Anchorage Waterways Council

Anchorage Waterways Council (AWC) has a series of programs to help protect and educate about our creeks.  Since 1984 we have organized and held an annual creek cleanup--similar to the city-wide cleanup but focused on waterways.  Thousands of volunteers have participated in the past 39 years.  We are also the only organization in the Municipality that regularly monitors the health of our waterways through our volunteer Citizen's Environmental Monitoring Program (CEMP).  Our data on most creeks dates back to 1999.  "Creeks as Classrooms" is one of our outreach programs that focuses on K-12 and university students.  Supported by ConocoPhillips, approximately 5000 students are exposed to creeks, water testing, macroinvertebrate collection and analysis, and more every year.  In 2012 AWC had over 75 volunteers assess 175 creek miles in Anchorage for a Creek Report Card that is available on our website.  We work to educate Anchorage citizens about nonpoint source pollutants, invasive species, and Best Management Practices (BMPS). Finally, AWC does its best to respond to issues with waterways especially those brought to our attention by citizens.

Anchorage Waterways Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit membership organization whose mission is to protect, restore, and enhance the waterways, wetlands, and associated uplands of Anchorage. Our members believe that healthy watersheds are a vital part of the high quality of life that we enjoy in Anchorage. We also believe that the beautiful creeks of Anchorage need a group specifically dedicated to advocating for their health and well being.

We work with a large and diverse group of partners including federal and state resource agencies, local government, the business community, and individual citizens to improve the watershed environment through planning, advocacy, education, and science.  Governing documents may be obtained by written request to the Executive Director, Cherie Northon at  cherie@anchoragecreeks.org or to our mailing address.