' ..

ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Fairbanks, Alaska

·•

ANNU~ NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1992 "··

U.S. Department of the Interior Fish. and Wildlife Service

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM

ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Fairbanks, Alaska ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 1992

United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM

REVIEW AND APPROVALS

ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Fairbanks, Alaska

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 1992

~}lJ,/1-iif?~ ~vue=- tz/'lf7J Refuge Manager ~ Associate Manager Date

Date

INTRODUCTION

The Arctic National Wildlife Range was established by Public Land Order Number 2214 on December 6, 1960 for the purpose of preserving unique wildlife, wilderness and recreational values. The Arctic National Wildlife Range, located in the northeastern corner of Alaska, contained approximately 8,900,000 acres. The area was withdrawn from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining but not the mineral leasing laws. This was the culmination of efforts begun over a decade earlier to preserve this unique part of Alaska.

The National Park Service began a survey in 1949 of Alaska's recreational potential while the Navy was searching for oil and gas in the Naval Petroleum Reserve Number 4 (now National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska) and adjacent areas. The survey was directed by George L. Collins, Chief of the National Park Service's Region 4 State and Territorial Recreation Division.

Collins recommended to the National Park Service in 1954 that the northeast corner of .AJaska be preserved for its wildlife, wilderness, recreational, scientific and cultural values following field work and consultation with prominent conservationists such as Olaus Murie and A. Starker Leopold. Collins also recommended that the area be an international park, to include contiguous lands between the Alaska-Canada border and the MacKenzie Delta.

There ensued a political struggle over the future of the Arctic wilderness during the next seven years. There was considerable support for such an action, but there also was strong opposition from those concerned with future industrial development in the territory and the restriction that such a designation would require. The oil industry and those branches of government that promote energy development already recognized the oil and gas potential of the area. There was some disagreement among conservationists and federal representatives over which agency should manage the land. George Collins had originally proposed a park, while Olaus Murie felt that rather than promoting "mass recreation" and related economic development, the area should be managed as wilderness by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It was ultimately agreed that Fish and Wildlife Service management should be sought.

Public support for establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife Range continued to grow while opposition also increased from mining interests who desired entry and Alaskan politicians who feared a growing federal role in Alaska. In the final days of the Eisenhower administration, Secretary of the Interior Fred Seaton acceded to increasing public pressure during his final days in office and signed Public Land Order 2214 creating the Arctic National Wildlife Range and closing it to entry under existing mining laws.

Opposition from Alaska's congressional delegation over the next eight years successfully blocked appropriation of funds to manage the Arctic National Wildlife Range. Funds for management of the wildlife range were appropriated for the first

time in 1969. Efforts were made during the next decade to add unreserved public lands in Alaska to the National Park, National Forest, National Wildlife Refuge, and National Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems as an outgrowth of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.

President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act on December 2, 1980. This act was a compromise piece of legislation. It re-established the range as the "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" encompassing the existing 8.9 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Range and an additional 9.1 million-acres of adjoining lands west to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline corridor and south to the Yukon Flats (Figure 1). An area of approximately 8 million acres, comprising most of the original wildlife range, was designated as wilderness. Approximately 1.6 million acres of the Arctic coastal plain within the Refuge was opened to a limited exploration program (seismic testing) for oil and gas (Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Section 1002). Exploratory drilling, leasing, development and production of oil and gas in the Refuge were prohibited.

Section 1002 required an assessment of the resources of the coastal plain of the Refuge (Figure 2). An initial report and subsequent updates on the results of a continuing baseline study of fish, wildlife and habitat resources of the coastal plain were legislatively mandated. The results were to guide the development of an environmental impact statement and guidelines governing the seismic exploration program, and an assessment of impacts from any future oil and gas development. The legislation also required a report by the Secretary of Interior to Congress no later than September 2, 1986, on the oil and gas potential and an assessment of the impact that oil and gas development may have on the fish and wildlife resources on the Refuge's coastal plain. The report was issued in April 1987 and recommended oil and gas leasing of the entire 1002 area.

The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act established the purposes of the Refuge as follows:

(i) to conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity including, but not limited to, the Porcupine caribou herd (including participation in coordinated ecological studies and management of this herd and the Western Arctic Caribou Herd), polar bears, grizzly bears, muskox, Dall sheep, wolves, wolverines, snow geese, peregrine falcons and other migratory birds and Arctic char and grayling;

(ii) to fulfill the international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats;

(iii) to provide, in a manner consistent with the purposes set forth in subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the opportunity for continued subsistence uses by local residents; and

(iv) to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable and in a manner consistent with the purposes set forth in paragraph (i), water quality and necessary water quantity within the Refuge.

The surface estate of approximately 83,098 acres of an authorized 92,160 acres within the boundaries of the Refuge along the Arctic coast have been conveyed to the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation (KIC) under the provisions of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The surface estate of approximately 2,854 acres on Barter Island was conveyed to the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation under provisions of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The sub-surface estate of the 2,854 acres was simultaneously conveyed to the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. Secretary of the Interior James Watt signed an interim conveyance on August 9, 1983, to the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) for the subsurface estate to lands previously conveyed to the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation aggregating 65,292 acres. ASRC is entitled to the subsurface estate of the lands conveyed to KIC as the total of 92,160 acres are conveyed. The conveyance was in exchange for the surface estate of Chandler Lake and surrounding lands, which was conveyed to the National Park Service.

An inholding of approximately 971,800 acres was added to the Refuge as a donation by the State of Alaska in 1983. A 325,000 acre block of public land was added by the 100th Congress when it enacted Public Law 110-395 on August 16, 1988.

The Refuge offers unique wildlife, scientific, recreational, and aesthetic values in the Alaskan Arctic. It is the only area where people may practicably travel on foot or by boat and traverse a full range of north slope landscapes and habitats due to the close proximity of the Arctic coast and mountains. Mt. Isto, (9,049 ft), Mt. Chamberlin, (9,019 ft), Mt. Hubley (8,914 ft), and Mt. Michelson, (8,855 ft), the four tallest peaks in the Brooks Range, are located in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge contains the only extensive glaciation in the Brooks Range as well as a full complement of Arctic flora and fauna. This includes portions of the calving grounds for the Porcupine caribou herd, one of the largest in Alaska (approximately 180,000 caribou), reintroduced muskoxen, habitat for the endangered peregrine falcon, snow geese and other migratory bird species, grizzly and black bears, Dall sheep, wolverines, moose, and a complete complement of the other wildlife species common to Arctic and sub-arctic Alaska. In addition, the waters offshore of the Refuge harbor summering bowhead whales, and the coastal lagoons provide year-around habitat for polar bears and ringed and bearded seals. Other marine mammals which may be found in the coastal lagoons or offshore waters include walrus, spotted seals, gray whales and beluga whales. Polar bears den on refuge land.

Major habitat types include alpine tundra and rocky areas, wet and moist Arctic tundra, boreal spruce forest, muskeg bogs, coastal brackish lagoons, shrub thicket areas and numerous types of coastal and inland wetlands.

INTRODUCfiON Page

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

A HIG~IGH'I"S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

C. LAN'D ACQUISITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1. Fee Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 2. Easements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 3. Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 4

D. PLANNING

.1. Master Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 2. Management Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 3. Public Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates 11 5. Research and Investigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 6. Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 2. Youth Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 3. Other Manpower Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 4. Volunteer Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 S. Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 6. Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 7. Technical Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 8. Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1. General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 2. Wetlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 3. Forests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 4. Croplands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 5. Grasslands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 6. Other Habitats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 7. Grazing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report)

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8. Haying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 9. Fire Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

10. Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 11. Water Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . • • . . 39 12. Wilderness and Special Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

G. WIWLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 3. Waterfowl ........ -. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 4. Marsh and Water Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species . . . . • . . . . . . . . • . • . 46 6. Raptors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 7. Other Migratory Birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 8. Game Mammals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 9. Marine Mammals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

10. Other Resident Wildlife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . 52 11. Fisheries Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . 53 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 13. Surplus Animal Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 14. Scientific Collections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 15. Animal Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 16. Marking and Banding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 17. Disease Prevention and Control . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report)

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 2. Outdoor Oassrooms - Students . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . 62 3. Outdoor Oassrooms- Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 4. Interpretive Foot Trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 5. Interpretive Tour Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . 64 7. Other Interpretive Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • . • • . . 66 8. Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 9. Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

10. Trapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 11. Wildlife Obsetvation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . 76 13. Camping . . . • • • . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 14. Picnicking . . . . . . . . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 15. Off-Road Vehicling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation ..•• (Nothing to Report)

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17. l..aw Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 18. Cooperating Associations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 19. Concessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report)

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

1. New Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 2. Rehabilitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 3. Major Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 5. Communications Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 6. Computer Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 7. Energy Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 8. Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

J. OTHER ITEMS

1. Cooperative Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 2. Other Economic Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 3. Items of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Nothing to Report) 4. Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

K.. FEEDBACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

L INFORMATION PACKET .....................•...... .Back Cover

APPENDIX I- News and Magazine Articles: Miscellaneous

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A. IDGHLIGHTS

Guide/Outfitter selection process revamped for 1993 season. (Section H.8)

Excess equipment sold through small lot sales. (Section 1.4)

New office furniture installed for several personnel. (Section 1.4)

Draft River Management Plan submitted to RO. (Section D.2)

RM Elison involved with compatibility training for Refuges. (Section H.l)

Pam Butler selected for the vacant Budget Assistant position. (Section E.l)

RM Elison co-chaired the International Caribou Board meeting in Canada. (Section H.l)

Several staff members were involved with Fairbanks Outdoor Days celebration. (Section H.2)

ARM Garrett instructed bear safety training for Region's Train the Trainer program. (Section E.6)

New Deputy Regional Director given tour of a Wild and Scenic River. (Section H.l2)

ARM Weiler toured ANWR with Chief of Refuges and representatives from several organizations. (Section H.l)

Refuge received FOIA requests for many SUP files. (Section E.8)

Refuge hosted International Porcupine Caribou Board meeting at Kaktovik. (Section H.l)

New radio repeater installed on south side of Refuge. (Section 1.5)

Burnt Mountain fire created a firestorm of controversy because of Air Force generators. (Section C.3)

Refuge staff saddened by deaths of Steve Young and Joe Firmin. (Section E.6)

State's Wolf Management Plan raised hackles of several environmental organizations. (Section G.8)

Largest guide/outfitter business on Refuge is busted by LE officers. (Section H.17)

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B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Accurate climatic information for the north slope of the Refuge is available for the period May, 1991, to September, 1992. This information was collected hourly during the summer, and every 3 hours during the rest of the year, from 7 automatic data recording stations strategically located within the coastal plain. Data was retrieved from these stations in late May and again in late August. Temperature summaries are presented for the Aichilik and Tamayariak stations for those months with available data (Table 1). The Aichilik station is located 5 miles from the coast, approximately 42 miles southeast of Kaktovik. The Tamayariak station is located in the lower foothills, about 55 miles west-southwest of Kaktovik.

The only complete weather data for 1992 representative of the meteorological conditions present on the Refuge are from Komakuk Beach, Yukon Territory, for the north side of the refuge and Old Crow, Yukon Territory for the south side. Komakuk Beach is located on the coast, less than 20 miles from the Refuge/International border and 52 miles east-southeast of the Aichilik weather station. Old Crow is located on the Porcupine River, about 30 miles east of the Refuge border. Table 2 presents temperature information for the Komakuk Beach and Old Crow stations.

Precipitation for 1992 at Barter Island was 8.0 inches. This compares to a normal of 6.5 inches.

Refuge weather this year was variable. March was above normal, prompting many to forecast an early spring breakup, especially in the interior. This pattern proved premature, as normal to slightly below normal temperatures prevailed from April through the first half of May. Fairbanks received the largest amount of snow ever recorded for the month of May (14.1 inches), and still had an inch of snow on the ground as of the 16th. Temperatures warmed rapidly during the later part of May throughout the Refuge. A reversal of the normal pattern of snowmelt phenology occurred on the north side of the Refuge this year, with Barter Island and most of the coastal plain becoming snow-free before the foothills. An exception to this was the extreme eastern part of the coastal plain near the International border.

June through August was generally mild and sunny across the northern part of the Refuge, with freezing temperatures and snowfall limited to brief periods each month. High temperatures above 50 degrees were recorded on 24 days during the month of July at the Tamayariak weather station, and rare thunderstorms were noted on the 18th and 19th. Summer was normal across the south-side of the Refuge.

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Winter fell like a blanket on the interior of Alaska beginning in mid­September, almost a month earlier than normal. Overall, the month was the coldest September on record in Fairbanks and in many other localities. Low temperatures dropped to -22°F at Galbraith Lake and -6°F at Chandalar Lake. Snow cover remained through the end of the month, and an early freeze-up caught wildlife and hunters by surprise. The leaves in Fairbanks were just beginning to turn colors when the early cold and snow arrived. The leaves remained on the trees, providing a perpetual autumn through the winter season. Fall and early winter temperatures on the north side of the Refuge were below normal, but they were not exceptional.

Table 1. Temperature (degrees F) data for the Aichilik and Tamayariak weather stations, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 1992

Aichilik Tamayariak

Min. Max. Avg. Min. Max. Avg.

January -47 6 -20.3 -40 12 -18.5

February -46 23 -21.3 -43 26 -21.7

March -37 22 -7.7 -34 30 -6.4

April -28 26 0.3 -21 23 1.6

May -20 65 22.5 -10 49 22.6

June 23 68 45.7 18 67 40.2

July I I I 29 76 48.1

August M M M 21 75 44.4

I - Incomplete data.

M - Missing data

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Table 2. Temperature (degrees F) data for Komakuk Beach and Old Crow, Yukon Territory, Canada, 1992.

Komakuk Beach Old Crow

Min. Max. Avg. Min. Max. Avg.

January -40 5 -17.4 -49 5 -15.9

February -39 3 -19.3 -49 9 -17.8

March -33 37 -4.4 -47 31 1.8

April -24 33 1.4 -31 35 7.8

May -16 45 21.7 -14 64 32.0

June 21 66 38.9 25 89 57.4

July 31 69 46.2 35 78 59.5

August 27 77 46.4 29 77 52.5

September 5 51 26.4 7 55 29.4

October -16 48 11.6 -25 37 10.4

November -30 43 2.7 -41 22 -3.5

December -32 47 -11.9 -54 18 -23.7

c. LAND ACQUlSmON

1. Fee Title

Nothing to Report

2. Easements

Nothing to Report

3. Other

Native Allotments. Qualified individual Alaska Natives could claim up to 160 acres, until December 18th of 1971, of unreserved land under the Native Allotment Act of 1906. The 160 acres claim could be broken up into several different parcels.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reported numerous land status changes within ANWR during 1992; an administrative hearing action accepted one Application for Relocation of Native Allotment,

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deeded two historic sites, approved one proposed easement, dismissed one Application for protest of Native Allotment, and disallowed five Applications for historic sites. Allotment actions by BLM have decreased greatly since 1989, when parcels claimed by 95 individuals received action. All easements were verified and locations identified by the Refuge during the year.

The Arctic Refuge Staff updated the filing system and verified all inholdings and easements plotted on the wall map. Each easement and allotment inholding is now updated, identified and completed in Refuge files on a 1:250,000 or larger map or recent official land plat. Information on each parcel was entered into a Lotus 123 database, enabling the allotments and easements to be updated as needed. A composite 1:250,000 scale wall map of ANWR locating all allotment parcels is used for general locations, and more detailed, 1:63,360 maps and land plat copies for exact locations. The map also incorporates locations of cabins, wildfires and other items significant for management.

We continued the updating of allotment files early in 1990. Individual action notices received from Bureau of Land Management (BLM) generally were used as the information source, but case files and individual land examiners were consulted as the circumstances required. The Automated Land Records Status (ALRS) system was used frequently for consistency.

The Bureau of Land Management's ALRS computer records system lists 95 individuals as having active (not rejected) allotments. These 95 individuals have 152 parcels containing approximately 14,000 acres within the Arctic Refuge. However, many of these allotments are overlaid by regional, historical or village selections which will be transferred to Native corporations. The allotments take precedence in most of these conflicting selections. Thus, acreage figures include multiple selections of the same area by different interests, and they become non-additive and confusing. Land claims are gradually moving toward an eventual conclusion. Native Allotments present a significant management problem since the owners can do virtually anything they wish with the land after it is conveyed.

Historical Sites. Notices were received from BLM on seven actions; two were conveyed and five disallowed. All involved lands are in ANWR and consist of gravesites, caribou fences and other historical sites. No comments were necessary on any of the proposed actions.

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One of the many lakes on the coastal plain of the Refuge. M. Emers, 1991

Village Corporation Selections. The Village of Kaktovik is approximately 3,000 acres under-selected. RM Elison met with Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) and Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation (KIC) to discuss a method for dealing with under­selections for KIC on the Arctic Refuge. The village corporation selection was to continue through 1992.

Mining Claims. Bureau of Land Management records currently show nine mining claims on the Arctic Refuge. They consist of four lode, two placer, and three mill site claims. All claim sites were located, observed, and photographed from the air in 1991. One mill site was investigated in detail on the ground. This site appears to be used periodically for recreation use rather than mining. Based on the current information, it appears that use of the claim areas may be occurring which is not in conformance with applicable mining regulations. The mineral validity of the claims also is questionable. The Arctic Refuge and BLM notified the claimants of the questionable validity in 1992, and propose to make a determination in 1993.

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Big Ram Lake Mining Oaims - This cabin is on the questionable mill site. H. Heffernan

Burnt Mountain Public Land Withdrawal. The Burnt Mountain Research Site is a military site, located partly within Yukon Flats Refuge and partly within Arctic Refuge. It was established by a public land withdrawal in 1972. The site consists of small buildings and several bore holes with seismic sensors designed to detect ground motion, such as those caused by nuclear blasts in the former USSR. Automated machinery at five locations are powered by sealed radio-active energy sources. Personnel are on site only intermittently for maintenance. In early Fall, staff of the Arctic and Yukon Flats Refuges accompanied Air Force and Army personnel and local villagers to inspect the radio-isotope thermal generators (RTG's) at the Burnt Mountain site.

The Air Force received severe criticism from the news media and local villagers for having the RTG's at the site. The generators are used to provided electricity for transmission of seismic recordings from Burnt Mountain to Eielson AFB for enforcement of nuclear test ban treaties. Public meetings were held in Ft. Yukon, Venetie, and Arctic Village to discuss the danger (or lack thereof) presented by the RTG's. No emissions or other pollution sources exist at the site.

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One of the radio-iaotope thermal geueraton (RTG) located at the Burnt Mountain lite withdrawn foe UK by the USAF. P. Garrett, 1992

Public Meeting - Arctic VIllage. VIllage Otier Trimble Gilbert il explaining the RTG in the Athabascan Language. P. Ga.rtett, 1992

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It became apparent while checking a permit application from the Air Force in 1990, that the site may have been built on Refuge lands instead of the land reserved by the Public Land Order. The question was referred to Realty at that time.

The Refuge was approached by the Air Force as a possible source of gravel for repairs at the site, which is having subsidence problems due to improper construction on permafrost. No correspondence was received after the initial contact.

Distant Early Warning (DEW) Sites. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleanup operation for the abandoned DEW sites continued during the year. The Arctic Refuge posted two abandoned military DEW line sites - Camden Bay and Beaufort Lagoon. A variety of contaminants (PCB's, asbestos, hydrocarbons and organocloride pesticides) were determined by Corps testing to be present and may exceed EPA maximum levels for human exposure. Contamination warnings were erected for area residents and visitors advising that the sites were under study. Camping, use of water and FWS activities were prohibited at the sites during the year.

Refuge Manager Elison met with the Corps to review other sites they proposed to sample. He requested a 20% increase in the number of samples which included several new sites. The baseline study of contaminants continues, and the Corps is developing plans for cleanup. We welcome the project, although actual cleanup may be years away, due to the remoteness of the sites and competing national priorities. Also, the Refuge office has developed an oil spill contingency plan specifying how spills from Refuge storage tanks would be handled.

D. PLANNING

1. Master Plan

Nothing to Report

2. Management Plan

Work continued this year on the draft River Management Plan. The original document was completed and forwarded to the Regional Office for review in May, 1991. A revised version of the plan was completed in January, 1992. Review comments on this version were

9

received in April. Work and travel schedules then prevented work on the plan until fall. In October, ORP Edgerton, primary author of the plan, began the second major revision of the document. By year's end, the plan had been substantially added to and reorganized to address Regional Office comments. This third and final draft is expected to be released to the public in Spring, 1993.

In March, the Refuge's Environmental Education Plan was revised following a new regional format. The Regional Office provided additional guidance and direction during the summer that will require further updating of the plan. These changes will be finalized in early 1993.

WB Heffernan began work on a Refuge law enforcement plan that should be completed in 1993.

RM Elison and ORP Edgerton served as members of a special work group tasked with writing the wilderness chapter of the new Refuge Manual. ORP Edgerton drafted and provided comments on several sections while RM Elison consolidated and edited the document from the writings of the ten group members.

3. Public Participation

ARM Garrett attended a Fish and Game Advisory Board meeting in Arctic Village in late January to discuss the draft policy for commercial big game guide-outfitters and transporters on national wildlife refuges in Alaska, federal subsistence permits, and negotiations to amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

In April, Gary Muehlenhardt and Steve Ebbert from the Region's Realty Office conducted a public meeting to provide information about the Land Protection Plan being drafted for the Arctic Refuge. RM Glenn Elison attended to answer questions about the Refuge. A similar meeting was held held in Kaktovik in early June.

In early July, RM Elison, ARM's Garrett and Weiler, and WB Heffernan participated, by teleconference, in a North Slope Borough Assembly appeal hearing for several hunting guides who were denied permits to operate within the borough, which includes much of the Refuge.

10

4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates

Compatibility determinations and subsistence use evaluations were completed for all activities requiring special use permits on the Refuge.

The Kooptul River, ODC of the Rcfu&e'a 1D01t popular fttawi)'L T. f..d&ertoo

The Army Corp of Engineers continued in its planning for cleanup of the Camden Bay and Beaufort Lagoon abandoned DEW line sites where a variety of contaminants have been found. Actual cleanup may be years away, according to the Corps.

11

An environmental assessment was written and approved for installation of a radio repeater station near little Rock Mountain on the south side of the Refuge.

Much of the rich, multicultural history of the Arctic Refuge area is being lost forever as the region's elders slip away. Unfortunately, the ties that bound previous generations are fraying, and in the throes of rapid culture change, elders often are not passing down - or youth are not reaching up for - traditional knowledge.

Information about the lifeways of nomadic Eskimos, abandoned Athabascan settlements and solitary trappers and traders is a Refuge resource and enhances the experience of Refuge travelers. Therefore, the Refuge began an oral history project this year to document the Refuge's recent history. The project will document the lives, travels and personal reflections of fifteen individuals whose experience on the Refuge gives an overview of the transitional period, 1930 to present. life stories are being taped, in the format used by the University of Alaska's oral history project. The individuals' life experiences relevant to the Refuge will be detailed in 3000 - 3500 word profiles to be published and made available to visitors.

5. Research and Investiiations

In 1992, research on mammals, birds, fisheries, vegetation, and water resources continued within the 1002 area of the ANWR coastal plain. Work was conducted by USFWS biologists from ANWR, the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center (AFWRC), Water Resources Branch, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Canadian Wildlife Service, Yukon Territory Division of Renewable Resources and University of Alaska-Fairbanks (UAF). Scientific permits were issued to five institutions and organizations conducting geological studies, to the EPA to collect specimens for the Arctic contaminant research program, and to UAF for rocket/payload impact and recovery research.

6. Other

a. 1002 STUDIES

1 Potential impacts of petroleum exploration and development on the numbers. distribution. and status of caribou populations on the ·arctic coastal plain.

