Timeline
1976: Formation
Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association organized and incorporated.
1977: The 2% Tax
Cook Inlet fishermen vote for a 2% “mandatory assessment fund” to CIAA, later replaced by the Salmon Enhancement Tax.
1978: First Field Project
CIAA builds stream improvement at Bishop Creek and begins annual beaver dam surveys.
1981: Salmon Enhancement Tax
Two percent tax replaces earlier assessment in Cook Inlet.
1982: Salmon Enhancement Plan
ADF&G approves “Cook Inlet Regional Salmon Enhancement Plan 1981–2000.”
1983: Eklutna Salmon Hatchery
Construction complete.
1983: CIAA Headquarters
Construction complete.
1985: Marten Lake
Flow control structure built.
1986: Daniels Lake
Flow control structure built.
1988: Trail Lakes Added
CIAA takes over operation of state-owned hatchery.
1988: Otolith Marking
Release begins of thermally-marked fish.
1989: First Egg Takes
Collections begin to reintroduce sockeye salmon to Bear Lake near Seward.
1990: First Cost Recovery
Harvest begins at Packers Lake on Kalgin Island.
1991: Tutka Bay Lagoon Added
CIAA takes over operation of state-owned hatchery.
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1991: Paint River Fish Ladder
Construction complete. Further operation delayed due to CIAA having to transfer resources to the hatcheries it began to operate.
1991: Hidden Lake Runs
Abundant returns prompted the opening of an extraordinarily popular personal use dipnet fishery, which harvested over 72,000 sockeye salmon.
1993: Crooked Creek Added
CIAA under contract to staff and operate this state-owned hatchery.
1995: Resurrection Bay Sockeye Harvest Established
Commercial fishermen conduct the first notable harvest near Seward Resurrection Bay as a result of CIAA’s project at Bear Lake.
1997: Crooked Creek Closes
CIAA transfers programs to its hatcheries at Eklutna and Trail Lakes.
1998: Eklutna Hatchery Closes
Hatchery is still occasionally used as a reserve facility.
2004: Tustumena Lake Program Ends
The long standing sockeye program is terminated, and CIAA releases 6 million fry to Bear Lake for the last time.
2004: Tutka Bay Lagoon Pink Salmon Program Is Suspended
CIAA suspends activities due to low prices and continues to keep limited staff on to maintain the facility and assist with the juvenile sockeye transferred to the Tutka Bay Lagoon net pen complex from Trail Lakes Hatchery.
2006: Susitna Sockeye Rearing
CIAA and ADF&G study freshwater rearing habitat for sockeye salmon in the Susitna drainage. This eventually leads to invasive pike work by CIAA as well as setting scientifically defensible salmon escapement goals for this system.
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2004: Big Lake Habitat Improvements
CIAA installs a roughened channel.
2007: Salmon Enhancement Plan
ADF&G approves the “Cook Inlet Regional Salmon Enhancement Plan 2006–2025.”
2011: Paint River Fish Ladder
Fish ladder opens for the first time.
2011: Tutka Bay Lagoon
Pink salmon operations resume.
2012: Shell Lake Program
CIAA begins rehabilitation of natural salmon production.
2013: Elodea Project
CIAA joins efforts to eradicate the invasive waterweed from Kenai Peninsula lakes and does subsequent survey work around the Cook Inlet region.
2014: Port Graham Hatchery
CIAA takes over ownership and operations for pink salmon production.
2014: CIAA Wins IRS Appeal
CIAA allowed to continue cost recovery harvests as a royalty following federal order to cease due to unrelated business tax.
2014: CIAA Wins IRS Appeal
CIAA allowed to continue cost recovery harvests as a royalty following federal order to cease due to unrelated business tax.
2016: Pink Egg Collection Moves
The Tutka Bay net pen collection transfers to Tutka Creek, improving the operational process.
2018: Eklutna Hatchery Damaged
A major earthquake in Southcentral Alaska causes significant damage to Eklutna Salmon Hatchery.
2020: Dry Marking
CIAA beings first dry marking of otoliths.
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