Tyonek Tribal Conservation District

Tyonek Tribal Conservation District (TTCD) Proposes to Replace a Culvert Blocking 15 Miles of Spawning and Rearing Habitat on Tyonek Creek Near the Native Village of Tyonek, a Denaina Athabascan Community in Remote Western Cook Inlet, Alaska. the Native Village of Tyonek Is Reliant on Salmon Harvest for Cultural, Economic, and Nutritional Needs. Removing Fish Passage Barriers Directly Supports the Subsistence, Economic, and Nutritional Health of Tyonek by Restoring Stream Habitat Connectivity for Native Pink and Coho Salmon for Spawning and Rearing Life Stages. This Work Will Complete a Ten-year, Multi-agency Effort to Remove All Barriers in the Tyonek Creek Watershed, Opening a Total of 31 Miles of Habitat. the Focus of This Project Will Be to Complete Design and Implementation for the Upper Tyonek Creek Culvert Replacement Project, a Double Barrel Culvert Impeding Salmonid Passage to 15 Upstream Miles. Construction of Fish Passage Projects in Tyonek Present Many Logistical Challenges, as All Construction Materials and Equipment Arrive by Barge or Small Plane to This Remote Village. While Project Partners Are Using Their Years of Experience to Ensure Success of Restoration Efforts, This Funding Will Also Provide a Contingency That Will Be Used, If Needed, to Complete the Removal of the Lowest Barrier on Tyonek Creek, Which Is Scheduled to Break Ground in July of 2023. in Total, the Funding for This Project Will Complete Work to Restore Full Fluvial Function and Aquatic Connectivity to This Important Watershed, Which Is Integral to the Food Security and Culture of This Alaska Native Community. TTCD Project Partners Are Usfws, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Usda-nrcs, Noaa, the Native Village of Tyonek, and Tyonek Native Corporation.