Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission

06/23/2026

We're taking the teleconference on the road (and maybe closer to you)!

Whether you've caught fish, missed fish, seen fish, read a book on fish, heard about fish, argued about fish, dreamed about fish, want to eat lunch with other people, or just need an excuse to leave work for an hour, we'd love to see you there!

This week's Copper River Salmon Teleconference will be hosted in Chitina, rather than our usual location in Glennallen. Join us at 12:00 PM on Thursday at Chitina's Village Hall to hear the latest salmon updates, connect with others from around the watershed, and share observations from your community.

We'll have salmon chowder. Is it enough chowder to solve all your problems? Probably not. Is it enough chowder to improve your lunch hour? We think so!

Bring an empty stomach. Bring your lunch if you're not willing to place all your lunchtime hopes on chowder. Bring a friend who keeps asking, "So how are the fish looking this year?" Or bring the friend who won't stop telling you how the fish are looking this year.

See you Thursday! 🐟📞

ahtnatribal.org/teleconferences

06/23/2026

Before heading into the field season, our staff completed shotgun and bear spray training to help prepare for working safely in bear country.

Kelsey, Bella, Trevor, Sam, and Jasper took part in the training to practice the skills needed to respond appropriately during wildlife encounters. From understanding bear behavior to practicing safe and effective use of deterrents, these trainings are an important part of preparing for fieldwork across the Ahtna Region.

06/23/2026

06/22/2026

This is not a hot dog…

AITRC is exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning and computer vision, to help automate salmon counts at the Tanada Creek Weir!

By identifying salmon in underwater video footage, this technology could help process large amounts of video more efficiently, reducing the time required for manual fish counts and allowing staff to focus more on fisheries research and stewardship.

Much like the famous “hot dog / not hot dog” AI example, computers aren’t born knowing what a salmon looks like. Before the system can identify fish in underwater video footage, it has to be trained using thousands of images showing salmon, water conditions, shadows, debris, and other objects commonly seen at the weir. Over time, the AI learns to answer a much more important question: “salmon or not salmon?” That’s exactly what our GIS Specialist, Casey Cusick, has been working on: reviewing footage, preparing training data, and helping teach the system to recognize salmon.

While still in development, this work highlights how new technology can support the long-term monitoring and stewardship of an important resource.

06/18/2026

During Gakona’s Youth Environmental Summit, our Education & Outreach Coordinator led a hands-on aquatic science session focused on understanding water quality and ecosystem health.

Students collected and analyzed water samples from the lake, testing for phosphates, nitrates, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, temperature, and turbidity. Along the way, they learned what each of these measurements tells us about water quality and why they are important indicators of a healthy aquatic environment.

After completing the water quality tests, participants explored the shoreline in search of macroinvertebrates—small aquatic organisms such as insect larvae, snails, and other invertebrates that can be seen without a microscope. Because different macroinvertebrates have different tolerances to pollution and environmental change, their presence or absence can provide valuable information about overall water quality.

By combining chemical water testing with biological monitoring, students gained firsthand experience with tools commonly used by scientists and natural resource professionals to assess the health of freshwater ecosystems.

06/17/2026

This week, AITRC Ecologist Kelsey Stanbro and Fisheries Technicians Trevor Alexander and Bella Ranck traveled to Beluga, Alaska, to support Tyonek Tribal Conservation District’s (TTCD) Northern Pike Program at Tyonek Pike Camp.

Northern pike are an invasive species in Southcentral Alaska that threaten salmon populations by preying on juvenile fish in the lakes and streams they invade. Through prevention, early detection, suppression, and eradication efforts, TTCD is working to protect salmon habitat and the communities that rely on these important resources.

Partnerships like this are essential. By working together, Tribal Conservation Districts can share knowledge, build capacity, and strengthen the relationships needed to address complex conservation challenges across our regions. During the visit, AITRC also provided salmon sampling kits to support TTCD’s upcoming salmon monitoring efforts later this season.

Tsin’aen to TTCD for welcoming our team. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from one another and work side-by-side in support of healthy salmon ecosystems and thriving Tribal communities.

06/17/2026

Please join us in welcoming back Bella Ranck and Trevor Alexander as AITRC Fisheries Technicians!

Bella is back for her second summer of fish, fieldwork, and data collection, while Trevor is making the jump from fur to fins after wrapping up his season as one of AITRC’s Wildlife Techs!

Bella and Trevor will be supporting fisheries projects throughout the season, including salmon monitoring, sampling, and field operations across the Copper River basin. We are excited to have them both on the team and look forward to a successful field season ahead!

06/16/2026

🧡 Happy Ahtna Day! 🧡

The Ahtna Board of Directors established Ahtna Day as an opportunity for employees to celebrate the values and traditions of Ahtna culture and to reflect on the many things that make the Ahtna people and region special.

While Ahtna Day is not a traditional holiday created or celebrated by the Ahtna people themselves, it holds cultural significance and serves as an important time for reflection and appreciation.

As an organization that works alongside the Ahtna Tribes and communities, AITRC is honored to take this time to celebrate the knowledge, stewardship, and enduring connections to the lands and waters of Ahtna Territory that continue to guide our work.

Tsin’aen to the elders, culture bearers, leaders, youth, and community members who carry this knowledge forward.