Juneau, AK – The Southeast Alaska Land Trust (SEALT) announced the recent acquisition and conservation of 37+ acres of wetlands and forested uplands in the Lemon Creek Valley, in Juneau. It is located within the lands traditionally owned, used, and named by the Tlingit Áak’w Kwáan.
The Vanderbilt Creek conservation property was historically part of a 100+ acre homestead in Lemon Creek Valley, which was gradually divided into smaller parcels. SEALT purchased two of these parcels on February 10, 2021, using funds received through a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers program designed to mitigate wetland loss.
The west parcel of the Vanderbilt Creek property is just north and across the road from Western Auto Marine. It is bordered by Glacier Highway to the west and private property to the east. The east parcel sits between private property, and both a City and Borough of Juneau Rural Reserve parcel and the Tongass National Forest. Vanderbilt Creek, where the property gets its name, meanders through both parcels. An historic portion of the popular Lemon Creek Trail borders the southern portion of both parcels and crosses through the east parcel, before continuing up the valley.
“Preserving prime wetland habitat that is ideal for juvenile salmon and other wildlife does more than just maintain recreational opportunities,” stated Jay Nelson, President of the Board of Directors, “it preserves a way of life passed down for generations by residents of this region.”
Set in a rapidly developing commercial and industrial area, Vanderbilt Creek is listed as an impaired waterbody by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, due to water quality concerns. Rainwater from nearby roads and parking lots can wash motor oil, gasoline, trash, and other pollutants into the stream, harming fish and other wildlife that depend on the creek for food and shelter. As the Vanderbilt Creek property features some of the last undeveloped wetlands in the Lemon Creek Valley, conservation of this parcel helps maintain a buffer around the stream, and shields Vanderbilt Creek from additional pollution.
Despite Vanderbilt Creek’s listing as an impaired waterbody, it is valuable as salmon habitat. Thanks to springs that upwell above the creek, clean, cool, and oxygenated water pools in the area, providing habitat for rearing salmon, including Coho, which have a limited number of rearing areas in Southeast Alaska.
“Streams that empty into the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge provide important rearing habitat for juvenile Coho who move in and out of those wetlands and tributaries throughout the year for feeding and growth,” stated Neil Stichert, Board member for the Southeast Alaska Land Trust. “In turn, these ‘urban’ Coho contribute to multiple fisheries when they return. In 2003, ADF&G estimated 348 Coho from nearby Jordan Creek were caught by commercial and sport users that year. Cumulatively, these urban creeks are valuable from an ecological and economic perspective.”
After meandering through both parcels of the Vanderbilt Creek property, Vanderbilt Creek drains into the Mendenhall Wetlands, a mere ¼ mile away. According to the National Audubon Society, the Mendenhall Wetlands are widely acknowledged to be one of the key migratory waterfowl and shorebird stopover locations of coastal Alaska. The Vanderbilt Creek property’s wetlands were once directly connected to the Mendenhall Wetlands, and the Vanderbilt Creek conservation property’s proximity to them helps preserve this historic link.
“We are thrilled to have conserved the Vanderbilt Creek property, which is a hidden gem in Lemon Creek Valley,” stated Krista Garrett, Interim Executive Director at SEALT. “It is wonderful that this property will now be a permanent refuge for salmon and other wildlife, as well as a beautiful spot for people to explore and enjoy.”
Vanderbilt Creek will be owned and managed by SEALT as open space for public use and enjoyment. The Vanderbilt Creek wetlands are free and open year-round to the public for passive recreation, including hiking, birding, and exploring.
The Southeast Alaska Land Trust has been working to conserve land and important habitat in southeast Alaska since 1995. The organization works to preserve the natural resources of the region and to facilitate public recreational and educational opportunities. The Southeast Alaska Land Trust conserves more than 3,600 acres of land in Southeast Alaska.
Read more about the Vanderbilt Creek conservation property and see a map at this link.