Copper River Watershed Project

What Copper River Watershed Project does

The Copper River Watershed Project (CRWP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization founded in 1999 and headquartered in Cordova, Alaska, with a regional office in Glennallen. It operates across the 26,500 square mile Copper River watershed, serving 23 communities ranging in population from 2,500 in Cordova to 35 in McCarthy. Its mission centers on salmon habitat restoration, invasive plant management, watershed education, and stormwater management. Key programs include fish passage restoration (culvert replacement and bridge installation), the Salmon in the Classroom and Copper River Stewardship Program youth education initiatives, Cooperative Weed Management Areas in Cordova and the Copper Basin, and the Don't Run Off Salmon stormwater campaign.

CRWP's technical infrastructure comprises GIS-based tools including the Culvert Mapper (an online mapping tool integrating a proprietary culvert prioritization scoring system developed in 2006-2007), a watershed-wide temperature monitoring network, and the Salmon Blitz citizen science platform that nominates streams for Alaska's Anadromous Waters Catalog. The organization is the only Alaska entity selected for NOAA's Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a designation that confers unique standing in the state's fish habitat restoration ecosystem. Outputs include 71 miles of habitat opened by the Little Tonsina Bridge Project and 22 miles restored across 13 sites on the Copper River Delta.

CRWP's revenue model is grant-dependent, with primary funding from NOAA (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, EPA, and National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. Supplementary revenue comes from individual and corporate donations, business sponsorships, a referral arrangement with Sena Sea Seafood (8% of customer purchases), and 1% for the Planet membership. All programs and services are provided free of charge to participants. The customer base is multi-segment: subsistence and commercial fishing communities, watershed residents and tribal organizations (Native Village of Eyak, Ahtna Corporation, Copper River Native Association), K-12 students, government agencies, and private landowners. Headcount has grown to 12-15 staff plus 2-4 seasonal technicians, with leadership under Executive Director Kate Morse since September 2024.

Name

Copper River Watershed Project

Legal name

Copper River Watershed Project

Website

https://copperriver.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Copper River Watershed Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999, headquartered in Cordova, Alaska, that delivers salmon habitat restoration, invasive plant management, watershed education, and stormwater programs across 23 communities in the 26,500 square mile Copper River watershed, primarily funded by federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cordova

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grants and Government Funding: CRWP receives significant funding from federal sources including NOAA through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ($105 million announced for fish passage projects in 2022), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. State funding includes Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and Alaska Coastal Management Program.
2. Individual and Business Donations: The organization solicits donations through its website with a 'Donate' button. Business sponsors participate in membership programs. Sena Sea Seafood donates 8% of purchases to CRWP when customers use their referral link.
3. Corporate Membership and Sponsorship: CRWP maintains business sponsor programs and membership tiers, providing recognition and engagement opportunities for corporate partners supporting watershed stewardship.
4. 1% for the Planet Partnership: CRWP is a member of 1% for the Planet, receiving 1% of sales from participating businesses as environmental giving.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Copper River Watershed Project is a nonprofit environmental organization that protects and restores the Copper River watershed and its salmon habitat through on-the-ground restoration, fish passage remediation, invasive plant management, recycling services, watershed education, and citizen science monitoring. All services are provided free of charge to the public, supported by grants, donations, and sponsorships, and delivered primarily to communities in Cordova, Glennallen, and the broader Copper River drainage in Alaska.

