SELAWIK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Kotzebue, Alaska -

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1992

U.S. Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System REVIEW AND APPROVALS

SELAWIK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Kotzebue, Alaska

Annual Narrative Report

Calendar Year 1992

Refuge Manager Date Associate Manager Date

:. ·:lnHAR~ US.F\VS Transportation methods in this region include aircraft, boats, all-terrain vehicles and snowmachines. Dog teams are still used for transportation, but mostly for racing. There are short gravel roads within most of the villages but there are no roads between any villages and there are none to, on, or near refuge lands. Established winter trails between villages are extensively used during the winter months. All villages have gravel runways and daily commercial air service, weather permitting. During the short summer, boats are the most commonly used form of transportation between villages and to subsistence camps. The refuge owns and the staff uses, extensively, all of the vehicles mentioned above.

The refuge is bisected by the Arctic Circle and lies mostly within the Northwest Arctic Borough, which is analogous to a Lower 48 county but is the size of the state of Indiana. The Selawik River and Refuge take their name from the Inupiaq word "siilivik," which means "place of" (vik) "sheefish" (sii). The sheefish is a member of the whitefish family and attains weights up to 60 lbs on the refuge. It is eagerly sought after as a subsistence food and for sport-fishing.

The Refuge address is: Selawik National Wildlife Refuge PO Box 270 Kotzebue, AK 99752 {907) 442-3799

Kotzebue has a population of about 3,600 people and lies 35 miles north of the Arctic Circle. {CB) INTRODUCTION

The Selawik National Wildlife Refuge boundary encompasses 3.1 million acres in northwest Alaska on the coast of the Chukchi Sea. The refuge was established by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA) which withdrew 2.15 million acres of land from the public domain. The remaining .lands within the refuge boundary have been selected by Alaska Native corporations and are in the process of being conveyed to private ownership by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) . In the interim, these lands are managed by the refuge in coop~ration with the Native corporations.

The purposes for which the refuge was established include conservation of fish and wildlife populations and their habitats, specifically including caribou, waterfowl, shorebirds and other migratory birds, salmon and sheefish; the opportunity for continued subsistence uses by local residents; ensuring water quality and necessary water quantity within the refuge; and allowing continued reindeer grazing in the southwest part of the refuge. There currently is no reindeer grazing on the refuge but local residents use the refuge year­ around extensively for hunting, fishing, firewood and house log cutting, berry picking, and gathering greens.

The refuge habitat includes extensive tundra, foothill spruce forests and large river deltas. The northern boundary follows the divide of the east-west oriented Waring Mountains. Here it shares a common boundary with the Kobuk Valley National Park. The Waring Mountains contain the 240,000 acre Selawik Wilderness. The southern boundary is formed by the Selawik Hills and the Purcell Mountains. For a while this boundary follows the continental divide and shares a common boundary with the Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge. Between these mountain boundaries lies the long, broad westward flowing Selawik River valley. The Selawik River flows into Selawik Lake, which is actually a slightly brackish estuary. The larger Kobuk River delta is the western edge of the refuge. The Selawik River valley and the river deltas contain most of the refuge's 22,000 lakes and wetlands.

Two Inupiaq Eskimo villages, Selawik and Noorvik, are within the refuge boundary. Four other Inupiaq villages, Kiana, Ambler, Shungnak and Kobuk, and the city of Kotzebue, are located within 25 miles of the refuge. Approximately 2500 people live in the six villages and 3600 live in Kotzebue. Many of the people of these villages, and from the more distant villages of Deering, Buckland, Shishmaref, and the interior Athabascan Indian village of Huslia, have traditionally used refuge resources for their subsistence lifestyle. The refuge is neither fenced nor are the boundaries marked. Subsistence use by local residents is more encouraged than constrained by refuge management. ltoyuh~ NWR

LEGEND

I £·.·:·:·:·:·:·:·:-~ Wilderness Area \ ~ Native Lands

·~~¥ National Wild & Scenic River

c==:J U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service land 0 25 50 National Wildlife Refuge Boundary·

Miles ...... SELAWIK Total ocreayc wtlhifl refuge: 3,220,000 • Ac. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE January 1985 USFWS DIVISION OF REALTY ANCHORAGE, AK. INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. HIGHLIGHTS 1

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 1

C. LAND ACQUISITION

1. Fee Title 3 2. Easements Nothing to report 3. Other . . . . ' . . . . 4

D. PLANNING

1. Master Plan ...... 4 2. ·Management Plans ...... • . . . . . 4 3. Public Participation ...... 4 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates ...... Nothing to report 5. Research and Investigations ...... 5 6. Other ...... 8

E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel ...... 9 2. Youth Programs ...... • . . . . . 12 3. Other Manpower Programs . . . Nothing to report 4. Vo~unteer Programs ...... 12 5. Funding ...... 13 6. Safety ...... 13 7. Technical Assistance ...... 15 8. Other Items ...... 16

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT 1. General ...... 18 2. Wetlands ...... 19 3. Forests ...... 20 4. Croplands ...... Nothing to report 5. Grasslands . . . . Nothing to report 6. Other Habitats ...... Nothing to report 7. Grazing ...... Nothing to report 8. Haying ...... Nothing to report 9. Fire Management ...... 20 10. Pest Control ...... Nothing to report 11. Water Rights . . . . . Nothing to report 12. Wilderness and Special Areas . Nothing to report 13. WPA Easement Monitoring . . . Nothing to report G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity ...... • ...... 21 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species . . . Nothing to Report 3. Waterfowl ...... • . . 21 A. Geese ...... • . . 22 B. Ducks ...... • . . . . . 2 2 4. Marsh and Water Birds ...... 2 4 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species 25 6 . ·Raptors ...... 2 5 7. Other Migratory Birds . • . . . . . 26 8. Game Mammals ...... 2 6 A. Caribou ...... • . . 2 6 B. Moose ...... 2 8 9 . Marine Mammals ...... 3 0 10. Other Resident Wildlife . . . . . • . . 30 A. Furbearers ...... • . . 30 B . Red Fox ...... 3 0 11. Fisheries Resources ...... 30 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking Nothing to report 13. Surplus Animal Disposal . . . . . Nothing to report 14. Scientific Collections ...... Nothing to report 15. Animal Control ...... Nothing to report 16. Marking and Banding ...... 31 17. Disease Prevention and Control Nothing to report

