INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………… D-1
PART ONE Information Sources………………………………………………….…. D-3
PART TWO Areas of Environmental Concern………………………………………..
A.
D-9
Background/Criteria…………………………………………..... D-9
B.
C.
Areas of Major Concern………………………………………... D-10
Areas of Moderate Concern ………………………………… D-11
D. Areas of Lesser Concern ………………………………………. D-11
E. Areas of Concern for Invasive Rats……………………………
F. Areas of Local Concern………………………………………..
D-12
D-12
PART THREE Resource Sensitivity ………………………………………………...…. D-16
PART FOUR Biological and Human Use Resources …………………………………. D-25
A. Introduction…………………………………………………… D-25
B.
C.
Habitat Types ………………………………………………….
Biological Resources …………………………………………..
D-25
D-30
1. Threatened and Endangered Species………………….. D-30
PART FIVE
D.
2.
3.
Human Use Resources ………………………………………
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Fish and Wildlife ……………………………………...
Vegetation …………………………………………….
D-34
D-39
D-41
Fish Hatcheries and Associated Ocean Net Pens …….. D-41
Aquaculture Sites ……………………………………..
Historic Properties …………………………………
Subsistence and Personal Use Harvests ………………
Commercial Fishing …………………………………..
Sport Fishing and Hunting ……………………………
Recreational Sites and Facilities ……………………
Commercial Tourism …………………………………
Marinas and Ports ……………………………………..
Fish Processing ……………………………………….
Land Management………………………………………………………
D-41
D-41
D-42
D-42
D-43
D-43
D-45
D-45
D-45
Logging Facilities …………………………………….. D-46
Water Intake/Use ……………………………………... D-46
D-47
A. Land Management Designations……………………… D-47
B. Land Management Maps……………………………… D-48
ATTACHMENT ONE
ATTACHMENT TWO
Index Salmon Stream Escapement
Wildlife Protection Guidelines: Pribilof Islands
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas September 1999
Draft Change 2, August 2010
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ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas September 1999
Draft Change 2, August 2010
SENSITIVE AREAS:
This section is intended for use by the On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) during the initial phase of a spill event to assist in ascertaining the location and presence of spill-sensitive biological and cultural resources, services and users in this subarea. This information is specific to the Aleutians Subarea. No attempt has been made to duplicate information contained in easily accessible existing documents. This section, therefore, must be used in conjunction with the referenced materials and informational contacts identified herein. More detailed and current data should be available from on-scene resource experts when they become engaged in the response. This information is geared toward early response. If appropriate, natural resources trustees may be conducting natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) activities in conjunction with response activities. Information regarding NRDA activities should be directed to the natural resources trustees or to their appointed NRDA Liaison.
Often, the most detailed, up-to-date biological and resource use information will come from people who live and work in the impacted area. People from the local community are often knowledgeable sources for information related to fishing, hunting, non-consumptive outdoor sports, and subsistence use. They may also have a good idea of which spill response techniques (especially exclusion and diversion booming) are practicable under prevailing weather and current conditions.
The Alaska Regional Response Team (ARRT) has adopted several documents (see the Alaska
Federal/State Contingency Plan for Response to Oil & Hazardous Substance
Discharges/Releases (Unified Plan) that address decision making to help protect sensitive areas and resources. These documents (and their location) include:
■
ARRT Oil Dispersant Guidelines for Alaska (see Unified Plan Annex F, Appendix 1)
■
In Situ Burning Guidelines for Alaska (see Unified Plan Annex F, Appendix 2)
■
Wildlife Protection Guidelines for Alaska (see Unified Plan Annex G, Appendix 1)
■
Alaska Implementation Guidelines for Federal OSCs for the Programmatic Agreement on Protection of Historic Properties during Emergency Response under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances
Pollution Contingency Plan Protection of Historic Properties (see Unified Plan Annex M)
In addition, Federal OSCs in Alaska are working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the
Interior and the National Marine Fisheries Service to ensure response activities are conducted meet Endangered Species Act requirements, in accordance with the 2001 Inter-Agency
Memorandum of Agreement Regarding Oil Spill Planning and Response Activities Under the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution
Contingency Plan (see Unified Plan Annex K).
In addition, Annex N of the Unified Plan includes Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Guidelines , which provide helpful information on clean-up options by shoreline type.
Section G of the Subarea Contingency Plan contains site-specific Geographic Response Strategies (GRSs) for use by responders in protecting key sensitive areas. In addition, Environmental Sensitivity Index
(ESI) maps have been produced that illustrate selected sensitive resources and shoreline types.
This section and the guidelines in the Unified Plan are also intended for use by facility/vessel operators in developing industry oil spill prevention and contingency plans. For an operator's facility or area of
ALEUTIANS: Sensitive Areas, Introduction D-1 September 1999
Change 2, January 2014
operation, industry contingency plans describe: (a) environmentally sensitive areas and areas of public concern; (b) how sensitive areas would be prioritized during a spill event; and (c) response strategies to protect sensitive areas at risk. The information in industry plans should be consistent with Subarea
Contingency Plans.
The definition of sensitive resources and their geographic locations requires use of field observations and data available from published and non-published materials or through additional fieldwork. Identifying relative priorities among resources and resource uses takes considerable coordination and discussion among resource management agencies. With the limited time and funds available for Subarea
Contingency Plan development (there are ten such plans covering the state of Alaska), not all the detailed information about every possible resource at risk is included. Future updates to this document will continue to add information relevant to response activities.
Many of the maps presented in this section are available on-line through the Internet at: http://www.asgdc.state.ak.us/maps/cplans/subareas.html
Suggestions, comments, and more current information are requested. Please contact either:
Doug Mutter
U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of Environmental Policy
and Compliance
1689 C Street, Room 119
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
271-5011
FAX: 271-4102 email: douglas_mutter@ios.doi.gov
Jack Winters
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Division of Habitat
1300 College Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
459-7285
FAX: 459-7303 email: jack.winters@alaska.gov
ALEUTIANS: Sensitive Areas, Introduction D-2 September 1999
Change 2, January 2014
SENSITIVE AREAS:
Agency Resources
FISH AND WILDLIFE AND HABITAT RESOURCES
Alaska Department of Fish and Game fish, shellfish, birds, terrestrial mammals, marine mammals
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Commerce,
National Marine Fisheries Service
U.S. Department of Commerce,
National Marine Fisheries Service
U.S. Department of Commerce,
National Marine Fisheries Service
University of Alaska
Point of Contact migratory birds, sea otters, polar bears, walrus, endangered species, anadromous fish in freshwater, bald eagles, wetlands sea lions, seals, whales, endangered marine species and listed anadromous fish in marine waters essential fish habitat effects of oil on fisheries resources, hydrocarbon chemistry, dispersants rare and endangered plants
Division of Habitat
Fairbanks
907-459-7285
Office of Environmental Policy & Compliance
Anchorage
907-271-5011
Protected Resources Division
Juneau
907-586-7235
Habitat Conservation Division
Juneau 907-586-7636
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Auke Bay Laboratory
907-789-6000
Alaska Natural Heritage Program
Anchorage
907-257-2785
CULTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Alaska Department of Natural Resources historic sites, archaeological sites, national register sites
U.S. Department of the Interior archaeological/historical sites in park and wildlife refuge system units, public lands, Native allotments/trust lands; sunken vessels
Alaska Office of History and Archaeology
Anchorage
907-269-8721
Office of Environmental Policy & Compliance
Anchorage
907-271-5011
SHORELINE TYPES
U.S. Department of Commerce,
National Oceanic & Atmospheric
Administration shoreline types, environmental sensitivity index maps Scientific Support Coordinator
Anchorage
907-271-3593
LAND OWNERSHIP AND CLASSIFICATIONS/DESIGNATIONS
Alaska Department of Natural Resources state lands, state parks and recreation areas, state forests, tidelands
Alaska Department of Fish and Game State game refuges, state critical habitats
Division of Mining, Land, and Water
Anchorage
907-269-8565
Division of Habitat
Fairbanks
907-459-7285
ALEUTIANS: Sensitive Areas, Part One D-3 September 1999
Change 2, January 2014
Agency
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Defense
Local Governments:
–
–
Aleutians East Borough
Aleutians West Coastal Resource
Service Area
COMMERCIAL HARVEST
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Marine Fisheries Service
RECREATION AND TOURISM USES
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Resources
National parks and preserves, national historic sites, national monuments, national wildlife refuges, public lands, national recreation areas, wild and scenic rivers, wilderness areas,
Native trust lands
Military installations and reservations
Point of Contact
Office of Environmental Policy & Compliance, Anchorage
907-271-5011
Municipal and private lands, and rights-of-way
Coastal program special areas, plans, policies
Fishing permits, seasons
Tideland leases
Seafood processing
Fishing permits, seasons
SUBSISTENCE, PERSONAL, AND SPORT USES
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Subsistence and personal uses statewide and navigable waters, sport hunting and fishing
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Commerce
Subsistence uses on Federal lands and reserved waters; subsistence uses of: sea otters and migratory birds
Subsistence use of: whales, porpoises, seals, sea lions
State parks and recreation areas, anchorages, boat launches, campgrounds, State public lands
Alaska Command
Anchorage
907-552-3944
For the current local government contact information, go to B. Resources
Section, Part One Community Profiles
For the current tribal contact information, go to B. Resources Section,
Part Three Information Directory, Native Organizations and Federally
Recognized Tribes
Commercial Fisheries Division
Fairbanks
907- 459-7387
Division of Mining, Land, and Water
Anchorage
907-269-8565
Division of Environmental Health
Juneau
907-269-7644
Protected Resources Division
Anchorage
907-271-5006
Sport Fish Division
Fairbanks
907-459-7388
Office of Environmental Policy & Compliance, Anchorage
907-271-5011
Protected Resources Division
Anchorage
907-271-5006
Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Fairbanks
907-451-2695
ALEUTIANS: Sensitive Areas, Part One D-4 September 1999
Change 2, January 2014
Agency
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska Department of Commerce,
Community & Economic Development
U.S. Department of the Interior
Sport hunting and fishing
Resources
Seasonal events and activities, travel, outdoor activities, local visitor bureaus, tourism industries
Recreation uses in park and wildlife refuge system units and
Federal public lands
Point of Contact
Division of Habitat
Fairbanks
907-459-7285
Alaska Office of Tourism Development
Juneau
907-465-5478
Office of Environmental Policy & Compliance, Anchorage
907-271-5011
WATER INTAKE AND USE FACILITIES
Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
U.S. Coast Guard
Public drinking water wells, treatment, and storage, fish processing facilities
Hatcheries, ocean net pens and release sites, aquaculture
Tidelands leases, aquaculture sites, private logging camps and log transfer facilities
Marinas and docks, mooring buoys
Division of Water
Anchorage
907-269-7601
Division of Habitat
Fairbanks
907-459-7285
Division of Mining, Land, and Water
Juneau
907-465-3400
Sector Anchorage
Anchorage
907-271-6700
ALEUTIANS: Sensitive Areas, Part One D-5 September 1999
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ALEUTIANS: Sensitive Areas, Part One D-6 September 1999
Change 2, January 2014
SENSITIVE AREAS:
A. BACKGROUND/CRITERIA
The following relative priority listing was developed by the Sensitive Areas Work Group, with representatives from state and federal agencies and the private sector. The list prioritizes resources into designations of major, moderate, and lesser concern. Resources are not prioritized within each designation. These designations are for consideration in initial spill response activities, they are not applicable to extended clean-up activities. This prioritization scheme must be used in conjunction with spill-specific information (e.g., size and location of spill, type of product, trajectory) to determine the actual protection priorities for that discharge.
The following criteria were developed as a tool to establish levels of concern. These criteria are not listed in a priority order.
CRITERIA FOR RELATIVE PRIORITY RATING
Human economic disruption -- economic/social value; human food source disruption
Mortality -- wildlife, fish, other organisms (number potentially killed in relation to abundance)
Animal displacement and sensitivity to displacement
Aesthetic degradation
Habitat availability and rarity
Sub-lethal effects, including sensitivity to physical or toxic effects of oil or hazardous substances and long-term affects to habitat, species, or both threatened and endangered species, and/or other legal designation
Persistent concentration of oil or hazardous substances
Reproduction rate or re-colonizing potential
Relative importance to ecosystem
Potential for physical contact with spill--pathway of oil or hazardous substances
Resource sensitivity to response countermeasures
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Two D-7 September 1999
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B. AREAS OF MAJOR CONCERN
Threatened or Endangered Species Habitats
Sea Otter Concentration Areas (> 20) and General Distribution
Steller Sea Lion Rookeries or Haul-outs
Steller’s eiders overwintering sites
North Pacific Right Whale Critical Habitat
Geomorphology - Coastal Habitat Types:
--Marshes
--Eelgrass Beds
--Sheltered Tidal Flats
--Sheltered Rocky Shores
Geomorphology - Upland Habitat Types:
--Streams and Lakes
--Riparian Habitats
Harbor Seal Haul-out Areas (> 10)
Northern Fur Seal Rookeries
Walrus Haul-out/Concentration Areas
Caribou Calving and Insect Relief Areas
Seabird Colonies (> 100,000)
Waterfowl and Shorebird Spring, Fall, or Winter Concentration Areas
Eagle Nest Sites
Large Anadromous Fish Streams:
> 500 king salmon
> 5,000 sockeye salmon
> 2,500 coho salmon
> 25,000 pink salmon
> 15,000 chum salmon
Subsistence Harvest Areas
High Commercial Use Areas
High Recreational Use Areas
Land Management Designations:
Federal: Wilderness
Wild and Scenic Rivers
State:
Cultural Resources/Archaeological Sites:
National Historic Landmarks
Burial Sites
National Register Eligible Village Sites
Intertidal Sites
National Natural Landmarks
Refuges (Izembek State Refuge)
Sanctuaries
Critical Habitat Areas (Port Moller and Port Heiden Critical Habitats)
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Two D-8 September 1999
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C. AREAS OF MODERATE CONCERN
Species of Concern Habitats (Potential Threatened or Endangered)
Geomorphology - Coastal Habitat Types:
--Gravel Beaches
--Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches
--Exposed Tidal Flats
--Coarse Grained Sand Beaches
Harbor Seal Haul-out Areas (< 10)
Northern Fur Seal Offshore Concentration Areas
Seabird Colonies (10,000 - 100,000)
Waterfowl and Shorebird Nesting or Molting Concentration Areas
Whale Migration Routes (Spring/Fall)
Bear Concentration Areas
Anadromous Fish Streams:
100-500 king salmon
1,000-5,000 sockeye salmon
500-2,500 coho salmon
5,000-25,000 pink salmon
5,000-15,000 chum salmon
Caribou Migration Routes
Commercial Harvest Areas
Recreational Use Areas
Land Management Designations:
Federal: National Wildlife Refuges (Izembek and Alaska Maritime)
State: State Parks
Cultural Resources/Archaeological Sites:
National Register Eligible Sites (Other Than Village Sites)
Sites Adjacent To Shorelines
D. AREAS OF LESSER CONCERN
Geomorphology - Coastal Habitat Types:
--Fine-Grained Sand Beaches
--Exposed Wave-Cut Platforms
--Exposed Rocky Shores
Harbor Seal General Distribution Areas
Walrus General Distribution Areas
Seabird Colonies (< 10,000)
Waterfowl and Shorebird General Distribution Areas
Anadromous Fish Streams:
< 100 king salmon
< 1,000 sockeye salmon
< 500 coho salmon
< 5,000 pink salmon
< 5,000 chum salmon
General Freshwater Fish Habitats
Land Management Designations:
Federal: Public Lands
State: General Public Lands
Other Cultural Resources
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Two D-9 September 1999
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E. AREAS OF CONCERN FOR INVASIVE RATS
All of the islands within the Aleutians subarea are rat-free, with the exception of the islands listed below, and are a major concern for adverse impacts to wildlife and birds should rats invade their habitat.
