(Fairbanks) - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Sport Fish is currently accepting proposals for the 2024 Fairbanks Habitat Rehabilitation & Protection Cost-Share.

The Fairbanks Peninsula Habitat Rehabilitation & Protection Cost-Share, administered cooperatively by ADF&G and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), is a financial incentive and educational outreach program directed towards private landowners and public land managers. The program provides technical expertise about rehabilitation practices, state and federal permitting assistance, and funding for salmon habitat rehabilitation and protection projects along streambanks in the Tanana Watershed. Funds are limited and not all projects can be funded; however, selected landowners could have up to 50% of the cost of their project reimbursed. Additionally, ADF&G staff provides educational opportunities to landowners, public land managers, and the public on the techniques and value of fish habitat. The program uses and funds proven bioengineering techniques such as coir logs, willow plantings, cabled spruce trees, rootwads, and elevated light penetrating walkways to help stabilize, revegetate, and rehabilitate streambanks.

“Summer is here, and the salmon are returning to the rivers, and landowners are recreating along their streambanks. Now is the time that they start to notice erosional issues along their bank” stated Habitat Biologist Jessica Johnson. “By participating in the program, landowners will have a hands-on learning experience and they will also be helping to support and maintain healthy juvenile salmon habitat and populations.”

For additional information, please contact the program’s Habitat Biologist Jess Johnson at (907) 267-2403 or by email at DFG.DSF.StreambankRehab@alaska.gov. Additional information is also available on the ADF&G Cost-Share Program website.

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