I nletKEEPE R ... P ROTECTING THE COOK I NLET WATERSHED & T HE L IFE I T S USTAINS Homer – P.O. Box 3269, Homer,AK 99603 – (907) 235-4068 Anchorage – 308 G St., Ste. 219,Anch.AK 99501 – (907) 929-9371 [email protected]www.inletkeeper.org Winter 2009-2010 I n September, over a hundred adults and teens came together to highlight how burning coal aggravates climate change and threatens wild Alaskan salmon, in an art-in-action event on the beach in Homer. Conceived and organized by local artist/activist Mavis Muller (www.mavismuller- art.com), the event created a human mosaic in the shape of a salmon, with coal and climate messages surrounding it. The event was part of an internation- al effort by the group 350.org to highlight the need to bring atmospheric C02 levels back down to the safe level of 350 parts per million (we are currently at 390 ppm and rising). Coal produces the most greenhouse gas emissions of any traditional fuel source,and as NASA’s Chief Climatologist Jim Hansen tells the world, we must keep our coal in the ground if we hope to address the unfolding climate crisis. In addition to Muller, Inletkeeper worked with the Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, among others, to make the event and the after-party and rally a huge success! And thanks to all the volunteers who made the event possible! For more information and pictures, see www.inlet- keeper.org/energy/90926Event.htm and to take action,go to www.350.org Families & Teens Unite in “Shaping Our Future” Aerial Art Event Elevating the Ties Between Coal, Climate & Salmon 15 Years Protecting Water Quality & Fish Habitat Great Successes; Now Looking Forward to Confront Pressing Challenges ® I n the devastating wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Alaskans living around Cook Inlet decided to act. They were tired with the indis- criminate toxic dumping from the oil platforms in Cook Inlet, and frustrated with state and fed- eral agencies who seemed to take their march- ing orders from the very corporations polluting our incredible fisheries. So instead of complain- ing, they did something about it; they formed Cook Inletkeeper in 1995, and charged it with a broad and ambitious mandate: to protect the Cook Inlet watershed and the life it sustains. Since then, Inletkeeper has notched some remarkable successes, and we’ll spend ample time in the year ahead recounting our achievements. But a lot has changed in the past 15 years. For example, Inletkeeper’s first cell phone was the size of a small pocket book, our first web page was a novelty, and the threats posed by climate change were just coming to light. As a result, Inletkeeper’s 15th anniversary in 2010 will be forward-looking, focusing on how we can work smarter and more effectively with our members, volunteers and sup- porters to address the growing threats to our plan- et in challenging economic times. Toward this end, Inletkeeper will embark on the following in 2010: Membership Poll: Inletkeeper’s authority and influence derive from its diverse and active membership. As a result, we need to hear what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what we can do better. In Summer 2010, we will circulate a poll to flesh out new thoughts from our members and sup- porters, and this information will drive our strategic planning process. Strategic Plan Revisions: Every 5 years Inletkeeper creates an overarching strategic (Continued on page 3) Board & Staff will be guiding Inletkeeper into its 15th year – tell us how to make Inletkeeper’s work smarter and better! CONTENTS Inletkeeper Enters 15th Year 1 Families & Teens Unite 1 Letter from Your Inletkeeper 2 Inletkeeper Supports Geothermal 2 Drift River Oil Terminal 3 Underground Coal Combustion 3 Inletkeeper Informs Grantmakers 3 Scientific Reports: Coal Mine Will Destroy Salmon Habitat 4 Inletkeeper Networks with National Coal Experts 4 Help Shape Alaska’s Energy Future 4 Feds Dragging Feet Defining Critical Habitat Areas 5 Clean Harbors Alaska 6 Kachemak Bay Clean Harbors Day 6 Salmon Stream Temp Monitoring 7 Protecting Bristol Bay Salmon 7 Beach Monitoring Update 8 Well Water Testing 2009 8 CEMP Volunteer Monitoring 8 Volunteer Spotlight 8 Summer Interns Will Be Missed 8 Clinton Addresses Waterkeepers 9 “Voices of the Ocean” Event 9 Board Member Spotlight 9 Alaska Renewable Energy Fair 10 Cook Inletkeeper Wins Award 10 Splash Bash 2009 10 Show Us YOUR Sedna 11 Pick.Click.Give Campaign 11 Photo courtesy of Scott Dickerson
In September, over a hundredadults and teens came together
to highlight how burning coalaggravates climate change andthreatens wild Alaskan salmon, inan art-in-action event on thebeach in Homer. Conceived andorganized by local artist/activistMavis Muller (www.mavismuller-art.com), the event created ahuman mosaic in the shape of asalmon, with coal and climatemessages surrounding it. Theevent was part of an internation-al effort by the group 350.org to highlight the need tobring atmospheric C02 levels back down to the safelevel of 350 parts per million (we are currently at 390ppm and rising). Coal produces the most greenhouse
gas emissions of any traditionalfuel source,and as NASA’s ChiefClimatologist Jim Hansen tellsthe world, we must keep ourcoal in the ground if we hope toaddress the unfolding climatecrisis. In addition to Muller,Inletkeeper worked with theAlaska Youth for EnvironmentalAction, among others, to makethe event and the after-partyand rally a huge success! Andthanks to all the volunteerswho made the event possible!
For more information and pictures, see www.inlet-keeper.org/energy/90926Event.htm and to takeaction,go to www.350.org
Families & Teens Unite in “Shaping Our Future” Aerial Art EventElevating the Ties Between Coal, Climate & Salmon
15 Years Protecting Water Quality & Fish HabitatGreat Successes; Now Looking Forward to Confront Pressing Challenges
®
In the devastating wake of the Exxon Valdezoil spill, Alaskans living around Cook Inlet
decided to act. They were tired with the indis-criminate toxic dumping from the oil platformsin Cook Inlet, and frustrated with state and fed-eral agencies who seemed to take their march-ing orders from the very corporations pollutingour incredible fisheries. So instead of complain-ing, they did something about it; they formedCook Inletkeeper in 1995, and charged it with abroad and ambitious mandate: to protect theCook Inlet watershed and the life it sustains.
