. The Hands are committed to taking care of the watershed, and Drifters Fish gives back 1% of its annual sales to support the CRWP’s salmon habitat and watershed education programs. Look for a Drifters Fish Dinner Event and purchase jars of smoked salmon at driftersfish.com.

SHOP SENA SEA TO SUPPORT THE COPPER RIVER & THE CRWP Sena Sea Seafoods is a family-owned and operated commercial fishing business that prioritizes sustainable This Cordova-born business offers spa therapy products for fishing practices from how they handle the fish in the face and body using Alaska glacier mineral mud and other net to the packaging in which seafood arrives at your wildcrafted Alaskan ingredients. But it is about more than doorstep. Above all else, Sena Sea wants to provide you just really good skincare for this company! Alaska Glacial with the amazing seafood their family has been enjoying Mud Co. shares 10% of its annual proceeds to support wild for three generations, but in the most sustainable and salmon habitat. Visit alaskaglacialmud.com for product ethical way possible. bundles and gift sets.

When you choose wild salmon, you give value to the salmon and when we collectively value an important resource like salmon, we can protect the freshwater habitats on which they depend. Your purchase from Whenever you shop online with Amazon, you could Sena Sea can have an even bigger impact when you be sharing a small percentage of what you pay for your shop Sena Sea via the CRWP website! items with the Copper River Watershed Project. Just go online to smile.amazon.com and select Copper River Follow the link on our web site to their on-line seafood Watershed Project as the charity to which you wish to catalog, and they will donate eight percent of proceeds donate. from our affiliate sales to the CRWP: copperriver.org/ about-us/buyfish/

