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I l L "1.: r I l- ' .,..-.... (". \ . . . .0 THE PROPOSAL AL<\SKA NARINE RES01JRCES NATIONAl WILDLIFE REFUGE 25, 1978 C] . ( r. :Alaska·'Harine Resources National:Wildli.fe Refuge, containing theapprox- _imately two million nine hundred and eighty ·thousand acres ofthe · existing refuge in this paragraph .ajid an addition appro:dmately and thitty :,thousand acres of other public'. ' lands which shall,_be lJlanaged to 'maintai_n fhe' diversity of patura'l_ values of the area and for the toilowing _purposes, .. among -others: To maintain and manage internati0i.1.al].y signific&ant ·marine birds,· marine •. · mammals and the other mari:ie resources .ori which:±bey rely .and other.-·· . indigenous fish oint:! wildlife. and habit?t of the coastal' marine environment; to maintain the wilcierness _charcrcter of .the 'Refuge; -·to ·initiate and maintain a program ol' na_tional. ::and •in-ternational mar:ine' resources research and .management; .. to .participate. in .-cooPer<rtive .management programs with other landowners of· Alaskan D:tar.ine.-habiiats;: •,aria; consistent with the foregoing, to. pt:ovide opporiunities :ior•inter.pretive ;and · environmental education ·use, fishand· wi;ld1i;fe ··oriented reci:-eat-ion a-rid for the continuation of the traditiotial·'sl,lbsistence by local ' . The Alaska Marine Resources National Refttge ·shall d:msist of -·· .the· public .lands .of the !ollowi:ng specifically ·-descz:ibed units. consisting -of islands, islets, rocks;, reefs, ;and desigmi.ted capes ·in:·-trie. . :coastal -waters ai)d seas .of::Alaska among other unnamea::area;s: .. ·· · (a) Chukchi Unit_:;..including Lisburne,: Thompson, ·and the existing Chamisso National Wildlife :Rafuge; : '(b) . ;Bering ·Sea· ;unit;._irtc1uding the :exil:!ting Berin,g 'Sea. and . Pribilof ····.(Ha'lius .:and Otter lslands and Sea·.l.ions Rocks)· National ·Wildlife Refug!?S, Hagemeister Island, ]:'airway Rock, si-edge. ' Island, Bluff Unit, Besboro Island, and'the:Purtik Islands and· all ;public.lapds on'isl·ands., ·islets, rooks, reefs, .spires a:nd designated .capes. . .. · (c) . the· · Islands and Bogoslof- Ni:iticmal Wil_d:life .Refuges; and al.l. other' public 'lands· in cthe :Aleutian :Islands; : (d) .·. Alask<f 'Penins-ula 'Urtit*-iricl#ding :the ·existing :Simeonof and .Sei:nidi Natic.n.9,1 .Wildlife ;Ref.uges, .anci ;all ·publi·c lands on islc;md.s, islets, rocks, ·spires,·' reefs and desigilated capes south of Katmai Par,k .to False Pass; and, ' I I I
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Page 1: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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THE PROPOSAL

AL<\SKA NARINE RES01JRCES NATIONAl WILDLIFE REFUGE

~antiary 25, 1978

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:Alaska·'Harine Resources National:Wildli.fe Refuge, containing theapprox­_imately two million nine hundred and eighty ·thousand acres ofthe · existing refuge specif~ed in this paragraph .ajid an addition theteto~of appro:dmately fbur~-):mndred and thitty :,thousand acres of other public'. ' lands which shall,_be lJlanaged to 'maintai_n fhe' diversity of patura'l_ values of the area and for the toilowing _purposes, .. among -others: To protect,~~­maintain and manage internati0i.1.al].y signific&ant ·marine birds,· marine •. · mammals and the other mari:ie resources .ori which:±bey rely .and other.-·· . indigenous fish oint:! wildlife. and habit?t .resour~es of the coastal' marine environment; to maintain the wilcierness _charcrcter of .the 'Refuge; -·to ·initiate and maintain a program ol' na_tional. ::and •in-ternational mar:ine' resources research and .management; .. to .participate. in .-cooPer<rtive .management programs with other landowners of· Alaskan D:tar.ine.-habiiats;: •,aria; consistent with the foregoing, to. pt:ovide opporiunities :ior•inter.pretive ;and · environmental education ·use, fishand· wi;ld1i;fe ··oriented reci:-eat-ion a-rid for the continuation of the traditiotial·'sl,lbsistence 1ifestyl~s by local reside~ts •

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The Alaska Marine Resources National ~7i1d1ife Refttge ·shall d:msist of -·· .the· public .lands .of the !ollowi:ng specifically ·-descz:ibed units. consisting -of islands, islets, rocks;, reefs, sp~:res ;and desigmi.ted capes ·in:·-trie. . :coastal -waters ai)d .adjace~t seas .of::Alaska among other unnamea::area;s: .. ·· ·

(a) Chukchi Se~' Unit_:;..including ;Cap·~ Lisburne,: ·cap~ Thompson, ·and the existing Chamisso National Wildlife :Rafuge; :

'(b) . ;Bering ·Sea· ;unit;._irtc1uding the :exil:!ting Berin,g 'Sea. and . Pribilof ····.(Ha'lius .:and Otter lslands and Sea·.l.ions Rocks)· National ·Wildlife Refug!?S, Hagemeister Island, ]:'airway Rock, si-edge. ' Island, Bluff Unit, Besboro Island, ~gg.I~land and'the:Purtik Islands and· all ;public.lapds on'isl·ands., ·islets, rooks, reefs, .spires a:nd designated .capes. . .. ·

(c) . Al~utia~ lsl~rids~ Un~t~i.-nc:j.ud±ng· the· ·ex~stf;tg Ale~tiarr · Islands and Bogoslof- Ni:iticmal Wil_d:life .Refuges; and al.l. other' public 'lands· in cthe :Aleutian :Islands; :

(d) .·. Alask<f 'Penins-ula 'Urtit*-iricl#ding :the ·existing :Simeonof and .Sei:nidi Natic.n.9,1 .Wildlife ;Ref.uges, .anci ;all ·publi·c lands on islc;md.s, islets, rocks, ·spires,·' reefs and desigilated capes south of Katmai 'l~ad:.onaL Par,k .to False Pass; and, '

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January-.25, 1978 ALASKA MARINE RESOURCES N.ATIONAL WILl)LIFE REFUGE

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(e) Gulf of Alaska Unit--includ~ng the ~is~ing Forester Island, Hazy Islands, Saint Lazaria, and Tuxedni National Wildlife Refuges, the :Barren Islands, La tax Rocks, Harbor'_.· Chiswell, Pye, Nuka and Granite Islands, Harris ·and Aialik. . _ Capes, and other islands., islets, rocks,. :reefs, ·spires and

. designated capes. of :Blying Sound, Hiddleton Island,. and .all·-· islands, ·islets, rocks, reefs or 'spires sun-ound,ing Kodiak arid._ Afognak Islands.and all other suchoffshorepubl:i.c lands~

· including any such public lands r:eserved for purposes .. of -· classification under section 17(d) (1) of the .Alaska Native Claims Settlem~nt Act, excluding lands within the National . Forest System.

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The entire proposal,· less lands specifically identified as unsuitable_ .in the Aleutian Islands unit and Hagemeister Island, are recommended for·· inclusion i-p the National Wilderness System at .this·-:t:ime. !>revision will .be made for designation of admi:nistr_ative si·tes.

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Hagemeister Island will be studied ·within 3 to 7. year,s 'to ·determine its -" . eligibility for inclusion in the National ,:Wilderness System.

FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES:

'The .proposed Alaska· Harine Resources ·Refuge •would -encompass the islands,· . islets, rocks, spires., .. reefs and'headla.nd's of Alas4n_:waters f.rom:Cape···.

Lisburne in the Chukchi :Sea to· Forester IsJ.:and :in ihe .Southeast .iwhich·· .. . serve as vital habitat in <th~ life cycles .of nu,nlerous ·mari~~ birds.and' _ .. _ .

. • :ma:rrmials. The various par.cels .in cthe :ref"'ge vary ·considerably :in ,geo'logy, topography' vegetation and clinlate. .. ·. . ..

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One fut1ction of .the .:proposed refuge -.would be ;to -d~tf!n~iipe :iii ::gre.at-~r -· ·• .detail ih.e magnitude; nature and loca~ion ~of Alaska.·'.s:marine-.resources. · The ·lllarine b'ird resources.:ProbabJ,y .amount 'to several ·hundred :million .birds of at least ::55 :species. in the. 'Bering .·.sea.· .:cmd North P<;~.cifi'c·:of£ · Alaska·. The nesting colonies of .sea birds are most .numerous in the Gulf· of Alaska and along the Alaskc:i J>eninsule1., •fewer are found .in the Chukchi· .. and Bering Seas.. ·ro date 135 locatit;,n,~ have ·been ·described~ exclusive -of. the Aleutian Islands.·· Additional-areas "are~being .'fol.l~d as:•ons±te investigations continue .•. · At J:east 26 of these locations :contain:;more than 100,000 birds,· and several' contain 9ver a mill~on~ ··· ·

Nesting seabirds c-.re an attra<:t.ion to several •spe~~es -of r,ap1:oral bi:r,ds . -:also nesting in .these colonies,· .including,eag1es, ·hawks, the .;gyrfal~on .and both the endangered and npnendangered xaces -of the peregrine falcon.

In caddition 'tO seabird nesting; .all th~ ~~its are ~~portant ~to .··one .()~'' . · more species .of matiima'ls;..;-including sea .lions, harbor and. :hair :seals, ·· ·walrus, sea otters and polar bears. ' Sixteen speCi?S .of whales also use< '

>waters ·lying .imiziediately ·off the shore of some ~areas. ··

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. , ALASKA MARINE Jti:SOCES NATIONAL wiLDLIFE REFUGE .January 25, 1978

Land mammals associated with a few of the units include arctic and red foxes.,· otters, mink, brown-grizzly bears, .wolves, wolverines and car.ibou.

The value of marine resources tend·s ·to be underestimated. It is no . cofu~idence .that huge concentrations of seabirds are found w.ith majo.r fisheries· on Alaska's 550,000-square-mile continental shelf.

· distribution of rich fisheries and conc.enttations of marine birds and mammals largely coincide, it is obvious that seabirds.must .play a vital . . role in. pelagic food webs p.nd <accompanying transferral of .nutrients and · energy. Tremendous magnitudes o! nutrients .and energy are ·recyc:,led by seabirds between trophic levels .and over different regions .• · Sanger • . · · · (Prelimi11ary standing stock and .biomass estimates of seabirds in, the · · ..

