Protecting Salmon Habitat By Eradicating Invasive Elodea Infestations in Interior Alaska and Mat-Su Regions

This project resulted in the successful restoration of three water bodies in interior Alaska that were previously infested with elodea. FSWCD used the herbicide fluridone to eliminate extensive elodea infestations in Chena Slough and Totchaket Slough, and mechanical means to eliminate a small patch of elodea in the Chena River. In Chena Slough, a 10-mile stretch of stream habitat encompassing 118 acres was treated with fluridone each summer from 2018-2020. Vegetation surveys at the end of 2020 revealed two small patches of elodea that will continue to be monitored. In Totchaket Slough, 232 acres of infested stream habitat were treated with fluridone each summer from 2018-2020. As of 2020, no elodea was found growing in the slough. This has resulted in increased stream flow rates and improved channel conditions. A small patch of elodea that was detected along the Chena River has been successfully eliminated using a combination of mechanical and manual methods. In the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Sucker Lakes were treated with 375 gallons of diquat and 2140# of sonar one. As of September 2020, Sucker Lake is 90% elodea free.

This project utilized funds from PCSRF grant NA15NMF4380231; no funds from this grant were used beyond its end date.

This project will contribute to on-the-ground restoration of 346 hectares of salmon habitat, restoring the self-sustaining natural ecosystem function and processes of the Chena River, Chena Slough, Totchaket Slough, and Alexander Lake by removing the invasive aquatic plant elodea.