“When we decided to direct market our fish it was, and still is, very important to us Support CRWP just when you shop at Fred Meyers that we not only supply clean, by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to the sustainable fish direct to Copper River Watershed Project. Once linked, every the consumer, but also that time you shop, your rewards card will continue to we work as a force for good, earn rewards points, fuel points, and rebates to count promoting sustainable practices and teaching stewardship to toward a CRWP donation from Fred Meyers! To sign the next generation. That's why we're so pleased to partner up, please visit fredmeyer.com/communityrewards with the Copper River Watershed Project.” – sena wheeler RIDGELINES: AROUND THE WATERSHED COPPER RIVER BASIN SYMPOSIUM: THE CHANGING CLIMATE COPPER RIVER SALMON TRADITION, SCIENCE, AND IN ALASKA HARVESTERS ROUNDTABLE STEWARDSHIP Many Alaskans enjoyed a beautiful, A third annual Copper River Salmon The Copper River Watershed Project sunny summer, although it didn’t Harvesters Roundtable will be held has partnered with Wrangell Institute take long for enjoyment to turn to in February, 2020 in the Copper for Science and Environment, the worry. Record breaking temperatures Basin. Members of all salmon fishery Wrangell Mountains Center and throughout the state has led to groups -- subsistence users, dipnetters, the Wrangell-St. Elias National decreased snow cover, increased sport fishermen, and commercial Park & Preserve to host a Copper rates of glacial ice melt, and warmer fishermen -- are invited to participate Basin Symposium: Tradition, Science, water temperatures (freshwater and in a conversation about on-the- and Stewardship. The Symposium marine). The Copper River experienced water conditions, fish and fishery is designed to facilitate knowledge high discharge this summer due to observations, and learn about current sharing and research coordination unprecedented glacial melt rates, but research on salmon populations in across the Copper River Basin on our local rain- and snow-fed streams the Copper River watershed. Meals, topics ranging from climate research to ran low or even dried up. This led to lodging and travel expenses are traditional ecological knowledge. We large die-offs of spawning salmon that covered for participants. Please contact hope this symposium will strengthen became trapped in low, warm water us at [email protected] if you are relationships and collaborative streams that lacked enough oxygen to interested in participating or would like to research and management activities support returning fish populations. see notes from past Roundtable gatherings. among federal and state agencies, The lack of precipitation in the Copper Native corporations, tribal councils, River Watershed created obstacles not researchers, and community members just for fish, but also humans. Here in who together share a stewardship the rainforest, Cordova had to conserve LIKE US ON FACEBOOK interest in the Copper River Basin. water usage across town and pull water SEARCH COPPER RIVER WATERSHED PROJECT The Copper Basin Symposium will from our secondary sources, while in the be held on February 18-20, in Copper Copper Basin they had the additional Center, Alaska. The 2-day Symposium concern of wildfires. In a recent article will conclude with a facilitated half- published on SNAP (Scenarios Network day workshop synthesizing salmon for Alaska + Arctic Planning), Nancy and salmon habitat research. We are Fresco from University of Alaska excited to dive into a variety of topics Fairbanks highlighted the 2.4 million and learn from local researchers and acres of forest burned across Alaska long-standing community members! from over 600 wildfires. She noted that Learn more: https://copperriver.org/news- current studies show Alaska's wildfires events/copper-river-basin-symposium/. becoming larger, more frequent, and more intense. An increase in frequency and intensity feeds the cycle of climate change because these fires are releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which in turn worsens the projections of climate change and its detrimental effects on our environment. Learn more: www.snap.uaf.edu Matt & Nicole Piche Rodger & Gerri Koechling Heidi Hatcher THANK YOU MEMBERS & SPONSORS Reluctant Fisherman Inn Ben & Kaitlin Kramer David & Judy Heller Laura & Neal Resnick Peter Kramer Teresa & Jim Holley ANCESTORS’ Copper Valley Wireless John & Patty Bodner Steve Richards Cory & LeAnn Larson Elizabeth & Martin Hubbe Cordova Telephone Tim Bowman & Judy Engh Jonathan Riehle & Liz & Bill Larzelere Brooke Johnson LEGACY, $1000+ LFS Marine Supplies Kathleen & Chris Jones Alaska Glacial Mud Cooperative Jenny Brandt Angela Bohmann Cordova Wireless Gabrielle Brown Larry Rinder Sue Kesti & Dan Logan Marita Kleissler Bill & Marion Alexander Ann Mayo-Kiely Adra Kusnirova Communications Cheryl Childers & Elizabeth & Jim Robinson Alyeska Pipeline Molly McCormick Kate & Hamish Laird Currant Ridge Cabins Jim Bowers Bruce & Kari Rogers Service Co. Kate McLaughlin Tom McGann & Sue Laird Jessica Dunn Robert Bundy Rich Rogers Arthur J. Donald Family Isla McMahan Tom Lanini G. Warren & Donna Elliott Jim & Marilyn Chu Bill & Mary Earl Rogers Kim Menster Les & Joan Larson Foundation Tony Gasbarro Becky Clausen & Dirk Lang Kari Rogers Allison & Chris Bovard Belle Mickelson Joyce Levine Janet & Donald Groschel Mary & David Little Thomas & Liisa Rohweder Pete Mickelson Kristin Link Diane & Mark Colleran Jeff Guard & Copper Valley IGA Hugh Rose Steve Moffitt Mike Mahoney Colby & Jeremy Doyle Dorne Hawxhurst Natasha Casciano David Rosenthal NAPA Auto Parts/Alaska Robin Mayo Drifters Fish Anne & John Herschleb Cordova Outboard Al Rule & Jane Browning Auto Center, Inc. Marleen Moffitt John Garner & Todd Hess Andy Craig & Elizabeth Schafer Jeremy Olen Stanton Moll Liz Cardwell Kirk Hoessle & Seawan Gehlbach Beth & Rich Schluter Pam Ore Kevin O’Toole Dr. Elizabeth McLoughlin Gabrielle Markel Linda Crider Clair & Steffan Scribner Pete's Treats Pet Projects Dan Hull & Nancy Pease Peter & Tanya Johnson Crowley Petroleum John Shine Jacob Peterson & Andy Pfeiffer Jim & Martha Hutchison Curtis H. Jones, Jr. Distribution Silver Fox Jewelry Sarah Kathrein Sarah & Stephen Phillips Yvette & John