Updates from the Mat-Su Salmon Fishery Season Summary Meeting

As announced in this column two weeks ago, the public meeting with Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) staff and the Matanuska — Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission occurred on Wednesday December 7 at the Matanuska — Susitna Borough Assembly Chambers. The meeting occurred on one of our recent large snowfall days, and while there were members of the public attending the meeting in person, long-time Commission member, Larry Engel confided that he thought the public attendance was one of the lowest for this annual meeting. With the heavy snowfall and earlier traffic problems on the roads, Larry’s wife had even suggested he attend the meeting online or over the phone rather than in person. As a Commission member, Larry felt he owed it to the public to attend in person, and fortunately for the public, the online and over-the-phone options were available. While I know of no official count for the number of people attending the meeting online, over the phone, or on YouTube, I have talked with people who attended or watched by using each alternative. I also heard questions or concerns voiced in person, online, and over the phone.

Fish Habitat

Commission members and ADF&G staff heard several members of the public voice their concerns that Mat-Su fisheries be maintained or restored to what they once were. One item heard repeatedly during the meeting was that the habitat, which the salmon, wildlife, and other fish need to survive, be conserved on an ecosystem basis. Rapid growth and development in the Mat-Su Valley has impacts on important Mat-Su salmon waterways, at the same time as rising waterway temperatures caused by a warming climate. During their 9 monthly meetings, Commission members are being asked to make comments concerning large-scale development within the Mat-Su Valley on a regular basis. The concern, of course, is how to maintain and balance essential habitat and migration routes for fish and wildlife populations with other public and private needs and desires.

King Salmon

The question of what King Salmon regulations would be for the 2023 season was brought up, as it has been during the last several years. ADF&G’s response was that biological data from the 2022 summer was still being evaluated, and no mention of any potential regulations for 2023 was provided. More than one member of the public mentioned their concern for Mat-Su king salmon. One had to live or fish the Mat-Su Valley at least 15 years ago to have experienced many of the fisheries and harvest opportunities that had been available for king salmon, but now are nearly nonexistent.

Mat-Su Weirs and Genetic Sampling

A discussion occurred on the importance of weirs (or other enumeration systems) to adequately know if escapement goals were being attained, and their use along with genetic sampling to provide estimates of total salmon return size and exploitation rates. The Commission has unanimously supported, as legislative priorities, full funding for several already established Mat-Su salmon weir projects, and a coho salmon genetic sampling program as was also available in the recent past. In addition to Little Susitna River weir (currently the only Mat-Su Weir funded throughout the entire coho salmon run) the Commission would like to see additional funding for Deshka River, Fish Creek, and Jim Creek weirs as was previously provided through the full coho salmon run. In addition to Fish Creek, Judd Lake, and Larson Lake weirs, the Commission wants to see full funding for Chelatna Lake weir throughout the sockeye salmon season.

Weir Costs

From ADF&G information provided back in October cost estimates for operating sport fish weirs are:

Deshka River Weir — $110,000 to operate from July 1 — September 30. For the past three years this weir has only been funded to run through August 15 at a cost of $61,000.

Fish Creek Weir — $45,000 to operate from July 1 — September 30. This project was funded through most of July in 2022 at about $20,000.

Jim Creek Weir — $55,000 cost to operate through the entire coho run. This project has not been funded for the past 3 years.

From ADF&G information provided on December 13, 2022;

Chelatna Lake Weir — $60,000 for sockeye salmon. Chelatna Lake, the source of Lake Creek, has the largest sockeye salmon population of any single lake in the Susitna River drainage.

December 13, 2022 — I received notification of a future discussion between Senator Murkowski, staff members, 2 Fish and Wildlife Commission members, and Mat-Su Borough Staff to explore potential federal funding that may be available.

As this article is written, Mat-Su weirs are still in need of funding, but I appreciate the efforts of everyone involved in discussing this issue and / or attending the December 7 Mat-Su Salmon Fisheries Season Summary Meeting either in person, over the phone, online, or on YouTube.

Fish On!

Andy Couch is a Mat-Su Fish and Wildlife Commission member and Mat-Su Valley fishing guide. Impressions from the December 7, 2022 public meeting are his own.