12

Brad Griffith, AFWRC, Fairbanks, Alaska Thomas R. McCabe, AFWRC, Fairbanks, Alaska Noreen E. Walsh, AFWRC, Fairbanks, Alaska Kenneth R. Whitten, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, Alaska

ia.. Population dynamics and demographics of caribou in d~veloped and undeveloped ar~as of tb~ arctic coastal ~

A photo-census of the Porcupine Caribou herd was attempted again in July of 1992 during the post-calving aggregations on the coastal plain. These photos are currently being counted. The last successful photo-census of the PCH was in 1989, at which time the herd was estimated at 187,000 animals. During the July photo­census, a sample of 18,217 canbou were counted and classified into calves, yearlings, bulls, and cows. The ratio of calves:100 cows was 55; this estimate is within the range of variability observed over the last decade .

.ih.. Effect of potential displacement of caribou from the 1002 area on mortality rates of calves.

The annual PCH calving survey was conducted 28 May -12 June, 1992. Of the 70 radio-collared caribou females observed during this period, 88.6% had calves and 11.4% were barren. The number of calves of radio-collared cows lost during the month of June indicates that calf mortality over that period was 355%. The distribution of calving sites for calves born to radio-collared cows was. very widespread, from the Blow River in the Yukon Territory, Canada to the Sadlerochit River on the 1002 area of the Refuge in Alaska. Fifty-three percent of 47 calving sites were in Alaska, and 47% were in Canada.

.i&.t Differential impacts of predators (brown bears. wolves. golden eagles) on caribou calving in the 1002 area and potential displacement areas: an assessment of predation ~

Donald Young, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center Thomas McCabe, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center

13

In 1992, 12 brown bears were recaptured to replace failing radio-collars and 5 additional bears were captured and collared to replace bears lost from our sample. One bear shed its radio-collar between the fall of 1991 and the spring of 1992. Twenty-nine brown bears were radio­tracked during the period 29 May - 1 August, 1992.

Fourteen adult females were radio-tracked in 1992. Of those, 2 females produced single cub litters, of which one lost her cub by 12 June, and 2 females were accompanied by twin yearling cubs.

The distribution of 115 brown bear locations (111 radio­relocations and 4 incidental observations) relative to the coastal plain, foothills, and mountains was 32.2% (n=37), 52.2% (n=60), and 15.6% (n= 18), respectively.

Collared wolves were relocated on 3 occasions in 1992. Wolf #46 was relocated 2 times at a den site used in previous years; wolf #44 was relocated along the Egaksrak River in the company of 2 unmarked wolves. Wolves #22 and #47 either died or slipped their collars.

Results from the 1992 field season were consistent with earlier findings for brown bears and wolves (Young et al. 1991), i.e., bears were relocated more frequently in the foothills than on the coastal plain or in the mountains, and wolves were normally found near den sites located in the foothills and mountains. Studies by Fancy and Whitten {1991) suggest that Porcupine herd caribou may incur higher calf predation rates if petroleum exploration and development displace calving caribou from their traditional calving grounds on the coastal plain to adjacent areas in the foothills. Additional studies regarding predation rates and predator densities on caribou calves by brown bears, wolves, and golden eagles are needed to develop models for use in estimating the potential effects of petroleum exploration and development on the Porcupine Caribou Herd .

.ii,. Habitat requirements and potential impacts of oil development on caribou.

Janet Jorgenson, ANWR, Fairbanks, Alaska

14

Mike Emers, ANWR, Fairbanks, Alaska Bev Reitz, ANWR, Fairbanks, Alaska Mark Willms, ANWR, Fairbanks, Alaska

.iia.. Performance of caribou in relation to habitat availability and quality.

A total of 80 caribou calves were hand captured and weighed within 1-2 days of birth, fitted with radio-collars, and released. These calves were recaptured with net-guns and reweighed at 3 and 6 weeks of age. Be~een weighings, more than 1700 observations of habitat use were obtained from aircraft. GPS locations were recorded for each habitat use observation for later reference to TM and physical feature maps of the area. Average weight at birth was 6.3 kg. When 62 of the original 80 calves were recaptured an average of 23 days later, they weighed 15.1 kg. Twelve (12) of the original calves were captured a third time 18 days after the second capture. Average weight at the third capture was 20.9 kg. During the 0-3 week season daily weight gain was negatively associated with proportional use of upland tussock tundra vegetation type. This result may be related to advanced phenology in upland areas creating a lower quality forage. During the 3-6 week season, daily weight gain was negatively associated with proportional use of high centered polygon vegetation type and positively associated with use of the partially vegetated type. This positive association may be due to use of partially vegetated areas as insect relief habitat. Weight gain of calves as related to habitat use appears to have utility in identifying high value habitats on the PCH calving grounds.

Reports. papers. and publications:

Fancy, S. G., K. R. Whitten, and N. E. Walsh. 1992. Population dynamics and demographics of caribou in developed and undeveloped areas of the Arctic coastal plain. Pages 1-20 in T. R. McCabe, ed. Terrestrial Research: 1002 areas- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Interim Report, 1991. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Anchorage, Ak. 432pp.

15

Walsh, N. E., S. G. Fancy, T. R. McCabe, and L F. Pank. 1992. Habitat use by the Porcupine caribou herd during predicted insect harassment. J. Wildl. Manage. 56:465-473.

Whitten, K. R., G. W. Garner, F. J. Mauer, and R. B. Harris. 1992. Productivity and early calf survival in the Porcupine caribou herd. J. Wildl. Manage. 56:201-212.

Whitten, K. R., S. G. Fancy, and N. E. Walsh. 1991. Effect of potential displacement of canoou from the 1002 area on mortality rates of calves. Pages 21-36 in T. R. McCabe, ed Terrestrial Research: 1002 areas - Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Interim Report, 1991. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Anchorage, Ak. 432pp.

iih Effects of global climate change on ungulate resources of the arctic coastal plain.

Noreen E. Walsh, AFWRC, Fairbanks, Alaska

Objectives:

1. Continue collection of site specific weather data across the coastal plain of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

2. Determine effects of early and late snowmelt dates on phenology, production, and nutrient content of key forage species.

3. Analyze the relationships between canoou forage availability under different snow ablation patterns (from Work Unit# 00053), and caribou movements and calving site selection, and predict caribou movements under conditions reflective of global warming.

Changes in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide during the last century have prompted concern about the effects of related changes in the earth's climate, and, in tum, their effects on terrestrial ecosystems.

It has been predicted that northern latitudes will experience a greater increase in mean winter temperatures than southern latitudes. At higher latitudes, there is a tendency for warmer winters to be more snowy.

16

However, in general there is little agreement about what this means in terms of the length of the snow-free season in the Arctic.

One hypothesis is that increased co1 concentrations will reduce shortwave radiation absorbed by active snow layers and therefore delay the onset of spring snowmelt. However, another hypothesis is that a co1 induced warming trend will result in an earlier snowmelt date in the Arctic and, therefore, an overall increase in the length of the snow-free period. Changes in precipitation rates

17

and snow ablation patterns on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge could alter the permafrost layer, soil moisture regimes, chronology of vegetation, and therefore the quantity and quality of forage available to canbou.

Caribou aureptioo Oil tbe coatal plain lOUth of Barter lalaod. R. Kaye

The Porcupine canbou (Rangifer tarandu.s) herd, which migrates between Canada and northern Alaska each year, annually arrives on the coastal plain of the ANWR at the time of calving. The timing of spring migration, selection of migration routes, and selection of calving sites has been shown to be related to degree of snowmelt. The susceptibility of canbou to perturbation during the calving period is high because their physiological condition is at an annual low. Forage available to cows as they arrive on Arctic calving grounds is limited; in some years snow still covers most of the coastal plain.

Eriophorum vaginatum inflorescences are the main component of the diet at this time. E. vaginatum inflorescences elongate rapidly immediately following

18

snowmelt and are at their highest levels of nitrogen and phosphorous, and lowest levels of fiber. Thus, the timing of caribou arrival on the calving ground at the time of snowmelt may be an adaptation to take advantage of the most nutritious stage of E. vaginatum.

~ Vegetation mawin& from IANPSAI-TM satellite imagezy data for delineatin& wildlife habitat availability and distnbution.

Thomas R. McCabe USFWS Research USFWS Research

Jor2enson USFWS Arctic NWR

Bio-Tech Dee Dee Kramer reoon1in& informatioo for the habitat study. M. Emera, 1992

A preliminary habitat map of the l.ANDSAI-TM scene covering the eastern two-thirds of the Arctic NWR coastal plain was produced, based on l.ANDSAI-TM, ancillary data such as topography and terrain type, and ground­truth data. Work was begun on mapping of the scene covering the western part of the Refuge to Prudhoe Bay. A classification of the scene was done and all ground-

19

truth data available for the area were located on the satellite image. A crew of one botanist, one biologist and six biological technicians gathered more ground-truth data in July and August

Vegetation sampling was conducted in the area between Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic NWR, mainly on the Alaska state land between the Sagavanirktok and the Canning Rivers. Additional ground data also were collected inside the Refuge for vegetation types that were difficult to map.

Rsworts, papers. publications

Joria, P. and J.C. Jorgenson. 1992. Preliminary map of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK.

Joria, P. and J.C. Jorgenson. 1992. Mapping of the Arctic NWR coastal plain using IANDSAT-TM and ancillary data (in progress) .

.Yr. Potential effects of petroleum exploration and development on muskoxen using the arctic coastal plain.

Patricia E. Reynolds, Arctic NWR, Fairbanks, AK.

A total of 539 muskoxen were seen in April, 1992, during a precalving census of all major river drainages on and adjacent to the ANWR coastal plain. 321 of these were in ANWR and 218 were west of the Refuge. Numbers of muskoxen in ANWR were similar to numbers seen in previous years, while numbers of muskoxen west of the Refuge have continued to increase.

In FY92, seasonal distnoution of muskoxen were obtained from radio-collared and satellite-collared muskoxen. In April, 1992, four muskox cows were radio-collared to replace animals which had died or disappeared, and satellite radio-collars were replaced on two previously collared cows and two new cows. Up to 22 radio-collared muskoxen were visually relocated in April, May, June, August and September, 1992. Seven of these animals also carried satellite radio-collars for at least part of the year, and locations and activity data from these collars were

20

Muskalrea are diaperaing from the Refuge to adjacent areaa oear Prudhoe s.y and Canada

collected every other day for a six hour period throughout the year. Distribution of muskoxen in 1992 was similar to that seen in previous years.

In late June, 1992, 518 muskoxen were observed from the ground and classified by sex and age and 19 radio-collared cows were watched to determine their reproductive status. About 16% (83) of animaJs seen during composition counts were calves and 43 calves per 100 cows > 2 years old were seen. Nine (47%) radio-collared cows had calves. Survival was estimated to be > 80% for calves and > 75% for yearlings. Four carcasses of radio-collared cows which died between mid-April and mid-May were killed or eaten by predators (bears 3, wolves 1). An analysis of muskox mortalities which occurred during the past decade showed that in ANWR brown bears kill and/ or scavenge muskoxen more frequently than do wolves.

Two University of Alaska graduate students completed a Master's thesis using data collected on winter habitat use

21

Pat Reynolds prepan:s to apply a radio collar to a ICdatcd muataL

by muskoxen in and near the Refuge. K. Wilson, who worked on muskoxen in the eastern part of the coastal plain, found that snow was an important factor in the selection of both local and regional areas and that muskoxen fed primarily on graminoids in winter. M. Biddlecomb compared caribou and muskox habitat use along the Ivishak River near the northwestern edge of the Refuge.

Reports. papers. and publications

Biddlecomb, M.E. Comparative patterns of winter habitat use by muskoxen and caribou. M.S. thesis. Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska. 58 pp.

Biddlecomb, M.E. and D.R. Klein. 1992. Comparative patterns of winter habitat use by muskoxen and caribou. Rangifer 12(1) 3-4 (expanded abstract).

Reynolds, P.E. 1991. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 1991 Muskox Survey and Inventory Report. Unpub. Rep., U.S.

22

Fish and Wildl. Serv., Arctic Nat. Wildl. Ref. Fairbanks, Ak.

Reynolds, P.E. 1992. Winter distribution, movements, and habitat use of muskoxen on potential petroleum lease areas of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Pages 130-147 in T. R. McCabe, B. Griffith, N.E. Walsh, and D.O. Young, eds. Terrestrial Research: 1002 areas -Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Interim Rep., 1988-1990. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Anchorage, Ak. 432pp.

Reynolds, P.E. 1992. Population dynamics of muskoxen on the Arctic coastal plain: productivity and dispersal as a natural regulator of population size in the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Pages 148-164 in T. R. McCabe, ed. Terrestrial Research: 1002 areas- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Interim Report, 1991. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Anchorage, Ak. 432pp.

Reynolds, P.E. 1992. Seasonal differences in the distribution and movements of muskoxen ( Ovibos moschatus) in northeastern Alaska. Rangifer 12(3) pp 171-172 (expanded abstract).

Reynolds, P.E., H.V. Reynolds, A Gunn, P.L Oarkson. 1992. Grizzly bear predation on muskoxen in northern Alaska and Canada. Professional paper presented by Pat Reynolds at the 9th Internat. Conf. on Bear Research and Mgmt, Missoula, MT, Feb 24-28, 1992.

Wilson, KJ. and D.R. Klein. 1991. The characteristics of muskox late winter habitat in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. Rangifer 11(2) p. 79. (expanded abstract).

Wilson, KJ. 1992. Spatial scales of muskox resource selection in late winter. M.S. thesis. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK. 90 pp.

Wilson, KJ. 1992. Assessments of the characteristics of muskoxen winter habitat in potential lease areas of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. Pages 309-340 in T. R. McCabe, B. Griffith, N.E. Walsh, and D.O. Young, eds. Terrestrial Research: 1002 areas - Arctic National

23

Wildlife Refuge, Interim Rep., 1988-1990. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Anchorage, Ak. 432pp .

.YL Migratory bird use of potential port sites on the Beaufort Sea coast of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Mark A. Willms, Arctic NWR, Fairbanks, Alaska.

No field activity occurred in 1992. The final report was released on June 1. Results were reported in the 1991 Annual Narrative.

Reports. papers, and publications

Willms, Mark A. 1992. Migratory bird use of potential port sites on the Beaufort Sea coast of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Final Report. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Fairbanks, AK. 126 pp .

.Yih Water Resource Investigations. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Steven Lyons, USFWS Water Resources Branch, Fisheries Management Service, Fish and Wildlife Enhancement, Anchorage, Alaska.

Nineteen-ninety-two was the final year of a multi-year water resource investigation for the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In 1988, a water resource investigation was initiated with the installation of eight stream discharge gaging stations. In 1989 the stream gaging network was expanded to ten (10) stations. Stream discharge has been monitored each year from June through September since that time. Each year an annual report was prepared that reported average discharge and water temperature, maximum discharge and water temperature, minimum discharge and water temperature. Additionally, winter water temperature for the rivers and lakes were reported and the water depth and volume of 119 lakes in the 1002 area were reported. A final report summarizing all of the water resource investigations is being prepared.

24

Activity in 1992 was limited to completing the fifth year of collecting stream discharge and water temperature data. The intent of the water resource inventory and assessment is to provide resource managers with the information required to make informed water allocation decision with regard to fish and wildlife habitat protection.

.Yii1 Population ecology of salmonid fish of the Arctic NWR: Genetic stock identification of char from coastal areas.

Rebecca Everett, USFWS Fisheries Management Service, Fish and Wildlife Enhancement, Anchorage, Alaska.

Fish are an important part of the natural diversity of Arctic NWR, and are important to subsistence users. Dolly Varden char (Salvelinus malma) are of special interest because of their abundance and life history. Increasingly, char stocks are at risk due to oil and gas development activities, commercial fishing (in Canada), and increased sport and subsistence fishing pressure. Tagging studies have demonstrated extensive migrations in individual char. Recent genetic studies (R. Everett, USFWS, Anchorage) have shown genetic divergence of Dolly Varden char stocks within and between Beaufort Sea drainages. Our pre1iminary work also has suggested that a substantial proportion of Arctic NWR char move west to the Prudhoe Bay area and east to Canada, though the estimates of stock composition were lacking in statistical precision. Including more genetic characters in the study will increase discriminatory power of analyses. Knowledge of population structure and migration will assist managers to maintain natural diversity of Refuge stocks, fulfill international obligations with Canada, and provide for subsistence use.

Study objectives:

1. Descn'be differentiation among stocks using allozyme (protein) electrophoresis and DNA analyses.

2. Determine whether DNA data permits greater discrimination among stocks than does allozyme data.

3. Compare Beaufort Sea char to char population from other areas for contrast.

25

4. Evaluate implications of the information acquired above relative to the conservation and management of Arctic NWR char .

.ix,. Potential impacts of petroleum develQPment on lesser snow &eese sta&ffi& on the Arctic coastal plain.

Jerry W. Hupp, AFWRC, Anchorage, Alaska.

In 1992, studies of snow goose staging ecology continued. Plant communities were sampled in 200 study plots in 12 study areas in order to measure the availability of tall cotton-grass (Eriophorum angustifolium) feeding habitat. The data will be examined using a statistical model developed in 1991 that predicts whether a site is suitable as feeding habitat. This will provide an estimate of the proportion of the 1002 area that can be used by snow geese when they are feeding on tall cotton-grass. Sites where tall cotton-grass was removed by snow geese in 1991 were revisited in 1992. There was little regrowth of tall cotton-grass during the first year following removal. The biomass availability of tall cotton-grass at 20 thermokarst pits was measured This data, combined with information on forage intake obtained in 1991 will provide understanding of the amount of area required to sustain a staging population of snow geese.

Studies of the large-scale characteristics of feeding sites were initiated in September, 1992 upon arrival of staging flocks. However because of an early winter storm and departure of geese, these studies were only conducted during a 3-day period

b. QTHER REFUGE STUDIES

i Lon&-term effects of winter seismic eJWloration on the ve&etation of the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Mike Emers, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Janet C. Jorgenson, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Martha K. Raynolds, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

26

No field activity occurred on the Refuge in 1992. Work continued on the annual report with final publication expected in FY 1993. The Arctic NWR received a total of 28 requests for the recently published paper in Arctic and Alpine Research (Felix et al. 1992) covering results through the 1988 season. Seventeen of the requests were from foreign countries including Argentina, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Great Britain, Greenland, Poland, and Spain.

Abstract for the 1992 draft annual report is as follows:

Effects of winter seismic exploration on arctic tundra were evaluated on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge seven to eight growing seasons after disturbance. Plant cover, recolonizing species, active layer depths, track depression, and plant nutrient content were measured at sites in major tundra plant communities at different levels of initial disturbance. Results are compared to initial and interim studies.

Most vegetation types showed decreases in disturbance levels and visibility. Plant cover differed most between disturbed and control plots in Dryas terrace sites and moist sedge-shrub sites at high initial levels of disturbance. These moist sedge-shrub sites changed in vegetation type to wet graminoid. Evergreen shrubs, mosses, and lichens were most affected by disturbance while grasses and sedges showed more resilience. Recolonizing species were generally those which were most common in the adjacent undisturbed plant communities. However, in some highly disturbed sites several species of forbs and graminoids not present in adjacent areas were important colonizers. Active layer depths were generally greater on disturbed areas. Track depression results showed no clear evidence that rebound had occurred. While plant productivity and nutrient levels were generally higher on disturbed plots initially, many species showed recovery by 1991. Evergreen shrubs in tussock tundra were the exceptions.

This follow-up study showed that tundra vegetation types vary in their resistance and resilience to winter seismic disturbance. The severity of impact and subsequent

27

Laura Wclp reads the point frame p1ot1 oo ooe of the ICiamic ploCL M. Emera, 1991

recovery rates depend on vegetation type, kind of vehicle, the method of trail dispersion, and the depth of snow cover during disturbance.

Reports. papers. and publications

Emers, M., J.C. Jorgenson, M.K. Raynolds, MA Willms and LA Welp. 1992. Long-term effects of winter seismic exploration on the vegetation of the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Draft Report. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Fairbanks, AK. 112 pp.

Felix, N.A., M.K. Raynolds, J.C Jorgenson, and K.E. Dubois. 1992. Resistance and resilience of tundra plant communities to disturbance by winter seismic vehicles. Arctic and Alpine Research 24(1):69-n.

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E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel

1. Glenn W. Elison, Refuge Manager, GM-14, Entered on Duty 8/13/89.

2. Donald P. Garrett, Refuge Operations Specialist, Gs-12, Entered on Duty 3/18/84.

3. Greg Weiler, Refuge Operations Specialist, Gs-12, Entered on Duty 1/22/84.

4. Tom Edgerton, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Gs-11, Entered on Duty 3/25/90.

5. Roger W. Kaye, Public Use-Subsistence Coord./Pilot, Gs-12, Entered on Duty 12/23/84.

6. David Sowards, Pilot, Gs-12, Entered on Duty 2/28/88.

7. Francis J. Mauer, Wildlife Biologist, GS-11, Entered on Duty 6/28/81.

8. Patricia C. Reynolds, Ecologist, Gs-11, Entered on Duty 11/1/81.

9. Harvey Heffernan, Fish & Wildlife Biologist, Gs-11, Entered on Duty 6/5/88.

10. Cathy Curby, Wildlife Biologist, GS-09, Entered on Duty 4/1/83.

11. Dave Cox, Biological Technician, Gs-o7, Entered on Duty 5/6/90.

12. Janet Jorgenson, Botanist, Gs-12, Entered on Duty 7/28/91.

13. Julia Mcisaac, Oerk-Typist, GS-04, Entered on Duty 6/2/91.

14. Donna Christensen, Financial Assistant, Gs-o5, Entered on Duty 10/28/91.

15. Pamela Butler, Budget Assistant, Gs-o6, Entered on Duty 3/22/92.

29

TERM APPOINTMENTS

1a. Mark Willms, Wildlife Biologist, GS-09, Entered on Duty 7/31/90.

2a. Beverly Reitz, Biological Technician, GS-06, Entered on Duty 6/16/91.

3a. Mike Emers, Botanist, GS-09, Entered on Duty 6/7/91.

4a. James Akaran, Biological Technician, GS-07, Entered on Duty 9/8/91.

s.ct Ror. 2a, 9, 4, 5, 1, 11, 12 Middle Ror. 3 Froat Ror. 13, 15, 14, 4a, 7, ~ 1a, 8

30

SEASONAL

1. Laura Welp, Biological Technician, GS-07, Entered on duty 5/04/92.

2. Christine Bossio, General Clerk, Gs-04, 5/18/92 to 9/30/92.

3. Jeffery Rupert, General Clerk, GS-03, 5/31/92 to 8/22/92.

4. Odile Kramer, Biological Technician, Gs-o5, 4/20/92 to 6/05/92.

5. Diane Gilbert, Biological Technician, GS-05, 6/15/92 to 8/29/92.

6. Lorinda Shutt, Biological Technician, Gs-04, 6/14/92 to 8/12/92.

7. Kimberly Fluetsch, Biological Technician, GS-05, Entered on duty 6/15/92.

8. Donald Nelson, General Clerk, GS-3, 6/01/92 to 7/31/92.

VOLUNTEERS

1. Christine M. Bossio, Field Station Caretaker and Service Representative, September-December 1992.

2. Annie Cox, Administration, Maintenance and Field Assistant, May-September 1992.

3. Dale L DuFour, Mechanic, February-September 1992.

4. David W. Fluetsch, Botanist, July-August 1992.

5. Brad P. Weltzien, Visitor information Specialist, June-August 1992.

2. Youth Proifaros

Nothing to Report

31

3. Other Manpower Programs

Nothing to Report

4. Volunteer Program

The Refuge responded throughout the year to numerous letters from people interested in volunteering. However, only five volunteers worked for the Refuge this year. They donated approximately 3,644 hours to Refuge programs.