All Islands Except These:
Geomorp
Attu
Shemya
Kiska
Rat
Amchitka
Adak
Great Sitkin
Kagalaska
Atka
Unalaska
Sedanka
Amaknak
Akutan
F. AREAS OF LOCAL CONCERN
The Aleutians East Borough, in their Coastal Management Plan, has identified several Special Use Areas based on unique, environmentally vulnerable, or commercially important fish and wildlife resources and habitats (see the following maps). Commercial fishing is a key use in many of these areas. These include:
Areas of Local Concern Table
Designation Area Reason For Designation Land Ownership/Villages to
Contact
Port Moller/Herendeen Bay and Bear River Special Use
Area
Five species of salmon are found in this area; sockeye and chum are the most important.
Large numbers of herring, and other forage fish pass through the area, and this is a major herring spawning area. Red king and Dungeness crab are in the area, and this is an important nursery for halibut and sole. The area contains several seabird colonies.
Shorebirds and waterfowl migrate through the area in spring and fall. Harbor seals
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Two D-10 September 1999
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Designation Area Reason For Designation
Nelson Lagoon Special Use
Area
Izembek Lagoon Special Use
Area
Bechevin Bay Special Use
Area
Unimak Pass Special Use
Area haul out in the area, as do walrus on Walrus Island. Sea otters are present. Gray whales migrate through the area.
Significant numbers of King,
Coho, chum and sockeye salmon are found here.
Dungeness and red king crab are here, and clams are harvested for subsistence use.
A large seabird colony is on the Kudobin Island. This is a major staging area for fall shorebird migration, and for waterfowl migration staging and feeding. Harbor seals, sea otters and gray whales are found here.
This large estuarine system supports one of the largest eelgrass beds in the world.
This is a major chum and sockeye salmon area and a rearing area for red king crab.
This is a major staging, feeding, molting, nesting and wintering area for shorebirds and waterfowl. The world’s population of black brant stage here, as do most of the emperor geese, cackling geese, and female Steller’s elder.
This is a key haulout and breeding area for harbor seals.
Sea otters frequent the area.
The area contains king crab spawning grounds and sees substantial use by waterfowl and shorebirds for migration staging, feeding molting nesting and wintering. This is a key haulout and breeding area for harbor seals. Sea otters frequent the area. The area is also important for spring feeding by brown bears.
This area sees large numbers of adult salmon pass through as they migrate to streams in
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Two D-11
Land Ownership/Villages to
Contact
September 1999
Change 2, January 2014
Designation Area
Pavlof/Canoe Bay Special Use
Area
Anadromous Fish d Stream
Special Use Area
Unalaska Bay
Chernofski Harbor
Reason For Designation
Bristol Bay and Western
Alaska. Juvenile salmon migrate through the area to the north Pacific. The area is also a major migration route for ducks, geese, seabirds and marine birds. Humpback, fin, and gray whales, as well as northern fur seals use the area in spring and fall.
This is a key salmon and herring spawning area. King, tanner, and Dungeness crabs are present, as are shrimp and groundfish. Seabirds nest here and waterfowl also use the area. Brown bears concentrate here.
Anadromous fish streams support spawning populations of fish, which are essential for the region’s commercial fisheries. Associated lakes and tributaries are also important fish habitat. This area includes all streams identified in the Catalog produced by the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game
(See Attachment One).
The Aleutians West Coastal
Resources Service Area
Identified two areas for study as potential Areas Meeting
Special Attention:
This is a traditional use area of the Aleuts and contains numerous archaeological and historic sites, including
Amaknak Island, which is a
National Historic Landmark for World War II military activities. The recent commercial growth in the area during recent years has put pressures on local recreational, subsistence and personal uses of resources in the area.
This is an important fish and
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Two D-12
Land Ownership/Villages to
Contact
September 1999
Change 2, January 2014
Designation Area Reason For Designation Land Ownership/Villages to
Contact wildlife habitat area, which contains archaeological and historic sites. The area has been studied for possible commercial development.
A map showing
Environmentally Sensitive
Areas was produced in 1998 by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, with funding from the U.S.
Coast Guard. Saint Paul, Saint
George, Walrus, and Otter
Islands are mapped at
1:633,360 scale, and were reviewed by Federal, State, and local organizations. This map is not included here.
A 1998 wildlife response action plan the
Wildlife Protection
Guidelines: Pribilof Islands
(see Attachment Two) was also produced with local involvement as an adjunct to the Subarea Contingency Plan.
A 1998 wildlife response action plan the Wildlife Protection Guidelines: Pribilof Islands (see Attachment
Two) was also produced with local involvement as an adjunct to the Subarea Contingency Plan.
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Two D-13 September 1999
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ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Two D-14 September 1999
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ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Two D-15 September 1999
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ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Two D-16 September 1999
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SENSITIVE AREAS:
The following sensitivity tables were developed by the State and Federal Natural Resources
Trustees with legislative responsibility for management and protection of these resources. This includes the following agencies: National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Department of Fish and
Game, and Alaska Department of Natural Resources. This information is a summary derived from recent field studies, research reports, long-term monitoring, stakeholder input, and local knowledge. Periods and/or conditions when resources are of varying levels of concern (low, medium, high) with respect to affects from an oil spill are noted in the following tables.
GEOMORPHOLOGY
CATEGORY
COASTAL HABITAT
TYPES
LAKE AND RIVER
HABITAT TYPES
UPLAND HABITAT
TYPES
LOW
Fine-grained Sand
Exposed Wave-cut
Platforms
Exposed Rocky Shores
Exposed rocky cliffs & banks
Bedrock shores & ledges, rocky shoals
Eroding scarps/banks in unconsolidated sediment
Exposed man-made structures
To Be Developed
MEDIUM
Gravel Beaches
Mixed Sand & Gravel
Beaches
Exposed Tidal Flats
Coarse Grained Sand
Beaches
Sand beaches & bars
Mixed sand & gravel beaches/bars
Gravel beaches/bars
Gently sloping banks
Exposed flats
Riprap
To Be Developed
HIGH
Marshes
Eelgrass Beds
Sheltered Tidal Flats
Sheltered Rocky Shores
Sheltered scarps in bedrock
Vegetated steep sloping bluffs
Sheltered man-made structures
Vegetated low Banks
Sheltered sand & muddy substrates
Marshes
To Be Developed
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Three D-17 September 1999
Change 2, January 2014
THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES
CATEGORY
ENDANGERED
SPECIES
LOW MEDIUM HIGH
Whales: Fin, Blue, Sei,
Humpback, Gray, Sperm, and
North Pacific right
Birds: Short-tailed albatross,
Eskimo curlew
THREATENED
SPECIES
Marine mammals: Steller sea lion, northern sea otter
Birds: Steller’s eider, Spectacled eider
Plant: Aleutian shield fern
Birds: Kittlitz’s murrelet SPECIES OF
CONCERN
PROTECTED
SPECIES
Steller’s Eider
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Winter resident ============ =============
Spectacled Eider
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Winter resident =========== ==
SEA OTTERS
Bald eagles, Golden eagles, All marine mammals and migratory birds
CATEGORY
ABUNDANCE
SUSCEPTIBILITY
LOW MEDIUM HIGH
> 20 and general distribution
Year around
HUMAN HARVEST Year around
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D Present nearshore
====================================
Pupping (primary period) ===
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Three D-18 September 1999
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HARBOR SEALS
CATEGORY
ABUNDANCE
SUSCEPTIBILITY
HUMAN HARVEST
LOW
< 5
MEDIUM
5 - 10
Year around
May 1 - June 30
HIGH
> 10
Jan 1 - Apr 30
July 1 - Dec 31
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Pupping ====
Molting ===============
In the Area ====================================
STELLER SEA LIONS
CATEGORY
ABUNDANCE
(ON HAULOUTS)
LOW
< 15
MEDIUM
15 - 30
SUSCEPTIBILITY Year around
HUMAN HARVEST June 1 - Aug 31 Apr 1 - May 31
Sept 1 - Sept 30
HIGH
> 30
Oct 1 - Mar 31
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Pupping =======
Molting ================
On rookeries =========
On haulouts (primary period) ==================
In area waters ====================================
NORTHERN FUR SEAL
CATEGORY
SUSCEPTIBILITY
LOW MEDIUM
Year around
HUMAN HARVEST Sept 1 - May 31
HIGH
June 1 - Aug 31
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Pupping =======
On rookeries =======================
In Area Waters ====================================
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Three D-19 September 1999
Change 2, January 2014
WALRUS
CATEGORY
SUSCEPTIBILITY
HUMAN HARVEST
LOW MEDIUM
Year around
NO KNOWN HUMAN USE
HIGH
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
On haul-outs ================
Calving period ======
Molting =========
In Area Waters ===============
WHALES AND PORPOISES
CATEGORY
ABUNDANCE
LOW
< 10
MEDIUM
10 - 50
SUSCEPTIBILITY
HUMAN HARVEST Year around (salvage)
HIGH
> 50
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D Present nearshore
Toothed Whales ====================================
Baleen Whales ==============================
Calving
Killer Whale ============
Harbor Porpoise ======
BROWN BEARS
CATEGORY
SUSCEPTIBILITY
LOW
Nov 1 - Apr 30
MEDIUM
May 1 - June 30
Sept 1 - Oct 31
HIGH
July 1 - Aug 31
HUMAN HARVEST * Closed except by limited permit only
* Open season fall of odd years and spring of even years (i.e., fall '95, spring '96). No known subsistence harvest.
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Denning ========== ===
Spring coastal concentrations ===============
Salmon stream concentrations ====================
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CARIBOU/REINDEER
CATEGORY
ABUNDANCE1
SUSCEPTIBILITY
HUMAN HARVEST
LOW
Sept 1 - May 15
Apr 1 - July 31
(Caribou)
MEDIUM
Feb 1 - Mar 31
Oct 1 - Oct 31
(Caribou)
Mar 1 - Aug 31
Nov 1 - Dec 31
(Reindeer)
HIGH
May 16 - Aug 31
Aug 1 - Sept 30
Nov 1 - Jan 31
(Caribou)
Jan 1 - Feb 28
Sep 1 - Oct 31
(Reindeer)
1There are three caribou herds (i.e., North Alaska Peninsula Herd, South Alaska Peninsula Herd, and the Adak
Herd) that inhabit portions of this region. Depending on the herd abundance may vary widely. As a result, specific abundance figures have not been established for use in prioritizing protection sites.
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Calving period ====
Insect Relief habitat =======
MOOSE
CATEGORY
ABUNDANCE
SUSCEPTIBILITY
LOW MEDIUM HIGH
Very few, if any, moose are present in GMU 9D and 10, which represent this area. Therefore their abundance and susceptibility would be low.
HUMAN HARVEST No Open Season. No Subsistence Use.
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Calving ====
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WATERFOWL AND SHOREBIRDS
CATEGORY
ABUNDANCE
SUSCEPTIBILITY
HUMAN HARVEST *
LOW MEDIUM
Abundance figures are not available
Nov 16 - Apr 14
Mar 1 - Apr 15
Aug 1 - Aug 31
* Includes egg harvest
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Spring migration ======
Nesting/rearing/molting ===========
Fall migration =======
SEABIRDS
CATEGORY
ABUNDANCE
LOW
< 10,000
MEDIUM
10,000 - 100,000
SUSCEPTIBILITY
SPECIES
DIVERSITY
1 – 3
HUMAN HARVEST * Jul 1 - Oct 31
Oct 1 - Mar 31
4 - 6
Nov 1 - June 30
HIGH
Apr 15 - Nov 15
Apr 16 - Jul 31
Sept 1 - Feb 28
HIGH
>100,000
Apr 1 - Sept 30
> 6
* Includes egg harvest
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
At breeding colonies ==================
Present in the Area ====================================
BALD EAGLES
CATEGORY
ABUNDANCE
SUSCEPTIBILITY
LOW
< 1 nest/10 coastal miles
MEDIUM
1 nest/5-10 coastal miles
HIGH
> 1 nest/5 coastal miles
Year around
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Nesting/rearing =================
Present in the Area ====================================
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SALMONIDS
CATEGORY
ABUNDANCE
SUSCEPTIBILITY
HUMAN HARVEST
LOW
< 100 (Kings)
< 1,500 (Sockeye)
< 500 (Coho)
< 5,000 (Pinks)
< 5,000 (Chum)
Dec 1 – Feb 28
Mar 1 – Apr 30
MEDIUM
100-500 (Kings)
1,500-5,000 (Sockeye)
500-2,500 (Coho)
5,000-25,000 (Pinks)
5,000-15,000 (Chum)
Mar 1 - Apr 30
Oct 1 - Nov 30
Oct 1 - Feb 28
HIGH
> 500 (Kings)
> 5,000 (Sockeye)
> 2,500 (Coho)
> 25,000 (Pinks)
> 15,000 (Chum)
May 1 - Sept 30
May 1 - Sept 30
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Spawning == =================
Eggs/fry in gravels ================ =================
Rearing in freshwater ====================================
HERRING
CATEGORY
ABUNDANCE
LOW MEDIUM
Abundance data not available
SUSCEPTIBILITY Oct 1 – Feb 28 Mar 1 - Mar 31
HIGH
Apr 1 - Sept 30
HUMAN HARVEST Aug 1 – Feb 28 Mar 1 - Apr 30 May 1 - Jul 31
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Spawning =========
Present nearshore ==================
CLAMS and OTHER MARINE INVERTEBRATES (CHITONS)
CATEGORY
SUSCEPTIBILITY
LOW MEDIUM
Jan 1 - May 19
HIGH
May 20 - Dec 31
HUMAN HARVEST May 1 - Aug 31 Sept 1 - Apr 30
Critical Life Periods J F M A M J J A S O N D
Spawning ======
Planktonic larvae ==================
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CATEGORY
FEDERAL LANDS
LEGISLATIVELY DESIGNATED LAND STATUS
LOW
Public Lands
MEDIUM
Wildlife Refuges
HIGH
Wilderness Areas
STATE LANDS Public Lands1 Izembek State Refuge
Port Moller Critical
Habitat Area
Port Heiden Critical
Habitat Area
1 Includes submerged lands out to 3 miles, and historic bays and inlets
HISTORIC PROPERTIES
CATEGORY
HISTORIC
PROPERTIES,
CULTURAL AND
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SITES
LOW
Cultural resources that do not meet
National Register criteria
MEDIUM
National Register-eligible sites (excluding villages sites)
Sites adjacent to shorelines
HIGH
National Historic Landmarks;
National Natural Landmarks;
Burial sites;
National Register-eligible village sites;
Intertidal sites
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SENSITIVE AREAS:
A.
