After years of researching many alternatives, the utility companies released their Draft Fish and Wildlife Program in October 2023. The Draft Plan proposes taking water from the lake via an Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility (AWWU) pipe and releasing it a mile downstream, with flows of 40cfs in the summer and 27cfs in the winter. This is a mere 3% of historic flows. This plan would cost ratepayers $57 million.  

The Draft Plan would leave a mile of the river completely dry, release only a trickle of water down the remaining river, and not provide fish passage between the lake and the river. Fish would still be blocked from accessing the majority of available habitat within the Eklutna River watershed, including the lake and its upstream tributaries. This plan does not meet the vision outlined by the Native Village of Eklutna or the goals of fish passage and adequate flows outlined by the federal agencies involved. 

The public was given the opportunity to comment on the Draft Plan in January and February of 2024. 874 Alaskans commented, and four out of five of them do not support the Draft Plan. 

80% of commenters want to see adequate flows returned to the entire length of the river and the river connected to the lake to provide fish passage. Furthermore, 53% called for the dam to be fully removed. Only 20% of Alaskans support the Draft Plan.  

Most Alaskans want to see the Eklutna River restored to the thriving salmon stream it was a century ago. The utilities are now considering public comments and revising their Draft Plan. They intend to send their Final Fish and Wildlife Program to the governor at the end of April 2024. We hope they listen and create a better plan that aligns with what Alaskans want for their river.