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Cook Inletkeeper

PROGRAMS & PROJECTS 2007

 Cook Inletkeeper is a community-based nonprofit organization formed in 1995 that combines hands-on scientific research and monitoring with strategic advocacy, organizing and education to give citizens the tools they need to protect water quality and salmon habitat throughout the Cook Inlet watershed. As Alaska experiences the disproportionate effects of rapid climate change, Inletkeeper is collecting data that shows alarming warming rates in local salmon streams, and using that information to educate and mobilize a diverse constituency toward a vision that includes clean water, healthy fish and wildlife habitat, lasting jobs and renewable energy.  Inletkeeper pursues this vision through the following programs and projects: 

WATERSHED ACTION PROGRAM:

ADVOCACY, EDUCATION & ORGANIZING

Cook Inletkeeper focuses its advocacy, education and organizing efforts on two fronts: promoting sound public policies that protect fish habitat and water quality; and holding individuals, industry and agencies accountable for habitat, water quality and human health in the Cook Inlet watershed.  Inletkeeper’s primary advocacy and education programs include:

 The CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT works to move energy projects and policies away from fossil fuel production and consumption, and toward renewable energy alternatives and lasting jobs that minimize impacts to fish habitat, water quality and human health. The Project’s goals are to: 1) prevent or minimize the ecological impacts from coal, oil and gas development; 2) build a broader constituency for fish habitat and water quality protection; and 3) promote projects and policies that embrace tidal, wind, geothermal and other renewable energy supplies. Since its inception, Inletkeeper has protected over 600,000 acres of beluga whale habitat from oil and gas drilling, reduced oil pipeline spills by over 100%, crafted federal pipeline safety legislation, and helped secure tug vessels to aid oil tankers in Cook Inlet’s notoriously rough waters.  Inletkeeper’s targeted energy strategies include aggressive legal, scientific and technical advocacy, effective citizen education and organizing, and persuasive media outreach. 

The WATERSHED WATCH PROJECT envisions sustainable human development that protects salmon streams, wetlands and other sensitive wildlife habitat areas from pollution and habitat destruction.  The Project’s goals are to: 1) help citizens engage government and industry to resolve local and regional environmental concerns; 2) hold government and industry accountable for enforcing and complying with environmental laws; and 3) ensure that environmental standards protect clean water, habitat and social justice.  Inletkeeper relies on its “eyes and ears” network of concerned citizens to report incidents of pollution and habitat destruction to Inletkeeper’s toll free hotline (1-888 MY INLET), and helps citizens document incidents, take samples, and ensure proper agency response.  Inletkeeper also organizes citizens to comment on development proposals and defend environmental policies.
 

CARING FOR COOK INLET PROGRAM:

RESEARCH & MONITORING

Cook Inletkeeper’s monitoring and research projects brings scientists and citizen volunteers together to better understand, manage and protect our public water resources.  Inletkeeper’s monitoring and research projects include:

 

Inletkeeper conducts in-depth water quality science as part of its SALMON STREAM MONITORING PROJECT to better understand the ecological effects of climate change and land-use activities on the state’s renown streams. Over the past eight years, Inletkeeper’s monitoring data has revealed alarming warming trends in local salmon, at levels that routinely violate standards established to protect spawning fish.  Inletkeeper’s novel salmon monitoring plan is the only effort in the state that routinely quantifies climate change effects on salmon habitat.  Now, Inletkeeper is relying on this ground-breaking research to educate, organize and mobilize a diverse cross section of Alaskans around the issues of climate change, energy policy and pollution prevention. 

In 1996, Inletkeeper developed Alaska’s first government-approved volunteer water quality monitoring program - the Citizens Environmental Monitoring Project (CEMP) – to actively involve citizen volunteers in the collection and distribution of important habitat and water quality data.  This Project has become a model statewide, and has created the most consistent, coordinated, credible, and cost-effective citizen monitoring program in Alaska.  Today, eight formal partner organizations and agencies – and dozens of sponsors and supporters – comprise the CEMP Partnership of Cook Inlet, which to date has trained more than 850 volunteers to monitor nearly 250 sites throughout the watershed, and broadly distribute citizen-collected data to resource managers to encourage more-informed decision making. 

 In 2004, Inletkeeper established the Cook Inlet Community–Based Water Quality Laboratory – the first citizen-based water laboratory in Alaska.  The laboratory goals include:  1) expand the ability of Cook Inlet scientists to monitor salmon streams and coastal watersheds, 2) provide cost-effective access to the resources necessary to perform complex analytical, chemical and other assessments, and 3) heighten the role of citizens in the collection, analysis and use of water quality data. Inletkeeper’s unique laboratory capacity provides the infrastructure and expertise needed to bring scientists and citizen volunteers together to enhance watershed stewardship, and to broaden citizen participation in water quality protection.

 

CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM

 Through its Capacity Building Program, Inletkeeper works to build the internal operations capacity needed to maximize organizational effectiveness and efficiency.  Through this program, Inletkeeper 1) grows a broader constituency for change in Cook Inlet; 2) builds a diverse and sustainable funding base; 3) enhances staff and board development through trainings, network meetings, and shared initiatives; and 4) engages in strategic planning to maximize organizational productivity and effectiveness.

 

To join Cook Inletkeeper’s ambitious efforts

 

 
   
 
   

 Report  pollution & habitat destruction:  Call Inletkeeper's Hotline 1-888-MY-INLET (694-6538) or click here

 

 

 

Lower Inlet Office (Headquarters)

PO Box 3269 / 3734 Ben Walters Lane

Homer, Alaska  99603

tel. 907.235.4068     fax 907.235.4069

keeper@inletkeeper.org

 

Upper Inlet Office

308 G St., Suite 219

    Anchorage, AK 99501

tel. 907.929.9371    fax 907.929.1562

keeper@inletkeeper.org

 

©2008  Cook Inletkeeper  Last Updated  01/22/2008  

 

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