OUR VISION
We believe the Copper River watershed can have a vibrant, healthy future.
THIS is Watershed Education in action 🐟 🐟
TOMORROW!!!
Join us for the 4th Annual Gakona TRIfesta, Saturday, July 13th at 11:00am! This is a fun event with all the proceeds from the race being donated back to CRWP to support our stewardship work in the watershed!
Dress up in your most creative costume and bike/paddle/run race by three incredible rivers in the watershed - the Gakona, Copper, and Gulkana Rivers.
🏆 Prizes are awarded to the top male and female finishers (adult & youth) and for the best-dressed racer!
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WHEN: Saturday, July 13th, 11 AM
WHERE: Gakona Lodge, Copper Basin
REGISTER: In person the morning of the event, the night before at the Gakona Lodge bib pick-up, or online. Registration is $30 for adults and $15 for minors, and all proceeds go to support CRWP.
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Find details and registration info here https://copperriver.org/.../upcoming-events/gakona-trifesta/
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📷 CRWP - 2022 Gakona TRIfesta.
#GakonaTrifesta #alaskatriathalon #CopperBasin #copperriverwatershed #alaskarace #fundraiser
Our Watershed Stewardship Program Manager, Amanda Jackson, organized an invasive plant program and plant I.D. introduction last week for teens working and learning about natural resource management in the Copper Basin.
Amanda taught the importance of partnership connections to address watershed scale issues like invasive plants, which was reflected in the program participants who included Youth Environmental Training Initiative participants with Copper River Native Association, the Ahtna Youth Interns with Ahtna Incorporated, and the Youth Conservation Core and Student Conservation Association participants with Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
It was a wonderful experience for all youth to learn together and to implement invasive plant management practices. They learned how to identify highly ranked invasive plants and collected data in a mock survey. All 14 youth went home with goodie bags filled with boot brushes, invasive plant reporter cards, AK Invasive plant pocket ID guides, and other helpful resources to continue their interest in tackling unwanted pesky plants!
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Find more on our Invasive Plant Management Program click our bio link.
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📷 William/YCC Staff - Teens in the Copper Basin learning about invasive plants and how to identify them.
#InvasivePlantProgram #CopperBasin #youthprogram
We are excited to welcome our new Partnership Administrator, Amy Scudder, to the CRWP Team!
Amy began working for CRWP in 2024 and loves to find meaningful, place-based connections, with the lands, waters and people that both nourish and connect the Copper River Watershed. As someone who could never decide if she was a "water" or "mountain" person she is thrilled to be engaging partners that connect the vast geology and hydrology in the region. Amy holds a B.S. in Biology, a M.S. in Environmental Science, and is currently pursuing a M.A. in organizational leadership and conflict mediation. During free moments she can be found hiking the Wrangell mountains, exploring glaciers, biking as much as possible, adventuring with her teen children, cooking, reading and knitting.
Welcome to the team, Amy!
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https://copperriver.org/about-us/staff/
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#copperriverwatershed #CopperBasin #NewStaffMember
The 4th Annual Gakona TRIfesta is on Saturday, July 13th at 11:00am! All the proceeds from the race are donated back to CRWP to support our stewardship work in the watershed!
Come join the fun!! The bike/paddle/run race will take you by three incredible rivers in the watershed - the Gakona, Copper, and Gulkana Rivers.
🏆 Prizes are awarded to the top male and female finishers (adult & youth) and for the best-dressed racer!
.
.
WHEN: Saturday, July 13th, 11 AM
WHERE: Gakona Lodge, Copper Basin
REGISTER: In person the morning of the event, the night before at the Gakona Lodge bib pick-up, or online. Registration is $30 for adults and $15 for minors, and all proceeds go to support CRWP.
.
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Find details and registration info by clicking our bio link and selecting the Gakona Trifesta button.
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📷 CRWP - 2023 Gakona TRIfesta.
#GakonaTrifesta #alaskatriathalon #CopperBasin #copperriverwatershed #alaskarace #fundraiser
The Copper River Stewardship Program was full of sunshine and adventure for High School students from Cordova and Copper Basin. The 9-day trip started in Cordova after many of the Copper Basin stewards endured their first-ever 13-hour ferry ride to Cordova.
