Susitna Recreation Rivers Plan to be Updated

The Susitna Basin Recreation Rivers Plan was first adopted in 1991 and is undergoing a revision. An Advisory Board appointed by Governor Dunleavy consists of 13 members representing a variety of user groups and property owners. Assembly Member Stephanie Nowers of District 2 is the Borough designee and local Talkeetna business owner Israel Mahay serves as the Chair. Mahay shares why he thinks the Advisory Board’s work is important.

“I want these rivers to be like how they were when I grew up for my kids and that is really important to me,” says Mahay. 

In anticipation of several upcoming management decisions, including the revision of the Plan, Trout Unlimited asked Fisheries Biologist and PhD candidate Sarah O’Neal for a literature review to better understand the available data and information.

The literature review was presented at the November Advisory Board meeting and O’Neal notes that overall there are several specific fisheries issues that are important to consider for any planning efforts moving forward, most importantly for the salmon fisheries. 

“I do think based on this literature review that we know there are some substantial threats. We know that king salmon, sockeye salmon, and coho salmon have all been in decline with some variability over time, but overall in decline, they have been failing to meet escapement goals. They have required increasing regulations,” says O’Neal.

O’Neal indicated that there are multiple factors contributing to a decline in fisheries in the basin that have led to increasing regulations, including development, invasive species, and climate change. In the Susitna Basin, the Deshka was the only river with data, and it showed a potential increase of one to three degrees Celsius. That increase could reduce salmon spawning habitat by 20 to 90 percent in the Deshka.

The recommendations for Plan updates will consider multiple uses, including fisheries, and a variety of other issues facing the Susitna Basin. The Susitna Basin Recreation Rivers Advisory Board meets at least monthly and their meetings are open to the public.