A Famed Alaska Watershed At A Crossroads

The following appears in the July issue of Alaska Sporting Journal:

BY TIFFANY HERRINGTON

Winding from the glacial flanks of Denali to Cook Inlet, the Susitna River flows through one of the most ecologically vital and culturally rich landscapes in Alaska. Its watershed is a lifeline for wildlife, for communities that depend on its fish and game and for thousands of Alaskans and visitors who find connection and peace in its remote stretches. But today, the Susitna faces an uncertain future.

In April 2025, American Rivers named the Susitna one of the nation’s most endangered rivers, citing threats from the proposed West Susitna Industrial Access Road and the renewed interest in building the Susitna-Watana Dam. Both projects would significantly alter the watershed, disrupting habitat, traditional subsistence practices and recreational access.

To better understand the issues at stake, we spoke with Margaret Stern, program and communications director at the Susitna River Coalition (susitnarivercoalition.org), based in Talkeetna. From explaining the nuts and bolts of the projects to sharing a personal evening on a quiet riverbank, Stern helps us see not only what’s at risk, but what’s still possible.

Tiffany Herrington Why is the Susitna River so significant to Alaskans and the communities near it?
Margaret Stern The Susitna supports a massive watershed – about the size of West Virginia – home to most of the state’s population and some of its most vibrant ecosystems. It fuels sport and commercial fisheries, nurtures wetlands and boreal forests and supports wildlife ranging from salmon and eulachon to moose and migratory birds. The watershed also sustains Dena’ina people, including Chickaloon, Alexander Creek, Tyonek, Knik and Eklutna, who’ve stewarded these lands for generations. It’s more than ecology; it’s culture, economy and connection. It’s where Alaskans fish, hunt, float, hike and simply exist in nature. In a time when wild places are disappearing, the Susitna still feels truly wild.

TH What does the “Most Endangered Rivers” designation mean for the Susitna? 

MS Each year, American Rivers names 10 rivers that face urgent threats. For the Susitna, it’s a call to action. The designation spotlights the danger posed by the West Susitna Access Road and revives attention on the dam proposal. We hope this recognition draws national awareness to what’s happening in Alaska, because once places like the Susitna are altered, they don’t return to what they were.

TH Who’s behind the West Susitna Access Road, and what’s the real goal? 

MS Though it’s marketed as a public- access project, the road is designed to support private mining interests. It’s backed by [Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority] and the Mat-Su Borough, with partnerships from foreign junior mining companies. The Alaska Department of Transportation recently proposed building the first 22 miles and a major bridge across the river under a separate plan, but it’s part of the same push to carve a 100-mile corridor through roadless wilderness. The public pays the bill, while mining companies stand to benefit.

TH Why do you call this a “boondoggle”? 

MS Because the math doesn’t add up. This isn’t a road to meet transportation needs or connect existing communities. It would traverse sensitive wetlands, require 100-plus stream crossings and cut through one of the most hydrologically complex areas in the region – all for speculative gain. Like so many of Alaska’s megaprojects before it, this one risks becoming another high-cost, low-reward case study in poor planning.

TH What would the road mean for fish and wildlife?
MS The Susitna Basin is essential for all five species of Pacific salmon, plus resident species like grayling and trout. Poorly engineered stream crossings could block fish migration; road runoff and sedimentation would degrade water quality. Wetlands, which are critical for waterfowl and moose, would be fragmented or lost entirely.
And let’s not forget cultural impacts. The road would cross a site of significance to the Dena’ina people. Without meaningful tribal consultation, this project risks erasing this and other important sites. The AIDEA economic report even acknowledges potentially significant impacts to tribal subsistence. It has also been discussed that the area might have to switch from a harvest ticket to a draw tag for some species for residents.

TH What kind of mining is being proposed, and how would that escalate the damage? 

MS Primarily gold and strategic metals. There’s also discussion of a coal and carbon sequestration project. Any mining would require more than just the road. Camps ,fuel depots, power infrastructure – these would sprawl across the region. The public deserves a comprehensive, transparent review of all the long-term impacts before anything moves forward. Alaska’s hard rock mining laws haven’t been updated since the 1800s, which raises real concerns about oversight, environmental safeguards and long-term accountability.

TH How does this battle reflect Alaska’s broader challenges with development? 

MS It highlights the tension between our state’s push for resource extraction and the values of the people who actually live here. Many of these projects are advanced without public support, without thorough environmental reviews and without clear benefit to communities. If Alaska wants to be a global model for sustainable development, we need to slow down and do things right. Otherwise, we’ll keep repeating the same mistakes.

TH What are local communities saying about the road?
MS The opposition is loud and consistent. Surveys and public comment periods show that most Mat-Su residents don’t support the project – whether it’s public or private. At a recent public meeting in Skwentna, every attendee who wasn’t directly tied to the project spoke out against it.

Even users often assumed to support it– like hunter sand ATV riders–question the need for a new road in such a remote place. Alaska’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan shows that most people want improvements to existing trails, not industrial access to untouched wilderness. The historic Iditarod Trail would be crossed by the proposed road.

TH Do you have a personal memory that captures what’s at stake?
MS Just last week, I flew out to a gravel bar near Talkeetna. I brought a sandwich, let my dog run free and watched the swallows dip over the river. A spring squall rolled in, and we rode it out in the plane. Then, a family motored by in a boat and gave a wave. Nothing dramatic happened – and that’s exactly the point. This place still offers quiet, solitude and a connection to the land that’s increasingly rare. That’s what’s at stake.

TH How is the Susitna River Coalition working to raise awareness? How can people help?
MS We focus on education and access to real information. This project doesn’t make sense, but we lay out the facts so people can decide for themselves. Readers can visit susitnarivercoalition.org, sign up for our newsletter and share their voice during public comment periods. Even a single email to a state rep can make a difference. Every voice matters.

TH What keeps you hopeful?
MS The people. We hear from Alaskans every day – folks who fish, float, hunt or just care about the river. That sense of stewardship – that love of place – it’s powerful. It reminds us that we’re not alone in working to protect what matters.

TH Any final thoughts for readers outside of Alaska?
MS Alaska’s wild places are rare and getting rarer. If we want our kids and grandkids to experience them, we have to protect them intentionally. The Susitna won’t stay wild by accident. It needs care, community and the belief that some places are worth more than what we can extract from them. ASJ

Editor’s note: You can also follow the Susitna River Coalition on Facebook and Instagram. Tiffany Herrington is a freelance writer based in the Seattle area.