Since then, Inletkeeper has notched someremarkable successes, and we’ll spend ample timein the year ahead recounting our achievements.But a lot has changed in the past 15 years. Forexample, Inletkeeper’s first cell phone was the sizeof a small pocket book, our first web page was anovelty, and the threats posed by climate changewere just coming to light. As a result, Inletkeeper’s15th anniversary in 2010 will be forward-looking,focusing on how we can work smarter and moreeffectively with our members, volunteers and sup-porters to address the growing threats to our plan-et in challenging economic times. Toward this end,Inletkeeper will embark on the following in 2010:
Membership Poll: Inletkeeper’s authority andinfluence derive from its diverse and activemembership. As a result,we need to hear what’sworked,what hasn’t, and what we can do better.In Summer 2010,we will circulate a poll to fleshout new thoughts from our members and sup-porters, and this information will drive ourstrategic planning process.Strategic Plan Revisions: Every 5 yearsInletkeeper creates an overarching strategic
(Continued on page 3)
Board & Staff will be guiding Inletkeeper into its 15th year– tell us how to make Inletkeeper’s work smarter and better!
Feds Dragging Feet Defining Critical Habitat Areas 5
Clean Harbors Alaska 6
Kachemak Bay Clean Harbors Day 6
Salmon Stream Temp Monitoring 7
Protecting Bristol Bay Salmon 7
Beach Monitoring Update 8
Well Water Testing 2009 8
CEMP Volunteer Monitoring 8
Volunteer Spotlight 8
Summer Interns Will Be Missed 8
Clinton Addresses Waterkeepers 9
“Voices of the Ocean” Event 9
Board Member Spotlight 9
Alaska Renewable Energy Fair 10
Cook Inletkeeper Wins Award 10
Splash Bash 2009 10
Show Us YOUR Sedna 11
Pick.Click.Give Campaign 11
Photo courtesy of Scott Dickerson
PAGE 2 COOK INLETKEEPER
INLETKEEPER
IINNLLEETTKKEEEEPPEERR is published biannuallyby Cook Inletkeeper, a 501(c)(3) nonprofitorganization dedicated to protecting theCook Inlet watershed and the life it sus-tains. Subscriptions are mailed free tomembers and are available to others uponrequest. To become a member,or for moreinformation,contact:
CCooookk IInnlleettKKeeeeppeerr
HHOOMMEERR OOFFFFIICCEE
P.O.Box 3269,Homer,Alaska 996033734 Ben Walters Laneph:(907) 235-4068fx:(907) 235-4069
CCooookk IInnlleettKKeeeeppeerr
AANNCCHHOORRAAGGEE OOFFFFIICCEE
308 G Street,Suite 219Anchorage,AK 99501ph:(907) 929-9371
Rob Ernst,President (Nikiski)Benjamin Jackinsky,Vice President (Kasilof)Mike O’Meara,Treasure (Homer)Nancy Wainwright,Secretary (Anchorage)Tom Evans (Nanwalek)Robin McLean (Sutton)Mako Haggerty (Homer)John Lemons (Homer)Bobi Rhinehart (Anchorage)Shannyn Moore (Anchorage)
Letter From YOUR Cook Inletkeeper
As our second President John Adams oncefamously stated, “Facts are stubborn
things.”Since Galileo argued his sun-centeredtheory for the universe and the ensuing Ageof Enlightenment, facts and reason haveplayed a central role in our most importantscience, policy and government decisions.And from its inception, the conservationmovement has relied on facts and science topress its case, often with impressive results.Yet today, we often stand flat footed in theface of cavernous disconnects between sci-ence and public opinion. For example,despite ever-growing mountains of scientificevidence, recent polls show that fewer thanhalf of Americans believe humans are con-tributing to climate change. Why? For onething, the corporations who stand to profitmost from the status quo – coal, oil and gascorporations, to name a few – are spendingbillions of dollars on fancy public relationscampaigns to confuse and scare the public.We saw the same exact tactic from the tobac-co industry when faced with conclusive evi-dence cigarettes cause cancer. FromInletkeeper’s perspective, climate change isthe inevitable result of taking carbon –which has been trapped in the earth over aperiod of hundreds of millions of years - andliberating it through combustion into aclosed system (i.e. our biosphere) in the200+ years of our “industrial revolution.”Even the greatest climate change skepticswouldn’t start a fire in their wood stoveswithout opening the flue.Yet the basic facts
surrounding climate change have been lostin a sea of confusion, rhetoric and fear. That’swhy anyone concerned about our climateand what it means for our future needs tobring the issue home with personal storieshow climate change will affect our families,our communities and our economies.Inletkeeper was proud to participate in twoevents this past year which highlighted thereal and personal threats climate changeposes to Alaskans, and we’ll continue to fightto ensure our kids and their kids can enjoythe same magnificent Alaskan resources wefind around us today.
Yours for Cook Inlet -
Bob ShavelsonExecutive Director
While Cook Inlet contains sizable coal, oil andgas reserves, it also boasts a world-class con-
centration of clean, renewable energy resources,including wind, tidal, hydropower and geothermalsources. In November 2009, Inletkeeper met withOrmat Technologies, Inc. to discuss its plans toexplore leases on Mt. Spurr, an active volcano onthe west side of Cook Inlet, for a potential geot-hermal energy project. Ormat secured roughly35,000 acres for geothermal exploration at Mt.Spurr in a 2008 state lease sale. Inletkeeper wasimpressed with Ormat’s proven technology and
their commitment to minimizing impacts to waterquality and fish habitat, and as a result, Inletkeepersupports Ormat’s efforts to explore its Mt. Spurrleases for geothermal energy production. Projectssuch as Ormat’s not only avoid the greenhouse gasemissions associated with coal, oil and gas com-bustion, but they also save money because thecost of energy to consumers remains constantover the 25-50 year life of the project. For moreinformation about Ormat and the Mt. SpurrProject, go to www.ormat.com.
