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Soldotna

Soldotna, located just 140 miles via scenic, paved highway from Anchorage, is the central hub of the Kenai Peninsula. Bordering the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and other nearby state park lands, Soldotna is rich in wildlife, home to moose, caribou, brown and black bear, wolves, Dall sheep, mountain goats, eagles, swans, ducks, geese, birds, fish, and numerous others. Moose often wander right into town, and bald eagles are commonly seen.

This volunteer project will be broken up into two parts, the Restoration Project and the Water Monitoring Project, and volunteers participate in both aspects.

The Restoration Project:

Volunteers will be working with a team to restore a productive salmon spawning and rearing stream that was damaged by a combination of too-small a culvert and an unusual flooding event. Volunteers will learn surveying techniques, river dynamics and how small disturbances can lead to large problems over time. This goal of this hands-on project is to restore more than 10 miles of salmon habitat; due to the damage this creek has suffered, juvenile fish cannot access ideal habitat provided in the upper reaches of this stream. Work will involve heavy construction and replanting local vegetation and is expected to last for 4-6 weeks.

The Water Monitoring Project:

Volunteers will be working on the Kenai River, one of the world�s most famous sport fishing rivers, where they will be working on a variety of tasks including: water sampling, working with electronic instruments, counting the number and type of motor boats, etc. In the past, data that has been collected indicates that there may be a concern with the amount of fuel entering the river during periods of peak recreational activity. Therefore, the goal of this project is to better understand this preliminary observation by collecting samples and testing a number of possible cause and effect relations in order to ensure a healthy future for the river. This project is expected to last for 4-6 weeks.

.: Project Duration

The minimum time commitment for this project is 10 weeks. 3 months is preferred. If one is so inclined, it is possible to stay up to 6 months.

Starting dates are anywhere from May 15th to July 1st each year, but preferably the volunteer will work from the start of June until the end of August.

Number of Volunteer Positions: 2

.: Accommodation

Accommodation for volunteers will be in a homestay with a local family. Volunteers will have access to a vehicle if they have a valid Driver�s License.

.: Volunteer Requirements

must be at least 18 years of age
physically fit enough to do a significant amount of hiking
be comfortable working in bear country
possess a positive attitude
have completed some higher education courses, preferably in the fields of hydrology, biology, geology and the like
be able to work independently
preferred: a knowledge of Microsoft Office and ArcView or ArcInfo software

.: Project Cost

For 1 months: $1,500.00 USD
For 3 months: $3,000.00 USD total (at $1,000.00 USD per month).

Cost includes all accommodation and food for the duration of the program as well as airport pickup upon arrival, the first night�s stay in Anchorage, transport to the program, and transportation to and from volunteer projects.