Summary

Research Reserve staff shared highlights of recent research, monitoring, education and training programs, and discussed new projects in 2026.

Presenter shares slide on science education with kids.

Photo: KBNERR Education Coordinator, Ingrid Harrald, shares information on engaging K-12 students with the Reserve’s long-term phytoplankton monitoring program.

On Thursday, April 2nd, community members joined Research Reserve staff for a brown bag lunch presentation and discussion. Thank you to Kachemak Bay Campus for hosting. It was great fun to share what we’ve been up to in all of our programs: research, monitoring, education, coastal training and engagement, stewardship, and graduate research through the Margaret A. Davidson Fellowship. 

Agenda topics included:

Watershed Ecology: research and education teams working on groundwater contributions to local water reserves, beaver dam analogs, hydrology effects for fish habitat, and peatland carbon initiatives

Long-term Water Quality Monitoring:  annual summaries from Homer and Seldovia in regards to water quality parameters and overview of the ongoing community monitoring phytoplankton program

Invasive Species: Southcentral Alaska Invasive Species Hotspot project, and KBNERR efforts looking at marine invasive species in Kachemak Bay

Photos below: KBNERR staff and graduate students present on their work.

Presenter shows peatland monitoring methods on slide
Presenter shows a slide on cross-section of groundwater flow
Presenter shows map of Alaska's coastline
Presenter shows invasive freshwater mussel infestation on slide