Product overview

The Copper River Watershed Project is a nonprofit environmental organization that operates multiple interconnected programs rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include Fish Habitat Monitoring & Restoration with tools like the Culvert Mapper (online mapping tool), FishWatch, and Temperature Monitoring Network for tracking salmon habitat; Watershed Education programs including Salmon in the Classroom and the Copper River Stewardship Program; and Invasive Plant Management with Cooperative Weed Management Areas. Additional programs include Stormwater Management (Don't Run Off Salmon), TAPS Citizens' Oversight, Tourism Resources, and Recycling Programs. The organization focuses on environmental conservation work using data tools and community engagement rather than commercial product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fish Passage Program Program that identifies, prioritizes, and remediates barriers to fish passage in the Copper River watershed, enabling salmon to access historical spawning and rearing habitat. Targeted at landowners, agencies, and community partners in the Copper River drainage.
• Watershed Education Program Educational programming for schools, community groups, and the public that teaches about watershed ecology, salmon habitat, and stewardship practices in the Copper River region. Delivered free of charge to local learners.
• Invasive Plant Management Program Program that surveys, treats, and manages invasive plant species threatening native ecosystems and salmon habitat in the Copper River watershed. Serves landowners, communities, and partner agencies.
• Recycling Program Community recycling services operating in the Copper River region to reduce waste streams and environmental impact in rural Alaska communities. Available free of charge to local residents and businesses.
• TAPS Oversight Program Oversight program related to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) that monitors and addresses watershed and salmon habitat concerns associated with pipeline corridor activities in the Copper River region.
• Tourism Resources Program Visitor-facing resources that provide tourists and recreation users with locally curated information about recreation, fishing, and responsible use of the Copper River watershed.
• Salmon Blitz Citizen Science Citizen science program that engages community members in collecting salmon observation data across the Copper River watershed, contributing to local habitat monitoring and public education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 71 miles of upstream salmon habitat opened through Little Tonsina Bridge Project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NOAA Restoration CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CRWP received $105 million in BIL funding through NOAA's Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal program. CRWP was the only organization selected in Alaska for this funding opportunity, supporting multiple fish passage projects including the Little Tonsina Bridge and Eyak Lake Weir.
• Eyak CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRWP partnered with The Eyak Corporation for NOAA-funded fish passage projects to restore waterways on the Copper River Delta near Cordova. Funded by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through NOAA Restoration Center, this partnership represents the flagship fish passage initiative in Alaska.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSFWS helped start CRWP's first culvert replacement project through Bill Rice. The agency continues as a key partner on fish passage restoration, providing technical expertise and funding through the National Fish Passage Program.
• Native Village of EyakcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partner in stormwater management (Don't Run Off Salmon campaign), FishWatch monitoring program, and cooperative planning. Partnered on EPA's Community Action for a Renewed Environment program and home heating oil tank spill prevention.
• Alaska Department of Fish & GamecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADF&G is a key partner for Salmon in the Classroom (provides permits), Salmon Blitz (Anadromous Waters Catalog nominations), and fish passage projects. Their Anadromous Waters Catalog tracks 2,168 miles of salmon habitat in the watershed.
• Prince William Sound Science CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Salmon in the Classroom program, Copper River Stewardship Program coordination (Cordova contact), and Eyak Lake restoration studies. Co-developer of educational programs for watershed youth.
• Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Copper River Stewardship Program (Copper Basin & Valdez contact: Robin Mayo), brown-bag presentations on fish passage, and community education events. Hosts educational activities and coordinates with CRSP participants.
• Copper River Native Association (YETI Program)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYETI (Youth Employment Training Initiative) interns partner with CRWP on invasive plant removal projects including white sweetclover removal on the Gulkana River. CRWP coordinates with Gulkana Village Council for youth participation.
• Sena Sea SeafoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFifth-generation fishing family that donates 8% of customer purchases to CRWP salmon habitat restoration when customers use their referral link. Partnership supports both fundraising and sustainable fishing awareness.
• 1% for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCRWP is a member of 1% for the Planet, receiving 1% of sales from participating businesses as environmental giving, providing exposure to a network of environmentally-conscious consumers and businesses.
• U.S. Forest Service (Cordova Ranger District & Pacific Northwest Research Station)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSFS is a key partner for watershed education programs, fish passage projects on National Forest lands, and Salmon Blitz citizen science. Provides technical expertise and funding for restoration work throughout the Chugach National Forest.
• Bureau of Land ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBLM partners on fish passage resources, restoration projects, and land management in the Copper Basin. Provides technical guidance and access to BLM-managed lands for restoration activities.
• Ahtna CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAhtna Corporation is represented on the FishWatch planning team and is a key partner for watershed-scale planning and projects affecting Native-owned lands in the Copper Basin region.
• Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and PreservemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPark Service participates in FishWatch planning team and partners on Salmon Blitz, watershed education, and stewardship programs. The park encompasses much of the upper Copper River watershed.
• Copper Valley School DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with CRWP for Salmon in the Classroom program and Copper River Stewardship Program, providing academic credit opportunities for participating students in Glennallen and Copper Basin schools.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cook Inletkeeper: Alaska-based nonprofit focused on watershed conservation in the Cook Inlet region, doing similar community-based water quality monitoring, habitat protection, and citizen science advocacy work as CRWP in the Copper River watershed.
• Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition: Coalition serving Southeast Alaska watersheds with restoration, education, and stewardship programs—similar geographic and programmatic model to CRWP, working across remote Alaska communities and tribal lands.
• Kenai Watershed Forum: Alaska nonprofit conducting watershed-scale restoration, water quality monitoring, fish passage work, and community education on the Kenai Peninsula—directly comparable to CRWP's programs in the Copper River watershed with similar remote-Alaska operating context.
• Sitka Conservation Society: Alaska-based community conservation nonprofit combining watershed stewardship, salmon habitat work, education programs, and tribal partnerships in Southeast Alaska—directly comparable community-based conservation model to CRWP.

Emerging players

• Wild Salmon Center: Pacific salmon conservation organization focused on habitat protection across the Pacific Rim—shares salmon-focused mission and habitat restoration approach with CRWP but with broader geographic scope and science-policy emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Trout Unlimited: National coldwater conservation organization with a significant Alaska program doing salmon and trout habitat restoration, fish passage work, and community engagement—similar technical work to CRWP but operating at much larger national scale with broader fish species focus.
• The Nature Conservancy (Alaska): Global conservation organization operating in Alaska on watershed protection, salmon habitat, and tribal partnerships—overlapping mission with CRWP but operates globally and at much larger scale with broader conservation portfolio.
• Pacific Rivers Council: Northwest-focused watershed conservation nonprofit advocating for river protection and restoration—similar advocacy and science-based approach to CRWP but operating in the Pacific Northwest rather than Alaska.

Others

• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Major U.S. funder of fish passage and watershed restoration projects including grants to CRWP itself—ecosystem enabler/funder rather than direct programmatic peer, but shapes the funding environment for similar conservation outcomes.
• Prince William Sound Science Center: Alaska research institution based in Cordova doing watershed and salmon research including Eyak Lake restoration studies—adjacent ecosystem player that actively partners with CRWP on research and education rather than competing with it.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/copperriverwatershed
• Instagraminstagram.com/copperriverwatershed
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/copper-river-watershed-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Copper River Watershed Project