Notes from the Copper Basin Land and Resource Managers’ Meeting
View of the Chitina River. Photo by Allison Sayer
Allison Sayer - CRR Staff
On the afternoon of May 18, the Copper Valley Development Association (CVDA) hosted a Copper Basin land and resource managers’ meeting. Representatives from various entities in the area attended virtually to deliver updates about their work. The meeting was chaired by Jen Rosenthal, the new CVDA executive director.
Representatives were invited to share in the order in which they joined the meeting, and are presented here in that order.
Biologist Joelle Hepler spoke on behalf of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. This winter ADF&G completed a subunit 13C moose browse survey. The agency also hosted a bear-baiting class at the Glennallen office. Bear baiting started in Unit 13 in mid April, but was slow, likely due to the deep snow. Hepler expects it to pick up soon.
ADF&G staff also partnered with Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE) to teach wildlife safety, and participated in a sheep conference attended by wildlife managers from across Alaska and Canada. The wildlife flying season is underway, and will be busy this summer.
Later in the meeting, participants asked whether the deep snow in the area was impacting caribou. Hepler said the caribou have been slowed down by the snow, and it’s “taking them a long time” to reach their calving grounds. While they do have the ability to delay birth slightly, some may end up giving birth while still migrating. Hepler said that there was potential for this to create higher mortality among the calves, but “we’ll have to see what happens.”
Steve Weeks, BLM environmental compliance and pipeline monitor, said the biggest thing going on in his department is the removal of Pump Station 12. This summer will mostly consist of cleaning and prep, and many buildings will be removed next summer.
Ruth McHenry, representing Copper Country Alliance (CCA), stated the organization was working on information gathering about the potential nuclear project in the area but had not taken a position. The organization’s primary concerns were the source of the uranium and its disposal.
CCA is also working on public input for the Department of Transportation’s long-term transportation plan, emphasizing fixing existing facilities rather than constructing new ones.
Lisa Docken, Copper River Watershed Project executive director, said the project to replace damaged culverts with a bridge over the Little Tonsina River will go out to bid early this summer, with construction possibly beginning in August.
Temperature monitoring across the watershed will also occur this summer, in addition to visits to assess whether funding can be obtained for site restoration in Dry Creek, Yentna, and Kluti-Kaah. Numerous projects related to monitoring, documenting, and removing invasive plants are also planned this summer.
CRWP program staff were in the area in May assisting with the release of salmon fry that have been reared in local classrooms. An educational float on the Slana River and aquatic-themed field days will occur later in the summer, including one on Town Lake in Chitina. There will be clean-up events in Chitina August 12-13 and September 24-25. Dumpsters, dump trucks, and other equipment will be available to help remove waste.
CRWP is partnering with numerous local, federal, and state entities on their projects.
Copper River School District Superintendent Thérèse Ashton said the district was unsure whether it would continue to lease the old Copper River School land, pending negotiations with the University of Alaska, which is the new landowner.
Native Village of Tazlina Tribal Administrator Marce Simeon said that after years of negotiating and fundraising, the village is poised to reacquire 460 acres of land from the Anchorage Archdiocese. In other news, the village is looking for several 14-25 year-olds to work through the Youth Environmental Program on water sampling. The Village is also seeking seasonal laborers and other individuals.
WISE Executive Director Robin Mayo discussed the recently donated property on the Lower Tonsina, Nic’anilen Na’. WISE is currently in planning stages of integrating the land into its education programs and preserving its valuable wetland habitat. There will be a site visit on July 11 and all are welcome.
Mayo also highlighted the ongoing success of the WISE Science Lecture Series. Hikes and other adventures are coming up! The program is short staffed, so space will be limited. If you would like your child to participate in WISE programs, be sure to call early. Mayo thanked CRWP, the BLM, NPS and the Copper River School District for their partnerships.
Ahtna, Inc. Vice President of Land and Resources Joe Bovee had a substantial update. He said Ahtna does not yet have a recommendation to approve or disapprove the proposed nuclear project, but is doing its own research.
Bovee said climate change is an important issue and that erosion monitoring on the Copper, Tazlina and Klutina rivers has shown great change in the last five years. He also said that anecdotally small ponds and lakes are either evaporating or absorbing into the ground with changes in climate and permafrost. He stated this change is “not proven,” but ongoing research may solidify these findings.
Bovee also mentioned the recent Moose Creek flood, and its impact on the Trans Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) downstream, noting “crews are on duty 24 hours a day on Ahtna land” dealing with that.
“We can debate on what’s caused it,” said Bovee, “but something is happening out here and it’s happening rapidly so we’d like everyone to be aware of that.”
Wildflowers growing near the Trans Alaska Pipeline. Photo by Allison Sayer
Ahtna has been monitoring spruce bark beetles with traps, and Bovee said their numbers have been increasing. He stated another warm summer could tip the balance towards an epidemic.
In other forestry news, Ahtna will work on replanting/rehabilitating areas on the Kotsina, Klutina, and Tazlina rivers that had been previously logged. They also assisted Kluti-Kaah with fuel breaks, and much of the wood will go towards a newly funded wood-fired boiler system. Ahtna also performed its sixth annual carbon sequestration inventory on its 500,000-acre carbon sequestration project.
Ahtna is working on improving mapping and cataloging of cultural resources. They are also developing fences and signs in culturally significant areas that have been damaged by fishermen. The cemetery at Haley Creek will be developed into a distinct historic site to discourage damage. There will also be a functioning toilet at Haley Creek this year, because in recent years it has been “pretty messy.”
Ahtna has been assisting local Ahtna residents who are Vietnam veterans on their entitlement to a veterans’ allotment. They are eligible for about 160 acres of federal “unencumbered” lands, and the state has released some of its land for this purpose as well. Bovee mentioned that in addition to Ahtna people, there are other qualified Native veterans from outside the Copper Basin who are claiming land in this area.
Lastly, Bovee stated that there are four open positions in the Ahtna land department.
Hattie Schmidlkofer, BLM realty specialist, introduced herself and said she was aware of concerns related to erosion and other climate change issues affecting the pipeline. She is new to the area, although she has worked in Alaska for quite some time.
Marnie Graham, Glennallen field manager at the BLM, described personnel changes throughout the agency. She also delivered an emotional message of gratitude to “all of you partners who provided support” following the passing of BLM staff Kenny Steck.
Graham cited partnerships with multiple entities present in work on fire fuels, community protection planning, stream reclamation and fish habitat restoration. These entities include the Department of Natural Resources, ADF&G, CRWP, and a private miner who is involved in abandoned mine site cleanup.
BLM is helping with mapping and other aspects of veterans’ allotments, and anticipates surveys and conveyances to go forward this summer. The BLM is involved with permitting various highway, and communication tower and fiber optic projects that go through BLM land. At the field office, the agency is removing some smaller buildings and creating a new warehouse.
Graham said to look for updates on whether caribou permits would be in person or over the phone, and when offices would open. There has been a “huge increase” in recreational visits to the Castner Glacier area, which prompted the BLM to “look at a recreation plan for that area.”
Seth Wilson, field information officer for the Alaska Legislature, invited members of the public to testify on legislation or to receive help with accessing state services. He did note that his office was flooded at the time, and also discussed disaster relief for the May flooding.
