Public speaking, and poor hunting and fishing expectations

Last week I participated in making a presentation to the National Fish Habitat Partnership Board (NFHPB) about the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission (MSBFWC) and our involvement with the Mat-Su Salmon Habitat Partnership (MSSHP). The NFHPB folks were in Alaska for meetings and to see some of the work the MSSHP has been doing over the years. Most of the folks were from out-of-state and weren’t familiar with a lot of the details of what’s happening here.

One of the main projects the MSSHP has been doing over time is replacing and upgrading road culverts which have blocked fish passage to prime habitat on the other side of the road. In fact, the national board has recognized the value and quality of this work done by the MSSHP and has presented awards to the local partnership over time.

The tour bus and some of us met at a place called Crabb Circle, which was a culvert replacement project from a few years ago which restored fish passage under the road where it crossed Wasilla Creek. I had never been there, and it isn’t the easiest place to find without specific directions, however, I did find it. This was one of four stops the tour was making to see and learn about fish habitat work in the Mat-Su area.

Three other speakers presented before me, and they were all involved with this specific culvert replacement project including the fish biology, engineering, and hydrology of the actual work. One was from ADF&G, the second was from the Mat-Su Borough, and the third was from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

When my turn came, we handed out the “It Takes Fish to Make Fish 2024” brochure the commission had prepared for the last Board of Fisheries meeting this past spring. In reviewing this handout prior to my presentation, I noticed that it touched on every item I was planning to present to the NFHPB. I told the folks to read it at their leisure and they would be well versed on what the MSBFWC was involved with concerning our Northern District fisheries.

I thought the presentation went well (I don’t know what others thought!) and my “handlers” only had to tell me three times to wrap things up and stop talking. I was playing this for the humor and to lighten things up because talking about engineering and hydrology doesn’t inspire everyone to full alertness. Humor woke folks up!

After grabbing a quick snack of smoked salmon and a soda, I opened my presentation binder to follow the directions, in reverse, to find my way out and back home. If I must do this again, I hope I can get into a barber shop before the “show.” I had tried earlier the day of the presentation but ran into a two-and-a-half hour waiting line – and I didn’t have that kind of time to spare!

I’m sure Andy Couch will mention the following in his column, but just to be repetitive, Fish and Game has issued emergency orders reducing the bag limit and methods and means for silver salmon from the Little Susitna River, the Jim Creek drainages, and the drainages of the Big Susitna River.

The bag limit for silvers is reduced to one fish per day, and only artificial lures can be used. No bait is allowed. These changes go into effect starting on Tuesday, August 6 and run until September 30th. If run strengths improve to a level that can support a larger harvest, restrictions to the sport fishery may be rescinded. However, additional restrictions are possible if the run does not improve.

Regarding hunting, “The State of Alaska fall registration hunt (RC860) for Fortymile caribou in Zone 1, accessible from the Steese Highway and Chena Hot Springs Road, and in Zone 4 (White Mountains), will not open as scheduled on August 11, 2024. A season opening may be announced later in these zones.”

The news release continues, “Caribou are abundant near the Steese highway in Zones 1 and 4, and we expect the harvest quota to be exceeded in less than a day if opened as scheduled on August 11, 2024. As a conservation measure, the RC860 hunt in Zones 1 and 4 will only open if caribou numbers near the Steese highway decrease enough to avoid overharvest of the herd. The state caribou hunting season (RC860) will open in Zones 2 and 3 on August 11, 2024, as scheduled.”

This isn’t going to be a good year for anything!