Inletkeeper Supports Geothermal Energy ExplorationMt. Spurr Project Heralds New “Clean Energy” Economy for Alaska
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INLETKEEPER
Inletkeeper Enters 15th Year (cont. from page 1)
plan that captures the broad vision, mission, goals and objectivesof the organization, and that guides the organization through itsannual work plan and budget processes. In 2010, we will chart arevised direction that helps Inletkeeper work more efficientlyand effectively to address the stark challenges ahead.Web, Database & Related Upgrades: Technology is evolving ata blistering pace, and in response, Inletkeeper is moving aheadwith upgrades to its web page, its email systems, and its member,volunteer and supporter databases. The goal of this effort is tostreamline and centralize operations and maximize staff, Boardand volunteer efficiency and effectiveness.Re-Branding: Inletkeeper has one of the most distinctivenames/logos in the state, and in 2010 we will embark on a re-
branding effort designed to elevate and amplify our brand ineverything we do – and everywhere we do it.15th Anniversary Activities: To celebrate its past and to chartits future, Inletkeeper will host a variety of activities over thecoming year, including a 15th Anniversary Celebration in Homerin Summer 2010, a time capsule, new merchandise, new businessand member appeals and, of course, our 2010 Muckrakers Ball inAnchorage - among many other things.
We truly value the support we’ve received from our members,volunteers and supporters over the past 15 years, and we’re gearingup to make 2010 our best year yet. So, stay tuned, and if you have anyfeedback or input on our future direction, please drop us a line [email protected] or call 907.235.4068.
COOK INLETKEEPER
When Mount Redoubt’s eruption onMarch 22, 2009, threatened to
release more than 6 million gallons of oilstored at the Drift River Oil Terminal,Inletkeeper played a leading role gettingGovernment agencies and Chevron todraw down the oil and reduce the risk of acatastrophic spill to our valuable fisheries.But it wasn’t easy,and Chevron took actiononly after numerous eruptions made therisks too high to ignore. Through thecourse of the episode, Inletkeeper posednumerous questions to various agenciesand groups, yet to date, none has respond-ed. Instead, there has been a steady streamof misinformation and half-truths designedto create the impression that our agenciesand corporations acted swiftly, responsiblyand effectively. But Inletkeeper has com-
piled information showing the real storybehind the Drift River 2009 Incident (seewww.inletkeeper.org/watershedwatch/redoubt2009/redoubt.htm) Furthermore,while Chevron workers and contractors
braved harrowing conditions to make thebest out of a bad situation, they shouldnever have been put in harms way in thefirst place; the risks posed at Drift Riverhave been known for decades – since atleast 1989 when a previous eruption led toan eerily similar series of events. Yetinstead of creating a facility bypass systemat Drift River – to avoid storing large vol-umes of oil while still maintaining produc-tion, throughput and jobs – prior to the2009 eruption,Chevron made the businessdecision to hunker down and hope for thebest. In November, that failed strategycame into sharp focus when Chevronannounced job cuts to 25 workers, in partdue to decreased production caused bythe DROT incident.
The Drift River Oil Terminal Incident of 2009 willgo down as a textbook example of poor planning andinadequate spill response capacity.
Drift River Oil Terminal: Twisting Facts, Re-Shaping RealityChevron Cuts Cook Inlet Jobs in Wake of Incident
Underground Coal Combustion CIRI Project Sets Bar High for Emissions
At an Alaska legislative hearing on October 9, the regional Nativecorporation Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) unveiled an ambi-
tious new plan for burning coal underground on CIRI property onthe west side of Cook Inlet. The novel technology – calledUnderground Coal Gasification (UCG) – would create a syntheticgas from underground coal combustion, and the gas would be usedto drive a 100 MW turbine to produce electricity. While the tech-nology appears to avoid many of the problems typically associatedwith mining coal, it still faces considerable hurdles controllinggreenhouse gas emissions. CIRI has committed to capturing andcontaining greenhouse gases from the process, but technologies todo so are in their infancy. Inletkeeper appreciated CIRI’s invitationto discuss the project prior to its public announcement, andbelieves the project requires serious consideration if it can ade-quately address water,habitat and climate change risks.To see CIRI’sinformation on the project, go to: www.cirienergy.com
Photo: NASA
Inletkeeper Informs Grantmakers onAlaska Coal, Oil & Gas Issues
In September 2009, Inletkeeper Bob Shavelson gave two pre-sentations to attendees at the annual Environmental
Grantmakers Association (EGA) meeting in Anchorage. EGA isthe largest association of environmental grantmakers in theworld, representing over 225 foundations, and its members pro-vide invaluable support to Alaska conservation efforts. Shavelsonfirst discussed the threats posed by Alaska coal development, andin a later session, focused on lessons learned from 40 years of oiland gas development in Cook Inlet. The Alaska ConservationFoundation (ACF) played a central role bringing the annual EGAmeeting back to Alaska, and helped provide an important eco-nomic boost to the Anchorage economy in doing so. Inletkeeperthanks ACF for its ambitious efforts to elevate Alaska issues andgroups in the eyes of grantmakers across the nation.
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Help Shape Alaska’s Energy Future!
Scientific Reports: Coal Mine Will Destroy Salmon Habitat“Pro-Snow” Groups Take Aim at Snowbird CEO’s Chuitna Investment
For the past several years, Inletkeeper has beenworking with local groups,fishermen and property
owners to stop the ill-conceived Chuitna coal stripmine on the west side of Cook Inlet. In August 2009,three scientific reports concluded that critical salmonfisheries along the Chuitna River will suffer severelong-term damage and never fully recover from theimpacts of PacRim Coal’s proposed Chuitna coal strip-mine.
The Chuitna coal strip mine would be the first project in Alaskahistory to mine directly through salmon habitat.The scientists con-cluded that PacRim’s strip mining plans would significantly and per-manently damage local wetlands and salmon habitat, and that post-mining restoration of the streams that feed the salmon-rich ChuitnaRiver would be virtually impossible. The scientific reports are avail-able online at:www.inletkeeper.org/energy/Chuitna90813.htm.
“There is no scientific evidence that wetlands or streams can beput back together to be living, healthy ecosystems after the kind ofmining impacts described in the PacRim reports,” said Dr. MargaretPalmer, who analyzed PacRim’s restoration plans. “The science justisn’t there. Experimentation should not be confused with sound, sci-ence-based knowledge.”