Stewards explored the Copper River Delta and were based out of the U.S. Forest Service research camp on Alaganik Slough. They learned how to collect data using GIS-based programs and made the journey out to Dusky Camp by canoe! After exploring the Copper River Delta, the stewards left Cordova for the Copper Basin and were given an opportunity to learn how to drive the ferry!
We’d like to thank our partners and funders for making this program possible: Alyeska, Bureau of Land Management mypubliclands, Kate Svitek Memorial Foundation, nationalparkservice, nativevillageofeyak, Prince William Sound Science Center PWSSC, Prince William Sound Regional Citizens` Advisory Council, u.s.forestservice, and Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE).
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Click our bio link and select the Watershed Education button to find more on the Copper River Stewardship Program!
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📷 Kate Trudeau/Prince Williams Sound Science Center
#watershededucation #copperriverwatershed #stewardshipprogram
On Wednesday June 19, a group of ten adults from the Prince William Sound Science Center Coastal Community Experience (CCE) cohort joined CRWP in exploring current and past CRWP fish passage projects, to learn about fish habitat and stream management in the Cordova area.
Our new team member, Invasive Plant Technician Kathryn Schluter, joined the group and shares her experience of the day:
"As a new member of the CRWP staff, I too am still learning about all of the different projects we partake in, so I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the impactful work we do. We spent the day learning about what it takes to place culverts along the Copper River Highway and make sure that they are able to successfully allow salmon migration. We ended the day by examining fish caught in minnow traps by one of the newest culverts put in by the CRWP to test if salmon were able to pass through it the way they are supposed to without any hindrances. It was amazing to see for myself just how impactful the work the CRWP is doing for the local ecosystems here in Cordova. As someone who is also exploring different career opportunities, it was an amazing experience to get a first hand look at some of the different ways people can help with salmon conservation." —Kathryn Schluter
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Find more on our Fish Passage work at https://copperriver.org/programs/fish-habitat-restoration/
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📷 Kathryn Schluter/CRWP - CCE cohort visitng fish passage projects, past and present, to learn about stream management.
#fishpassage #CordovaAlaska #fishhabitatrestoration #copperriverwatershed
CORDOVA - Have you noticed all the orange flowers popping right now? Those are Orange Hawkweed flowers, a voracious invasive species.
Join us in our efforts to stop the spread of this stubborn invasive by participating in the Deadhead Challenge June 28th - July 5th! Bring bags of clipped or snapped Orange Hawkweed flowers to the CRWP office and be entered into the raffle!
Clip or snap the stem of Orange Hawkweed to collect. By removing the flower heads, you are preventing the spread of wind dispersed seeds. It is NOT advised to pull the entire plant, unless only a couple of plants are present. This weed thrives on underground disturbance and will expand its roots further once pulled. Happy clipping!
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Find more on our Invasive Plant Management Program here https://copperriver.org/programs/invasive-plant-management/
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#invasiveplantmanagement #orangehawkweed #deadheadchallenge #cordovainvasiveplant #CordovaAlaska
We have an exciting Friendraiser coming up!! The 4th Annual Gakona TRIfesta is on Saturday, July 13th at 11:00am, and all the proceeds from the race are donated back to CRWP to support our stewardship work in the watershed!
The bike/paddle/run race will take you by three incredible rivers in the watershed - the Gakona, Copper, and Gulkana Rivers.
🏆 Prizes are awarded to the top male and female finishers (adult & youth) and for the best-dressed racer!
Join us for this TRIfesta of fun, run, bike, and float in the Copper River watershed.
WHEN: Saturday, July 13th, 11 AM
WHERE: Gakona Lodge, Copper Basin
REGISTER: In person the morning of the event, the night before at the Gakona Lodge bib pick-up, or online. Registration is $30 for adults and $15 for minors, and all proceeds go to support CRWP.
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Find all the details and registration link by clicking our bio link and selecting the Gakona Trifesta button.
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📷 CRWP - 2022 Gakona TRIfesta.
