Sandhill cranes gather just outside Homer, Alaska on a piece of land known today as Inspiration Ridge Preserve. The grassy meadow along the ridge provides ample food as well as the perfect runway for the young of the year to learn to fly as they gear up for their first great journey south.

Fritz Creek watershed, where Inspiration Ridge Preserve is located, is one of the many areas where beavers have been removed from the landscape. A team of researchers from the University of Michigan conducted a study to find out what would happen if beavers were introduced on this landscape.

Learn how Ed Bailey and Nina Faust conserved Inspiration Ridge Preserve in an effort to alleviate development pressure that would have cut wildlife off from critical habitat.

Wildlife rely on habitat connectivity to be able to access food across seasons. Protecting wildlife corridors helps ensure wildlife continue to have the freedom to move.

Nina Faust and Ed Bailey conducted wildlife surveys along the entire Alaska Peninsula coastline to help plan the future footprint of the Refuge. Their careers set the stage for their conservation efforts to protect Inspiration Ridge Preserve in retirement.

Our top ten reasons we care about watershed protection, and why we work to protect watersheds in our region.

Homer, Alaska residents Edgar Bailey and Nina Faust spent their careers and lives supporting watersheds and wildlife habitat. This is the story of their work to conserve Inspiration Ridge Preserve.