Alaska

The Situk River is among the most productive resource in Alaska, with nine native fish species and 10 times the density of juvenile coho salmon than any other Southeast Alaskan watershed. The associated fisheries in the Situk River and its adjoining estuary drive a $2 million economy for the community of Yakutat (population 600), with 89 percent of the households harvesting salmon for subsistence

Climate change is impacting the land and resources that Alaska Native peoples rely on for food security, resource management, and cultural continuity. In Southeast Alaska, communities face increased weather variability due to climate change, which impacts subsistence food resources in streams and coastal ocean waters. Alaska Native communities are asking for co-production models of scientific rese

Climate adaptation planning provides a framework for Tribes to exercise sovereignty over wild resources important for the subsistence way of life and economic and cultural activities that are being impacted by climate change. The climate adaptation planning process includes identifying key resources that are currently being impacted by climate change, or that may be impacted in the future, as well

Water temperature is one of the key elements of freshwater ecosystems and is a critical element within natural resources monitoring programs. In Arctic and sub-Arctic rivers, water temperature especially relates to the physical and biological features of a river, as it affects how rivers interact with portions of the landscape and the life cycles and composition of stream life and ecosystems. This

Coastal flooding and erosion are increasingly threatening infrastructure and public safety in Alaska Native communities. While many scientists and projects are attentive to the problem, there are still a limited number of tools that assess vulnerability to coastal flood hazards. Few of the available tools use modeling approaches that can be customized to specific community information needs in a m

Snow avalanches have a wide variety of effects on mountain environments, with both beneficial and harmful outcomes for wildlife. Avalanches can benefit wildlife by creating open chutes in which to graze but can also be a direct source of mortality when animals are buried by avalanche debris. Mountain goats, which inhabit rugged and steep terrain, are at an increased risk of exposure to avalanches.

Water temperatures affect the distribution, growth potential, and productivity of stream fishes that are targeted in subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries across Alaska, making stream and lake temperature data critical for managing freshwater resources. Evaluating the variation in temperatures across Alaska will improve understanding of impacts of both climate change and development on fres

Stream discharge and temperature patterns are being altered by climate change, but documenting these changes on the community level is challenging without community partners trained in suitable data collection techniques. The USGS Juneau Field Office is collaborating with the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe (YTT), the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research (SEATOR) network, and the Southeast Alaska Watershe

Salmon are an important resource to the ecosystems, economy, and culture of the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. However, salmon are under increasing stress due to warming water temperatures and decreasing stream flow. Groundwater is a major contributor to many streams that can help maintain fish habitat during low flows and contributes cooler water that regulates stream temperatures in the warm summer mo

Berry-producing plants, a key resource in Alaska Native communities, provide primary subsistence and have been integral to maintaining cultural cohesion, sense of place, and physical ties to the surrounding landscape. Despite the importance of berry-producing plants, relatively little is known about their vulnerability to changes in climate and environmental conditions. The dynamics of insect popu

High latitude northern ecosystems are currently warming twice as fast as the global average. These temperature increases over the last several decades have led to dramatic declines in the terrestrial cryosphere in Arctic and sub-Arctic ecosystems, through the melting of coastal mountain glaciers, thawing of permafrost, and changes in snowpack.. Therefore, characterizing freshwater habitat for salm

Since time immemorial, the Indigenous peoples of Alaska have taken care of the land, water, fish, birds, and wildlife that sustains their livelihood, traditions, and communities. This close relationship with the land, water, and natural world puts these communities at the forefront of climate change impacts. Drawing upon a strong history of adaptation and innovation, Native Alaskans are key...