Tyonek Tribal Conservation District

As summer reaches its peak, TTCD is continuing to advance conservation, food sovereignty, and youth engagement. Our Habitat Monitoring and Restoration team is transitioning from a successful month-long “pike camp” in Beluga—where more than 1,300 invasive northern pike were removed from District waters—to salmon and water temperature monitoring efforts across the region. Pictured here is Naomi Jones, Farm and Field Technician, with a juvenile salmonid. We’re also celebrating the return of the Tyonek Farmers Market, hands-on science experiences for Tyonek youth, and strengthening Tribal Conservation District partnerships across Alaska.

June marked the start of TTCD’s “pike camp,” where our Habitat Monitoring and Restoration team spends the entire month in Beluga eradicating invasive pike that prey on juvenile salmonids. Pictured is Bella, a staff member of our partner, the Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission, examining a northern pike’s stomach contents. June also marked the beginning of the TTCD Youth Summer Internships, ongoing work to complete the yurt at the Tyonek Garden and a summer reading event for Tyonek youth. Plus, TTCD is hiring!

May felt like the true start to summer at TTCD: full of field work, community gatherings, and planting! This month, our Habitat, Monitoring, and Restoration team took their first trip to Beluga to prep for “pike camp”, we put up our two high tunnels at the Tyonek Garden, and we spent time with the Tebughna School students celebrating STEM learning, releasing the Salmon in the Classroom, and planting their indoor seedling at the Garden Blessing in Tyonek!