In the early 1990’s estimates showed up to 20% of the riparian fish habitat along the Kenai River below Skilak Lake was in a degraded condition. Today, more than 95% of this degraded riparian fish habitat has been restored to a healthy state. To date more than 400 projects on public and private lands have made more than 38,000 lineal feet of riparian habitat more fish friendly. Partnering with the Fish Habitat Cost Share Program of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), KRSA provided additional funding support to and advocacy for this great fish habitat conservation program.
The Cost Share Program provides matching funds and technical assistance for public access projects and to private landowners to develop and implement fish habitat protection and restoration projects. Whether through the removal of hazards such as rock jetties, 55-gallon metal drums, creosote wooden bulkheads, and other debris, the installation of light penetrating boardwalks, or the rehabilitation of fragile riparian and bank habitats, Cost Share has had a lasting and measurable impact on the health of the Kenai River.
This program is now managed by the Don E. Gilman River Center.
