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ALASKA
Alaska nonpoint source management activities and projects are focused on
forest practices, oil and gas development, mining, agriculture, urban
development, and groundwater. Alaska also emphasizes source controls such as
public information and education and statewide water quality monitoring and
reporting.
Water Watch Develops Environmental Stewardship Partners
Put together two state agencies working on complementary programs. Add the
knowledge that water quality protection needs a strong contingent of trained
citizen volunteers. Sprinkle in some section 319 monies. The result: Alaska
Water Watch. The interagency alliance began informally 1991 when the Department
of Fish and Game--working on watershed education in the schools--joined with
the Department of Environmental Conservation--which was promoting citizen water
quality monitoring. The Department of Natural Resources also signed up and a
$73,000 section 319 grant provided seed money for the now formalized statewide
umbrella organization.
Alaska Water Watch is an interagency public participation and education
network that promotes comprehensive stewardship of Alaska's aquatic resources.
Citizen volunteers carry out the program's objectives of water quality
monitoring, pollution prevention, and water quality restoration activities. The
Water Watch partnership combines resources to initiate and support public
involvement and education projects, has developed a statewide corps of trained
citizen volunteers, and develops and promotes standard data collection methods.
In addition, it integrates various levels of stewardship activities into school
curricula, youth programs, and adult organizations; maintains an aquatic
resource database for citizen-generated data; and shares information through a
computer network.
Section 319 funds a program coordinator who manages Water Watch, conducts
monitoring training and quality assurance sessions, and brings Water Watch
programs to new communities. Projects generally have four interconnected
themes--monitoring, education, pollution prevention, and maintenance and
restoration--that are incorporated into each project and activity.
Water Watch's role in the project to restore water quality and fish habitat
in Duck Creek is an excellent example of how the partnership promotes
volunteerism and hands-on aquatic stewardship. Duck Creek is a small,
3-mile-long stream that runs through the heart of the high-density business and
residential areas in Juneau. In its 1992 report to EPA, the Alaska Department
of Environmental Conservation listed Duck Creek as impaired. Historically, Duck
Creek had runs of nearly 10,000 chum salmon and, in 1966, about 500 coho
salmon. Recently, however, the pink and chum salmon have nearly vanished and
the coho have averaged less than 20 fish a season. Where once trout were -
abundant, today the stream is closed to fishing.
Duck Creek was subjected to a variety of severe impacts as the population
of Juneau increased and the area developed after World War II. The stream
channel was altered and moved, riparian vegetation was removed, stream
crossings were installed with little attention to grade, ponds were created by
gravel excavation, and the stream was used as an urban garbage dump. Duck Creek
also received heavy loads of sediment from construction, road building and
maintenance, and surface runoff; the stream has also served as an open sewer
for broken or faulty septic systems.
Under the auspices of Water Watch, a community clean-up effort was begun.
Miller House, a residence for troubled youth, has incorporated stewardship of
Duck Creek as part of its in-house school program. The high school-aged
residents collect water quality samples, pick up garbage in the stream and
riparian area, and undertake community outreach activities.
Students began collecting water quality data in 1991. The data is used by
the Duck Creek Advisory Group, a - coalition of organizations that is planning
and undertaking restoration activities. In 1992, students promoted and
participated in the Juneau Clean Streams event and produced a brochure
highlighting the condition of the creek and the need for good environmental
stewards.
Water quality monitoring is only the first of a four phase restoration
project in Duck Creek. An FY 1994 - section 319 grant for $125,000 will fund
additional activities to restore the Duck Creek watershed. Water Watch will
continue as an important part of the effort to restore and maintain water and
habitat quality in Duck Creek.
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