The mission of the Alaska Coastal Program is to conserve healthy coastal ecosystems for the benefit of fish, wildlife, and people. As a direct conservation assistance program, the Alaska Coastal Program invests funding, staff time, technical expertise, and other resources into coastal habitat conservation projects in partnership with non-governmental organizations, private landowners, local governments, state agencies and Alaska Native organizations.
In Southcentral Alaska, fish and wildlife are abundant; however, because the region’s human impact is concentrated in coastal areas, habitat degradation of coastal wetlands and estuaries can have a greater negative effect on fish and wildlife resources by degrading key habitats for anadromous fish or migratory birds. Land uses across the region are varied, including community/land development, oil and gas extraction, mining, timber harvest, tourism, recreation, and subsistence activities.
Example Projects
Honsinger Wetlands – Southeast Alaska Land Trust (2019, 32 acres)
The high and low-salt marshes within the Honsinger wetlands in Southeast Alaska provide habitat for migratory and resident birds, mammals, and salmonid and coastal fish during tidal inundation. These wetlands share a border with the Mendenhall State Game Refuge. Protection of this parcel effectively expands the area protected by the Refuge, and helps maintain the integrity of important wetland habitat, all the while preserving Juneau’s iconic view looking down Gastineau Channel to the Juneau-Douglas Bridge.
The Mendenhall Wetlands is a central feature in the magnificent landscape of Juneau. It is the second largest tidal marsh in Southeast Alaska and is nationally recognized as an Important Bird Area for migratory and resident birds. It provides critically important habitat and food resources for fish and mammals. Its broad expanse contrasts and highlights the surrounding mountains. Throughout the year, Juneau residents are drawn to this open space to walk their dogs, bird-watch, hunt waterfowl, fish, and just take in the views.
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