Brad Weltzien, a student at the University of Montana in Missoula, was selected as the summer Visitor Services volunteer at the Coldfoot Visitor Center (see section H-6). Chris Bossio volunteered to serve as the field station caretaker and Service representative at the Kaktovik field station during the winter of 1992-93 after working as a general clerk during the summer. Chris has done an excellent job in the village due to her hard work and interest in the Native community.

Three others donated time to the Service this year. Annie Cox worked for eight weeks as an expeditor, maintenance helper and field assistant in Kaktovik. David Fluetsch helped conduct vegetation studies on the Refuge for two weeks. Dale Dufour provided about 50 hours of mechanical and field assistance in Kaktovik between February and September.

All volunteers that worked in the field completed the training outlined in Section E-6.

5. Fundin&

Refuge funding decreased by nearly 16% in FY92 (Table 3). The total allocation was $1,695,000, with $512,000 identified for 1002 studies. A total of $103,000 was received for non-1002 projects including the Dall Sheep Inventory, North & South Slope Moose Surveys, River Planning, Environmental Education, Dalton Highway and Fairbanks Airport Exhibits, Hangar Barrel Oeanup, the replacement of field gear and operations at the Coldfoot Visitors Center. Funding in the amount of $21,000 was received for the Fire Program including training, travel, equipment and maintenance.

32

6.

Table 3. Funding summary, FY 88 thru FY 92

Program FY88 FY89 FY90 FY91 FY92

1111 32

1120 290 290 285 160

1221 69

1261 863 1,267 890 1,127 1,194

1262 371 370 460 557 480

1411 200 92

9110 1

9120 16 9 20

Total 1,756 1,917 1,651 2,014 1,695

Safety

Regular safety meetings were held during the non-field season. Safety meeting topics included selection and proper use of sleeping bags, fuel storage procedures and safety, fire safety, and snow machine safety. Safety meetings were held at the Kaktovik field station for field crews. Subjects were aircraft, and village safety.

Coordination of meetings is handled by the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with participation and responsibility for presentation shared by the six different Fish and Wildlife Service offices in the Fairbanks Federal Building.

All summer temporaries and newly hired term employees were given orientation and safety training in June. Topics included Refuge administration, 1002 overview, CPR, First Aid, camping ethics, Refuge and wildlife regulations, aircraft safety, firearms orientation and safety, and water safety. All summer temporaries were given 16 hours of classroom instruction on bear safety, biology, and behavior. The training also included three practical firing exercises at the shooting range.

ARM Garrett provided instruction on firearms and bear safety to 23 instructors at the Train the Trainer program at Seward during April 10-12. The training was jointly held with Watercraft Safety training for Region 7 instructors.

33

Coachea dear the firin& liDe wbi1e ARM Oamtt repairla larJd at the qualific:atioa firin& lellioD. 'I1Ie Spriq Creek Correctiooa1 Facility provided the range facilitic:a. M. Lilac, 1992

Each trainee was required to lhoot the l'1ll1llin& bear c:ounc, a bear taiJd auacbcd to a bar aDd pulled toward the lbooter Oil • IOila rope by • IWIIICl". M. Lilac, 1992

34 .

An exception to OAS policy (OPM 91-5.4) prohibiting single skid, toe­in and step-out helicopter landings was granted for the Refuge Dall sheep inventory project. Mandatory training for the pilot and sheep capture crew was completed on September 22, 1992 in Fairbanks. During September 23-28, approximately 20 single skid or toe-in landings were safely accomplished in conjunction with capture of 32 Dall sheep in the Refuge.

The Refuge staff was shocked to learn of the deaths of pilot Joe Firmin, Porcupine Air Service, and ARM Steve Young, Yukon Flats NWR. They were killed while conducting moose surveys for YFNWR out of Ft Yukon. Their supercub crashed on the last day of the survey while they were completing the last plot Joe was a highly skilled pilot and the owner of the air service from Ft Yukon. Steve was the recently hired assistant manager for the Yukon Flats NWR. Both men left families with children. A fitting tribute from one of Steve's fellow employees was they both died with their boots on doing the work they both loved. The staff at Arctic NWR will miss both of them.

7. Technical Assistance

Nothing to report.

8. Other

Several awards were given to staff members during the year. Personnel receiving performance awards included: Pamela Butler, Dave Cox, Tom Edgerton, Phil Garrett, Harvey Heffernan, Fran Mauer, Dave Sowards, Greg Weiler, and Mark Willms.

Chris Bossio and Jeff Rupert were given on-the-spot awards for their enthusiastic and conscientious work at Barter Island.

Three staff members were given on-the-spot awards for their efforts in responding to a Freedom of Information Act request from the Wilderness Society. The request involved copying approximately two file cabinets full of past special use permits, deleting of confidential information, and coordinating with other Service offices in Fairbanks and Anchorage. Five cases of xerox paper were used to provide the information to the Wilderness Society (at no charge). Donna Christensen, Harvey Heffernan, and Julia Mcisaac were the recipients of the awards.

35

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1. General

The Arctic Refuge is our nation's single conservation area consisting of an undisturbed continuum of arctic and subarctic ecosystems from the Beaufort Sea to the Yukon River drainage. Management is oriented to preserve and maintain these systems in their original state, allowing for natural processes to continue with minimum human intervention. Collection of appropriate base information on plant and animal communities is integral to current and future management requirements. There are no habitat manipulation practices currently employed on the Refuge.

Several habitat investigations are currently underway on the Refuge. A major study of the vegetative characteristics of the calving grounds and post-calving areas of the Porcupine caribou herd is being conducted by Refuge and Research personnel (See Research and Investigations). Use of the Refuge coastal plain by staging snow geese also is being investigated by Research. A Master's Degree thesis assessing musk ox use of winter habitat on the Refuge coastal plain was completed in 1992. All of these efforts are oriented to provide additional information related to oil and gas development impacts and mitigation.

2. Wetlands

Nothing to Report

3. Forests

Nothing to Report

4. Croplands

Nothing to Report

5. Grasslands

Nothing to Report

6. Other Habitats

Nothing to Report

36

7. Grazin~

Nothing to Report

8. Haying

Nothing to Report

9. Fire Management

Five wildfires were reported on the Refuge in 1992. All fires occurred in "limited suppression" fire management areas. The Alaska Fire Service (AFS), the fire fighting arm of the Bureau of Land Management, monitored the fires by air as time and manpower permitted and kept the Refuge informed of the fire status. Close coordination with the Alaska Fire Service was maintained by Fire Management Officer Fred Deines, Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge.

The first wildfire (7044) was reported by a commercial aircraft as a small (just started) spot fire about 8 pm on July 19 about one mile south of Burnt Mountain. The fire report the following day (July 20) lists the fire as 15 acres and burning actively on the southwest side of Burnt Mountain. The Air Force has a geophone listening site (on a public land withdrawal that pre-dates the Refuge) located on the south and southeast side of Burnt Mountain within both the Arctic and Yukon Flats Refuges west of the Sheenjek River. Fire crews responded to the blaze with retardant drops, smoke jumpers and ground crews.

AFS continued to actively protect the buildings through August 19 and monitor the fire until it was declared out on September 17. Fire 7044 eventually covered 35,090 acres. The Air Force's buildings were not damaged but three of the five surface-laid connecting cable runs which join the bore holes were burned. AFS proposed in a joint meeting to include the site within a critical protection area.

Fire 7026 started on July 23 northeast of the Burnt Mountain fire (7044). It was monitored through the ensuing days, reaching 20+ acres. On August 20 fire 7044 burned into 7026.

The remaining three fires, reported by the Canadian Fire Service, were in the Firth River drainage. All three fires were allowed to burn but remained small. Fire 7029, located on Ammerman Creek due west of Rabbit Mountain, covered 30 acres and was declared out on August 19.

37

Fire 7f11.7, located about eight miles southwest of the confluence of the Firth River and Mancha Creek, had burned 185 acres when reported on July 24. The fire was declared under snow and out on August 19 (final size unknown). Fire 7f11.8, located about five miles northeast of 7f11.7 on right bank of the Firth river, also was reported on July 24 and covered seven acres. It was also declared out (under snow) on August 19; no final size given.

10. Pest Control

38

11. Water Rights

The Water Resources Branch of the Regional Office (newly moved from Enhancement to Realty) collected information for future Federal Reserved Water Rights assertion on the Refuge by completing a five­year study to measure flows of ten streams. A draft report for the 1992 work was completed in December. A report summarizing the full S year study, including hydrological data, will be prepared in early 1993. The Service plans to file for Appropriation Water Rights under State of Alaska regulations rather than asserting Federal Reserve Water Rights at this time.

As part of the summer's work, the Water Resources Branch tried to determine lake elevations in the 1002 area using global position system (GPS) equipment. This work was delayed because the benchmarks needed for calibration had been moved by frost heaving. The data will be collected in 1993, after the benchmarks are resurveyed and repositioned. Because of this delay, filing for water rights for Refuge lakes will not occur until1994.

12. Wilderness and Special Areas

The vastness, remoteness, scenic grandeur, wildlife, and the unexcelled opportunity for wilderness experience all combine to make the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge the nation's premier wilderness Refuge.

The Refuge contains nearly one-half of all the Congressionally designated refuge wilderness in Alaska. The approximately eight millon acres of designated wilderness within the Arctic Refuge is more than in all refuges in the continental U.S. combined. The designated wilderness includes north slope Arctic tundra, mountain peaks, glaciers, alpine valleys, spruce forests, river valleys, and a host of diverse habitat types in these areas. It contains an undisturbed portion of the Arctic environment large enough to be biologically self-sufficient.

G. WIWLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity

The proximity of the Brooks Range to the Arctic Ocean in northeast Alaska and northern Yukon Territory affords a unique assemblage of Arctic plant and animal communities which is repeated nowhere else in the entire circumpolar region. The southern boundary of the Refuge extends well into the northern boreal forest zone combining Arctic and

39

CamiYore Creek, a tributary of Peten Late, it a hi&hJy n:mote area within ooc of the IDOiliCalic plaa:a ill tbe w~ area oa the Refu&e. G. Bliloo, 198.5

subarctic life forms within a single conservation unit-the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Thus, an unusual diversity of wildlife occurs in the Refuge. For example, all three species of North American bears (black, brown and polar) occur in the Refuge. Ungulate species such as moose, Dall sheep, musk ox and caribou often are found in close proximity and occasionally overlap on certain habitats. The Refuge also supports the northernmost breeding populations of golden eagles and the most northern populations of Dall sheep in North America. Several plant species are at their extreme distribution in the Refuge. A total of 180 bird species have been recorded on the Refuge, some come from very distant exotic places such as Africa, India, Australia and Patagonia. The Arctic Refuge supports an unusual diversity of wildlife and habitats, the majority of which exist in a relatively undisturbed condition.

40

A polar bear ambles along the coast in search of food. All three bear species, polar, brown and black, occur on the Refuge.

2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species

Bowhead Whale

Inupiat whaling crews at Kaktovik caught 3 bowhead whales during 1992. Whales measuring 50, 40, and 36 feet in length were taken by captains Joe Kaleak, James Lampe, and Daniel Akootchook, respectively. All whales struck during the 1992 season were recovered. Whaling conditions were good, due to calm weather, and the ice pack remained near shore, preventing the formation of large waves.

Peregrine falcon

A survey of cliff-nesting raptors on the Porcupine River was conducted by Refuge personnel during July 15-18, 1992. Only 5 of 17 peregrine pairs produced a total of 14 young. This is the lowest productivity in terms of productive pairs in 14 years, and in total young produced in 13 years. Unusual spring snow storms during late May apparently influenced peregrine productivity. The positive aspect of survey results was documentation of 17 pairs, suggesting that a robust population of

41

Fran Mauer aDd Jeff Rupert JII"CPPfC to band )'OWl& perqrinc:a at a oeat lite oa Barter IalaDd. M. Jaoobloo, 1992

adults are continuing to use the Porcupine River habitats, and given improved conditions, will regain productivity in future years.

Table 4. Peregrine falcon productivity, Porcupine River, Alaska 1992

Productivity parameter 1991 1992 13 year avg.

Total pairs 26 17 14.0 Pairs with young 19 5 10.6 Total young 46 14 25.5 Young fledged/fotal pairs 1.77 0.82 1.81

In addition to the annual survey of the Porcupine River, Refuge personnel also conducted peregrine falcon surveys on the north slope from the Canning River to the international border, and provided assistance to Yukon Territory biologists conducting similar surveys on

42

the Yukon north slope. The purpose of the northern surveys was to obtain current data on abundance, distribution and productivity of arctic peregrines for population status assessments associated with the delisting process currently underway. Funding was provided by FWS­Endangered Species.

Two of three peregrine pairs produced a total of four young on the Refuge north slope in 1992. Single adults were found at two additional sites. A pair of peregrines raised 3 young at a site on Barter Island, for a second consecutive year. This site is the first one documented on Alaska's arctic coastline. In spite of poor spring weather, more peregrines were found on the Refuge north slope than during any previous survey. Peregrines also were found at two new sites in northern Yukon Territory, including a site on Herschel Island Results of the 1992 surveys suggest that peregrines are increasing on the Refuge north slope in response to increased productivity on the more extensive nesting habitats located west of the Refuge.

Spcc:taclcd Eider, a eea duct fOUDd 011 the Rcfuce, II beiDa CXlDiiden:d foe pro&ccdoo UDder the Bnd•nacrcd Specie~ Ad..

43

The Service is currently completing final rules for listing the spectacled eider as Threatened under provisions of the Endangered Species Act. The listing process was initiated in response to sharp declines in the number of breeding eiders reported for several areas of Alaska. Past studies have documented this species nesting in the Canning and Okpilak River deltas, however, knowledge of its status in the Refuge is incomplete. Refuge staff prepared a proposal to assess breeding distribution and abundance of spectacled eiders on the Refuge during FY 93. Approval and funding of this effort has not yet occurred

Steller's Eider

This species also has declined sharply and was proposed for Category n listing by the Service in 1992. Although the status of Steller's eider on the Refuge is not known, no credible observations have been recorded in the Refuge since 1914. Its primary nesting distribution is located to the west of the Refuge, on the Arctic coastal plain south of Point Barrow.

Mite Emcn at the botaniat miDerallk:tm

44

Three Alaskan plant species listed as Category n (potentially endangered or threatened, but status information is currently insufficient) exist or could occur on the Refuge. Eriogonum j1avum var. aquilinum, a small member of the buckwheat family is found on dry "steppe-slope" habitat of the upper Porcupine River. Aster yukonensis may occur along major rivers in the Refuge. Mertensia drummondii a bluebell known from two north slope sand dune areas, also could exist in similar sand dunes on the Refuge. In addition, Poa hartzii, a bluegrass, known from only a single location near Schrader Lake in the Refuge has been recently recommended for Category ll listing.

Plant species occurring on the Refuge which previously were considered for Category n but have been moved to Category m (species no longer considered for listing) include: Thalaspi arcticum, Erigeron muirii, and Salix ovalifolia var. glacialis. Three new populations of Erigeron muirii were discovered by the Refuge botany crew this summer on the coastal plain.

Refuge botanist, Mike Emers participated in a meeting of the Alaska Rare Plant Working Group during November 19-20. The group discussed rare plant listings, and identified rare habitats or ecosystems which support rare plants. In the Arctic Refuge, features such as pingos, perennial springs, hot springs, steppe bluffs, and unusual arctic habitats (balsalm poplar stands) were recognized for their association with unique or rare plant life. The steppe bluffs are of special concern since up to 6 Category II plant species are associated with these habitats.

3. Waterfowl

Tundra swan nesting and brood surveys were not performed this year. Although staging snow geese from the Western Canadian Arctic population began arriving in late August, they did not appear in large numbers until September 4-5. A survey conducted on September 8 found about 61,000 birds across the coastal plain of the Refuge. Geese remained until about September 9-10 when freezing temperatures and snow caused most birds to depart.

The 1992 breeding pair survey was conducted on the coastal plain of the Refuge by the Migratory Birds Office-Fairbanks on June 29. It provided population indices for five waterfowl species. Numbers included an estimated 265 tundra swans, 690 greater white-fronted geese, 4209 northern pintails, 1019 American wigeon, and 1985 oldsquaw.

45

Red throeted Looo oo Dell- ooe of many waterfowl apcdcl uam, the couta1 plaiD. P. Miller', 1983

4. Marsh and Waterbirds

The 1992 breeding pair survey conducted on the coastal plain of the Refuge by the Migratory Birds Office-Fairbanks provided population indices for 2 loon species. Numbers included 106 Pacific loons and 53 red-throated loons.

S. Shorebirds. GnU& Terns. and Allied 5l>ecies

A semipalmated plover nest with four eggs was discovered on June 29. This species is a rare breeder on the north slope. The nest site was on a gravel bar adjacent to the Sadlerochit River approximately three miles upstream from the aufeis, below Sadlerochit Springs.

6. Raptors

Surveys for peregrine falcons and other cliff-nesting raptors were conducted on the Porcupine River and Refuge north slope during late June to early August (See Endangered Species). Nesting success and productivity of golden eagles in all survey areas was extremely low in 1992. Only one of seventeen golden eagle nest territories produced

46

young on the Porcupine River, and one of thirteen territories surveyed on the north slope had young eagles. The extremely late and inclement spring of 1992 apparently influenced golden eagle nesting. A pair of bald eagles were observed on the Kongakut River, but no indication of nesting activity was evident. A pair of American kestrels successfully fledged two young on the lower Kongakut River, a likely new record for northernmost nesting of the species.

Snow Buntinp at a Dell lite 011 the coutal plaiD.

The resident American dippers at Sadlerochit Springs were observed feeding three nearly fledged young on June 29. Their nest consisted of a large pile of moss, and was situated near the center of the spring's mouth. These dippers are the northern most known nesting pair in the world. A male bluethroat was observed in riparian shrubs along Dodo Creek on July 18 and another one was seen along Limit Creek on July 19. This species is considered a locally rare breeder in foothills. Single American robins were observed at Sadlerochit Springs on June 29 and along Dodo Creek on July 17. This species is currently listed as a casual summer visitor to the inland coastal plain. A pair of yellow warblers was observed on June 29 in a small grove of eight foot tall balsam poplars growing near Sadlerochit Springs. This species is

47

currently considered a probable rare breeder on the inland coastal plain. No nest was found, although one likely was present.

8. Game Mammals

Caribou

A majority of the Porcupine herd wintered in the Ogilvie and Nahoni mountain ranges of central Yukon Territory in Canada during 1991-92. This was the second consecutive year in which there were essentially no canbou from this herd in Alaska.

Bruce Battca (PAO) aDd Km WhitteD (ADF.tO) placiD& radio c:ollar oa caribou cow. 0. B1iloD, 1988

The 1992 spring migration was greatly influenced by record snow depth in northern Yukon Territory and late winter storms. Approximately half of the pregnant females shifted north along routes through Old Crow and Driftwood River during the period of March and April. They succeeded in reaching areas of favorable snow conditions before the late storms. The remainder of the herd was detained by deep snow and late storms. The resulting calving distnbution for 1992 included up to half of the herd in a concentration in the traditional core area of the Refuge, with the

48

remainder of calving scattered in low density along the migration routes east and south to the Porcupine River.

A high rate of pregnancy was measured among radio-collared cows, 68 of 78 (87%) cows produced calves. Survival of calves, however, was only moderate, as 29 of 68 calves (43%) born to radio-collared cows died during the month of June. Composition counts during early July measured 54 calves per 100 cows.

During late June, all radio-collared cows had arrived on the Refuge coastal plain, and large aggregations formed between the Jago and Angun Rivers. Aerial photos of predominately bull groups were taken in the Old Woman Creek area on July 6. Photos of mostly cow I calve groups were obtained on July 8 along the arctic coast between the Hulahula River and Pokok Bay, and in the mountains from the Kongakut to Aichilik Rivers. Results of the photo census of the herd are not complete for inclusion in this report.

Most of the herd vacated the Alaskan north slope during mid July in response to a cold front moving from west to east. Scattered caribou occurred during the remainder of the summer and early fall in the southern Brooks Range foothills from Arctic Village to the international border. Other contingents of the herd moved to the northern Richardson Mountains in Canada, and eventually in a clock-wise gyre around the Old Crow Flats.

A significant westward movement of canbou during October began from the upper Rapid River area and proceeded to the East Fork of the Chandalar and Wind Rivers by early November. A southward movement also took place which brought can"bou to the upper Porcupine River, Ogilvie Mountains, upper Black and Salmon Trout Rivers.

Moose

Inclement weather precluded annual moose surveys on the Refuge during 1992. The recent trend of some north slope populations has been in decline, while others have been stable or increasing. Trend for southern Brooks Range moose populations generally have been stable, however, densities of moose south of the mountains is very low.

49

Muskox

A total of 321 muskoxen were counted in the Refuge during the pre­calving census in April, 1992. An additional 218 muskoxen were found west of the Refuge, indicating that the total population in northeastern Alaska is at least 539. Numbers of muskoxen in the Refuge appear to have stabilized or are declining slowly, due to dispersal of animaJs into areas west of the Refuge, where the population is continuing to increase.

In 1992, 45 calves/100 cows age three and older were observed during sex and age composition counts of Refuge muskoxen. Calves comprised 16% of the population. More than 80% of the 1991 cohort of calves survived the winter, as did about 75% of the yearlings. Snow conditions were not severe during the winter of 1991-92, but late winter storms in April and May 1992 may have contributed to neonatal mortality, resulting in below average calf:cow ratios.

Pall sheep

WrtyDC Heimer (ADF.tO) rcatraioa a ewe while Denile BradJey (Vet. Tcda Vol~) prqmca to coDcc:t blood. Cuil Soloy, 1992

50

Deep snow and late winter storms in the eastern Brooks Range during 1991-92 had profound effects on Dall sheep. The abundance of lambs in early June composition surveys was down in all areas surveyed Lowest was the Hulahula River, were only six lambs per 100 ewes were recorded. Slightly higher values (33 and 23 lam.bs/100 ewes) occurred in the Chandalar and Atigun sheep trend study areas. Increased winter mortality of adult sheep was evident in the three Refuge areas surveyed. Several sport hunters also reported decreased abundance of sheep, especially legal rams in areas where they had previously hunted Three of the past four winters have had negative effects on Brooks Range sheep populations, and sheep abundance has been substantially reduced. Parallel events have occurred in the Alaska Range where consecutive winters with deep snows also have reduced sheep populations.

Work toward establishment of a third sheep population trend site continued in the Hulahula River area where 21 sheep were radio­collared in late September. Marked sheep are used to identify subpopulations, distribution and movements relative to population monitoring sites. A system of at least five trend areas in the Refuge is anticipated to enable monitoring of Refuge sheep populations.

The continuing saga of wolf control and aerial wolf hunting raged in Fairbanks and most of Alaska during the fall and early winter. The ADF&G completed the planning process for wolf control in selected areas in interior Alaska where caribou and moose numbers are extremely low. Environmental organizations, mostly from outside the State, threatened a boycott of the tourism industry, and the Governor halted all wolf controL The Governor called for a wolf summit to be convened in Fairbanks in January 16-18, 1993 Wolf numbers on the Refuge are stable or increasing.

Brown Bear

Brown bear numbers seem to be on the increase, if reports from hunters and guides on the Refuge are correct. Work on predation by brown bears and wolves is discussed in Section 0.6.

9. Marine Mammals

During October and early November polar bears were abundant along coastal areas of the Refuge. Three polar bears were harvested by Inupiat hunters at Kaktovik in 1992. Alaska Natives can hunt and

51

use the marine mammals parts for food, clothing and crafts, under the Marine Mammal Act of 1972

Inupiat whaling crews at Kaktovik killed three bowhead whales during the fall. The fall migration of bowheads through the Kaktovik area was earlier than usual in 1992. The whale hunting activities occur only in Fall for the Kaktovik residents. The Spring whale hunt is inhibited by Spring ice. Other whaling village communities to the west hunt whales in Spring and Fall along the Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Bering Sea.