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General ...... 34 2. Outdoor Classroom-Students ...... 35 3. Outdoor Classroom-Teachers Nothing to report 4. Interpretive Foot Trails . . . . . Nothing to report 5. Interpretive Tour Routes . . . . . Nothing to report 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstration Nothing to report 7. Other Interpretive Programs ...... 35 8 . Hunting ...... 3 5 9. Fishing ...... • . . 36 10. Trapping . • ...... • . . 3 6 11. Wildlife Observation ...... 36 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation Nothing to report 13 . Camping ...... • . . . . . 3 6 14. Picnicking ...... Nothing to report 15. Off-Road Vehicle Use ...... • . . 37 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation . . • . . 37 17. Law Enforcement ...... 3 7 18. Cooperative Associations ...... • . . 39 19. Concessions ...... Nothing to report I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

1. New Construction ...... 4 0 2. Rehabilitation ...... 41 3. Major Maintenanqe ...... • . . 43 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement . . • . . 44 5. Communications systems ...... 47 6. Energy Conservation ...... 47 7 • Other ...... 4 7

J. OTHER ITEMS

1. Cooperative Programs ...... 48 2. Other Economic Uses ...... Nothing to report 3. Items of Interest ...... Nothing to report 4 . Credits ...... 4 8

K. FEEDBACK 48

L. INFORMATION PACKET 1

A. HIGHLIGHTS

In March, a "Gasaway" moose survey was attempted, but not completed due to weather (G.8).

We moved into a new office in May (I.2).

The refuge field cabin burned down on the lOth of June (I.4).

Fourteen record daily lows were recorded for the month of September. The refuge's hunter check station was shut down early due to cold weather (H.8).

Undersecretary of Interior Mike Hayden visited the refuge in September (E.8).

The staff assisted Maritime NWR in posting nuclear burial site at Cape Thompson (E.7).

Windstorm damages hangar roof in October (I.l).

The keys to the Hangar were turned over to the Refuge on November 19th (I .1) .

The Northwest Arctic Borough Zoning Plans created some controversy in December (D.3).

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Weather for the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge is obtained from the National Weather Service in Kotzebue. Kotzebue weather is typical of the arctic coast, characterized 'by wind and cold. Much of the refuge is typical of subarctic interior Alaska, complete with hot summer days and clear cold winter days.

Kotzebue received over two times normal snowfall for March, making two months in a row of similar conditions. The frequent snowfalls kept the refuge from completing a "Gasaway" Moose survey.

The -11 degree low temperature on the 5th of May, broke that days low temperature record of -7 degrees. The average daily temperature in May was 8 .·4 degrees below normal. These cold temperatures led to a late spring break up in June.

The average monthly temperature for September was 32.2 degrees, which was 9.4 degrees below normal. The monthly low of 13 degrees set the record all time low for this month. Daily record lows were broken on 14 days (9th, 15-17th, 19-24th, 27-30th). Freeze up on the floatplane pond occurred on the 9th of September and the Noatak and Kobuk Rivers were frozen by the 20th. Local 2 residents say this is the earliest freeze up known to occur in Kotzebue.

Peak wind gusts reached 60 mph on the 6th of October. Generally speaking, that is not unusual for Kotzebue but it was significant to the refuge because it damaged the hangar roof and caused a delay in its completion.

Above average snowfall in October (15% above normal), November (97% above normal), and December (250% above normal) led us into a winter that could have significant effects on wildlife.

RM Rearden "get the drift" behind the government residence. Unusually heavy snow and blizzards in December of 1992 caused the drifts to build up to the power line. (MK} 3

Table 1. Monthly weather data for Kotzebue, 1992. Data from National Weather Service office in Kotzebue.

TEMP DEG F WIND TOTAL MONTH MIN DATE MAX DATE MAX DATE PRECIP.

JANUARY -30 31 24 18 51 15 0.26 11 FEBRUARY -34 2,3 21 12 56 8 0.80" MARCH -35 4 31 24 33 12 est.1.26" APRIL -28 1 36 16 47 9 0.10 11 MAY -11 5 46 28 44 11 0.40 11 JUNE 28 .3,4,8 76 29 29 24,29 0.50 11 JULY 46 14 79 5 32 5 0.37 11 AUGUST 34 18 66 23 38 15 3.00 11 SEPTEMBER 13 29 55 1 43 10 0.59 11 OCTOBER -13 31 39 6 60 6 0.84 11 NOVEMBER -15 20-22,26 31 8 54 8 1.16 11 DECEMBER -30 23 32 2 68 16 1.82 11 est. EXTREME -35 79 68 TOTAL 11.10 11

C. LAND ACQUISITION

1. Fee Title

The NANA Regional Corporation (NANA) is the major Alaska Native corporation which has selected lands within the refuge boundary in accordance with the provisions of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). The Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corporation (KIC, the village corporation of the City of Kotzebue) and Doyon, Inc. have also selected lands within the refuge boundary. ANCSA allowed Native corporations to over­ select their entitled acreage by 20 percent to identify adequate lands for final selection. At NANA's request no lands have been conveyed since 1988 so the current tally remains at 360,000 acres conveyed and 734,800 acres selected but not conveyed within the refuge boundary. Since statewide, about 80 per cent of Native lands have been conveyed, the regional refuge policy on management of selected but not conveyed lands changed during 1990 to the following: As before, they are managed as refuge lands. If any party requests a special use permit to use selected lands in a manner compatible with the purposes for which the refuge was established and in accordance with existing regional policies, the selecting Native corporation is notified and their comments requested. The manager waits thirty days and issues or denies a permit in accordance with applicable policies. The manager, may or may not follow recommendations of the Native corporation. 4

3. other

The Service decided not to purchase Jerry Olive's house in Selawik. Questions remained unanswered about Olive's quit claim deed to City land. The property was being considered for replacement of the leased trailer (ex-jail) we maintain in Selawik for a bunkhouse/office. Instead, we used the money to purchase a bunkhouse in Kotzebue. As of year's end we are nearing completion of the paperwork for closure on a three bedroom residence.

D. PLANNING

1. Master Plan

The Selawik NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan was completed in 1987.

2. Management Plans

The second draft of the Selawik NWR Fisheries Management Plan was provided to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for review and comment by the Regional Office, Fish and Wildlife Enhancement in 1990, but no action was taken by either refuge staff or Fairbanks Fishery Assistance. The public review copy came out in the spring of 1991. RM Rearden and WB Peltola reviewed and commented on the Selawik NWR Fisheries Management Plan as requested by Fairbanks FAO.

3. Public Participation

Refuge staff presented information or participated in several public meetings in Kotzebue discussing the federal management of subsistence hunting on federal public lands.

