Planning Commission approves Deshka River watershed land classification

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Commission approved May 18 a resolution recommending that borough-owned land along the Deshka River be classified as watershed to protect cold-water salmon habitat.

The commission voted without objection to forward Resolution 26-08 to the Assembly. The classification would add watershed designation to borough parcels where thermal imaging studies identified cold groundwater entering the river.

Emerson Krueger, the borough's resource manager, said the cold-water inputs are essential for salmon habitat. The classification would cover parcels where scientists identified cold-water discharge points along the river.

Jessica Speed, coordinator of the Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership, testified that the Deshka River hosts one of the most productive fisheries in the Mat-Su Basin and is among the warmest salmon systems in the basin. Water temperatures regularly exceed thresholds harmful to juvenile and adult salmon, she said.

Scientists flew thermal imaging flights over 32 miles of the river and identified locations where cold groundwater creates refuges that allow salmon to traverse warm stretches.

Speed said deep pools and cold groundwater seeps provide essential cold water stepping stones that help salmon traverse areas of warm water. Identifying and finding ways to retain these cold water stepping stones that allow salmon to migrate and survive will be key as overall river temperatures rise, she said.

Public testimony raised concerns about potential future restrictions on cabin access and motorized use. Esther Huddleston questioned why the borough would reclassify land before completing a borough-wide watershed initiative and cited borough code provisions that allow the borough manager to restrict uses on classified land.

Huddleston asked who would ensure the land reclassification would not negatively impact people who rely on snowmobiles or inboard jet boats to reach their remote cabins.

Krueger said the classification would not affect current public access to the river, trails, or overland travel. The classification serves as a planning tool for borough land managers reviewing future permit applications, he said.

Krueger told commissioners the classification would inform decisions about future uses such as timber sales or gravel extraction. Land managers would use the classification to tailor activities to avoid sensitive cold-water areas, he said.

Sue Mauger, who helped collect the thermal data, said the classification is meant to preserve scientific findings for future decision-makers rather than impose immediate restrictions.

Mauger said the classification serves as a heads up that the data exists and that the information about the river exists. The goal is to be kind to future decision-makers as they make decisions, she said.