Who are we?
The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Community Council are volunteers and agency representatives who bring a community voice to discussions in support of the KBNERR research and education programs.
New Council Member Recruitment

April 22, 2022
Hello Community Members,
The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is seeking interested people to fill 1 alternate member vacancy on the Community Council for the Reserve starting in September 2022. The Research Reserve is a non-regulatory, federal-state-community partnership that focuses on environmental research and education programs for the benefit of the greater Kachemak Bay community and the Reserve system. The Research Reserve is managed by the Alaska Center for Conservation Science (ACCS) at University of Alaska Anchorage in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency that administers the National Estuarine Research Reserve system. The primary purpose of the Council is to support the Reserve’s research, education and training programs by providing an organized structure for dialogue and recommendations between Reserve staff and people in the community interested in natural science research and education.
The Council consists of nine voting members and three alternates who embody a broad base of interests including: education, research, various communities around and outside of the Bay, commercial and sport fishing, recreation and tourism, local businesses, conservation groups, Native Alaskans, oil spill management and response, industry/business, subsistence/personal use, local governments, and citizens at large. Members will be sought who encompass more than one perspective and/or interest. Council members will be appointed by the Director of ACCS from nominees and chosen by the council selection committee and approved by the council. In addition to the voting members, non-voting representatives from pertinent state and federal agencies sit on the Council.
The Charter that creates the framework for the Council is included with this package. The Council meets at the Reserve headquarters in Homer on a quarterly basis and provides recommendations regarding the Reserve’s Research and Education programs. Applications for new members are due by May 9th, 2022 and the next meeting is Friday June 3rd, 2022.
If you are interested in being on the Council, please submit the attached application, references and resume no later than May 9th, 2022. If you have any questions, please call (907) 235-4799 or email bjpeters@alaska.edu. Your interest will be rewarded by the opportunity to help shape the direction of research, education and stewardship in Kachemak Bay – we encourage you to apply!
Sincerely,
Ben Peters
Community Council Liaison
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
2181 Kachemak Drive Homer AK 99603
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Virtual Community Council Meeting
Attendees: Council Members and Alternates, KBNERR Staff, and invitees.
Meeting Preparation: June 2020 Quarterly Report, June 2020 Community Council Agenda, and March 2020 Community Council Meeting Minutes.
Please join the meeting 15 minutes early if you have questions or concerns regarding the videoconferencing platform.
Join Zoom meeting:
https://alaska.zoom.us/j/96777478975?pwd=WUl4a3BPMzZ5ZVlnMW9zN3lvNXF6QT09
Password: 382246 Toll Free Dial-in Number: (669)-900-6833 Meeting ID: 967 7747 8975
12:00 – 12:10 |
Welcome, Virtual Meeting Protocols, and Tech CheckVirtual Meeting Facilitator | Syverine Bentz |
12:10 – 12:30 |
KBNERR Administrative Q&A and UpdateKBNERR Manager | Coowe Walker |
12:30 – 1:00 |
Introductions and Summer Student ProjectsKBNERR Manager | Coowe Walker KBNERR Students KBNERR Agency Reps |
1:00 – 1:05 |
Open Public Comments |
1:05 – 1:30 |
Research Subcommittee: Q&A and UpdatesResearch and Monitoring Staff, Update on Research Partnerships Facilitator | Rosie Masui |
1:30-1:55 |
Education Subcommittee: Q&A and UpdatesTraining and Education Staff, Update on Education Partnerships Facilitator | Syverine Bentz |
1:55 – 2:00 |
Closing remarks, Meeting Adjourns |
KBNERR Community Council Meeting: Wednesday March 4, 2020
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Community Council Meeting
Attendees: Council Members & Alternates, KBNERR Staff, and Public
Meeting Preparation: Read the March 2020 Quarterly Report, March 2020 Community Council Agenda, and December 2019 Community Council Meeting Minutes.
12:00 – 12:05 |
Welcome and IntroductionsCouncil Chair | George Matz
Council Members |
12:05 – 12:50 |
Presentations |
12:05 – 12:20 |
What can our water quality monitoring tell us about winter conditions past and present?KBNERR Staff | Steve Baird, Research Coordinator Council Agency Member | Kris Holderied, Kasitsna Bay Lab Director
KBNERR Manager | Coowe Walker (and Kris Holderied?) |
12:20 – 12:35 |
Salmon Education: New ideas for KBNERR to work with area schoolsCouncil Member | Jane Middleton Guest | Sheryl Sotelo
|
12:35 – 12:50 |
Kenai River Center: Education Programs and UpdatesCouncil Agency Member | Lucas Byker, Kenai River Center Manager
Fiscal and Administrative UpdateKBNERR Manager | Coowe Walker |
12:50 – 1:00 |
KBNERR Fiscal and Administrative UpdateKBNERR Staff | Coowe Walker, Manager
Fiscal and Administrative UpdateKBNERR Manager | Coowe Walker |
1:00 – 1:10 |
Break and Screening of ‘The Heartbeat’
|
1:10 – 1:50 |
Council Business and Discussion
Reflections on Presentations Feedback on KBNERR Programs Review Council Meeting Structure and Dates Council Subcommittee Roles Other Council business
|
1:50 – 2:00 |
Open Public Comments |
2:00 – 2:10 |
Closing remarks, Meeting Adjourns |
2:10 – 3:00 |
Council Committee meetingsResearch Committee Chair | Donna Aderhold Education Committee Chair | Paul Allen Legislative Committee Chair | George Matz
|
KBNERR Community Council Meeting: Wednesday December 4, 2019
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Community Council Meeting
Attendees: Council Members & Alternates, KBNERR Staff, and Public
Meeting Preparation: Read the December 2019 Quarterly Report, December Community Council Agenda and September 2019 Community Council Meeting Minutes.