On the 15th of December, BLM Larry Whalen, NPS Lois Dalle-Molle, RO Subsistence Sue Detwiler and RM Rearden met to go over applications for the Federal Regional Advisory Council. Their recommendations were forwarded on to the region.

The Northwest Arctic Borough has developed a Comprehensive Plan that includes zoning ordinances. They intend to zone a five mile corridor along all navigable streams as a subsistence conservation district. The plan says "Sport hunting and fishing are not allowed in the subsistence conservation district." This will be enforced on all lands in the borough. This corridor includes a large amount of federal lands. A copy of the plan was sent to the Solicitor's Office for a legal opinion. The legal opinion came back: "It depends." 5

In october RM Rearden, along with NPS and BLM personnel met with the Northwest Arctic Borough to discuss their proposed ordinance to establish subsistence zones in the borough, including refuge lands, BLM lands and Parks. We explained our concerns and expressed our desire to work with them on the issue. A letter was sent by the Regional Director near month's end explaining our stand on the issue.

RM Rearden met with NPS Superintendent Bob Gerhard to discuss the Northwest Arctic Zoning issue on the 16th of December. On the 22nd of December he testified at Northwest Arctic Borough Zoning Ordinance Meeting. This meeting was broadcast live by KOTZ Radio. The Borough's lawyer made statewide television news discussing the ordinance. The zoning plan was radically changed at the last minute, then passed on an interim basis (until April 30th) to allow the borough to get with state and federal agencies and work out differences.

5. Research and Investigations

"The occurrence of rabies in northwest Alaskan wolf population":

Principle Investigator: Warren Ballard, National Park Service, Anchorage, AK.

The project was initiated in January, of 1'991 and was nearly finalized in 1992.

The project objectives are to determine the survival rates of radio-collared wolves during a rabies epizootic, and to monitor the spread and status of rabies in the wolf population.

The project was funded by the National Park Service, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and the u.s. Fish & Wildlife Service.

In April, 1991, an additional 11 collars were added to packs known or suspected of having rabies outbreaks. Serum samples were collected and submitted for testing. Packs were relocated an average of eight times each. During the year 1990-'91 field season four additional carcasses were collected and tested for rabies.

From the beginning of the study, five laboratory confirmed and seven probable cases of rabies occurred in radio-collared wolves in four of the eleven study packs. Monitoring of the movements of eleven packs revealed various patterns of range use. Long range dispersal by young males was documented as well as overlapping use of range by established packs. Two cases of starvation were documented. A major cause of mortality was human harvest. 6

A final report still remains to be written. The expected completion date was October, 1992, now it looks more like May 1993. The above information is still considered preliminary, and in no way may be used for publication, or citation without the prior written consent of the principle investigator.

Two immediate publications are completed: 1. "Use of Line­ intercept Transects for Censusing Wolves"; and 2. "Accuracy, Precision, and Performance of Satellite Transmitters for Wolves".

"Northern pintail and other waterfowl production as related to wetland bathymetry of tundra habitat at Selawik NWR":

Principle Investigator: Rachel Brubaker, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Selawik NWR, Kotzebue, AK.

The primary objective of this study was to establish a correlation between a habitat variable that can be remotely sensed and duck production, especially for pintails.

This study was conducted in a portion of the Kotzebue Sound waterfowl production area, in Northwest Alaska. The production area is characterized by arctic tundra interspersed with numerous thermokarst lakes with strands of trees along rivers and on south-facing slopes. Permafrost is about 95% continuous. Approximately 2 million acres of the Selawik NWR is considered waterfowl production area.

The main results of the study are summarized below. A complete report was in preparation but principle investigator has transferred to Kanuti NWR and the report has not been completed.

All dabbler species (including pintails) showed a preference for shallow (less than two foot deep) water and avoided deep (depths greater than four feet) water.

The predominant diver species on the refuge is scaup §2. Scaup showed a weaker preference for shallow water, and showed an avoidance of depths over eight feet.

Sea duck species showed no preference based on water depth.

Bathymetry and ice-melt patterns in the spring were related. Ice melt patterns were photographed on 24 randomly selected one mile square plots. The area of ice-free water during ice-melt was positively correlated with waterfowl use throughout the season for dabblers and divers, but not for sea ducks.

Use of a ratio estimator with area of ice-free water resulted in an improvement in the bound error estimates for waterfowl production surveys, as compared to using total land area, total 7 water area, wetland count, or shoreline length as the extrapolation factors.

The lakes on the refuge are much deeper than previously expected. Much of the water on the refuge is deeper than can be effectively utilized by ducks.

Possibilities of remote sensing were explored, but cloud cover prevented testing of the feasibility in 1991.

"The effects of wildfire on wintering caribou on Selawik National Wildlife Refuge":

Investigator: Lisa Saperstein, Alaska Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, student, University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

The objective of this study is to determine caribou feeding patterns in burned versus, unburned habitat by assessing snow and vegetation characteristics in craters and adjacent undisturbed sites.

Funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and the National Parks Service.

In June and July of 1988, the Waring Mountains fire burned approximately 84,615 hectares of the Selawik NWR. The burned area lies in a portion of the refuge which is used as a migratory route by portions of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH). There has been concern over the potential impact the fire may have on caribou use. There is uncertainty over how fire effects caribou~ Some researchers claim that fire in wintering areas is detrimental to caribou because it destroys lichen. Others claim that caribou can survive without lichens, and fire may be an important factor in the regeneration of old growth lichen stands that may stagnate if left undisturbed.

The last winter sampling was conducted between 8 April - 5 March, 1991. Sixteen plots were established in each of the burned and unburned habitats. Snow depth and hardness measurements were recorded for each plot. Four transects, approximately 60 km each, were flown and caribou feeding areas were counted. The last summer field effort was conducted during the month of June, 1991. During this period vegetation work was performed on plots within the study area.

Preliminary data analysis supports the hypothesis that caribou tend to crater in shallow snow, and they appear able to distinguish differences in depth on a relatively small scale. In addition, lichen were found more frequently in unburned plots and 8 in cratered quadrants, which supports a previous hypothesis that fire on caribou winter range may be detrimental.

The progress report by graduate student Lisa Saperstein is available from the refuge, or from the UAF coop unit. Final report is expected in May, 1993.

6. other

On the 24th - 25th of June, WB Peltola and RM Rearden traveled to McGrath to talk with the staff of Innoko NWR about their helicopter moose survey techniques and habitat mapping.

Volunteers Beringer and Ferraro spent most of February and March of 1991, interviewing local residents and leaders as part of their thesis research which is an effort at defining and developing an environmental education plan for the Selawik NWR. They also traveled to Selawik to talk to teachers and residents there. In 1992 they submitted a environmental education plan for the refuge.

