In the early 1990s, while Alaska and the world were still reeling from the Exxon Valdez oil spill, federal regulators discovered something shocking in Cook Inlet: oil and gas corporations had committed more than 4,200 violations of the Clean Water Act. Rather than face crushing penalties in court, oil companies agreed to a settlement that included three years of funding to launch a watchdog group dedicated to protecting the Inlet.
As a result, a small group of Alaskans came together with a simple but powerful idea: our waters, our fisheries, and our communities are too precious to sacrifice to corporate polluters. Out of that conviction, Cook Inletkeeper was born. Today, as we mark our 30th anniversary, the challenges facing Cook Inlet are perhaps more urgent than ever—but so too is the spirit of grassroots resistance, and deep love of place that first brought this movement to life.
From the start, Inletkeeper’s mission has been clear: to protect the Cook Inlet watershed and the life it sustains. That mission is rooted not just in environmental values but in a deep belief that water, lands, and communities are invaluable—gifts we must protect for current and future generations.
As we mark 30 years, Inletkeeper remains committed to the same core mission: protecting the watershed and the life it sustains.
What started as a handful of Alaskans saying “enough is enough,” has expanded into a network of individuals, businesses, and partner organizations that stretches across our watershed. It will be with renewed resolve, and the resilient community networks we have formed, that we can continue ensuring that our home waters and communities thrive. Every member, every volunteer, every supporter makes the movement stronger. Thank you for your continued support.
