A Creek in Progress

Though Little Campbell Creek is small and unassuming, it provides vital rearing habitat for young salmon.

Hanging in the Balance

As Anchorage has grown, many urban portions of Little Campbell Creek have been ditched and straightened, damaging salmon habitat. Much of the creek's natural wetlands and vegetation have been replaced by buildings, parking lots, and roads. These impervious surfaces do not absorb rain and snowmelt; this impacts water quality by allowing stormwater to carry pet waste, sediment, and chemicals directly into the creek.

Side Benefits

Little Campbell Creek is Campbell Creek's largest tributary, amounting to about 26% of the entire watershed. It supplies many miles of rearing habitat for young Chinook (king) and coho (silver) salmon, which find refuge here until they are ready to swim out to sea. Adult kings and silvers later return to spawn in the Campbell Creek Watershed, providing recreational fishing within the city and extra nutrients to the watershed.

Little Campbell Creek Needs Our Help

Here is how you can help monitor and protect Little Campbell Creek:

• Clean up litter along the creek and be careful not to leave any of your own.
• Scoop the Poop—keep creeks clean by picking up pet waste along the creek and in your own yard.
• Plant native vegetation and do not mow or trim plants along the edges of creeks. Vegetation provides cover for salmon and protects against high water temperatures, erosion, and pollutants carried by stormwater runoff.
• Learn more about the Little Campbell Creek Watershed Plan at www.littlecampbellcreek.com or call Watershed Management Services at 343-8058.
• Install a rain garden in your yard to slow down and filter runoff water. Find out more about the Municipality's rain garden program at www.anchorageraingardens.com.
• Become a volunteer Waterway Watcher with the Anchorage Waterways Council at www.anchoragecreeks.org.
• Report inappropriate activities near our creeks to the Code Enforcement Hotline at 343-4141, or file a creek concern online at service.muni.org/cs.