We are just past peak foliage in the Susitna Watershed. While it is sad to say goodbye to the long days of summer as autumn slowly becomes winter, the SRC community has been enjoying the final days of filling freezers, stacking wood, and tidying up in the yard.
Last night, the SRC team had the incredible honor of being chosen as the 2024 recipient of the Lowell Thomas Jr. Award for Outstanding Achievements by an Organization Doing Conservation Work from the Alaska Conservation Foundation.
It was a fantastic way to celebrate SRC's outgoing Executive Director, Melissa Heuer's, ten years of hard work protecting the region, and to kick off the tenure of our new leader, Melis Coady. Thank you to the SRC community for supporting our work and making this happen! We had so much fun celebrating, and are even more invigorated to keep up the good work for the Susitna Watershed.
When you take a break from your chores and the variety of things that need your attention, take a moment and support the Susitna. Whether you sign up for Wild Su Feast (October 13th!), sign up as an SRC member, or write a comment to support the future of the Susitna, we are grateful to you and your support.
We work for the Su, and we work for you.
Upcoming Events & Comment Periods
DNR Division of Oil And Gas: Susitna Valley Gas Exploration
Comment Deadline: October 7th, 2024
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is evaluating Gas Exploration Lease Proposal covering 1.5 million acres of state-owned land in the Susitna Valley.
This proposal is nearly identical to a 2017 exploration notice that sparked overwhelming engagement, with 92% of opposing commenters, including community councils, opposing the development.
While the exploration proposal is labeled as “gas only,” the risks to wildlife, personal property values, subsistence, tourism, and our quality of life remain just as high.
Why It Matters:
Unrestricted Exploration for 10 Years: If this license is approved, the exploration and development could occur without limits for up to a decade, significantly impacting the area’s environment, wildlife, and the communities that rely on it.
Expansive Area: The proposal covers a vast area extending west of Skwentna and nearly to Willow, including important regions around the Yentna and Susitna Rivers. These waters feed vital salmon populations that support not just local ecosystems but the Cook Inlet fisheries.
Incomplete Transparency: The map provided by the DNR obscures the actual boundaries of this proposal, making it difficult to fully assess the impacts. The state will release details in a Preliminary Finding (date TBD), but the time to act is NOW by submitting your comments to influence the decisions for that finding.
For talking points and tips for writing your comments,
see the SRC talking points sheet here.
The Susitna River Coalition’s official comments are here.
What You Can Do:
Submit comments by Monday, October 7th, 2024 at 5 pm.
How to Submit Your Comments:
Email: Send comments to dog.bif@alaska.gov, and be sure to mark your submission as "Comment on Exploration in the Susitna Valley Solicitation Area."
Mail: Written comments can be sent to Best Interest Findings, 500 W. 7th Ave., Suite 1100, Anchorage, AK 99501.
Every comment counts. Stand up for the Susitna Valley and protect what makes this region special. Your voice can help stop this project and preserve the future of the watershed!
Questions? Need Help? Feel free to contact us if you need assistance with your comments. Let’s work together to protect our land and water.
8th Annual Wild Su Feast
Sunday, October 13th, 2024 from 5-8PM
We can't wait to feast and celebrate the Susitna at the
8th Annual Wild Su Feast!
This event has grown so much over the years, and it’s all thanks to our incredible Watershed community.
Last year, we had over 50 people bring dishes made from local ingredients, with even more just coming to enjoy the feast. We’re keeping the tradition alive this year with great food, good company, and a bigger space, including an outdoor tent. We’re hoping for better weather too!
We expect the event to sell out, so be sure to grab your tickets early to secure your spot and take advantage of our early bird pricing. If you haven’t registered yet, you can Get your tickets HERE.
Your early registration helps us plan and make this year’s feast the best one yet!
Event Details:
When: Sunday, October 13, 2024, 5 PM – 8 PM
Where: Denali Brewing Company, 37083 Talkeetna Spur Rd. (Mile 2)
See the Facebook Event Page and our Website for more information, and Get your early bird tickets here!
As always, 100% of proceeds support the important work of the Susitna River Coalition.
And don’t forget to check out our Wild Su Feast shop for some fun swag, cookbooks, and more to get ready for the feast!
We’re so excited to celebrate with you and the rest of the community as we continue our mission to protect the wild and free-flowing Susitna River and the ecosystems it sustains.
Sponsorship Opportunity:
100% proceeds from the event support the good work of Susitna River Coalition, and we couldn't host this community-favorite event with the support of our local businesses.
Are you a business or nonprofit interested in sponsoring this fun-filled community event? Take a look at our sponsorship form! We have four sponsorship levels and three of the levels come with guest passes for the event.
We hope you can support wild rivers and wild foods by becoming a sponsor for this year’s event.
Thank you to those that have already sponsored: Denali Brewing Company, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Mahay's Jetboat Adventures, Alaska Nature Guides, KTNA, Alaska Mountaineering School, the Fairvew Inn, and Dancing Leaf Gallery for their support!
Call for Volunteers!
Interested in Feasting while supporting the Susitna River Coalition?
We are looking for Wild Su Feast volunteers! We’re also looking for volunteers to help make the feast run smoothly.
If you’re interested in attending Wild Su Feast for free and supporting this fun, community event, contact us.
Water Reservations:
What They Are, Why We Need Them and Why We Care
The 2024 Winter Speaker Series will kick off on Tuesday, October 15th with a presentation about Water Reservations in Alaska.
Large changes are proposed for the current water reservation system for the State of Alaska, and these changes would have large implications on the existing uses of water in the region. But in order to understand the proposed changes, we must understand what water reservations are and the role they play in our state's waterways.
Join the Susitna River Coalition as we welcome Michael Lilly of Geo-Watershed Scientific on Tuesday, October 15th from 6-7PM as he shares his knowledge of Water Reservations in Alaska.
This event will be held on Zoom and FacebookLive.
DNR Water Reservation Scoping Comment Period
Comments Due: October 29th, 2024
The Department of Natural Resources has extended the public scoping comment period regarding water reservations in the state of Alaska until October 29th, 2024. See the initial DNR public notice here and the supplemental notice here.More information can also be found on the DNR webpage.
The Susitna River Coalition is currently creating information for the public to utilize to comment during the scoping process-- so stay tuned! If you would like to learn more, see Cook Inletkeeper's recent blog on the issue, and register for our winter speaker event to learn more!
Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium
The Mat- Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium, hosted by the Mat-Su Salmon Habitat Partnership, is back for 2024! Registration is open for this fun and informative event surrounding the fabulous work being done throughout our region with salmon.
For more information, see the Event page.