Mat-Su Plants For Salmon Day Set For This Saturday

The following press release is courtesy of the Susitna River Coalition:

4th Annual Mat-Su Plants for Salmon Community Planting Day on Montana Creek

Susitna River Coalition, the Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership, Knik Tribal Council, Trout Unlimited, Mat-Su Borough, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are hosting the 4th Annual Mat-Su Plants for Salmon community planting event on Montana Creek. On Saturday, June 14, these partners will join with community members to restore a section of Montana Creek next to the Yoder Road bridge. This family friendly event will include informational booths, crafts, casting practice, and a live juvenile salmon presentation. Volunteers can enjoy complimentary food and drinks, and everyone can bring home a packet of native seeds to plant.

For the third year, partners and community volunteers will be planting 200+ native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to improve habitat and water quality on Montana Creek. Streamside vegetation plays an important role in maintaining the health of our fisheries by providing shelter, shade and nutrients for wild salmon. This is part of a multi-year project to revegetate 450 feet of rip rap armor that was applied following a significant flood event in 2012, to protect the downstream bridge.

Who: We want to give a big shout out to the partners who made it all happen – Susitna River Coalition, the Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership, Matanuska Susitna Borough, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Knik Tribal Council, Palmer Soil and Water Conservation District, and Trout Unlimited. Added thanks to additional event and greater project sponsors– National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Mat-Su Health Foundation, the Jessica Stevens Foundation Student-led grant, and Trout Unlimited Southcentral Alaska Chapter. Montana Creek is one of four projects NOAA Fisheries funded in 2023 to restore habitat through the coastal National Fish Habitat Partnerships.

What: A community planting day to restore the streambank along Montana Creek When: Saturday, June 14 from 10am-2pm
Where: Montana Creek, next to Yoder Road bridge, Talkeetna, AK

Agenda: Opening remarks will begin at 10am, including a land acknowledgement from the Knik Tribe. Lunch will be around noon, including a group photo. At 12:30, USFWS Biologist Joe Lyon will show live juvenile salmon to participants and share some of the ways plants are important to those fish. Closing remarks will happen either during the group photo or at 1pm. Planting continues until about 2pm.