Ecological Baseline and Management Plan for the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

Abstract

Inspiration Ridge Preserve (IRP) is a 692-acre property in Homer, Alaska, home to a diverse array of wildlife and habitat. The IRP is currently owned and managed by Nina Faust and Ed Bailey, but management will be passed to the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering land stewardship, in the coming years. CACS plans to manage the preserve for environmental education and to protect native flora and fauna. Our goal was to establish a baseline ecological inventory of the preserve and create habitat maps to serve as references for future preserve management. We conducted field work at the IRP in May and August 2016 for a total of eight weeks. We collected vegetation data through field surveys and remote sensing techniques, conducted anadromous fish surveys on small tributaries, and employed camera traps to track and monitor wildlife presence on the property. GIS data and maps were compiled at U-M upon return. We created maps and accumulated baseline ecological data to support management recommendations for CACS. Our recommendations include a plan for long-term management and monitoring of the preserve using photo-monitoring points.