While the leaves are changing color in the lowlands and on the tundra, the Susitna River Coalition has been navigating an exciting transition in leadership amongst a myriad of watershed comment periods and events.
Please join the SRC community in deep thanks as we say goodbye to SRC's Executive Director of 10 years, Melissa Heuer and in warm welcome to our new leader, SRC's incoming Executive Director, Melis Coady.
The watershed is lucky to have such dedicated advocates, and we are excited to see what the future brings.
A Fond Farewell and a Bright Future Ahead
Dear Members, Friends, and Partners,
It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since I first drove through a storm to meet the Susitna River Coalition’s board in Talkeetna for my second interview. I still remember that very cold, snowy day in 2014, and feeling an immediate connection to this community and the mission of the SRC. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to be a part of this incredible organization.
As SRC’s first official employee, the journey we’ve embarked on together has been nothing short of remarkable. Over the last decade, I’ve had the honor of working with and for this community, making lifelong friends and discovering hidden gems in the Susitna River watershed along the way. With a small but mighty team, we’ve grown into a true force for conservation, proudly standing as the only conservation organization between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Over these 10 years, we’ve tackled issues as varied and important as dams, wetlands, roads, utilities, salmon education, riparian plantings, and so much more.
But our work is far from over. The Mat-Su is the fastest-growing region in Alaska, and the pressures on our lands, rivers, and communities are coming at us quickly. We’re up against increasing threats to the watershed that sustains us all, and the challenges ahead are real and urgent. From land-use decisions to development, the choices we make in the coming months and years will shape the future of the Susitna River and our region.
Together, we’ve achieved real, lasting change for the Susitna River and our wider region, and we’ll need your continued support to keep fighting. This organization has thrived because of the passion and commitment of our board, made up exclusively of Mat-Su residents, our dedicated staff, and our unwavering community support and engagement. We are an organization rooted in the Mat-Su, defined by our love for this land, our fish, our hunting, and our berry patches. And while we may not fit into traditional labels, we are united by a shared commitment to protect and preserve the unique beauty of our home.
As I step down from my role as Executive Director, I do so with a heart full of appreciation and gratitude. Your support, involvement, and dedication are why we’ve grown into the organization we are today. And I’m thrilled to introduce our new Executive Director, Melis Coady, who brings fresh energy, brilliant ideas, and a deep commitment to the future of the Susitna River watershed.
To cap off an amazing decade, I’m excited to share that The Susitna River Coalition is being honored at this year’s Alaska Conservation Foundation’s Conservation Achievement Awards with the Lowell Thomas, Jr. Award for Outstanding Achievements by an Organization Doing Conservation Work! The public is welcome! It’s a recognition of all that we’ve accomplished together, and I couldn’t be more excited for what comes next.
Thank you for an incredible decade of conservation, community, and commitment. I look forward to seeing all that SRC will continue to achieve with your support and under Melis’s leadership.
With gratitude and urgency,
Melissa Heuer
Outgoing Executive Director
There’s still so much to be done, and we need your help to keep up the momentum. Our organization is small, but our work is critical. Your ongoing financial support helps sustain this impactful work as we face the growing pressures on our region. Please consider becoming a sustaining member—whether it’s $5, $10, $20, or more a month, every bit helps keep this important work moving forward.
A Huge, Warm Welcome to
Melis Coady
SRC's Incoming Executive Director
We are thrilled to announce the Susitna River Coalition's incoming Executive Director, Melis Coady.
Melis Coady, a Talkeetna resident since 1999, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role as Executive Director of the Susitna River Coalition. With decades of work as a local wilderness guide, including her time as a Denali park ranger, Melis has a deep understanding of Alaska’s natural environment and its immense local and global value.
Her background also includes work with local emergency services, enhancing her expertise in community safety and crisis management. As an early volunteer with the Susitna River Coalition and a former Talkeetna Community Council member, Melis has been actively involved in advocating for the protection and well being of the watershed and its residents.
In addition to her grassroots efforts, Melis has nonprofit management and leadership experience from her time as Executive Director of the Alaska Avalanche School, where she promoted outdoor safety and education.
Now, as Executive Director of the Susitna River Coalition, Melis is dedicated to protecting the Susitna Watershed and opposing harmful projects like the Susitna Dam. Her leadership will continue to advance the Coalition’s mission of responsible stewardship for the benefit of all who rely on the river and its resources.
She looks forward to working with our large local membership and hopes to see you at one of our events—or out on the river!
We are so excited to have Melis as our new Executive Director!
8th Annual Wild Su Feast
Sunday, October 13th, 2024 from 5-8PM
We are so excited to announce our 8th annual Wild Su Feast!
Get tickets now and learn more here.
Want some inspiration before the event?
Check out our Wild Su Feast Cookbooks and Merchandise!