Chickaloon native village is proposing a matanuska watershed historical and contemporary salmon research project

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $200,000 Tribal Wildlife Grant (CFDA 15.639) to the Chickaloon Native Village for a 12-month Matanuska Watershed Historical and Contemporary Salmon Research Project beginning on January 1, 2025. The project aims to: 1) describe salmon run timing, enumeration, and species composition in Moose Creek using foot surveys; 2) quantify juvenile salmon abundance in Premier Creek prior to restoration work; 3) perform a fish health survey in Moose Creek; 4) document and sample salmon genetics in the tribe's traditional homelands; 5) utilize mass spectrometry and DNA sequencing to quantify marine-derived nitrogen and historical salmon DNA at culturally relevant fishing locations; and 6) build capacity for additional fisheries projects. This project combines traditional knowledge and western science to understand and protect culturally significant salmon species, including Chinook, Coho, Chum, and Sockeye.

This project proposes to 1) describe the run timing, enumeration, and species composition of adult alaska salmon in moose creek using routine foot surveys, 2) quantify juvenile salmon abundance in premier creek, a tributary or moose creek, prior to restoration work, 3) perform a fish health survey on moose creek to identify parasites of concern, 4) document and non-lethally sample genetic tissue from salmon in water bodies around the traditional homelands of the chickaloon people to contribute to the alaska anadromous waters catalog and genetic baseline collection, 5) utilize mass spectrometry and DNA sequencing to quantify marine-derived nitrogen and historical salmon DNA at culturally relevant fishing locations, and 6) build program capacity for additional fisheries projects in the future. This project is proposed to last 12 months, from january 2025 through december 2025. This project combines traditional knowledge and western science to understand and protect culturally significant chinook, coho, chum, and sockeye salmon.