Partnership coordinationthe kenai watershed forum KWF will provide coordination services for the kenai peninsula fishhabitat partnership kpfhp AKA the partnership and its associated steering committee

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Fish Habitat Partnership (CFDA 15.686) provides $303,332 to the Kenai Watershed Forum (KWF), a non-profit organization in Soldotna, Alaska. The award period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2026.

The primary products and services supported by this funding include:

1. Coordination services for the Kenai Peninsula Fish Habitat Partnership, including meeting facilitation, website maintenance, and an annual call for project proposals.
2. Stream Watch volunteer program to recruit 15 volunteers, conduct 8 invasive species removal events, and educate 4,200 people on fish habitat conservation.
3. Junior Stream Watch and Adopt-a-Stream programs to provide 500 monthly student contact hours of watershed education and host 5 weeks of environmental summer camp.
4. Restoration projects such as installing protective fencing, removing fish-endangering debris, and completing erosion control efforts to mitigate threats to riparian fish habitat.

This Cooperative Agreement supports the National Fish Habitat Partnership's mission to comprehensively address fish habitat decline through collaborative conservation efforts across federal, state, tribal, and private stakeholders.

The dutiesinclude but are not limited tofacilitation and record keeping for regular meetings of the steeringcommittee coordination of one biennial science symposium regular update and maintenance of thekpfhp website and related content conducting an annual call for proposals to address components ofthe kpfhp strategic plan and conservation action plan working together with other fish habitatpartnerships in alaska and in the lower 48 acting as the point of contact for the kpfhp with thenational fish habitat partnership nfhp board and response to inquiries about the kpfhp. The kpfhpcoordinator will work closely with the kpfhp steering committee KWF support staff and the unitedstates fish and wildlife service USFWS project manager to carry out daytoday activities or thepartnership in order to directly support achievement of the partnership s priorities.stream watchas development invasive species and climate change threaten kenai peninsula rivers stream watchprovides vital education and stewardship activities at the regions most trafficked recreational areas topromote ecologically stable river systems GOD fish habitat and an informed public.1. Recruit 15 volunteers conduct 8 invasive species removal workdays and assist in surveying forinvasive species around the peninsula. Additionally a new junior ambassadors program will work with 5COMMUNITY youth to create an avenue for youth engagement in river restoration and stewardshipefforts.2. Volunteers will educate river coastal users about the salmon lifecycle the value of riparian habitatthe core components of ethical angling and invasive species. Volunteers will staff educational booths athigh use sport and personal use fishing sites. This project also adds a youth environmental educationcomponent.3. Ambassadors will manage protection fencing remove 3500 pounds of fish endangering debriscomplete erosion control projects and educate 4200 people about healthy fish habitat.4. Stream watch volunteers will assist in the protection of riparian fish habitat to mitigate threats suchas climate change urban runoff and trampling of delicate riverside vegetated habitat volunteers willeducate river users to foster stewardship and alleviate negative pressures from excessive river use andinform landownersadopt a streamthe junior stream watch program JSW and AAS promote responsible recreation and conservationbehaviors. By providing opportunities for young people to interact with our watershed through a hands onapproach we enable them to learn in a memorable way and build a passion and personalresponsibility for protecting these spaces.1. Work with teachers to schedule monthly creek and classroom visits focusing on variouswatershed science topics.2. Average 500 student contact hours monthly during the school year.3. Host five weeks of environmentally themed summer camp at KWF founded in AAS concepts andoutdoor exploration.4. Host stewardship days at local sites for JSW where members will conduct restoration projectstest water quality and educate the public on conservation issues.