In a related effort, snowboarders,skiers and groups staged a rallyin Salt Lake City,Utah,in November 2009,to urge Snowbird Ski ResortCEO Dick Bass to divest from his interests in the Chuitna coal strip
mine. Bass and partner Herbert Hunt fromTexas are the principal investors in an effort tosend Alaska coal to coal-fired power plants inChina. The “pro-snow” groups pointed to theirony of a ski resort owner pushing a coalmine, when coal produces the most green-house gases of any traditional fuel source.
"It's sadly ironic the owner of a business that is solely dependentupon heavy snowfall and consistent winters is pushing a project thatis a direct threat to the ski industry and completely contrary to theideals of outdoor recreation," said Ryan Demmy Bidwell with the SkiArea Citizen's Coalition.
In related news, the Kenai Peninsula Borough recently leasedBorough lands for a coal storage and export facility that would,if con-structed,make the Chuitna project possible and directly impact com-mercial set net fishing leases nearby. The Borough had been under theconstraints of a long standing lease option,and based on Inletkeeper’sanalysis of the lease, the Borough and its residents are getting far lessthan market value for the leased acreage.
For more information,contact Dennis Gann at 907.929.9371 or [email protected], and to let Dick Bass know how you feel about anOutside ski resort CEO destroying Alaska salmon habitat in order to shipcoal to China,go to http://nobasscoal.org/
“ Pro-snow” groups are urging SnowbirdCEO Dick Bass to divest from the proposedChuitna Coal Strip Mine.
Help Shape YOUR Clean Energy Future!Get Informed, then Get Involved!
Want to know how you can help move your family andyour community toward a clean energy future?
Check out the award-winning doc-umentary “Kilowatt Ours:A Plan toRe-Energize America” by JeffBarrie. Learn more about the filmat www.kilowattours.org andobtain copies to borrow or pur-chase (sliding scale $5-20) atInletkeeper’s Homer andAnchorage offices.For more informa-tion contact [email protected] call 907.235.4068 x21.
Alaska stands on the front lines of rapid climate change, and fromreceding glaciers and melting sea ice to eroding coastlines and
warming salmon streams,Alaskans are feeling the impacts from glob-al warming unlike any other state. Yet Alaska also produces the high-est per capita emissions of greenhouse gases in the nation. While attimes we seem locked into a descending energy spiral, with risingheating costs and more business as usual, we also sit among some ofthe greatest clean, flat cost, renewable energy resources in the world.As the Alaska Legislature convenes in January 2010, it’s preparing todebate yet another energy policy for the state. This time, you canmake a difference by speaking out for clean renewable power andthe sustainable jobs it produces. Contact the Alaska Senate EnergyPolicy Group (http://energy.aksenate.org/) and tell them to look for-ward to renewable power and long term jobs, not backward to tra-ditional coal mining and combustion.
The United States has been called the “Saudi Arabia of Coal,” anddespite the fact Alaska possesses roughly half the nation’s coal
reserves, we don’t have large scale coal development yet: only oneactive coal mine (the Usibelli mine, near Denali National Park) existsin the state, and only 10% of our Railbelt power comes from coal(compared with 50-60% in the lower 48). But in the past severalyears, more than a dozen proposals to mine and burn Alaskan coalhave materialized. That’s why Inletkeeper and its partners have
joined forces with coal experts from Outside to better understandthe legal, technical and human health implications of coal. This pastOctober, the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) invitedInletkeeper and 4 other Alaskan groups to attend the National CoalSummit in Austin,Texas, where over 200 experts shared their knowl-edge, strategies and connections. We truly appreciate this incredibleopportunity.Thanks to EIP and its supporters for making this invalu-able event possible.
Inletkeeper Networks with National Coal Experts, Expands Alaska Capacity
Snowbird’s Dick Bass: Don’t cross the line! www.nobasscoal.org
PAGE 5 COOK INLETKEEPER
INLETKEEPER
In October 2008 – after more than tenyears of inaction, and under the threat of
litigation - the National Marine FisheriesService designated the Cook Inlet Belugawhale as "endangered" under the federalEndangered Species Act. Yet at the time ofthe listing, NMFS did not define “criticalhabitat” for the beluga, which is a neces-sary step toward developing a recoveryplan. Instead, NMFS took public com-ments until May 14, 2009, asking for inputon how to define those areas important tobeluga whale feeding, mating and migra-tion. Inletkeeper, Trustees for Alaska andnumerous other groups submitted com-ments to NMFS, calling for common-senseprotections in prime beluga whale habitat.Now – more than a year after the listing –NMFS has yet to define critical habitat forthe Cook Inlet beluga whale, andInletkeeper and its partners may be forcedto sue simply to get the government toobey the law.
Despite rhetoric from whale protec-tion opponents, ESA listings do not ham-per responsible development. In fact, sta-tistics compiled since the enactment ofthe ESA all establish that the federalagency consultation process does very lit-tle to block responsible projects. In 1992,
the U.S. Government Accountability Office(GAO) reported that only twenty-three of18,211 projects would jeopardize a listedspecies and had no reasonable alternative.Other reports have posted similar findings.Between 1987 and 1995,only an estimated600 jeopardy or adverse modification find-ings were made in consultations on186,000 projects.This is less than one-halfa percent.Though only anecdotal data, theFish & Wildlife Service stated that in fiscalyear 1999, 12,000 informal consultationstook place. Of the eighty-three formal con-sultations conducted in that year, only oneresulted in an opinion that a species wouldbe in jeopardy. More recently, the Fish &Wildlife Service reported that from 1998to 2000, only 420 projects resulted in a“jeopardy” opinion out of more than300,000 consultations.
Thus, the vast majority of projectsentering the consultation process areresolved informally with a determinationthat no listed species will be impacted,andresponsible development can occur inconjunction with a listing decision.Furthermore, even in the extremely rareinstances when a project as proposed isterminated, nothing in the ESA preventsproject proponents from re-configuringtheir projects so as to ameliorate ESA prob-lems and then reapplying for relevant per-mits.
