Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Alaska
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Alaska Cooperators


Nate Cathcart, research technician with the Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, conducts a snorkel survey for juvenile Chinook salmon within a logjam along the Chena River, Alaska.

The Alaska Unit exists by cooperative agreement between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), and the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI). Unit scientists are USGS employees. Research funds are provided annually by the ADF&G, and through grants and contracts obtained by Unit scientists and cooperating faculty. Bureaus of the U.S. Department of Interior (USGS, FWS, and others) are primary sources of federal research funds for the Alaska Unit. The Unit is housed at UAF, which also provides base funds for operations and salary for Unit administrative personnel. WMI serves as a liaison among Unit cooperators nation-wide and as an independent voice for the Units on Capitol Hill.