Tyonek Tribal Conservation District

Southcentral Alaskas Big Lake Is the States Busiest Inland Boat Launch and the Aquatic Invasive Plant Elodea Canadensis (ELODEA) Was First Discovered in Big Lake in 2019. in 2022, Elodea Had Spread Up to Five Miles Away From the Site of the Initial Infestation, and Floating Mats of Elodea Were Observed. Due to This Spreading Infestation and the Recreational Popularity of Big Lake, There Is a Considerable Risk of Elodea Being Transported to Other Regional Waterbodies on Boat Propellers, Trailers, or Floatplane Rudders. Tyonek Tribal Conservation District (TTCD) and Knik Tribe (KT) Propose to Jointly Conduct Research to Identify Boat and Floatplane Vectors and Elodea Dispersal Pathways From Elodea-infested Big Lake in Big Lake, Alaska, Through Floatplane Pilot and Boater Survey and Outreach to Better Identify At-risk Waterbodies Due to the Spreading Elodea Infestation in Big Lake. We Will Conduct Additional Video and Printed Outreach to the Big Lake Community to Increase Local Knowledge About Elodea and Prevent Spread and New Infestations. We Propose to Incorporate This Information to Inform Regional Waterbody Prioritization Efforts That Will Allow Project Partners to Better Target At-risk Waters, Increasing Regional Capacity for Successful Elodea Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) to Conserve and Protect Southcentral Alaskas Fisheries and Fish Habitat From Elodea-caused Habitat Degradation.