Press Advisory

Juneau International Airport and Southeast Alaska
Watershed Coalition team up for Jordan Creek:
New bridges under construction & restoration occurring.
DATE:
CONTACT:

04/18/2018
John Hudson
Restoration Biologist
Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition
907-419-4677 / john@sawcak.org

Juneau, AK- A crew from the Juneau International Airport is replacing two pedestrian
bridges over Jordan Creek this week with materials purchased by the Southeast
Alaska Watershed Coalition. The new bridges are part of a broad partnership to foster
public stewardship of Jordan Creek, a salmon stream located in the heart of the
Mendenhall Valley.
“The footbridges are used by people traveling between the airport and residential
and business areas near the Nugget Mall,” said Patty Wahto, airport manager. “We
want the greenbelt to be a safe and enjoyable open space for the public.”
The Juneau International Airport and Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition will
receive some volunteer help in their efforts from local landowners, the Society of St.
Vincent De Paul, the Tongass Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and Discovery Southeast to
steward an 8-acre greenbelt just north of the airport that is surrounded by dense
urban development. Together, these partners will:
 Restore 5.5 acres by eradicating invasive plants, planting trees and shrubs;
 Decommissioning an obsolete trail that damages riparian habitat;
 Improve water quality by relocating snow storage areas outside the greenbelt;
 Enhance public use, safety, and enjoyment of the area through regular
patrolling, trail and footbridge upgrades, and the installation of benches, trash
cans, and signage;
 Keep the area litter free through regular patrols of the area by volunteers from
the nearby Society of St. Vincent De Paul housing facility.
 Use the greenbelt as an outdoor classroom to teach local youth about urban
streams and what we can do to improve these areas for fish, wildlife, and
people.
“Jordan Creek used to be one of the most productive streams in the Juneau area for
coho salmon.” said John Hudson, restoration biologist with the Southeast Alaska
Watershed Coalition. “But over time, urbanization in the lower reaches of Jordan
Creek has taken its toll. The stream is now listed as “impaired” by the Department of
Environmental Conservation and there are public safety concerns in certain areas.”
“Stewarding this site will take more than actions to improve habitat and recreation,”
explained Hudson. “Stewardship here means connecting the people of Juneau to the
streams that flow though their backyards and building a community around our local
watersheds.”
What Can You Do: If you are interested in helping restore Jordan Creek, the
Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition will be leading a crew of volunteers to clean up

 garbage along Jordan Creek as part of the annual city-wide clean-up on Saturday.
Meet at 8 am on Saturday at the Duck Creek Market to pick up trash bags and join
the clean-up crew, or simply pick a section of your favorite stream and pitch in by
picking up litter.

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