OUR VISION
We believe the Copper River watershed can have a vibrant, healthy future.
This month Amanda Jackson, our Watershed Stewardship Program Manager, and our awesome Plant Technicians Rachel Ryan and Alvin Albert, facilitated salmon education for Copper Basin youth. They got be salmon for a day, and run "upstream" passing through a "culvert" and tried to reach the source of the river holding a cupful of "salmon eggs." Much fun was had by all and it was a great way for youth to gain a deeper understanding of the journey salmon make uprivers and streams in the region.
CopperRiver.org
📷 Amanda Jackson/CRWP - Copper Basin youth playing a salmon education game.
#salmoneducation #CopperBasin #copperriverwatershed #youthprogram
Flying into Cordova gives just a small glimpse of the Delta. Such a beautiful, amazing place! This is where the salmon begin the upriver journey and the river ends in the sea. We’re grateful for this powerfully abundant place. 🐟🦢🐦⬛🪺
CopperRiver.org
`Tis the season for controlling orange hawkweed before it spreads!
Cordovans can remove and properly dispose of seed heads in one of two ways:
1. Since orange hawkweed seeds remain viable for a minimum of seven years, you can store seed heads in a securely tied bag for at least seven years.
2. Or, enclose seed heads in a securely tied bag and incinerate in a hot fire.
Make sure to ONLY remove the seed heads from the top of the plant and not dig up or pull the plant – digging or pulling the plant causes the plant to spread via the rhizomes.
-DO NOT throw seed heads in the garbage, leave seed heads on the ground once clipped, or throw seed heads directly on a fire without being enclosed in a bag.
-DO NOT burn seed heads in a fire you plan to recreate around, as the smoke can cause an allergic reaction due to the toxins within the plant.
-Always wear gloves when clipping seed heads to avoid contact with the plant`s toxins.
👉🏼 For more information on invasive plant management, visit https://copperriver.org/programs/invasive-plant-management/
Last Sunday, a group of plant enthusiasts rallied for the Tour de Plants walk led by Pete Johnson and Madison Seigler from the U.S. Forest Service - Chugach National Forest and CRWP`s Plant Technician Serena Herschleb and our wonderful intern Maddie Tharp. The group identified native plants on the Ski Hill in Cordova, learning identification tips like "Sedges have edges, rushes are round, and grasses are hollow right up from the ground."
The group then strolled down the hill towards town through neighborhoods where invasive plants began to show up along roadways and in yards, and were given information on how to manage those invasive plants. It was a fun Sunday stroll with plant lovers in Cordova!
CopperRiver.org
📷 Michelle McAfee/CRWP - U.S. Forest Service staff Pete Johnson and Madison Seigler along with CRWP`s Serena Herschleb and Maddie Tharp led a group of plant enthusiasts to identify native plants and invasive species in Cordova.
#nativeplants #CordovaAlaska #invasiveplants #copperriverwatershed #plantlovers #learningplants #plantidentification
Many invasive plants are going to seed right now in the region, including reed canarygrass in Cordova. It can hide in obvious and not so obvious places - even near your yard!
Reed canarygrass reduces shelter for small mammals and waterfowl and traps more sediment than native species, which can eventually restrict the flow of waterways and damage salmon habitat. That may not sound concerning with this invasive plant in your yard, but when the grass goes to seed, those seeds can blow in the wind, and be carried by birds, people, and vehicles right into our waterways and salmon habitats.
The best way to keep this invasive plant in check is to clip the seeds heads into a bag then burn it. If you clip and leave the clippings on the ground, the plant may still be able to finish making seeds, so containing the seeds heads in a bag is important!
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For more information on managing invasive plants visit https://copperriver.org/programs/invasive-plant-management/
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📷 Michelle McAfee/CRWP - CRWP Staff Alexis Cooper spotted reed canarygrass in Cordova and clipped the seeds heads into a bag.
#reedcanarygrass #CordovaAlaska #invasiveplantmanagement
Salmon Jam was a blast! We`d like to give a big, warm shout out to our CRWP Staff who put in a lot of time and effort to help make this event happen. This dream team is creative, works hard, and has a lot fun too! Thanks for making this year`s Salmon Jam one to remember!
CopperRiver.org
#SalmonJam #CordovaAlaska #StaffShoutOut
Big thanks to everyone who participated in our Wish Board at Salmon Jam! Ashley Taylor won the stained glass art and Sarah Sturgess won the Knot Crazy May. Congratulations to the lucky winners! 🎉
CopperRiver.org
The party`s over! Thanks to a great crew of volunteers who stepped up to break down the Salmon Jam festival grounds yesterday. And big thanks to the band members of Good Company who helped take down the big tents! As they say, "Many hands make light work."
#SalmonJam #CordovaAlaska
Join us TODAY — Sunday, July 20 for Tour de Plants! Meet us the Ski Hill parking lot at 3:00 pm and stroll down the hill with us as CRWP and U.S. Forest Service staff discuss native and invasive plants present in Cordova and how we manage them, featuring an introduction to new project plans!
For more information on invasive plants, visit https://copperriver.org/programs/invasive-plant-management/
📷 Amanda Jackson/CRWP - Tour de Plants, 2024.
We`re super excited to kick off Salmon Jam on the Ski Hill in Cordova today! Come by the CRWP table and the Salmon Jam merch table and say hello to our awesome staff!
Happy Salmon Jammin` 🐟🎶🎉💃🏻
CopperRiver.org
SalmonJam.org
On July 10, our wonderful intern Maddie and plant technician Serena teamed up with two different Girl Scout troops to manage orange hawkweed. Cordova`s Cadette Girl Scout troop tackled an infestation of orange hawkweed around the Reluctant Fisherman Inn.
The next day on the 11th, CRWP`s plant program team and executive director Kate Morse organized an orange hawkweed deadhead neighborhood party. With the help of 16 volunteers, including the Brownie Girl Scout troop and other community members, the infestation was taken care of in 2 hours!
When many hands work together to tackle invasive plants in the community it makes the job more fun and more manageable! Consider volunteering at the next weed pull event or organize one!
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For more information on invasive species management visit https://copperriver.org/programs/invasive-plant-management/
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📷 Photos 1-3 Serena Herschleb/CRWP - (Cordova) Girls Scout troop knocking back the orange hawkweed infestation around the Reluctant Fisherman. Photos 4-6 Serena Herschleb/CRWP - Cadette Girl Scout troop tackling orange hawkweed.
#orangehawkweed #cordovalaska #invasiveplantmanagement #community #GirlScouts
TOMORROW!!! Salmon Jam kicks off up at Mt. Eyak Ski Hill in Cordova. Visit the Copper River Watershed Project booth for some great merch, goodies, and information, and come say hello. Have a fun festival and we`ll see you on the dance floor! 🕺🏼🎶
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CopperRiver.org
#SalmonJam #CordovaAlaska #musicandartfestival
Explore the interactive Story Map!
Watch our Annual Meeting Presentation to get the full update on the progress and projects of the Copper River Watershed Project.
Our Programs Making a Difference
