Shaktoolik Planning Committee
Decision Document
November 2013
The Shaktoolik Planning Committee must make decisions about measures to take to protect the
community and its residents from erosion, and from inundation (flooding) in the event of a severe
storm. A variety of studies, reports and consultations are summarized in the accompanying Adaptation
Measures document. Key points to consider are:
1. During its existence at both the current location and at the previous site Shaktoolik has not
experienced a storm of the intensity and destructive force that the Corps of Engineers says
is likely to occur sometime in the future.
2. Under the 50-year storm scenario (2% chance of occurrence each year) the combination of
storm surge and wave action would bring the sea into the community at a depth of about
three feet above floor levels of existing buildings, and under the 100-year storm scenario
(1% chance per year) water depth in those buildings would be nearly eight feet. A flood of
this magnitude could be fatal to many residents unless measures are taken to protect the
community before such a storm occurs.
3. Corps of Engineers calculations are based on current sea level. Climate scientists project a
rise in sea level of one to three feet in this century.
4. Residents report evidence of erosion at some locations but to date no permanent effects of
erosion have been documented at the current community site.
5. Both state and federal budgets are under intense scrutiny and funds for measures to protect
small communities are likely to become increasingly difficult to secure.
6. Once the Planning Committee decides on preferred measures it is likely to be years before
funding can be secured and work can be completed. Low-cost/no-cost measures, relying on
local resources and workers stand the best chance of being implemented quickly.
In the Adaptation Measures document consultants Glenn Gray & Associates and Alaska Sea Grant used
the following principles for developing their recommendations:





The most important concern is to protect lives during a catastrophic flood event.
Low-cost approaches that involve local resources and labor will be given priority.
Opportunities to partner with agencies and organizations will be encouraged.
There is reasonable likelihood that the measure can be funded.
Monitoring impacts from future storms, including flood levels and erosion, will provide
important information for future planning efforts.
The community has already made important decisions, to defend in place rather than re-locate, for
example, and to forego for now the idea of an evacuation road. With the above in mind, and with the
time schedule agreed upon at the Planning Committee meeting on October 16, the consultants request
that the Shaktoolik Planning Committee decide the following questions:
Shaktoolik Planning Committee
November 2013 Decision Checklist
1. Construct a storm surge evacuation mound.
____ Yes – Include this option in the Adaptation Plan. Get engineer to design, get dump truck, get
Permits, secure access to a location for materials and location of mound.
____
No – Explain why not chosen.
2. Construct vegetated berms in front of community.
_____ Yes – Include this option in the Adaptation Plan. Work with Alaska DOTPF to finalize plans for
demonstration berm project, get permits for gravel extraction (if needed) and permission from
residents of sea-facing properties and landowner, obtain engineering design for full-length
berm, recruit community into vegetation project
_____ No – Explain why not chosen.
3. Construct a multi-purpose building which could serve in part as an evacuation center.
____ Yes – Include this option in the Adaptation Plan. Continue to seek funding ($10-20 million).
____ No – Explain why not chosen.
4. Funding Proposals
____
Yes – Include this option in the Adaptation Plan. Develop proposals for review by funding
agencies for the projects selected by the Planning Committee.
____
No – Explain why not chosen.
5. Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
____
Yes – Include this option in the Adaptation Plan. Assign someone to begin working on the
update to the plan.
____
No – Explain why not chosen.
6.
Tank Farms
____
Yes – Include this option in the Adaptation Plan. Work with tank farm owners and potential
funders to finance relocation of the two major tank farms further from the coastline, possibly on
the storm surge evacuation mound.
____
No – Explain why not chosen.
7.
Monitoring
____
Yes – Include this option in the Adaptation Plan. Implement measures in the Adaptation
Measures document to begin local monitoring program of storm surge levels and erosion.
____
No – Explain why not chosen.
8.
Future Studies
____
Yes – Include this option in the Adaptation Plan. Pursue funding for new studies needed to
implement the adaptation plan.
____
No – Explain why not chosen.
9.
Guidelines
____
Yes – Include this option in the Adaptation Plan. Begin developing local guidelines or ordinances
to protect the natural berm from damage by misuse or structural incursions, and establish
building setbacks from the beach to prevent damage to buildings or loss of life.
____
No – Explain why not chosen.
10.
Other
Add other measures the Planning Committee would like to add to the Adaptation Plan (use
additional pages if necessary.