What's Up 

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Summer at AWC!

Save the date!  August 28!
AWC will present an opportunity to get up close and personal to Campbell Creek.  Find out how water quality is measured by the number and types of aquatic insects, collect and sort some yourself, see a beaver lodge, learn about good creek habits (and poor ones), what water quality monitors do and more!  On Saturday, August 28, from 11-2, AWC will have informational booths at Bancroft Park (Shelikof and Rakof). Check back for more information.

Issues
What to do with your grass clippings!  Read Cherie Northon's Letter to the Editor, 7-19-10, to see how to help our waterways.

The Alaska Railroad Corporation received a permit from the ADEC to spray along 90 miles of track from Seward to Bird or Indian.  A request for an adjudicatory hearing was filed by the Trustees for Alaska (www.trustees.org) and AWC filed comments during a short "Open Comment" period in late June.  Read AWC's comments.  Despite several good arguments, the court, after a temporary stay, gave the AKRR approval for spraying. 

Outreach

An important part of AWC's mission is participating in projects and events that educate the young and old on keeping our streams healthy.  During May and June we had exhibits at our annual Creek Cleanup, run by board members Bob Shipley and Liz Rocha, and on June 4th and 5th our summer researcher intern, Marcus Welker, displayed a macroinvertibrate table at Potter Marsh.  Hundreds of summer camp youth and families attended.

More activities are planned in mid-June for Summer Youth Outdoor Days.  

Projects

As anywhere in Alaska, summer is the busiest time for many of us. Some of the projects AWC has underway include a second year of monitoring for fecal coliform in Jewel Lake, funded by the ADEC; stream and air temperature monitoring of 4 creeks to assess a correlation between these parameters and climate change, funded by Cook Inlet Keeper; an "Adopt-A-Reach" pilot project funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in conjunction with a grant from Patagonia; and finishing up other grant projects from last year, such as the USFWS Partner's Grant with Little Campbell. 

Some of Jewel Lake's residents and users

    Revised Watching Our Waterways available

In 1991, the AWC published a guide for citizens to help them be better water stewards titled Watching Our Waterways. It was just updated and is being reprinted due to a generous grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  You can download a copy from our website by clicking on this link (it's 2 MB so be patient).  The forms for completing a creek survey can be accessed at this link.  

Report your concerns about habitat destruction or creek degradation to AWC or to an agency.

Municipality of Anchorage Stormwater Compliance:
343-7911 or 343-8008 

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation:
Division of Water
269-7599

Hazardous Spills
269-3063
800 478-9300 (after hours)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
800 424-4372 (Seattle)

Anchorage Waterways Council
272-7335

  Great Gift Ideas!

AWC has published a Map and Nature Guide for the Campbell Creek Trail

The map/guide is printed on water and tear-resistant paper--perfect for outdoors.  It is 11" x 17" and folds down to easily fit into a pocket. Only $5, or have one shipped to you for an extra $1.  Maps are also available at REI.  Please call 272-7335 or Email us at awc@anchoragecreeks.org for more information or to place an order. All proceeds go toward protecting our creeks.

GIFT MEMBERSHIPS!

You can also buy a membership or give a donation on behalf of someone. They will receive a postcard from us telling them the donation amount and who it is from. Please give us a call or send us an email if you are interested in giving an AWC membership.