On the 13th of February WB Peltola submitted two proposals entitled "Population Status and Home Range Characteristics of Wolverine Inhabiting Selawik NWR" and "Population Parameters and Distribution of Moose Along the Tagagawik River Drainage, Selawik NWR". These are to be considered by the Biological Review Panel in Regional Office, and returned for recommended changes. They will be resubmitted, after changes, in 1993. 9

E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel

L-R: Peltola, Rearden, Houck, Koepsel, Johnson. (TP)

1. Ralph Ramoth, Refuge Information Technician - Selawik, GS- 1001-5, Intermittent, Local Hire, Temp (NTE 1 year), EOD 07/12/92 (not pictured)

2. Grant Ballot, Refuge Information Technician - Selawik, GS- 1001-5, Local Hire, Intermittent, Temp {NTE 4 years), EOD 3/04/91, Resigned 3/30/92 (not pictured).

3. Johnson, William, Maintenance Worker, WG-8, FT Temp (NTE 1 year), EOD 9/09/91, EXT 9/09/92.

4. Victor R. Karmun, Inupiaq Interpreter, GS-1040-11, FT Term {NTE 4 years). EOD 6/20/88, Term ended 6/18/92 (not pictured).

5. Mark A. Koepsel, Refuge Operation Specialist, GS-0485-9, PFT, EOD 09/22/91, Promoted to GS-11 11/21/92.

6. Lance Kramer, Biological Technician, GS-0404-5, Temporary Intermittent, Local Hire, EOD 6/08/92, Term ended 09/30/92.

7. Eugene R. Peltola, Wildlife Biologist, GS-0486-5, PFT, EOD 11/16/91, Promoted to GS-7 on 6/14/92. 10

8. Michael B. Rearden, Refuge Manager, GS-12, PFT, EOD 07/22/91. 9. Robin Houck, Secretary, GS-0318-5, PFT, EOD 4/19/92 Joined us from the private sector from Tucson, AZ.

10. Chris Christensen, OAS Pilot, GS-12, Temp, EOD 6/13/92 Term ended 7/30/92

11. Allison Gal, YCC, EOD 6/15/92, Term ended 8/26/92 (not pictured)

12. Kimberly Dodd, YCC, EOD 6/22/92, Resigned 7/28/92 (not pictured)

Chris Christensen (left) flew for the refuge during the busy part of the summer when RM/Pilot Rearden was too busy shuffling papers and going to meetings. (EP)

The Local Hire, Biological Technician position that worked in the visitor center was reclassified as a Local Hire Park Ranger. Attempts to hire a Park Ranger, local hire, were very frustrating. Three individuals were selected, and all three turned the job down after the final paperwork was completed. Two of them called at 8:00 am on the day they were scheduled to start work. Luckily, Allison Gal (YCC) did a tremendous job taking up the slack from the vacant position. 11 Robin Houck moved up from Tucson, AZ to become our new secretary. April 24th, was her first day at work in Kotzebue. ROS Koepsel was not at all reluctant to turn over the bill-paying responsibilities to Robin.

We were notified that a desk audit reclassified our Secretary position from a GS-318-5 to a GS-303-6. This might help us reduce our high turnover in this position.

Interpreter Karmun's four year term appointment expired on the 18th of June. We really missed his skills and knowledge during the 1992 field season.

Ralph Ramoth, who was previously employed as an RIT at Selawik was rehired on July 14, and started work banding ducks and geese. His abilities and dependability add significantly to our effectiveness in this region.

Lance Kramer, seasonal bio. tech., baiting duck traps. (EP} 12

A position description and other required paperwork for a local hire subsistence coordinator refuge information technician was sent in to the regional office and on the 28th of September the Local Hire Subsistence Coordinator GS-9 position was advertised. We accepted applications till Oct. 9th. We had two applicants but the funds fell through, and this position will not be filled in fiscal year 93.

On the 29th of December, SEC Robin Houck was selected as the secretary for Buenos Aires NWR. She leaves us on February 19, 1993 and will be missed. We are scrambling to do the necessary paperwork to quickly fill this position through OPM.

2. Youth Programs

In April WB Peltola met with representatives from NANA, KIC, Kotzebue IRA and reviewed a promotional video produced by the North American Fish & Wildlife Society. The intent of this video is to encourage high school aged Native students to get involved in natural resource jobs.

In June, YCC Alison Gal started on the 15th and YCC Kimberly Dodd started on the 22nd. No males sent in applications. YCC Dodd ended her tour of duty on the 28th. She did a tremendous job of organizing files and converting our files to the hanging file system. YCC Allison Gal continued to work in the visitor center, working the ANHA outlet and dispersing information to tourists about the refuge and the parks until the 26th of August.

4. Volunteer Programs

After Interpreter Victor Karmen's term ended, he signed on as a volunteer. He gave gun safety instruction to attenders of Sivunniigvik, a locally sponsored summer camp that teach Native cultural values and crafts. 13 s. Funding

Table 2. Selawik NWR Funding, FY 85 through FY 92 (thousands).

Fiscal Year Funding Source Station Total 1260 ARMM 1520/1210 8610 1100 1230

85 226.0 109.0 2.4 9.6 0 346.4 86 233.6 66.4 3.1 6.9 0 310.0 87 305.5 50.0 1.5 10.0 17.0 384.0 88 442.0 0 0 12.0 18.0 472.0 89 540.0 0 0 13.0 0 553.0 90 540.0 0 16.0(1} 20.5 0 556.5 91 655.0 0 11.0(2} 15.0 0 681.0

92 522.0 0 11. 0 ( 3) 12.0 0 545.0

(1} 1240 Fire funds to purchase Remote Area Weather Station (2} Arctic nesting geese I&E (3} 1230 funds for pintail banding (5,000) & Grtr Wht Frnt Geese banding (6,000}

6. Safety

Rearview mirrors and 11 gallon gas tanks were installed on all refuge snowmobiles. Tool kits were made up, including spare belt and spark plugs and put into each snowmachine. Tall windshields were put on the new snowmachines. The low windshields that came with the machines force drivers to bend way over to stay out of the wind. This causes back pain so drivers sit upright and frostbite their face.

RM Rearden attended the NANA search and rescue quarterly meeting on the 22nd of February.

Yukon Flats WB/P Vivion gave WB Peltola, ROS Koepsel, BLM Whalen, NPS Dalle-Molle an eight hour OAS air safety course.