Delaquito Mark Heidbrink & Jennifer Sutton & James Pomplun Frederic Reid Antioch International, Inc. Beth Poole Cathy & Micah Renfeldt Curt & Betty Jones Doug Landgraf Becca Dodge Todd Smith Ian Lindsay Knife Co. Wayne & Diann Smith Monika Reghetti Dick & Sue Shellhorn Bill Leighty & Dan Reum Amelia Sikes Donna McBain Evans Sarah Ecolano & Rick Ballas Copper Oar Rafting Nancy Waterman Julie & Brad Reynolds Dorothy Sine Jim Stratton Riki Ott & Sam Evans Sue Farzan Randy & Darlene Robertson Mary Sine Karen & Paul Swartzbart Joan Smith Cliff Eames & Carole Fisher Sarah Robinson & Chris Arp Dana & Anita Smyke Ruth McHenry Forest Fusion The Hub of Alaska Cece Stack & Alex & Tamara Russin Jessica Speed Debra Miller D.M.D. Diana Rubio Becky & Cory Schwanke Britt Pedicord Brian & Vera Rutzer Leif Stavig & Denna Peter Mjos Rick & Cindy Fox Mike Webber & Dan Schmalzer Francischetti Jim Staszewski Pamela Moe Sandra Friendshuh Katrina Hoffman Dave Siegal Trading Post Lorna Stern Diane & Greg Morgan Mark & Cindy Frohnapfel Barry Whitehill Eileen & Andy Simons Linee Perkins SenaSea Seafoods Mary Jane & Alan Morse Marnie Graham John & Kate Williams Matt Sloat Norma & Doyle Traw Triton Foundation Eric Manzer & Cheri & John Grocott Marissa Wilson Jed Smith Mark Vail Trident Seafoods Molly Mulvaney Dick & Kay Groff Dave & Tanya Zastrow Carla & Mark Somerville Kenneth Van Gilder Violet & Joe Whaley NAPA/ Anchor Auto Michelle Hahn & John Stack & Mae Vansant Barbara Solomon Linda & Henry Wall Charles Wilson Marine Inc Andrew Smallwood RAVEN’S CLAN, Wilson Construction Dr. James & Katie Nelson Karen & Josh Hallquist Dotty Widmann WaterGrass $50+ Thea Thomas John Page Williams Kelly Neuman Denton & Tamara Hamby A/C Value Center Ninkasi Brewing Kent & Lynda Hamby Glenn Ujioka Erika Wolter WATERSHED Mike & Kay Adams Barbara Vaile XOAK Becky Nourse Vicky & Greg Hamm STEWARDS, $500+ Dawn Anderson Kirsten Valentine Alaska Railroad Corporation Dr. Oliver & Eve Osborn Harborside Pizza Kristy Andrew Rick Van De Poll Perkins Auto Dr. Richard Harper Auklet Charter Services SUBSISTENCE Keri & Vince Bailey Danielle Verna LIVING, $10+ William Beattie & Peterson Welding Stormy & Mary Haught Heidi Babic Amanda & James Wiese John Bailey Dave & Sarah Abbott Evonette Aponte-Beattie & Machine Laurie & Bruce Hauptli Yang Wren Art Riverside Inn & Childs Jeff Hawley & Shelly Balint Christy Fletcher Jonathan Bigley Bayside Storage Sam Aslan Phil & Rich Blumstein-Ervin Glacier Tours Nancy Peterson Arlene & Danny Sarah Hayes Dave & Laura Beam KINGFISHERS, $25+ Teal Barmore Karen Hyer & Ken Carlson Sean Den Adel Ezekiel Brown Rosenkrans Bruce & Carol Hazeltine Karl Becker & Nancy Bird Susan Clausen Alaska Seafood Sales, Inc. Kayla & Sonny Bruno David & Darcy Saiget Dr. Phil Hess Brittany Blain-Roth Copper River Seafoods & Brett Roth Lilly Goodman & Sam Cox Sena & Rich Wheeler Gonzalo Villalon Stuart & Margery Elsberg Katie & Ben Bobowski Michael Allwright Shelly Crowe Ken Hodges Cathy & Dixon Sherman Meg Jensen & Paul Boos & Janelle Eklund Patience Andersen Faulkner Diane Ellsworth Marie & Charles Hoffman Shoreside Petroleum Mike McQueen Marina Briggs Emily Anderson Debra & Chip Ethier Gary & Cynthia Jacobs Kate & Reid Smith Cynthia Jones & Phil Oman Brian Brockel Kris Anderson Amanda Highfield & Curt & Betty Jones Sandra & Rich Staples Patti Kallander Bruce & Karen Butters Mike Babic Carson Tortorige Iyad & Carol Khalaf Terry & Ann Talcott KCHU Public Radio Barbara Cellarius Ria Beedle John Hofmeister Jack & Lynn Loacker Lisa & David Totemoff Ray & Linda Kelley John Cholish III Lauren Bien Jared & Vivian Kennedy McCarthy River Tours Dan & Monica Ryan Father Tom Killeen Bill & Diane Cobb Mark & Janet Bloch Lanette Phillips Carla Bloomquist Amy Lanser and Outfitters Cliff Ward R.J. & Barclay Kopchak Susanna Colloredo-Mansfeld Blooms on the Bluff Jocelyn Layte Dr. Steve Medwell & Eric & Janice Warga Laura's Liquor Shoppe Erin Cooper & Sean Meade Nick & Lisa Docken Shae Bowman & Joe Hamm Jeannine Luce Carol Bailey Charlotte & Bill Leighty & Lance Westing Nancy Waterman Arne Erickson Tyler Bowman Jared Martin Specialty Imports Rachel Ertz Stan Bradshaw Mountain View Grocery, Bert Stammerjohan Bill & Renee Lindow Kevin & Suzanne McCarthy Michael Ferraro Dr. Rob Campbell Gas & Liquor & Liz Senear Danny & Kristin Carpenter Bill Novotney WRANGELL PEAKS Sally McGuire First National Bank Alaska Brad & Denise Stern Casa de la Arte Katie Phillips CIRCLE $100+ Jackie & Bryan McMahan Fromagio's Artisan Cheese Timeless Beauty Acupuncture and Wellness Robbe & Robin Gilmour Brian Charlton Desiree Ramirez Johnny & Johana McMahan Erica & Dan Clark Anne Schaefer Endless Health of Cordova Glennallen Rustic Resort Wells Fargo Bank Alaska Midnight Sun Environmental B&B Fisher Clark Margie Steigerwald Luca & Chantel Adelfio Mike Anderson Pottery Joe & Belen Cook Theresa Tanner Alaska Wild Seafoods Toni Godes Henry & Marcia Milette Eva & Kim Hager Jessica Morningstar Hoover Robben Taylor TRIBUTARIES, Rob Alexander & Virginia & Jack Miller Copper River Fleece Jim Williams $250+ Diane & Kent Herschleb Chip Brown Bill Mohrwinkel & Dr. Donald & Cordova Realty Diane Wilson 600 North Seafoods Thomasina Anderson Carrie Klein Louise Heyneman Peyton Coyner Alaska Marine Lines Lee Rolfe & Tony Angell Kate & Andy Morse Margaret Hunt Alyssa Kleissler Alaska Marine Response Dr. Howard & Howard Mozen & Dave & Annette Janka Pere Davison Rich & Shannon Alloway Jean Baumann Elizabeth Schafer Julie Jessen Miriam and Roger Dunbar Leo Americus Robin & Skip Jensen MTI Adventurewear Kinsey Justa John Egger A Rogue's Garden Jeremiah & Kristie Beckett Tessa Diem Kendra's Kreations Flint Family Farms LLC BioFish LLC Laurie Berger & John Jenkins New North Consulting Adam Kenyon Cricket's Dr. Chris & John Booren Dan Bilderback & Ocean Beauty Seafoods Denis Keogh Signe & Jim Fritsch Doug Fulton Tim Brabets Christine Sager Old Town Copper Center Caroline Ketron Chugach Alaska Corp. Mary Anne Bishop & Alyssa Kleissler & Melissa & Jason Gabrielson Inn & Restaurant Madalyn Grahn Debbie & Dino Ciabattoni Nancy Bishop Orca Adventure Lodge Curtis Herschleb Knot Crazy! Chris & Leah Grey Alexis Cooper David Blount Peter Brondz Pottery P.O. BOX 1560, CORDOVA, ALASKA 99574 tel 907.424.3334 email [email protected] web COPPERRIVER.ORG