INTRODUCTION
The Aleutian Islands are a biologically diverse and productive ecosystem valuable for commercial and subsistence fishing as well as for supporting large seabird and marine mammal populations. The Aleutian
Islands combined with the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska support the world’s largest groundfish fisheries.
Additional marine species such as salmon, halibut, scallop, king and tanner crab are important for commercial and subsistence fisheries. The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, established by the
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980, includes most of the Aleutian Islands within its boundary. More than 10 million seabirds of 26 species breed in the Aleutian Archipelago (USFWS 2000).
The Aleutian Islands provide residence or seasonal habitat for a variety of marine mammals including
Steller sea lions, northern fur seals, harbor seals, sea otters, and various cetacean species (NPFMC 2007).
Human factors that have shaped the Aleutian Island marine ecosystem include fishing, hunting of marine mammals and seabirds, shipping, and military activities. Changes in marine mammal populations include the extinction of the Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), near extirpation, recovery and recent declines of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris) (Doroff et al. 2003), and substantial declines in the western distinct population segment of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) (Braham et al. 1980, NMFS 2010).
Changes in commercially fished species include the depletion of economically valuable species such as
Pacific Ocean perch (Sebastes alutus) and red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) (Schumacher and
Kruse 2005, NPFMC 2007). Unangan (i.e., Aleut) people have inhabited the Aleutian Islands for over
9,000 years (Veltre and Smith 2010). Cultural influences on the Unangan people occurred in the mid-
1700s with Russian occupation for fur trade purposes, and later with US military presence, beginning in
World War II. Today, five communities in the Aleutian Islands are inhabited, with a total population level of approximately 4,884 individuals. Communities are heavily dependent on commercial and subsistence fishing (Sepez et al. 2005).
There are many national and international protected areas within the Aleutian Islands subarea. These areas have been designated to protect the components of both the marine and terrestrial environment.
The background information contained in this section is a mixture of references to readily available documents, knowledgeable contacts, and data not readily available elsewhere. Industry or local government-generated references that have had agency input and review are incorporated by reference.
B. HABITAT TYPES
Shoreline habitats have been defined and ranked according to Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) standards produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Environmental
Sensitivity Index Guidelines (October 1997). Seasonal ESI maps in poster and atlas formats have been produced for the subarea, as shown on the following index map. These maps are available on the Internet at: http://www.asgdc.state.ak.us/maps/cplans/subareas.html
. Updated ESI information can also be found on the Internet at: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/order/esiindex.html
1. Benthic Habitats
Oil vulnerability is lower in benthic (near bottom) areas than in the intertidal zone since contamination by floating slicks is unlikely. Sensitivity is derived from the species, which use the habitat. Benthic habitats have not been traditionally classed by ESI rankings, but are treated
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more like living resources, which vary with season and location. Benthic habitats include: submerged aquatic vegetation beds and large beds of kelp.
2. Shoreline Habitats
Habitats (estuarine, large lacustrine and riverine) ranked from least to most sensitive (see the following table) are described below:
ESI #1--Exposed impermeable vertical substrates: exposure to high wave energy or tidal currents on a regular basis, strong wave-reflection patterns common, substrate is impermeable with no potential for subsurface penetration, slope of intertidal zone is 30 degrees or greater, attached organisms are hardy and accustomed to high hydraulic impacts.
ESI #2--Exposed impermeable substrates, non-vertical: exposure to high wave energy or tidal currents on a regular basis, strong wave-reflection patterns regular, substrate is impermeable with no potential for subsurface penetration over most of intertidal zone, slope of intertidal zone is less than 30 degrees, there can be accumulated but mobile sediments at the base of cliff, attached organisms are hardy and accustomed to high hydraulic impacts.
ESI #3--Semi-permeable substrate: substrate is semi-permeable with oil penetration less than 10 cm, sediments are sorted and compacted, slope is less than 5 degrees, sediment and potential for rapid burial mobility is low, surface sediments are subject to regular reworking by waves, there are relatively low densities of infauna.
ESI #4--Medium permeability substrate: substrate is permeable with oil penetration up to 25 cm, slope is between 5 and 15 degrees, rate of sediment mobility i high with accumulation of up to 20 cm of sediments in a single tidal cycle, sediments are soft with low trafficability, low densities of infauna.
ESI #5--Medium to high permeability substrate: substrate of medium to high permeability which allows oil penetration up to 50 cm, spatial variations in distribution of grain sizes with finer ones at high tide line and coarser ones in the storm berm and at toe of beach, 20 percent is gravel, slope between 8 and 15 degrees, sediment mobility is high during storms, sediments are soft with low trafficability, low populations infauna and epifauna except at lowest intertidal levels.
ESI #6--High permeability substrates: substrate is highly permeable with oil penetration up to 100 cm, slope is 10 to 20 degrees, rapid burial and erosion of shallow oil can occur during storms, high annual variability in degree of exposure and frequency of wave mobilization, sediments have lowest trafficability of all beaches, natural replenishment rate is the lowest of all beaches, low populations of infauna and epifauna except at lowest intertidal levels.
ESI #7--Exposed flat permeable substrate: flat (less than 3 degrees) accumulations of sediment, highly permeable substrate dominated by sand, sediments are well saturated so oil penetration is limited, exposure to wave or tidal-current energy is evidenced in ripples or scour marks or sand ridges, width can vary from a few meters to one kilometer, sediments are soft with low trafficability, high infaunal densities.
ESI #8--Sheltered impermeable substrate: sheltered from wave energy and strong tidal currents, substrate of bedrock or rocky rubble, variable in oil permeability, slope greater than 15 degrees with a narrow intertidal zone, high coverage of attached algae and organisms.
ESI #9--Sheltered flat semi-permeable substrate: sheltered from wave energy and strong tidal currents, substrate is flat (less than 3 degrees) and dominated by mud, sediments are water-
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saturated so permeability is low, width varies from a few meters to one kilometer, sediments are soft with low trafficability, infaunal densities are high.
ESI #10--Vegetated wetlands: marshes and swamps with various types of emergent herbaceous grasses and woody vegetation over the substrate.
Alaska ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping.
An on-going coastal habitat mapping effort is producing an on-line database, digital maps, and color aerial imagery and videos of the coastline in the subarea. This geo-referenced data set collected at low tide includes coastal geomorphology and biological habitat for some intertidal and shallow sub-tidal areas.
Responders have access to several useful tools through the ShoreZone web portal. Low altitude video and high-resolution still photos are available with longitude and latitude and presented spatially on base maps (basic maps, topos, and satellite images). Also, habitat maps can be generated online for attributes such as Oil Residency Index, ESI, and sensitive biota (e.g. eelgrass).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska
Regional Office hosts the Alaska ShoreZone web portal at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/habitat/shorezone/szintro.htm
The Nature Conservancy, an Alaska ShoreZone partner, also hosts an informative online website which has links to ShoreZone information. It can be accessed at: http://www.shorezone.org
3.
Upland Habitats
At this time, no uplands or wetlands classifications directly related to sensitivity to oil spills has been identified. A general wetlands classification has been developed by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and National Wetlands Inventory, in Anchorage. Considerable mapping of wetlands has been completed, some of which are available in a Geographic Information System database (see the following figure). Updated map data is being placed on the National Wetlands
Inventory Internet web site at: http://wetlands.fws.gov/
ESI No.
1 A
1 B
2
3
4
ESI HABITAT RANKING
Estuarine (Marine) Lacustrine (Lake)
Exposed rocky cliffs Exposed rocky cliffs
Exposed sea walls
Exposed wave-cut platforms
Fine- to medium-grained sand beaches
Coarse-grained sand beaches
Exposed sea walls
Shelving bedrock shores
Eroding scarps in unconsolidated sediments
Sand beaches
Riverine (Large Rivers)
Exposed rocky banks
Exposed sea walls
Rocky shoals; bedrock ledges
Exposed, eroding banks in unconsolidated sediments
Sandy bars and gently sloping banks
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5
6 A
6 B
7
8 A
8 B
9
Mixed sand and gravel beaches
Gravel beaches
Riprap
Exposed tidal flats
Sheltered rocky shores
Sheltered sea walls
Sheltered tidal flats
Mixed sand and gravel beaches
Gravel beaches
Riprap
Mixed sand and gravel bars and gently sloping banks
Gravel bars and gently sloping banks
Riprap
Exposed flats Not present
Sheltered scarps in bedrock Vegetated, steeply sloping bluffs
Sheltered sea walls Sheltered sea walls
Vegetated low banks Sheltered vegetated low banks
10 A Saltwater marshes
10 B
10 C
10 D
Freshwater marshes
Freshwater swamps
Mangroves
Freshwater marshes
Freshwater swamps
Freshwater marshes
Freshwater swamps
_______________________________________________________________________________
“Environmental Sensitivity Index Guidelines” (October 1995) NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS
ORCA 92
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Insert Environmental Sensitivity Index Map Atlas Index http://www.asgdc.state.ak.us/maps/cplans/aleut/PDFs/ESI_DATA/INDEX.PDF
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Insert wetlands status map here http://www.asgdc.state.ak.us/maps/cplans/base/wetlands99.pdf
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C. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
1.
Threatened and Endangered Species
Federally listed threatened and endangered species are protected under the Endangered Species
Act. Spill response activities which could impact a listed species should be coordinated with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service. The northern right whale, humpback whale, and short-tailed albatross are also on the State of Alaska's endangered species list. The following species 1 and critical habitat occur in Alaska and have been provided protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.):
Table 1: Endangered Species Act of 1973 Protected species and critical habitat
Listed species Stock Latin Name Status
Short-tailed albatross
Steller’s eider
Spectacled eider
Blue whale
Humpback whale
Alaska breeding
Diomedea albatrus
Polysticta stelleri
Somateria fischeri
Endangered
Threatened
Threatened
Balaenoptera musculus Endangered
Megaptera novaeangliae
Endangered
Fin whale
Sei whale
Sperm whale
Balaenoptera physalus Endangered
Balaena borealis Endangered
Physeter macrocephalus Endangered
North Pacific right whale
Northern sea otter Southwest
Steller sea lion
Eubalaena glacialis
West of 140 degrees N Eumetopius jubatus
Endangered
Enhydra lutris kenyoni Threatened
Endangered
Designated Critical Habitat
Species Group
Whales
Birds
Sea otters
Sea lions
General Reference Area
North Pacific right whale in Bering Sea waters north of False Pass (see map below)
Spectacled eider critical habitat has been designated at Nelson and Izembek lagoons (see map below)
No critical habitat has been designated in the subarea
20 miles seaward around each major haul-out (see map below)
The short-tailed albatross, northern sea otters, spectacled eider, and Steller’s eiders are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All salmon species are under the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Regional Office in Seattle, Washington.
The Alaskan bald and golden eagles, though not on the endangered species list, are fully protected (including their nests and nest trees) under the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Spill response activities that could affect these species should be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
While the National Marine Fisheries Service has determined the gray whale is no longer a threatened or endangered species, monitoring of the species has continued since the 1994
1 In its definition of species, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, includes the traditional biological species concept of the biological sciences and “any subspecies of fish or wildlife or plants, and any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate fish or wildlife which interbreeds when mature” (16 USC 1532).
NMFS uses the term evolutionarily significant unit as synonymous with distinct population segment and lists
Pacific salmon accordingly. For the purposes of section 7 consultations, these are all “species.”
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delisting. All marine mammals, whether or not they are on the endangered species list, are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Any spill response activities, which could affect marine mammals, should be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
For updated information on the Internet:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Threatened and Endangered Species web site: http://endangered.fws.gov/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Threatened and Endangered Species web site: http://alaska.fws.gov/es/te.cfm
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Threatened and Endangered Species web site: http://www.state.ak.us/adfg/wildlife/geninfo/game/es_home.htm
The following figure illustrates locations for critical habitat areas within the Aleutian Island subarea.
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Three species of seabirds found within the Aleutian Islands are listed as either endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
These include:
Short-tailed albatross ( Phoebastria albatrus ) (endangered);
Spectacled eider ( Somateria fischeri ) (threatened); and
Steller’s eider (
Polysticta stelleri ) (threatened).
The population of short-tailed albatross is estimated to be 1,200 worldwide and they are only known to breed in Japan; however, they forage on the outer shelf across the Aleutian Islands outside of their breeding season (Alaska Fish and Wildlife Service). Numerous spectacled eiders and Steller’s eiders moult and over-winter primarily in the eastern Aleutian Islands.
Steller’s eider critical habitat: Map 1 of 2
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Steller’s eider critical habitat: Map 2 of 2
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The Steller Sea Lion Protection Areas, Gulf of Alaska – Groundfish, Pollock, and Pacific Cod Closures
Federal Threatened/Endangered Species Protected Area. This area was designated in 1990. Steller sea lion critical habitat includes a 20-nautical-mile buffer around all major haul-outs and rookeries, as well as associated terrestrial, air, and aquatic zones, and three large offshore foraging areas. There are 33 recognized rookery sites for this species across the Aleutian Islands and most of the islands are designated critical habitat for this species (NMFS 2010a).
Steller Sea Lion Critical Habitat Map
Source: NMFS 2010b.
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North Pacific right whale critical habitat
Other protected areas include Bering Sea Habitat Conservation Area, Aleutian Island Coral Protection
Area, and Gulf of Alaska Slope Habitat Conservation Areas.
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2. Fish and Wildlife
(a) Fish
The Aleutians subarea is rich in biological resources. In addition to supporting a commercial fishing industry, the area is also utilized by subsistence users. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game Anadromous Waters Catalog Maps may be found at the following web site: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/SARR/AWC/index.cfm?ADFG=maps.selectMap&Region=SWT
ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT
In 1996 Congress added new habitat provisions to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the federal law that governs U.S. marine fisheries management. Under the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, each fishery management plan must describe and identify Essential Fish
Habitat (EFH) for the fishery, minimize to the extent practicable the adverse effects of fishing on
EFH, and identify other actions to encourage the conservation and enhancement of EFH. Federal agencies must consult with NMFS on any action they authorize, fund, or undertake that may adversely affect EFH, and NMFS must provide conservation recommendations to federal and state agencies regarding any action that would adversely affect EFH. Reference information for
EFH in the subarea as identified by the National Marine Fisheries Service, can be found on their internet site at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/habitat/efh.htm
Finfish
An additional EFH resource is their interactive mapping Internet site: http://mapping.fakr.noaa.gov/Website/EFH/viewer.htm?simple
Fish species most vulnerable to and oil spill are those with life stages that use intertidal habitat and more than 100 species of fish were identified in recent nearshore habitat surveys. Those species include: anadromous fish, such salmon, trout, Dolly Varden char, and eulachon; groundfish such as walleye Pollock, Pacific cod, rock sole, yellowfin sole, starry flounder,
English sole, butter sole, and copper, dusky, brown, black, dark, and quillback rockfish, and; forage fish such as Pacific herring, Pacific sandlance, capelin, eulachon, shiner perch, Pacific sandfish, and surf smelt. Useful survey information, nearshore species distribution, and nearshore habitat information can be found at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov//habitat/fishatlas/
Anadromous fish migrate to and from marine areas from spring through fall, using coastal lagoons, estuaries and river deltas as habitat while making physiological adjustments to travel between marine and fresh water. River deltas are also important rearing and wintering areas for pink and chum salmon that spawn intertidally. Estuaries and lagoons provide important summer habitat for juvenile anadromous fish, but are generally not used in winter. The Alaska
Department of Fish and Game Anadromous Waters Catalog Maps may be found at the following website: http.//www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/SARR/AWC/index.cfm?ADFG=maps.selectMaps&Regions=SEA
Salmon produced in the Aleutians support important commercial fisheries ranging from stock specific nearshore fisheries to mixed stock fisheries offshore. Adult salmon are in freshwater
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from mid-April through early December, depending on the species of salmon and the stream system. Salmon eggs incubate in stream gravels over the winter. Juvenile salmon emerge from the gravel in spring and may rear in fresh water for up to four years before migrating to sea.