. Subarctic Pacific Region. Biological oceanography of the North Pacific, .1972) estimates that birds consume 0. 6 to 1. 2 million tons of. food and return from 120,000 to 240,000 tons of. feces. to the Subarctic Pacific Region every·yea:r. Marine bird and mapnna.lnumbers are awesome, and the demise of these. birds .by oil,. toxic wastes, introduced .. predators, or other factors would undoubtedly greatly ~pset local fertility of the·· seas and subsequently the fishery which :is vit·al 'to':humans. ·. '·

.COHPARISON WITH OTHER PROPOSALS: . .

B.R. 39 (Ptint //2): Proposes a refuge of 4.60, 000 .acres ·in. 5 areas plus existing refugel:l• , .. : ...

H~R. 2082 (Leggett}: 'Proposes 8 re.fuges of 6j,:wo ;acres~· . . '

S~ .1787 (Stevens}: Proposes :a :refuge .of 150,000 acres • .. - ·. ·'' ·, ..

LuPC: .. Proposes 5 refuges of 180,-000 ·acres~ ~- ,;: , ; .·

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.... OEfUNG:sEJ\·'utdt .·

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1\lEOTIAtt. ISLANDS UNIT ··.·

Ptbi?Oseci nefu9eJin:lt •··•· · . :· . · ~ : Exl~~1~g: it~f~~~; Unit: ·

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CHUKCHI SEA UNIT

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. ·····•·. ALASKA PE~INSli"LA' . . ·. UNIT."; ... GULF OF ALASKA. .. .

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Janv~ry 25, 1978 .. . u . . . . . .

ALASkA PENINSULA SPECIAL STIJDY AREA

TilE-PROPOSAL: . . . '

To designate all federal lands .on the Alaska 'Peninsula between the -western and southern boundaries of the propqsed Becharof ,National -Wildlife Refuge arid False Pass, excluding the Izembek National :Wildlife Range and ·. · the Jiniakchak National !jonument proposal for a joint study by ··the .Secr:etary of Interior, ·the State· of. Alaska ·.a:nd Native Corporations on the Peninsu;La to determine the best future pattern of land use and owership.

By June, .·1983 (earlier -if possible) a £ina:l- report will be .made to. the · Congress requesting establishment. of any new or .additions to existing National taldlif~:: Refuges to be established within the study area .. Interim reports will be .made to Congress on a biannual ·basis outlining ..• the status and current finding,s_of ·the study. ·

OBJECTIV~S: ··

· To simplify and consolidate land ownership and 'larid :us.e patterns on \the · . Alaska Peninsula for .effect-ive long te:rm r.esource conservation and

utilization.

'l'o assure the long range maintenance of ·the high ·quality fish .and •wildlife · habitat existing within the stud)' area t:¢day.

FISH'' AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES '·: __ · _' ·· .... - .'

.The fish .and ·wildlife: resources of the Peninsula are recognized by most .••· .. · .. · authorities and ge.ner.al popula.tion'derisities anci dis~r'ibutiqns .ar~ .. known. Here specific data a,re desirable and wouid he ··coll¢cted c1uring the ·study per:iod. An ·±ntet.dis.d.plinary. study··. (social/ cultural,· botanical, zoologic~l and geological) ; unde:r contract with the :Fish and .Mfldlife · Se;rvice was completed during 1977. with. the. final report ;expected d.'n early '1978. ·· .·· . · . . ·.·· .. · .. ·._.·. . . .. . ···.·.··.· .. · .· ..

Brown-grizzly beats, . caribou,. ~~ose, .. ~al~on, .cgrayling, tro\lt., .marine · birds, waterfowl, and migratory shorebirds are the ~jot ispec:ies, of: na t·ional significance on the. Pen:i;n.sula~. .·Bald· -eagles,. pereg:rip.e_ falcons, :wolves, wolverines, marine .ma~ls (fucluding sea qtters) .. ·also -;are·-.: ...•. ··. prominantly associated· with. the Peninsula .. and its ·adjacent bays, 'lagoons

. ~~nd. cQ·ast:al :~w;l·ter.~-0 · ·· -· :_ ~ -~- .: :_: . . ·-. ·· · -.·: . . -~:.;:·; -~ .. ,· :_ ., ·: :·:·_·,. ·

The :entire Peninsula is ranked as :having. a highdensi~y 'brown b~~r .. ·· · population •. Over l50 .bears areJcilled each year by •sport hunting with .. · ...

. non-residents ·taking over 3/4 of the harvest. An.additionall0-:30 bears are. 'taken. each year adjacent to villages and . communities as ·they become a nuisance or threat to humans. ·

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ALASKA PENINSULA SP()AL STUDY~ 0 January 25, 1978

Caribou populations on the Peninsula ar.e estima.ted at about 15,500 and are increasing from a low ·population of about 2,500 animals.in the l9401 .s. These caribou .ate divided into three basically separate herds with the largest (10,000 animals) herd located in the area between King Salmon an,d Port Moller. ·A suitable calving area is an integral part qf caribou habitat. Thus, one of the objectives of the land consolidation studies would be to associate, in some way, calving areas :with the . summering .a..'Ld wintering ranges of ·the Peninsula caribou.

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The Peninsula moose populations have declined .in the past two. decades due, apparently, ·to lack of adequate wintering habitat. Very heavy · harvests in the ear1y,l970's also have reduced.the troppy sized bulls to a marked degree. Recent regulations by the State are.aimed at improving this situation. · . .

COMP.ARISON · WITH

H.R. 39 (Print //2): Proposes .part of the .area as a ;refuge of :1~5J :million acres.

R.R. 1652 (Ding ell).: Proposes part of the area as .a refuge.···

.. H.R. 2082 (Leggett): Proposes part of the. ar~a as a refuge •.

LUPC: Proposes part o: ·the ar.ea.as the subject of a special study to determine optimum uses, land classifications and .land·

alloc.ati;on patterns.

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.·.ALAsf<A. PENINSULA~ Sr.unYAREA_.· ·

FWS-·7 3-00-dZOl : ··•··

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January :25~ · 1978.

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ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

TilE PROPOSAL

The addition tq the Arctic National Wildlife Range· of an area ~ontaining approximately eight million eight hundred and fifty thousand acres of

·public lands. Furthermore, the existing Arctic National .Wildlife Rarige ' isherepy designated as a unit of the expanded 'Refuge, which ·shall be

managed to maintCl;in the :diversity of natural values of the .area ;and fo:r: ·the following purposes, .among others: To ~maintc;iin the e:nviroruriental . .

. 'integrity and wilderness character ol' th~ Re'fuge for. use by internationally • . significant populations of' .caribou,'. migratory birds 'and :mar<lne mammals; ..

to protec.t~. maintain an:d ·manage '!nigra tory· arid resident fish and .. wi'ldlife populations. and the supporting habitats; .to maintain rep.reseritative Arctic life zones; t,o maintain watershed protection for refuge water· resources; to part;l,cipate in .. cooperative management programs with other. landOWl'lers wit;hin the area of environmental. concern in Alaska and· adj oin,ing .:.·· Canadian provinces; and consistent :wi1:.h the foregoing, to provide opportunities for interpretive, e!rV:irortlllerital education .. and research .us~s, for ·fish · and .:wildlife oriented recreation and for continuation .of the ·traditional subsistence lifestyles by 1oc.al res~dents.

·Secretary Andrus r~:cotmnends that the propose4 gaslirie corridor be·revoked and the lan'ds included in the Arctic National Wilcilife Refuge ·and that the bounca::iesi wherever prac:tica.ble,· be drawn.ohaphysiographicbasis.

·Recognizing the sincerity and ·factual nature ··of .Justice ·Berger's recotil':" .·. mendations. regarding the Canadian portion. of .:the Porcupine c-a.!'ibou •range (see Justice Berger's final report .. on .the Canadia.l:l invest;igatilons r.elated to the propo~fed ~rctic gas .·.pipeline routing}, Secretary Andrus and .the. . Department endorse the concept of establishing .an internationai · caribou .·

·,range ·through treaty with the Canadian Government.·.· · ,·· .

FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES . ·•· •. · .... · . · • .. . ' . . .·· ..•.. ·- . - ·. ~ ..

'Ignoring :international boundaries 'the.l20;000 or more caribou .of the· .. ·· .. ··.Porcupine herd range throughout· the proposed refuge and the n.orth half.

· of the Yukon Terri:tory. The l~st o~ · t'he once •several :gr.eat· caribou herds, the Porcupine herd represents abo.ut .20 percent of the total North American population of barren-:gro~nd c;aribou, and 56 percent of. the U.S. ,(!a:ribou pqpu1ation •.

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. Calving gro.unds, much of the stmmie'r range ind .•portl,ons of ·the critical .migration .• ,corridors >for this herd are encompassed by the . existing ;Arctic:

. Range.. Remaining U.S. sections. of vital mi.g'J:'atl.on routes and those . · · -·.·. ·

. Witl.tering areas on the Alaskan side .of the ;boundary would be included in .. tl:le proposed extensions .. ·.of· part,icular note is. tl:le wester'n addition~ which in solrie years provides winter habitat for Up to 30,000 caribou .• · ...

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. ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDQE REFUGE / • ..

January 25~ 1978

Other large rpai:Jmal popul~tions and their habitats in the adc;litions would _.• · · supplement:-those in the existing Range: 400 dall .sheep .would be added ·t.o the 3;000 in· the Range; major increases .of moose over the current 600

-animal level; and small.er increases in •black bear and wolf populations . are antici,pated. ·. •· . . . ·:. ·. . . .· .. · .. . .

Grizzly bear-populations .are estimcited at .. 175-225 ·-throughout .. the proposal .• Muskoxen, reintrodu•ced in 1926, now number over 80. Polar bear • den on _ ·

· the coastal lowlands of. the refuge in. E;pring and prOwl :the coast during· winter mon1:,hs. -- _Wolves, wolverine, red and a:rctic foxes .are common . throughout the refuge.

Beaver, muskrat, ~arten~ ·lynx and otter are :a mammalian dimension that would b~ tC:mtributed by the ·prqposed additions.

Whales such as the beluga, bowhead arid narwhalfre~uent off-shore waters .. · Ringed and jbearded seals occasionally use .coastal aagoons.

Coming from several continents, migratory birds conv.erge. on select ... habitats of the proposed. refuge .. in spring. Waterbirds- focus oti the rich coastal lagoons-and tundra ·wetlan.ds while riyerine gravelbars and deltas host a throng of s;horebirds. The western an.CI. southern additions to the refuge support .upland ·habitats .for such groups •as: ptarmigan, · · raptors, paf)seri:hes, and plovers •. · qliffs .and bluffs ·of .the ex~sting :t~dldli:fe range an~i the -proposed additions pro~ide :nest :sites for the ·'endangered Arctic pP-r:-egrine :falcon. · · · · ·

.. · . · ... ·. • ... , . ·,.

