The recent subpoena activated by the Anchorage Assembly regarding the Eklutna dam mitigation project demands our attention. This legal action requires the Anchorage municipal administration and the owners of the hydroelectric project on the Eklutna River to release a binding term agreement on the city’s water rights.
Moreover, an ordinance was put in place that will mandate that the proposed restoration plan for the Eklutna River bythe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be subject to Assembly approval before it is submitted to Alaska’sgovernor. This move highlights the necessity for transparency and accountability in decisions that impact the Eklutna River — an indispensable resource for fish and wildlife, the Eklutna Dena’ina people and the community of Anchorage. It is incredible to see the Assembly becoming more involved in such a critical resource, and this process must remain open and inclusive, allowing for public input and scrutiny. Our collective well-being depends on it.
— Aubrey Palmer
Anchorage
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