Attachment two of this document provides average salmon escapement or average peak index counts for salmon streams in the Aleutian area.
Pink and chum salmon fry have only a brief period of freshwater residence and enter salt water soon after emergence from the spawning beds. The fry reside in nearshore areas for several weeks before migrating offshore. Pink salmon spend one year at sea and chum salmon spend three or four years at sea before returning to spawn. They feed primarily on zooplankton.
Sockeye salmon are most often present in stream systems with lakes that they can access from salt water. Juveniles usually spend one to three years rearing in lakes before migrating to sea in the spring as smolts. Sockeye salmon spend one to four years at sea before returning to their natal stream to spawn. Sockeye salmon feed primarily on zooplankton throughout their life history.
The Chinook salmon is Alaska’s state fish and is the largest of all Pacific Salmon, with weights of individual fish commonly exceeding 30 pounds. Adult Chinook salmon enter fresh water from July to September and juveniles spend one year in fresh water before going to sea. Only a few spawning populations of Chinook salmon occur in southeast Alaska, but many rear for two to five years in inshore marine waters of the subarea. In fresh water they feed on plankton and insects while at sea they eat relatively large prey such as fish and squid. Unlike other salmon species, they are available to commercial and sport fishers all year which also makes them vulnerable to inshore marine pollutants year round.
Coho salmon occur in nearly all accessible bodies of fresh water watersheds to small tributaries throughout the Aleutians. Coho salmon enter spawning streams from July to November, usually during periods of high run off. Juvenile Coho salmon rear from one to four years in freshwater and may spend summers in estuaries. Coho salmon go to sea between March and June and spend eighteen months at sea before returning to natal streams to spawn. Coho feed primarily on insects in freshwater and on fish in marine areas.
Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden char have both resident and anadromous life history forms in southeast Alaska. Resident fish complete their entire life cycle in fresh water and anadromous fish return to freshwater spawning and wintering areas from April through
December. Resident rainbow trout generally spawn during May and June. The anadromous form
(steelhead) spawn from mid-April to June and adults that survive spawning return to the ocean in mid-May to June. Fry emerge several weeks to months later. Steelhead rear two to five years in freshwater before emigrating to offshore rearing areas where they spend one to four years before returning to spawn.
Cutthroat trout are the most common trout in the subarea and occur as both resident and anadromous (sea-run) forms in streams and lakes throughout the Aleutians. They spawn from
March to early June. Sea-run cutthroat trout usually winter in lakes, and adults and smolts migrate to nearshore marine feeding areas and matal stream spawning areas in early spring.
Dolly Varden char spawn from September to October, fry emerge in April and May. All but the smallest streams provide habitat for resident and rearing Dolly Varden, which feed primarily on insects. After several years in fresh water Dolly Varden may become anadromous. Anadromous
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fish reside in nearshore marine areas during the summer feeding on small fish and invertebrates, but spend winter in lakes after spawning.
Forage fish - Fish considered forage species are typically small schooling fish found in open waters. However, juveniles of many forage fish species spend part of their lives in the shallow vegetated nearshore areas and there would be more vulnerable to effects of an oil spill.
Forage fish are critically important in the subarea food web as many seabirds, fish, and marine mammals rely on them as prey. These fish feed primarily on plankton and provide the trophic link between primary production (plankton) and the apex predator species (e.g., salmon and groundfish) that commercial fisheries rely on. Some of these species also support important commercial fisheries.
Eulachon are among the most common forage fish in the Gulf of Alaska and are also anadromous, migrating to streams throughout the subarea to spawn in April or May. Spawning eulachon provide a spring feast for bears, eagles, killer whales, seals, sea lions, gulls, and humans.
Pacific herring occur widely across the subarea in water depths from 50 to 100 meters. In
Alaska, spawning is first observed in the southeastern archipelago during mid-March. Spawning is confined to shallow, vegetated areas in the intertidal and subtidal zones. Juvenile herring hatch in about two weeks and may rear in nearshore areas for several months before moving offshore.
Herring are an important food source for many marine mammals in Aleutians. Steller sea lions, humpback whales, gray whales, and killer whales are all known to forage on herring. Steller sea lions, and probably harbor seals, aggregate at herring spawning areas to feed. Capelin are not as numerous in the Aleutians as other areas of the State, but are important forage for higher trophic predators such as seabirds and marine mammals because of their high oil content. They spawn on sandy to small gravel beaches, but the timing and location of spawning varies considerably from year to year.
Pacific sandlance are another forage species in the Aleutians. Sand lance generally spawn from mid November to mid December along sandy shorelines.
Other Forage Fish –Other species in nearshore areas that contribute to the forage base include
Pacific sandfish and smelt. Adult Pacific sandfish generally occur at depths of 100 to 200 meters over sand or mud bottoms but enter nearshore areas to spawn among algaes and may school in bays throughout the subarea. Smelt, including surf smelt and longfin smelt are common but not abundant throughout the subarea and enter nearshore areas to spawn along sandy shorelines at widely varying times and locations. Krill are a very important source of food for marine mammals and birds in the Aleutians, including Endangered Species Act-listed species. Krill are also an important source of food for other forage fish upon which marine mammals and birds rely.
Groundfish are defined for the purpose of management by the State of Alaska as any marine finfish except halibut, omerids, herring, and salmonids. Several species in this group support important commercial sport and subsistence fisheries in the subarea and juveniles rearing in southeast Alaska also contribute to offshore fisheries. Juvenile Pollock, greenling, and sculpin make up a significant portion of the diet of species such as salmon and marine mammals.
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Pacific halibut are not considered groundfish because they are managed exclusively by the
International Pacific Halibut Commission. For the purpose of this discussion, however, we include Pacific halibut with groundfish.
Groundfish species common in the Aleutians include: Pacific halibut, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, yellowfin sole, flounder, rocks sole, Pacific cod, Pacific tomcod, walleye Pollock, copper rockfish, dusky rockfish, quillback rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, sablefish, kelp greenling, rock greenling, whitespotted greenling, lingcod, and sculpin.
Flatfish such as flounder, sole, and halibut live on low gradient bottoms throughout the subarea.
Large species such as Pacific halibut and arrowtooth flounder generally inhabit deeper more open water areas while smaller flatfish species are more likely to inhabit shallow bays.
Pacific halibut are found throughout the Aleutians and support important commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries. They spawn in deep water from 180 to 460 meters from November to
January. Older halibut spend winters in deep water along the continental shelf. In summer, adult halibut move to shallow coastal waters (depths of 30 to 300 meters) to forage on fish and invertebrates.
Yellowfin sole and starry flounder spawn and rear in shallow subtidal areas of bays and estuaries. Yellowfin sole juveniles stay in the nearshore area for 3 to 5 years. Starry flounder are resident in shallow flats, estuaries, and lagoons throughout their life. These fish feed intertidally on clam siphons, small fish, and invertebrates. Rock sole and flathead sole inhabit deeper areas of bays; often move into nearshore areas to forage.
Pacific cod and walleye Pollock are common in the subarea, primarily inhabiting straits, channels, and deep bays in the region. Adults are pelagic and are most abundant in water depths from 100 to 300 meters, but commonly occupy a much larger depth range. Juveniles are also pelagic and generally occupy the upper 60 meters of the water column. They feed primarily on pelagic invertebrates (e.g., euphasids) and small fish. These fish spawn in late winter or early spring and due to their abundance, they are extremely important to the ocean’s food web.
Rockfish in the subarea are most abundant along the outer Pacific coast, but also inhabit nearshore reefs and high current areas in inside waters. There are about 30 different species of rockfish in the subarea. Rockfish are long-lived, ovoviparous fish, which become sexually mature between 5 and 15 years of age. Copper rockfish commonly inhabit shallow bays and often feed and rear in eelgrass. Quillback, black, dark and dusky rockfish inhabit nearshore areas characterized by kelp beds, but may also be found with yelloweye rockfish on deeper reefs. The juveniles of many rockfish that as adults live in deep offshore waters are found on nearshore reefs. These fish feed on small fish and invertebrates.
Adult sablefish are demersal species that generally inhabit depths greater than 200 meters. Adult sablefish inhabit some of the deeper straits in the subarea. Sablefish spawn at depth in late winter and the pelagic larvae and juveniles migrate in shore over the next few months. Juvenile sablefish rear for 2 to 3 years in nearshore waters, including the bay and channels in the
Aleutians. Adults feed opportunistically on live prey or as scavengers, while juveniles feed on pelagic invertebrates and small fish.
Greenlings are generally abundant in the subarea and the common species are generally separated by habitat. As you might expect, Kelp greenling are abundant in kelp and algae beds
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and rock greenling are most common adjacent to nearshore reefs. Whitespotted greenling s are most common in bays and estuaries. Juvenile greenlings are pelagic and are important as forage in some areas.
Lingcod typically inhabit nearshore rocky reefs and high current areas from 10 to 100 meters in depth. They migrate inshore to spawn in the fall and return to areas farther offshore in winters.
Along the Pacific coast juvenile lingcod are common in shallow bays, but they rarely use such areas in inside waters.
Literally dozens of sculpin species are abundant in the Aleutians. Most are benthic, inhabiting bottoms ranging from vertical rock faces to mud bottom bays. Some, such as the crested sculpin, are pelagic. Nearly all feed on invertebrates and small fish. Their abundance makes them important as forage for some commercially harvested species.
Sharks and skates – Species in the subarea include the spiny dogfish shark, Pacific sleeper shark, salmon shark, Alaska skate, big skate, and longnose skate.
Spiny dogfish are common throughout the subarea and are locally abundant in water less than 150 meters deep over soft bottoms near current junctions. Spiny dogfish are opportunistic feeders and will scavenge or eat many kinds of live prey. The Pacific sleeper shark may grow to 10 meters in length and is one of the largest sharks in the world. Generally considered a scavenger, the sleeper is often one of the first animals to show up at sunken whale carcasses. Salmon sharks are often found near the surface and feed mostly on fish. Skates are common in bays and shallow flats where there is not too much current. Skates feed primarily on clams and other infauna.
Shellfish
Crustaceans (including shrimp and crabs) are important in the diet of many species ranging from forage fish to baleen whales.
Dungeness Crabs are found from the intertidal region to a depth of 230 meters in the Aleutians.
Dungeness crabs are most common on sand or muddy-sand bottoms in the subtidal region, and are often found in or near eelgrass beds. However, they can also be found on a number of other substrata including various mixtures of silt, sand, pebble, cobble, and shell. Juvenile Dungeness crabs are found in similar habitats to adults, but they generally occupy shallower depths than adults. Juvenile crabs can be very abundant in the intertidal zone, but also occur in shallow subtidal areas. Survival of young crabs is greatest in habitats such as intertidal zones and eelgrass beds, where they can gain refuge from predators.
Three species of King Crab are located in the Aleutians: red, blue, and brown. Red king crab larvae generally exhibit a diel movement being most abundant in the upper water column during the day and deeper at night. Young of the year crab occur at a depth of 50 meters or less. They are solitary and need high relief habitat or coarse substrate such as boulders, cobble, shell hash, and living substances such as bryozoans and stalked ascidians. Between the ages of two and four years, there is a change in habitat needs and a tendency for the crab to form pods consisting of thousands of crabs. Podding generally continues until four years of age (about 6.5 centimeters), when the crabs move to deeper water and join adults in the spring migration to shallow water for spawning. Adult red king crabs occur to a depth of 365 meters; preferred habitat for reproduction is water less than 90 meters. Red and blue kings can occur from the intertidal zone to 180 meters
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or more. Golden king crabs live mostly between 180-730 meters, but can occur from 90-900 meters.
Tanner Crab larvae are strong swimmers and perform diel vertical migrations in the water column (down at night). They usually stay near the depth of the chlorophyll maximum during the days. The length of time larvae take to develop is unknown, although it has been estimated at only 12 to 14 days. After setting to the bottom, Tanner crabs are widely distributed at depths up to 473 meters. Females are known to form high density mating aggregations consisting of hundreds of crab per mound at depths less than 30 meters. The mounds likely form in the same general location each year, but the location of the mounds is largely undocumented. They form the basis of a thriving domestic fishery from Southeastern Alaska north through the Bering Sea.
The peak hatching period for tanner crabs is usually between April and June.
Pacific Weathervane scallops are found on sand, gravel, and rock bottoms from 45-180 meters.
Sexually maturity occurs at age 3 or 4 and scallops are of commercially harvestable size at 6 to 8 years. Scallops are found in beds (areas of abundant numbers), Scallops are dioecious and they spawn in June and July where the spermatozoa and ova are released into the water. Around one month later, hatching occurs and the larvae drift with the tides and currents. After two or three weeks the larvae will have gained shell weight, settled to the bottom, and attached to seaweed.
Scallops may live to age 18 and they feed by filtering microscopic plankton from the water. They have been commercially harvested throughout Alaska on a sporadic basis due to overharvesting of scallop beds, more lucrative fisheries, and market conditions. Bay scallops occur shallower than weathervane scallops (15-60 meters). They are more easily collected by divers and are frequently harvested in the summer. They are more vulnerable to oil exposure than weathervane scallops as adults.
Shrimp – Pandalid shrimp (northern pink shrimp, humpy/flexed shrimp, coonstripe shrimp, spot shrimp and sidestripe/grant red shrimp) are distributed throughout most major bays and certain nearshore and offshore areas in the Aleutians. Coonstripes and spot shrimp are generally associated with rock piles, coral, and debris-covered bottoms, whereas pink, sidestripes, and humpies typically occur over muddy bottom. Pink shrimp occur over the widest depth range (18
-1500 meters). Humpies and coonstripes usually inhabit shallower waters (5-370 meters). Spot shrimp seem to be caught in the greatest concentrations around 110 meters, but range from 3 to
460 meters. Sidestripes are typically found from 45 to 640 meters, but most concentrations occur in waters deeper than 73 meters. Most shrimp migrate seasonally from deep to shallow waters.
Clams – Razor clams are filter feeders subsisting on plankton. They live in surf-swept and somewhat protected sand beaches of the open ocean. They are found from approximately 1 meter above the mean low water level down to depths of 55 meters.
Blue mussels are found throughout the Aleutians and are found through the intertidal zone up to a depth of five meters densely packed around rock, wood, or other solid structure.
(b) Birds
All migratory birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Any spill response activities, which could affect migratory birds, should be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
Important Bird Habitats/Communities
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There are 39 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) designated across the Aleutian Islands. An IBA is an area designated as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations developed by
BirdLife International. To qualify as an IBA, a site must regularly support significant numbers of species of conservation concern; attract large numbers of breeding, wintering, or migrating birds; or support species characteristic of a unique habitat.
