Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve , on the western coast of the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska , is part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System and is managed jointly by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game . Covering more than 370,000 acres (1,500 km), it is the largest reserve in the system, encompassing one of the most diverse and intensively used estuaries in Alaska. The local community pursued the designation of Kachemak Bay as a National Estuarine Research Reserve to preserve the lifestyle and economy of the region.
13-648: The boundary for Kachemak Bay NERR encompasses two state critical habitat areas or CHAs ( Kachemak Bay Critical Habitat Area and Fox River Flats Critical Habitat Area ), and two state parks ( Kachemak Bay State Park and Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park ). The State CHAs comprise 923 square kilometres (228,000 acres) within the Reserve boundary (Kachemak Bay = 926 square kilometres or 229,000 acres; Fox River Flats = 27 square kilometres or 6,700 acres), while those areas of Kachemak Bay State Park, Alaska’s first state park, and Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park, that fall within
26-516: A female householder with no husband present, and 31% were non-families. 25% of households were one person, and 5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.2. In the borough the population was spread out, with 30% under the age of 18, 7% from 18 to 24, 30% from 25 to 44, 26% from 45 to 64, and 7% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 109 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110 males. There
39-563: A protected area in Alaska is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a location in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Kachemak Bay State Park Kachemak Bay State Park and Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park is a 400,000-acre (1,600 km ) park in and around Kachemak Bay , Alaska , United States. Kachemak Bay State Park
52-424: A protected area in Alaska is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a location in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska Kenai Peninsula Borough is a borough of the U.S. state of Alaska . As of the 2020 census , the population was 58,799, up from 55,400 in 2010. The borough seat
65-502: Is Soldotna , the largest city is Kenai , and the most populated community is the census-designated place of Kalifornsky . The borough includes most of the Kenai Peninsula and a large area of the mainland of Alaska on the opposite side of Cook Inlet . The borough has a total area of 24,752 square miles (64,110 km ), of which 16,075 square miles (41,630 km ) is land and 8,677 square miles (22,470 km ) (3.4%)
78-457: Is a borough-wide government based in Soldotna, consisting of a strong mayor and an assembly of representatives from all areas of the borough. They collect sales and property taxes and provide services such as road maintenance, waste collection facilities, emergency services and major funding for public schools, along with mitigation of damage from spruce bark beetles that infested the borough in
91-649: Is water. Bear Lake , Tutka Bay, and the Trail Lakes , have been the site of salmon enhancement activities. All three sites are managed by the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association Some of the fish hatched at these facilities are released into the famous Homer fishing hole . Cook Inlet Keeper and the Cook Inlet Regional Citizen's Advisory Council are groups that attempt to influence public policy on
104-800: The Kachemak Bay watershed make up the remaining 554 square kilometres (137,000 acres). In 2011, Alaska withdrew from participation in the Coastal Zone Management Program and hence no longer qualifies for grants under the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, but the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve can still receive them. 59°37′N 151°20′W / 59.62°N 151.34°W / 59.62; -151.34 This article related to
117-451: The borough was 86% white, 7% Native American, 2% Hispanic or Latino (any race), and 4% from two or more races. Black or African Americans , Asians , and Pacific Islanders each were less than 1%. Just under 1% were from other races combined. 1.92% reported speaking Russian at home, while 1.74% spoke Spanish . Of the 18,400 households, 38% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55% were married couples living together, 9% had
130-471: The rugged conditions and unpredictable coastal weather, visitors are advised to be prepared for sudden wind, rain, or snowstorms at any time of year, especially at higher elevations, and to file a travel plan with rangers. The park is mostly wild land, although a few cabins and semideveloped campgrounds are seen. The park ranger station is located in Halibut Cove Lagoon . The Kachemak Bay area
143-400: The use of the area's resources. As of the census of 2020, there were 58,799 people. As of the census of 2000, there were 49,700 people, 18,400 households, and 12,700 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1 people/km (2.6 people/sq mi). There were 24,900 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km ). The racial makeup of
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#1732802151690156-517: Was infested with spruce bark beetles during the late 1990s, and thousands of acres have dead trees still standing within the park. At least one wildfire , the Mile 17 fire , burned areas of dead standing spruce on park land. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kachemak Bay State Park 59°31′58″N 151°12′36″W / 59.53278°N 151.21000°W / 59.53278; -151.21000 This article related to
169-757: Was the first legislatively designated state park in the Alaska State Parks system. Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park is the state's only legislatively designated wilderness park. No road accesses most areas of the park; visitors normally fly in or travel by boat from Homer . Kachemak Bay is considered a critical habitat area due to the biodiversity in the area. Wildlife within the park includes marine mammals such as sea otters , sea lions , and whales , large land mammals such as moose and black bears , and numerous sea and land birds. The terrain consists of both rocky and sandy beaches, dense mountain forests, and higher up, glaciers and icefields . Because of
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