MW Johnson replaced the door on the WB's apartment. The door opened irito the hallway which made it a safety hazard to anyone walking in the narrow hallway. Now it opens inward.

Survival supplies were ordered to make up personal survival packs. These packs will be worn by personnel while flying in charter and refuge aircraft. 14

ROS Koepsel received Arctic Survival Training from the Air Force on the 17th - 21st of March. MW Johnson had to cancel his Arctic Survival Training the following week due to illness.

Interpreter Karmun spent the 6th-12th of April in Seward attending the Train-the-Trainer sessions on Bear and Boat Safety. Victor trained all staff on Bear and Boat Safety before our field season started.

MW Johnson moved the 24 foot Sea Dory gas tank from inside the cabin. Gas lines that ran through the cabin were rerouted to run outside the cabin. This will reduce the chance of gas fumes building up inside the cabin and also gave us substantially more leg room. He also installed a GPS and a compass in the boat.

All portable radios were taken out of town and tested. This also was a test of the new radio tower which was installed behind the new office.

RM Rearden will testify, after peering at the tan CO detectors in government aircraft for several years and seeing no change, that they really do turn black when it matters. On the way back from Piper cub 91251's 100 hour inspection the CO detectors turned black. Exhaust leak problems grounded the plane for several days until a local mechanic could receive and install an entire new exhaust system.

Victor Karmun gave several one-hour courses in gun safety in local and village.schools throughout the year.

MW Johnson riveted snaps onto the back of the boat cabin. Then snapped a cover onto the back. This reduces engine noise (ear protection still required) and keeps exhaust fumes out of the cabin. It also allows quick access to the motors if necessary.

The Kotzebue based NPS Cessna 185 flipped over while taking off from a lake near the Noatak River on September 14th. The resulting search and rescue of the occupants prompted us to review our own flight safety procedures. Overdue airplane procedures were reviewed, rewritten and posted by the radio.

RM Rearden worked with a committee of other pilots in Anchorage developing syllabuses for pilot training.

Vita-light daylight simulation lights were installed in the office. On the 21st of December, our daylight was only 1 hour and 43 minutes. Lack of daylight is said to cause physical and mental symptoms that. reduce productivity and safety awareness.

RM Rearden attended pilot ground school from the 7th - 11th of December and successfully navigated the aircraft underwater 15 escape course. This is excellent training for pilots and · passengers alike.

7. Technical Assistance

RM Rearden assisted in the operational review of Togiak NWR on the 6th through the lOth of February. He was impressed with the dedication of the refuge staff.

On July 13-15, WB Peltola was detailed to YDNWR to participate in "Ellamek Taringaurvik- a place to understand the environment", the Y-K Delta Environmental Awareness Youth Program, at Nyac, Ak. He gave a presentation on wildlife management techniques, which included a passerine transect, by which, based on obtained densities, the students estimated a passerine population for the Nyac Valley. He also assisted ADF&G area Game Biologist, Randy Kaycon, and UAF-Bethel Branch, professor Paul Polechla, with their activities concerning fresh-water invertebrates and mammals.

The refuge staff assisted the Alaska Maritime NWR staff with work at Cape Thompson where it was recently divulged that radioactive waste was buried in the early 1960's.

In October, MW Johnson coordinated with the Alaska Maritime NWR in an attempt to post warning signs at Cape Thompson. This project was put on hold numerous times. After the earth auger drill bit failed to arrive even after being reordered MW Johnson devised a tripod system to hold the signs. The Department of Energy sent five people to hold a public meeting in Point Hope and they said they would take care of the posting. They were unable to get it done because of snow conditions and left the posts, signs and tools in Point Hope.

On the 16th of November, ROS Koepsel flew up to Point Hope and joined Rex Tuzrouluk Jr. on a trip to Cape Thompson. Once there, they placed four warning signs around two mounds that cover radioactive waste left over from project Chariot.

On the 21st of May WB Peltola flew to Homer and boarded the Tiglax to the Aleutians to assist Alaska Maritime NWR with fox removal. He was detailed to Alaska Maritime NWR until the 12th of June and assisted their staff with checks of Amitignak, Ulak, and Bobrof Islands to confirm the effectiveness of fox eradication work conducted last field season. Sea bird and passerine surveys and transects were also performed on the same islands.

From the 30th of October until the 14th of November, WB Peltola was detailed to Yukon Flats NWR to assist with the stratification 16 and survey of moose. ROS Koepsel assisted in the same survey from November 1st to the 11th.

From the 4th to the lOth of April WB Peltola worked with ADF&G and NPS personnel radio-collaring and ear tagging moose along the Noatak River. A total of 50 radio transmitters were placed on 25 bulls and 25 cows. s. Other Items

The refuge issued 9 special use permits in 1992. Three were to air taxi operators: Arctic Air Guides, Trail Ridge Air, and Northwest Aviation. Two were to big game guides: Jake Jacobson, and NelsonfJohn Walker. The Kotzebue Dog Musher's Association and the Kotzebue Lion's Club were issued permits to conduct races on refuge lands. One permit was issued to a Selawik resident for cutting house logs. One permit was issued to PH.D. Candidate Steve Roof, University of Massachusetts, Dept. of Geology to take soil samples. His project is "Mid-Pleistocene Glacial History of the Kotzebue Sound Region, Northwest Alaska." Knik Construction was issued a permit in 1991 to dredge 200,000 yards of gravel from the mouth of the Selawik River to use on a new crosswind runway at Selawik. They found the channel to the village too shallow and acquired the gravel via an ice road northwest of the village of Selawik early in 1992.

A five year permit was issued in 1991 to the Upper Kobuk Elders Council to permit cabins and use at the Purcell Mt. hot springs.

Pacific walrus follow the ice floes and so generally get no closer than 30 miles from Kotzebue. Occasionally a young one swims right to town. Ocean currents deposit walrus carcasses on the beaches in town and south along the Baldwin Peninsula. Due to the cold water and long ice season, walrus carcasses last two or three years. There are only a few traditional walrus hunters in Kotzebue but many in the nearby villages of Wales, Shishmaref, Kivalina and Point Hope. Frequently, wounded walrus escape and die later, or sink after being shot. They also die of old age and by crushing and fighting. The dead ones with their ivory tusks intact are eagerly sought by airplane pilots and ATV riders who cruise the beaches after the fall storms looking for fresh carcasses. The Marine Mammal Act allows possession of beach found walrus ivory by non-Natives, but it must be registered within 30 days of being found. Native hunters must register their ivory and polar bear hides also.