Extensive breeding colonies containing millions of seabirds occur on the Aleutian Islands, the
Pribilof Islands, and along portions of the Alaskan Peninsula. An endemic species, the whiskered auklet, only occurs on the Aleutian Islands. Least auklets, red-legged kittiwakes, Aleutian terns and red-faced cormorants – live and breed only in the Bering Sea-North Pacific Ocean zone. The overwhelming majority of fork-tailed storm-petrels and horned and tufted puffins breed in Alaska in the northern Pacific islands. Millions of shearwaters do not breed here, but spend the summer feeding in the waters of the Aleutian Island passes. The Aleutian cackling goose, one of the few species to be removed successfully from the Endangered Species List, is endemic to the Aleutian
Islands, breeding here in the summer.
The Alaskan Seabird Colony Catalog is an automated database that contains the distributions of breeding seabirds and the relative size of all the colonies in Alaska. The data reports indicating estimated species composition and numbers for seabird colonies of Norton and Kotzebue Sound are summarized from the catalog.
The maps display colony locations. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Marine and Coastal Bird Project, in
Anchorage, maintain the Alaska Seabird Colony Catalog. Questions or comments regarding the information contained in the Alaska Seabird Colony Catalog should be directed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Anchorage at 786-3444.
In addition, the Aleutians serve as a major spring and fall staging area for migrating waterfowl as well as a permanent residence for some species. Wintering and migrating birds concentrate in protected embayments and rocky, intertidal locations. Major staging areas include Izembek
Lagoon, Port Heiden and Nelson Lagoon. The entire population of black brant (150,000 birds on average), Taverner's Canada geese (55,000), and emperor geese (6,000) stage at Izembek Lagoon and neighboring lagoons. Approximately 23,000 threatened Steller's eiders also molt, rest, and feed at Izembek each autumn.
A significant number of bald eagles nest on the many islands found in the Aleutians. Although bald eagles are not on the endangered species list, they are fully protected (including their nests and nest trees) under the Eagle Protection Act of 1940. Spill response activities that could affect bald eagles should be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Seabird Population-Aleutian Islands East
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Seabird Population-Aleutian Islands West
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(c) Marine Mammals
Steller sea lions and northern sea otters, both listed as threatened, harbor seals, spotted seals, killer whales, and porpoises are present throughout the year. Several species of endangered baleen whales migrate through the area in the spring and summer. Northern fur seals seasonally inhabit the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. Major northern fur seal rookeries and haul-outs occur on the Pribilof Islands and on Bogoslof Island. Rookeries and haul-outs used by sea lions are also located on the Pribilof Islands and throughout the Aleutian Islands and Alaskan
Peninsula. Pacific Walrus occur seasonally in the area of the Pribilof Islands and the northern
Alaska Peninsula. Haul-outs on the Alaskan Peninsula at Cape Seniavin and Port Moller, and on
Amak and Walrus Islands, are used by mature bulls during spring and summer. Dense concentrations of marine organisms occur throughout the Aleutian Islands, including all five species of Pacific salmon, numerous groundfish, herring, crab, shrimp, clams, and a variety of intertidal organisms.
Northern sea otters are distributed at very low densities around most of the island in the Aleutian chain and the island of the lower Alaska Peninsula. Otters generally range from 5 to 16 kilometers offshore and feed in nearshore water less than 35 meters deep. Breeding occurs yearround, with a peak in September and October. Pupping occurs year-round, with a peak in July.
All marine mammals, regardless of whether or not they are on the endangered species list, are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Any spill response activities which could affect marine mammals should be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The maps on the following pages locate Steller sea lion rookeries and critical habitat only, sea lions are found throughout the Aleutians.
Humpback Whales are the large whales most frequently observed swimming and feeding close to shore along the coast. 3,000 to 5,000 humpback whales can be found in Southeast Alaska, with higher numbers occurring between March to September. Although very few humpback whales skip annual winter migration, they are present in the Aleutians until early winter. The late season presence of humpback whales in the Aleutians is due to whales leaving late to migrate to the breeding grounds overlapping with whales returning early to Alaska from the breeding grounds. Winter aggregations of humpback whales in the Aleutians are related to the availability of krill and herring.
In the Aleutian islands humpback whales feed primarily on krill. Fish such as herring, capelin, and sandlance are also important. To a lesser extent, other zooplankton, salmon fry, and juvenile Pollock are part of the diet.
Gray Whales feed predominately on infaunal invertebrates. They appear to feed by lying on their sides and suctioning sediment from the sea floor, which they then filter for invertebrates. The eastern North
Pacific population of gray whale has been delisted, but the western North Pacific population is still listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Harbor Seals are found year around in the Aleutian Islands in nearshore waters all the way out to the shelf break on the outer coast. Harbor seals tend to concentrate in estuaries, protected waters, and tidewater rocks and reefs. Harbor seals enter lakes and rivers on a seasonal basis.
Harbor seal haul-outs are used for pupping, molting and resting, and may be used year around. Peak haulout use occurs during June through early October. Pupping occurs between late May and early July; most pups are born during the first three weeks of June, and the pups nurse for about three weeks. Births of harbor seals are not restricted to a few major sites (as is the case for many other species of pinnipeds), but occur at many haul-outs. Some areas or particular haul-out sites have disproportionately high numbers of
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pups, which may be especially vulnerable to the fouling effects of oil spills. The total Alaska harbor seal population is estimated at 150,000.
(d) Terrestrial Mammals
The majority of large terrestrial animals that occur in the Aleutian Islands are found on the
Alaskan Peninsula as well as on some of the larger islands. Brown bear are found throughout the
Alaskan Peninsula and on Umnak Island, and in the Pribilof Islands. Caribou occur on the
Alaskan Peninsula, Umnak Island, and Adak Island. Reindeer occur on Atka, Umnak Island, and in the Pribilof Islands. Moose generally occur on the Alaskan Peninsula as far west as Port
Moller, although they have been sighted as far west as the east end of Unimak Island.
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3. Vegetation
Threatened and endangered plants in the subarea are identified below, along with other rare plant species, as documented by the Alaska Natural Heritage Program. The map on the following page identifies the general locations of these rare plants.
Global Rank State Rank
G1
G1
G1
G4T1T2Q
G2
G2G3
G3
G5T3Q
G3G4
S1
S1
S1
S1S2
S2
S2S3
S1
S3
S2
Scientific Name
Polysticum aleuticum
Saxifraga aleutica
Artemisia aleutica
Artemisia globularia var lutea
Draba aleutica
Douglasia alaskana
Claytonia arctica
Eleocharis nitida
Common Name
Carex lenticularis var dolia Goose-grass sedge
Federal Status
Aleutian Shield Fern* Endangered
Aleutian Saxifrage
Aleutian Wormwood
Aleutian Rockcress
Alaska Rock Jasmine
Arctic Spring Beauty
Species Ranks used by The Alaska Natural Heritage Program:
Species Global Rankings
Neat Spike-rush .
G1: Critically imperiled globally. (typically 5 or fewer occurrences)
G2: Imperiled globally. (6-20 occurrences)
G3: Rare or uncommon globally. (21-100 occurrences)
G4: Apparently secure globally, but cause for long-term concern. (usually more than 100 occurrences)
G5: Demonstrably secure globally.
G#G#: Rank of species uncertain, best described as a range between the two ranks.
G#Q: Taxonomically questionable.
G#T#: Global rank of species and global rank of the described variety or subspecies of the species.
Species State Rankings
S1: Critically imperiled in state. (usually 5 or fewer occurrences)
S2: Imperiled in state. (6-20 occurrences)
S3: Rare or uncommon in state. (21-100 occurrences)
S4: Apparently secure in state, but with cause for long-term concern (usually more than 100 occurrences
S5: Demonstrably secure in state.
S#S#: State rank of species uncertain, best described as a range between the two ranks.
*The Aleutian shield-fern is a small, tufted fern which grows to about 15 centimeters (6 inches) tall and may be confused with more common ferns occurring within its range. It is now known to exist only on Adak Island in the central Aleutian Islands. Three populations totaling approximately 130 "clumps" are located on a single mountain on east-facing slopes having steep cliffs, rock outcrops, and vegetated gullies and ledges. Historically, the Aleutian shield-fern also occurred on Atka Island, but has not been seen there since it was reported in 1932.
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Rare Plants Locations in the Aleutian Subarea:
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D. HUMAN RESOURCE USES
This sub-section includes an overview of the following socioeconomic resources within the subarea:
Commercial and recreational fisheries;
Subsistence;
Historic preservation sites;
Marine recreation and tourism; and
Coastal development and coastal infrastructure.
The area includes western portions of the Aleutians East Borough (AEB) and extends through the
Aleutian Chain, which is in the Aleutian West Coastal Resource Service Area (AWCRSA).
1. Fish Hatcheries and Associated Ocean Net Pens
Russell Creek hatchery located at Cold Bay is the only fish hatchery in the Aleutians Subarea. As of summer 1992, the hatchery had ceased operation because of lack of funds.
If this hatchery operates in the future, hatchery-related activities most vulnerable to spill damage would include fry rearing and release, terminal harvests and egg takes. The timing of these activities varies by species so it is difficult to generalize about the periods of highest vulnerability, however spring and summer will tend to be the most critical periods. The hatchery manager should be contacted for specific information if the hatchery again becomes operational.
2. Aquaculture Sites
At this time there are no aquaculture sites in the Aleutian Islands or the Pribilof Islands. If any sites are opened in the future, it is important to note that aquatic farms are vulnerable to spill damage on a year-round basis since shellfish are suspended from anchored gear and are submerged continuously in the water column. Harvest takes place year round.
3. Cultural Heritage and Historic Properties
The people who settled along the Aleutian archipelago are often referred to as Aleuts. Russian fur traders gave this name to them, but they prefer to call themselves Unangan, or coastal people. It is believed that the Aleuts migrated across the Bering land bridge from Asia between 12,000 and 15,000 years ago.
The Unangan people lived underneath the earth in semi – subterranean houses called ulax and developed specialized skills to enable survival in the harsh climate. They hunted marine mammals from skin covered kayaks, or iqyax. The Unangan subsisted for centuries and thrived as a culture until the Russian fur traders discovered the Aleutian Islands around 1750. At this time, the Aleut population was estimated at
12,000 to 15,000.
The fur traders from Russia occupied the islands and their people in their quest to obtain sea otters and fur seals. The population of Unangan, or Aleut people was greatly reduced after Russian occupation due to disease, war and malnutrition.
The Aleut people also suffered tremendous loss during World War II (WW II) when the U.S. Government relocated most of the Aleutian Island residents to internment camps located in Southeast Alaska. Many
Aleuts died in these camps further reducing their population. The U.S. Government eventually passed a
Congressional Act in 1988 called the Aleut Restitution Act. The purpose of this act was to pay restitution to the victims of WWII internment.
Currently Aleut people still rely on the sea for their livelihood. Most live a subsistence lifestyle, which includes fishing and hunting. It is believed that today the population of Aleuts is approximately 2,000.
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People had, and have, a maritime focused culture in the Aleutian Islands for 10,000 years. During this time every habitable stretch of the coastline was occupied. Sites here can be huge, covering hundreds of acres, or they may be isolated sea caves, dwellings, camps, or burials. The deposits may extend into the littoral zone. Sub-tidal cultural resources of the island chain have never been adequately inventoried but there are several hundred known shipwrecks along the archipelago. More recent historic properties, from the Russian period through World War II and Cold War are also numerous but barely inventoried.
Although Historic Properties do not have to be formally listed on the National Register to merit consideration, t he following list is limited to places on the National Register of Historic Places (NPS
2013).
There are 15 places on the registry in the proposal area, most located in upland areas: o Adak Army Base and Adak Naval Operating Station –Roughly bounded by Cape Adagdak,
Scabbard Bay, and Shagak Bay, Adak Station; o Anangula Archeological District – Underwater Restricted location at Nikolski; o Ananiuliak Island Archeological District—Prehistoric site 8000-8499 BC, 7500-7999 BC o Cape Field at Fort Glenn (Umnak Island)-Military air facility from 1925-1949 o Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, US Army; o Attu Battlefield and US Army and Navy Airfields on Attu; o Japanese Occupation Site, Kiska Island; and o S.S. NORTHWESTERN Shipwreck Site – Unalaska. o Atka B-24D Liberator Site on Atka Island o Chaluka Site, Nikolski—Prehistoric 1500-1999 BC o Church of Holy Ascension, Unalaska—Architecture/Engineering, Religious Structure o Holy Resurrection Church, Belofski—Architecture/Engineering, Religious Structure o St. Alexander Nevsky Chapel, Akutan—Architecture/Engineering, Religious Structure o St. Nicholas Church, Nikolski—Architecture/Engineering, Religious Structure o Temnac P-38G Lightning, Aleutian Islands (location restricted)- Air related, military significance
The Aleutians Subarea contains a multitude of known and unidentified archaeological and historic sites. Oil spills and hazardous substance releases may result in direct and/or indirect impacts to those cultural resources. On-Scene Coordinators (OSC’s) are responsible for ensuring that response actions take the protection of cultural resources into account and that the statutory requirements for protecting cultural resources are met. Annex M of the Unified Plan outlines
OSC responsibilities for protecting cultural resources and provides an expedited process for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act during the emergency phase of a response.
4. Subsistence and Personal Use Harvests
Subsistence-related uses of natural resources play an important role in the economy and culture of many communities in the Aleutians Subarea. A subsistence economy may be defined as follows:
...an economy in which the customary and traditional uses of fish, wildlife and plant resources contribute substantially to the social, cultural and economic welfare of families in the form of food, clothing, transportation and handicrafts.
Sharing of resources, kinship-based production, small-scale technology and the dissemination of information about subsistence across generational lines are additional characteristics.
Before 1990, the State of Alaska made all decisions regarding the management of fish and wildlife resources and harvest opportunities. In 1990, however, Federal agencies became
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responsible for assuring a federal subsistence priority on Federal public lands, and in 1999 on
Federal reserved waters. The Federal Subsistence Board adopts subsistence regulations that are administered by various Federal agencies on Federal public lands. State regulations still apply on all lands, and the State is still the manager of fish and wildlife on all lands and waters in Alaska.
As a consequence, the number of agencies involved in regulating subsistence uses has increased.
Therefore, in the event of a spill, more extensive coordination will be required in order to address subsistence resources. Regulations regarding subsistence harvest can also be expected to undergo regular modification. Current information on harvest regulations can be obtained from the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game, Subsistence Division at Anchorage; or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Office of Subsistence Management at Anchorage.
Subsistence uses in the area are extensive and vary by season, resource, and village. Some information about subsistence uses is community-sensitive. Contacts for potentially affected communities are identified in the Response Section, Part One.
Subsistence activities include harvesting, sharing, and consuming vegetative and terrestrial and aquatic animal resources. Nearly all the residents in each of the communities take part in subsistence activities
(ADCED 2010; Sepez et al. 2005). The communities in the region depend heavily on subsistence resources such as (ADCED 2010): o Salmon; o Non-salmon fish species (e.g., cod, flounder, greenling, halibut, rockfish, sablefish, sculpin, sole, char, and trout); o Shellfish; o Marine mammals (e.g., seals); o Land mammals (e.g., caribou, wild cattle, and reindeer); o Birds and bird eggs (e.g., geese); o Marine invertebrates; and o Vegetation.
