Borough proud to honor veterans

Did you know that there are about 71,000 veterans in the state of Alaska and 9,000 Mat-Su Borough residents who served in the armed forces?

As a tribute to and requested by an Iraq War veteran, I have declared July as Iraq Veterans Appreciation Month. Often, these great men and women are not recognized for their sacrifice, and today we hope to honor them through a community-wide proclamation. During the seven-year Iraq War, 17 Alaskans bravely gave their lives in the line of duty. On Dec. 15, 2011, U.S. Armed Forces marked the official end of the war.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough encourages all citizens to fly our flags, to recognize the importance of our veterans, the commitment they gave here and abroad, and the significance of the sacrifice that these remarkable individuals provided.

Along those lines, our assembly passed a resolution declaring our community the first to be named a Purple Heart Borough in our great nation. The Purple Heart Medal is awarded to service members who are wounded or killed in combat with enemy forces. The city of Wasilla led the way by naming itself a Purple Heart City to honor the brave men and women. Take time to thank a member of the military this month and show your appreciation for their sacrifices and strength. More information on the Purple Heart is online at purpleheart.org/PHTrail/Main.aspx.

This year marked our nations’ 236th Independence Day commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, claiming our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, concerts, baseball games and family reunions, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government and traditions of the United States.

Independence Day is the national day of the United States. In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation was 2.5 million and the nation’s estimated population on this July Fourth is 313.9 million.

Safety first

While on the water this summer, please be cautious about boating safety. Each year hundreds of lives are lost, thousands are injured and millions of dollars of property damage occurs due to preventable recreational boating accidents on U.S. waterways. Too often, pleasure outings turn tragic. As a boat operator, passenger or concerned individual, you can make a difference. Below are some safety tips to make your trip safe and enjoyable.

• Vessel safety check — Learn how a free vessel safety check can help you navigate through problem situations. Visit safetyseal.net/.

• Boating safety courses — Operator error account for 70 percent of boating accidents. Take a course online at boaterexam.com/usa/alaska/education/.

• Going paddling? Know your limits! — Whether you are sea kayaking, standup paddle-boarding, canoeing or kayaking, check out these safety tips online from the American Canoe Association at americancanoe.org/.

• Carbon monoxide — Educate yourself about this potentially lethal boating danger.

• Boating under the influence (BUI) — The risk is high and the consequences severe; know the dangers and avoid being a victim of BUI.

• Personal floatation devices — The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that life jackets could have saved the lives of more than 80 percent of boating fatality victims. As a boat operator, you’re in command of the safety of your passengers. But accidents can, and do, happen with terrifying speed on the water. There’s rarely time to reach stowed life jackets.

Salmon crunch

We are very aware of the low return of king salmon to our rivers. The state has shut down all king fishing throughout the Cook Inlet. This has a huge impact on our local fishing industry, which could represent an approximate $750,000 economic hit for our borough.

Officials are indicating that the losses in this sector are the result of something in the high seas habitat. Our own Commission of Fish and Game is working on this problem. Thanks to benchmark genetic studies tied to the studies of the Watana hydro project and to targeted genetic studies happening in the Cook Inlet corridor this summer, we should be able to identify through market outlets if and where our salmon may be intercepted on their migration.

The Chinook salmon runs on both the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers were projected to be poor to below average pre-season. The Yukon River Chinook salmon outlook was poor to below average, with the run size projected to be from 109,000 to 146,000, well below the average total of 200,000 fish since 1997.

Currently, test fisheries are seeing Chinook at about 25 percent of the numbers encountered at this point in 2010, which was the worst return on record. In the meantime, we will pray that there might be a late run that will sustain this annual event.

Larry DeVilbiss is Mayor of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.