10. Other Resident Wildlife

52

11. Fisheries Resources

No field work was conducted on the Refuge by the USFWS Fisheries Assistance Office, Fairbanks, in 1992. Final reports are being prepared for their studies on 1) relative abundance, distribution, population dynamics, and habitat characteristics of Camden Bay, and Kaktovik, Jago, and Beaufort Lagoons, and 2) spatial and temporal distribution of Arctic fishes in Refuge rivers. Both studies are described under the section on Research and Investigations (05). Char were collected by the Fisheries Management Services, Anchorage, in September. This study is descnbed under the section on Research and Investigations (D.6.a. viii).

12. Wildlife Propagation

Nothing to Report

13. Surplus Animal Disposal

Nothing to Report

14. Scientific Collections

Plants

During the 1992 field season, Refuge botanists and Bio­Techs M. Emers, B. Reitz, L Welp, M. Willms, K. Fluetsch, D. Gilbert, L Shutt, and D. Kramer collected approximately 200 plants, while working on the 1002 habitat study, and added these specimens to the Refuge's herbarium collection. These included approximately 150 vascular plants and 50 non-vascular plants (mostly mosses and lichens). N. Walsh (AFWRC) collected specimens of Salix planifolia at six plots to obtain biomass measurements for a project whose objectives are to test the effects of global climate change on key forage species used by caribou.

Mammals

Four caribou calves, which died following capture procedures, were collected and given to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (UAF) for whole body composition analysis as part of a study of reproductive performance of cows in the Porcupine caribou herd being conducted by

53

biologists from UAF (R. White and K. Gerhart), Yukon Territories (D. Russell), and (ADFG) (R. Cameron, and K. Whitten).

Toaya SteYall, fonDCI' Bio-Tech for Fllbericl AlliltaDCle Oftic:e, ~ an An:tic char oa the ICoapkut Rilloer, oae ol. the IDOil popular lttaml for floatiq and f:ilhiD& OD the Rcfu&e. 1985

In 1992, juvenile arctic char were collected in the Arctic NWR by Fisheries Assistance Office, Anchorage as part of a study to identify genetic stock using electrophoresis. Approximately 60 fish were taken at each of the following sites: upper Firth Creek, Joe Creek, Kongakut River,

54

Aichilik River, Egaksrak River, and Canning River. About 120 fish were taken from the Hulahula River.

15. Animal Control

Nothing to report

16. Marking and Banding

In 1992, mammals and birds were captured and marked as part of continuing field studies in the 1002 area of the Arctic NWR and other areas of the Refuge. These studies are described in the section on Research and Investigations.

Caribou

Caribou from the Porcupine caribou herd were captured and marked with radio-collars, ear tags and neck bands during three interrelated studies of caribou on the coastal plain of the Arctic NWR. In April, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center (AFWRC) biologists and ADFG biologist K. Whitten captured 18 adult female and 12 adult male caribou as part of their studies of caribou population dynamics. AFWRC biologists B. Griffith, N. Walsh and T. McCabe captured 80 caribou calves (30 females and 50 males) on the calving grounds in early June in a study to determine calf weight gain in relation to habitat use. UAF biologists R. White and K. Gerhart, Yukon Territories biologist D. Russell, and ADFG biologists R. Cameron and K. Whitten also captured and marked 29 adult female caribou as part of their studies of reproductive performance of caribou cows.

Pall sheep

Refuge biologist F. Mauer and Bio-Tech J. Akaran captured 27 sheep in late September in the Brooks Range along the Hulahula River, Crow Nest Creek, Water Creek, Cane Creek, and Red Sheep Creek as part of population and distribution studies of Dall sheep in the Refuge. Four males were captured including one yearling, two - three year olds and one four year old ram. The 23 ewes captured included 15 between the ages of five and eight, five from two to four years old, one yearling, one 10 year old and one (age

55

undetermined) adult ewe. The sheep were marked with conventional radio-collars and visual collars.

14% ol abeep captured In the Hulahula River area had black tall hairL 1bcy were allo quite fat In the n:ar quar1al! c.~.1992

Muskox

Eight muskoxen were captured and radio-collared in and near the coastal plain of the Arctic NWR in early April by Refuge ecologist P. Reynolds as part of studies of population dynamics and seasonal distribution and movements. Two were re-collared cows and six were cows captured for the first time. Satellite-collars were deployed or replaced on four cows, and four other cows carried conventional radio-collars. Muskoxen also were marked with large yellow cattle ear tags with black numbers.

Brown bear

Seventeen brown bears were captured between late May and early August in the Arctic NWR by AFWRC biologist D. Young as part of a study of predation on the Porcupine caribou herd in and adjacent to traditional calving areas.

56

The bears, including 12 sows and five boars, were radio­collared in order to determine distribution patterns and movements in relation to radio-collared caribou. All bears were at least four years of age.

Pere~e falcon

Six juvenile peregrine falcons were captured and banded at nests on the Refuge in 1992 by Biologist F. Mauer. Two were banded on the Porcupine River in mid-July, one was banded on the Kongakut River and three were banded at Barter Island in early August. The nestlings, estimated to be between 18-25 days old, were banded with size 7 A aluminum leg bands using band numbers 1807-00569 and 1807-00570 (Porcupine River), and 1807-02155 (Kongakut River) and 1807-02156 to 1807-02158 (Barter Island).

17. Disease Prevention and Control

Nothing to Report

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General

Tours

ARM Weiler participated in a tour of the Prudhoe Bay area and the Refuge with Chief of Refuges Rob Schallenberger and Steve Chase from the Washington Budget Office June 22-24. Poor weather and aircraft problems shortened the overflight of the Refuge.

In July, RM Elison conducted a coastal plain tour for the National Public Lands Advisory Council, a national advisory group for BLM. The participants included former governors Bob List (NV) and John Spellman (WA), and Jim Abdnar, former U.S. Senator (SD).

Members of the staff and board of directors of the World Wildlife Fund toured the Refuge's coastal plain on July 4.

On July 24, ARM Weiler toured the 1002 area with John Easton, Assistant Secretary of Energy.

57

In October, ARM Garrett accompanied Air Force and Army personnel and local villagers on an inspection to ensure the safety of the radio-isotope thermal generators (RTGs) at Burnt Mountain, located on the boundary between the Arctic and Yukon Flats NWR's. (See section C.3 for additional information.)

Media

ORP Edgerton was a guest on KUAC radio's half-hour AKcess program on April 6th, providing information about public use and river planning on the Refuge.

Refuge staff provided editorial comments on writings about the Sheenjek, Wind and Ivishak Rivers for TliD Palmer, a writer /photographer from Colorado writing a book on the Wild and Scenic Rivers system.

In June, Bruce Melzer, a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News, interviewed ORP Edgerton about recreational use of the Refuge, then took a guided river trip on the Kongakut River. His article, along with several others about the Refuge, are included in the Appendix.

58

In July, Service videos about the Duck Stamp program were distributed to the four main television stations in the Fairbanks area for their possible use between regularly-scheduled programs.

Pilot Kaye spent two days on a trip with the Northern Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) down the Sheenjek River to obtain information and write an article about the organization's "Leave No Trace" camping techniques for the local media. The article is expected to be published in 1993.

Meetin&S

In January, RM Elison met with Rick Hoos, a representative of Canada Arctic Gas, who wanted to discuss Canada's opposition to oil development in the Refuge and its impact on the United States.

RM Elison attended a Porcupine Caribou Herd Technical Committee meeting January 16-17. Representatives of FWS, ADF&G, CWS and the Yukon were present to discuss research and surveys on the caribou herd. He attended a second meeting of the committee October 20-21.

In late January, RM Elison participated, at the invitation of the National Park Service, in a panel discussion about the management of controversial natural resource issues at the Albright Training Center in Arizona. The session included representatives from the Wilderness Society, British Petroleum and the U.S. Senate.

ARM Weiler attended a BP-sponsored seminar on oil field operations during the last week of January. The seminar included classroom sessions in Anchorage and facility tours at Prudhoe Bay. ORP Edgerton attended the same seminar May 4-7.

RM Elison attended a compatibility training development session for instructors held in San Antonio, Texas on February 24-28. He then served as an instructor for the Service's Refuge compatibility training course held in San Antonio on April 26 - May 1.

RM Elison co-chaired a semi-annual meeting of the International Porcupine Caribou Board at Old Crow, Yukon Territory, March 11-12 He hosted the second meeting in Kaktovik the week of August 10-14.

59

On March 9, RM Elison met with Warren Matumeak from the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation to answer questions about movements of the · Caribou Herd

The Intematiooal Porcupine Caribou Board at Mile 0 of the Traiii-Aialta Pipeline Syltem. G. Elilco, 1992

In April, RM Elison met with the members of BLM, the General Accounting Office, and Robyn Thorsen from the Regional Office to discuss possible regulation scenarios for the 1002 area if oil development is authorized.

ARM Weiler was a guest speaker for the U.S. Forest Service Intensive Semester Training in April.

RM Elison attended the Arctic Fisheries Conference at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks on May 19-21.

ORP Edgerton met with BLM staff and employees from other refuges several times during the year, to discuss and coordinate operation of the Coldfoot Visitor Center and development of new interpretive exhibits at sites along the Dalton Highway. He also attended numerous meetings at the Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge with staff from the Yukon Flats NWR to discuss, plan and implement the Challenge Cost Share projects for trail

60

rehabilitation and construction, new trailside exhibits and a visitor center at the State Refuge.

Refuge employees in Fairbanks and Barter Island worked with Service staff in the Washington and Regional Offices, and with the local Girl Scout Council, to determine the feasibility of re­establishing a Girl Scout Troop in Kaktovik. This effort is expected to continue in 1993.

ORP Edgerton took part in a teleconference meeting of the Alaska Recreation and Park Association on May 21.

On June 8, WB Heffernan attended a Placer Mining Workshop presented by the EPA

On June 24, RM Elison participated in a meeting with the Corp of Engineers to discuss the cleanup of abandoned DEW line sites on the Refuge.

RM Elison attended a conference on Energy Issues for the 1990's on July 23-24. The conference was partly sponsored by OPEC.

From July 27-29, ORP Edgerton participated in a work group session in Albuquerque, NM to discuss and plan the revision of the chapter on wilderness management for the new Refuge manual.

ORP Edgerton attended the first annual Watchable Wildlife Conference, held in Missoula, Montana, from September 9-12.

On September 13, RM Elison provided a two hour briefing and answered questions about Refuge oil and gas issues for the State Department's Senior Seminar.

From September 21-25, WB Curby and ORP Edgerton attended Region 7's second annual environmental education workshop, presented this year at Birchwood Camp near Anchorage. The workshop emphasized the importance and effectiveness of EE as a major management tooL

On September 26, ARM Garrett attended a subsistence meeting with the Council of Athabascan Tnbal Governments in Stevens Village. The meeting was hosted by Regional Office subsistence staff.

In early October, ORP Edgerton, WB Curby, Botanist Jorgenson, and Biological Technicians Reitz and Welp attended meetings hosted

61

by the Girl Scouts to discuss how federal agencies can become more involved in scouting programs.

In October, RM Elison met in Anchorage with Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation representatives to discuss deficiency selections for Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation.

Other Activities

In June, the staff began to develop a new Refuge information brochure to replace and upgrade the two that have been distributed to the public. In September, Deanna Brandon of Fairbanks was contracted to design and layout the new brochure, incorporating text, a new map, black and white photographs and other graphics provided by the Refuge. The final mockup of the brochure was completed in December. Printing of the brochure, done by the Government Printing Office, will be completed in early 1993.

WB Curby, with assistance from ORP Edgerton and the Regional Office, worked through late fall to create and edit scripts for sections of the arctic tundra wetlands educational software funded through the America the Beautiful-Wetlands Initiative Challenge Cost Share program. Unfortunately, the cooperator, Monarch Software, has not had the time to create the technology that will accommodate the software due to other work commitments. As a result, even though the project has been ongoing for about two years, no part of the software has yet been produced. In November, the decision was made to stop work on the project until and in the hope that the technology will be developed to produce the software.

This year the Refuge responded to 319letter, telephone and in­person requests for information about Refuge resources, issues, recreation and work opportunities. This figure is low since not all telephone inquiries were recorded. File searches and copying of documents were done for three Freedom of Information Act requests, including a big one by the Wilderness Society.

2. Outdoor Oassrooms - Students

Refuge staff participated for the first time in Fairbanks Outdoor Days in late May, hosted for the second year by the Bureau of Land Management Outdoor Days is a day-long event intended to make local 6th grade students more aware of the activities of local natural resource agencies. The event took place over a three-day period to accommodate the almost 600 students. The Refuge program,

62

Public IlK in the Kooptut River valley, an oulltandin& put of the ei&ht millioD aae WildemeM area oo the Refu&e. T. F..dgertoa, 1992

repeated six times each day, was a 30-minute activity that introduced students to boreal forest succession, the natural role of fire, and the impact of habitat change on moose populations.

3. Outdoor Oassrooms - Teachers

Nothing to report.

4. Intei"J)retive Foot Trails

Nothing to Report

5. Intewretive Tour Routes

Nothing to Report

63

6. Inteq>retive Exhibits/Demonstrations

Coldfoot Visitor Center

The Coldfoot Interagency Visitor Center serves as an information center for bus tourists and others traveling the Dalton Highway. The center offers exhibits, interpretive programs, a variety of free publications and a small sales outlet of the Alaska Natural History Association (ANHA). The center was open June 1st - September 7th from about 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. During that time 3,129 visitors came to the center, slightly less than in 1991.

This was the fourth year that the Service worked with BLM and NPS to staff and operate the center. Brad Weltzein volunteered 11 weeks (June 4 to August 21) for the Service. He did a fine job serving visitors, presenting slide shows and working on exln'bits.

On June 16, Brad participated in a bus tour from Coldfoot to Prudhoe Bay, arranged by the BLM through the courtesy of Princess Tours. The trip provided Brad with valuable information and a perspective which helped him conduct objective evening programs for the tour groups.

This year the refuge provided a high-quality slide projector and remote control for the Coldfoot Visitor Center, along with new slide racks and a selection of slides to help upgrade the center's slide file. ORP Edgerton also produced a diverse slide program about northern Alaska that could be adapted as needed by visitor center staff.

Fairbanks Public Lands Information Center (FPLIC)

The FPUC, which has a nice array of exln'bits applicable to the Refuge, provides visitors with information and brochures about various public lands in Alaska, including the Arctic Refuge. The center also hosts a variety of programs (lectures, slide shows, children's activities and movies) throughout the year and is a popular stop for tourists and local residents.

In early June, ARM Weiler conducted a 20-minute orientation about the Refuge for new seasonal employees of the FPUC.

64

Other Activities

In late winter, the Refuge received challenge cost share monies ($10,000) to develop a Refuges' exhibit at the Fairbanks International Airport terminal. Unfortunately, a substantial written and personal effort to recruit cooperators for this project was unsuccessful and the monies had to be returned.

ORP Edgerton assisted the Yukon Flats Refuge in their challenge cost share project to develop visitor center and trailside exhibits and develop/rehabilitate nature trails at the Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. He drafted cooperative agreements, wrote requisitions, participated in planning meetings, and reviewed interpretive documents. The project should be completed in 1993.

On June 6, the Refuge staff helped set up a Service booth for Fishing Is Fun Day as part of National Fishing Week.

In July, the Service and the BLM agreed to cooperatively fund and contract the design of roadside exhibits for the Yukon Flats overlook and Finger Mountain sites along the Dalton Highway. In August, Wilderness Graphics of Tallahassee, Florida was hired as the contractor. The site visits were conducted in late September and the initial concept designs for the exhibits were received in December. Several reviews and numerous meetings will be held with BLM in 1993 to develop a consensus on what the final designs, expected in spring, should look like.

On August 1, the Refuge set up and staffed a booth at ADF&G's Alaska Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping Day, to provide visitors with hunting, fishing, and trapping information.

WB Curby planned and coordinated the Service's booth at the Tanana Valley State Fair held August 8-15. A total of 17 employees from five Fairbanks offices helped staff the booth. The booth featured an attractive exhibit about the various responsibilities of the Service and a brochure rack. For the second year in a row, the Service also sponsored a wildlife census contest. Fair-goers were invited to guess the number of snow geese (3,744) in an aerial photograph taken over arctic Alaska, and win one of several prizes donated by the Alaska Natural History Association (ANHA) branch of the FPUC. This contest again proved to be the most important feature of the booth, drawing many visitors. Service personnel contacted 4,371 fair-goers (50% more than in 1991), including nearly 1,300 that participated in the contest. The Service's interactive

65

I

ARM W~ atamng the booth It Hunting. Flabing IDd Trappin& Day. H. HdfCI'IIID, 1992

exhibit about its cooperative work with the Girl Scouts of America also was displayed at the fair.

The Service's exhibit on volunteerism. was displayed in the lobby of the Federal Building in Fairbanks from July to September.

7. Other Interpretive Prowms

January - ORP Edgerton presented a one-hour slide program about the Aleutian Islands for twenty people at the FPUC.

March- ORP Edgerton was interviewed by students from the University of Alaska doing a case study of the river planning process for the Refuge. Several staff members judged science fair projects for the Fairbanks School District.

April - ORP Edgerton was interviewed by students from the University of Alaska doing case studies of the 1002 issue and the development of the Dalton Highway Recreation Area Management Plan. WB Curby and Pilot Kaye presented programs to all the classes in the school at Venetie. A package of National Wildlife Week materials was sent to Kaktovik and Arctic Village schools,

66

Kate Moiteret, Northem Alaata F.oolopcaJ SerYioel, ataffiD& the Service booth at the Tanana Valley State Fair. c. Curby, 1992

along with a letter noting that Refuge staff are available for environmental education assistance.

May - WB Curby presented a half-hour program 11 times over a two day period to North Pole Elementary students at Twin Bears Recreational Camp, located near Fairbanks.

June - WB Curby presented an evening program to campers at the Chena River State Recreation Area in Fairbanks. RM Elison talked about the oil and gas development issue to a natural resource management training group from Oregon's Lewis and Oark College.

July - ORP Edgerton conducted a slide program about recreation and other Refuge issues for 12 students from the Institute of Global Awareness. WB Curby presented an evening program to campers at the Harding Lake State Recreation Area, located near Fairbanks.

August - WB Curby presented an evening program to campers at the Chena River State Recreation Area in Fairbanks.

67

September - WB Curby presented an hour-long program about wolves to a 5th grade class at Wood River School.

November - Several staff members spoke about their jobs with the Service to fifth graders from Joy School.

December - ORP Edgerton gave a slide presentation and answered questions about the 1002 controversy for 40 students in a natural resource class at the University of Alaska.

8. Buntin~:

Sport hunting is one of the most popular recreational activities on the Refuge. Hunting use has grown steadily during recent years, although the number of persons hunting Arctic Refuge's most popular species, Dall sheep, has remained similar from 1987 through 1992. The overall number of non-resident hunters, who are required by state law to have a guide when hunting sheep or brown bear, are limited by the Service's interim guiding policy.

Hunting within ANWR by both non-resident and resident hunters is predominantly for Dall sheep, grizzly bear, and moose. Multi-species hunts are quite common with some guides, especially those catering to European hunters. Occasionally caribou or black bear are the primary species sought, but most often they are of secondary interest Wolf and wolverine are occasionally taken while hunters are seeking other species.

Dall She<w

Dall sheep is the premier species attracting hunters to the Refuge. Perhaps nowhere else in the world are large numbers of this animal found under such favorable hunting circumstances. However, the maximum size of Brooks Range rams is usually less than rams found in more southerly Alaska areas, such as the Chugach and Alaska mountain ranges.

The 1992 sport sheep hunting season for 7/8 or larger curl rams began on August 10 and ended on September 20. Subsistence hunters were allowed three sheep from October 1 through April 30.

Sheep sport hunter and harvest numbers from ADF&G's voluntary harvest reports for the 1970-1992 period are shown in Figure 1. Few additional reports are expected, although the 1992 information shown in the graph is pre1iminary. Generally late reports are from

68

A Dall Sbc:ep, lepJ under aurent ~~anal reatrictiooa (7/8 curl), would DOt be lep1 under the propoeed full curl rqulatioo roc the Broob RaJi&e. F. Mauer, 1989

unsuccessful hunters, thus the number of reported hunters may increase somewhat but the number of sheep taken should increase very little.

A minimum of 282 sheep hunters reported hunting in the Refuge during 1992. The number of sheep hunters increased steadily from 1970 through 1989 then remained about the same. Sheep hunt success decreased from approximately 70% during 1970-1989 to 59% in 1990, 56% in 1991 and 55% in 1992 (Figure 1.) Several factors are likely responsible for the decline. The number of walk-in bunters using Refuge lands adjacent to the Dalton Highway increased from 19 in 1989 to 48 in 1991. Hunt success in this part of the Refuge has been relatively low for several years. There also has been a disproportionate increase in hunter density at certain convenient air access points such, as the Canning River, during the past seven years. Hunter success on the Canning River bas been correspondingly less than in other areas of the Refuge, such as the Hulabula River where hunter density remained stable. In addition, the number of winter ldlled sheep reported suggests that sheep mortality was higher than the average in some areas of the Brooks Range during the winter of 1990-1991. Reduced abundance of

69

Figure 1

350

300

250

~ 200 w m ::E :::> 150 z

100

50

0

mature rams may have had a negative effect on hunter success in those areas.

HUNTERS HARVEST

Reported sheep harvest for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

The subsistence sheep season for the 1991-92 regulatory year (July 1-June 30) continues through April30. Subsistence sheep are taken on the Refuge by residents of three villages which lie in close proximity to the Refuge. Estimates at this time are not available for sheep. Eight subsistence permits were issued for Arctic Village and Venetie. Kaktovik hunters usually do most of their sheep hunting during Spring.

Moose

The number of moose hunters and harvest for the Refuge roughly doubled from 1983 (55 hunters, 34 moose) through 1987 (96 hunters, 76 moose), then dropped during 1988 and again in 1989 (55 hunters,

70

29 moose). The number of moose hunters increased to 103 in 1990, a new high. The 103 hunters took 64 bulls in 1990. During 1991, 75 hunters took 52 bulls. Moose harvest figures are not yet available from the State for 1992.

Hunting pressure on moose from 1983 to the present has increased disproportionately on some Refuge areas causing declines in hunter success. The number of hunters on the north slope east of the pipeline has increased at a rate much greater than that for the Refuge as a whole. Hunters and harvest in this area increased over five-fold from 1983 to 1987. We suspect the easier, more open hunting terrain, good access and the presence of trophy bulls helped lure greater numbers of hunters to the north side of the Brooks Range.

Surveys in these north side areas (see section 0.8) indicate that large bull moose may have been heavily harvested in some of the drainages. This situation was closely examined in conjunction with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. One guide operating in the area also reported seeing a drop in trophy bulls and proposed to the State and the Refuge that only bulls over 50 inches should be taken, creating a trophy hunt area. The Alaska State Board of Game took action in March 1990, reducing the seasons in Units 26(B&C) by 20 days (to 10 days) and limiting non-residents to bulls with antlers over 50 inches. These changes should have reduced the pressure on the north slope, but the data are too incomplete to confirm this. Data for the northern drainages will continue to be closely monitored.

Bears

One bear is known to have been taken on Arctic Refuge this year in defense of life and property (DLP) and no other bear incidents were reported. The DLP bear was taken by a guide on the East Fork of the Chandalar River during the fall hunting season. The sow grizzly charged the guide and his client and was reportedly taken at close range when they approached a caribou taken earlier in the day. DLP bears taken in the Refuge in the last few years include six in 1989, one in 1990, and none in 1991.

Can'bou

The preliminary sport hunting canbou harvest for the 1991-92 regulatory year was 113 animals. This figure will undoubtedly increase as more hunters report.