12:00 – 12:10 |
Welcome, Introductions, and Approval of Previous Meeting MinutesCouncil Chair | George Matz |
12:10 – 12:50 |
Groundwater PresentationsHomer Middle School 8th Grade Class |
12:50 – 1:00 |
Fiscal and Administrative UpdatesKBNERR Manager| Coowe Walker |
1:00 – 1:20 |
Program UpdatesKBNERR Staff |
1:20 – 1:30 |
Council CommunicationsCouncil Chair | George Matz |
1:30 – 1:40
|
Council Subcommittee UpdatesCouncil Subcommittee Chairs | Paul Allan & Donna Aderhold |
1:40 – 1:50 |
Break |
1:50 – 2:05 Ongoing and Future Partnerships
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Area Manager | Mike Booz
2:05 – 2:20 KPC Kachemak Bay Campus Presentation
Kachemak Bay Campus Director | Reid Brewer
Professor of Biology | Debbie Tobin
2:20 – 2:50 Salmon Fellowship Presentations
2019 Salmon Fellows | Donna Aderhold, Catie Bursch, and Marcus Mueller
2:50 – 3:00 Open Comments for Council & Public
Closing remarks, Meeting Adjourns
New Community Council Member Recruitment
We are looking for a few great men and women! The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is seeking interested people to fill 3 vacancies on the Community Council for the Reserve starting in January 2020 as well as 1 person to serve as an alternate who will substitute, at quarterly meetings, for council members who are absent. The primary purpose of the Council is to support the Reserve’s research, education and training programs by providing an organized structure for dialogue and recommendations between Reserve staff and people in the community interested in natural science research and education.
The Council consists of nine voting members who embody a broad base of interests including: education, research, various communities around and outside of the Bay, commercial and sport fishing, recreation and tourism, local businesses, conservation groups, Native Alaskans, oil spill management and response, industry/business, subsistence/personal use, local governments, and citizens at large. Members will be sought who encompass more than one perspective and/or interest.
The Charter that creates the framework for the Council is included with this package. The Council meets at the Reserve headquarters in Homer on a quarterly basis. Applications for new members are due by December 4th, 2019.
If you are interested in being on the Council, please submit the attached Council Application, references and resume no later than December 4th, 2019. If you have any questions, please call (907) 235-1597 or email ajrademacher@alaska.edu. Your interest will be rewarded by the opportunity to help shape the direction of research, education and stewardship in Kachemak Bay – we encourage you to apply!
KBNERR Community Council Meeting: Wednesday September 4, 2019
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Community Council Meeting
Attendees: Council Members & Alternates, KBNERR Staff, and Public
Meeting Preparation: Read September 2019 KBNERR Quarterly Report, September Community Council Agenda and June 2019 Community Council Meeting Minutes
12:00 – 12:10 |
Welcome, Introductions, and Approval of Previous Meeting MinutesCouncil Chair | George Matz |
12:10 – 12:30 |
Fiscal and Administrative UpdateKBNERR Manager | Coowe Walker ACCS Director | Matt Carlson |
12:30 – 1:10 |
KBNERR Program UpdatesKBNERR Staff| Monitoring, Research, Education, and Training |
1:10 – 1:20 |
Council Subcommittee UpdatesEducation, Research, and Legislative Subcommittee Chairs| Paul Allan, Donna Aderhold, and George Matz |
1:20 – 1:30 |
Council CommunicationsCouncil Chair | George Matz |
1:30 – 1:40
|
Break |
1:40 – 2:10 |
Environmental Monitoring – Summer in ReviewKBNERR Research Coordinator | Steve Baird KBNERR Research Coordinator | Steve Baird |
2:10 – 2:50 KBNERR Empowered Stewardship
KBNERR CTP Coordinator | Syverine Bentz
KBNERR Manager | Coowe Walker
KBNERR Harmful Species Program Coordinator | Rosie Masui
2:50 – 3:00 Open Comments for Council & Public
Closing remarks, Meeting Adjourns
Above: F/V Orion fishing off of Kodiak Island, Photo by Grace Allan
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Community Council Meeting
Attendees: Council Members & Alternates, KBNERR Staff, He’eia National Estuarine Research Reserve Staff, and Public
Meeting Preparation: Read June 2019 KBNERR Quarterly Report, June Community Council Agenda and March 2019 Community Council Meeting Minutes
12:00 – 12:45 |
Networking LunchAll Participants |
12:45 – 1:00 |
Welcome, Introductions, and Approval of Previous Meeting MinutesCouncil Chair | George Matz |
1:00 – 1:25 |
Council and Subcommittee Advisory PresentationCouncil Chair | George Matz Council Subcommittee Chairs | Paul Allan & Donna Aderhold |
1:25 – 1:45 |
KBNERR Initiative UpdatesKBNERR Staff| Monitoring, Research, Education, and Training |
1:45 – 2:00 |
Break |
2:00 – 2:20 |
He’eia National Estuarine Research Reserve PresentationHeNERR Staff |
2:20 – 2:50
|
He’eia and Kachemak Bay SynergiesNERR Managers | NOAA OCM Staff |
2:50 – 3:00 |
Open Comments for Council & PublicClosing remarks, Meeting Adjourns |
KBNERR Community Council Meeting: Friday March 8, 2019
Above: Jacob Argueta, KBNERR Research Technician, working with ADF&G partners on Razor Clam survey collaborations.
