Cook Inletkeeper

What Cook Inletkeeper does

Cook Inletkeeper is a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization founded in 1995 in Homer, Alaska, in the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Its mission is to protect the Cook Inlet watershed and the life it sustains through advocacy, science-based monitoring, and community organizing. The organization serves Alaska communities across the Kenai Peninsula and Mat-Su regions, with offices in Homer and Soldotna, and a membership base spread across the watershed and beyond.

The organization's core technology and program portfolio includes long-term stream temperature monitoring, aerial thermal imaging of cold-water refugia on the Little Susitna River, and the Backyard Salmonscapes program for community-based salmon habitat mapping and signage. It also runs the Homer Drawdown and Soldotna Drawdown climate action collectives, an annual Electronics Recycling Program that diverted over 36,000 lbs of e-waste from landfills in 2026, a Community Action Studio meeting space in Soldotna, and a Community ActionKit online advocacy platform. The organization actively litigates against oil and gas lease sales, mining projects (Johnson Tract, Donlin, Pebble), and habitat threats, partnering with Earthjustice, tribal nations, and national environmental NGOs.

Cook Inletkeeper is funded primarily through individual donations, memberships, business supporters, and grants, with donation tiers ranging from $50 to $1,000 and options for one-time, monthly, or annual giving. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization operates a small staff (1-10 employees) and is governed by a Board of Directors, guided by the Jemez Principals of democratic organizing. It is not publicly traded and has no parent company or private equity backing.

Name

Cook Inletkeeper

Legal name

Cook Inletkeeper

Website

https://inletkeeper.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cook Inletkeeper is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1995 in Homer, Alaska, that protects the Cook Inlet watershed through science-based monitoring, salmon habitat mapping, community organizing, and environmental litigation against oil, gas, and mining threats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Watershed protection
• Environmental advocacy
• Salmon habitat conservation
• Water quality monitoring
• Community organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Homer

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cook Inletkeeper is a community-based nonprofit that delivers environmental advocacy, scientific watershed monitoring, and community organizing to protect Alaska's Cook Inlet watershed. Its core offerings include long-term stream temperature monitoring, the Backyard Salmonscapes salmon habitat mapping program, electronics recycling events, the Homer Drawdown climate-action collective, and legal advocacy against oil and gas development and large-scale mining.

