Susitna River Coalition
A Roadmap to our Watershed
A watershed plan is a community’s roadmap for understanding and improving the health of the rivers, lakes, and wetlands that all drain from the same landscape. It identifies current and potential threats to the region and synthesizes the existing information about the health of the watershed.​ This means taking a deep look at water quality, fish, habitat, and how people are using the region in collaboration with stakeholders. It also looks at what’s changing and what people are noticing on the ground. ​ Over the next few years, The Susitna River Coalition, supported by the EPA, will be developing a Watershed plan for the Susitna River. That means taking a careful, step-by-step approach pulling together existing data and talking directly with the people who know this watershed best---- That means YOU!
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At the end of this planning process, our community will have a shared understanding of the watershed and a clear sense of where to focus future work.
The Susitna River is at a turning point.
Help us Do the Work: Call for Citizen Scientists!
This project only works if it reflects the communities in the watershed.
That’s where you come in! If you’re already out fishing, rafting, hunting, or traveling in the watershed, you can help fill in the gaps that don’t show up in existing data. Science doesn’t have to be complicated to be credible, and you can collect information that adds to a baseline of information around the watershed and can help experts identify where to prioritize their future work.
What this looks like:
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Taking part in Susitna River Coalition led field days or collection information on your own
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Collecting basic water quality data like temperature or pH
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Writing down what you’re seeing in the water and along the banks
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Taking photos that help document conditions over time
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Sharing knowledge from time spent in the watershed
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You don’t need a science background. We’ll provide simple tools and guidance. The goal is to make it easy for people to contribute in a way that fits into what they’re already doing. Over time, these contributions build a clearer picture of the watershed that comes directly from the people who know it best and are out there experiencing it.
Want to learn more?
Check out our 2025 Mat Su Salmon Science & Habitat Symposium presentation below, and reach out!
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough is the fastest growing region in the state. With that come pressures on the watershed and the communities that depend on it. Recognized as an endangered river, the Susitna is already facing increasing risks to its health and long-term resilience. At the same time, nearly 75% of residents in this region rely directly on the river for food, culture, and daily life.
This moment of growth brings both opportunity and a need for action through collaboration. Without action, small challenges can become lasting problems. But with a clear, community-driven plan and the assessment of what we currently know about the watershed, we can protect what matters most and guide long-term stewardship of the area.
