
Moose Creek Fish Weir
In 2022 CVTC fisheries biologists re-purposed, installed, and maintained a video fish weir in Moose Creek with the goals of counting, identifying and measuring adult salmon.
In the spring of 2022, the CVTC fisheries staff restored a floating panel fish weir loaned by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Homer. The fish weir was installed in Moose Creek at the beginning of May with an affixed video camera box and fish chute. On shore were a digital video recording system, a battery box and 4 solar panels.
As anadromous fish such as adult Chinook, chum, and coho salmon, among others, swam upstream to spawn, they had to pass through the weir. The floating weir panels funneled fish toward the fish chute, where they swam past the underwater camera (recording 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and a length-measuring device.
The recorded video was then downloaded and reviewed by the biologist and technician: each salmon was counted, identified to species and sex (if possible), measured, and notable features were recorded. Due to technical challenges and very high water in 2022 from snow melt and heavy rains, the floating video weir had minimal success and only collected complete data for 10 days of the field season.
Moose Creek Juvenile Salmon Study
In 2017-2020 CVTC fisheries staff studied the movements of juvenile coho and Chinook salmon in Moose Creek. This project used passive integrated transducer (PIT) tags which are like electronic pet identification tags. These tags helped identify juvenile fish movements, especially the timing of out-migration, when the juvenile salmon leave Moose Creek and head downstream toward the ocean starting at Cook Inlet. The final report will be available in 2024.
Moose Creek Fish Passage Restoration Project - In 2005-2007, CVTC restored fish passage to more than 7 miles of streams and tributaries on Moose Creek, near Palmer, by re-creating stream channels around man-made waterfall barriers! In collaboration with federal and state agencies, approximately half a mile of stream channel was restored in 2005-2007 to relic stream channel locations, approximately 80 years after the railroad had straightened and diked the creek in the 1920’s, which caused the formation of one large waterfall and several small waterfalls that blocked fish passage. Our restoration work provided fish passage around the barriers and improved fish habitats by connecting the creek to its floodplain in the project areas. This means that during high water events, the water can spread out onto the floodplain and slow down, which improves fish habitats including allowing large floating logs to snag and create micro-habitats, helping with the formation of pool habitats, and creating stream-bottom sediment variations beneficial to fish. Chinook and coho salmon are now seen annually at locations more than 5 miles upstream of the restoration sites. This restoration work was technically supported by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and financially supported by the USFWS, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Fish Habitat Initiative, ConocoPhilips Alaska, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and others.
Moose Creek Salmon Population Rehabilitation
Conducted in 2007-2010 and 2013, this project helped jump-start the natural expansion of the Chinook salmon into spawning and rearing habitats that were upstream of the Moose Creek Fish Passage Restoration sites and unreachable for many decades. With appropriate permits, up to 20 pairs of adult Chinook salmon were captured near the mouth of Moose Creek (in July and August); the salmon eggs were fertilized and then incubated to the eyed-egg stage in a moist air incubation system which was located in our office in Sutton. Otoliths (ear bones) of eyed-eggs were uniquely marked by specific temperature changes in the incubator and then planted into stream gravels using an egg-planter, at approximately mile 7 of Moose Creek. In subsequent years otoliths of spawned out adult carcasses were collected and several of CVTC’s incubated salmon were documented as reaching adulthood and returning to spawn in Moose Creek!
Nurture The Land and People Project
This project focused on Ahtna Cultural restoration and preservation by developing writing Ahtna cultural curriculum and providing Ahtna cultural education events and presentations.
Matanuska River Watershed Recreation & Trails Plan
Completed in 2013 to enhance social and economic development and community stewardship through area trails and recreation planning.
Ecosystem Based Plan
The Chickaloon Village Ecosystem Based Plan was completed in the spring of 2009 with final products of many Matanuska Watershed maps.

Sutton Recycles
With funding from EPA, CVTC renovated two semi-trailer garbage bins into water resistant recycling bins. These special containers are divided into three sections for sorting and separation of recyclable materials. These containers also have drop-down windows for maximizing the storage space. To access the drop-down windows the funding also provided an elevated heavy metal walkway with stairs. After several years of use and a new understanding of how much cardboard is available for recycling, we received additional EPA funding to convert a third garbage bin into a cardboard-only recycling bin and another elevated metal walkway with stairs. Sutton Recycles is a collaborative project: Chickaloon Native Village organized the recycle bins; the Sutton Library organizes volunteers to manage the community recyclables; the Sutton Community Council provides a stipend to volunteers. In 2023 we hosted a two-day electronics recycling drop-off.
For more information contact Jessica Winnestaffer at 907.745.0749.