In 1992 the refuge registered 10 pairs and one odd tusk for non­ Native beach found ivory. No Native hunters brought in ivory. No polar bears were sealed in Kotzebue in 1992. 17

ROS Koepsel and RM Rearden participated in an EPA study at the indoor firing range at the National Guard headquarters in Kotzebue in June. We shot our revolvers while wearing monitors that measured the level of lead particulate. We must have done well, as the EPA representative called and said our lead levels were several times higher than any of the other participants, including the local police, the NPS, and a FW protection officer.

Undersecretary of Interior, Mike Hayden was accompanied by RM Rearden on the 16th of September, while on an overflight of the refuge. He was duly impressed by the large herds of migrating caribou on the refuge.

On the 23rd of September we received a call from Trail Ridge Air, an outfitter based out of Anchorage, requesting to be allowed to use a helicopter to pick up a couple of hunters on the Tag River. The river and adjacent lake had frozen, not allowing float access, yet too thin to allow wheel or ski operations. The refuge concurred and the hunters were pulled from the field successfully.

From the 19th - 21st of October Associate Manager George Constantino visited Kotzebue and conducted a station review. The results were positive and constructive.

On the 15th of October, seven guide proposals (from 5 guides) were opened. A client list from each guide were merged with a form letter and sent out with a questionnaire. Approximately 130 questionnaires were mailed out.

ROS Koepsel left on the 29th of November, for Anchorage to be on the Guide/Outfitters Selection Panel. ROS Koepsel worked on the Yukon Delta, Selawik, Koyukuk/Nowitna, Innoko Guide outfitter Panel until completion on the 3rd of December . He then took Park Ranger/Pilot Rich Johnson's place on the Kodiak, Kenai, Aleutian Island Panel. By working the weekend and some evenings this panel was able to finish on the 11th of ~ecember.

A request for a permit to herd reindeer on the Selawik NWR was received. As of year's end however the requestor has not followed through on his request.

On the 4th of February, WB Peltola went on KOTZ Radio to introduce himself to the community and discuss the upcoming moose census. 18

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

Kobuk River delta habitat on the western edge of the refuge is fine moose habitat. (EP}

1. General

The refuge contains a variety of habitats, including alpine tundra, subarctic tundra and taiga, extensive wetlands and lake complexes, meadows, mountains, glacial valleys, and sand and gravel beaches. There are no roads on the refuge. With the exception of fire management, there are no active habitat management programs on the refuge.

WB Peltola attended ComRim Systems Inc's "Introduction to ARC/INFO training from the 26th to 31st of February. This course is designed to be a two week course but is condensed to one week to reduce costs. ARC/INFO is the software which will be used with our GIS system to store vegetative mapping data of the refuge.

WB Peltola prepared a GIS Plan for Selawik NWR and forwarded to the Assoc. Manager (Refuges & Wildlife} in February. We have 19 big plans to expand and fully utilize this system for habitat management.

2. Wetlands

Habitat conditions for nesting waterfowl appeared to be less favorable this year as compared to 1991, with a late breakup, dry summer and early freeze up.

Large flocks of molting pintails were found in wetlands with patches of flooded, dead willows. (EP) 20

3. Forests

Some of the refuge is forested. The type of cover varies from the boreal black spruce forest, which belts the Waring Mountains and Kiana Hills on the northern border, to the riparian corridors which consist of a mixture of hardwood and coniferous species. These corridors are characterized by white and black spruce, birch, aspen, and various willow species.

9. Fire Management

RM Rearden and ROS Koepsel attended Fire Management for Line Officers Training on the 11th - 13th of February. There were some interesting and educational practical excises in the course.

ROS Koepsel spent the 1st-9th of April in Marana, AZ at Fire in Resource Management Training.

Table 3 . Wildfires occurring on Selawik NWR in 1992.

BLM Date Location Cause Management Size No. Category (Acres)

A214 06/10/92 Upingivik* Man Full 20

* This one fire on the refuge totally burned our only field cabin to the ground.

RM Rearden met with Tom Lugtenaar, FMO, KoyukukfNowitna on the 30th of April to discuss the fire management plan and summer work related to finding all cabins on the refuge and adjacent and discussing fire hazard prevention with them.

On the 1st of May, BLM/Alaska Fire Service held a meeting for government and Native Agencies to answer any questions about the upcoming fire season. RM, ROS, INT and WB attended.

Helicopter fuel was purchased and flown to Selawik where RIT Ramoth assisted in moving the drums (440 lbsjeach) to a landing site. Due to construction at the airport we could not store fuel there. The fuel was used by the Fire Service helicopter in support of botanist Joan Foote working on vegetative plots in the 1988 Waring Mt. burn. SEC Houck and YCC Dodd assisted Joan from the 26th to the 28th. 21

•

A coffee fire got out of hand and burned our field cabin, associated out buildings, and 20 acres of tundra. (CB}

G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity

The major purpose of Selawik NWR, as set forth by congress, in ANILCA, is to conserve fish and wildlife populations in their natural diversity and to maintain the environment of the refuge in a condition that will perpetuate total fish and wildlife values.

Most bird arrival dates in Kotzebue were late this year (see Table 4) as compared with the last ten years.

3. waterfowl

Historically, the Selawik River basin and Kobuk Delta areas of Kotzebue Sound have been reported to support large waterfowl populations. The Selawik NWR was established in 1980, with one of the objectives being to preserve and manage waterfowl habitat in this wetlands area.

There are numerous waterfowl nest predators in Northwest Alaska, including jaegers, gulls, ravens, red foxes, black bears, mink, 22

and weasels. Unfortunately, we have no quantitative estimates of any of these predator populations.

A. Geese

Two species of geese breed on the refuge: Greater white-fronted geese and lesser Canada geese (subsp. taverneri). Emperor geese are seen occasionally along the coast, with the nearest known nesting areas at Cape Espenberg on the Seward Peninsula. Black brant are a common spring migrant, and summer resident of coastal areas, while the nearest breeding colony is located at the mouth of the Nugnugaluktuk River, on the northern Seward Peninsula.

Groups of molting white-fronted geese were located, totaling approximately 1,200 geese in 9 groups.

Table 4: First and average arrival dates for 12 common bird species at Kotzebue and a 10 mile radius, 1983-1992. All dates are in May except as noted.