-Whistlip.g swans from wintering :areas on Chesape;ke J3ay _nest :on ,the·-. :tundra lowlands of the 'refuge~. Pintails and gr¢en-.Winged :teal,_ .the :most common dabblers in the proposed -r.efuge, migrate prl,ma.rily to .s;'llch ·· ··

· M;•inteiing places as Sac~a!llento Nat:ional Wildlife Refuge .and 'I1Ilperia:l ·National Wildlife Refuge .in California.

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· Coming from wintering areas in the Aleutian Islands National :Wildlife · .Refuge and coastal Siberia, 500, 000 .old squaw ducks .!n.ig:r:at.e .along coastal lagoons of the range, heading for Canadian breeding .grounds. · Several · · thou.sand oldsquaws remain in th~ refuge .to nes,t.· 'Most spectacular of . · .all are -the coastal_migrations of.'king eiders. 'Leaving<the Aleutian

. Islands National Wild:L:ife Refuge and the .:Bed.ng Sea it1 spritlg, one .. million . .king eiders bound .for nesting areas' in the Canadian Arcti_c .;pass ·.

in waves alqng the coast of the l4ldlif e refug~-~ . Sp;ing _ ·ti,me also · witriess~s th_e arrival of ]llany international flight.s :of 'birds to the ,proposed refuge •. !'be yellow"·wagtail, dot.terel, b1ue,throat ;and wheatear .· ·. come from Asiao Arcti~ terns .return. fj,:'om·Antarct:,ica, golden.plovers · . :from Argentina and W,a:ndering tattl.ers fr~ Ecuador. ~e buff~breasted ·. sandpip.er travels from Inclia- 'a.~d, Africa to nest .in the Arctic National ~Y:Udlife Refuge. ··

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· OJanuary 25, 1978 -_ -

Reversing- tht: direction. in fall, black brant which nest and move aJ.ong __ -· ~ estuaries of the refuge, fly .the coastlin-e of Ala.ska t.o Izembek National Wildlife Range before departing for v."'i.ntf?;ring areas in coastal California ·-and Nexico' s .. Baj a. Another fall spectacle takes place when :nearly _ ·· 400, 000 snow geese from Canadian and Russian breeding areas descen:d -upon -the tundra of the wildlife .refuge to rest and gather energy ftom fro~t-ripened berries to carry- them _through to :wintering- .areas such as San · Lu~s, Sacramento, andlmpetialNaxional Wildlife Refuges ;in_ California.

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Sixteen species of -fish have adapt~d to ·harsh Arctic c~-n-diticms~ .- lri the_ southern drainages of the propOsed r.efuge, northern p:ike, severa;J. whitefish __

··species, and Arctic grayling :retr-eat from productive feeding areas in · _ ·shallow lakes and. sloughs in autumn to avoici being· trapped by thickening

·.ice. rie~p waters of major-rivlers Cire'vital overwintering habitat for these species. On the north side_of the Brooks Range, Arctic grayling invade productive 90astal lagOons dur~ng spring runoff to :take advantage of abunci.ant foods~ Arctic Char which overwinter in ·rivers and ·streams. ,return to the .sea each spring to begin a .s_t.llililler of ·feeding.··

All these species .and their associated habitats represent a -continum of three major lire zones,. the Arctic Slope, the Brooks. Range and· coni-· ferous forests south of the range. 'Within them have beeni.dentified

. ·five associations of. unique. or unusual [:)iologica:l anc:l. geological. features possessing potential.for Natural Landmark or EcologicalReserve status.·

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COI-.I?ARISON WITR. OTHER PROPOSALS .

·. · · H.R. 39 (Print /12).: .;Proposes addition~ .of :s.4 ~million ;acr-es ~to ·the existing Arctic Nati.onal-Wildlife:Range.

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H~R. 2082 (Leggett): Proposes a 15.7 million acre refuge;.~- including th~ ;existing 8. 9 million acre Arctic ,National Wildlife . Range, plus .mar-ine enyironrnent to a ;poin:t 5 mi:les · ... beyond mean high tide ~~d including lands ·-Withdrawn as a transpor.tation <COr::tidbr~

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S. 1787 (Stevens): Pr6poses 8.270 .million acres, as additions .to·the · . eXisting Arctic National Wilqlife Range, to. be ·

.designated _as .the Chanda:l.:ar Federal Cooperative·. · .Lands to~ be managed by fWS. ·

LUPC.: Proposes additions o£ ) .. 89 :million acres to .the ;e~st:i,ng A-r.ctic _. Nation/3,1_-Wildlife Ra11ge~

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Area of- Environmental Concern.· Arctic National Wildlife Range Proposed Add :I. Hon~ . . 0$··· .·

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NAtioNAL WlLbLIFE REFUG~. . FWS"'-73~00-QJOL

Page 12: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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·January 25;~ ,1978

0 r BECHAROF NATIONAL v.TILDLIFE REFUGE

The .B.echarof Lake area· of the .Alaska··Peninstila is· perhaps Alaska's best· 'Temaining brown bear ··habitat. The giant peninsula brown bear .are free'- ·.

' ranging, utilizing the resources of the .·entire area, :entering hibern<;Ltion itt molJ.ntain .dens sometime. in November some distance$ from surmner .feedi'rlg

.,a,reas in salmon spawn;lng s,treams. .Most of :th¢se :su:mmer areas .are on · ·· State;...selected lands. During A.pril ·they feed · .. on invertebrates· or grasses . and sedges of intertidal .and coastal Iilar$hes. In the Upper Peninsula area over 232 dens have been located including some. on islands in Becharof ~Lakeo

. . .. .

The .east side of Ugashik Lake and.Mother •Goose 'Lake in the ;area .of enyironmental concern·. are twq of· the lll.aj or. areas used by ·brown bear in

· ·spring and fall. ·An estimated 3-4,000 brown 'bear range ol:l·the Peninsula sout·h· of Katmai National· Monument to .. the Port Moller area •.

:There are three. separate h~rd components of the 15,000 .... member .Peninsula caribou population• .One ranges in .. the Eecharof Region of ·the Penins.ula, with .6, 000 to 8, 000 wintering on Stat.e;...selected lands ·south of King , Salmon... One component calves and uses a11 ·area along the /coast n'Qrthwest pf An.iakchak in the area of, environmenta;:J.. concern. Other car.i'J:>Ou ·calve near 'the end of the Alaska Peninsula i;>:nd west of Port Re~den; gradually· migrad.rtg. up .. the Peninsula into .the Aniakchak .ca.rea and. beyond.

World record clas~ moose have been ·ta;ken . in .this area.·. Most ~f the · · estimated 9, 000 moose on :the ·Penitl,stJ,la move down from uplands of. the . Peninsula Ranget following creek valleys, to;winter in suit.able lowlcuid' habitats in State-selected areas from Katmai Monument··.to north ·Of the .proposed :AD.iakchak Caldera .National ·Mon\lment. . . .. . .

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Page 13: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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January 25, 1978 ~ECHAROF NATIONAL u..DLIF£. REFUGE

0 At least 6 species of marine mammals, .29 species of land matmnals and over 137 species of birds hca.ve been observed ~n the Uppe~ Peninsula. "Bald eagles are found here and are dependent on ·rocky pinnacles or the few tall trees :present for nesting and on inter-tidal zones £or f_eeding. Rocky seacliffs host tens of thousands of ·seabirds _o£ several .species.·

Commercial fishing is the primary economic_ activity of the region •. and smaller streams :draining to the west, provide chinook, pink, :sockeye, coho and chum salmon to the Bristol Bay F.ishery. According to the. Joint Federal-State Land Use Planning Commission, the !)lOSt abundant ~salmon in the area ·are pirik and chum salmon that arrive in July. Becharof Lake is

· etn important salmon spawning area. Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout also abound.--

COMPARISON WITH OTHER. PROPOSALS

H.R. 39 (Print tl2}: Proposes a refuge of 1. 03 million acres.

R.R. 2082 (Leggett): Proposes part of the area as :part of the :Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Range including 3 miles offshore along the Gulf -of Alaska and

-5 miles offshore along Bristol Bay.

H.R •. 1787 (St-evens): Prol?oses part of the area as one .'tJilit of the Katmai Federal Cooperative Lc;nds to >be mamiged

.·by NPS. ·

LUPC: ?repOses a portion as .a refuge.

Page 14: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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BECHAROF . . . i . 0 NATIONAL WlU>llfE REFUGE

FVJS.:.;.73"""oo-o40l

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Proposai Bcmndary .Area of ·Envir~mmental ·

:oncera. F.v~ ~ t: i. :no Mo"~''"'"'"· t

Boundary

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Page 15: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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January 0 . Th"NOKO. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

· ..

THE PROPOSAL · · · · . · . ·. . . . . . . · .

. Innoko National Wildlife Refuge; containing approximately two million eight hundred and forty thotisand. acres of public land whic'll ~shall be managed to maint<iin the P,iversity of natur,'al values of the .area and for the following purposes, among others: ·._ To protect, maintain .and manage significant waterfo\vl; other migratoJ::y bird, furbearer, .'large :mammal and fish .resources and the supporting habitats; to participate in cooperative .management programs with other lando:Wners within the area of environmental concern; and, consistent with the foregoing, to provide opportunities for fish and wildlife oriented recreation, <research use and continuation of the traditional subsistence lifestyle by local residents~

SecretaryAnd:tusproposes that a portion of the Yukon River floodplain ·be .included as part of the Innoko Refuge. Iri 1971, '1973 and again .in 1977 the .Fish and Wildlife Service reco'l!ll!iEmded .inclusion ·of the Kaiyuh

. Flats on the basis of watershea protection and kno'\I."'l fish. and wildlife resources. Thus, it is recommended tha.t remaining wetlands in t.he Kaiyuh become ·a unit Of the ..Innok6 Proposal. . At .least four Native villages aro.und this small area a+e depen4ent upon its renewable resources.

. .. . . ' . .,· .

Boundaries of the cur~ent propos.s_l are on a physiographic basis, . .allowing: a reduction of foothill acr'eage in .the Innoko basin and more -emphasis on prime habitats within that basin. Unselected .. Native lands ·are .now included; and lands not conveyed are recommended for future inclusion. .It is believed that coqperative management ",w:i;th the Nat:ive ·corporations in these areas of .mixed ownership will serve :to better meet .the objectives of both parties .and best serve the national interests in the fish and wilcilife resources of the area.