The beluga whale has long beenignored in management and permittingdecisions on oil and gas, sewage, portexpansion and related projects. The KenaiPeninsula Borough recently received$700,000 from Congress to conductBeluga research,and Inletkeeper has urgedthe Borough to focus on critical habitatconsiderations. Cook Inletkeeper recog-nizes the Cook Inlet beluga whale as a vitalstrand in the ecological fabric that makesup the Cook Inlet ecosystem, and thisecosystem supports the economic and nat-ural vitality of Southcentral Alaska. Formore information, contact Bob at907.235.4068 x22 or [email protected].
Feds Dragging Feet Defining Critical Habitat Areas for Beluga WhaleInletkeeper Focuses on Protecting Prime Beluga Habitat
Population studies for 2009 show a decline down to an esti-mated of 321 Beluga whales remaining in Cook Inlet
Sandblasting Incident in Critical Habitat Nets Clean Harbors Signage
In 2008,a concerned citizen called Inletkeeper’s pollution response hot-line (1-888-MY INLET) to report suspicious vessel sandblasting activity
in Kachemak Bay Critical Habitat, near sensitive and important shellfishbeds. Inletkeeper elevated the issue with the Alaska Department ofEnvironmental Conservation (ADEC), which referred the matter to theDepartment of Law for prosecution. As part of an agreement to settle thecase, Inletkeeper received funding to purchase signs to educate marinersabout the need to protect fish, shellfish and water quality from boat-basedpollution. Inletkeeper thanks the vigilance of its “eyes and ears” networkof citizen responders,and appreciates the excellent follow through by theADEC and the Department of Law in protecting Kachemak Bay. Thesesigns are being distributed to harbors and other areas around the statefree of charge. For more information, contact Rachel Lord at907.235.4068 x29 or [email protected]. Inletkeeper is making these “Clean Harbors” signs available
for free to harbors and docking areas around Alaska.
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INLETKEEPER
COOK INLETKEEPER
In July 2009, through grantfunding from the Alaska
Department of EnvironmentalConservation, Inletkeeper beganPhase II of the Clean HarborsAlaska Certification Program.The primary aim of CleanHarbors Alaska is to provide bestmanagement practices (BMPs),technical assistance, and incen-tives for Alaskan harbors toreduce their environmentalimpacts and save spill responsecosts by minimizing non-pointsource pollution.
The initial phase of this proj-ect, which began in 2007, resultedin a Clean Harbors Guidebook forAlaska. This guidebook providesan outline of best managementpractices for harbor siting anddesign, operations, and mainte-nance. The Clean HarborsGuidebook is currently undergo-ing peer review through AlaskaSeaGrant; a draft of the Guidebookcan be found at the project web-s i t e : h t t p : / / w w w. n u k a re -search.com/projects/cleanhar-
bor/index.shtml.In October 2009,
Inletkeeper’s Outreach andMonitoring Coordinator RachelLord traveled to Seattle and vis-ited with the PugetSoundkeeper Alliance – one ofthe partner groups that run theClean Marina Washington pro-gram. Also in October, Racheltraveled to Kodiak for the 30thAnnual Alaska Association of
Harbormasters and PortAdministrators meeting – thetheme this year was ‘CleanHarbors’. In addition to seeingKodiak’s new massive Traveliftin action, Rachel and TimRobertson (from NukaResearch) presented on CleanHarbors Alaska; overall, harbor-masters and harbor staff aresupportive of the program. Bythe end of the conference the
AAHPA board passed a resolu-tion in support of CleanHarbors Alaska. The develop-ment of Clean Harbors Alaskawill continue through the win-ter, and in the spring Homerand Seldovia harbors will bethe pilot sites for initial certifi-cations. Visit our website formore information and toreceive periodic updates onthis exciting project.
Inletkeeper & Partners Promoting Clean Harbors AlaskaReducing environmental impacts and promoting stewardship in Alaska’s ports and harbors
Kachemak Bay Clean Harbors Day
On August 2nd, over 40 volunteerscame out to help clean up marine
debris in the harbors around KachemakBay for the first annual Kachemak BayClean Harbor Day. Community membersfrom Homer, Seldovia, Port Graham, andNanwalek participated in the event, col-lecting almost 50 bags of trash! The mostcommon types of trash collected werefood containers, plastic bags, Styrofoampieces, building materials, nylon rope, andcigarette butts. Jay Greene of Nanwalekwas the winner of a free roundtrip ticketon Homer Air for participating in his com-munity’s efforts on Clean Harbors Day.Funding for the event came from a grant
from the Center for Alaskan CoastalStudies and their Alaska Coast Walk MarineDebris Removal and Prevention Program.Thanks to all of the volunteers, harbors
and communities for their support, and toHomer Air for their generous donation ofthe grand prize!
Port Graham and Nanwalek volunteers take pride in their communities on Kachemak Bay Clean Harbors Day
Oil collection facilities (Homer Harbor) and pumpout stations with appropriate signage (Fisherman’s Terminal, Seattle)will be included in the upcoming Clean Harbor Certification process.
INLETKEEPER
PAGE 7 COOK INLETKEEPER
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Cook Inlet Salmon Stream Temperature Monitoring Network
Working with Partners to Protect Bristol Bay Salmon
Cook Inletkeeper and its partners in the Stream TemperatureMonitoring Network have collected over 2 million tempera-
ture readings in non-glacial salmon streams within the Cook Inletwatershed since 2008! That’s a lot of data to manage and under-stand. We are fortunate to have local partners like the KenaiWatershed Forum (KWF) and The Nature Conservancy of Alaska(TNC of Alaska) to help us create the analytical and visual toolswe need to accomplish our goal of identifying salmon habitat thatis at risk due to the effects of climate and land-use change.
Our first step after collecting water and air temperature datafrom 48 salmon streams is to condense these readings, which aretaken every 15 minutes, into summary statistics that help usunderstand how stream temperatures vary over the summeracross all the sites.With the help of KWF intern, Samantha Fox, abright young undergraduate from MIT with great programmingskills, we can now spit out summary statistics like overall maxi-mum temperature; daily, weekly and seasonal average tempera-ture, maximum 7-day rolling average temperature; and maximumdaily fluctuation.
The next step is to organize and present these statistics inways that help us understand patterns across the watershed.Marcus Geist with TNC of Alaska is a whiz at creating maps thatdistil what those 2 million data points are telling us. Based on2008 data (see map), the highest stream temperatures in CookInlet were recorded in streams that drain lakes or lowland areaswest of the Susitna River. Regional maps like this are a valuabletool to elucidate temperature patterns from multiple datasets thatare not obvious when the data are not spatial organized.
