Kachemak nerr NA25NOSX420C0020-T1-01 FY25 operations project description the kachemak BAY national estuarine research reserve (KBNERR) was designated in 1999 and is located in homer, alaska

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded the University of Alaska Anchorage a Cooperative Agreement totaling $1,258,525 under the Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves program (CFDA 11.420) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This award supports the operations and administration of the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (KBNERR), designated in 1999 and located in Homer, Alaska. NOAA provided $880,967 in federal funding, which UAA is matching with $377,558 in institutional cost-share through general funds, indirect costs, and unrecovered overhead contributions.

Under this Cooperative Agreement, KBNERR will deliver a comprehensive suite of estuarine research, monitoring, education, and community engagement services. Funded activities encompass administration and operations, research and monitoring programs, public education initiatives, coastal training services, professional development for staff, and Community Council activities. These services support KBNERR's mission as a natural field laboratory for studying natural and human processes in the Kachemak Bay estuary while providing regional capacity building and environmental stewardship activities aligned with NOAA's Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves program objectives.

The reserve is administered by the alaska center for conservation science, university of alaska anchorage (UAA), who is submitting this application for the FY25 federal budget for funds to support administration, operations, research and monitoring, education, coastal training, professional development, and community council activities from october 1, 2025 through september 30, 2027. UAA is requesting $880,967, which will be matched by a total of $377,558 from UAA. The breakdown of that match is as follows: $75,873 in UAA general funds will be paid to UAA staff to support KBNERR's administrative needs, $40,288 is provided by indirect costs on M/CS salaried wages, leave, and benefits at 53.1%. $246,015 will be contributed as unrecovered overhead. UAA's negotiated overhead rate is 53.1% but by accepting NOAA funds through a cesu agreement, we are contributing 35.6% in unrecovered overhead to meet the non-federal match.