FISH-AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES

The Innokp occupies .a unique transitional area between :tundra of western Alaska and the boreal forest of lnterior valleys. .. ~t1ch ·of the area is muskeg with islands of blcick spruce surrounded bY vegetC~,tion mo1;e common .to tundra than forested regions. The Innokoandiditarod Rivers cut thtoug!:l .major 'portions of the wet:larid hab:Lt;.ats.

· ... The northern Kaiyur. un:it would encompass most of the basin :anci extens:i;ve · ·floodplains of t[le Kaiyuh R;i.vE:r ·with mo_re than 80 .percent of. the area .in.·. t.ra.ter or .wetlands. Vegetation: is pri~rily low brush muskeg.

Page 16: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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INNOKO NATibNAL '\~Il.DLIFE ·.REFUGE • Janu,a:J:"y 25, · 1978.

0 0. The. Inrioko Refuge is .a ·major nesting area for waterfowl,. producing a· fall flight of mo.re than 380,000 ducks arid 65,000 ge,ese. ·Pintail (numbering over 110, 000), wigeon,: a!ld scaup are the .most important duckS in .the order named •... White-,.fronted and Canada geese .are both abundant • . The white-fronted geese migrate primarily through the .Central Fl)'iJay to ·· Mexico,. and scaup scatter over all Flyways, ;many reaching the .:Atlan.tic Coast• Lesser Canada geese, mallards and other ducks or:ient primal:"ily to .Washington and California~ · · ·

Of the 140 bird speties·using the propo!;\ed refuge othernotablemigratory sp.ecies include. numerous shorebird species of which the coriiinon snipe .is

. most abundant, thousands of san:dh:i.ll cranes, bald eagles, osprey 'and p,eiegrine falcons.

MooE;e estimated at 2,500 animals are of primary importance amon,g large mammals and are of major importance in the subsistence economy of local vil~ages. Lower stretches of the Kaiyuh River serve as primary moose winter concentration areas •

. · . -

:other malimlals include. w-intering caribou of the .:Beaver Mountains hel:"d (3,.000) abundant black b.ears (600), about half as many gt.izzlies in up­land habitats, up to . .20, OQO beaver (accounting for approximately AO percent of Alask,a' s harvest in r·ecent years) and major .populations of other furbearets.

.·. ., .

Chum, chinook. and coho ·salmon. and sheefish. spav.~. in Innok6's .stream. Nort}l~rn pike .are common in sluggish or warm .waters •. ·. Long nose ~suckers .and whitefish are common and are impqr,tant forage for :pike attd sheefish

. and for the subsistence economy of the ·area 1 s Nat·ives .•

COMPARISON WITH OTHER PROPOSALS

H.R. 39 (Print //2}: · Proposes :as a ·refuge of 3.4.5 milli.on acres/

HoR. 2082 (Leggett): ·Proposes as a ~efuge of' 3. 4 milli.cm acres •.

S •. 178.7 (Stevens): Prop6s.es as a refuge of 0. 60 million acres.

LUPC: Proposes as a refuge of ·1. 99 million .acr.es~ .

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lNNOKO. . . ·. \

~ATlllNAL WtUJl.iFE REFuC) F\-1S-7 3~oo-o(loi .· · .·

-~ Proposal Boundary . · ..

~"'~ Area. of En:~ironmental Concer~

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. :January 25, 197 8 0 --0 . ''\.

- KANUTI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

.THE PROPOSAL ·- --

Kanuti National WildJ.ife Refuge .containing .approxi~tely o~e million two -•---htmdred thousand acres of public ·lands which Sheill be ma.lla,ged to maintain -the diversit:Y of naturalvalues_of the area and for'the following purposes, mnong others~ To protect, maintain and:. manage signific~nt waterfowl, other migratory bird, furbearer and other mammal populations ~rid the

- S\.lpporting habitats; to participate in coopetative manag~ent .programs -With other land.ovmers within the area of environmental concern; and, consistent with the foregoing, to provide opportunities .for fish and -wildlife oriented recreation, .. research use arid for continuation of the_ traditional subsistence lifestyle by 'local residents~ __ -

Secretary Andrus recoml!l_ended that the Kanuti National W:i.ldlife Refuge be ~established, enclosing fish and wildlife resources of ·the flats as much as po_s~ible within the r-efuge. Unselected Native lands are .included ·to assure that renewable ·resources ;Wfll be available as in the past. The Trans-Alaska J?ipeline corridor is excluded qn the east.side.

FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES

·· The proposed Kanuti Refuge lies .along the l<anuti ~River ·basin w-hicih -flows into the middle Koyukuk dnii'nage. -'l'his Interior. basin, st±a.ddlirtg the

.Arctic Circle,. is c:haracterized.by lakes and marshes interspersed ·through­out the .broad, rolling pJ.;ain of the Kanuti Valley~· ·:.Its hab:Ltat produces· significant populations of migratory waterbirds which t'ravelto many points of. the contj_nent and Mexico .... ·· Nes,til'l.g pqpwations. of ducks average · about 34, 000. ··

. - .

In spring the'a:rea sUpports 46~000. Camida and white,;._fronted geese, ·the· l~tter nestJ..ng .in greater density numbers .th,s.n many other waterfowl areas of the State. .In total the area contri-butes at least 7,5,000 -waterfowl to the Of.all migration~

•. . . .. . ; '. .·. .

The 'proposed refuge C!,lso~supports large populations of furbeax;ers and · moose. and· is a traditiona.i w.;.ntering area for portipn.s of the Arctic

caribou herd •. · :Black bears, grizzly bears., wolves and wolverines also are found in .the Kanuti area~ .

Northern .pike, .whitefish, grayling, sheefish and chum and chinoo}<,salinon are the most copnnon fish .species.

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Page 19: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

.. ~'WTI NATIONAL WILD()E REFUGE

COMPARISON WITH OTHER PROPOSALS

0

H.R. 39 (Print f/2): ·Proposes a refuge of 1.3 millionacres.

H.R. 2082. (Leggett): Proposes a refuge of 0.8 million acres.

S. 1787 '(Stevens): Proposes a refuge of 0. 43 million acres.

LUPC: ·· Pr.oposes .a refuge of 0. 43 million acres •

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January 25, 1978 ·

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Page 20: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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KANUTI

~90 Area of Environmental

Concern

Ill J

liul@ In mll00

fwS-73-00-_0701

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Page 21: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

Jar1uary 25, ~9,78

0 0 KENAI NATIONAL WILl)LifE REFUGE

.THE PROPOSAL

The addition to the Kenai National Moose Range of apptoximatedy two hundred and fifty thousand acres of public lands; furthermore, the Kenai . · National Moose Rar1ge is hereby redesignated the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, which_ Refuge- s_hall ;be managed to maintain the diversity of natural v.;1lues of the area and for the following purposes, among. o.tbers: To protect maintain and manage a nationally significant population of moose and pppulations oi other indigenous mammals,.· birds and fish a11d ·· the s4pporting habitats; to maintain the wilderness character qf the.· Refuge; to maintainwatershed protection for refuge water resources; to participate in cooperative management programs which other landowners on. the Kenai Pel}irisula; to provide opportunities for interpretative, environ- ' .mental educat;ion, · r:~search and land manageJLent training uses; and consistent with the foregoing, to.ptovide opportunit;ies for fish and wildlife oriented recreation.

The northern addition reflects a recognition of a biological .rather than a longitudinai boundary on the Chickaloon Flats between the existing · r_efuge and the adjacent Chugach National Forest. During negotiations. in the Cook_Inlet Settlement, discussions between Fisl).and Wildlife Service· and Forest Service_ .led to agreern~nt at :that time of :C>bundary revisions

. that would place the entire Chicl:-.aloon Flats in the refuge. .The .then Deputy Chief of National ::-crests who made this commitment has.retired <md further discussions have stagnated• Secretary Andrus, therefore_, has proposeq that tJ:le boundary adj ustri:lents ·shouid be handled in the cur:rent legislative process. The .southern addition-represents extension of wildlife habitat and watershed protection to .Kachemak Bay..

FISH .Ah'D WILDLIFE RESOURCES

The Kenai National 'i-lildlife Refug~, located ·on the :Kenai Peninsula, ~s a di\•erse area of mountain ranges, glaciers, forests:; lowland lakes, wetlands, ,and rivers which support a diversity of fish and wildlif_e _ . resourc~s including· the Ala,skan moose for which the:a:rea was originally established. ·

TheKenai lowlands are characterized by low_ ridges and :muskegs dotted With :more . than 1200 lakes and dra;lning 160. miles. of major .streams .:and lesser waterways. Such areas, as a spawning ground and nursery, support

.. onethird of the multimillion .dollar commercial salmon fishery ·of· Cook Inlet.

Page 22: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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-0 0 The vast lake_ system also has Ori~ of the greatest loon populations in North America; supports 6 percent of the world's trumpeter swan nesting; and, during migration, serv~s·as a major concentration area for birds moving to southern wintering grounds~ This latter concentration area is. .·. the Chickaloon Flats, divided along man.;.;.made boundaries in early. ExeC:u.tive . · Orders, -and :now recommended to be wholly included within· the refuge. ·

The wetlands further support a variety of mammals inciuding mink, ·muskrat, weasels, otters, beaver and the Kenai moose (approximately 5,000-6,000 ·· in numb~r). .

The Kenai :Hountains along the eastern third of the refuge lend scenic, watershed, and habitat values to the ecosystem. · Glacier? of the Harding

. ·rcefield and in the proposed southern additions provide the water su,pply for the refyge, Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay~ Dall Sheep, mountain goats· and a variety of_ smaller mammals and birds inhabit higher elevatio.ns

·with caribou; be~rs .·(black and grizzly), lynx,· wcil ves cmd coyotes in lower transitional ~ones. ·

The var:iety of habi~ats and their fish .and wild1ife resources combined. with the refuge's proximity to Anchorage lend ample opportunity for quality ei.wiromnental awareness and wildlife-oriented recreation programs •.

COMPAR:ISONWITH .OTHER PROPOSALS

H.R. 39 (Print 112): ·proposes addition of 230,000 acres 'to the existing F-oose Range.

. ' .

LUPC: Recommends addition of ·part -of proposed .• southern addition ·:to .the. existing Range;.

