Saltmarshes

Tidal marshes protect people and property against storm surges and flooding, improve water quality, create habitat for important fish and wildlife, and offer many opportunities for outdoor recreation. In 2010, the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve joined a national study to evaluate the ability of these important habitats to thrive as sea levels change. That led to four long-term saltmarsh stations in Kachemak Bay, each monitoring emergent vegetation, marsh surface elevation, water elevation, and soil temperature. 

Saltmarshes also support wildlife. In 2022, the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve joined 29 other sites in the National Estuarine Research System to conduct the first-ever North American inventory of coastal wetland wildlife. Using 140 cameras in 30 estuaries, the team captured thousands of images that collectively reveal the secret lives of estuary critters—from Alaska’s bears to Florida’s armadillos. This archive provides a unique foundation for addressing important wildlife science and management questions on our changing coasts.

Peatlands

The Kachemak Bay Research Reserve is leading a community-driven effort to monitor and protect the region’s vital peatlands, which support fish, wildlife, and carbon storage. By developing a long-term monitoring protocol with input from local organizations and scientists, the initiative ensures both scientific rigor and practical accessibility. Data on hydrology, vegetation, and carbon levels will aid conservation decisions, support research on beaver dam analogs, and contribute to carbon mapping efforts. This collaborative approach strengthens community awareness and helps safeguard Alaska’s peatlands for the future.

Staff from the Reserve and the Alaska Center for Conservation Science, UAA worked with community partners and collaborative researchers to publish a Tiered Manual for Peatland Monitoring in Alaska’s Kenai Lowlands (Johnson et.al. 2025) to improve our understanding of how peatlands are changing over time, and an accompanying user guide for the Li-COR LI-7810 (CH4, CO2, H2O) portable gas analyzer, titled Measuring Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Alaska Wetlands (Flagstad et.al. 2024).

Invasives

Invasive, or nonnative, species can cause great economic and environmental harm. Once established, they are extremely difficult or impossible to remove. The Kachemak Bay Research Reserve’s invasive species monitoring program is designed to determine which species are most likely to come to our area and where they are likely to settle. Our goal is to provide information to support early detection and increase the odds of eradication.

Invasive Tunicates: Invasive tunicates are marine fouling organisms that can grow on underwater infrastructure and are spread through bio-fouling. Due to their ability to reproduce asexually, invasive tunicates can spread thickly over rocks, reef, and shellfish habitats, smothering organisms underneath thick mats or covering boat hulls and fishing gear. We partner with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Plate Watch program to monitor for invasive tunicates in Kachemak Bay. We also have survey beaches at low tide, and heavily encrusted boats or marine infrastructure whenever possible.

Invasive European green crabs: This aggressive invader has been working its way up the West Coast, and unfortunately was spotted in the Metlakatla in southeast Alaska in 2022. These voracious predators are known to disrupt habitats amd pose a serious threat to native crabs, shellfish, and salmon. In addition to monitoring for green crabs, we partner to improve community ability to respond when they are spotted.

You can help us keep these invaders at bay—here’s how. Check out the recently published standardized monitoring protocols for early detection of invasive European green crab.

All crabs must molt to grow, and the molted exoskeletons (carapaces) are often deposited by the tide onto the beaches with seaweed and other beach wrack and debris. EGC molt detections have informed invasion expansion. ADF&G has a blanket permit for molt walk surveys, which can be found by clicking here. Molt walk surveys can be conducted on any beach or shoreline and the molts you find can be submitted using an online Survey 123 form. The Survey 123 app for EGC Beach walk molt surveys is available for anyone to upload their survey data on their smartphone, tablet or online. You can upload the app from the app store for ease of use. If using a smartphone or tablet, you can enter data and photographs directly into the datasheet while offline, then when you get back to connectivity, you can upload it. The app is very user friendly. You can access the Survey 123 app here.

The Reserve, as part of the Alaska Center for Conservation Science, hosts and maintains the Alaska Aquatic Invasive Species Clearinghouse (AKAqua) to track detection of both marine and freshwater invasive species populations statewide. 

Phytoplankton Monitoring

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) produce toxins that cause severe health effects and sometimes death for people, marine mammals, and birds. In 2015, Kachemak Bay experienced its first harmful algal bloom (HAB) in ten years. In response, the Reserve brought community partners together to improve local monitoring of HABs and protect public health.

Press Release July 22, 2025, Potential Harmful Algal Bloom Event

Press Release July 25, 2025, Initial blue mussel test results do not detect HAB toxins in Kachemak Bay

Today, HABs Community Monitoring Program keeps tabs on toxic phytoplankton levels at 31 sites in Kachemak Bay, Lower Cook Inlet, the greater Resurrection Bay area, and Prince William Sound. This volunteer-supported program generates data and reports that support state managers, private and public organizations, oyster farmers, local harvesters, and tribal organizations. Learn how you can help. Sign up for phytoplankton weekly reports here.