Federal subsistence fishery regulations require that a community be classified as rural “in order to harvest subsistence wildlife, fish, and shellfish on Federal lands” (Sepez et al. 2005, pg. 293). Designated subsistence use areas within the proposal area have been well documented (LaRoche and Associates
2005). In addition to the communities highlighted in Table 3-11, the following communities and areas are known subsistence harvest areas of importance in and adjacent to the study area: Port Moller, Nelson
Lagoon, Sand Point, Squaw Harbor, Unga, Belkofski, King Cove, Cold Bay, Sanak Island, Pauloff
Harbor, and Umiak Island. The extent of the subsistence use areas that have been documented include: o Port Moller, Herendeen Bay, Bear River, Sandy River, Point Edward to Walrus Island and 3 miles offshore from Cape Kutuzof; o Nelson Lagoon from Walrus Island to Spasuk River (and 3 miles offshore), including Kudobin
Islands; o Izembek Lagoon and Moffett Lagoon extending 3 miles offshore from the barrier islands; o Pavlof Bay/Canoe Bay between Bluff Point and Cape Tolstoi;
Bechevin Bay from the western boundary of Izembek Lagoon to the west of Swanson Lagoon including Cold Bay and offshore areas within a 3-mile limit including north of Bechevin Bay and
Morzhovoi Bay; o Unimak Pass from Seal Cape to Cape Sarichef and extending 3 miles offshore to the western boundary of the AEB and including the northern shore of Unimak Island and southern shore to
False Pass and Deer Island; o Sanak Islands and coastal waters; o Krenitzin Islands including Hot Springs and Akutan Bays on Akutan Island, Lost Harbor, Surf
Bay on Akun Island Akun Island; o Unalaska Island including Wide Bay, Broad Bay, Nateekin Bay, Captains Bay, Iliuliuk Bay,
Summer Bay and Hog Island in Unalaska Bay to Cape Wislow and Reese Bay;
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o Umnak Island coastal waters including the Pancake and Adugak Islands; o Samalga, Amutka, and Seguam islands and coastal waters; o Atka and Amlia islands and coastal waters; and o Adak Island and coastal waters.
5. Commercial Fishing
The U.S. has exclusive fishery management authority over all marine fishery resources in the Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ), the area extending between 3 and 200 miles offshore as established under the
Magnuson-Stevens Act (US Code Title 16, Section 1801 et seq.
). The fisheries within the Bering Sea–
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) ecosystem are managed under a sophisticated multispecies framework that is based on extensive monitoring by both fishers and managers.
The groundfish fishery in Alaska is the largest commercial fishery in the world. In addition to groundfish, other key species harvested include but are not limited to crab, salmon, and halibut. About 80 stocks of groundfish are recognized and managed in the BSAI ecosystem (NPFMC 2006); chief among these are stocks of walleye pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel. The federal groundfish fisheries extend southward in the Aleutian Islands west of 170ºW to the border of the EEZ. In addition, herring, crab, halibut and salmon are also fished. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) manages commercial fisheries near to shore, inside the 3-mile zone. Compared to the federal fisheries, the Statemanaged groundfish fisheries account for a small portion of the total and, in the project area, consist primarily of Pacific cod and black rockfish.
Commercial fleets operate out of most of the communities within the proposed area. Much of the seafood processing labor force comes from outside the region, although individual communities vary as to what portion of labor comes from local sources. The epicenter of commercial fishing in the region is
Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, with its large commercial fleet and processors, as well as offshore floating processors (Sepez et al. 2005).
In 2008, 1.7 million tons of groundfish was caught commercially, generating approximately $2.3 billion in gross value ($880 million in exvessel value). This huge volume of fish accounted for 46 percent of the weight and 20 percent of the ex-vessel value of total US domestic landings. The groundfish fisheries accounted for the largest share (51 percent) of the ex-vessel value of all commercial fisheries off Alaska in 2008, while the Pacific salmon fishery was second with $368 million or 21 percent of the total Alaska ex-vessel value. The value of the shellfish fishery amounted to $252 million or 15 percent of the total for
Alaska and exceeded the value of Pacific halibut by about $43 million (NMFS 2009). While these data represent the aggregated total for Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula/Aleutian Islands region is central to the
Alaska groundfish fishery and accounts for the majority of the Alaskan groundfish catch (as percentage by volume) (NMFS 2004).
Some of the larger fishing ports in the proposed area include Akutan, King Cove, Sand Point and
Unalaska. Adak is also a major fish processing community, particularly for Pacific cod. For communities within the AEB, revenue from the groundfish fisheries is distributed throughout borough communities due to the tax structure.
Employment in the Aleutian Islands communities is closely related to the commercial fishery, particularly the groundfish fishery. Communities with sizeable seafood processing operations (Akutan, King Cove,
Unalaska and Sand Point) typically have very low official unemployment rates. Seafood processing dominates employment in the manufacturing sector of this region.
Taxes from the fisheries are an important source of income for the region. Local raw fish taxes are collected in Akutan, King Cove, Sand Point, and Unalaska, and all but Unalaska are also subject to a
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, Part Four D-54 September 1999
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borough raw fish landing tax.
Processing is a major component of the economy in the Aleutian Islands.The offshore processing component paid more than $2 million in Fisheries Resource Landing tax in 1999. This tax is considerably more important in the Aleutian Islands region. Pollock comprises the majority of fish processed in the region (often approximately >90 percent), followed by Pacific cod, and other species such as Atka mackerel, rockfish, sablefish and other groundfish.
The Aleutian Islands region does more inshore processing of groundfish (674,000 metric tons in 2001) than any other region (NMFS 2005). Washington state-based individuals or firms own most of the shore processing facilities in the region; none of the shore processing plants is owned by resident entities
(NMFS 2004).
The Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) crab fishery includes king ( Paralithodes and lithodes spp .) and
Tanner crab ( Chionoecetes spp .). These species are most commonly found using the continental shelf and slope to depths of approximately 1,000 m (NMFS 2004). There are four species of king crab that support the BSAI fisheries including red king crab, blue king crab, golden king crab, and scarlet king crab. This application focuses on the following crab species due to their significance as a commercial species within the project area: o Aleutian Islands red king crab – Red king crabs are taken in areas of all sediment types at depths of 20 to 100 fathoms (120 to 600 feet). o Aleutian Islands golden king crab – Golden king crabs are taken in areas consisting of rough, uneven bottom and in compacted sand cobble sediments at depths of 100 to 400 fathoms (600 to
2,400 feet). Fishery effort is concentrated at the entrances to passes between the islands, particularly in the eastern district. In the western district, the fishery occurs in steep rocky terrain, near passes between islands, and on moderately sloping mud/sand sediments in basins. o Aleutian Islands Tanner crab – Tanner crabs are taken in areas of soft sediment types (silt and mud) at depths of 30 to 110 fathoms (180 to 660 feet) (NMFS 2004).
In 2005, the crab fishery was conducted under the newly implemented Crab Rationalization Program, which established a quota share system for allocating the harvest, including for Eastern Aleutian Islands golden king crab, Western Aleutian Islands golden king crab, and Western Aleutian Islands red king crab fisheries (NMFS 2007). The program also includes geographic landing requirements and transfer restrictions linking Processor Quota Shares (PQS) and Individual Processor Quota (IPQ) to specific fishery-dependent coastal communities with a history of participation in these fisheries. There are nine total Eligible Crab Communities, six of which are located within the proposed area or immediately adjacent to it including Adak, Akutan, Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, False Pass, King Cove, and Port Moller.
Every community but Adak has a “Right of First Refusal” on proposed sales of PQS for use outside of the community.
Dutch Harbor/Unalaska has been one of the nation’s top fishing ports since 1992 (NMFS 2004). In 2000,
50 residents held 103 commercial fishing permits, 17 resident vessel owners operating in the federal fisheries and six operated in the non-federal fisheries (Sepez et al. 2005). In 2005, there were a total of nine processors operating in Dutch Harbor/Unalaska representing a mix of shore plants, offshore, at-sea, and floating processors. Compared to other ports in the Aleutian Islands, Unalaska provides substantial support services for the Bering Sea fisheries. Unalaska can support all range of services for any vessel class in the pollock, crab, and other groundfish fisheries and, for this reason, the support services are heavily dependent upon the success of the groundfish and crab fisheries.
According to EDAW, Inc. (2005), approximately 80 percent of the King Cove workforce is employed by the commercial fisheries. Several large processors are located in King Cove, with Peter Pan Seafoods being the only shore-based processor. Although King Cove once depended heavily on salmon, the community now processes groundfish, halibut, and crab from the Gulf of Alaska and BSAI. In addition,
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the community is home to several large crab vessels.
Akutan is a CDQ community, also heavily dependent on the commercial fisheries, that benefits from the allocation of BSAI groundfish and crab to the CDQ program. The largest shore-based processing plant in
North America, operated by Trident Seafoods, is located in Akutan. The facility is self-sufficient (e.g., generates its own power) and can house as many as 825 Trident employees (Trident 2010). A floating processor is also based in Akutan. Fishing vessels delivering to Akutan focus primarily on pollock, crab, and Pacific cod.
Atka is considered the westernmost fishing community in the Aleutian Islands chain (Sepez et al. 2005).
According to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (ACFEC), in 2000, there were nine permit holders who held 17 commercial fishing permits. Atka Pride Seafoods, a small on-shore processing plant, services the local fleet. In 2008, Atka Pride Seafoods owned and operated by APICDA, accomplished 100 percent hire of local residents for the processing plant (Global Food Collaborative
2010). Despite its limited support services, a number of offshore fish processors carry out crew changes through Atka (Sepez et al. 2005).
False Pass is heavily dependent on commercial fishing as part of the local economy. ADF&G and
ACFEC reported that in 2000, 24 permits were held by 11 permit holders in False Pass (Sepez et al.
2005). At that time, for a population of 64, fishing permits were held by approximately 17 percent of the community. In addition, two vessel owners operated in the federal fishery while 10 vessel owners operated in the salmon fishery. In 2008, APICDA opened Bering Pacific Seafoods and produced headed and gutted fillets. As part of the CDQ program, the plant aims to benefit the region (Global Food
Collaborative 2010).
The following chart provides general information on the timing of major commercial fisheries in the Aleutians Subarea. All fishing seasons are subject, however, to emergency openings and closures and most seasons are only open for a portion of the time specified in the regulations.
Fishing regulations and seasons can change from year to year. Information on which species are currently being harvested may be obtained from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game,
Commercial Fisheries Division in Anchorage.
During the Selendang Ayu oil spill incident, the Alaska Department of Environmental
Conservation commissioned a study to describe the major commercial fisheries that could be impacted by the spill. The complete report can be found at the following link: http://www.dec.state.ak.us/spar/perp/response/sum_fy05/041207201/fish/041207201_fisheries_rpt.pdf
Maps of key commercial fishing areas are available in Alaska Department of Fish and Game publications: Alaska Habitat Management Guide Reference Maps, Southwestern Region, Vols. 1 and 2 and Alaska Habitat Management Guide, Southwestern Region Map Atlas.
As fishing periods are adjusted yearly by emergency openings and closures, contact Alaska Department of Fish and Game for current fishing periods. Updated information may be found at their Commercial
Fisheries web site: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingCommercial.main
The following groups may be contacted for information on location and timing of fishing and local current conditions. Although the primary function of these organizations is not to provide such information, the individual members will be quite knowledgeable about conditions and are often willing to share information.
Alaska Crab Coalition
3901 Leary Way N.W. #6
Seattle, WA 98107
Bering Sea Fisherman's Association
725 Christiansen Drive
Anchorage, AK 99501
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(206) 547-7560
Alaska Draggers Assn.
P.O. Box 991
Kodiak, AK 99615
Alaska Marketing Association
Building C-3, Room 232
Fisherman's Terminal
Seattle, WA 98119
(907) 279-6519
Deep Sea Fisherman's Union / Pacific
5215 Ballard Ave., N.W.
Seattle, WA 98107 (206) 783-2922
Fishing Vessel Owner's Association
West Wall Bldg., Room 232
Fisherman's Terminal
Seattle, WA 98119 (206) 285-3383
American Factory Trawler Assn.
4039 21st Ave. W, Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98199
(206) 285-3739
Peninsula Marketing Association
P.O. Box 248
Sand Point, AK 99661
(907) 383-3600
American High Seas Fisheries Assn. United Fishermen of Alaska
3040 W. Commodore Way
Seattle, WA 98199
211 Fourth Street, Suite 112
Juneau, AK 99801
United Fishermen's Marketing Association
Box 1035
Kodiak, AK 99615
6. Sport Fishing and Hunting
Sport fishing is not as extensive in the Aleutian Island region as it is in the Alaska Peninsula and other parts of Alaska. Coho and sockeye are the two salmon species most frequently targeted in
Dutch Harbor/Unalaska’s freshwater and saltwater sport fisheries (ADF&G 2010f). In 2005, there were at least four charter boat companies operating out of Dutch Harbor/Unalaska and three registered freshwater and six saltwater fishing guides. In 2000, there were 833 sport-fishing permits obtained for Unalaska (Sepez et al. 2005).
The small charter boat fleet in Dutch Harbor/Unalaska provides non-local anglers access to the area’s best known sport fishery targeting halibut that travel in or through waters in the northwestern portion of the project area. In July and August, halibut is often taken in both the
Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. Black and dusty rockfish are popular game species found in the
Aleutians and are typically caught nearshore (ADF&G 2010f). In 2000, 42 sport-fishing permits were issued for Sand Point. As of 2000, there were five sport-fishing guides operating out of
Sand Point, four of which focused on freshwater activities (Sepez et al. 2005).
Contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for current seasons within the area of the subarea.
Updated information may be found at their Sport Fish web site: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSport.main
This Subarea includes State Game Management Units 9D and 10.
7. Marine Recreational and Tourism
The Shumagin Islands and Dutch Harbor/Unalaska are the two main areas of importance to tourism in the
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Aleutians. Typically, these areas are rich in biodiversity, are relatively accessible and pristine. Caribou hunting, birding, beach combing, fishing, skiing and kayaking are popular tourist activities in the more established and accessible tourist areas. The tourism industry as a whole is largely dependent on the marine environment. Sport fishing, marine and terrestrial sightseeing, and boating are recreation and tourism activities that residents and visitors enjoy in the subarea. Recreation and tourism is extremely limited in the communities in the subarea, primarily because they do not have the facilities or resources to support such an industry.
Sepez et al. (2005) reports Dutch Harbor/Unalaska has four charter boat companies, three registered freshwater fishing guides, and six saltwater fishing guides. King Cove also has three saltwater sport fishing businesses and two cross over with freshwater.
Smaller communities like Adak have tourism activities on a much smaller scale such as visitors for sightseeing on cruise vessels or the Alaska Marine Highway System Ferry. The ferry and small tour boats also stop in Akutan, Sand Point, Cold Bay, and King Cove and to a limited extent, False Pass.
The subarea includes three national wildlife refuges: o Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, which includes the Aleutian Islands from approximately Unimak Island to Attu; o Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge, which extends from False Pass along the southern portion of the peninsula to just east of Ugashik; and o Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, which includes Umiak Wilderness Area and encompasses the area around the Izembek Lagoon from Morzhovoi Bay to areas north of Cold Bay on the Alaska
Peninsula.