Cook Inletkeeper is in the process of summarizing 2009 tem-perature data. Since the air temperatures in the summer of 2009were warmer than in 2008, this second year of data provides avaluable contrast to capture a realistic range of variability in cur-rent climate conditions. Stay tuned for more maps!
See www.inletkeeper.org for more information about CookInletkeeper’s salmon stream monitoring program.
Cook Inlet’s salmon stream temperatures exceeded Alaska’ s WaterTemperature Criteria of 13oC at 35 sites, 15oC at 30 sites, and 20oC at threesites in the summer of 2008.
How can we protect salmon if we don’tknow where they are? This is the
underlying question motivating work beingconducted in Bristol Bay by Dr. Carol AnnWoody with the Center for Science inPublic Policy and sponsored by The NatureConservancy of Alaska. For a second year,Cook Inletkeeper’s Science Director, SueMauger, joined other Alaskan researchers inheadwater streams of the Nushagak andKvichak Rivers to document the presence
of salmon in this prime juvenile rearinghabitat. Through this effort, these smallsalmon-bearing streams will be added to theState’s Anadromous Waters Catalog. Up tothis point in our State’s history, Alaska hasnever permitted mining directly throughsalmon streams. And now that we knowwhere the salmon are, State regulators willhave better information to make decisionsinformed by science.
Juvenile coho salmon in Bristol Bay headwaters.
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Inletkeeper staff, interns, and volunteersmonitored beaches on the Homer Spit
weekly from April through August for bac-teria (see below). Through funding fromthe Alaska Department of EnvironmentalConservation and an agreement with theCity of Homer, Inletkeeper is monitoringlevels of bacteria on recreational beaches
to protect public health. There were noexceedences of federal or state standardsfor fecal coliform or enterococci bacteriaduring the 2009 season. For more infor-mation, or to volunteer as a BEACH moni-tor, please contact Rachel Lord [email protected] or 907.235.4069 x 29.
Beach Monitoring Update Volunteer Spotlight –Karen West
Summer Interns Will Be Missed!
Well Water Testing 2009
CEMP VolunteerMonitoring Update
Cook Inletkeeper Intern Liza Mitchell sampling thewater at Land’s End.
In 2008 Inletkeeper worked with nearly 40families on the Lower Kenai Peninsula to
help test private drinking water wells forcommon contaminants as part of our SafeDrinking Water Program. In 2009 we contin-ued this effort with a booth at the HomerRotary Health Fair on November 14th. Wehave 31 households currently signed up fordrinking water tests. Arsenic, bacteria,nitrates, lead, and copper are some of theleading health concerns for private drinkingwater. This year, Inletkeeper is providingguidance and free shipping of samples toAnchorage. In the future, Inletkeeper hopesto refine the template its developed for wellwater testing on the Lower Kenai Peninsula,and expand testing capacity to other areasaround the Cook Inlet watershed. We haveposted well water testing guidelines, fre-quently asked questions, and links to varioussources for specific contaminants and treat-ment options at our website: http://www.inlet-keeper.org/sdw/overview.htm. For more informa-tion, contact Rachel Lord at [email protected] or 907.235.4069 x 29
2009 has been a great year forInletkeeper’s Citizens’ Environmental
Monitoring Project (CEMP)! We’re cur-rently monitoring 18 sites, from TwoMoose Creek near Anchor Point toMcNeil Creek, just below McNeilElementary School 14 miles out East EndRoad. Over half of the sites this year willhave complete data sets (at least 12 vis-its); five years of complete data sets ateach site is our goal for documentingbaseline conditions in our watersheds. InOctober we gained 3 new monitors,Kristen Kuehl (monitoring a new site onMariner Creek at Homer High), MarcusYork (Two Moose Creek), and MichaelHaines (starting at Miller Landing in thespring). We will have our December vol-unteer gathering on December 1st. If youwant to get involved with Inletkeeper’sCEMP efforts, or want to work with oneof Inletkeeper’s partners around theCook Inlet watershed, contact RachelLord at [email protected] or907.235.4069 x 29
What a great summer! We had beauti-ful weather, lots of field work, and
two outstandinginterns to workwith every day.Liza Mitchell,our AlaskaConser va t ionF o u n d a t i o n(ACF) Intern,took full advan-tage of all Alaskahad to offer when
she wasn’t in the field collecting watersamples or aquatic insects. Elli Matkin,who grew up in Homer, received aWhitman College Internship Grant towork with us on community outreachefforts. From the dipnetting scene on theKenai River to the Alaska RenewableEnergy Fair in Anchorage, Elli helped usspread the word about renewable energyand climate change issues.Thank you Lizaand Elli - We miss having you around andwish you all the best in your next conser-vation endeavor!
Ayear after moving to Homer fromBaltimore 5 years ago, Karen West
joined CEMP and has been monitoringPalmer Creek ever since. When askedwhy she started monitoring, Karenreplied, “My educational background isin geography. Even though I did not con-tinue in that field,my interest in the envi-ronmental sciences remains. Monitoringgives me the opportunity to be a scien-tist. I feel like I am doing a little some-thing to protect our waters. The data thevolunteers collect provide evidence toback up decisions being made in orderto protect our waters.”
Karen offers this advice to new CEMPmonitors:“Remember you are doing some-thing important and making a difference.Enjoy the time you spend at your streamand outdoors.” Other activities that Karenenjoys include biking, house and yard proj-ects, photography, reading NationalGeographic,and hanging out with her cats.Inletkeeper couldn’t do what we do with-out dedicated volunteers like Karen.Thanks, Karen!
Elli Matkin and Liza Mitchell.
CEMP Volunteer Karen West.
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In June, Inletkeeper Executive Director Bob Shavelson attendedthe annual Waterkeeper Alliance conference in New York City.
