Odiak Watershed Restoration

 CRWP and Cordova's 7th graders have laid the groundwork for the Odiak Watershed Restoration by officially documenting the aquatic system as supporting coho salmon and Dolly Varden. Additional funding has been secured in order to improve the habitat quality in Odiak Pond and Stream.  

Native Plant Garden

Starting the summer of 2012, CRWP will work with the City of Cordova to construct a native plant garden in the grassy field adjacent to the pond. This garden will provide valuable educational opportunities for visitors to and residents of Cordova,and will also be used to generate seeds for re-vegetation projects where invasive plants have been removed or the ground has been disturbed.

Invasive Plant Eradication Experiment

CRWP and biologists from the Chugach National Forest will also set up an experiment to test treatments for eradicating Reed Canarygrass currently growing in the pond.  This highly invasive plant has taken over stream channels in the Pacific Northwest, and it is our hope to identify an effective means for eradicating the plant so we can reduce the impact it has on local aquatic ecosystems, in particular the wetlands of the Copper River Delta. 

Hydrology Assessment

Once the snow has melted, we will also complete a hydrology
assessment on the pond that will help to daylight the stream in the community and identify potential stormwater treatments we can implement for improving the quality of the water entering the pond from our roadways.  We invite any information community members might have about the history of Odiak drainage.  

Construction of Native Plant Filter

In summer 2013 we will continue the invasive plant treatments and upkeep of the garden. We will also construct a stormwater filter, or bioswale, using native vegetation to help filter stormwater before it enters the pond.  We will test how this stormwater management strategy works in Cordova's climate in hopes it can be a tool implemented throughout the community for reducing the affect stormwater runoff has on our surrounding water bodies.  

Download our project brochure here to read more about this restoration effort.  Program updates will be posted on this webpage as work moves forward on this project.

Project Partners and Contributors

• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
• Alaska Department of Fish and Game
• City of Cordova
• Cordova School District
• Cordova 7th Grade Science Class
• Ecotrust
• National Association of Counties Research Foundation
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
• Native Village of Eyak
• Prince William Sound Science Center
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• USFS Cordova and Glacier Ranger Districts
• USFS Prince William Sound Resources Advisory Committee