Project Information

Title: Detecting and Understanding Marine-Terrestrial Linkages in the Kenai River Watershed 02612

Project Year and Number: 2002: 02612

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: None

Principal Investigator (PI): Bill Hauser (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: None

Research Location: Kenai River watershed

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Sockeye Salmon

Abstract: This project will provide matching funds for a coordinator to serve a multidisciplinary team of agency-supported scientists that is designing a study of marine and terrestrial nutrient cycling in the Kenai River watershed. The oil spill curtailed commercial fishing on the river in 1989, causing changes in productivities of sockeye salmon and other species, in addition to allowing a massive input of marine nutrients borne by the unharvested salmon. The watershed is also at some risk from anthropogenic activities including habitat degradation, increased utilization and invasive species. Studies on watersheds of the Pacific Northwest suggest there may be cascading impacts when marine derived nutrients normally supplied by salmon carcasses are diverted from an ecosystem. When nutrients normally supplied by salmon are withdrawn, productivity of the entire watershed is expected to be diminished.


Proposal: View (289 KB)

Reports:
Final Report: View (3,211 KB)

Publications from this Project: None Available