Shavelson recently stepped off the Waterkeeper Alliance Boardafter serving for ten years, and he attends the Waterkeeper con-ference each year to learn new strategies and connect with long-time colleagues. This year,Waterkeeper Alliance President BobbyKennedy managed to persuade President Bill Clinton to speak tothe more than 180 Waterkeepers attending the annual meeting.“The thing I love about what you do is that you do,” Clinton said.“You don’t just talk about it….If you have a law and you don’tenforce it, you don’t have a law.” In addition to Clinton, Shavelsonalso had a chance to meet with one of his personal heros – Dr.
James Hansen – the chief climatolo-gist at NASA who in the late 1980’sbegan sounding the alarm about cli-mate change. Hansen argues wemust keep our coal in the ground ifwe hope to have any chance com-bating climate change, and he walksthe talk: he had just returned fromWest Virginia where he was arrestedfor a peaceful demonstration oppos-ing a large mountain top removalcoal mine.
President Bill Clinton, NASA Scientist James Hansen, Address Waterkeepers
Historic “Voices of the Ocean” Event Highlights Ocean AcidificationHundreds of Alaskan Mariners Speak Out to Protect Our Oceans
Board Member Spotlight: Mike O’Meara: Conservation Hero
On Labor Day Weekend, hundreds of mariners and fishermen inboats,skiffs and kayaks took to the seas around Homer to send an
urgent message about climate change and ocean acidification toCongress and international decisionmakers. Ocean acidification is oneof the lesser-known but most troubling side effects of C02 build up inthe atmosphere;as atmos-pheric C02 concentra-tions increase, the oceanabsorbs more C02, mak-ing it more acidic andthreatening marine lifethroughout the foodchain. The Alaska MarineConservation Council,along with InletkeeperBoardmember MakoHaggerty, played a centralrole organizing the event, and Inletkeeper Bob Shavelson helped withcommunications and outreach. Despite overcoming the incrediblecomplexity of getting all the boats,skiffs and kayaks aligned correctly inKachemak Bay’s finicky tides and the wind, the organizers could notplan for one eventuality:a massive fog bank rolled in just in time for the
photo shoot! Nonetheless,the photos captured a historic moment,andthe after-party and rally included speeches on coal and climate byShavelson,ocean acidification science by UAF Professor Jeremy Mathis,and organizing around climate issues by Inletkeeper’s newestBoardmember, Shannyn Moore. Despite the overwhelming success of
the event, some criticspointed to the fact theevent relied on burningfossil fuels to….protestthe burning of fossil fuels.Point well taken. And theresponse is this: if vesseloperators had realoptions, they’d deploythem. But research intorenewable and alternativeengine design has been
squashed and de-emphasized as we’ve slogged through decades of pol-lution-based prosperity. Now the chickens have come home to roost,so we need to speak up any way we can! Our hats go off to Alan Parksand AMCC for pulling off the most complicated and important oceansevent in Alaska history!
President Bill Clinton withHurricane Creekkeeper JohnWathen and others at theWaterkeeper Alliance conferencein New York City.
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Mariners send a message to Congress and international decisionmakers.
An ardent conservationist,Mike O’Meara has been a Board Memberfor Cook Inletkeeper since its founding in 1994, providing guid-
ance,counsel,strategic planning,artistic renderingsand even helping out with occasional day-to-dayactivities. This year Mike received the AlaskaConservation Foundation’s Celia Hunter Award,named for a pioneer conservationist and advocatefor Alaska’s wild places. This award recognizes sig-nificant, long-term efforts as a leader in the grass-roots, volunteer environmental movement inAlaska. Recipients are active on a state or nation-wide level,are active conservation supporters,and
have made a difference for Alaska's conservation movement over manyyears. In addition to being a homesteader near Homer,Alaska, Mike is
an avid back country hiker and skier and has longbeen an active member of numerous local,statewide, and national conservation organiza-tions.Over the past 4 years Mike helped organizethe Homer Electric Association Members Forum,agrass roots movement successfully advocating forclean energy alternatives. The next time you seeMike,be sure to offer your congratulations for a jobwell done,and a job that we hope he will contin-ue doing for years to come!Mike leading HEA protest (Homer, Jan. 2009)
Photo courtesy Scott Dickerson.
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On August 1, over 2,500 people came out to the Anchoragedowntown park strip on a spectacular day for the 5th annual
Alaska Renewable Energy Fair. Mayor Dan Sullivan and Iowa Gov.Chet Culver both spoke about the future potential of renewableenergy in Alaska. Culver’s state now produces 15 percent of itselectricity from wind power. Executive Director Chris Rose gavean update on proposed legislative measures, including bills aimedat giving the state an overall energy policy. According to Rose,renewable energy is now a $150 billion a year industry that is pro-jected to quadruple in size in six years.With billions in federal andstate funding aimed at renewable energy projects, opportunitiesabound for Alaska to tap renewable energy sources, and to poten-tially become a center for renewable energy manufacturing.
In addition to Cook Inletkeeper’s booth, the fair featuredmany vendor and agency booths and workshops ranging fromwind and solar powered demonstrations, an electric powered carfrom the Kenai Fjords National Park, energy efficiency informa-tion, and tidal power in Cook Inlet. A lineup of musicians keptfolks moving and shaking out on the park strip until 9 p.m.
Cook Inletkeeper recently joined the Renewable Energy AlaskaProject, which has sponsored the Alaska Renewable Energy Fair forthe last five years. Through its membership, Cook Inletkeeper isonce again saying YES! to renewable energy alternatives.
On July 7, 2009 the San Francisco-based nonprofit ResourceRenewal Institute announced Cook Inletkeeper as one of
thirty recipients nationwide to receive the $1,000 River WarriorAwards in recognition for its efforts to protect and conservewater quantity, water quality, and riparian and aquatic habitat infree-flowing rivers. The awards are made with the hope ofencouraging the “valiant, resolute efforts in defending free flow-ing rivers and the wildlife that depends on them; and in acknowl-edgement of the commitment, hard work, and dedication of allwho work for free flowing water.”
River Warrior Award founder and former California Secretaryof Resources, Huey Johnson, describes the winners:“motivated byhalf-crazy passion, River Warrior Awardees struggle in the best ofyears—never mind the added challenge of an economic down-turn in a time of climate change.” Two-thirds of the 2009 awardeesare based in California, with the remainder working to save riversand fish in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, West Virginia,Michigan,New Mexico,and Alaska. Inletkeeper thanks Mr. Johnsonand RRI for their thoughtful and timely support.
