The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $993,090 Cooperative Agreement under the Habitat Conservation Federal Grant Program (CFDA 11.463) to the Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission (AITRC), a tribally owned non-profit organization, to increase tribal capacity for fish passage and support stream restoration efforts in the Copper River watershed of Southcentral Alaska. The 3-year project, running from October 2024 to September 2027, will fund a Stream Restoration Biologist within the Ahtna territory to protect critical salmon habitat, as the Copper River supports all five Pacific salmon species which are key subsistence and cultural resources for the region's indigenous communities. This funding will help AITRC, which represents eight federally recognized tribes and two Alaska Native corporations, to bridge the gap between indigenous stakeholders and federal agencies in managing natural resources and promoting sustainable development in the Copper River basin.
Generated 1/28/25, 7:26 AM