LETTER: Mat-Su Salmon Symposium a great success

To the editor:

The 9th annual Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium was another great success! Hosted by the Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership, the Symposium is a forum to share information and exchange ideas about salmon science and conservation in the Mat-Su. This year’s theme was “A Future With Salmon” with keynote speaker Dr. Daniel Schindler, a premier salmon scientist at the University of Washington. This year, as in the past, the Symposium included a broad suite of excellent presentations and provided a forum for common ground, where a diversity of views could be shared in healthy dialogue.

Thank you to the nearly 20 organizations who sponsored, 7 who planned, over 40 people who volunteered, nearly 30 people who presented, and the over 100 people who attended each day. It was, and is every year, a community event that embodies a spirit of cooperation and collaboration. It is only together that we make both the Symposium and keeping wild abundant salmon in the Mat-Su possible! Thank you for supporting salmon that benefits us all.

Our sponsors: Conoco Phillips Inc. Alaska, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, Alaska Salmon Alliance, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Matanuska Electric Association, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, The Nature Conservancy, Resource Data Inc., Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Bullitt Foundation, The Alaska Center, University of Washington, Mat-Su Conservation Services, National Marine Fisheries Service, Susitna River Coalition, University of Alaska Anchorage, Great Land Trust, Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership.

— Suzanne Hayes

(Symposium Planning Committee member), Palmer

Catherine Inman, Mat-Su Conservation Services (Symposium Planning Committee member), Palmer, Jessica Speed, Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat

Partnership (Coordinator), Anchorage