This project expands a temporary bridge program that replaces log stringer bridges with railcar bridges, protecting adjacent anadromous stream habitat and providing safety for road users

Natives of Kodiak, Incorporated received a $490,000 Project Grant award dated September 8, 2025, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Region 10 – Alaska Region, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Temporary Bridge Program (CFDA 10.721). This award expands an existing temporary bridge program that replaces log stringer bridges with railcar bridges, thereby protecting adjacent anadromous stream habitat while enhancing safety for road users. The project is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2027, and supports the establishment and maintenance of rental programs featuring portable temporary water crossing infrastructure designed to minimize environmental disturbance during forest management operations on federal and non-federal lands in Alaska.

The funding enables Natives of Kodiak to acquire, deploy, and maintain temporary bridge infrastructure available through fee-based rental, no-cost rental, or rent-to-own arrangements. These temporary crossing structures—such as skidder bridges and bridge mats—facilitate environmentally responsible timber production and forest management activities while protecting sensitive aquatic ecosystems and supporting rural economic development by reducing operational barriers for timber producers and contractors operating in Alaska.