71

The subsistence caribou take for the 1991-92 regulatory year is suspected to be fewer than 300, although no estimates are available. Caribou did not remain close to traditional harvest areas.

Muskox

Muskox were declared a subsistence species in 1990 and hunted only under a Tier IT permit in 1991 and 1992. Tier IT permits are issued by the State only to local residents of an area for subsistence purposes. All permits were issued to people living in the North Slope Borough, and most live in Kaktovik. Hunters were given the choice of hunting in fall (October) or spring (March). Nine bull permits were issued for hunting within the Refuge in State Game Management Unit 26(C). At least seven bull muskoxen were taken during the 1991-92 season. Two bull muskoxen were taken west of the Refuge.

Guidinc

The Refuge has been divided into exclusive guiding areas for a number of years by State regulation, which also requires that all nonresident hunters pursuing sheep and brown bear hunt with a guide. These exclusive guiding areas were challenged in 1988. The State Supreme Court, in the Owsichek Decision, declared them unconstitutional.

The Service, to protect big game from over harvest by an unrestricted number of guides, has continued the existing guide areas on refuges through the use of special use permits. The numbers of guides and outfitters under this status quo policy are limited to those who had been issued special use permits in 1988. Additionally, client numbers for all hunting operators were limited to the maximum annual number of hunting clients each operator guided in the areas during the five years previous to 1988.

During 1992, the strengths and weaknesses of the 1989 State Guide/Outfitter law continued to become apparent. The fundamental distinction between guides and outfitters before the 1989 law was that outfitters could not accompany hunters into the field, i.e., assist with the hunt. Outfitters could merely provide transportation and equipment. Essentially the new law placed additional limitations on outfitters and made numerous other changes in the State requirements for various other commercial operators who deal with wildlife use. The new State law required outfitters (who were not covered under the old law) to obtain guide

72

licenses. New requirements included insurance coverage, business licenses, and commercial use permits by some businesses. The State administrative machinery, which was not geared-up to handle the demand in 1989, reached equilibrium in 1990 and improved during 1991 and 1992. Nevertheless, it did not provide for limitations of guides within specific big game hunting areas; something the Service insists on.

The State had not adopted a satisfactory system at the close of 1991 and it appeared unlikely they would in the near future. Consequently, in fairness to the guiding industry, the Service began implementing its own allocation system in 1992. A draft policy was mailed by the Service on January 2, 1992, soliciting comments from guides and other interested members of the public. The allocation process proceeded through the ensuing year , and remained a major work item for many staff members. RM Elison, ARM Weiler and BA Butler spent two weeks in early December assisting with the guide - outfitter selection panel for the Arctic Refuge. The effort will culminate in notification of the successful applicants before January 15, 1993, followed by permit issuance. The "status quo" policy will continue through June 30, 1993, after which the new permits will become effective, concurrent with the State licensing year that begins on July first.

Twelve hunting guides and one outfitter obtained Refuge permits this year. Several guides maximized their effort by taking and reporting maximum numbers of clients. However, the largest guiding corporation was indicted for numerous alleged felony and misdemeanor wildlife offenses in December (see section H.17). Table 5 provides information compiled from the guiding and outfitting special use permit reports.

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Table 5 llultfng Guide end Outfitter Special Use Pemits, 1992.

AVERAGE BLACK CLIENT NO. OF HUNT

SHEEP GRIZZLY BEAR MOOSE CARIBOU WOLF DAYS CLIENTS PERIOD

HUNTING GUIDES

Andrefs, Art (Brooks Range Adv.) 10 10.0

Gresser, Ed CAlC Gufdes & out.) 13 143 18 7.9

Hel•rfcks, Harmon C"lud") DID NOT HUNT

Hendrfcks, Joe (Fair Chase HLI'Its) 8 58 8 7.2

J8111feson, Sandy 3 1 3.0

Knutson, Howard (Sea HLI'Iter) 8 2 2 70 11

Koontz, Kef th 3 1 2 25 3 8.3

Peterson, John 1* 2 11 2 5.5

Rfvers, Larry CA.W. Enterprises) 8 10 121 12 10.1

Schetzle, Harold 2 28 3 9.3

Troutllln, Don (AIC N. Sport & Rec.) 23 4 3 2 258 28 9.2

want, Joe 3 59 6 9.8

Wftt, Eugene (Brooks A. HLI'Its) 3 2 3 56 6 9.3

OUTFITTER

Mackler, Len CWfldemess Vent.) 6 68 8 8.5

TOTALS 77 10 0 7 21 1 910 107 8.5

NON-HUNTING CLIENTS

CLIENT DAYS

17

121

2

140

NO. OF CLIENTS

5

7

13 i Ktl(id tn defense of (ife end property TBble 5 1992 HLI'Itfng Guide & Outfitter SUP's

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9. Fishin,g

Sport fishing for grayling, Arctic char, lake trout and northern pike occurs incidental to other recreational activities, particularly river floating. Fishing is not a primary recreational activity because of the remoteness of the area and better fishing opportunities exist elsewhere in the State.

Subsistence fishing for both saltwater and freshwater species is important to local residents. Whitefish, grayling, and Arctic char are the species primarily sought for subsistence on the Refuge. Fishing for Kaktovik residents occurs in the coastal lagoons during summer and at a series of traditional fishing holes, primarily on the Hulahula River in spring. Arctic Villagers net whitefish and grayling in the Chandalar River in the summer and actively pursue lake trout at Old John Lake during the winter.

10. Trappinf:

Trapping is allowed Refuge-wide without a permit, but due to limited furbearer habitat, less than a third of the Refuge is actively trapped.

Villagers from Arctic Village, Ft Yukon and Kaktovik run traplines out from their villages. Four non-village based families and one individual live on the Refuge most or all of the year and continue a life style based largely on trapping. Each has cabins under permit from the Refuge. Fur take by trappers on the south side is not closely monitored but is thought to be considerably less than the maximum sustained yield. The primary evidence for this is the fact that during the period when trapping dominated the entire region's economy and lifestyle (1890-1950), it continually sustained greater harvest than today. Furbearers trapped on the south side, in order of economic importance, include marten, lynx, wolverine, wolf, fox, beaver, mink, muskrat, otter and ermine.

In June, the ADF&G completed a report on furbearer harvest on the Refuge. Arctic National Wildlife Refu~ Furbearer Harvest Data Assessment 1985-86 ThrouP 1990-91 was developed to document furbearer harvest, enhance the current means of estimating fur harvests, .obtain information on fur harvesters, and to provide information on data gaps and the difficulties of measuring fur harvest.

The study may be most successful in the last purpose, if the reported fur harvest is an indication. For example, the 1990-91 data shows only

75

49 marten taken in the Refuge and 47 that may have been taken in the Refuge. It reports that twelve beaver, five muskrats, no mink and no white fox were taken last year. We believe these figures to be off by several hundred percent

The error is due to numerous problems with the State's three sources of harvest data: Furbearer Sealing Certificates, Reports of Acquisition of Furs and Hides, and Raw Fur Skin Export Permit/Reports. Lack of cooperation from the region's local trappers is probably a more significant problem. Personal contact with trappers may provide more reliable estimates of harvest in the future.

PUSC/Pilot Kaye continues to make regular visits to trapline camps. The four day trips are primarily preventative law enforcement, trapper education, and to ensure that cabin permittees comply with permit conditions. Kaye has been documenting trapping operations requiring cabins, and photographing, mapping and describing all existing cabins, and collecting oral history from trappers.

11. Wildlife Observation

Wildlife observation is an integral part of every wilderness trip on the Refuge. Visitors express a particularly strong interest in seeing wilderness associated animals, such as caribou, brown bear, Dall sheep, wolf, wolverine and muskox. Prospective visitors often call or write asking how they can plan a trip that will intercept the migration of the Porcupine Caribou Herd.

12. Other Wildlife-Oriented Recreation

The Refuge is an important destination for visitors seeking a unique wildlife and wilderness experience. River floating and backpacking are the most popular non-hunting activities, but camping, photography, wildlife observation and day-hiking also occur. People access the Refuge by aircraft, on foot, or, on rare occasions, by dogsled in winter. Motorboats are used to access south slope rivers, mostly by local residents involved in hunting, fishing, and trapping. Visitors must be self-sufficient and able to meet the mental and physical challenges of wilderness, since the area is unencumbered by trail signs, designated ~psites, or other developments.

This year, the level of Use by commercial floaters and backpackers dropped slightly from 1991 and was a little more widely distributed. The Kongakut, Canning, Sheenjek and Hulahula Rivers received most

76

of the floating activity. As in past years, backpackers roamed the mountains and river valleys in the northern portion of the Refuge. Guided use by floaters and backpackers (obtained from permit reports) from 1985 to 1992 is shown in Table 6.

Recreational use by the 15 commercial guides for 1992 is shown in Table 7. Guides took an average of 3.8 trips. River float groups ranged from 4 to 14 persons (average 8.4) on trips from 9 to 19 days long (average 10.7). Backpacking groups ranged from 2 to 12 persons (average 6.8) on trips from 7 to 14 days long (average 10.4).

Private recreational use documented from air charter and transporter reports is shown in Table 8. The data represent an unknown percentage of the total private use that occurs, since access is not limited and users are not required to check in or out

Public use was not monitored from any sites along Refuge rivers this year, but aerial surveys were flown for the Kongakut, Hulahula and Canning Rivers to obtain information on the level of public use. The surveys were conducted somewhat irregularly from June 20 to August 5 as flight schedules and weather allowed.

Refuge staff floated the Sheenjek and Kongakut Rivers this year. The trips enabled Refuge personnel to become familiar with the rivers and document human impacts within and adjacent to the river corridors. In June, RM Elison and ARM Garrett dragged and floated a 150-mile stretch of the Sheenjek River with Deputy RD Dave Allen, and Monty Millard from the Fairbanks Fisheries Assistance Office.

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The tqlnnin& of tbe float (?) trip Oil tbe Upper Sbccnjek bepn with I ba1C mile porta&e to tbe water. 0 . Eliloa, 1992

78

Tbe aew Deputy Repooai Din:dar', DaYe Allen, tatm& a pboCo break uear IOIDC autice (ice buildup callled by riw::r wa&er I'WllliD& CIVa' lhe top of ice ahady formed). 1bc riw::r IU'bleqUCDtly floM:d UDder lhe ice, requirina lhe floatcn to drq lhe raft&, dot-team CaahioD, acre. a few miJel of ice. G. Eliloa, 1992

In mid-August, ORP Edgerton and WB Heffernan floated the Kongakut River from the Drain Creek airstrip to Canbou Pass. Significant human impacts were not encountered on the Sheenjek. Impacts on the Kongakut were as expected; most were found at obvious camping and access locations.

79

View of the upper Sbceujet Riva'. 1be dMde leadiDJ to the K.ooptut RMr II the brown twldra area ID the upper ript of the pboW. o. EliloG, 1992

A campiJtc lloq the ICDoptut Riva'. Fire rinp and U1C ol camplln:a II dJicoura&cd due to ablcocc ol trca aloq tile riw:l'. T. F.clp1ca. 1992

80 .

Table 6. Guided Recreation Visitor Use Days 1985 - 1992 (F =Floaters; H =Hikers)

Area Users 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

Kongakut River p 355 330 42S 1287 1684 731 1,014 9S5 H 270 189 81 28 10 184 74 129

Hulahula River p 116 6 167 410 1032 671 736 S4S H 44 36 126 220 112 60 42

Sbeenjek River p 60 241 607 461 424 274 S80 S86 H 4 10 211 40 123

Cannin& River p 190 494 D 486 680

H 16 123 90 12

Aichilik River p 94 36 40 H 30 8 153 S2 120 81 104 86

Jago River p 238 187 H 38 24 163 160 42 192

W"md River p 106 H 7 12

O!andalar River p 18 6

Coleen River p 74 36 70 140

Junjik River p 35

H 8

Ivi&bak River p 50

H 8

Porcupine River p 36

Turner River p 28

H 12 1S

.Katakturuk River H 24 60

Sadlerochit/Shublik Mts. H 7S 134 S3 196 521 228

Other ArcasfBroob Ranp: H 167 cal 768 834

SchraderfPctcrs Late H 94 204 182 278 390 317 130

Totals 1000 1180 1639 3129 4875 4157 5,063 4,842

81

Table 7. Reaeatioaal Guide Special Use Permits, 1992. Paae 1 of 3.

PBRNlT USE- RIVBR OR AREA" RIVBR OR AREA" TRIP# JUN JUL AUO SBP 'IRIP PARTY USB TOTAL TOTAL NUMBBR. PUI'IN TAit&OIJl' DAYS SIZB DAYS PI!RSONS/ PI!RSON

SEASON DAYS

Adlml, ...... H WHALBMT nJRNBRll

~AIMD) H LMSHAltR. LMSHAltR. z p OR.ASSBR.'SLS L HULAHULA R. 3

p UCANNINGR. LCANNINGR. 4

p UMSHAltR. LMSHAltR. 5

Alb, Cbuct H CARIBOU PASS CARIBOU PASS

tr.n~J,a.t. H AiaiiLIKR. AiaiiLIKR.

(SIImaQub) H LJAOOR. UJAOOR. z

H u AiaiiLIK R. UJAOOll 3

H CAam C1U!Eit EAGLE C1U!Eit 4

H DRAIN C1U!Eit UJAOOR. 5

PIH PB'l1!RS u.m LCANNINGll 6

Dlalt*, Bob p UJAOOll Bl'lTY

~ Blr6Ja.M¥aatutw) p DRAIN C1U!Eit CARIBOU PASS z

P/H DRAIN C1U!Eit DBMAR.CA'llON 3

p OIWISI!R. 'S LS L HULAHULA R. 4

p DRAIN C1U!Eit CARIBOU PASS 5

p u AiaiiLIK R. WID AiaiiLIK R 6

82

'Illble 7. Recnadonel Guide Speoill Ute Perm~~~, 1991. Pate 2 ol.l.

PBIUoO'l'IBB PBRMIT USB- RIVBR. OR AREA" RlVBR. OR AREA" TRIP# 1UN JUL AUG SBP TRIP PARTY USB 'rol'AL 'rol'AL NUMBBR Pt1l' IN TAm-OUT DAYS SIZB DAYS PBRSONSf PBRSON

SBASONS DAYS

J~~DD~:Ca- H MID AJQIIlJit R DRAIN CllBJlK

(ABl!CI Allllla AMDI:Inl) H DRAIN~ DRAIN CllBllK 2

H SUNSBTPASS CAMDBNBAY 3

H GRASSBR'S LS GRASSBR'S LS 4

H SUNSBTPASS CAMDBNBAY s

H WINDRIVBR. WJNDRlVBR. 6

p DRAIN~ CARIBOU PASS 7

p GRASSBR'S LS L HULAHUI...A R 8

1:-,0irol H CANBatBBit GRASSBR'S LS

(Mdo'I'reb) H PBTBRSLAKB !IC'HRADBR LAKB 2

p DRAIN~ CARIBOU PASS 3

p GRASSBR'S LS L HULAHUI...A ll 4

p MPCANNJNGR LCANNINGR s

p GRASSBR'S LS L HULAHUI...A R 6

'-'.Mirk p DRAIN~ CARIBOU PASS

(AIIIIIa Rlvw Blpedldoaa) p DRAIN~ CARIBOU PASS 2

I-, Hulda NOTIUPS

~Oudlaas)

hrbr, lt.cllelt H !JCHRADBlt LAKB PBTBRSLAKB 1

(Nodblll>lr) PJH LASTLAKB OLD WOMAN Cit 2

PJH LASTLAKB OLD WOMAN Cit 3

83

Table 7. ~Guide Special the Permlll, 1m. hee 3 oC 3.

PI.!RM1Tl1!8 PBRMrl' USB" lliVBR OR ARBA" NUNBBR. PUr IN

l...epm,Eea P/H DRAIN CRBf!lt

(AIMb~) P/H DRAIN CRBf!lt

p DRAIN CRBf!lt

P/H DOUBlBNT

p DOUBlBNT

P/H DOUBlBNT

p DOUBlBNT

Hlbbo, o.-111 p UCANNJNOI1

(Bmob a..., 'lr'lldera. Trip) p UCANNJNOR.

J«m.,ltlna p U MP CANNING 11

(Bquiaall)

~0., P/H UCANNJNOR.

(Bip. for OlaiW ~)

Y...U.RDD H OllAS!.IBil'Sl.S

~AIMb/NGoo) H SHBBNJt!E 11

H DRAIN CRBf!lt

p BAST PATUJt. at

p UJAOOCit

p DRAIN CRBf!lt

Pord, Doa H u ltONOAEl1l' 11

(Nit. Ouldoor l.-tenlllp Scbool)' p DOUBlBNT

p DOUBlBNT

lliVBR OR ARBA" TRIP#

TAJtB.OUT

CARIBOU PASS

CARIBOU PASS 2

CARIBOU PASS 3

OlD WOMAN Cit .. OlD WOMAN Cit s

OlD WOMAN Cit 6

OlD WOMAN Cit 7

LCANNINOI1

LCANNINOI1 2

CANNING R. DBLTA

LCANNINOR.

BAST PATUJt. Cit

UJAOOR. 2

DRAIN CRBf!lt 3

L HULAHUI.A R. .. BliTY 5

CARIBOU PASS 6

u SHm!NJ1!It R. 1

JroNBSSR. 2

OU'It.OOit POINT 3

84

1UN JUL

MP Nonb Port R. ltl\w

U Upper

AUG SBP TRIP PARTY

DAYS SIZE

USB rorAL rorAL DAYS PBRSONS/ P£RSON

SBA90N DAYS

Table 8. Private recreation reported in charter aircraft and transporter special use permit reports, 1992.

Company Use Type Animals transported for private hunters

Hunters I Floaters I Hikers I Other Rec. Sheep I Caribou I Moose I Wolf I Grizzly

Air Taxi

Dix, Drew (Tundra Air) NONE

Dowding, Roger (Yukon Air) 17 38 28 8 2 7 6 1

Firmin, Joe (Porcupine Air) 26 16 2 4 13 2

Lynch, Mark (Tatonduk Air) NONE

McDonald, Marty (Alaska Flyers) NO REPORT

Miller, Dennis (Caribou Air) NONE

Murphy, George (AK Bush Exped.) 7 1 3

Porter, Steve (Trans-Porter Alaska) 16 12 11 3 9 2

Ross, Don (Canning Air) 14 23 19 4

Ruff, Steve (Brooks Range Aviation) NO REPORT

Salmon, Woodie (Sheenjek Riv. Air) NO REPORT

Seeley, Chris (Roatplane Tours) NONE

Smith, Eleanor (Umiat Enterprises) NO REPORT

Warbelow, Art (Warbelow"s Air V.) NO REPORT

Totals

85

13. Camping

Nothing to Report

14. Picnicking

Nothing to Report

15. Off-Road Yehicling

In 1989, four Kaktovik villagers were issued five-year special use permits for seasonal ATV access to inholdings. This was a precedent­setting action because these were the first ATV permits issued for use within a refuge in Alaska. Significant is the fact that the permits were issued for access to Native allotments (private lands). All-terrain vehicle use on Refuge lands for subsistence was not authorized. Their use also has not been an issue since the permits were issued. No ATV use is known to have occurred this year and no additional villagers applied for permits.

16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation

Nothing to Report

17. Law Enforcement

The Arctic Refuge has five Refuge Officers on staff. Once again an extensive Law Enforcement effort was conducted on the Refuge during the hunting season. Refuge Officers, Special Agents and State Fish & Wildlife Protection Officers all worked together to provide a coordinated effort.

FWB Heffernan participated, along with a number of ·other Refuge Officers and Special Agents, in the culmination of Operation Whiteout, a walrus ivo:ry tusks for drugs sting operation. The operation included indictments and arrest warrants of several western Alaskans for violations of the Marine Mammal Protection

86

-

Act, the Lacey Act, conspiracy, and drug possession or sales. Others were charged with the purchase and sale of unlawfully transported, received, and acquired wildlife. The undercover agents video-taped several Alaska Natives in their traditional white hunting parkas shooting walrus hauled out on the ice pack. Alaska Natives can hunt, sell, trade, and barter marine mammal parts amongst themselves, but the raw ivory and unfinished

marine mammal parts must be made into arts and crafts before they can be sold to non-natives. Arrival of the

Officers in the village of Gambell to serve the warrants by C-130 Hercules aircraft was quite a change from the usual C-185 or supercub arrival.

• l/

-

An Immigration Special Agent contacted the Refuge for documents relating to the illegal employment of aliens by current guides; the results of an April, 1991 Refuge inquiry. Appropriate documents were photocopied and

87

mailed. The Special Agent indicated a good possibility exists for stiff fines to the employer (guide) for violations.

All Refuge Officers attended LE refresher training in Marana, Arizona during March. RO's Sowards and Garrett attended the first session March 2-6, and RO's Weiler, Heffernan and Kaye attended the second session March 19-24. Most officers completed transition training to the new Smith & Wesson .40 caliber Service weapon.

FWB Heffernan updated the case disposition log with SA Webb and discussed other on-going law enforcement matters on several occasions. SA Webb informed us late in April that one of our current guides had been cited by the FAA for an aircraft buzzing. Action on a second buzzing by the same guide is pending.

Several Refuge Officers conducted law enforcement patrols during the year. Pilot Sowards and ARM Garrett

conducted a lE patrol August 23-25. One violation was discovered involving the accidental shooting of an extra canbou. The violation was reported to the Special Agents upon the officers return to Fairbanks. Special Agents also provided significant enforcement efforts on the Refuge. Several cases are being investigated for possible prosecution. One supercub was found upside down in the Wind River. It apparently flipped on landing. No one was injured.

ARM's Weiler and Garrett met with Special Agents and Refuge Officers from lE, Kanuti NWR, and Yukon Flats NWR on October 20 to discuss law enforcement efforts involving refuges.

ARM Garrett travelled to Galena to provide firearms

qualification for Refuge Officers at Koyukuk/Nowitna NWR on October 2.

88

Refuge Officers Garrett and Sowards and a State Fish and Wildlife Protection Officer served a search warrant at a North Pole residence and seized a Piper Supercub allegedly used for illegal airborne hunting of moose and grizzly bears on the North Slope. The action was a small part of an eighteen month long undercover operation focusing on the largest guiding operation on the Refuge. A total of eight guides were arrested, including two Canadians, and charged with several felony and misdemeanor violations. Five aircraft were seized during the operation,

which included arrests and seizures in several places in Alaska, Arizona, Washington and Idaho.

89

18. Cooperatin& Associations

The Alaska Natural History Association (ANHA) outlet at the Coldfoot Interagency Visitor Center is administered by the BLM, the lead agency at Coldfoot The outlet brought in $3,442.81 during 1992, a decrease of $350 from 1991. The selection of items included various publications, maps, postcards, posters and a video. The book inventory was changed slightly to drop slow sellers and add a few new titles. This year, ANHA funded the development of three slide sets (five each) for sale, one each for the Service, the NPS, and the BLM. The Service set, labeled "Northern Landscapes," includes scenes from the Arctic, Yukon Flats and Kanuti NWRs. Other ANHA funds were spent on new shelving for sales items, donations of interpretive resources to tour bus companies, and miscellaneous exhibit and administrative supplies.

19. Concessions

Nothing to Report

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILIDES

1. New Construction

A pre-constructed 16' X 20' cabin was moved to the Galbraith Lake airstrip. This cabin eventually will be heated and provide a staging area for personnel conducting a variety of projects, including law enforcement, sheep surveys, and public use projects on the Dalton highway.

2. Rehabilitation

An extensive clean-up of the Peters Lake facilities was conducted in ·May. Equipment, supplies and items discarded from previous projects were backhauled to Fairbanks on a C-46 aircraft.

90

3. Major Maintenance

Nothing to report.

4. EQuipment Utilization and Replacement

A permit was issued to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by the U.S. Air Force to use two warehouses at the Long Range Radar Site at Barter Island The five year permit will enable ANWR to store equipment and vehicles inside and provide a sheltered staging area for projects during the field season.

