Eklutna Inc. and Great Land Trust to Conserve 4800 acres of Habitat ...

For Immediate Release Contacts: Curtis McQueen, Eklutna Inc.: 696-2828
Oct 26, 2011 and Phil Shephard, Great Land Trust: 903-7818
Eklutna Inc. and Great Land Trust to Conserve 4800 acres of
Habitat for Salmon, Wildlife and the Public
Eklutna Inc. to receive $1.95 million for conservation easement at the
confluence of the Knik and Matanuska Rivers
Anchorage—Eklutna Inc. CEO Curtis McQueen and Great Land Trust Executive Director Phil
Shephard announced today that Eklutna Inc., the Native Corporation for Anchorage, will
conserve nearly 4800 acres at the mouth of the Knik and Matanuska Rivers with a conservation
easement. The land will remain under the ownership of Eklutna Inc. and traditional uses such as
hunting and fishing by Shareholders and public access through permits will continue. The
property contains excellent habitat for all five species of salmon in Cook Inlet as well as many
other wildlife species. In addition, the property is adjacent to the Palmer Hay Flats State Game
Refuge and Chugach State Park, two of Alaska’s most popular recreational areas. Scenic views
of the property are well known by travelers crossing the Knik River Bridge on the Glenn
Highway.
Great Land Trust has been working to conserve wetlands and other important habitats in
southcentral Alaska since 1995. Eklutna, Inc is the largest private landowner in the region and
both organizations anticipate more conservation projects in the future. Eklutna, Inc. will be paid
$1.95 million for the conservation easement. The project was made possible through a
collaborative effort with the Mat-Su Salmon Partnership, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Army
Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries, AK Dept of Fish and Game and CIRI. Funding for this
conservation easement was made possible through resources set aside to offset habitat losses
associated with the expansion of the Port of Anchorage.
Curtis McQueen praised the project and said that “Eklutna Inc. has been working hard over the
last several years to make more of its lands available for development so the growing community
of Anchorage could continue to prosper. We have master planned strategic sections of our lands
to meet the need for more residential, commercial and industrial development. At the same time,

we are honored to work the Great Land Trust to protect key habitat for our shareholders and the
community. We anticipate doing more transactions of this kind in the future”.
Phil Shephard applauded the deal, stating “working together with the staff and board at Eklutna
Inc. to permanently conserve 4800 acres for the citizens of southcentral Alaska has been
enriching and incredibly rewarding—we look forward to the next project very soon!”
The Press is invited to a signing ceremony which will be held on Nov 4 th at 3pm at the Eklutna
Native Corporation office to commemorate this event. Their office is located at 16515
Centerfield Drive, Suite 201, Eagle River, Alaska 99577.

Photos: Property conserved is just upstream of the Knik River Bridge on the Glenn Highway and
contains numerous islands and wetlands with excellent fish and wildlife habitat. Photos by GLT.