Page 23: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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ADDITIONS TO iHE KEN!\I NATirnAL MXlSE REFUGE. FWS-73-00-0801

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- Proposed Additions

Page 24: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

January 25, 1978

0 0 KOYUk~K NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

THE PROPOSAL

Koyukuk Neitional Wildlife Refuge containing e3,pproximately three milliOI]. three hundred and .thirty thousand. acr~s of public lands which shall be managed to maintain the diversity of natur&l values of the area and for .the fOllowing purposes, among others: To protect., 'IIlai:htain and manage significant waterfowl, 1ither migratory bird, furbearer, large mamrrial and fish resources and the supporting habitat; to maintain the tmique geological features of the Refuge; to maintain watershed protection for refuge

· water resources; to .participate in cooperative management programs with other lando-w-ners :t.'ithin the area of environmental cancer; and, consistent . 'tdth the foregol.ng, to provide opportunities for interpretive, environmental .. education a,nd research uses, for fish and :t.'ildlife oriented recreation and for continuation of the traditional subsistence lifestyle.bylocal residents.

Secretary Andrus proposes that all highly valuable habitat be included. ·along with unselected and unconveyed Native lands .and ~that the boundary be established O'Jj a physiographic basis •. Some of.the best waterfowl production, furbear and moose :wintering habitats identified in the area recommendation process are in that portion .of the Koyukuku/Dubli Rive~ flood plain east of Huslia Village. A high pass between Selawik and· Koyukuk basin form a connection boundary between these respective . propoc:als, through which caribou anci other animals :fr.equently pass •. Thus, the enlarged Koyukyk permits binding togeth~r •the diverse but·.· uniformly. important wetlands, oxbows, riverine plains and .forested uplands of the· Koyukuk basin. In so doing, ·.the refuge proposal is

·better constructed than the Morton proposal to provj,de prote~tion and management capability for .its fish, wildiife and habitat resources.

FISH i;.ND .WILDLIFE RESOURCES

The Koyukuk Na tionai Wildlife Refuge lies within a roughly circular ... basin and connects with.the flo.od plain of thE! Koyukuk River just north of its-confluence .With the Yukon. The extensive flood plain is a forested basin surrounded by high hills and characterized by many lakes. .Lotvland forests gradually merge with tundra vegetation at elevations of 3,000 feet. · ·

The high summer tempP.ratures a.nd long sunlight hours in this solar basin . produce a rich vegetation Supporting a 'Wide vanity of wildlife .. WCl.terfowl production from the unit. includes 75,000 Canada and whit~fronted gees.e . and 330,000 ducks, largely pintails, 'Wigeon, scaup and sectors. The north'Western nesting limit of·the trumpeter swan is represented here with 150 b_reeding birds. Another .100 whistling s'Wans also nest in the

. area~

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KOYUKUK NATIONAL ·WILDLifE REFUGE·. Jan,~ary 25, 1978.

·' 0 0 · Sandbars in the Yukon River portion of the proposal area a .major staging area for geese .i,n .the fall.

·The wetland habitats also are important to shorebirds, of which.the common snipe is the m()st. abundant nester.

Moose are abundant and form an important elelrient in the stibsist.ence economy .of villages in the iocal area and ?S far a.way as Bethel.. .Several hundre.d are harvested annually.

The entire area is part of the ~inter range of. the currently depleted Arcti.c caribou herd. With the presence of bo'th moose and caribou, wolves are abundant in the area.

Bla~k bears· ar.e abundant in forested areas; griz:zlies are found in open tundra habitats; · The area .is very productive beaver .country and provides excellent habitat for such .furbearers as muskrat, mink arid marten. · ·. ' . . . .

}.1ajor salmon fisheries include chinook .and chum. .1-Jhitefish are an important element of local subsistence fisheries. Northern pike are abundant in lowland lak.es and. Arctic grayling a.re found in co],.derhead· water systems.

The Nogahabara Dunes in the northern patt of the proposal add a unique geological din:iension_to .the ecology of the refuge, and as a.n active dune area assists the process of ecological change and .succession.

COHPARISON WITH OTHER PROPOSALS

R. R. 39 (Print· //2}: Proposes a reft1ge of 3. 72 million acres.

. . R.R. ·· 2082 ·(Leggett): .Proposes. a refuge of 3 million acres ·within the

Koyukuk Rivet Basin.

S .. 1787 (Stevens): ·Proposes a refuge of T;580 million acres.

-LUPC: Proposes a refuge of 2~ 53 .million .acres.

,~ -. w;• o .~ ~;-~~ -,-,•,- ••• -. .-"":'-~----.--~

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~;i~ Proposal BoundarY

·· ·· · .. vws.:.:1 3-oo-o9ol

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0 QJanuary 25,1978

NOWITNA _NATIONAL·. WILDLIFE REFUGE

THE PROPOSAL

Nowitna National. Wildlife Refuge, containing approximately one million · four hundred and fifty thousand acres of public lands which shall be managed to maintain the diversity of natural . .values of the .. area· and for the following purposes, anibng others: To protect, maintain and manage _ . waterfowl, other migratory bird,. furbearer' . other mammal an'd ~ish resources and the supporting habitats;·to ina.intairt watershed protection for refuge. water resources; to participate in cooperative.management programs with other landowners within the area· of environmental concern; and,.·. consistent

. wit:h the foregoing, to provide opportunities for .. fish and. wildlife . oriented recreation, research use and for continuation of the traditional subsistence lifestyle by .local residents.

Secretary Andrus considers the fish, :~dldlife and :habitat values :of decidedly greater significance than the estimated potentials for commercial

. timbe:r harvest. He proposes that the d (2) area and some adjacent lands become the Nowitna Nat-ional Wildlife Refuge .... Unsele:cted Native lands .. · along -the Yukon River floodplain with important fish and -wildlife resources. are included in order . to retain these values and assure their continti_ed use. Additional watersl)ed of the lower Nowitna River_(a Wild and Scenic River ~roposal) is included,·and the boundary of the· refuge is mostly on a physiographic basis. · .

FISH A@ WILDLIFE RESOURCES.

Low hills and pbrtions.of the Yukon and NowitnaRivers ·define.an area of mixed spruce forests and muskegs scatter~ed .throughout with lakes ·an~ other wetland habitats. .These. wetlands suppo.rt high density waterfowl populations averaging 110,000 nesting ducks such as scaup, pintails, · mallard and wigeon.

·spring populations of white-fronted and Canada geese average35,000 and 17,000 respectively, with. substantiaL numbers of the former remaining to.

· nest along the Npwitna River. Approxi~tely 60-100 pairs of trumpeter swans also nest here--one of the northernmost nesting populations known for th:is once threatened.species. All species combined, the Nowitna contributes nearly 1/4 million birc:ls to fall .waterfowl migrations, with .most of these following the Central Flyway into the lower 4:S states.

. . .

The southern part of. the unit is. utilized by caribou. and ·grizzly bears. · Moose are found throughout, but lowlands adjac~nt to t;he Yukon River ar:e major ~oncentration areas in winter. · The entire area is high quality furbearer habitat.

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Page 28: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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NOWlTNA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE J~:nuary 25, 1,978

0 0 The Yukon River is important to migrating chum, coho and .chinook salmon. The Nowitna River is also an :i,mportant area for sheefish spawning.

The Nowitna prpposal offers the.added and somewhat unique potential for · .intensified management sho\Jld such measures become Iiece?sary in future

years; as it contains lands ra.nked high for la.nd use capability.

COHPARISON WITHOTHER f'RO'POSALS

H.R. 39 (Print 112.): Proposes a refuge of 1.45 million acres~

H.R. 2082 ·(Leggett): Proposes· a refuge of 1. 0 niillion acres.

LuPC: Proposes as a.3.52 million. Alaska National Landswl.th Forest· service as the manager .

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Page 29: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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January 25, 1978

0 0 1,_

SELAWIK NATIONAL \o.'ILDLIFE REFUGE

THE PROPOSAL

Selawik National Wildlife Refuge, containing approximately tw.o million one hundred and fifty thousand acres of public lands which shall be managed to maintain the diversity .of natural values of the area and for the following purposes, among others: To protect,. maintain and manage significant. migratory bird, sheefish, caribou and other fish and wildlife resources and. the supporting habitats; to; maintain watershed protection for refuge water resources; t.o par1;:icipate in cooperative· management programs with other landowners in the Sela'l...rik basin; to provide opportunities for interpretive, environmental education arid research uses; and) consistent with the foregoing, to provide opportunities for fish and. wildlife oriented recreation and. for continuation of the traditional subsistence lifestyle by local residerits. Within. the refuge) the Secretary shall permit, if to do sowould not be j.ncbnsistent with the purposes of the area, the, continuation. of traditional reindeer grazing.'·

Secretary Andrus proposes that the boundary, as much as possible, be on a· physiographic basis. 'Although not within the refuge, he further recommends· that the upper' Selawik River watershed, of vital importance to caribou and to- the general ecosystemincludingHotham Inlet, Selawik Lake· and adjacent lowlands,. be protected.. Bureau of Outdoor. Recreation · studies in ],976 resul-ted in a report that the Selawik River qualified as a· wild river. Most of the mineralized areas are excluded on the. southwest and southeast sides. Secreta.ry Andrus also proposes that U.Tu;elected and unconveyed lands within Nativ~ selection withdrawals be included as part of the proposal to. assure perpetuation of fish and wildlife resources of local, national and international value. Highly .important wetland habitats, west of the }for ton proposal have now been included. Thus,. land ownership patter.ns are i:aproved, resource values afforded appropriate attention and cooperative relationships fostered by the. current proposal.

FISH A~""D. HILDLIF~ SERVICE

·Straddling theArctic Circle in northwest Alaska, an extensive system of estuaries and brackish lakes lie at the convergence of three river deltas. Nutrients flushed frotp. the Kobuk, Noatak,. and Selawik rivers mix.with tidalwaters of Kotzebue Sound to produce an amazing biological richness in this subarctic section. To the east lie the Selawik lowlands where thousands of ponds, marshes and streams interlace with vegetation to provide prime nesting habitat for. a multitude of water=related birds.

Located near the crossroads of Ndrth America and Asia, the Selawik low­lands are a seasonal home for- 109 species of mi~rating birds from six continents which nest in widely varying habitats. For example, species fromAsia. include the bluethroat and yellow wagtail; from New Zealand

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January 25, 1978

and Australia the bar-tailed godwit; from Antarctica the Arctic tern; from South America the upland and·pectoral sandpipers; and from Africa the wheatear.. Whooper swans normally breeding throughout As.l.a have been recordednesting in the proposed Selawik refuge.

Habitats of the proposed refuge anci of the area of environmental concern function as staging areas for migrations of North American species to Asia.. sandhill cranes migrating north through the· Central· and Pacific flyw,ays often stage in the Kot.zebue Sound region before crossing to breeding grounds in Siberia... Some cranes stay to nes.t in the proposed Selawik refuge. Snow geese:, occuring on: such winter;ingareas as Sacramento and Imperial National Wildlife Refuges in California, rest in the proposal area during their migrations. to nesting colonies on Wrangel Island in the USSR~ .