On Wednesday July 29th, under blue skies on the shores ofKachemak Bay, Cook Inletkeeper held its 12th Annual Splash
Bash. Every summer we look forward to the opportunity to invitethe community for food, music and fun so that we can recognizeand thank our incredible volunteers. This year we celebratedFrank Vondersaar as our CEMP Volunteer of the Year. Donationsfrom The Grog Shop, Kachemak Bay Seafoods, Two Sisters, CraigMatkin & Eva Saulitis, and the other folks who brought food trulymade the party a community celebration. And special thanks to“Work in Progress” for the wonderful tunes! The Board and Staff atInletkeeper sincerely thank all of those businesses and individuals,our volunteers, and our members for making our collective mis-sion of “Clean Water, Healthy Salmon” possible.
Cook Inletkeeper Wins River Warrior Award!
Alaska Renewable Energy Fair Speakers, music and electric powered vehicles spark renewable energy fair
Intern Elli Matkin spreading the word about clean water at the Cook Inletkeeper Booth.
Splash Bash 2009
Volunteers and community members enjoy the 12th Annual Splash Bash.
PAGE 11 COOK INLETKEEPER
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Cook Inletkeeper knows we cannotpursue our ambitious mission with-out the generous assistance of ourmembers, major donors, businesssupporters, private foundations andpublic agencies. With over a thou-sand regular members, we list every-one individually in our summernewsletter. But for now, you knowwho you are, and in the meantime,we’d also like to thank our largerprivate funders:
Alaska Conservation Foundation
Bannerman Foundation
Bullitt Foundation
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies
Endurance Fund
Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
Fund for Wild Nature
Harder Foundation
Homer Foundation and City of Homer
Jiji Foundation
Leighty Foundation
New-Land Foundation
Ocean Foundation
Patagonia
Sea Change Foundation
Skaggs Foundation
State of Alaska ADF&G
State of Alaska DEC
True North Foundation
Unitarian Universalist FundingProgram
US Environmental ProtectionAgency
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Wolfensohn Family Foundation
Thanks toCook Inletkeeper’s
Members &Supporters:
Show us YOUR Sedna!
Pick.Click.Give. Campaign and 15th Anniversary Fundraising1st Year Resounding Success; Next Year Even Better!
In 2008, the Alaska legislature passed a lawmaking it easier for Alaskans to donate a por-
tion of their Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD)checks to nonprofits. During the first 10months of 2009, Cook Inletkeeper - along withover 300 other Alaskan non-profits - anxiouslyawaited the results of the first year of givingthrough the highly publicized Pick.Click.Give.campaign. This campaign gives Alaskans theoption to donate to non-profit organizationswhen they go on-line to sign up for their PFD.This year, approximately 5,500 Alaskanspledged more than $545,000 to support theirfavorite nonprofits. Forty individuals fromaround the state collectively contributed$3,250 directly to Cook Inletkeeper usingPick.Click.Give, an amount that pleasantly sur-prised the staff and board. Of the 40 contribu-tors, 15 were new supporters of CookInletkeeper’s mission to “protect Alaska’s CookInlet watershed and the life it sustains”. CookInletkeeper says THANK YOU to each andevery donor who contributed in 2009 throughPick.Click.Give.
In January, when you apply for yourPermanent Fund Dividend, you will again havethe opportunity to give to Cook Inletkeeper.Now with Pick.Click.Give, donating is safe,secure, fun,easy,and it’s available to all Alaskans
who file on-line. When you go on-line to signup for your dividend, you will see the optioncalled PFD Charitable Contributions Program(Pick.Click.Give). Click and follow the instruc-tions to make a donation. You can also provideyour name and address, and if you do, we willthank you personally. More information isavailable at http://www.pickclickgive.org .
As noted in our lead story, in 2010 CookInletkeeper celebrates its 15th Anniversary. Inlight of the difficult economic times facing allnonprofits, Inletkeeper is pleased to announcea fundraising match challenge from theEndurance Fund, which will provide a dollar-for-dollar match for all memberships of $150 ormore. Cook Inletkeeper is requesting thosemembers who support our mission and canafford it, to give $150 or more as part of the15th Anniversary Membership FundraisingDrive.This drive officially began on November1, 2009 and will continue through December31, 2010. Together we can meet this challengeif just 150 new or existing members each give$150 between now and the end of our 15thAnniversary Year in December 2010. ContactInletkeeper’s Development Director Mike Allenat [email protected] or 907.235.4068x27 if you have any questions.
Sedna legends vary greatly in cultures acrossthe globe but all agree she dwells at the bot-
tom of the sea and keeps strict guard over theocean’s living creatures. In 1995, Inletkeeperproudly adopted an image of Sedna as its logoto represent Cook Inletkeeper’s mission to“Protect Alaska’s Cook Inlet watershed and thelife it sustains”. For 2010, in celebration of our15 year anniversary, Inletkeeper invites you to“Show us your Sedna!” Send us a picture of youin your Sedna T-shirt from anywhere in theworld or a great picture of you out enjoying thebounty of the Cook Inlet and we’ll post themon our website, and the best pictures will beselected for our newsletter. Email photos with
a brief description to [email protected]; awinning photo will be selected monthly andthe sender will receive a Sedna mug beautiful-ly handcrafted by Homer artist, MarieHerdegen. Join the fun and show us your spir-it of the Sea!
And don’t forget: Cook Inletkeeper offerscomplimentary organic cotton Sedna T-shirts -made in the USA - to all new members joiningat the $50 or above level.As Inletkeeper entersits 15th year, the Sedna logo will be slightlyenhanced and made available on additionalquality, eco/ethics conscious merchandise foryour gift giving needs. So stay tuned for ournew look!
Join Cook Inletkeeper at www.inletkeeper.org
WE NEED YOUR EYES & EARS ON COOK INLET!JOIN COOK INLETKEEPER & HELP PROTECT WATER QUALITY!
YES! I want Cook Inletkeeper to continue its important work to protect the Cook Inlet watershedand the life it sustains! Please accept my tax deductible contribution in the amount of:
