The role of coastal wetlands in Cook Inlet, Alaska as a stopover habitat for migratory birds. Coastal salt marshes of Cook Inlet, Alaska provide important migration habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds during spring migration. Over 100,000 geese and swans have been observed in Upper Cook Inlet (UCI) during spring migration. The area is used by 3 subspecies of Canada geese (Branta canadensis), greater and tule white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons frontalis, and A. a. gambelli), tundra (Cygnus buccinator) and trumpeter swans (C. columbianus), and lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) from Wrangel Island. UCI is located near the major human population center of Alaska and is a region where future resource development is likely. Development of oil and gas reserves, coal deposits, timber resources, and port facilities is either proposed or ongoing in or near coastal wetlands. Increased human recreational visitation of coastal wetlands is likely because of the proximity of the area to a growing urban center. Information on availability and distribution of plant communities used by waterfowl during spring migration through UCI is needed to insure that important habitats receive minimal disturbance from resource development and human recreational activities. This study will assess availability of plant communities in coastal wetlands, identify habitats used by migratory waterfowl, map distribution of wetland communities across 170 km of coastline via aerial imagery, and study interactions between geese and forage species. Studies of wetland composition will be conducted at a landscape level of resolution to gain a better understanding of how coastal and geologic processes have affected wetland availability in the region. Studies of interactions between geese and forage species are important to assess the effects that geese have on composition and productivity of coastal wetlands, and to better understand of how growth of goose populations may affect habitat quality and availability.