Juneau Audubon Society P.O. Box 21725 Juneau, AK 99802-1725   A chapter of the National Audubon Society.

Issues Affecting Juneau's Wetlands

Lecture Series April, 2006 -- Ecology of the Mendenhall Wetlands.  The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is sponsoring a lecture series on the ecology of the Mendenhall wetlands. Lectures begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School library. Free and open to the public.

April 5 - Habitat Mapping of the Wetlands by Richard Carstensen
April 12 - Fish and Invertebrate Ecology of the Mendenhall Wetlands by Mitch Lorenz
April 19 - Wetlands and Wildlife by Neil Barten
April 26 - The Importance of the Mendenhall Wetlands for Birds by Bob Armstrong
 

Mendenhall Wetlands, Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge, and Juneau International Airport

Birds and Plane Safety at Juneau Airport Report This report prepared by Bob Armstrong and Richard Carstensen contains observations and recommendations that may be of use to managers, agencies, and the public, as the Juneau community collectively seeks to improve airport safety, and to maintain or enhance bird habitat on the surrounding wetlands.

Hotspots: Bird Survey of Mendenhall Wetlands - This report prepared by Bob Armstrong, Richard Carstensen, and Mary Willson describes the use of the Mendenhall Wetlands by birds.

Issues Affecting the Mendenhall Wetlands:

• CBJ request for acquisition of part of Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge for extension of the Juneau International Airport runway and for bird hazard elimination. At the request of the airport manager, the CBJ Assembly is considering a resolution (Resolution 2271) to request the State Department of Natural Resources to transfer refuge land to the City and Borough of Juneau for airport purposes. (Click here for more information, for a map of the area of concern, and for links to important documents). See, My Turn column that appeared in the Juneau Empire on September 30, 2004 regarding the proposed acquisition of refuge land by the CBJ.

• Expansion of Juneau Airport - An EIS for expansion of the Juneau International Airport runway is currently being prepared. (Click here for more information and links to important documents).

• Erosion control along the Mendenhall River at the west end of the airport runway and float plane pond. (Click here for more information and links to important documents).

• Bird hazard elimination at the Juneau International Airport. Read the Wildlife Hazards Assessment for the Juneau International Airport. Also, see the Juneau Audubon Society's Birds and Plane Safety at Juneau Airport Report.

• Second Crossing of Gastineau Channel. The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is again considering the construction of a second crossing of Gastineau Channel. Virtually all proposals considered to date have involved construction of a road and/or bridge across the Mendenhall Wetlands. The core project study area encompasses an approximate 9-mile segment of the Gastineau Channel extending from the vicinity of Salmon Creek to the vicinity of the Mendenhall Peninsula/North Douglas Island. For more information on the project visit the DOTPF Juneau Second Channel Crossing page. 

• The City and Borough of Juneau is also investigating the feasibility and best location for the second crossing across Gastineau Channel.  For more information on the project visit the CBJ Juneau Second Channel Crossing page.

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