Species '83 '84 '85 1 86 '87 '88 1 89 '90 '91 1 82- '91 '92 Avg. Tundra swan N/A N/A 7 7 12 3 4 14 2 7 7 I.J-F goose 8 16 17 2 8 5 30' N/A 1 7 7 Canada goose 16 13 11 2 8 3 28' 6 1 7 6 Mallard 12 23 17 9 15 29 17 9 11 17 6 No. pintail 28' 23 16 2 9 29' 18 7 3 8 28 Am. wigeon 12 23 17 2 9 7 18 10 15 13 24 Gr. Scaup 10 23 19 18 13 5 21 17 11 16 29 Sandhill crane 3 13 10 1 3 29 6 4 4 8 15 R-N phalarope 14 28 18 22 16 12 24 17 18 19 25 Gl. gull 23' 7 8 30' 27' 24' 23' 5 1 29' 24* Am. robin 6 14 23 9 6 5 6 12 3 10 22 Lapland longspur 8 8 17 3 10 5 18 14 21 12 24

·Observation recorded in the month of April.

B. Ducks

Large flocks of northern pintails were a common occurrence on the refuge. A total of 17 flocks, containing 9,015 pintail were observed. This total does not include groups sizes of less than 100 birds, which were even more common. The total number of pintail could have been even higher - that portion of the refuge .north, and east of the Tag River was not flown. We're gathering data for an intense p'intail banding effort in future years. 23 waterfowl brood survey

This year, Selawik NWR continued participation in a standardized duck production survey, which covered most of the waterfowl habitat in Alaska.

In June, WB Peltola made arrangements for the Migratory Birds Helicopter Brood survey. This became far more complicated than past years. The state is requiring permits to store fuel drums at airports and that the drums have a containment system to prevent spills. Gene filled out the acquisition requests for containment booms and state permits. Then applied for the state permits for fuel storage at the Noorvik, Selawik and Ambler Airports.

On the 3rd of August, MW Johnson and BT Kramer picked up nine barrels of A-50 fuel from the barge company and flew them via Bering Air to Ambler, Selawik and Noorvik. Our personnel had to set up containment berms, put the fuel inside the berms and covered them with a tarp. This, plus the $200 permit fee to the state, along with the paperwork that goes with it, was done to get ready for the waterfowl brood survey.

On the 7th of August, the helicopter duck brood survey was initiated with WB Karen Laing (MBM, primary observer), WB Peltola (secondary observer), and contract pilot Mark Johnson. By the 9th WB Peltola had taken the role of primary observer for the remainder of the effort, which was completed on the 13th. A total of 32 plots were surveyed in areas on, and adjacent to the refuge. None of the 32 plots were ground truthed. Analysis of this summer's duck brood survey was started on the 29th of September. Preliminary analysis of this summer's duck production (helicopter) surveys was completed. Initial indications are that productivity and populations of dabblerp on the refuge has declined. Although this is most likely a result of the timing of the survey flights (being late) rather than being indicative of actual changes in the population andjor productivity.

WB Peltola attended the Migratory Bird Branch's Duck Production meeting in Anchorage on the 22nd and 23rd of October. 24

Table 5. Waterfowl production estimates. The extrapolated number of young produced is based on refuge brood surveys on Selawik NWR, 1985-1991. (All estimates X 1000.) The 1985-88 average is based on a 60 random wetland survey, the 1989 survey is based on 23 plots selected based on a subset of the 60 wetlands, and the 1990 and 1991 surveys are based on a new random selection of one square mile plots.

Year: 85-88 89 90 91 92 1992 1992 avg % chg % chg from from 85-91 91 avg. avg Survey method: (single (23 (random (random (random wetlands) plots) plots) plots) plots) SPECIES Mallard 4.0 1.2 3.6 6.8 5.3 +94 +89 Am. wigeon 15.5 7.1 27.8 20.0 15.3 +24 -28 G-W teal 8.9 2.5 18.7 12.0 7.7 +26 -36 No. shoveler 7.2 0.2 10.0 2.5 0.7 -62 -75 No. pintail 13.5 2.0 10.1 28.2 9.7 +156 +179

Dabbler total 46.6 13.8 69.5 69.4 38.7 +54 < 1 Gr. scaup 12.8 3.9 20.6 39.1 18.1 +210 +90 Oldsquaw 11.4 0.3 5.3 7.0 2.4 -16 +32 Black scoter 3.7 1.6 4.2 8.3 0.5 +144 +97 Diver total 27.8 5.8 30.6 39.1 18.1 +59 +28 Canada goose 2.9 0.6 0.1 0.0 2.4 -100 -100 Tundra swan 1.6 0.7 0.4 0.9 0.5 -31 +125 Total Waterfowl 79.3 23.3 107.4 128.0 18.7 +71 +19 ------

4. Marsh and water Birds

The most common waterbirds on Selawik NWR are Pacific loons, red­ necked grebes, and sandhill cranes. The 1992 breeding season was characterized by an apparent decrease in most species in both breeding population and production, as compared to the seven year average (Table 6). However, this change may be due, either in whole or in part, to the change in survey method used during the last two brood surveys. 25

Table 6. The most common marsh and water birds at Selawik NWR: their breeding population and production estimates. (Estimates X 1000.)

Breeders Production Average Average 85-91 1992 85-91 1992

Pacific loon 4.5 1.8 .73 0.2 Red-necked grebe 10.6 5.9 2.3 1.9 Sandhill crane 2.0 0.2 0.2 0.8

5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species

Many shorebirds, gulls and terns use the refuge throughout the summer. A complete listoand the relative abundance of each species is included in the appended bird checklist.

WB Peltola was to survey Chamisso Island for Alaska Maritime NWR but this project was canceled. The backpack of a man who disappeared through the ice last January was found near the island. This prompted a search for his body. The search entailed 130 people and 19 boats, which used the island as a camping location. The disturbance this caused made it impossible to survey the area. The local search and rescue organization was called and reminded to remove all trash from the Qampsite upon completion of the search.

6. Raptors

Many raptors use the refuge as a migratory corridor during the spring and fall, while the gyrfalcon is a year around resident.

WB Peltola and OAS Pilot Christensen spent the 16th - 18th of July conducting an abbreviated raptor survey of the Waring Mountains. Three raptor nest sites were identified--! gyrfalcon and 2 golden eagles. The status of molting waterfowl precluded surveys which were scheduled for the Selawik Hills and Purcell Mountain areas. 26

7. Other Migratory Birds

Throughout the month of July, BT Kramer worked on portions of the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Program assignment, as well as providing much needed logistical support to the pintail banding effort. An interesting observation which lends credence to the need for quality work on neotropical migrants is that of the Alaskan species of concern, over 50% either nest or have been observed on the refuge. A Professional Walkman cassette recorder and Sony headphone arrived on the 8th of July. The microphone had arrived one month earlier. They are to be used for a nee­ tropical breeding bird work planned for next season.

