Watershed Days & Backyard Salmonscapes: Strengthening Community Stewardship Across Tikahtnu
As spring and summer approach, Alaskans dream of shaking off the long, dark, cold days of winter, welcoming the return of the midnight sun’s warmth, and reconnecting with salmon and the watershed’s landscapes. This year, Cook Inletkeeper is launching a new interactive way to connect people to place, Inletkeeper’s Watershed Days. On designated days this year, we will celebrate our connection to the Cook Inlet | Tikahtnu watershed through hands-on activities and opportunities for the community to engage with the lands, waters, and salmon that are rooted in our lives.
Also, in the Central Peninsula, our current local solution, Backyard Salmonscapes, continues to lead the charge with community-centered outreach and action to protect salmon habitat. Building on our work from last year, Backyard Salmonscapes will host a series of meetings, workshops, and field events in this new season, designed to deepen connections between people and salmon. Upcoming events include a “Fish Need Land Too“ field trip in the Central Peninsula, Salmon Habitat Mapping, and the inaugural Backyard Salmonscape Flotilla on the Kenai River in June, each offering firsthand insight into salmon habitats and ongoing conservation efforts.
These gatherings provide our community with valuable tools to help protect salmon and our local waters, contributing to their resilience and sustainability across the Central Peninsula.
Together, Backyard Salmonscapes and Inletkeeper’s Watershed Days represent a season of learning, stewardship, and community connection. Our first Watershed Days event will be Salmon Canning 101, followed by an Earth Day event titled Salmon Tales: Stories Told Live. Whether you’re a lifelong Alaskan or newly curious about salmon and the Cook Inlet Watershed, the 2026 season promises meaningful ways to engage, learn, and take action for clean water and healthy salmon.
Keep an eye out for upcoming events at inletkeeper.org/events
Watershed Days
- Salmon Canning 101: Saturday, March 28, 3 pm @ the Community Action Studio
- Salmon Tales: Stories Told Live: Wednesday, April 22, 6 pm @ the Community Action Studio
Backyard Salmonscapes Monthly Meetings
- Tuesday, March 31, Happy Hour 5:30 pm, Meeting at 6 pm @ the Community Action Studio
- Tuesday, April 28, Happy Hour 5:30 pm, Meeting at 6 pm @ the Community Action Studio
Backyard Salmonscapes Field Days
- Baby Salmon Live Here Sign Installation: Saturday, May 30
- Fish Need Land Too Field Trip: TBD
- Backyard Salmonscapes Flotilla: June
- Salmon Habitat Mapping: TBD