Waterfowl from: ali four North American continentai·flywa:ys seek nesting habitat in the Selawik r.eruge. Over 75,000 greater scaup from the Atlantic Flyway nest. on the tundra ponds of the proposed refuge. Lesser scaup found nesting on the eastern portions of the refuge tJ;'avel down · the Mississippi·. Flyway to .. winter in Louisiana. Tens of thousands of :white~fronted geese nesting in. the proposed refuge and. the eastern area of envirnomentai concern use the: Central Flyway, wintering at such spots as Sabine NWR. i11 Louisiana and Lagui:la Atascosa NWR in Texas~.. The Pacific Flyw,ayis well representedamong.Selawik nesters. Pintails,. wigeon, green-winged teal~ mallards, and shovelers come to the region from California., Oregon,: and Washi:::~gtcin.. Over 2, 000 \i'histling swa!ls return from wintering areas such as. San Francisco Bay and. the Central Valley in California. In fall, cackling C<mada geese nesting. in the Kotzebue Sound. region head for California and the Columbia basin by way of Izembek NWR.. . .

A number of migrants using Se].awik habitats winter ·in other areas of Alaska. One nlilil.on king eiders pass. through the region to and from wintering areas. in the Aleutian Islands NWR and the Bering Sea m.JR. Oldsquaws nesting in the proposed refuge and. others passing through also

·Winter in the'. Aleutian Islands N'"w'"R as· well as along coastal Siberia •.. . .

Overall there are about 250,000 ducks that breed Trlthi!l the proposed refuge boundary; about half on Native selected lands.. Breeding densities of 44 ducks per square mile nave .been recorded for the region. The fall flight of ducks ranges from 450,000in average years to 550,000 in peak· years.

·. Twenty..;,.nihe . species of shorebirds nest in profusion throughout the \ wet].and9 and up.lands of the.· Selawik refuge. The· fertile mud flats and I salt marshes of: the region's river deltas are .essential feeding and staging areas for shorebirds. The Eskimo curlew, an endangered species which is possibly extinct, once nested. in Selawik lowlands in great abundance.

====~==· l:.:.' -·.::.:::·"··:::::.::.::~·· ····:::..:-· ··:_:.:··.:::..:.·-·:::.;.··· ·~===~~·-=·····=··· -·-:.::::--~·:.=3:::.:====~·· ... - ·~--_,..,... ... ·---------------- ···--""-·•·

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·January 25, .. 1978

0 'S·ELAWIK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE .. 0 Upland birds :Such as ptaniligan, ravens, jaegers, hawks,·· eagles:; owls and a multitude of PC1SSetine$. are ilnportant I:iembers. of. the avian community of the region.. The endangered peregrine· falcon .has been reporteci in the

.region. Gyrfalcons occur intne hills to the north and south of the · Selawik .lowlands. . .

. Th¢ Selawik pr~pos~l provides some .~inter· habitat for part of the .75, 000 · · member Arctic .caribou herd although the more important wintering. areas are contained within, the area of environmental concern east of the proposal.

·. .

Rare' to the Selawik as l.ittleas SQ years ag;, moose have·expanded their range: sign±ficantlywestward. in'tecent time, and are CO!ilm.On toda:.y throughout theprbposal area •. It is believed t::hat successional changes in vegetation have.resultedinmote moose habitat in the area.

Following. the moose and caribou are predators such as th"tv "tvolf and grizzly bear. Wolves· have been on the increase in the proposed refuge· area. over t,he last. 10 years. Grizzly bears are co.IIllllon. through. the

·proposal.

The fish resources of: the Kotzebue· Sound· r.egion support important subsis- · ten.ce and. commercial fisheries.. Anadromous fishes include chum, pink and> coho,> salmon; smelt,, .. Arctic c:har and sheefish. Major fresh!vater species of fish· in .the region. includeA:i:ctic grayling, northern pike, White· fiSrt species,. bu:rbot, northern SllCker and black fish •

. · Significcmt. wintering and spawning areas for v7ithin .the area of environmental concern •.

the sheefish are .includ·ed

·. H.R~ 39 (Print !fZ}: Proposes a. refuge of 2.38 million. acres.

H.Re 2082 (Leggett): Proposes a part; of an 8; 3 m:Ulion acre refuge in. the Noatak..:Selawik ;;.rea.

So. 1787 (Ste~ens): . Pt"opos~s a 730,000 acre refuge.

LUPC:. Proposes a· refuge of L 5 million acres.

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SELAWIK NATJONAL WILDLJFIE REFUGE ·

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'@~~ Proposal Boundary

.. """""" Area of Environmental Concern · .. · . . eN F~S-7~-0Q-1101 •

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'. January 25, 1978

0 0 TETLIN ~ATIONAL 1-liLDLIFE REFUGE

THE PROPOSAL

· +etlin National l;ildlife Refuge, containing approximately seyen hundred and' seventy thousand acres of public lands which shall be managed to maintain the diversity of natural values of the area and for the follow-ing purposes,. among others: J:o ·protect,. me1intain and manage significant migratory bird, large ma~l, furbearer and o.ther fish and wi1dlife resou,rces and the supporting habitats; to maintain watershed protection for refuge water resources;. to participate in cooperative management

. programs: with other lando-wners within the area of. envirnomental concern; to provide opportunities for. interpretive,· environmental education and . research uses; and consistent with the foregoing, to provide opportunities for fish and wildlife oriented recreation-and for continuation of the traditional subsistence 1ifestyle by local residents. Regardless of ariy requirement that a study be conducted.of areas within-the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. in accordance with sectiotls 3 (c) and 3 (d) of the Wilderness Act, there.may b_e authorized and. granted rights-of-way for pipelines and other facilities· that may be required to section 9 of the Alaska Natural·

· Gas· Transportation Act of 1976.

FISH. AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES . . . : - . - . . · ..

· The mount~i~, f6othi11~ river,. lake, marsh and woodland habitats of the Tetli.n proposal support. a rich variety of fish and wildlife resources. The areas' wetlands are .located near the nm:thwestern terminus for many

· migratory birds and thus .support a number of species (such as .redhead and ring-necked·ducks and blue-winged teal) seldom found in other parts of Alaska.

Mountainous areas to the south and"west'and rolling uplands around the remainder make this area a solar basin in sui:l!!ller causing early ice melt and creating. an area especially attractive to nesting waterfowl. High temperatures produce an abundance of aquatic plants and invertebrates important for duckling development. As a result, the Tetlin· area is the second· highest density nesting area in Alaska with an average of over 67 birds per. square mile. ..· .

Habitat· conditions are far more consis_tent from ,year tb year that the prairiepotl:lole regions of Canada and the lower U.S. and often serve as overflow habitat for birds displaced ~y drought· in these are.as. This

'\ last: year, for inst~mce, nesting densities of- waterfowl increased overall by; 50 percent with particularly significant increases .. in nesting canvas-

\ backs (-i-82 percent) and redheads (+700 percent).

Loons, red:.:..necked and horned grebes and a myriad of shorebirds are produced here· during sUIIIIiler. Ospreys,.· bald eagles, and other rap tors common to. Interior Alaska also are present:. Rock, willow and white­tailed ptarmagin (possible the threatened northern race of the latter)

, are common •.. Will()w: ptarmagin winter on the flood plain. ·

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. TETLIN NAI;IONAL WILDXU'E REFuGE .. .. . 0 ' - ·. ·. . - ,, .

J-anuary 25, 1978 u· • Tetlin r•s ~ariety. of( habitats produc7s eno~gh small mammal species to

. support h~gh numoers of . .furpearers ~nclud~ng wolf, fox~. lynx, otter, lilink, marten and wolverine. ·

Black bear are common iri forest areas and wetlands. Grizzly bears. roam the more open are~s found in the southern part of.the proposal. Above thse·footpillareas, dall sheep and a few mountain goats occupy rugged

· c.liffs anti alpine tundra. meadows• in adjoining Nc;.tional Park areas • . Caribou migrate t:hrough th.e area, with portions of the Mentesta and . Forty..;.mile caribou herds {5-10,000 memb~rs each) occasiona.l:l:y wintering iii the proposal. Moose from surrounding upland areas move down to join r~sident moose of·. the basin to winter on abundant growths of \villow.

Two. major rivers, the· g1acia1 Chisana and .Nabesna, flow through flood. plain·muskeg before becotnin,g the Tanana. The Tetlin river meanders through lowlands and lakes, also joining the Tanana~ tffiitefish and pike are abundant in the waters and lakes of ·the proposal.

COMPARISON .WITH OTHER PROPOSALS.

H.R.· (39) (Print #2): ·Proposes a refuge of 0.77 million acres.

H~R .. 2082. (Leggett}:·· :E>roposed 3~1 million acres Tetlin National tvildl~mds · .. (FIVS management).

:I.R~ 1787 (S~evens): . Proposed inclusion on .iVrap.gell..,.St. El.ias Federal Cboperativ.e Lands.

LUPC: .Portions proposed on 2. 9 million acre Alaska National Lands Classification (NPS management}.

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Concern

TETliN NATJONI\t WIUl~!FE REFUQ

FWS-:-73-00~1201 . .. . .

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0 o•uary 25, 1 g 78

. TOGIAK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

THE PROPOSAL

.The addition to Ca:pa. Newenham National W:i,.ldlife Refuge of an area con­taining approxilnB.tely three million eight hundred and forty thousand . acres of public lands; furthermore, the Cape Newemham National Wildlife Refuge is herebyredesignated.as a unit of the TogiakNationai Fish and Wildlife Refuge, which shall. be managed t:o Illa.intain the diversity of

~ naturalvalues.of the area and for the foiloY.'irtg purposes anicing others: To protect, mainta:i,;n;and, ~naged the significant fish, marine bird, marine mal:oma.l and other fish and wildlife resources and the suppoftiilg habitats; to erthanceand.restore large ma.Illl!l..3.1 populations historically inhabiting the a:rea; to .maintain watershed prqtection for refuge water resources and Bristol and Kuskokwi:n Bays; to participate in cooperative management programs•. with other landowners within the. area of environmental concern; to provide opportunity for interpretiv:e, environmental education and research uses; and, consistent: with the foregoing, to provide oppor­tunities for fish and 'Wildlife oriented recreation and for the continuation df.thet:taditipnal subsistence.lifestyles by local residents.

