Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Protecting Alaska's Cook Inlet watershed and the life it sustains since 1995.
Sign up for email updates
Sections
You are here: Home › Clean Water › Clean Boating & Harbors › Clean Boating On Big Lake

Clean Boating On Big Lake

Inletkeeper is working with the community and boaters on Big Lake to reduce pollution!

Big Lake, Alaska
Big Lake, Alaska
Did you know that Big Lake was listed as polluted by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation? Studies in 2004, 2005 and in 2009 showed high levels of petroleum hydrocarbons – compounds that come from gas, oil, and other petroleum products. Through a series of meetings, the community of Big Lake created an action plan to ensure Big Lake is healthy for our families and children. You can read the studies, as well as the minutes from community meetings here.

 

Inletkeeper started working with the community in 2010, through the Alaska Clean Harbors program.  We partnered with the community group as well as Wasilla Soil and Water Conservation District to develop ways to engage Big Lake boaters in keeping the lake clean.

We're also working with private marinas on Big Lake.

Inletkeeper's Rachel Lord hands out clean boating kits at the 2011 Big Lake Community Picnic
Inletkeeper's Rachel Lord hands out clean boating kits at the 2011 Big Lake Community Picnic
The folks at Burkeshore Marina (see their website here) have been working hard this spring to provide more services to help boaters keep gas and oil out of the water on Big Lake! They are working towards certification as a "Clean Harbor" through the Alaska Clean Harbors program through the implementation of best management practices.  This spring we worked with them to get a new Smart Ash Burner on-site.  With the Smart Ash Burner, staff at Burkeshore will be able to take used oil and gas-contaminated materials from boaters and customers and dispose of them properly. The Smart Ash is used in many of Alaska's large harbors, and effectively burns up these toxic materials, leaving a small pile of harmless ash behind!

 

Check back in for more information on how you can help Big Lake continue to be a recreational hot spot for Alaska, with clean water and clean boating services available for everyone!