This project grant award will fund much needed improvements to an existing small boat mooring facility located on admiralty island within the north shore of funter BAY alaska

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 awarded $886,945 to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game under the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act (CFDA 15.622) Boating Infrastructure Grant Program to improve mooring and docking infrastructure at Funter Bay Harbor on Admiralty Island, Alaska. The project, awarded on July 1, 2025 with a completion date of July 1, 2028, will fund repairs, repositioning, and replacement of existing floats at this small boat mooring facility. The eight-slip harbor serves as a critical refuge for transient recreational vessels seeking shelter from severe weather common to the Chatham and Icy Straits region, located approximately 25 water miles from Juneau.

The improvements will enhance maritime safety and accessibility for boaters traveling through Southeast Alaska by maintaining essential mooring infrastructure and pedestrian access routes to the adjacent Funter Bay State Marine Park. As a state-operated facility currently offering mooring at no charge, the harbor provides important public access and emergency refuge services for the Juneau, Hoonah, and Gustavus communities. The three-year performance period aligns with standard Boating Infrastructure Grant Program guidelines, supporting the Federal program's mission to construct, renovate, and maintain facilities serving recreational vessels 26 feet or greater in length.

Funter BAY harbor has a capacity of 8 boats and is located approximately 25 water miles from auke BAY in juneau. IT is a naturally protected harbor of refuge adjacent to the wide expanse of chatham and ICY straits. The subject facility is owned and operated by the state of alaska department of transportation and public facilities. Considering its proximity to juneau hoonah and gustavus IT is an important harbor of refuge for transient vessels seeking shelter and safety from storm weather which are common in chatham straights. The project will include repairing repositioning and or replacing existing floats as funding allows. There are currently no fees for use of this facility. Vessels moored here have pedestrian access to the nearby shore via a steel gangway and timber approach trestle. This shore access abuts a public use trail that traverses to the undeveloped funter BAY state marine park.