Product overview

Cook Inletkeeper is a community-based nonprofit environmental organization that does not operate a traditional software product. Instead, the organization offers a suite of environmental programs and services focused on protecting Alaska's Cook Inlet watershed. The core digital presence includes their website and online advocacy platforms (Community ActionKit), complemented by hands-on environmental programs including the Backyard Salmonscapes habitat mapping initiative, annual Electronics Recycling events, the Homer Drawdown climate action collective, the Community Action Studio meeting space, scientific monitoring through stream temperature data collection, and thermal imaging projects to identify salmon cold-water refugia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electronics Recycling Program Annual electronics recycling events held at multiple locations across the Kenai Peninsula, keeping hazardous materials out of landfills and recovering valuable metals through partnerships with Central Recycling Services and Metro Metals. The program is offered to local community members and small businesses across the region.
• Backyard Salmonscapes A community-based salmon habitat mapping and protection program that engages volunteers in documenting salmon streams, installing 'Baby Salmon Live Here' signs, and submitting streams for inclusion in the Anadromous Waters Catalog. Delivered to community volunteers and partner organizations in partnership with the Kenai Watershed Forum and Kachemak Heritage Land Trust.
• Homer Drawdown Climate Action Collective A community-based climate action collective focused on creating local climate solutions through education, community organizing, and sustainable practices such as foraging workshops. Open to Homer, Alaska residents and surrounding community members.
• Community Action Studio A physical community meeting space in Soldotna (35911 Kenai Spur Highway, Unit 13) used for community meetings, volunteer coordination, and local climate action programming. Open to community members, working groups, and partners on the Kenai Peninsula.
• Stream Temperature Monitoring and Scientific Research Long-term stream temperature data collection that highlights the intersection between climate change and wild salmon populations, informing land and water management decisions. Provided to resource managers, scientists, and the public to support conservation planning in the Cook Inlet watershed.
• Thermal Imaging for Salmon Habitat (Little Susitna and Mat-Su Basin) A science initiative using aerial thermal imaging on the Little Susitna River and across the Mat-Su Basin to identify and safeguard critical cold-water refugia for salmon as the climate warms. Findings inform habitat protection and groundwater-connection advocacy in the Mat-Su Basin.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Earth InsightmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026Partnership for reporting on Alaska LNG pipeline impacts on Cook Inlet beluga whales and coastal communities. Earth Insight released a joint report in June 2026 highlighting environmental threats.
• Waterkeeper AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCook Inletkeeper is an affiliated member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global network of environmental organizations dedicated to protecting water resources. This affiliation provides networking, resources, and collective advocacy power for clean water initiatives.
• Kenai Watershed ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Backyard Salmonscapes program for salmon habitat mapping and restoration. Co-organizes habitat mapping field days and stream sign installation projects in the Kenai Peninsula region.
• Kachemak Heritage Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Backyard Salmonscapes project, collaborating on salmon stream signage and habitat protection efforts in the Cook Inlet watershed.
• Kenai Peninsula Fish Habitat PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on salmon habitat research and restoration activities, including field trips and educational programs about salmon habitat in the Central Peninsula region.
• Susitna River CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on instream flow advocacy and education. Hosted joint webinar on water reservations in Alaska and created comment builder tools for public engagement on water policy.
• EarthjusticemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal partner for environmental litigation, including challenges to offshore oil and gas lease sales in Cook Inlet. Provides legal representation in defense of environmental protections.
• Alaska Wildlife AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint advocacy partner on Cook Inlet Beluga whale protection and environmental issues. Co-authored statements on beluga whale abundance estimates and precautionary management approaches.
• Defenders of WildlifemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in joint advocacy for Cook Inlet beluga whale protection and environmental conservation efforts in Alaska.
• Chickaloon Village Traditional CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partner in legal challenges to protect Lake Clark National Park from Johnson Tract Gold Mine exploration threats. Collaborates on protecting tribal communities and wildlife habitats.
• Center for Biological DiversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in litigation and advocacy to protect Cook Inlet belugas and challenge offshore oil and gas lease sales. Collaborates on Endangered Species Act compliance issues.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Defenders of Wildlife: National wildlife conservation organization with significant Alaska presence. Comparable because it is a Cook Inletkeeper joint advocacy partner focused on beluga whale protection and broader habitat conservation in Alaska.
• Waterkeeper Alliance: Global parent affiliate network that Cook Inletkeeper belongs to. Comparable because Waterkeeper Alliance operates the overarching Waterkeeper movement and shares the same watershed-protection mission, though it functions as a global umbrella rather than a single regional advocate.

Others

• Earthjustice: National environmental law organization that provides legal representation to Cook Inletkeeper in litigation including the Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Lease Sale 258 challenge. Comparable as an enabling ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor, given its role as a legal service provider.

Direct peers

• Kenai Watershed Forum: Local Kenai Peninsula nonprofit focused on salmon habitat and watershed health. Highly comparable because it co-organizes the Backyard Salmonscapes program with Cook Inletkeeper and serves overlapping Alaskan communities and donor base.
• Trustees for Alaska: Alaska-based nonprofit environmental law firm that provides free legal services to advocacy groups including Cook Inletkeeper. Highly comparable as both organizations operate in Alaska, share environmental litigation focus, and frequently partner on cases involving Cook Inlet and Alaska LNG issues.
• Alaska Conservation Foundation: Alaska-focused environmental nonprofit that funds and supports conservation efforts across the state. Comparable because both organizations serve Alaska conservation communities, work on overlapping climate and habitat issues, and rely on donor funding and coalition-based advocacy.
• Puget Soundkeeper: A Washington State Waterkeeper Alliance member protecting the Puget Sound watershed. Comparable because it operates the same Waterkeeper model in a different coastal Pacific Northwest watershed, with a similar mix of water quality monitoring, advocacy, and community organizing.
• Center for Biological Diversity: National nonprofit focused on protecting endangered species through science, legal advocacy, and creative media. Comparable because it is a current Cook Inletkeeper coalition partner on Cook Inlet beluga whale litigation, ESA enforcement, and mine opposition.
• Columbia Riverkeeper: An Oregon-based Waterkeeper Alliance member focused on protecting the Columbia River. Comparable because it operates the same Waterkeeper model with overlapping water quality monitoring, salmon habitat advocacy, and community organizing activities on the West Coast.
• Kachemak Bay Conservation Society: Local conservation nonprofit operating in the Kachemak Bay area of the Kenai Peninsula. Highly comparable as a peer organization in the same geography that has co-litigated cases alongside Cook Inletkeeper (e.g., Kachemak Bay jet ski ban reinstatement).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Inletkeeper
• Facebookfacebook.com/inletkeeper
• Instagraminstagram.com/inletkeeper
• Xx.com/inletkeeper

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cook Inletkeeper