Kenai Cost Share – Phase 2

From 2011 to 2013, project staff received letters of interest from 150 private landowners along the Kenai River. From those proposals, this project helped fund 65 shoreline vegetation and protections projects. Over three years, 1,113 feet of structures detrimental to salmon (including riprap, jetties, bulkheads, and rock and metal debris) were removed from the Kenai River at nine sites. A total of 1,423 feet of stream bank at 38 sites was rehabilitated using brush layers, trenched willows, willow bundles, and native vegetated material. In that rehabilitation, 7,114 square feet of riparian area at 23 sites was re-vegetated using transplanted native vegetation and native vegetated mat. Six thousand three hundred forty-three (6,343) feet of stream bank at 41 sites was protected using cabled spruce trees (5,106 feet), fencing, and elevated, light-penetrating (ELP) walkways (1,237 feet). In total, over 11,009 square feet of riparian vegetation was protected.

This project will result in the removal of detrimental structures from streams; increased fish habitat quantity and quality, riparian vegetation, riparian function, and river bank stability; and more responsible development of riparian areas. These results will help ensure healthy salmon populations and salmon habitat.