Most of the week of January 21 was consumed by the disruptions, moving, storing, etc. associated with the installation of new office furniture. Most of the administrative staff, the pilots and some of the biologists received new modular furniture. Most were pleased with the furniture, although there were some disadvantages, especially a rather small area for the public.

Two property sales were held for excess Refuge equipment during 1992. The cu1mination of a small lot sale occurred in January as successful bidders came to pay and claim their treasures. A large amount of worn out, broken, and unneeded equipment was sold with a gain of over $400 for reduction of the national budget deficit.

A personal property sale conducted through the GSA office in Auburn, Washington was completed with bid opening on August 12. Disposal of numerous items of equipment which were not used for the past several years will give us much needed storage space. Most of the property had been picked up by month's end.

A new 1991 Ford 4wd crew cab pickup was delivered to Barter Island by the cool barge in September. This vehicle replaces a 1988 Chevy pickup, which has been transferred to the Fisheries Assistance Office, Fairbanks.

91

5. Communications System

The two permanent mountain top repeaters on the north side of the Brooks Range continued to work well, providing good radio communications over most of the Refuge coastal plain. A new permanent repeater was installed near Arctic Village to improve radio communications for personnel working on the south side of the Brooks Range.

6. Computer Systems

The Refuge has diverse needs that require the extensive use of computers. They are used for word processing, financial tracking, data management, statistics, desk-top publishing, telecommunications, and GIS (computer mapping). Both the biological and administrative sections of the Refuge use ffiM look-alikes nmning MS-OOS. The Refuge has accumulated a diverse mix of more than twenty 80386, 80286 and 8088 computers, in desktop, laptop and notebook styles. The inventory also includes one CD-ROM drive, two Bernoulli external drives, a digital palette slide maker, and printers (laser, dot-matrix and color). Users share the printers and do limited file transfer over a Systemizer Plus external local area network. The Refuge conducts binary file transfers and sends/receives electronic mail over the Service Wide Area Network (SWAN).

7. Ener&Y Conservation

Nothing to report.

8. Other

An area trapper visited the office on June 26 to report that our cabin on the Coleen River had been burned. He discovered the possible

. vandalism on the weekend of June 20-21 while returning from a boat trip to supply his cabin upriver.

92

J. OTHER ITEMS

1. Cooperative Protuaros

The Refuge staff cooperated through the year on a number of endeavors, including studies, articles and projects. More information on studies is found in Section D. 5.

State of Alaska

Yukon Flats Refuge, working in cooperation with Arctic Refuge and Alaska Department of Fish and Game, successfully secured a $50,000 challenge grant proposal from the Alaska Region, FWS, for the development of exhibits and trails at the Creamer's Field State Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. More information on cooperative interpretation programs is found in Section D. 18.

ADF&G participated in our on-going sheep study by assisting with sheep capture and radio collaring.

North Slope Borough

The Refuge continued to cooperate in all possible ways with the North Slope Borough during the year. Cooperation included attendance at meetings, input and joint effort in several projects.

Research

Arctic Refuge and Research personnel cooperated closely on a number of studies and projects during the year. The Refuge continued to

provide office, administrative, piloted aircraft, and field support to the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center through 1992. Conversely, Research provided their aircraft for several Refuge projects. Refuge

· facilities in Kaktovik, which are covered under a Memorandum of Agreement with Research, were used extensively during the year.

93

Pilots Kaye and Sowards participated in the Yukon Flats NWR moose surveys November 2-11.

University of Alaska and other research studies

For a number of years the Refuge has issued a permit to allow the University of Alaska Geophysical Institute's Poker Flat Research Range to impact and retrieve rocket payloads on the Refuge. The Refuge is a tertiary impact site. Several launches took place during the year. Most launches occur during the winter, including all those impacting on ANWR. Generally the rockets are flown under contract with NASA for investigations of the upper atmosphere, specifically the aurora and events in the magnetosphere.

Geologic studies on the Refuge again were carried out by several graduate students in the Geology Department of the University of Alaska Fairbanks working under Dr. Wesley Wallace. This multi-year effort will continue during 1993. The Refuge also cooperated with four other geological teams conducting research, including two universities (UClA and Rice), one USGS team, and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Information from past geological mapping studies is being used in our sheep studies to establish habitat relationships to substrates.

Dr. Tom Cade and Mr. Gonzales Sanchez revisited Northern shrike nest territories in the Peters Lake area. Dr. Cade will be comparing these data with his original, pioneering work in this area during the 1950's. Work is planned to continue in upcoming years.

National FJSbina Week

. The Refuge participated, along with other Fairbank's FWS offices, in Fishing is Fun Day, sponsored by the Alaska Flycaster's Association. The event was held at ADF&G's Creamer's Field facility.

94

F . banks F ciliti arr J. es

RM Elison is respollSl'ble for overseeing the combined Fairbanks offices' warehouse space. Inspections and written reports are handled on a periodic basis to ensure compliance with regulations and guidelines.

A combined conference room/h'brary continued to be jointly funded and used successfully by Fairbanks based Service offices. Other shared facilities include the aircraft parking ramp (and hanger when it is constructed) and the basement laboratory and office storage area.

Barter Island Facilities

Arctic Refuge field station personnel coordinated the efforts of seven separate projects during the height of the field season. Twenty-nine crew members representing these projects utilized the bunkhouse facilities and field station during the peak month of July.

Coldfoot VISitor Center

This facility is being operated jointly by the NPS, FWS and BLM under a cooperative agreement signed in 1990. (Section H.6)

Fairbanks Public l.and Information Center

ORP Edgerton coordinated with the facility's staff throughout the year on a variety of Refuge activities and information. Refuge personnel attended an open house held by the Center and gave a number of presentations to center audiences during the year (Section H.6).

School Presentations

. ANWR staffers visited a number of village and Fairbanks. area schools to give talks, slide shows and other presentations during 1992. The public use section contains more information (Section H.7).

95

.·

WB Curby, working with ORP Edgerton and a cooperator, Monarch Software, continued development of state-of-the-art educational computer software begun in 1991. (Section H.6)

Tanana Valley State Fair

WB Curby and ORP Edgerton planned and coordinated the Service's booth at the Tanana State Fair held August 10-17. A record number of persons visited the booth staffed by employees from five Fairbanks FWS offices (Section H.6).

Girl Scouts of America

Refuge and other local Service employees, working with the local Girl Scout Council and FWS personnel at the Region and Washington level, began efforts to re-establish a Girl Scout Troop in Kaktovik. The people of Kaktovik responded favorably (Section H. 6.).

Fairbanks Outdoor Days

WB Curby coordinated Refuge involvement and participated in Fairbanks Outdoors Days, hosted for the second year by the Bureau of Land Management. A number of other Refuge staff volunteered their time to assist in the day-long outdoor experience for local 6th graders, repeated over three days, May 26-28, to accommodate the almost 600 participants (Section H.6).

Fairbanks Fisheries Assistance Office

Arctic Refuge continued to work with Fisheries on several items through the year.

Ecological Seryices

Numerous project and permit consultations occurred, including work on contaminants, the 1002 area, and other items. Logistics and support sharing were commonly carried out in all combined projects.

96

Law Enforcement

Arctic Refuge staff worked closely with the Fairbanks Law Enforcement Office on a number of cases and Refuge Jaw enforcement operations. Law Enforcement agents continued to be responsive to Refuge needs, assisting us on numerous occasions and conducting Refuge patrols. These arrangements included sharing Refuge facilities and logistics. (Section H.17)

Refuge law enforcement personnel also worked closely with Alaska Fish and Wildlife Protection and FAA on several investigations through the year.

Information ReQUests

The Refuge cooperated with a number of environmental groups and ADF&G during 1992 by supplying information on various subjects. These included several file searches resulting in compilations of data on public use and various environmental subjects.

fWS Trainina

ARM Garrett made several trips to other refuges and FWS offices to teach approved Bear/Firearms safety courses.

Employee Fitness

Arctic Refuge joined with the Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies located in the Federal building to promote Federal Fitness Day on May 13.

2. Other Economic Uses

·Guided recreation is the largest economic use on ANWR.. Guided hunting probably grosses the most money, followed by guided backpacking and float trips. Significant changes in both guided hunting and river operations have occurred during the past four years.

97

Recreational guides operating on rivers, who faced changes brought on by ANWR's popularity during recent years, returned to pre-restriction operations in 1991 when interim quotas on the most heavily used Refuge rivers were lifted. Quota-free operations continued through 1992. See the Planning (D.2) and Public Use (H.12) sections for more information on river use and the ongoing river management plan.

Surface Geolo&Y

Geological permits dropped from six in 1991 to four this year. Tour permits for the Refuge dropped from eight to four for tour permits issued to on companies (or combined on interest groups) for the 1002 area. All surface geology permits were for Arctic Refuge areas outside the 1002 area (which has been closed to exploratory activity since completion of the Coastal Plan Resource Assessment in 1985). Several on companies have worked on the non-1002 areas of the Refuge for several years. Most of the activity occurred on lands near the 1002 area. Table 9 lists these permits.

Naviaation Tower Permits

Temporary navigation towers are established on survey bench marks annually. The towers transmit radio signals which are used to precisely locate the positions of offshore seismic exploration vessels, drilling ships and land vehicles. Generally these are used during the summer, but are occasionally used during the colder months. Two tower permits were issued during 1992 (Table 9).

Air Taxi Operators

Air taxi operators were first required to have Special Use Permits in 1987, when three permits were issued. The number of operators remained at three in 1988, then grew to eight in 1989, el~en in 1990,

'·twelve in 1991, and fourteen in 1992. The increase in perinits over this time is probably due to increased compliance as well as increasing public use. The number of operators continue to increase, although most recent entrants reported few flights this year.

98

Table 9. Special Use Permits, 1992

ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SPECIAL USE PERMITS ISSUED 1992

Permit Permit Types Purpose Permitted Period

Number Company and Individual Names J F M A M J J A s 0 N D Air Taxi

92 A1 ~~~nu or UnuatEnterprses Air 4 31 92-A2 draAir) AirTaxi 5 31 ~ orni·~eL,Air~·~----------~AirT.·~~zrowthm7·~=,~==~==----r----r---+~5~r----r---t----t----r--_,----t----r--_,-i3~1-i ~ rux~~u~Air~-~----------~AirT.·~~~an~.~~~~--_,r---;---_,--~,_,~m-4----+----+----+----+----+----+----+~3T1-i

~ MeDon Mar Air rs !ian ~ ~~ 92 A7 Ross, Don CanningAir Air Taxi 22 31 92-AB Seeley, Cbris(FairbanksFioatplane Air Taxi 22 31 92 A9 Run; Steve Brocl<s Range/SourdouF)l Air Air Tan 26 31 92 AlO ~onAir Air an 8 31 92 All Porter Alaska Air Taxi 8 31 92 A12 7bcl~ow~~~Air~"~V~e=n~ru~r~~~fu-~~~Air7·~~~an=..------------+----1----~----+----+----1-----r-~-+~26--+----1r----+----+-~3~1-;

92 A13 been ek River Air AirTroa 16 31 92-Al4 Murphy, George(AiaskaBush.Expeditions Air Tan 25 31

Huntin5ides 92-Hl Troutman Don AKN ,_.,R~~::.L.----f?Gui~lirrdedTI;H;!;!un:C'1S,~P=h<oto~.,__r-r----r-r-r-2:.!1_,f----4--_,---'~"'-4----t--;-;-...,-t--4---t----l 92 H2 Knu~.Howmd Sea -~fu<~::.z._ ______ -+Gui~·~d~ed~H;!;!un~m;--------4----4-----~---+----+----+f-----+----+-~5~4-~S~r----+----+----i 92 H3 Peterson, John A. Guided Hunts 1 18 92 H4 Witt,Engene Brod<sRangeAr~Hunts GuidedHunm 1 ~

92-_!!::i Grasser,E<i AKGui es&:OUttitters Gllunt,Hlke,&:Photo. 20 10 92-H6 Knontz.Keith ChandalmRiverOUtfitters GuidedHunm 4 10

~

92-HS Guided Hunm 1 ~ 92 H7 ~S d B sh fu Gllun Hike.&:Photo.

~=~~o ~~~~---r.~~:aad~eaed~~5~~:=--------+-----r--r-r----t----+----t-----r----t-~81r-t-~~~;-----t----t----i 92-HU ses GuidedHunm 1 20 92-H12 Want,Joe GuidedHunts 10 15

Outfitter 92-01 I Mackler Len !Wilderness Venrures) OUtfitted Hunts I I I I I I 1 ~I

Miscellaneous 92 M1 Ku~---------t~R~o~ll=o~~~Tr~a~Ycl~on~l~oo~r-~1~5'--t----+----f-.n-ff--~1--t----t----;-----t----t-..-f----+----~ 92 M2 Be · Tours 19 31 92 M3 Pierson,Fred Mo '-&:"'""P"'r""odu=c~·n....,...g)+.;"I1i'-our=s-------------1~---+----+----+-'o.:....+----+----+•1-;;3,-11-----r----+--==--+----1-----l

92 M4 Miko, Rirk ARCO Alaska Tours 10 31 92 M5 Alaska Governor's Offioo Anchcrage) Tours 5-8 92 M6 1 Bmry,Donald World Wildlife Fund' ours 3 -~

92 M8 Hoshino, Michio NHKJapan BroadCllstin ~~P~ho=to~g.:c...J.----4----~---+----+----tf--25!::!...-t-715>-+----+--.-+----+----t----l 92 M7 Gandoiro Gimnpiero Rnchanne s"IV,!)Y>~H~o~Lan§ Photog.: 1 20

92 M9 Wilson Mike BLM) ~~'-!All~o~tm~en~tsH---4-----l----+---l----f----1---i1*5-1---c..-+--1~+---+----l-------j 92 MlO !homson,Gesine On !heEdgeProductions) H o.Landings Photog.: 13 6 92 Mll Brad ey,Red (NineSwProductions Hello. Landings Photog.:

92 R1 92R2 92R3 92 R4 92-92-92-92-92 92 92 92 92-R13 92 R14 92-R15

Recreational Guides I Adams, MacGill !Wilderness Alaska l River Float/Backpack Dittrick, Bob Wild BirdAdv. River FloatJBackpack Fmnoll; Ranlona ABEC River Float/Backpack F Don NOLS River Float/Backpack

AK/Mex. River Floai/Bad<Pad< sw River Float/BackPack rvl River Float/Backpack 1 OUtfitters River l'loai/Backpack

River Float/BackPack River Float/Backpack River Float/Backpack River Float/Backpack

ltl<ns River Float/BackPack .Trij>s River Float/Backoacl<

Ash River Float/Backpad<

Surface Geology

31 15

10 15

20 10 31 10 15

8 12 20 10

10 31 ~ 31

7-11

31

31

15 5 ~

92 G1 Pierson,Fred MobiiE&:P S.Geol.. 1 31 h92~-7G~2-+~Sru~'ait,~T~od~a,AR77C~0~1~#1~-------------hS~.7Geo~~o ~n~g---+-----l-----t----+----+----+-~1~~+.~13~+----+----+----+----t---~ 92-G3 Decker John!ARC0#2 S.Geoo 1 31 92-G4 Barnes. Tom BP Exoloraticn S. Geolo · 15 25

Temporary Navigation Towers 92Tl Baldwin, Robert Western Geo hvsicll 921'2 Simpson, Ken Nortech, fu~

Scientific f-c92~-;S,.;1~~~"T Poker Flat Rocket Range) 92 S2 Resemcn: 92-S3 A 92 S4 Oldow Joim S. Rioo University) 92 S5 Moore, Tom ((USGS AK Geology) 92 S6 Re1 ensruh!,Rocky1AKDNR 92 S7 Crov.der,Keith UofA,GeologyDept. 92 S8 Pmker Tun UClA- Geology Dept.

Cabins 92-C1 Francis. Bella

Temo. Nav. Towers Temp. Nav. Towers

Imoact/Retrieve Rockets Smn le LakeSedunent Contaminants: bioassay Surfaoo Geology Surfaoo Geology Surmce Geo ogy Surfaoo Geo ogy Surface Geology

Trap. &: Subsistence Cabin

98(a)

19

15

18 18 15 15

1 25 1 31

30 ~

17 5

September March for five years S.: NAkSUM.WKl

20 31

31

A typical tower for temporary radio transmissions to precisely locate boats for offshore seismic operations.

Aircraft use reports are required from all charter operators under the terms of their special use permits. Reports were used to compile an estimate of unguided visitor use on the Refuge during 1992 in Table 8 (See section H-12). Only drop-offs (arrivals) in the Refuge were considered in compiling the table.

One of the major air charter operators suffered a fatal crash on adjoining Yukon Flats NWR while participating in a moose census. Joe Firmin, owner and operator of Porcupine Air Service and his passenger, Steve Young, Assistant Manager of Yukon Flats NWR,

99

perished in the accident on November 12, 1992, while surveying the last plot on the final day of the survey.

Scientific Studies

The variety of scientific research occurring on the Refuge, carried out by a range of agencies and groups, and by other offices of the Service continued during 1992. Most of these investigations are covered by special use permits, including all non-Service operations requiring helicopter landings or plant, animal or rock collections. Eight special use permits were issued for research activities in 1992, compared to fifteen in 1991. Five of the eight permits dealt with various aspects of geology. The geological topics under investigation this year included crustal tectonics, marine sediments and geologic mapping. Several Alaska areas are apparently made up of bits and pieces of the earth's crust which has been aggregated after riding for eons on the rift edges of the Pacific plate, resulting in complex, discontinuous geology in several areas. The geologic forces resulting from plate tectonics have wrought huge, impressive formations in many areas of the Brooks Range that are fascinating to visitors and, seemingly, endlessly interesting to geologists.

Other scientific special use permits included two for the EPA, to collect lake sediment, plants, lichens, small mammals and fish samples for trace contaminants analysis in an effort to shed light on global warming. The remaining permit was issued to the Poker Flat Rocket Range, part of the University of Alaska. All scientific permits, including their purposes, are listed in Table 9.

Cabin Permits

One five-year cabin permit was issued this year (Table 9). The permit was issued for an existing cabin which had been used for many years. No new trespass cabins were found during the year, nor were any applications received for new cabins.

100

Miscellaneous Permits

Eleven special use permits, compared to 23 in 1991, were issued for a variety of purposes during the year (Table 10). Five (ten in 1991) were issued for tours of the 1002 coastal plain, two (eight in 1992) for the media, two for helicopter landings in association with commercial photography, and one each was issued for travel on shore-fast sea ice and helicopter access to survey Native allotments.

3. Items of Interest

Nothing to Report

4. Credits

The following personnel drafted the indicated sections of this narrative.

Introduction Phil Garrett A Highlights Phil Garrett B. Oimate Conditions Mark Willms c. Land Acquisition Jim Akaran D. Planning

1,2,3 Tom Edgerton 4,6 Roger Kaye 5 Janet Jorgenson

E. Administration 1,5 Pam Butler 2,3 Donna Christensen 4 Tom Edgerton 6,7,8 Greg Weiler

F. Habitat Management 1-8 Fran Mauer 9,10 Harvey Heffernan 11 Tom Edgerton 12 Roger Kaye

G. Wildlife 1,2,6,8,17 Fran Mauer 3,4,5,7,11 Mark Willms 9 Jim Akaran

101

10 14,15,16

H. Public Use 10,11 1, 7,12,13,14,15,16 8,9 17 2,3,4,5,6,18,19

I. Equipment and Facilities 1-4,7,8 6 5

J. Other Items 1,2 3,4

K. Feedback

Individual researchers provided project summaries. Typing and Compiling: Julia Mcisaac, Phil Garrett Information packet: Julia Mcisaac Appendix: Cathy Curby

102

Dave Cox Pat Reynolds

Roger Kaye Tom Edgerton, Cathy Curby Harvey Heffernan Dave Sowards Cathy Curby

Dave Cox Cathy Curby Greg Weiler

Harvey Heffernan Phil Garrett Phil Garrett

K. FEEDBACK

The Annual Narrative Report has developed into quite a burden for the Refuge staff, more so each year. It is very useful for orientation of new employees, volunteers and others, and as a history of the Refuge. I'm sure it also is useful to those in Regiona1/Washington offices for various purposes. However, meeting the Manual deadline of March 1 each year is next to impossible, at least at this station. Most staff members participate in preparation of the report (see Credits), and it still is not complete by March 1. Computers have made a vast difference in the speed of preparation and printing, but it seems the report is not finalized until several days/weekends of off-duty time is spent to complete it. The negative side of computers include shorter deadlines for Regiona1/Washington office requests through E-Mail, modems and FAX machines. Which brings us to the primary problem of not meeting the Annual Narrative deadline; too much paperwork, short deadlines for other paperwork, and not enough people. Each year sees increased . demands from the public, more reports, more required training, more speeches to write, more paperwork to review, more outreach through EE, more of just about everything except funding and time.

Solutions:

1. The easiest solution is to staple the Monthly Activity Reports together for the year and call it the Annual Narrative Report.

More realistic solutions:

2. Keep upgrading computers, they are a tremendous help.

3. Try to shift some required training to October - December instead of January- April.

4. Change the report deadline to June 1 instead of March 1.

I, for one, do not like to miss the deadline for the Annual Narrative Report, but the demands of Refuge operations generally have a higher value from my viewpoint. A June 1 date would be more reasonable to meet. Oh well, maybe next year.

103

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Gov. sQjs_' it ff!af/be ·to hold--vote a . ,; · WAS~d:Jik)~)-~t ~ay ~ .. ·The:~m.remor . better to delay· a proposed Senate ......... n.r.11.•

. vote on opening portions of the Arc- : ·""'· II.UU.J&

.'.tic National Wildlife Refuge to oil · and '· exploration if it appears headed for ~':~a~fr~,~~~~11:: : a major defeat, Gov;·walter ~- :1 · Hickel says. "-: · · ··.o· · '

·., The governor made the 1com-. · ments Sunday, while preparing for . p~ ·

, a number of visits during the three- :Sut. : day annual meeting of the National ploratory driJ~!PD. :Governor's Association:,j-~...:~ :: , ::~. bis'Stii ·

"ANWR may ~-be ~;.reality to : week ~.look at until after. the next· elec-" · AI . ~ ; tion," Hickel said. ~'It's juSt one of a'Cce8s

those kind of things." " · lion fO ~ billioo , Hickel was scheduled to meet governorsaidAlaska's ',with Alaska's.Congresslonal de-. ofw~~. · ~ legation'later today.. :- ·. · :: delay4he}~ssue : Sens. Ted Stevens and Frank·" • .Novembet.Jenerill

., MurkowSki have asked the Senate; il·tJ:·w~-~ td ·:leadership to sclled~ a vote this '-l:nigbt~-~:··;,~ : month on at~aching the ANWR untiJ ~~lflt . · drilling proposal to_ a national ener- Iose'~_,·•·ructet

gy bill. · · Sen. BeimettJohnston, The two Alaska Republicans had ch~ of the F.ru>•rav

threatened a filibuster-non-stop ral Resources COJnmlittE~ floor speeches-until or unless the hear the energy bill; ANWR proPQ881 was inserted into Stevens and Murkowski the bill for a vote. . have,enough votes to pUsh

Hickel said he also .would be through the Senate. .. , -~' meeting with White House Chief of .Johnston said no more Staff Samuel Skinner and Interior . the Seri$te~s 100 members Slil>li>Ol't

·Secretary Manual Lujan. . e,·:,_ .. QI>e~ANWR· ·.,. r • ,, :;_ ,-?' > •• ~ •-' '-.".,.> t,. ,;- • :\: ;.44 #.--:~ .-.•JJ#)<4.~: ~ '-·~"-"::;_. ,; ,_._,~:;:.-'--'-'"·~

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lea. environmentalists a .Diitioliwide :reampa1gn against drilling, saying tbe -. ts too .precious~Uld ~to drill when lncreised cou­·aervation incentives would produce far more ener-gy for the country. · . . , · ·

- Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alasta, said Tues­day night that~ won't prolong the ill-fated battle.

