KRITFC co-hosts Kwethluk Weir meeting

The Kwethluk River Weir. photo by Terese Shmoyogi

by KRITFC

We co-hosted a community meeting in Kwethluk about the Kwethluk River weir project. The Kwethluk River weir is a long-term salmon spawner abundance monitoring project operated by the Organized Village of Kwethluk, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and KRITFC.

On January 26, we joined our partners at USFWS/Yukon Delta NWR, OVK, and Kwethluk Inc. to host a community meeting in Kwethluk about this project. We answered questions about the project, presented on the ground-breaking eDNA collection occurring on site, and shared moose soup and akutaq with friends and relatives.

Many Kwethluk community members voiced concerns about the ability of salmon to pass through the weir. While salmon mortality at weirs is very rare, and oftentimes fish carcasses seen at the weir site come from spawned-out salmon upriver that have floated down, we understand these concerns. In response, we have pledged to include a second fish passage chute starting in 2024, and as early as this season, to double the area for salmon to swim through and beyond the weir.

Quyana for having us, Kwethluk! We will be back soon.

SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: We and are partners are hiring for Kwethluk River field projects. Apply today! Kwethluk River weir crew: Contact OVK at 907-757-6714. Kwethluk River screw trap fish technician (starting April 2023): Contact Justin Leon at 907-434-1038 or Andrew Magel at 907-545-4379.