Although these large expanses of public lands are surrounding communities like False Pass and others, they do not add much to the local economies and accessibility is limited. Access to public and tribal lands is by cruise, tour, ferry, or chartered vessels and air and boat taxis. (See also Part 4.A Land Management
Designations)
Public Anchorages and Moorings include:
Akutan Harbor, Akutan Island
Dutch Harbor, Unalaska Island
Nazan Bay, Atka Island
Kuluk Bay, Adak Island
Constantine Harbor, Amchitka Island
Kiska Harbor, Kiska Island
Massacre Bay, Attu Island
Public Recreation Cabins include:
Adak Island
For recreational information, contact:
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
Homer, Alaska
235-6546
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Aleutian Islands Unit
Adak, Alaska
592-2406
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Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Cold Bay, Alaska
532-2445
8. Commercial Tourism
Tourism activities in the subarea include tour boat and ferry boat routes and stops, small boat and kayak use areas, wildlife viewing areas, and bird watching areas.
Key locations of interest: St. Paul Island
St. George Island
Dutch Harbor
The following organizations can be contacted with requests for specific information on location and timing of recreation and tourism activities. Although the primary function of these organizations is not to provide such information, the individual members will be quite knowledgeable about environmental conditions and will often be willing to share information.
8.
9.
Alaska Office of Tourism Development
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce
Alaska Native Tourism Council
Marinas and Ports
Fish Processing
(See B. Resources Section)
Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Assoc.
East Point Seafood Co.
Dutch Harbor, (206) 284-7571
Peter Pan Seafoods, Inc.
King Cove, (206) 728-6000
465-2012
586-2323
274-5400
463-3038
The companies listed below are canneries and major processors with permits issued by the State of Alaska.
Alyeska Seafoods, Inc.
Unalaska, 581-1211
Sans Souci Seafoods
Dutch Harbor, 581-1533
Garden Cove Seafoods, Inc.
St. George Island, (206) 851-2700
Queen Fisheries Inc.
Trident Seafoods Corp.
Sand Point, 383-4848
Trident Seafoods Corp.
Akutan, 698-2211 Dutch Harbor, 581-1225
Trident Seafoods Corp.
St. Paul Island, 546-2377
Westward Seafoods, Inc.
Dutch Harbor, 581-1660
Unisea, Inc.
Dutch Harbor, 581-1258
Icicle Seafoods, Inc.
Dutch Harbor, (206) 282-0988
Seatech Corp.
Akutan, (206) 782-6007
Adak Seafoods
Snopac Products, Inc.
St. George Island, (206) 764-9230
Icicle Seafoods, Inc.
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Adak Island, 279-5900
Unisea, Inc.
St. Paul, 546-2530
St. Paul, 546-2405
10. Logging Facilities
There are no logging facilities in the Aleutians Subarea.
11. Water Intake/Use
The following list of public water intake/use permits was generated from a database maintained by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
Name of Facility
Atka
City of Akutan
Nelson Lagoon Water System
Location
Atka
Akutan
Nelson Lagoon
State ID No.
260058
260252
260804
Source
Surface
Surface
Surface
Saint George Water System
Saint Paul Water System
Sand Point Water System
USAF Eareckson AFS
City of King Cove
False Pass Treatment Plant
Perryville Water System
Peter Pan Housing
Peter Pan Seafood
USN Lake Andy Rec Area
USN Mitchell Creek
Saint George
Saint Paul
Sand Point
Shemya Island
King Cove
False Pass
Perryville
False Pass
Port Moller
Adak
Adak
260074
260286
260294
260511
260244
262199
260359
260317
261216
262050
260943
Ground
Ground
Ground
Ground
Surface
Surface
Surface
Surface
Surface
Surface
Surface
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SENSITIVE AREAS:
A. LAND MANAGEMENT DESIGNATIONS
1. Access to Lands
Land ownership must be determined and landowners contacted to evaluate incident-specific protection priorities, obtain land-use permitting requirements, and obtain permission to access lands. Native corporation lands, as well as local, State, and Federal government lands often require special use permits. If an incident affects private lands or Native Allotments, permission to enter lands should be sought from the landowner. The local Borough government is often the best source of private land ownership records.
2. State
Port Moller State Critical Habitat Area was established in 1972 to protect habitat crucial to perpetuation of fish and wildlife, especially waterfowl. The area includes uplands, tidelands and submerged lands.
Izembek State Game Refuge was established in 1960 to protect natural habitat and game populations, especially waterfowl. The area includes tide and submerged lands.
Port Heiden Critical Habitat Area was established in 1972 to protect natural habitat crucial to the perpetuation of fish and wildlife, especially waterfowl.
3. Federal
Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Covering 320,893 acres, the Refuge faces the Bering Sea on the tip of the Alaska Peninsula. Most of the refuge (300,000 acres) was designated as Wilderness in 1980 under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The landscape features volcanoes, glaciers, valleys, tundra and lagoons. Izembek Lagoon features one of the largest eelgrass beds in the world. The Lagoon provides a feeding area for migratory birds, particularly during fall migration, including the world's population of Pacific black brant (150,000 birds on average), Taverner's Canada geese (55,000), and emperor geese (6,000). Approximately 23,000 threatened Steller's eiders also molt, rest, and feed at Izembek each autumn. Most waterfowl arrive in August/September. A second wave of mostly sea ducks arrives in November to overwinter. Thousands of shorebirds, as well as brown bear, caribou, ptarmigan, and furbearers inhabit the Refuge. Waterfowl and other sport hunting are primary visitor activities.
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Only a portion of this vast Refuge occurs within the
Aleutians Subarea. The entire Refuge covers over 4.5 million acres and consists of over 2,400 islands, headlands, rocks, islets, spires, and reefs along the Alaskan coast, stretching from
Southeast Alaska to Cape Lisburne on the Chukchi Sea. Of this, the Island groups within the
Subarea include the Aleutian (Attu to Unimak), Pribilof, and Shumagin islands.
About 75 percent of Alaska’s marine birds (15 to 30 million individuals from 55 species) use the
Refuge. In addition, it is also home to thousands of sea lions, seals, walrus, and sea otters. Sea otters are listed as threatened in the Aleutian Islands Subarea. Wildlife viewing, photography and backpacking are primary uses of the Refuge.
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Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge, established in 1980, lies on the Pacific side of the Alaska Peninsula and covers about 3,500,000 acres. The Pavlof Unit, which abuts the
Izembek NWR, and the North Creek Unit, in the Port Moller area, of the Alaska Peninsula
Refuge are within the Aleutian Islands Subarea. The landscape includes active volcanoes along the Aleutian Range, lakes, rivers, tundra, and rugged coastline. Moose, caribou, wolves, brown bears, and wolverines reside on the Refuge. Sea lions, seals, sea otters (about 30,000), and whales live in the marine environment.
The cliffs, bays and poorly-drained lowlands provide abundant habitat for millions of birds, particularly seabirds, waterfowl, and shorebirds that use the refuge primarily as a staging area during migration to and from nesting grounds in the Arctic.
Seabirds also use the Refuge for breeding. All five species of Pacific salmon (king, coho, sockeye, pink and chum) spawn in the streams and lakes on the Refuge. Brown bears forage heavily in coastal marshes and along shorelines and are particularly susceptible in the spring. Big game hunting and sport fishing are popular uses.
B. LAND MANAGEMENT MAPS
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, under agreement with the Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation, produced digital base and land management maps for each of the subareas using their ARC-INFO based Geographic Information System. The following land management maps provide an index to the Public Land Record and should not be viewed as legal documents. These maps are available on the internet at: http://www.asgdc.state.ak.us/maps/cplans/subareas.html
For more current detailed information on land status, go to the Bureau of Land Management’s Spatial
Data Management System web site at: http://sdms.ak.blm.gov/isdms/imf.jsp?site=sdms and click on the Generalized Land Status layer.
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SENSITIVE AREAS:
ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data
September 1999
Change 1- April 2009
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ALEUTIANS SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data
September 1999
Change 1- April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
NORTHERN DISTRICT
Stream/Lake Catalog Number
North Creek
Cathedral River
Trader Mtn Creek
Next to Amco Airstrip
Black Hills Creek
Steelhead Creek
Near Coastal Lake
David’s River
313-10-10340
313-10-10300
313-10-10500
313-10-10800
313-10-11000
313-10-11200
313-30-10140-2006-0010
313-30-10140-2016
Caribou River 313-30-10140
Nelson R./Hoodoo Lake 313-30-10140-2013
S.W. Drill Hole Lake
Peterson Creek
313-30-?
Doe Valley
Buck Valley
Deer Valley
Portage Valley
314-20-10200
314-20-10300
314-20-10410
314-20-10510
Grass Valley
Lawrence Valley
Mine Harbor
Coal Creek
314-20-10600
314-20-10700
314-20-nc
314-20-10900
King
127
3,052
150
455
26
279
78
685
582
345
10
Sockeye
13,208
72,296
1,000
237
51
3,595
346
750
304
260
2,360
3,688
784
3
Coho
3,843
14,926
862
350
153
327
380
1,038
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
3,500
200
100
10
10
17,000
14,100
714
150
900
4,500
50
180
400
1,350
1,250
5,000
34,566
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Chum
387
54,535
0
33
6,275
17,640
4,236
3,510
34
263
32
317
421
0
108
1,011
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-76
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
NORTHERN DISTRICT
Stream/Lake Catalog Number
Mud Bay 314-30-10500
Head Creek, Right Head 314-30-10700
Right Head Creek
Left Head Creek
314-30-10900 (10950)
314-30-11200, 11100,
11000
Frank’s Lagoon
King Salmon River
315-10-10200
315-10-10300
Bear River, Branches
Sandy River and Lake
315-11-10200
315-12-10100
Lime Creek 316-10-10070
Unn; C Seniaven/3 Hills 316-10-10100
SW of 3 Hills
Ocean River
Ilnik River/Estuary
Unanagashak River
Willie Creek
Charles Creek
316-10-10600
316-20-10100
316-20-10310
316-20-10700
316-20-10710
317-20-10200
King
25
6
1008
68
379
427
228
53
Sockeye
500
625
500
22,595
35,413
260
263
138
9,643
36,546
7,712
349
Coho
50
200
50
100
450
25
20
400
2,635
19,327
1,666
291
1,000
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
300
1,000
150
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Chum
26,350
106,170
1,769
13
17
819
851
15
633
0
0
0
301
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-77
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT
Stream/Lake Catalog Number
Tugamak River
Divide Creek
Whaleback Mtn Creek
Christianson Lagoon
311-20-nc
311-32-10600
311-32-10700
311-32-10800
Mud Hole
Clear Lagoon
Emil’s River
311-32-11000
311-32-nc
North Creek
Big River
Swanson Lagoon
Mike’s Valley
Anderson’s Creek
Trader’s Cove
Warmsprings Bay
Hungry’s Creek
Norma Bay Lakes
Mike’s Duck Camp
311-42-10100
311-42-nc
311-52-10100
311-52-10200
311-60-10100
311-60-10600
311-60-10700
311-60-11200
311-60-11409
312-20-10100
Frosty Creek
Blue Bill Lake
Outer Marker Lake
312-20-10200
312-20-10600
312-20-11000-0010
312-20-11300
Springs S Frosty Creek 312-20-10540
2 nd W of Frosty Creek 312-20-10570
Joshua Green River
Moffet Springs Creek
Moffet Creek
312-40-10100
312-40-10200
312-40-10300
King Sockeye
25
1,033
34,800
2,256
1,250
404
115
6,118
4
102
304
301
240
120
3,476
1,585
194
351
8,697
549
3,107
807
12
Coho
4,250
680
700
2,050
200
400
100
4,090
200
1,320
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
30
440
543
233
141
702
200
800
100
2,600
4,925
4,586
18,466
700
14,844
500
550
500
30
825
850
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Chum
111
433
319,810
133
353
0
51,300
3,536
492
795
2,238
1,325
69,100
162
216
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-78
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT
Stream/Lake Catalog Number
Dorenoi Bay SW
Dorenoi Bay NE River
Suzy Creek
West Cove
281-10-10100
281-10-10200
281-10-10300
281-20-10100
Chichagof Lagoon Only 281-20-10300L
Chichagof Bay W Side 281-20-10200
Chichagof Bay Stream 281-20-10300
Chichagof Bay E Side 281-20-10400
Windbound Bay
Orzinski Bay
Little Norway
Clark Bay SW
Clark Bay NE
Grub Gulch
1 st Stm N Rock Well
2 nd Stm N Rock Well
Louie’s Corner
Big River
Stepovak River
Granville Portage
Granville Bay
Osterback’s Creek
281-20-10500
281-31-10300
281-32-10100 and 10150
281-32-10200
281-32-nc
281-32-10400
281-33-10100
281-33-10100-2002
281-33-10300
281-34-10100
281-34-10050
281-34-10050-2002
281-34-10100
281-34-10200
281-34-10300
281-34-10400
Stonehouse
Island Bay 3404
Island Bay 3405
Island Bay 3406
Island Bay 3407
Island Bay 3408
281-34-10500
281-34-10500-2002
281-34-10700
281-34-10800
King Sockeye
10
12,272
93
Coho
300
600
250
383
20
566
560
575
200
700
300
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
6,162
5,152
12,900
275
4,068
9,817
14,103
915
6,758
3,875
750
775
10,884
3,416
39,957
2,088
18,666
4,398
13,938
6,851
2,085
29,565
13,146
11,441
27,600
3,500
3,920
2,725
3,171
3,516
600
3,350
8,414
8,676
775
3,147
3,116
555
576
12,742
1,927
63,103
1,901
8,000
4,321
8,457
3,429
3,011
20,585
9,219
6,165
350
22,876
1,766
1,740
Chum
142,270
59,130
75,440
2,586
40
521
2
89
31
3,516
165
69
4
84,000
386
10,128
3,616
11
258
6,736
5,815
166
10,123
16,488
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-79
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT
Stream/Lake Catalog Number
Fox Bay 3501
Fox Bay 3502
Fox Bay 3504
Fox Bay 3505
281-35-nc
281-35-10200
281-35-10400
281-35-10500
Boulder Bay
Near Bluff Point
Smiley’s Creek
Beaver River
Kagayan Flats
Cape Aliaksin, West
Cape Aliaksin, Center
Cape Aliaksin, East
281-35-10600
281-35-nc
283-70-10400
283-70-10500
283-70-10600
283-80-10300
283-80-nc
283-80-10500
Lefthand Bay Kagayan 283-80-10800
Foster Creek
Monolith Pt. Creek
Foster’s Camp Creek
Johnson Creek
Coleman Creek
Ballast Is. Stream
Swedania Pt. Stream
Rough Beach
283-80-10900
283-80-11090
283-80-11200
283-80-11410
283-80-11500
283-80-11600
283-90-10100
283-90-10200
W Side San Diego Bay 283-90-10300
San Diego Lgn & Strm 283-90-10400
Apollo Creek Minor 282-10-10200
Apollo Creek Major
Acheredin Lake
282-10-10300
282-10-10400
Unnamed 1010
Apollo Gold Mine
Unga Cape Stream
282-10-11100
282-10-nc
282-10-nc
King Sockeye
5,890
100 100
Coho
500
500
2,000
150
20
300
1,352
200
200
1,500
1,800
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
6,265
9,543
150
19,275
20,524
1,020
9,680
2,925
4,813
250
25
8,902
1,880
6,837
1,038
1,236
1,551
1,300
7,985
17,890
6,593
2,041
6,868
13,822
13,963
1,982
1,225
6,860
3,434
825
23,965
25,100
296
7,635
3,913
12,580
5,191
57
650
3,955
928
1,663
942
176
6,166
15,877
6,625
2,417
7,158
11,981
11,882
1,425
800
Chum
27,550
139,150
29
33
50
1,621
46,400
4
46
7
706
152
296
153
5,803
60
18
70,716
116
200,780
90,437
336
247
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-80
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT
Stream/Lake Catalog Number
Johnny Nelson Lake
Squaw Harbor Minor
282-10-11300
282-10-11450
Squaw Harbor Major 282-10-11600
Ben Green Bight-Farm 282-10-11300
NE Unga Is. 282-10-nc
Humboldt Creek-Popof 282-10-11800
Red Cove-Popof
Salmon Ranch-Popof
282-10-nc
282-11-10010
Fox Hole-Popof
W Side Korovin Bay
Korovin Lake
Coal Harbor West
Zachary Bay 1202
Zachary Bay 1203
Zachary Bay 1204
Zachary Bay 1205
Zachary Bay 1206
Zachary Bay 1207
2 nd Stm S of Qtz Pt
1 st Stm S of Qtz Pt
Zachary Bay 1210
Unga Spit
Dry Lagoon
Bay Point
282-11-10300
282-11-nc
282-11-10600
282-12-nc
282-12-nc
282-12-nc
282-12-nc
282-12-nc
282-12-10600-2008
282-12-10600
282-12-10800
282-12-10900
282-12-11000
283-80-nc
283-13-10600
282-13-10500
Pinnacle Pt St
2 nd Str S of Pinn Pt
3 rd Str S of Pinn Pt
282-13-10400
282-13-nc
Sanborn Hbr, S E Hbr
282-13-nc
282-22-nc
Lagoon Lake, Sanborn 282-22-nc
Head of Sanborn Hbr 282-22-10400
King Sockeye
115
421
1
Coho
125
706
170
502
2,000
100
224
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
1,474
722
1,597
1,278
1,160
3,610
13,952
2,171
175
50
2,100
5,083
34,823
7,307
50
636
909
3,288
3,500
279
1,077
833
1,740
3,197
323
305
322
396
107
250
25,813
16,222
12,032
141
150
1755
10
4,012
1,700
3,753
29,353
5,496
25
394
100
608
2,228
200
181
645
597
749
1,400
Chum
33
35
45
25
29
4,469
11,897
1,000
6
20
84
277
1,325
7
27
50
60
2
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-81
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
SOUTHCENTRAL DISTRICT
Stream/Lake
SW Strm, Long J. Lgn
Long John Lgn, 2 S.
