OUR VISION
We believe the Copper River watershed can have a vibrant, healthy future.
Have you heard?
Thank you for making our Adopt-a-Fry Fundraiser a success!! Your generous donations helped us unlock $5,000 in matching funds that will allow us to continue to bring salmon to the classroom, immerse kids in salmon habitat, and support the next generation of watershed stewardship.
Many thanks to our generous donors, including Wilson Construction, who matched $5,000 of your donations this holiday season to support our watershed-education programs!!
CRWP represented the Copper River at the International Year of the Salmon (IYS) Symposium!
Our Program Director, Kate Morse, attended the conference with Tommy Sheridan, Alaska’s commissioner on the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission, who connected with teacher Jennifer Hodges 3-5 grade Kenny Lake classes via Zoom from one of IYS high seas research cruises back in April 2022.
Jennifer and her husband Brian Hodges helped to produce a short video presentation that explains our salmon-themed education programs and demonstrates the impact they have on her students – the goal was to inspire other researchers at the symposium to connect with youth. The video was intended to be made available via an online portal, but was so well-received that it was shows on the big screen to all participants at the symposium.
CRWP is developing a logo that can be used by fishermen, direct marketers, net hangers, and businesses that recycle their nets.
The idea is to create a signal that lets customers know that when they support your business, they are supporting a business that recycles fishing nets. This is a similar concept to the “Made in Alaska” logo.
We’ve created a short survey for the community to share input. Everyone who participates in the survey will be entered in a prize drawing. Drawing will be held on December 9, 2022.
The CRWP is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals from qualified organizations for invasive plant management projects across Alaska. Funds will be available for non-federal organizations for the 2023 field season. View the RFP and more information on our Invasive Plant Program webpage.
Our Programs Making a Difference
We have completed a variety of habitat restoration & monitoring projects throughout the Copper River watershed to improve fish passage, re-vegetate and stabilize habitats for spawning and rearing salmon, assess water quality and identify salmon habitat for listing in the Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s Andaromous Waters Catalog.
CRWP programs take science learning outside for kids from grades K – 12. We lead field trips and classroom sessions on aquatic habitat, stormwater pollution, the salmon lifecycle, and watershed science. Students also participate in raising salmon fry from eggs in a classroom tank and releasing the fry come spring.
As part of our mission to ensure the continued health of our watershed communities, CRWP works to promote recycling throughout the Copper River area. We strive to maintain sustainable practices in our own operations, and want to encourage others to do so as well.
CRWP oversees Cooperative Weed Management Areas in Cordova and the Copper Basin to coordinate public and private resources to effectively treat high priority invasive plant species. Learn more about these cooperative efforts as well as to learn more about the high priority invasive plant species in the region.
CRWP is celebrating 25 Years!! In the words of our Executive Director, Lisa Docken:
"It is with pleasure I announce that 2023 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Copper River Watershed Project. As with many anniversaries, looking back on the history of the CRWP invokes feelings of pride, a demonstration of perseverance, and hope and excitement for what the next 25 years will mean at the CRWP and for this great watershed.
From one staff member making the mission a reality to today’s growing team of determined staff, the CRWP is now passing record budgets – which means record positive impacts for the watershed, for salmon, and for our communities. I look forward to spending 2023 celebrating the great partnerships and projects that we have built together over the past 25 years and showcasing the legacy projects coming to fruition in the next few years.
To all our donors, thank you for making the CRWP a reality and for supporting a healthy future for the Copper River watershed - we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you!"
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copperriver.org
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#25yearanniversary #nonprofitorganization #copperriverwatershed #salmonhabitat #community
Hello from Shae at the Live Tank Camera!! The salmon eggs could be hatching any day now. You can check out the live feed for a chance to see the eggs hatch in real-time.
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To see Live Feed, click link in bio and select Salmon in the Classroom!
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#copperriverwatershed #salmoneggs #salmonintheclassroom #education #salmonhabitat
Thanks @pwssc for sharing fun Iceworm Facts!
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Happy Iceworm Festival, Cordova! Check out some fun facts about ice worms. Don't forget to join us tonight at 7pm The Reluctant for some Science Center Trivia on ice worms.
#IcewormFestival #Iceworms @CordovaIcewormFestival
Light is returning to the boreal. Which is a relatively young forest in Earth Time, and has existed for 12,000 years:
"...since the beginning of the Holocene epoch, covering land that had been mammoth steppe or under the Scandinavian Ice Sheet in Eurasia and under the Laurentide Ice Sheet in North America during the Late Pleistocene." Thanks, Wiki!
The forest, like the Copper River, is constantly changing. It's fun to dream sometimes, what this wateshed might look like in another 12,000 years.
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copperriver.org
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Photo by @timsundlov
#borealforest #returninglight #photographer #alaskaforest #copperriverwatershed
Copper River Watershed Project is an official Pick.Click.Give recipient!
Click to donate to CRWP and support the work we are doing in the Copper River watershed for salmon habitat, education, and stewardship to help keep our watershed thriving and healthy.
Applications must be in by March 31st, 2023!!
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PFD application time has arrived for eligible Alaskans!! If you haven't already applied, go to https://pfd.alaska.gov
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Or you can always donate directly to CRWP at: copperriver.org/give
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#PickClickGive #nonprofitorganization #habitatrestoration #salmonhabitat #copperriverwatershed #donatenow
We have an Egg Update from Mt. Eccles Elementary School!!