'1be otJly option remaining for him and Repub­lican Sen. Ted Stevens is to offer a drilling amend­ment that is certain to be ldlled on a procedural

[vote. . ·- ; . ' ; _;:' . - __ · ,··. ,. ·"It's pretty bard to expect a fair vote now," ,Murkowaki said. "It's turned into a partisan ~lsslle..''·' ~~ ,.Jl. __ : ... ,.~<._ . . . ·~·' ......

~ While stevens iaid the cllanCtis for a·drlning ~ent now ate slim, be 81ao said be is ~ · .giving up. ,_ ·: . . ·d•.

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86 Anchorage Daily News ·ruesday, April 7, 1992

• r1s ' c t ' t ke Alaska t extremes Panel: Backcountry trips need limits The Associated Press

FAIRBANKS - The Arc­tic National Wildlife Refuge could be losing some of its appeal as a wilderness area because so many people are rafting its rivers and camp­ing along their banks, envi­ronmental officials said.

It's an example of eco­tourism - travel and adven­ture trips to backcountry ar­eas - going bad, a group of panelists said Saturday at an environmental conven­tion here.

The challenge,. they said, is to keep ecotourism in check so the unspoiled wil­derness areas are not spoiled by the bootprints of those who wish to appreciate them.

The panel discussion at the University of Alaska Fairbanks was part. of the annual Alaska Environmen­tal Assembly meeting. About 200 participants signed up for the two-day event featuring speakers from Canada, Russia, Alas­ka and Japan as well as the Lower 48.

Panel moderator Carol Kazsa of Fairbanks is well­acquainted with the ecotour­ism boom as a rafting guide on rivers of the Arctic Na­tiona1 Wildlife Refuge.

Traffic increased in the refuge through the 1980s as ANWR became the focus of enivironmental movements. Guides realized that the ex­perience of visiting the ref­uge was losing value because of the evidence left behind by increasing numbers of travelers, she said.

The guides . approached the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to devise a plan to place limits on visitation.

Ecotourism benefit.s the

land and people only if it is linked to a strategic plan recognizing wilderness and the surrounding environ­ments, people, politics and economies, said Stephen Planchon of the Nature Con­servancy.

"You can't just go in and be single-minded," he said. "People already are living in the last wild, natural ar­eas on earth. You have to · find · ways for both people and nature to flourish."

Environmental groups that seek to alienate people from the wilds will find their work politically harder and harder to accomplish, he said.

Larry Merculieff, manag­er of the city of St. Paul in the Pribilof Islands, empha­sized that people need to think about the human role in the environment as they embark on ecotourism ven­tures.

The Pribilofs, in the Be­ring Sea, became a national­ly known destination for hard-core bird watchers dur­ing the past decade, he said.

"It boggled my mind when I found out there were 10 million bird watchers in North America who would want to come all the way out to the Pribilofs just to see a bird and check it off a list," Merculieff said. "But that does nothing to protect the environment."

The ecotourism boom on the Pribilofs required limit­ing air traffic to corridors to protect bird colonies and re­duce noise near villages, he said.

Intense orientation ses­sions for visitors and guides also were required. Camping was outlawed.

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Gwich'in, Cree aghast over development plans

Oil development in Alaska threatens the calving grounds or caribou that are the mainstay of the Gwich'in culture. Hydro de­velopment in the James Bay re­gion or Quebec threatens to flood the hunting grounds of the Cree.

In the face of growing demand for power, developers are puz­zled that anyone would balk at these projects; the Gwich'in and the Cree are astonished that any­one could conceive of devastat­ing their lands and their ways of life for any reason.

It's an understatement to call this debate polarized.

Oil companies in Alaska and the utility in Quebec argue they can develop and do no hann. Be­sides, they assert, these areas are wastelands, valueless, un­inhabited, barren.

Not so, say tlie native peoples. Because it's so easy to make de­cisions about places one has never seen and people one has never met, opponents of the two projects have launched vigorous campaigns to publicize their cases.

NATIVE VOICE Will Nicholls, a spokesman for

the Grand Council of the Crees, hit town recently to tell people here what Hydro-Quebec's plans for James Bay mean for his peo­ple.

The first phase of a project to produce 27,000 megawatts of hy­

. dropower - more than all of New England's existing generat­ing capacley - already has flood­ed an area the size or Massachu­setts.

Apart from loss of traditional hunting and fishing areas, the Cree are suffering from mercury poisoning from eating fish con­taminated by the heavy metal

It's a problem Massachusetts residents may sympathize with because of the high levels of mer-

Roger Leo Editorial Writer

cury discovered In fish at Quab­bin Reservoir. One result of the local problem is a ban on con­sumption of Quabbin fish by pregnant women, women of childbearing years and children, and limits on consumption by ev- · eryone else.

It's one thing to tell sport fishennen not to eat their catch, but how can subsistence people not eat their food supply?

James Bay's gargantuan landscaping - by reversing the now of rivers and storing spring runoff for release In fall and win­ter - would wreak havoc on the seasonal rhythms of an area the size of New England.

Nicholls suggested the alterna­tive to flooding his homeland is for people in New England to conserve on power. It's cheaper, it creates far more jobs - right here - and it benefits the envi­ronment

"You are the purchasers," he said. "Every time you throw that light switch, It affects us."

000

The Gwich'in and others who oppose drilling for oil on the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Na­tional Wildlife Refuge also have become vocal.

Two representatives or the Northern Alaska Environmental Center dropped in the other day to present their case for protect­ing the Coastal Plain - the calv­ing grounds of the Porcupine

Caribou Herd - as wilderness. Marta McWhorter, 38, and Stu­

art Pechek, 40, both of Fairbanks came anned with maps and charts and facts and figures, as well as their own experience with the area they are trying to protect.

Pechek grew up in northern Minnesota - where he canoed a great deal - and went to Alaska for the wilderness. He worked at Prudhoe Bay from 1975 to '79, surveying wildlife for the state, and now runs "the furthest north trap line In the U.S." on the south slope of the Brooks Range.

"The world's getting smaller and the pressure is mounting on all the resources and lands that are special treasures for us. The refuge is like the Grand Canyon, a national treasure for every­body. It's one of the last places where we can keep a whole arc­tic and subarctic ecosystem to­gether.

"One day all or the oil will be gone. Why destroy this place just to pump the last drop of oil out or the ground? We have to start thinking ahead of our noses and get away from crisis manage­ment," Pechek said. BEARS AND BOGS

McWhorter worked in 1985, '86 and '87 surveying bird, caribou and muskox food habits for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service In the Arctic Refuge. Born in Palo Alto, she went to Alaska "to see bears and bogs."

"The Coastal Plain is import­ant for its wilderness values and for the native and Indigenous people - the Gwlch'ln in Arctic Village and the lnupiat in Kakto­vik," she said. "Even if it wasn't a treasure for the people of the lower 48 states, it should be left alone because it's so important to the native people as the calv­ing ground for the caribou they need to survive."

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All.iCIIOR.\(iE D.\11.\" NEWS

TRACKING THE

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Alaska's popularity is growing among "ecotourists" who enjoy taking guided trips to wild lands.

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~teann!D& ~~~~~~on a ~d~ tdP ~-one of Alaika'a inost mnote c:Onien, the software engineer was _Ill~ bT .the oarrow era vet runw&7 at. .. Caribou~-- - ' · .. ·, ·., ....

A lone W&7 from her home outside 8ostoD. . , ... 1· No tent. No ,Wde. No IUD- Not even a can of bear ,.· ·

repellent. Wont of all, abe had DO cOffee and DO stove • ·­to beatlt on, abe aaid later,!, L,. ·, · :

. All abe had wu-a plecl&e that If abe-waited. a bulb ... pllot would - . . . • • . •. '

And abe had allee.plq bal. IQIDI'C!Otbet and a.: ; . ., lellow traveler', LbKJa Ketelur. · _ .' .

What If the pUot couldn't c&n7 both of them. abe '· wondetecL What If IOID4IthiDC went WI'OII&f ~I've been · . \, De&rl)- left In other travel~;" abe aa14. .

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IH'<'Il on trips all over thP world. Kt•te· lanr trit>d her best to ease the anxiety. "Every trip I do. something always hnppens." she said.

Tllat 's reassuring. Welcome to the world of ecotour!sm.

Alaska stvle. From Alaska to Antarctica, from Bali

to Bhutan, a growing number of travel­ers are taking guided trips to wild lands and exotic cultures.

They trek on trails and ride camels and elephants. Or they go by canoe, kayak, raft or walrus skin boat. The travel industry calls it "ecotourism." and this combination of environmental­ism with adventure is the hot new trend.

Technology, affluence and increasing leisure time have combined to create a crop of companies that make far-away places and wildernesses accessible, af­fordable and comfortable.

To be sure, exotic trips have occurred for decades. For a while It was tagged "adventure travel." But that phrase didn't cover the mix of nature trips to national parks and journeys with an educational bent.

In the late 1980s, the word "ecotour­lsm" took hold.

.And when the number of travelers taking guided adventure and nature trips grew 20 percent a year in the late 1980s, the travel industry took notice, said Megan Epler Wood, director of the Ecotourism Society.

Ecotourism came of age. Real ecotourism companies should

spend their money In the local economy, not trash the places they visit and give part of their profits to local environmen­tal groups, according to the Ecotourism Society. That Alexandria, Va.-based group is a coalition of conservation organizations and travel companies.

With its roots In the recent greening of America, ecotourism may just be a fad, warns Richard Bangs, a writer and also a president of Mountain Travel-So­bek in California.

Ecotourism "may be a thin carapace covt•ring vain motives, a crass market­ing tool used by the travel industry to legitimize the hedonism of wilderness travel,"' he wrote in the magazine Trilo-

gy in Alaska, ccotourism is growing. Alaska Discovery, which provided the

guides and rafts for Leekley's arctic rt>fuge trip, has grown in 20 years from a part-time endeavor run out of a base­ment to a $1 million-a-year business handling 70 trips this summer, said Ken Leghorn. a company owner.

Popular ccotrips in Alaska Include kayak trips in Kenai Fjords National Park. Prince William Sound and Kache-

~,. mak Bay; raft trips on Southeast's Tat, .. shenshini River; bird watching on the Pribilof Islands; and mountain bike tours in Southcentral.

Mountain Travel-Sobek said its Alas­ka business has expanded about 15 percent this year even when some of the international travel has slowed.

Recession in the Lower 48 makes Alaska appear to be a cheaper vacation spot than Africa or Asia, Bangs said. People here speak English, and a travel­er who is injured can avoid some of the problems with medical care in the Third World, he said.

Alaska has gotten some other big boosts in the past few years, he said.

"Northern Exposure," the popular television show, has put a Hollywood version of life in the Great Land on the tube every Monday night. And the na­tional debate over allowing oil explora­tion In the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has helped make that area one of the sexiest ccotours. in Alaska.

Ironically, the very effort to keep ANWR untouched by humans has led thousands of tourists to camp, hike and raft in the refuge.

Just ask Tom Edgerton in Fairbanks,

Mary Ann Leekley laughs as she and guide Steve Griffin ~ down the river.

A lone caribou with one broken horn trotted up a gravel bar across the river from camp. It raised its nose and apparently caught a whiff of the small campfire. The animal turned, hesitated and put its nose in the air agam, head wavering indecisively.

who sits In a windowless government office with a cardboard model of an osprey hanging over his bead.

He is a planner for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the federal agency that manages the refuge. Between 1984 and last year, he said, the refuge bas seen a sevenfold Increase in bikers and rafters on guided trips - from 700 to 5,000 days spent by visitors in ANWR.

In 1990. a year after much of the controversy over drilling slacked off, so did guided biking and rafting, be said. But the images of the clouds of caribou swannlng the tundra. stiJJ linger In people's minds, he said.

"I get calls from New York asking if there are hotels and motels they can stay in while they are watching the caribou," be said.

.; ·'··· ;·,;....:·,.;; ___ _

NOMOTaLS Don't look for an airport motel In

Arctic VIllage. And don't expect much from the airport waiting room, either.

The village's gravel runway Is a jump-off point for many of the hikers and rafters coming to and from the refuge. The waiting lounge, if you can call It that, Is a plywood and wood­frame shell with the roof blown off.

A ratty, rain-soaked couch cushion lies against one wall. The one dry comer Is stacked with backpacks, cook stoves, camera gear and an Issue of People magazine: ''The 50 most beautiful people in the world."

At the air strip, ecotourists headed for the Kongakut River meet travelers re­turning from ANWR's coastal plain bear­Ing tales of wolves, wildflowers, birds and caribou. Caribou are a big draw for some on this Kongakut trip.

The rafting starts from a gravel bar at Drain Creek, a 50-minute flight from Arctic VIllage. Seven people gather there for a 10-day, 60-mlle, $2,750 jour­ney down the Kongakut, the most popu­lar rafting river in ANWR.

The party includes three clients, a pair of guides, a Dally News reporter and a photographer.

None of the trio of tourists knew each other previously. Their only connection was that they dialed Mountain Travei­Sobek's toll-free number to book the trip.

"800 numbers are my downfall," Leekley quipped. The 42-year-old back· packer and biker spends so much time in New Hampshire's White Mountains that her silver Toyota Tercel, named ''The Humma," seems to take her there on autopilot.

When a planned trip to .Patagonia In Chile fell apart, she decided that Alaska would be a good place to see some wild country and wildlife far from home. "I wanted to see caribou," Leekley said.

Like Leekley, Ketelaar, 44, works with computers. But really. she works so she can travel, she said.

When China started opening to West­em tourists, Ketelaar was on one of the early bicycle trips. A few years later she was In Algeria, riding camels in the Sahara. Next it was a trip on the Peruvian Amazon. In the Soviet Union, she was back on the bicycle for a trip there.

Sharing Ketelaar's tent on the Kon­gakut was Wendy Drake. The 57-year-old grandmother Is traveling Alaska with her mutt Max in a four-wheel drive Volkswagen camper and pounding out tales of her travels on a portable type­writer for her kids. "Miles, Mosquitoes, Mom and Max," Is her working title.

Drake Is making the most of the borrowed time she's living on. Diag­nosed with leukemia eight years ago, she was given less than five years to live. An experimental drug and a team of doctors helped slow the disease and kept her alive, she said.

But the treatments have battered her body. One drug weakened her bones so badly she bad to get her shoulder joint replaced, she said. Another treatment caused her windpipe to narrow, so she breathes through a plastic tube In her windpipe Inserted through a bole in her neck.

If she fell in the river, water would quickly fill her lunp through the tube, she said calmly. But that won't keep her off this trip. "I don't let fear govern my life," she said.

The Kongakut Is outside the section of ANWR that may be exploi-ed for oil and gas, but that matters little to Drake and the other two travelers. Each said she wanted to see the refuge before develop­ment alters it.

Leading the trip are two men with li!estyles about as different as you can Imagine.

The head guide Is Steve Griffin, a 26-year-old who bas logged much of his

Please see Page H-7, TRACKING

4-s>N 0v~ ''lZ..

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Anchorage Dally News Sunday, July 26, 1992. H7

TRACKING: Alaska's ANWR a hot~ spot for 'ecotourists' I Continued from Page H-5 1 Splash on the bug dope first thing in morning and · group's last full day in the off the white, gray and adult life on rivers, moun- cover every inch of open Arct1c, dawned sunny and brown backs. tains and the ocean. Over skin each hour or two. Add a Like a gleaming Waterfall, the caribou hot. At breakfast Drake pul- Bulls with massive racks the past seven summers he's head net if the bugs get too spilled over the slope and down tO the river. led out U.S. flags, a celebra- towered above the pack. A guided for Alaska Discovery Intense, as they sometimes Gusts of w:ind w:'h6;' .~ bll'ndl'ng bl' ... ...- of ,, ,...,. tlon she planned months few of the animals swam and spent his winters work- do. ~ a.>&i:> uu..& ago. . halfway across the river to a ing as ski patroller, waiting On the third day, the af- d~ the Valley. ne thousand, then 2,000 ·:· For the farewell dinner, gravel island and shook tables in Juneau, or trek- ter-dinner conversation tum- caribou became a dusty iridescent mass, tha Griffin suggested a cllmb up themselves off like dogs king and climbing in the ed to movies. Jokes about "' 1,500 feet to· a knob above sending out a silvery show: Himalaya Mountains of Ne- "Ghostbusters"· stopped sud· SUnlight grazing Off the white gray and . camp, to savor the midnight er. pal and India. denly as Griffin pointed brown backs. ' · sun and dine overlooking High above the river,

Griffin is as comfortable downriver. · · the coutal plaln and the Drake and Griffin were with a thread between his A lone caribou with one Beaufort Sea. plOdding up to the peak. "I fingers as he is with a clim- broken hom trotted up a Drake. who guped for was gasping and wheezing; I bing rope. He designs and gravel bar across the river breath throuch her tube just sounded llke a calllope com-sews his own outdoor gear from camp. It raised Its nose life, times and biology of the the plan called for one full trudging. up the river bank ing up," she said. and peddles some of it for and apparently caught a Porcupine caribou herd that day of hl.kinc and hanging· to camp,lnsisted she wanted Although she eschews sen­extra cash. On a cloudy arc- whiff of the small campfire. roams the refuge. out here at Caribou P811,. to make the hike. Few be- tlmentally, Drake said she tic morning, he's apt to The animal turned, hesitated After the previous night's with departure on July 5. lieved she could. . abed a tear at the top, full of wake his clients with the and put its nose In the air sighting, everyone half ex- In the eight days since the Audet left early with the wonder that she made the strains of Greensleeves again, head wavering indeci- pected Griffin to summon up trip began the group had photognpher and reporter trek. "I really wouldn't have played on an ivory-colored sively. ~~~! :be i~~t.~~tsoe mhise- sBeetn plentythof ~:and sheep. in to:._~. cache some food at made it without Steve and a alto recorder. Finally it crossed the u even e ,. .... es were the ,--. and then wandar whole bunch of doctors," she

Alllstlna Griffin Is Dave stream, first wadin1, then one joked. 1ettin1 a little d"perate to the hills UDtU clinner. . said. Audet,

41, a state data pro- •wlmmlna. It emerged from lAter that nl1ht, the carl- see more wlldlife and espe- By early afternoon, he From that peak, the trav-

cesslna manaser who takes the stream, skirted the yel- bou obllaed. clally some caribou. reached the top and raised alers spotted a bear sow and vacation time to guide a low dome tents and bounded As the camp talk again When Audet was here two . his binoeulars toward tha two cubs romping in the handful of trips each year. up the hill behind camp. turned to movies, Audet years ago, he watched part braided, allmmering Kon- valley to the north.

"Was that a caribou?" Ke- spotted a caribou on the of the herd come streaming gakut in tbe valley below. Leekley, too, saw part of telaar asked, when speech horizon. "He's back," said through the pass above "I can - part of the the caribou herd, the white finally returned to the Griffin, as he trained his camp. This time, "it's a des- herd," ha said. blob on the tundra from her

8UIIP,GRIND Bump when you hit a

rock. Grind when you drag the fully loaded raft across the shallows.

In between, it's paddle and spin. "Forward, spin right, backward, spin left," calls out the guide as the travelers paddle the boat around the rocks. The rhythm of the river, Its twists, turns and obstacles set the pace of the paddles dipping Into the stream.

On shore, the soundtrack for the arctic trip is the dull roar of the river mixed with the almost constant buzz of mosquitoes, whining like the string section tuning up at the orchestra from hell.

group. spotting scope on a caribou ert," he said. . Far in; the distance a post atop the peak. Sure was. with a broken hom. On a trip just before this white, amoeballke form But her best encounter The group spent the next It was the last caribou one, Griffin's group aaw a shimmered on the CreeD tun· came in the last hours of the

day hiking, stepping drunk- anyone saw for days. musk ox .from this camp, he d.ra. It shifted, broke apart trip, after the lo1lJ·promised enly across the tundra as the said. and pooled acain like JIIAm:\1• bush pilot airlved to pick mounds of grass called tus- "I've seen caribou, I'll 1'1 in a pan. her and Kete1aar up. As they socks shifted beneath their TAKIE A HIKE take a musk ox," sald The trio of hikers dashed winged out of the Arctic, he boots. A moose and Its calf "Welcome to Kongakut Drake. down the ride• toward the detoured up a tundra-cov-wandered across a hill way International Airport," said "I'll look at anything," animals and mar:clutd alon& ered drainage off the Sheen-in the distance. Three Dall Griffin, as the paddlers replied Leekley. the aravel bars u tlie carl· jek River. sheep, white dots on a dark beached their boats for the They settled for snappin& bou came:.clcnm from the s.J.ow them were several scree slope, stood on the last time and stared down photos of the ground squir- hilblands. . thousands dots. The plane distant hills. the gravel runway from rei that was scoping out the Like a Sleaming water- banked and soared lower,

Wildflowers carpeted the which they would depart. camp for food. lall, the caribou spilled over and the dots turned into deep green tundra _ white A collection of 23 metal A cutting wind blew up the alope and down to the caribou. mountain avens, purple lu- fuel drums in various states from the ice-covered Beau· river. Gults of wind Over pasta and beer In pines, yellow arctic poppies. of rust lay at one end of the fort Sea. Fog from the coast, whipped blinding blasts of Fairbanks, Leekley de-

That night, Griffin gath- runway. 15 miles away, billowed dust down the valley. One ICribed the scene to her envl-ered the group around the The date was July 3, and around the mountains above thousand, then 2,000 caribou ous traveling companions. metal pan that held the fire the cluster of tents. 'baca1:Da a dusty iridescent "Pretty excellent," she pulled out a stack of 3-by-S Fourth of July, the mass, the sunlight grazing said. cards and lectured about the

Rafters warm their hands around a campfire along the Kongakut River during an eight-day trip in ANWR.

Refuge tourism is small change compared to oil By BRUCE MELZER Da!ly News buSiness reporter

No one should think that developing tourism in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a viable economic alternative to exploring for oil there.

Last year 462 people took guided hiking and rafting trips in the refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service figures show. Raft trips predominate and based on the going rates for such excursions, clients shelled out an estimated $1.1 million last year.

Such sums are quickly dwarfed by the hundreds of millions the state could earn in taxes and royalty if the oil industry's best case comes true and ANWR contains a giant oil deposit.

Even a modest exploratory drilling •program could pump more into the economy than decades of ecotourism. The lone exploratory well drilled so far on Native land in the refuge cost $40 million, said Ardie Gray of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association.

Growing tourism in ANWR also Is having Its own environmental crisis of sorts.

·Although tQurism helps people appreciate the wildness of the country and the need to preserve it, environmentalists sa,Jd, too many people flocking to such a fragile place as the Arctic can destroy the wilderness character and make it like a much tamer park.

At the popular Caribou Pass landing strip and camp, a pair of mew ¥Ulls were so accustomed to people that they fought with each other for the best spot to beg scraps from campers.

Since 1989, the Fish and Wildlife Service has been working on a plan to manage ANWR's rivers, due to concerns of overcrowding and human impact raised by rafters and guides, said Tom Edgerton, an agency planner.

At the moment, commercial guides and outfitters are required to get permits from the agency to use the refuge, but the agency's control stops there, he said. The agency neither tracks nor controls private rafters, hikers or hunters.

Some users have argued it should stay that way. Others, such as the Wilderness Society, have proposed limits on the size of commercial raft trips.

The Gwich'in Steering Committee, which represents Indian villages near the refuge, wants even stricter limits on commercial trips. Subsistence bunters in the village want to guarantee that recreation doesn't interfere with the caribou on which they depend.

The agency is considering an array of options and has delayed issuing its set of recommendations. A draft river management plan should come out some time this fall and could take at least six months to revise and approve, Edgerton said.