Spring Fed Lakes
Long John Lagoon
Cape Tolstoi
Coal Bay 6202
Coal Bay 6203
Coal Bay Unnamed
Coal Bay Main Stream
Lower Chinaman Lgn
Chinaman Lgn South
Chinaman Lgn Main
Chinaman Lgn North
Ruby’s Lagoon
Dry Lagoon
Middle Creek
Settlement Point
Bluff Point Creek
Canoe Bay River
Wolverine Gulch
Entrance Creek
Inner Canoe, S Side
Ness Creek
Mino Creek
E. of Mino Creek
McGinty’s Point
Catalog Number
283-51-10020
283-51-10030
283-51-10040
283-51-10050
283-62-nc
283-62-10200
283-62-10300
283-62-10400
283-62-10500
283-65-nc
283-65-10200
283-65-10300
283-65-10400
283-65-10500
283-65-10600
283-63-11500
283-63-11600
283-64-10500
283-64-10600
283-64-10700
283-64-10800
283-64-10900
283-64-11000
283-70-10100
283-70-10200
283-70-10300
King Sockeye
2,196
694
75
6
1,628
1,250
5
Coho
1,600
1,000
1,900
200
200
1,000
333
1,000
50
618
100
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
135,985
13,375
11,050
2,000
29,275
2,212
206,657
60,871
28,384
1,271
200
325
100
1,025
1,758
1,360
20,587
66,871
200
66,071
181,375
11,000
13,225
3,087
14,693
700
2,711
135,156
46,085
12,262
2,512
375
550
500
3,933
2,450
1,700
20,275
65,100
600
100
95,700
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Chum
2,285
12,820
40
1,100
6
15,850
5,837
17,500
1,860
45
1,928
110
500
227
2,000
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-82
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
SOUTHWESTERN DISTRICT
Stream/Lake Catalog Number
Near Egg Island
Hansen’s Creek
Middle Lagoon
Cannery Creek
283-20-10020
283-12-10100
283-12-10400
283-12-11200
Little John Lagoon Sspt 283-12-11300
Little John Lagoon Strm 283-12-11330
Sandy Cove Stream
McGinty’s Creek
283-20-10100
283-20-10300
SW Bight Creek
Thin Pt Lgn & Ent
Thin Pt West
Thin Pt Lake Str
283-20-10400
283-20-10700
283-20-?
283-20-10700-0010-?
Thin Pt Lake
Fox Island Anc. East
283-20-10700-0010
283-31-10100
Fox Island Anc. Center 283-31-10200
Fox Island Anc. West 283-31-10300
Paw Cape (Deer Isl.)
Southern Creek
283-31-10580
283-31-10600
Eastern Creek 283-31-11000
Old Man’s Lagoon Str. 283-32-10100
W Side King Cove Lgn 283-32-10400
Head King Cove Lgn
Ram’s Creek
283-33-10450
283-33-10500
Mortensen Lagoon
Russel Creek
283-34-10100
283-34-10200
Trout Creek
Kinzarof Lgn, North
Kinzarof Lgn, Middle
Kinzarof Lagoon
283-34-10300
283-34-10500
283-34-10600
283-34-10700
King Sockeye
10
3,216
274
80
353
258
951
8,896
205
2,900
3,331
626
5,568
3 1
Coho
1,000
100
100
1,616
1,520
458
2,000
4,269
200
3,500
173
20
1,000
1,000
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
7,514
107,650
34,462
13,385
7,625
83
2,883
3,237
264
50
642
3,987
13,555
2,937
21,242
2,914
20,587
4,962
147,562
29,900
1,000
200
20,825
32,662
635
350
5,394
28,733
580
206
1,731
10,225
14,711
6,200
45,500
6,000
27,555
Chum
666
5,025
778
1,930
166
292
35
2,380
18
1,527
265
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-83
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
SOUTHWESTERN DISTRICT
Stream/Lake
Barney’s Creek
Catalog Number
283-34-10900
Delta Creek Lenard Hbr 283-34-11000
Lenard Hbr. South 283-34-11100
Belkofski Village Creek 283-41-10100
Indian Head
Belkofski Bay, West
Belkofski Bay Beach
Belkofski Bay River
Captain’s Harbor
283-42-10300
283-42-10500
283-42-10700
283-42-10900
Kitchen Anchorage
Rocky River
Dolgoi Hbr, Normal
Dolgoi Hbr, South
283-42-10930
283-42-11000
283-42-11200
283-51-10300
Dolgoi Hbr, SW
Nikolaski
Little Bear Bay
Stub Creek
283-51-10600
283-51-10500
283-52-10010
283-52-10200
Stream Guard Creek
West Spring Holes
Volcano Sloughs-Ctr
Volcano River
Ikatan Pt Stream
Swede’s Lake
283-52-10400
283-52-10500-2009
283-52-10500
283-52-10700
284-60-10100
284-60-10200
284-60-10400 Ikatan River
Whirl Point
Sankin Bay Creek
Whalebone Bay
Deadman’s Cove
284-60-10500
284-60-10600
284-60-10700
284-60-10800
King Sockeye
301
1,081
823
6
10
Coho
300
150
1,250
568
62
200
1,075
333
400
400
3,000
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
1,400
621
10,787
3,637
6,587
608
230
1,680
4,88
292
350
4,642
7,775
1,962
1,028
30,160
5,318
4,875
900
4,466
2,757
4,885
18,320
316
200
5,488
6,525
3,300
3,475
600
16,437
2,712
6,655
15,162
387
9,125
3,962
5,487
771
96,125
9,787
7,944
2,057
28,672
7,488
12,677
2,822
12,655
5,975
7,625
20,785
883
983
5,955
11,100
3,728
Chum
575
21
1,385
10
63
17,650
766
118
3,950
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-84
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
UNIMAK DISTRICT
Stream/Lake Catalog Number King Sockeye Coho Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
Head Falmouth Hbr
Dodd’s Bay, East
282-22-10500
283-10-10080?
2 mi. S of Sanak Village 283-10-10065
W. Sanak Island Trinity 283-10-10070
Washwoman Creek
Sandy Bay
Salmon Bay
Lazaref River
283-10-10080
283-10-10090
283-10-10100
284-40-10100
Otter Cove, South
Otter Cove, North
Dora Harbor, Left
284-40-10400
284-40-10500
284-40-10900
400
20
866
1,600
566
4,300
30
300
7,000
2,500
1,000
2,000
174
1,050
100
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
400
250
400
1,850
1,300
1,000
1,700
9,137
18,311
480
Chum
1,162
90
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-85
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
UNALASKA DISTRICT
Stream/Lake Catalog Number
No Name Cove
Station Bay, W. Arm
Station Bay, Center
Station Bay, East
302-21-10300
302-21-nc
302-21-10400
302-21-10420
Chernofski Hbr. Creek 302-21-10650
Aspid Bay 302-22-10100
Kismaliuk Bay, West
Kismaliuk Bay
302-22-10150
302-22-10200
Kismaliuk Bay, East 302-22-10300
Kashega Lake System 302-22-10510
McIver Bight
Pumicestone Bay
302-22-10600
302-22-11100
Pumicestone Bay #1
Pumicestone Bay
302-22-nc
302-22-11800
Skan Bay, West Arm 302-23-10140
Skan Bay, Lake System 302-23-10150
Skan Bay, Main
Kof Point
Volcano Bay
Naginak Cove
Cannery Bay
Portage Bay #4
Portage Bay #3
Portage Bay #2
Portage Bay #1
Humpback Bay #1
Humpback Bay #2
302-23-10280
302-23-nc
302-23-10800
302-24-10210
302-24-10400
302-24-10600
302-24-10700
302-24-10800
302-24-nc
302-24-11000
302-24-11100
King Sockeye
971
7,091
1,278
898
Coho
450
100
150
1,700
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
1108
100
5,900
1,421
108
1,670
1,200
21,676
4,765
1,125
6,991
107
931
200
366
50
480
100
900
1,875
875
15,090
600
125
265
2,345
2,000
3,566
2,559
3,000
73,340
21,343
500
5,800
10,983
20,716
22,344
14,700
13,100
2,100
28,471
27,507
9,683
46,284
14,044
2,000
14,300
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Chum
22
44
1
71
25
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-86
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
UNALASKA DISTRICT
Stream/Lake Catalog Number
Glacier Valley
Makushin Village
Driftwood Bay Stream
McLees Lake
302-24-11200
302-24-11300
302-25-10300
302-25-10400
Unnamed, Kalekta Bay 302-30-11400
Makushin Valley 302-31-10900
Nateekin River
Captain’s Bay Stream
302-31-10800
302-31-10700
Pyramid Creek
Unalaska Village
302-31-10600
302-31-10500
Summer Bay 302-31-10030
Humpy Cove (Sum Bay) 302-31-10020
Morse Cove
Erskine Bay
Kisselin
Kuliliak Bay Lake
Uniktali
Surveyor Bay, West
1 st W of Mt Tum Tum
302-31-10010
302-50-10750
302-50-10800
302-80-?
302-50-10600 or 10610?
302-90-10200
302-90-10300
King Sockeye
221
774
40
123
100
2,241
2,283
1
1
Coho
350
1
1
553
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
10,265
336
200
12,875
28,886
5,335
147
3,391
450
5,437
100
27,250
1,178
1,877
16,500
100
21,289
74,340
6,192
170
8,815
4,978
7,636
676
1,650
10,000
2,500
27,950
16,600
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
AKUTAN DISTRICT
Stream/Lake
Akutan Harbor Creek
Catalog Number
302-16-10300
King Sockeye Coho Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
4,650
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Chum
14
Chum
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-87
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ATKA-AMLIA DISTRICT
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
Stream/Lake
Hungry Bay (West)
Hungry Bay
Hungry Bay
Hungry Bay (East)
Unnamed
Unnamed
Chalugas Bay (West)
Chalugas Bay (East)
Inner Vasilief Bay
Vasilief Bay
Vasilief Bay
First Camp Creek
Unnamed
Banner Bay
Egg Bay – East
2-1/2 Mi. E. Egg Pt
West Sarana Cove
East Sarana Cove
Outer Sarana Cove
Martin Harbor
Korovin Cr./Lake
Catalog Number
305-52-10400
305-52-10500
305-52-10600
305-52-10700
305-52-11100
305-52-11200
305-52-11300
305-52-11400
305-32-11900
305-32-12300
305-32-12400
305-32-12700
305-32-12900
305-42-11400
305-42-12000
305-42-12100
305-42-12200
305-42-12300
305-42-12150
305-42-12500
305-42-12600
King Sockeye
4
2
1
706
Coho
3
3
4
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
164
473
147
1,244
527
14
5
167
156
68
6
30
94
396
1,574
35
1,023
461
1,475
2,880
6,242
42
4,576
120
4,270
2,020
3,090
8,900
1,020
880
3,790
780
2,056
8,265
3,116
6,849
4,585
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Chum
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-88
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
ATKA-AMLIA DISTRICT
ESTIMATED AVERAGE PEAK INDEX COUNTS FOR SALMON STREAMS IN THE
ALASKA PENINSULA MANAGEMENT AREA*
Stream/Lake
NE Sarana Cove
Clear Cr./Milky River
Old Harbor
North Harbor
Old Harbor (South)
Old Harbor (North)
Cape Kudugnak
Spike’s Camp
Army Dock Creek
Range Creek
Chalugas Bay
Atka Village Creek
Dancing Creek
Catalog Number
305-42-12350
305-42-12800
305-42-12900
305-42-13000
305-52-11460
305-52-11620
305-52-11500
305-52-11480
305-52-11340
305-52-11600
King
1
Sockeye Coho
2
1
Pink (Odd) Pink (Even)
894
1,081
51
57
4,074
298
860
11,606
15,182
214
422
800
340
296
3,442
4,645
9,580
7,688
1,312
5,041
*Represents the peak index counts averaged over all years where data was collected and maintained by ADF&G.
Chum
1
4
2
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-89
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009
Attachment 1: Wildlife Protection Guidelines – Pribilof Islands
For the Pribilof Islands Wildlife Protection Guidelines, please visit the following website: http://www.dec.state.ak.us/spar/perp/plans/scp_al.htm
Aleutians SCP: Sensitive Areas, attachment one
ADFG Index Salmon Stream Escapement Data D-90
September 1999
Change 1, April 2009