FISH. A1"D WILDLIFE RESOURCES ,

· The mountain~· river. and, estuarine habitats of the Togiak prcpo£al support a: wide diversity of significant. fish and wildlife resources. Grizzly bears, although n:ot presently abundant, roam throughout the area from the mountains to the· coast. Five kinds of salmon in sU.bscantial numbers

· spawn in the rivers. Seab.irds, waterfowl and shorebirds by the millions depend on the area's: resources.

Three major r,iver drainages, th~ Kanektok, Goodnews and To~iak Rivers, provide critical water supplies to Bristol and Kuskokwim Bays and in so doing, support. the aquatic needs of many species in different stages o.f their aimual ·or life . cycles.. Fresh water contributions tq estuarine .· systems prqvide conditions forsupportingsome 10 species of whales (7. of which are endangered) , · harbor seals, sea Iion·s, salmon during their marine· lif~e stages and literally millions of waterfowl and shorebirds in·. migrationfrom Asia •. New: Zealand and South and North America.

During·sUI!lmerand fall months, r:i;ver,s and streams-of the proposal provide spawning habitat for 1. 7 million salmon.· . The resultit1g average catch of · 3 million pounds of fish is of substantial concern to commercial fishermen of ·the area.

Nearly all streams support some species of·. sport fish; the. Kanektok supporting the northernmost spawning runs o{ st:e.elhead trout in North America .. ·. Resident species also include rainbow and lake trout,·Arctic grayling, DollyVarden and Arctic char.

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~TOGIAK NATIONAL WtLDLIFE REFUGE ·o·· d~nuary 25, 1978

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Muc}l of the· migratory bird use of" the proposal centers on the coastline arid adjacent.lowlands with 1 to 2·million seabirds nesting on coastal cliffsandbldsquaws, common sectors~ greater scaup arid pint,ails nesting on marshy' lowlands. · ·

·The i~terior mountains • and cr~ggy cliffs along the .sea coast provide prime hapitat for r~ptors, which are special· features of the Togiak · a~ea ... Eight species of raptors including the goshawk,. rough-legged · hawk, golden and· bald eagles, osprey,' and gyrfalcon,. have been observed nesting. Bald. eagles. are probably the most numerous and commo11lY sighted raptors'along the coast •

. Of particular interest is .the: endangered peregrine falcot1,. which migrates through the. ·area each spring and. fall and probably nests near the seabird colonies.. . . .

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Togiak has one of· t:he most diverse mammalian faunas of any area in. the · ·State. Currently, :over 32. species of land mammals occur, ranging in · s:ize frOm .shrews to browno...grizzly.' bea:rs •. A variety of furbearers,. includi:r:tg red and. ~rctic foxes; wolves, wolverines, mink, weasels,. otters~·lynx; beaver~ muskrats,,·snowshoe and tunqra hares, hoary,marmots and Arctic ground squitrels·, contribute· to the totalit;y of the ecosystem

· and. to the, subsistence economy of local. residents . . · ' .

. , .. Grizzly bear: numbers curr,ently stand. at less than 100, .believed to be . constrained by over shooting·. With refuge protection an anticipated three .to .four-fold increas.e is expected •.

· · The habita~s .also appear suitable· for reintroduction of caribou7 restoration ofm,oose populations and possibly introduction of Dall. sheep.

COMPARISON \VITH. OTllER PROPOSALS

H~R. 39 (~rint 112}: Proposes a refuge of 3. 84. million acres as an addi tion to· Cape Netvenham 1--ll-l'R..

: H•R.G 2082 (Leggett): .. Propo~es a refuge of 4.2 million·acres;. the addition.· of Cape Newenham·. ~iWR. and 3 n;:i.le,s offshore including Hagemeister .Islarid~ .

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TOGIAK NATIONAL WILbllFE REFUGE

FWS.,..73-00..,.l301

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Are& of En vi ronmen tal Concern

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'i"UKO'-"DELTA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFuGE 0 THE PROPOSAL

The. addition to ClarenceRhode National Wildlife Range and Hazen Bay National Wildlife Refuge of an area containing ten million five hundred and ninety thousand acres of public lands; furthermore, the Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range.and.Hazen Bay National Wildlife Refuge . National· are hereby redesignated as units of the Yukon·DeltaNational Wildlife Refuge, which shall be managed. to maintain the· diversity of

· . naturai values<of the area. and for the following. purposes, among others: To protect, maintain and manage internat;.ionally significant migratory bird, marinemammal; fishand.other wildlife resources and. the supporting· habitats; .tQ maintain watershed protection for refuge water resources; to participate in cooperative m~nagement programs +,.;rith othet landowners within the Yukon-:-KuskokwimDelta; to provide opportunities for interpretive, environmental educat:ioh, res·earch and land management training. uses;. and, consistent withthe foregoing, to provide opportunities for the continu.ation of the. traditional subsistence lifestyles by the local .· residents.

B~cause of the dependen.ce of residents of the. Delta on fish and wildlife and plan resources· and their express eo oppositicm to land ownership by additional ageneies, Secretary Andrus recommends that all lands within the refuge boundaries not: conveyed to Natives be included in the: proposecl Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge.

FISH Ai.'ID ,iHL:DLIFE RESOURCES

Uncounted numbers of ponds and lakes, varying from a fracfion of an acre t.o thousands of acres, dominate the, Delta region. Much of the coastal sections are regularly flooded by high tides, storms, and ice. jams because of the overall flat,· low: relief of most of the region. The low tundra is broken only by smcill mountg.in chains, .and a few scattered volcanic peaks. · ·

Most of the region is treeless. The only forested areas found in the ·.·refuge proposal are cottonwood and willows along the lower reaches of

the Yukon and Kuskolwim Riv~rs and black spruce, white spruce, aspen, · .birch,, and tamarack in the upper portions of these rivers and i.n the Andreafsky River drainage. · · ·

The coastal wet tundra/is dominated by grasses and sedges. Diversity of flora increases in moist and dry tundra where mosses and lichens occur with various grasses andsedges. · Permafrost is generally only a few inches below the soii surface in the wet tundra which covers most of .the Ytlkon D~lta region.

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0 0 YUKON DELTA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. January 25, 1978

Atotal of ],70. species of birds has been observed in the region. Of these, 136 species probably nest there~ and 13 species are residents. . At least 100 million shorebirds and other waterbirds nest. in. the region. Sandpipers~·· plovers, alid phalaropes are especially abundant on the Del.ta. .Perhaps 90 percent of the nesting grounds of the bristle.,..thighed curlew occur in the mountains drained by the Andreafsky River and its

. East Fork. These shorebirds stage along the coast after completion of nesting in August. Swarms of birds. then disperse southward to wintering · areas, on six continents. Huge flocks of western sandpipers and dunlins resembling clouds of smoke loom on the horizon at Izembek Lagoon after leaving the Delta Region. Many of these birds winter on refuges in Californiaand along the coast. of Mexico.

Arctic, red-throated and comnion loons occur throughout the region ~vith the Arctic loons reachin,g nesting densities of over five pairs per square rtlile. Sandhill cranes and jaegers also abound in the Yukon..;.

· · Kuskowim Delta.

The 50,000 swans, 700,000 geese and 2,300,000 ducks departing the Delta area each fall are significant internationally, as these birds migrate to all of North America and to other regions bordering· the Pacific Ocean •. · About 80 ·percent of the Pacific Flyway swans and some of those

" · w:i,.ntering. in the Atlantic FlYWay, .. originate from the Yukon Delta~ Almost allof the Pacific FJ,.yway's white-fronted and cackling Canada geese, a majority of black brant, and over 80 percent of this Nation's emperor geese are produced here. Ducks are three times more abundant than geese,. with pintails, greater scaup, and oldsquaw comprising over 70 percent of the population. Snow geese, which nest in Siberia:, are abundant migrants.

Some wate.rfowl in the Delta region, such as Canada geese, wh:i,te.,-fronts, scaup, pintail, green=winged teal, and oldsquaws nest throughout the area, but others nest only in .. certain habitats.. For example. brant, emperor geese, and eiders prefer est.uarine and coastal zones. Average densities of 100 "Waterfowl broods per square mile are common to the coastal sections ot the Delta region, and locallyproduction may attain one brood per acre. Breeding densities decline away from the coast, but larger inland lakes are important for moulting and later for .. fall migration staging.

Raptors inhabiting the proposal include gyrfalcon, rough-legg~d and marsh hawks, short-eared owl, and snowy owl. Peregrine falcons migrate through the regicm. Since most of the proposal area is treeless, passerine bird diversity is l.ow, but tundra nesters like lapland longspursand savannah sparrows are superabundant.

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YuKON DELTA.NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE January 25, 1978

Arctic and. red foxes,, river otter, mink, and Arctic hares are the most conspicous mammals.in the Yukon Delta region, ·and multitudes of voles, lemmings, ground. squirrels,. and other burrowers are present. · Mammal diversity increases considerably in the few f.ore.sted areas of the proposal

.with the occt.irrence of grizzly and black bear., lynx, wolf, beaver, .wolve!'ine, and moose. Harbor .seals.~ walrus, and whales. are fciund.along .the coast. ·Beluga whales follow salmon runs up the major rivers.· ·

During the• summer, rivers throughout the Delta. region ate filled with chinook, chum, ·coho, sockeye and pink salmon.. Northern pike, blackfish, sheefish, least. cisco,. and several species of whitefish are among the more common resident fishes. Th~- Andreafsky·, a proposed Hild and Scenic River, teems with. gr.ayl:i:ng and Arctic char.

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. CONPARISON WITH OTHER PROPOSALS

H.R. (Print /12}: Proposes a refuge of 12.5 million acres.

H~R. 2082 (Leggett):· Proposes a refuge o·f 6. 4 million acres with ( ··. 3 mile offshore jurisdiction.

S~l787 (Stevens): Proposes a; core refuge of 3. 6. million acres. an,d two ·FWS managed cooperative areas of 5.0 million acres.·

LUPC: Pr~poses a core r~fuge of 5. 7 million acres with an .FWS managt:d ... cooperative area of 3. 5 million acres·.

Delta Natives~ The 56 village member Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) has adopted a resolution to include all ~ederal lands west of 161 degrees longitude in

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. the refuge;· the western boundary to. extend 200 miles··· offshore •.

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YUKON· DELTA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE .· . ' . ~- . ' ~. . . .

FWS-V3-00-1401

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() . ~. . January 2b1978

YUK\::..-l FLATS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE ! . .