'I get calls from New York asking if there are hotels and motels they can stay in while they are watching the caribou.,

-Tom Edgerton, U.S. Floh and Wlldllft S.rvlce

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Two Alaska Discovery rafts Hoat down the Kongakut River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Photos by PAUI

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PAID ADVERTISING BY THE STATE OF ALASKA.

1HE STATE SPEAKS OUT ON ANWR A • • " .• ·~.::·. ·-' _.: • i, - ... . . .

The numbers td1 the stOrf. The stOIY' ;•·,;~~' tombine to benefit ANWR by leaving an of how oil development in the Arctic an even sm.iller "footprint• on the land. and does co-exist with wildlife. In &a. the y;. • A drill pad on the Coasw Plain would Central Arctic Can"bou Herd has inacased ~ r{'·c;oyer less than one-third of the tot2l

six-fold since · ma previously required at production began Prudhoe Bay, yet contain

on the North Slope twice as many wells. in 19n. This is just a Also. exploration on

Small patt of the environ- ANWR's CoasW Plain menw tr.ick record at will take pbce prinurily in

Prudhoe Bay, only65 winter, when ice miles west of the CDasal roads and icc pads

Plain of the Arctic an be used. In the summer they mdt, Natioll21 Wddlife leaving little or no trace of their existence. Refuge (ANWR). And when rundra travel is ncccssary in

Over the years, hundrtds of the summer, special low-impact vehicles, wildlife srudics have been conduaed in or "roUigons. • will be used. These vehicles,

the Arctic. The findings have which were developed specifically ror been overwhelmingly operations on the North Slope, exert less positive. There have been no impact on the tundra than a person

documented declines in wildlife popu- walking. Any area affected by oil lations since North Slope development dcvdopment would be re-seeded and began. In &a, the Central Arctic Can"bou ruurncd to its natur.11 State. In addition, Herd has grown &om 3,000 ID 18.000 air quality of oil fields in the Arctic bas animals. Fish have more winrer habitat remained &r better than in most people's

than ever befOre. And the area own back yard. remains one of the largest water- Industry spends millions of dollars

fOwl nesting areas in the world. every year to help preserve and protect the Alaslca has learned a great deal . Arctic environment. With 30 years of

about the Arctic environment. And acaunulated knowledge, experience, and bow ID best proreak As a result of advances in rechnologr, today's petroleum

these extensive studies, changes were producers are more qualified than ever to implemented recover Arctic oil in an environmentally in oil field sensitive manner. design. ANWR could also help strengthen our

Pipelines were placed

. awayfrom roads and

elevated 1D at least

Roads and facilities were also c:arcfuJly planned to avoid rox dens and other habitat.

five &ct. to ensure caribou an

move freely.

Old gravel sites were turned into deep-water fish habitat, which would otherwise fr= solid during the nine-month winter.

In addition ro preserving wildlife, advances in teChnology will

ANWR ARcriC NATIONAL WILDLIFE R.Eru;E

national security- by lessening our clcpcndencc on fOreign oil. In 1990, fOreign oil importS accounted fOr 60% of the U.S. trade deficit. Finding oil in ANWR could~ the U.S. $14 billion . a year and hdp improve the economy.

We need to putANWR in perspective.

The study area of ANWR. a small region in the northeast comer of Alaska, holds the most promise lOt a majot oil and gas discovery in the u.s. ANWR's Coasw Plain. the only area being considered ror

development, is just 8% of ANWR. Less than I% of the CoasW Plain would actually be affected by full

development, leaving 99.9% of ANWR untoUChed. When

compared ro all of Alaslca, it's about the siz.e of a Frisbee on a football field.

TheCoasW Plain is a flat, treeless tundra. or marshland. It fr=cs solid fOr nine months of the year, creating a vast polar desert. In Alasb alone, there is more than 57 million acres of designated W!lderness - an area larger than the entire states of Pennsylvania. New Jersey, West Vuginia, and Matyland combined.

With domestic oU supplies declining. oil produaion in ANWR could significandy reduce our dependence on fOreign oil and provide jobs in America. Best yet, it an all be done while protecting the environment, as proven onAiasb's Nonh Slope.

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ARCTIC NWR FACT SHEET

History

1949 The National Park service (NPS) began a recreational survey in Alaska to determine areas deserving of formal protection under the national conservation unit system.

1954 The NPS recommended that the northeast corner of Alaska be preserved as a unique ecosystem-and important area for scientific studies.

1957 As a result of support from various conservation groups and prominent conservationists, notably Claus Murie, the Interior Department announced plans to seek legislation establishing an 8000 square-mile arctic wildlife refuge in the area identified by the NPS study.

December 6, 1960 - Following controversial debate in Congress and failure of legislation to establish the refuge, Secretary of the Interior, Fred Seaton signed Public Land Order 22214 withdrawing 8.9 million acres of land in northeast Alaska and establishing it as the Arctic National Wildlife Range.

September 6, 1969 - First Arctic NWR Manager, Ave Thayer, entered on duty.

December 2, 1980 - Through Section 303 of ANILCA, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was Congressionally established, encompassing 18,000,000 acres. Approximately 8,ooo,ooo acres were designated wilderness. ANILCA Section 1002 mandated a baseline wildlife resource study and oil and gas assessment of an approximately 1,550,000-acre study area on the refuge's coastal plain.

May 1982 Initial baseline report for ANILCA Section 1002 was published. Update reports were published yearly thereafter.

July 1, 1983 Eight oil companies began surface geological studies on the ANILCA Section 1002 study area.

october 20, 1983 - An inholding of approximately 971,800 acres was added to the refuge as a donation by the State of Alaska.

January 14, 1984 - Seismic exploration began on the 1002 area.

August 10, 1985

April 21, 1987

August 16, 1988

Section 1002 oil and gas exploration ended.

Interior Secretary, Donald Hodel released the 1002(h) Report, and recommended Congress authorize full leasing of the Arctic Refuge coastal plain.

Mean recoverable oil reserves were estimated to be 3.2 billion barrels. (Reassessed at 3.55 billion barrels in February 1991.)

The 100th Congress enacted PUblic Law 110-395 on August 16, 1988, adding approximately 325,000 acres to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. ·

Weather

Average m1n1mum January temperature in the northern portion the refuge is -20°F. In the southern portion of the refuge -28°F.

Average maximum July temperature in the northern portion of refuge is 47°F. In the southern portion it is 75°F.

Continuous daylight or twilight prevail on the refuge from 1 April to mid-August.

The sun remains below the horizon on the North Slope from mid-November until mid-January.

The northern portion of the refuge receives little precipita averaging only about 6 inches annually, but because of the underlying permafrost, which prevents water seepage, and a l evaporation rate, much of the area is wet or soggy during tt. summer.

During summer, permafrost may be 2 feet or less below the gz surface.

Snow cover usually isn't completely gone until the first weE June. Snow normally starts accumulating again by the first of September. snowfall and freezing temperatures may occur during the summer.

The Land

The refuge spans over 200 miles in north-south and east-wes1 directions.

The Brooks Range bisects the refuge creating a natural north-south division. The south slope is sub-arctic boreal forest.

The proximity of the Brooks Range to the Arctic Ocean withil refuge creates a unique diversity of habitats offering exceptional wildlife, scientific, recreational and aesthetic values.

The refuge includes the four tallest peaks in the Brooks Ral Mt. Isto, 9049 ft.; Mt. Chamberlin, 9019 ft.; Mt. Hubley, 8! ft.; and Mt. Michelson, 8855 ft. Sadlerochit Springs, a warm spring (warm by Arctic standard~ water temperatures ar in the 50°F range year round) flows ~ an area with a unique plant community. It is the only loca1 known north of the Brooks Range for several plant species.

About 173 applications have been filed for native allotments in the Arctic refuge, totaling 15,000 acres. Twenty-six allotment sites are found within the 1002 area. Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation Lands include 92,160 acres.

The refuge area has an extremely complex and unique geology. Scientists speculate that commercial quantities of oil and/or gas may underlie the coastal plain. In 1987, the estimated economically recoverable range was .6 billion barrels to 9.2 billion barrels. These estimates are being updated based on reanalysis of existing data and new data from adjoining areas. Scientists have increased the mean estimate of economically recoverable oil from 3.2 to 3.6 billion barrels, and increased the probability of an economic find from 19% to 46%.

The refuge contains an 8 million acre wilderness area, almost half of all Congressionally designated wilderness on refuges in Alaska and more wilderness than all refuges in the lower 48 combined. It is the second largest wilderness area in America and the largest within the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Much of the vegetated area is covered by a thick peat layer overlain by a mat of mosses, sedges and grasses. Trees rarely grow taller than a foot or so on the north slope. A few poplar groves occur in north slope mountain valleys. Larger spruce, birches and an assortment of other tree species occur on the south slope.

Wildlife

The "balance of nature" truly prevails on the Arctic NWR due to the pristine nature of this vast area. There are no known non­indigenous or introduced species on the refuge.

One endangered species, the peregrine falcon occurs on the refuge. The bowhead whale, also an endangered species, occurs in offshore waters.

Two caribou herds utilize the refuge. The Porcupine herd, numbering approximately 180,000 animals, winters in the southern portion of the refuge and in Canada. Calving and post-calving occur on the refuge's coastal plain and adjacent portions of Canada during late May and early June. As much as one-quarter of the Central Arctic herd, which numbers 18,000 - 20,000 animals, spends considerable time on the western portion if the refuge.

Muskoxen were extirpated from northern Alaska in the mid-1800's. In 1969 and 1970 muskoxen were reintroduced in the refuge coastal plain area. From 35 suffering transplanted animals, the refuge herd is stabilizing between 300 and 400 animals, and has expanded its range off the refuge. The estimated north slope population is over 500 animals.

Polar bears commonly occur on offshore ice. A few pregnant females annually den on the refuge's coastal plain. The grizzly bear population using the north slope of the refuge is estimated to be between 130 and 150. Bears prey and scavenge on caribou during early summer and shift to other foods later. Denning occurs primarily in the mountains. Black bears occur on the south slope of the refuge but not on the north slope. No reliable population estimate exists.

Five wolf packs totaling approximately 30 individuals occur on the northern portion of the refuge.

Moose are common along the refuge's north slope river drainages. Approximately 500 moose occupy these north slope riparian areas.

Snow geese that nest in the high Arctic islands of Canada stage for fall migration on the eastern coastal plain from mid-August through mid-September. The area is very important to the geese as they feed extensively to gather energy for their migration. Peak population averages 110,000, though it may exceed 300,000.

Tundra swans nest extensively along the coast. Approximately 150 pairs utilize the coastal plain for nesting. A variety of waterfowl nest on and otherwise utilize the coastal plain and coastal lagoons. The primary species is oldsquaw, but king and common eiders, pintails and other waterfowl are also found. Oldsquaw numbers vary from 20,000 to 35,000.

Besides waterfowl, over 70 migratory bird species nest on or otherwise utilize coastal plain habitats in summer. Bird densities are high on the coastal plain; up to 400 per km2 in certain habitat types.

Wolverines occur on the coastal plain, but are rare. The population level is low compared to some other Arctic areas.

Large Dall sheep populations occur in the mountains of the refuge. No reliable population estimate exists. The Sadlerochit Dall sheep population is the farthest north population in North America.

People

Two Native villages occur adjacent to the refuge. Kaktovik, an Inupiat Eskimo village is located on the northern edge of the coastal plain. The population is approximately 200. Arctic Village, an Athabascan Indian village is located at the southern end of the refuge. The population is approximately 100.

Both villages hunt the Porcupine caribou for subsistence. Arctic Village relies primarily on the herd for subsistence. Seventy percent of the caribou taken by Kaktovik residents come from the Central arctic herd, thirty percent is from the Porcupine caribou

herd. Villagers also trap wolves, marten, fox, otters and other species. Limited fishing occurs.

Kaktovik residents have a more diverse subsistence base than south slope residents. The primary species is the bowhead whale. Other species utilized besides caribou include: polar bear, waterfowl, walrus, seal, Dall sheep, wolves, ptarmigan, and several species of fish.

Residents of Fort Yukon, Venetie, and Chalkyitsik also use the refuge for subsistence purposes.

Sport hunting occurs for Dall sheep, caribou, muskoxen, moose, and grizzly bear. Sixteen percent of the United States's Dall sheep harvest occurs on the Arctic Refuge.

Sixteen commercial hunting guides Seventeen other commercial guides backpacking trips on the refuge. operate on the refuge.

operate on the refuge. conduct guided float and Eleven air taxi operators also

An estimated 1300 visits (11,500 use days) occurred in connection with public use during 1990. Visitors included sport hunters, river floaters, backpackers, photographers and artists. An estimated 350 individual subsistence users also used the refuge for about 11,000 use days.

Eight trappers and their families operate in remote refuge areas during winter and spring, in addition to the trappers who operate from the villages.

Approximate Air Travel Distances

Canadian border to Kaktovik Kaktovik to Prudhoe Bay canadian border to Prudhoe Bay Kaktovik to Sadlerochit Springs Canning River Delta (mid) to Prudhoe Bay

72 miles 118 miles 190 miles

38 miles 68 miles

ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE May 1990

General Trip Planning

The refuge has no roads and therefore no access for cars, buses or trains. Summer recreationalists generally use charter aircraft to access the refuge, then backpack or float down one of the rivers. However, ground access is available from the Dalton Highway near Galbraith Lake which comes within about four miles of the refuge's western boundary.

Transportation to nearby villages that serve as departure points to the refuge is by commercial aircraft from Fairbanks or Anchorage. In past years, charter aircraft have been available from Ft. Yukon, Kaktovik and Deadhorse. Planes land on the refuge at various unimproved upland airstrips, river gravel bars and lakes (in float equipped aircraft). Potential visitors should be encouraged to correspond directly with the various air charter companies and commercial guides regarding availability and entryfexit locations. Information on various trip rates and equipment rentals can also be obtained from commercial guides.

River Float Information

Spring breakup generally occurs on north slope rivers during late May and early June. Water levels are often at flood stage during this time with ice floes and "aufeis" that make navigation hazardous. Aufeis are layers of ice sometimes more than 10 feet thick that build up along river sections during the winter. During breakup, rivers carve vertical walled canyons through aufeis fields that can be a mile or more in length. During early summer or high water later in the season, it can be dangerous to attempt travel through such areas. By late June, the channels are generally carved and melted wide enough to allow passage. However, aufeis fields can be dangerous any time during the summer if river levels rise due to rains upstream. Therefore visitors should scout all ice areas prior to floating through to ensure that the river is not flowing under or through tunnels in the ice.

Refuge rivers must always be evaluated and run according to current condition current conditions. Although rivers are generally open June through September, the sagest water levels and best weather occur during July and early August. Low water can be a concern on the Kongakut and Hulahula in August but is generally not a serious problem.

Visitors should be cautious of higher-than-average flows which can be encountered anytime of the year, especially after localized heavy rains upstream. River ratings are somewhat subjective and can change slightly depending on the stage of the

river at any one time. It is possible to line through or portage the most difficult sections of the rivers.

Rafts, canoes, kayaks and Klepper boats can all be used on the rivers. However rafts are the most popular due to their easy portability in aircraft. Canoes a kayaks are very expensive to transport (unless they ar collapsible) and are more hazardous in whitewater sections found on many rivers, especially on the north slope.

The number of recreational float trips on the Kongakut and Hulahula rivers has rapidly increased during the past two years. Partially as a consequence, ANWR is now developing management plans for refuge rivers.

Extra time should be allowed for both going in and out of the rivers due to possible weather delays, especially if visitors travel through the village of Kaktovik.

Kongakut Riyer

Since the Kongakut is perhaps the most popular river on the refuge, users have the greatest probability of encountering other people although this is not a regular, constant event.

At average flow rates, rapids on the Kongakut are generally class I and II although there are stretches of class III.

The river is generally accessed fairly high in the headwaters at a place called Drain Creek. Most floaters take out at Caribou Pass 8-10 days later although a few float all the way to the Beaufort Sea.

The Kongakut river drainage has high Dall sheep populations.

Rulahula River

The Hulahula may be the second most popular float on the refuge, perhaps due to the fact that the lower river is a prime area to see caribou.

At average flow rates, rapids on the Hulahula are generally class I and II, although there are stretches of class III.

The river is generally accessed fairly high in the headwaters at a place called Grassers Strip. Most floaters travel through at least a part of the Coastal Plain and some paddle all the way to Kaktovik.

The Hulahula river drainage has a higher Dall sheep population that the Kongakut but a shorter float (4-5 days) before exiting the mountains.

Sheenjek River

The Sheenjek is a popular, relatively easy river to float. Most of the river is class I although a stretch in the upper reaches near Table Mountain is class II.

Canning River

Although guided and private trips occur, no specific information is currently available.

The Canning river drainage probably has the third highest Dall sheep population behind the Kongakut and Hulahula river drainages.

Marsh Fork River

Although guided and private trips occur, no specific information is currently available.

Other Rivers

The Aichilik, Jago, Okpilak and Sadlerochit rivers are not generally suitable for floating because of either low water levels andjor lack of aircraft access sites in the headwaters. Stretches of these rivers may be navigable at certain times but it is difficult to anticipate when such conditions may occur. As a result, one cannot plan successful trips in advance.

Books:

A Partial List of Literature Related to The Arctic National Wildlife Refuqe

Nameless Valleys, Shining Mountains - by John P. Milton. Walker and Co., New York. 1970.

Earth and the Great Weather - the Brooks Range - by Kenneth Brower. McCall Publishing Co., New York. 1971.

Two in the Far North - by Margaret E. Murie. Alaska Northwest Publishing Co., Anchorage. 1978.

A Whaler and Trader in the Arctic - by Arthur James Allen. Alaska Northwest Publishing co., Anchorage. 1978.

Caribou and the Barren Lands - by George Calef. Firefly Books Ltd., Toronto. 1981.

Arctic Wildlife - by Monte Hummel. Key Porter Books, Toronto. 1984.

Kingdom of the Ice Bear: A Portrait of the Arctic - by Hugh Miles. British Broadcasting, London. 1985.

Alaska Paddling Guide - by Jack Mosby and David Dapkus. J & R Enterprises, P.O. Box 140264, Anchorage AK 99514. 1986.

Arctic Dreams - by Barry Lopez. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. 1986.

The Arctic and its Wildlife - by Bryan Sage. Facts on File Publication, New York. 1986.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Its People, Wildlife Resources, and Oil and Gas Potential - Arctic Slope Consulting Engineers, 313 E Street, suite 2, Anchorage AK 99501. 1986.

Reminiscences of Four Years in Arctic Alaska - by Roy Sylar. North Slope Borough Planning Dept. (Alaska), Inupiat History, Language and Culture Division. 1987.

America's Hidden Wilderness: Chapter 5 Arctic Awakening - by George F. Mobley. National Geographic Society Special Publications Division, Wash. D.C. 1988.

Vanishing Arctic: Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge - by T.H. Watkins. Aperture Books/The Wilderness Society, Wash. D.C. 1988.

North Slope Now - Alaska Geographic Society, Vol. 16, No.2, Anchorage AK. 1989.

To the Arctic: An Introduction to the Far Northern World -by Steven Young. Wiley, New York. 1989.

Midnight Wilderness: Journeys in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - by Debbie Miller. Sierra Club Books, San Francisco. 1990.

Alaska's Brooks Range: The Ultimate Mountains - by John M. Kauffmann. The Mountaineers, Seattle Wash. 1992.

Children's books:

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - by Alexandra Siy. Dillon Press, New York. 1991.

Our Living World of Nature: The Life in the Far North - by William Fuller and John Holms. McGraw-Hill, New York. 1972.

The Arctic and the Antarctic: What Lives There - by Lee Huntington. Coward, McCann and Geoghegan, New York. 1975.

A Closer Look at Arctic Lands - by J.L. Hicks. Franklin Watts, New York. 1977.

Tundra: The Arctic Land - by Bruce Hiscock. Atheneum, Macmillan Pub. Co., New York. 1986.

Living in Polar Regions - by Theodore A. Rees Cheney. Franklin Watts, New York. 1987.

Journey to the Top of the World - by Janet Foster. Prentice Hall Books for Young Readers. 1987.

Magazine Articles:

"We Hiked Across the Arctic" by Bernd Gaedeke. Alaska Sportsman Magazine, Vol. XXXIII. No. 1, January 1967.

"Canoeing the Sheenjek" by Averill s. Thayer. Alaska Magazine, October 1970.

"Our Last Arctic Wilderness - A Gift Denied?" by George Laycock. Audubon Magazine, Vol. 78, No. 4, July 1976.

"Numbers Beyond Counting, Miles Beyond Measure" by George Calef. Audubon Magazine, Vol.78, No. 4, July 1976.

"Arctic Range at a Crossroads" by Don Ross. Alaska Magazine, Vol. XLIII. No. 6, June 1977.

"A Passage of Caribou" by Wilbur Mills. The Living Wilderness, Vol. 41, No. 410, January/March 1978.

"Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Range - Our Wildest Wilderness" by Douglas Chadwick. National Geographic Magazine, Vol. 156, No. 6. December 1979.

"Arctic International Wildlife Range - Last Chance for the Porcupine Caribou Herd" by Nancy J. Russell-LeBlond and William E. Rees. Northern Perspectives, Vol. 7, No. 7, Canadian Arctic Resources Committee, ottawa. 1979.

"The Finding of N720" by Debbie Miller. The Living Wilderness, Vol. 43 No. 147, December 1979.

"Refuges on the Rocks" by Jim Doherty. Audubon Magazine, July 1983.

"The Last Pork Chop" by Edward Abbey. Outside Magazine, March 1984.

"Across Arctic Mountains" by Ted Kerasote. Sports Afield Magazine, February and March 1984.

"Flying for 1002" by Ted Kerasote. Alaskc;i Magazine, Vol. L No. 7, July 1984.

"Refuge in the Arctic: Special Issue" Wilderness, Vol. 50 No. 174, Fall 1986.

"Fuel for an Arctic controversy" by L. Williamson. outdoor Life, Vol. 179, March 1987.

"High stakes in a land of plenty" by T.A. Lewis. National Wildlife, Vol. 25, JunejJuly 1987.

"Confrontation in the North" by Tom Kizzia. Defenders -Magazine of Defenders of Wildlife, Vol. 62 No. 2, September/October 1987.

"Summer on the Sheenjek" by Margaret E. Murie. Defenders -Magazine of Defenders of Wildlife, Vol. 62 No. 2, September/October 1987.

"Polar Opposites" by James R. Udall. Sierra, Vol. 72 No. 5, September/October 1987.

"Preserving Alaska's wildlife" by M. Udall. National Parks, Vol. 61, November/December 1987.

"Cumulative impacts of oil fields on northern Alaskan landscapes" by D.A. Walker and others. Science, Vol. 238, November 1987.

"Edge of the Arctic" by D. Frazier. National Parks, Vol. 61, November/December 1987.

"Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Special Issue" Audubon Magazine, May 1988.

"Oil in the wilderness: an Arctic dilemma" by Douglas Lee. National Geographic, Vol. 174 No. 6, December 1988.

"The future of big oil" by P. Nulty. Fortune, Vol. 119, May 1989.

"Tundra plunder" The New Republic, Vol. 200, May 1989.

"Beating the drum for caribou" by M. Peale. Sierra, Vol. 74, MayfJune 1989.

"Impacts of petroleum development in the Arctic" by D. Walker and others. Science Vol. 245, August 1989.

"Shadow over an ancient land" by s. Reed. People Weekly, Vol. 32, September 1989.

"It's time to drill Alaska's refuge" by P. Nulty. Fortune, Vol. 123, January 1991.

"Trespassing the serpent world" by D. Baum. Buzzworm, Vol. 3, July/August 1991.

"The great Alaska debate: can oil and wilderness mix?" by T. Egan. The New York Times Magazine, August 1991.