Goodykoontz, E., & DeMarban, A. (2023, November 2). Utilities reveal plan to restore most of Eklutna River, setting stage for public comment. Anchorage Daily News. http://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2023/11/01/utilities-release-plan-to-restore-most-of-eklutna-river-with-water-setting-stage-for-public-comment-on-historic-effort/  

Chugach and Matanuska electric associations and the municipality’s Anchorage Hydropower Utility in Southcentral Alaska, unveiled a proposed program to restore water and potentially salmon to the Eklutna River. This proposal attempts to repair damage spanning from the 1950s by releasing water a mile downstream of the dam, leaving a mile of the river dry, and tapping into the pipe delivering Anchorage’s drinking water to divert flow. The plan, estimated to cost $57 million, could bring four species of salmon into miles of river habitat. However, the Native Village of Eklutna and conservation groups argue that the river should be fully restored, this would allow all salmon species to reach the lake. These groups propose that an alternative renewable energy be installed to be able to fully remove the dam.

Restoring the salmon population is very important to ensuring the health of the Eklutna River. I think that money should be put into finding another energy source in order to take down the whole dam and restore the salmon populations. Salmon are an indicator of the health of an ecosystem, without them in the river it disrupts the food chain and can cause the health of the river to decline. Without the salmon to distribute nutrients, balance insect populations, and act as food for surrounding animals, populations like the moose and bear population can become endangered. Additionally, disrupting the land with the dams and drying up large parts of the river compromises the integrity of the land and can further erode as well as force larger species to relocate in order to find water. Overall, it is important that the Ekluta River be restored and simply releasing water a mile downstream of the dam may not be enough to significantly restore the surrounding habitat.