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Last fall 5th Grade students from Mt. Eccles Elementary School took a field trip with CRWP, Prince William Sound Science Center, and Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation to help collect salmon eggs. The class has been keeping an eye on the eggs in the tank in their school, taking daily temperatures, and getting an up-close, hands-on experience with the lifecycle of salmon in our watershed.
Based on their calculations, they anticipate the eggs could hatch to Alevin in as early as two weeks!
Watch the video to see our Salmon in the Classroom Program in action with Kate Morse from CRWP and Neil Wright with PWSAC. Our Adopt-a-Fry Fundraiser supports this Salmon in the Classroom Program. Many thanks to everyone who donated to this year's education campaign! Stay tuned – we anticipate Copper Basin tanks to be set up in the coming weeks!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7wsTwyoYSk
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Thanks to our partners for making this project possible: Prince William Sound Science Center, Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game - Official, Wilson Construction, and Mt. Eccles Elementary School.
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For more info click link in bio and select Watershed Education!
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#copperriverwatershed #salmoneducation #watershededucation #adoptafry #salmonintheclassroom
We are so happy to announce that our 2022 Student Intern, Mia Siebenmorgen Cresswell, is receiving the Ocean Youth Award!!
Alaska Sea Life states the Ocean Youth Award is awarded to an individual or team of Alaskan youth up to 19 years old who has displayed a dedication to promoting the understanding and stewardship of Alaska’s oceans.
CRWP knows first-hand the dedication Mia has to stewardship of the watershed. During her time with CRWP, Mia helped with invasive plant removal and the Copper River Stewardship Program, where she learned from people with different connections to Prince William Sound and the watershed.
Mia has served as an intern for the Prince William Sound Regional Citizen’s Advisory Council, has set traps to monitor for European green crabs, and monitored settlement plates in the local harbor for benthic invasive species as part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s Plate Watch program, and engaged in outreach by presenting her monitoring work at events including the Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment’s Science Lecture Series and the Prince William Sound Natural History Symposium.
"She has brought greater awareness to the issue of marine invasive species in Alaska and stewards the importance of marine science in Southcentral Alaska and beyond." –Alaska SeaLife Center
Congratulations Mia!!! We are lucky to have you in the watershed and are excited about the stewardship work you are doing!
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https://copperriver.org/programs/
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#oceanyouth #copperriverwatershed #stewardshipaward #cordova
@alaskasealifecenter @smithsonianenvironment
There is great wisdom in changing your attire to blend into your surroundings - and wearing feathers on your feet in the winter!
The Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) is a tough little bird, roosting and foraging in the snow all winter. The males take care of the young, and defend them against predators. And yes, it is Alaska's state bird too, for good reason.
This photo was taken by photographer Milo Burcham, who will be giving a presenation Wednesday, January 24th, 7pm at The Prince William Sound Science Center.
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copperriver.org
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#wildlifephotographer #ptarmigan #AlaskaStateBird #copperriverwatershed #wildlife
@pwssc
The Copper River watershed is beautiful any time of the year, but especially when the low-angled light of short days bounces lavender-hues off the snow and ice.
Thanks to John Tierney, owner of the Copper River Record newspaper, for sharing this shot he took of the Copper River from the bridge in Chitina.
#copperriverbasin #chitina #copperriver #midwinter #iceandsnow
This looks delicious!! Thanks for the recipe Sena Sea!!
If you live in the Lower 48 or just need some fish, Sena Sea gives 8% of your purchase back to the Copper River Watershed Project in support of watershed stewardship.
Click link in Bio and select Shop Sena Sea.
Repost from @senasea_seafoods
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New slow roasted citrus salmon recipe!
I'm really excited about this new recipe because it uses a slow roasting method I've been wanting to try - baking at 225 F for 40-60 minutes. That's really long for fish!
I wanted to put the method to the ultimate test by using Copper River king salmon. And just as I suspected, it was a perfect way to ensure the super thick portions were cooked through without overcooking.
The fresh citrus flavor is just exactly what's needed to wake up the senses in the depths of January. And the avocado-mango topping with lots of lemon was the perfect extra kick of flavor (and healthy fats).
That's it, just what I needed. Fresh,
new slow roasted citrus salmon recipe!
I'm really excited about this new recipe because it uses a slow roasting method I've been wanting to try - baking at 225 F for 40-60 minutes. That's really long for fish!
I wanted to put the method to the ultimate test by using Copper River king salmon. And just as I suspected, it was a perfect way to ensure the super thick portions were cooked through without overcooking.
The fresh citrus flavor is just exactly what's needed to wake up the senses in the depths of January. And the avocado-mango topping with lots of lemon was the perfect extra kick of flavor (and healthy fats).
That's it, just what I needed. Fresh, new and delicious home-cooked meals make me feel healthy, balanced and ready for anything!
This recipe would be good for all types of salmon, but I especially recommend it for Copper River king. Sockeye and coho would work great too, however we are just about sold out of coho.
Thanks for the good work @netyourproblem !! Nets collected in Alaska are being recycled in Denmark. Recycle. Reuse. Respect. ♻️
Repost from Net Your Problem
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Check out our story today for an update on the last portion of the European recycle tour - the Plastix facility in Denmark. This is a company we have been working with since the very beginning of Net Your Problem and here Nicole is sitting on nets we collected from Alaska, that are in the queue to be recycled. What a proud moment!
