Air Force Grant: JBER Salmon Monitoring for Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Conservation

This project will provide technical expertise pursuant to Sikes Act activities including but not limited to conservation of natural resources on such installations, protectiveness provisions related to the management of fish and wildlife resources, maintain functional ecosystems and natural diversity including sustainable populations, native species, and ecological communities. This project is to provide Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan (INRMP) implementation for the continuation of the long-term monitoring efforts of salmon productivity in various waterways which will support the Critical Habitat (CH) enhancement for the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale (CIBW) of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s (JBER) marine ecology and marine mammal programs. CIBW is federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and further protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The monitoring of anadromous fish species will take place at weir systems in the Eagle River, Otter Lake System, and Sixmile Lake Fishery on JBER.

This project is intended to assist Air Force installations in meeting installation natural resource requirements per their established INRMPs. This will support JBER’s marine ecology and marine mammal programs. The goal of this project is to collect reliable monitoring data and equipment information which will provide key insight to the natural resources on JBER to support management decisions to maintain functional ecosystems and natural diversity including sustainable populations, protect endangered and native species, ecological communities, and contribute to the recovery of the CIBW. The project will specifically develop long-term data sets on salmon escapement and lake productivity, as well as, improving spawning habitat and passageways for migratory salmon.

This cooperative agreement will be awarded pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 670 (Sikes Act).

The Recipient for this cooperative agreement must be a qualified State, local government, Indian tribe, non-governmental organization, or individual pursuant to the authority of 16 U.S.C. 670c-1(a).