THE PROPOSAL i

Yukon Flats National Wildlife 1Refuge, containing approximately eight million four.hundred andfiftyi thousand acres of public lands which shall be mana~ed to maintain the diversity of natural values of the area and for the following purposes~ Cl,mong others: To prot~ct, .maintain and manage significant waterfo~.;l, qther nigratory bird, larg'e 6amma1, other fish and wildlife resources and. the supporting habitats; to maintain :watershed prot:.ection for refuge1 water resources;. to participate in.· coo-perath·e management. programs

1

1 with other landowners in· the Yukon Flats basin; to proyide opportunities for interpre.tive, environmental education, research an.d land .manageme,nt: training uses;. and, consistent with the foregoing, to provide opportunities for fish and wildlife·oriented recreation and for continuation ''1of the traditional subsistence lifestyle by local residents~

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Secretary Andrus proposes that the t>YO Morton proposa.J,.s for the basin be com):>ined to create an 8. 45 million acr.e ·Yukon Flats National. Wildlife Refuge. Healso recommends that\unselected a~d uncoveyed lands be included· in the refuge and that t,he exterior boundary be on a physiographic basis wherever possible. On this

1 basis, his recoinmendations on the

common boun:::l.ary between the Yukon\ Flats National \.Jildlife Refuge and the addition to the Arctic t1ild1ife .. Rknge follows the habitats used primarily by waterfow-l. and uplands used more frequently by caribou of the Porcupine h~rd~ I ·

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The Secretary's ?roposal decision ~.ras based on (1) the Flats'· world reknow"!l contribution of fish and 'tv~ldlife resources for local, national and international benefit; . (2) the. presence of about 2. 7 million acres of private ~ative lands. from which\ 45 percent of the area's fall flight of waterfowl is produced;. (3) the documented uncertainties of ec:onorr.ically sound agricultural or forest produdt har-vests; (4) presence of substantial a_Jnounts of Native Corporation lands', .for agriculture or forestry purposes; if, experimentation develops a technology that makes it economically feasible; and (5) poi;ent:ials for degradation of·nabitats by other activities unless carefully controlled and mad1 compatible with the·purposes for· this refuge .•

FISH. A.\TD WILDLIFE :RESOURCES \

Straddling the Arctic Circle and ext~nding.290 oiles on its long axi;;, the Yukon Flats is Alaska's largest tnted.or valley. The rioodplain of . :he bisecting Yukon River is dotted ~ith over 40,000 lakes, .25,000 miles >f streams, oxbows and potholes, int~rspersed ,.;ith stands of spruce, \irch, aspen, willow and open muskeg.\ Long summer days -and the insulating.· · 'lfe<;t of the mountains produce conditions resulting in the Flats being he most productive per. acr.e -waterfowl habitat in Alaska .. ··

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·0 January 25, 1978

I . The basin contributes an· annual flight of 2,100, 000 ducks and 16,500 · geese to all the Flyway~, Capada and Mexico. Significant continental populations include lesser s~aup (5.6 percent), pint:ails (3.2 percent), wi,geon. (3.9 p~rcent), shoveller. (3.2. percent) and canvasback (15 ·to 20 percent), ~swell. as 11,,000 s

1andhill cranes, 15,000 loons and 100,000

grebe. Approximately 95 percr:nt of the basic T,;aterfo,.;l habitat is . contained within the proposed\

1 refuge boundary, Native· lands within the.

ref:uge would provide nearly 4~percent of total waterfowl production. . . . . i .

· .. In years of drought in the pralirie provinces of Canada; birds displaced from their tradition~l breedin~~reas continue notth seeking ~table water levels. ·In such years d(e Yukon Flats waterfowl contribution is evengreater than inumerated above, and is increasing as long-term wetland los·ses continue in the \so1.1t1:J.e~n breeding areas. .

Mos·t of the Flats provides good\ moose range with nep.rly 5, 000 animals occupying aquatic habitats and adjacent uplands during periods of normal···· moose populations. Hajor numbex\s of wolves, black and grizzly beaJ:"s and a. wid~ array of furbearers cont'ribute to .the r,.;J.ldlife values of· the proposal, and the potential futui;e public benefits. Additionally, members of the 120,000 Porcupine\car{bou herd winter in upland habitats

·. of the Flats in some vears. 1• •

, , _,. I

.\ Waters. of· the Yukon Flats abound .. ~:dth northern pike, t.;hitefish ~nd 19. other species of fish. Migration 1\ routes and spatvning areas for chinook and chum sal~on contribute an anmi

1a1 escapeme.i?'t of 270,000 fish from the

unit, making it significant both ij:l amount a:-"d in . .the length cf :::.igration (1600-2000 miles) associated with this anadtomous fishery.

COHPA.P.ISON ~.JITH OTHER PROPOS • .U.S

H~R. 39 (Print #2):

H.R •. 2082 (Leggett):

Proposes a refuge 10.3 million acres.

.\ Proposes a re£uge of 16~8 million acres.

I . . I ,

S. 1787 (St~vens}: Proposes a 2.59 billion acr~ Nati6nal Forest and a ~ 3.94 million acr~ US7S-managed cooperative area. . . . i .

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· .. LTC: Pr~poses t"tvO refuge units t6td1ling 2. 3 million acres with 5.5

million a.cres to be managed by1

USFS as National Lands.

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Page 46: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

""""'"'• Area of .Environmental

YUKON.FLATS NAT XONAL · WI LDLl FE REf.UGE.

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Page 47: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

NWR.

Alaukn. Marine Resoairces

~~rctic

·· Innoiw

Kanuti

Kenai

.Koyukuk ___ _

Nth.,ltil<l

SclH_wJk

Tetlin

Togiak

lukori Delta

ukon Flats

rrALS

., •. v.~nt. \.JII.m.IFE imr•'UGES STATE AND NAT1Vg SELECTIONS

\HTH1N D-2. PlWPOSALS

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J

.Curre)lt- Availal;·le Federal Acreage

--------~---------~----~~~---~~--~~--~~----~~~~~~ Natlve Estima~<;!d Future Stilte · Na\d.ga1;>1c .·

]~erugc Acn:!age Selection Waters Sc:lection . '·' -.

430,000

8,13lt9,Jli6

2;839, 765

·1,052,000

203"-ssir-~ ----··- ·'

3, 2411 > 2/5

1,1,50,000

1,786,000

765,096

3,4l,],863

9,419,198

) '310,222

41,828,801

z,:.~o, ooo

16,125 8, 81,9, 346

1,830

319,000 2, 839·~ 765

2 9 7 ,_g __ QQ ____ ---:- _____ ----'- --1~2 00, 000 . \

50,500

61!0, 000

170,500.

1, 120, ,,so

99,377

793,000·

6,319,550

3,71S,!t~l

13, 5ll2, 753

25'·, 106

3~326,775

1,.450,000

2,150,550

765,096

10·, 592,220

8,lt49, 792

· UnlqlO\.Jn ·.

10,000

23,809

66 1 000

0

115,702

0

0

6,150

1, 4J'•' 357

Unlo1ow11

0 01 I

20. 000 ___________ --->~. '------- . I

0

0

0

40,000

682,000

0

0

932~000

214,400

1,599,000

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Page 48: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

. - • ~-:II u

WILDERNESS PROPJ)SALS

tJ !S. FJ;Sll AND WILDLIFE S~RVlCE .

ACREAG~ ·

~efuge Proposed Wild~rness·

,/ -..: ...

• I

.·_TOTAL.

I

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?roposed Wi14~rness Existing Ref\Jges · · Propqsed Refuges- · ... 1

~--~~~~~~----~~~~~--~--~----~~----~~~~~----~-~~~~~~

l(enai

Al<tska Mar~ne Resource~

Aleutian Islen4s Unimak Semid 1 .-:.----

-~~*Remaind~r of Proposal

TOTALS.-

itHagemeister Island not included -­to be atudied.

8,829,000

1,204,000_

_1, 3oo, ooo---913,975 ·.

. 251,8.60 .

12,498,835

148,100

360,000

508,100

8,829,0()0

------ I _ _ ---1-,-352-;-100 I

1,300,000 913,975 2,51,860 360,000

13,006,935

0,

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Page 49: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

·(_·._-.·~--; ,,~

' ~ .

·~.-.: ... ---~

/

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u.s.IFioh an<! wil.dJ.i£e service I I

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ALAsK4 !'IARI!f RiSVRa:s Wifl'fRtfss PfiJJtr.cu_ • I

. i I F'WS-7J-03-0l01 I. .

CHI.JKdir cell. UNIT . . I ~

PfRiiKJ SEA UNit

- . I­I I . . . . : · ..

ALAsKA PBUNSULA UNIT . -· . I

i GlJLF IF AL.AsKq UNIT . I

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Page 50: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

.ALASKA. MARINE RESOURCES NATIONAL WILDLifE: R~FUGE

u.s. F:L~h ~nd Wildlife Servic;e

. . .

AL8Jf1AN. ISLANDS WILDERNESS PROPOSAL

FHS-7J-04...;0101

.~. u T

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i!-o--.....;...-...._.__....,......,__,.. _ _. ___ ...!1-~~.~· .1

0

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Page 51: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

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f~Eiflf~6

~

~-w.-D.to~··:\.

.... . ~ ... ~-~

"'!. ••

~Wilderness Exclusions

s£~

""'.

,~~'·'''

. It: flra oc~ .

~

ALASKA MARINE R.ESOURCES . . NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service

UNIMAK WilDERNESS PROPOSL\l FWS'- 73..;·05,...0101

'(--) ......

·o··

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Page 52: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

'. ; • • < • •• \ ••

ALASKA MARINE RESOURCES OroNA±.·· WILDLIFE. P.EFUGE · . .. . . . . ' . . . •\

. ' ·. . . . \

. U.S. Fi.sh and Wi.ldlif.e Se~ice \

. I

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. \

SBUD I WILDERNESS PROPOSA.D \

FWS-}3-~06:..0101 \

·• Wilderness Proposal . ' ., ~ .

I

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1 $

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~··.

f""··· AGH!YUK ISUN.D

··~··· ·-e:J.···

,.;;

....

\

Paci+i~ ,, II I

\ ·~ \

<f""·. ' . \ ·, Stii!TEEKU!li!SUND.

'P . !\ •

"11' .t:J'· . eft,

' \ . C:HOWIET ISI.AMD I

Ocean· ANOWIIUSUND

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Page 53: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

u.s. ···-~ ( . . : . .

ARCTIC WI~[SS PRCPOSAL FWS-73-05-0301

OC£A N

WILDERNESS E'XCLLJS I ON

WILDERNESS txCUJSION

DOUIIOA~Y .

. !I II. 1 .. •

Page 54: .0 1.: I l- THE PROPOSAL

0 . · .... '" -~ .,

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.-\~--~~-• • 4

KENAI NATIONAL.. IYOOSE REFUGE

u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service

KENt\ I. WI LDERffSS PROPOSAL

FWS-73·-05-0801

Wilderness Proposal /

SEWARD MERIDIAN


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