Kachemak Bay

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Kachemak Bay Research Reserve
National Estuarine Research Reserve System
KACHEMAK BAY RESEARCH RESERVEa unit of the
National Estuarine Research Reserve System
Fostering stewardship through integrated research
education
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• 27 designated sites
• 1 proposed sites

MANAGED IN PARTNERSHIP National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Alaska Department of
Fish and Game, Sport Fish Division
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Boundary and Watershed

• Components
• Kachemak Bay Critical Habitat Area
• Fox River Flats Critical Habitat Area
• Kachemak Bay State Park
• City of Homer

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Mission of Kachemak Bay Research Reserve
Enhance understanding and appreciation of the
Kachemak Bay estuary and adjacent waters to
ensure that these ecosystems remain healthy and
productive
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• Facilities
• Alaska Islands Ocean Visitor Center
• Bay Avenue Facility (Lab and Staging)
• Kachemak Drive Modular and Bunkhouse

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Research Overview

• Collaborate
• Conduct
• Integrate with education
• System Wide Monitoring Program
• Graduate Research Fellows

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OCEAN / OFFSHORE ENVIRONMENT
WATERSHED ENVIRONMENT
NEARSHORE ENVIRONMENT
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NERR National Research Programs
SWMP (System Wide Monitoring Program)

• To identify track
• short-term variability
• long-term changes
• Water quality (physical and chemical)
• Monitoring in Seldovia and Homer
• Meteorology monitoring in Homer

Graduate Research Fellowships (GRFs)
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Specific Projects
WATERSHED RESEARCH
COASTAL EROSION

• Use historical aerial surveys
• Estimate erosion rates

Research projects focusing on understanding
salmon stream food webs and habitat
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Other Research

• Fox River Flats (juvenile salmon use /
  restoration needs)
• Shellfish recruitment / larval transport
• Hardshell clam growth and recruitment
• Link primary production and fisheries
• Subtidal habitat mapping

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Kachemak Bay Research Reserve
National Estuarine Research Reserve System
Education Overview
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Kachemak Bay Research Reserve
National Estuarine Research Reserve System
Education

• K-12 students
• Reserve outreach
• Community monitoring
• Community residents and visitors
• Coastal Training Program (CTP)

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Coastal Training Program (CTP)
Making available the best science-based
information, tools, and techniques to assist
decision-making

• Meet needs of specific audiences
• Bring together scientists and decision
• makers
• More effective coastal management through
• a better understanding of the local ecosystem
• and best management practices

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Assessment Results

• 20/28 provided feedback
• Four categories identified for further training
• 1. Alaska Coastal Management Program
  Overview/Review 11
• Review of ACMP roles, impacts, and how to
  implement statute and regulation changes into
  everyday business
• 2. Proper Effective Commenting 11
• 3. Educational Outreach and Response 4
• 4. Other
• GIS training
• Mitigation measures for oil and gas development
• Coastal processes and coastal erosion
• Global warming and its potential impacts to
  Alaskas coastline
• Effective coastal management policies to balance
  development and subsistence uses

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