#GakonaTrifesta #alaskatriathalon #CopperBasin #copperriverwatershed #alaskarace #fundraiser
CRWP/CRNA Climate Change Coordinator Colleen Merrick shared an update from a beautiful sunny Youth Employment and Training Initiative (YETI) trip to Little Tonsina this past month.
"This summer, the Youth Employment and Training Initiative (YETI) at CRNA is in full swing, welcoming teens from the community. Collaborating with various regional organizations and agencies, YETI participants are diving into experiential learning that promises to make a lasting impact.
In their first week, our YETIs partnered with professional Hydrologist Kirsti Jurica from the Copper River Watershed Project. Together, they tackled the surveying and monitoring of the Little Tonsina fish passage site. The teens were introduced to observation notebooks, a key step towards developing their own lab notebooks. They applied their high school math skills to calculate river depth, width, speed, and velocity, directly correlating classroom learning with real-world scenarios.
Beyond numbers, our YETIs explored the interconnectedness of riparian environments. They discovered why macroinvertebrates are crucial for salmon health and how river velocity affects spawning habitat and infrastructure stability. This hands-on approach allowed them to bridge classroom knowledge with ecosystem dynamics, seeing firsthand how their studies translate to meaningful contributions in the field.
Stay tuned as our YETIs continue their journey of learning and community impact this summer!" —Colleen Merrick
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Find more on our Watershed Education Programs at https://copperriver.org/programs/watershed-education/
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📷 Photos 1, 5 & 6 - Kirsti Jurica/CRWP and Photos 2-4 Colleen Merrick/CRWP-CRNA. YETI field trip to Little Tonsina Bridge.
#youthemploymentprogram #copperriverwatershed #CopperBasin
We`d like to introduce you to our new team member and Plant Program Field Technician, Kathryn Schluter!
Kathryn is from Pennsylvania and a junior at Colgate University majoring in biology. At school she works for the Outdoor Education department where she spends time leading hiking, canoeing, and kayaking trips. In her free time she likes to spend time with friends, family, and her two dogs, Norman and Jerry.
"I have always been interested in the efforts the CRWP has taken to ensure salmon habitats are kept safe and healthy, and part of that comes from managing invasive plant species like Reed canarygrass. As the Summer Invasive Plant technician, I hope to be able to learn more about how to safely manage invasive species to protect our local ecosystems and be able to get to know the Copper River Watershed better!" —Kathryn Schluter
Welcome to the CRWP team, Kathryn!
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www.copperriver.org/about-us/staff/
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#newstaff #invasiveplantmanagement #fieldtechnician
COPPER BASIN - Join the CRWP Team and be an advocate for salmon habitat! We currently have several positions open as we expand our team for the field season! Work with a great group of watershed stewards and help manage invasive species in the Copper Basin.
— Invasive Plant Technician
The positions are full-time, seasonal field-based jobs starting May 27th - September 27th, in the Copper Basin and also in Cordova with the potential for extensions. Duties include conducting surveys, recording data, and implementing manual and mechanical control treatments for terrestrial invasive plants.
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—Plant Program Intern
Join CRWP as a Plant Program Intern from June 3rd - August 9th in the Copper Basin or Cordova. This is a paid position for ages 15 and up, 3 days a week. Training is provided, and work will be remote and field-based.
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For more information and to apply, go to https://copperriver.org/about-us/job-opportunities/
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#copperriverwatershed #jobopportunity #alaskajob #stewardshipwork #CopperBasin #invasiveplantmanagement
Have you heard?
The 4th Annual Gakona TRIfesta begins with biking from the heart of Gakona, paddling the Gulkana River, then running back to the historic Gakona Lodge. The races take you by three amazing rivers in the Copper River watershed – the Gakona, Copper, and Gulkana Rivers.
Prizes are awarded to the top male and female finishers (adult & youth) and for the best-dressed racer!WHEN: Saturday, July 13th, 11am
WHERE: Gakona Lodge, Copper Basin
REGISTER: In person the morning of the event, the night before at the Gakona Lodge bib pick-up, or online. Registration is $30 for adults and $15 for minors, and all proceeds go to support CRWP. Proceeds come back to CRWP to support our stewardship work.
WHEN: July 19-20
WHERE: Mt. Eyak Ski Area, Cordova
Our Programs Making a Difference
