meet your creeks - summer 2006

One of Anchorage Waterways Council's goals is to provide educational opportunities for the public. Beginning in late spring, the AWC presented a series of "walks and talks" that focused on various aspects of our urban streams. Volunteers made short presentations, led walks at a designated creek or other meeting area, and answered questions. This provided a chance to learn more about Anchorage's waterways and participate in our mission of waterway education, protection, restoration, and enhancement. 

Thursday, May 11, 7 p.m.,"Our Creeks, Our Watersheds "

Bob Shipley, a long-time volunteer and board member of AWC, discussed watersheds as well as their individual components. The walk was a watershed overview and covered the importance of the watercycle, landforms, geology, soils, water quality, plant and animal life including aquatic bugs and fish. The influence of human activities including citizen involvement was also discussed.

Thursday, June 8, 7 p.m. (Campbell Creek in the Bancroft Subdivision) "Creeks, critters, and canoers"

Geographer Thom Eley discussed some of the wildlife that uses our creeks for recreation, homes, shelter, and food. Although conflicts can occur, several examples of how they're dealt with to foster co-existence were shown (wire around trees to prevent beaver damage, etc.). Thom is a 30 year resident of Alaska with degrees in wildlife management and geography. He has rafted many of Alaska's rivers from the Yukon to Campbell Creek.

Thursday, July 13, 7. p.m. (Chester Creek at Valley of the Moon Park) "I wonder what the Red-King-Silver-Humpy is drinking tonight? "

Bob Mitchell has been volunteering at AWC since 1998 when he began as a Creek Clean-up helper. He has a Level 5 certification from CEMP (Citizens Environmental Monitoring Program) and assists in the volunteer citizen creek monitoring program. His interest in creeks began when he was a youth in Philadelphia where a stream ran through his backyard. Professionally he has been a naval officer and an architect.

Thursday, August 10, 7 p.m. (Little Campbell Creek at E. 68th and Meadow St.) "First Date: Getting Involved with Little Campbell Creek"

Hilary Spitz from Anchorage Waterways Council spoke about "Little Campbell Creek Rescue", a program initiated by the AWC to address the turbidity and sedimentation issues affecting Little Campbell Creek.  Jeff Urbanus from the Municipality of Anchorage discussed the Muni's COHO Project (Community Outreach Habitat Operation), which is part of Anchorage's Salmon in the City Initiative.  The talk was given at the site of a proposed rehabilitation project that AWC is working on, and some of the site plans and goals of the project were presented.  Finally, a demonstration on habitat assessment and fish and bug identification was given.

Saturday, September 16, 11 a.m. (North Fork of Little Campbell Creek at the downstream outlet of the culvert under the Old Seward Highway at 74th.) "Is being a teenage fish really so bad ?"

This creek talk by Mark Schroeder covered some of the issues that face Anchorage's juvenile fish, especially the salmon, in our creeks. He discussed what is happening to them, why many of them are dying at a young age, and what we can do to help them. 

Saturday, October 7, 11 a.m. (Mile 1.1 parking lot on Campbell Airstrip Rd.) "Stream Invertebrates of Campbell Creek"

Anchorage's creeks are loaded with a variety of bugs, known as invertebrates that live in a benthic (underwater) environment. Different species of invertebrates can be used as indicators of healthy or not-so-healthy water environments (although other factors must be accounted for). As an example, clean water will usually house sensitive critters such as stoneflies, mayflies, and alderflies. Water that is somewhat compromised will have dragonflies, caddisflies and blackflies in it. The most tolerant bugs include midgeflies (blood-worm) and leeches. This walk/talk was led by environmental scientist Dan Bogan on Campbell Creek inside Far North Bicentennial Park at the bridge by the trailheads.