Stream Bank Restoration: Mat-Su Cost Share - Phase 5

During the project years 2021 through 2023, staff received interest from 59 private landowners and public land managers from throughout the Mat-Su Valley watersheds. Of those proposals, ADF&G and USFWS selected 14 projects for funding. In total, this grant helped fund the removal of 35 meters of structures detrimental to salmon, the rehabilitation of 438 meters of shoreline habitat, the protection of 162 meters of shoreline habitat, and the revegetation of 3.24 acres of riparian area through a combination of brush layers, cabled spruce trees, and revegetation techniques. This project also helped to fund the installation of 0.036 acres of elevated light penetrating (ELP) platforms, stairs, and walkways.



At four sites, structures detrimental to juvenile salmon were removed from the riparian area (primarily wooden structures including docks, ramps, and stairs); at 9 sites, streambanks were stabilized utilizing: brush layering (6 sites), spruce tree revetments (2 sites); vegetative mat (5 sites), and potted trees (7 sites); at 3 sites, fencing was used to protect the riparian habitat; at 5 sites, ELPs were installed to facilitate riparian plant growth while eliminating bank trampling; and at 10 sites, riparian habitat was revegetated using a combination of alder, willow, cottonwood, rose bluejoint, white spruce, birch, and highbush cranberry.

This project will result in the removal of at least 91 m of detrimental structures from streams; conservation of at least 244 m of riverbank; and rehabilitation of at least 488 m of riverbank. This project will also demonstrate to residents, governmental agencies, and regulators bio-engineered alternatives to the traditional use of riprap, round rock, sheet pile, and wooden bulkheads as bank stabilization techniques and will develop a low cost and effective solution to low-traffic ORV fords.