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Community Council Meeting
Attendees: Council Members & Alternates, Staff, and Public
Meeting Preparation: Read KBNERR March 2019 Quarterly Report , March Community Council Agenda , and December 2018 Community Council Minutes
12:00 – 12:10 |
Welcome, Introductions, and Approval of Previous Meeting MinutesCouncil Chair | George Matz |
12:10 – 12:45 |
Fiscal and Administrative Update: Reserve BudgetKBNERR Manager | Coowe Walker |
12:45 – 1:15 |
Program Updates: Monitoring, Research, Eduction, and TrainingKBNERR Staff |
1:15 – 1:30 |
Break |
1:30 – 1:45 |
Council Subcommittee Updates: Priority IssuesGeorge Matz | Paul Allan | Donna Aderhold |
1:45 – 2:45 |
Management Plan renewal PresentationKBNERR Staff and Management Plan Contractor | HSWCD |
2:45 – 2:55 |
Open Comments for Council & Public |
2:55 – 3:00 |
Closing remarks, Meeting Adjourns |
KBNERR Community Council Meeting: Wednesday December 5, 2018

COASST crew at Outside Beach including Seldovia Village Tribe Partners
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Community Council Meeting
Attendees: Council Members & Alternates, Staff, Public
Meeting Preparation: Read KBNERR December 2018 Quarterly Report and KBNERR September 2018 Council Meeting Minutes
12:00 – 12:10 |
Welcome and Approval of Previous Meeting MinutesCouncil Chair | George Matz |
12:10 – 12:30 |
Quarterly UpdatesCoowe, Syverine, Rosie, Steve, Jess |
12:30 – 1:00 |
Groundwater and Salmon 8th grade Project PresentationHomer Middle School| Jen Booz’s Class KBNERR Education and Watershed Programs | Dana Nelson, Jess Shepherd, Coowe Walker, Jacob Argueta, Chris Guo |
1:00 – 1:15 |
Break |
1:15 – 2:20 |
Connecting Science and Student SuccessPresentations |
2:20 – 2:35 |
KBNERR 312 Performance Review ReportManager| Coowe Walker |
2:35 – 2:45 |
Council Updates: NERR Meeting ReportCouncil Chair | George Matz |
2:45 – 3:00 |
Open Comments, Closing remarks, Meeting Adjourns |
KBNERR Community Council Meeting: Wednesday September 19, 2018
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Community Council Meeting
Attendees: Council Members & Alternates, Staff, Public, NOAA Office for Coastal Management Evaluation Team
Meeting Preparation: Read KBNERR September 2018 Quarterly Report and June 2018 Meeting Minutes
12:00 – 12:05 |
Welcome and Approval of Previous Meeting MinutesCouncil Chair | George Matz |
12:05 – 12:15 |
IntroductionsCouncil Members, Staff and Guests |
12:15 – 12:30 |
NOAA Evaluation PresentationNOAA Office for Coastal Management | Jean Tanimoto KBNERR Staff | Syverine Bentz |
12:30 – 12:45 |
Partnerships, Science Communications, and Support:Focal Area PresentationsKBNERR and ACCS Staff | Coowe Walker, Jessica Shepherd, Matt Carlson |
12:45 – 1:00 |
Break, and transition to Focus GroupsSeminar and Lab Classroom |
1:00 – 2:00 |
Focus groups on KBNERR Strengths Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats20 Minute Rotations |
2:15 – 2:45 |
Recap of Evaluation and Instructions for providing additional feedbackNOAA Office for Coastal Management | Jean Tanimoto |
2:45 – 3:00 |
Closing Remarks and Adjournment
Open Comments for Council & Public |