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*** inside *** Copper River Clean up

COPPER RIVER RIVER COPPER PROJECT WATERSHED New Executive Director Connecting Communities Holiday Giving

FALL 2019 White sweet clover

my first experiences in the Copper River watershed was exploring in 1988, the year WHY WE SUPPORT CRWP before the Exxon Valdez oil spill permanently altered the ecosystem. I remember, as a young child, watching in NIK & GINA MERLINO sadness as news reports came in about the immensity McCARTHY, AK of the tragedy. A year after the spill, I came to Kennicot/ McCarthy for the first time, staying in a friend’s cabin and exploring Kennicott’s then-abandoned buildings. From those two experiences I was hooked, over the next 30 years I would spend time working, exploring and settling down and raising a family here.

A decade ago, my wife Gina and I founded McCarthy River Tours, river exploration dedicated to establishing a sense of place and connection to our watershed. One of our operational beliefs as a company is to “give back” to the land and community that sustain our way of life. The Copper River Watershed Project's commitment to educational programs, noxious weed abatement and salmon passage issues help enrich our communities and minimize our impact on the land. As our watershed continues to grow as a tourist and recreation destination, it is important for us to have an organization that is taking a big picture approach to sustaining and preserving our region's cultural and natural resources with tangible, on the ground, community supported programs.