On Dec 1-2 WB Peltola attended the Alaska working group Partners in Flight meeting. FWS Alaska Fish & Wildlife Research Center's Colleen Handel coordinated the meeting and Tom Pogson of Alaska Bird Observatory in Fairbanks was the host. WB Peltola joined a subgroup with two other Alaska biologist to delineate habitat associations and potential threats for neotropical migratory birds in the western region of Alaska. He started efforts for this group by creating a dBase V format for neotropic species of concern for the western region of Alaska. This file contained habitat associations to the tertiary level. This data was then forwarded to the two other biologists on the subgroup; YDNWR WB Brian McCaffery and NPS Bering Land Bridge Natural Resource Specialist Rich Harris for their input.

The Neotropical Migratory Bird Program assignment from Migratory Bird Management was completed during the last days of September. The requested information was forwarded to the Regional office, of which included, but not limited to a 1 Mb file of non-game avian observations for the refuge, dating back to 1981.

8. Game Mammals

A. caribou

The Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH) is the largest caribou herd in Alaska, containing over 500,000 individuals, and is one of the largest in North America. Historically, the herd has calved north of the refuge on the western part of the North Slope, in the Utukok drainage, and wintered south of the Brooks Range, including some parts of the refuge, and south to the Seward Peninsula. Wintering distribution and migration routes are characteristically highly variable; primary use of the refuge occurs during migration, and in some years a substantial portion of the herd winters on the refuge.

ADF&G i? responsible for management and monitoring of the herd, but because of the enormous size of the range, they rely on assistance from federal agencies including the Service, the 27

National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Monitoring the herd consists of a biennial photo census, annual cowjcalf ratio surveys, and aerial radio-telemetry (distribution) surveys.

The State conducted the short yearling (calves born the previous spring) survey during May, 1991 (next survey 1993). This survey indicated that the recruitment rate was 19 short yearlings:lOO adults. This was within the range of recruitment during recent years. Since 1986, recruitment has ranged from 19-27 short yearlings:lOO adults.

In December RM Rearden met with ADF&G Biologist Jim Dau and ADF&G Regional Supervisor John Coady about cooperative management of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd.

In March the Western Arctic Herd started their migration northward.

By mid-September the migration of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd was in full swing. Refuge lands from the Kobuk River Delta to the headwaters of the Selawik River were utilized by the herd as they made their way south.

The first week of October saw a group of approximately 100,000 members of the WACH pass through the Refuge. This group moved through the Noatak Valley, on the Refuge via the eastern shore of Hotham Inlet, passing through Selawik and Inland Lakes, then on through the Selawik Hills, and continuing on southward. A few remnant groups remained on the refuge proper. The southward migration through the refuge lasted 5-7 days, which were expended on a constant trek to the south, with the group pausing very little.

On the 19th of October, WB Peltola assisted BLM's Natural Resources Specialist (NRS} Whalen conduct a cariboujreindeer interaction flight in the vicinity of Buckland, Ak. The herd is owned by Nathan Hadley. Approximately 150 animals, of his 500 member herd were located. Mr. Hadley had expressed concern that he may have lost some members of his herd to the large group of caribou from the WACH which had migrated just east of the village.

On the 26th of October, RM Rearden met with Dr. Kruse (Univ. of Alaska Anchorage) to discuss his upcoming research with the WACH. The focus of his research will be on the socioeconomic differences of the management of the WACH, as compared to management of caribou herds in the Canadian high Arctic. 28 B. Moose

About 2000 moose inhabit the refuge, based on a refuge-wide census conducted in 1984 and 1985. Moose are used by both local subsistence hunters and non-local sports hunters. During the winter of 1990 and the spring of 1991, moose in NW Alaska experienced severe winter kill (leaving us unsure what the population is). This mortality was attributed to severe snow depth, and increased predation.

A "garden variety" bull moose in the fall. (EP)

On the 24th of February WB Peltola, RM Rearden and Interpreter Karmun met with representatives from NANA Regional Corp., KIC, Maniilaq, and ADF&G Advisory Council. WB Peltola presented information on the up-coming moose census and proposals submitted to conduct future research on wolverine and moose. Later that day Peltola and Interpreter Victor Karmun went to Selawik and met with representatives of the city of Selawik, Selawik Police Dept., the Chairperson of NANA Regional Corp., and village elders/leaders to discuss the up-coming moose census.

WB Peltola spent most of the month of January preparing for the Gasaway Moose Census. Sample units were re-delineated because the old units did not meet the census requirements. Numerous calls were made to line up observers, pilots and planes. In 29

February he completed delineating the sample unit boundaries. A total of 416 sample units were established. He digitized all 416 sample units to ascertain areas. Both census areas comprised a total of 5,748.56 square miles.

On the 9th-19th of March we attempted to do a refuge-wide Gasaway moose census, but unfavorable weather precluded our efforts. Personnel stood by waiting for favorable weather, to no avail. Personnel which were waiting to assist our staff included: P George Walters, WB/P Mike Vivien, P Brown, ARM/P Leidberg, ARM/P Spindler, B/P Martin, Fish & Wildlife Protection Officer Brent, ADF&G Area Biologist/Pilot Dau, BT Harwood (Yukon Delta NWR), BT Jozwiak (Kenai NWR), and ADF&G Biometrician Verhoef. We greatly appreciate the time and aircraft commitment which was given to our staff by other refuges and agencies.

After the first failed attempt at completing the ~efuge-wide moose census, plans were made to complete the census utilizing ADF&G aircraft and personnel, in addition to WB Peltola. This plan quickly deteriorated due to continued bad weather and conflicts associated with aircraft availability and scheduling.

Revisions to the "Tag River" Moose Survey were made to include participation by BLM and ADF&G. This required lengthy discussions and meetings with BLM Larry Whalen and ADF&G Jim Dau. The draft proposal was rushed off for last minute revisions and signatures of all parties involved.

In the recent past, two annual trend count areas have been used to monitor survival and mortality including the effects of hunting. In addition, aerial trend counts have been conducted by USFWS in a 91 mi2 area near the Tagagawik river since 1984; in an. adjacent 103 mi2 area of the Selawik Hills managed by the BLM. ADFG has conducted trend surveys since 1986.

On November 20th WB Peltola and Local Pilot Jim Rood (Northwest Aviation) conducted moose trend surveys on the Tagagawik River. ADF&G personnel conducted a survey of the Selawik Hills at the same time. Analysis shows an increase in total number of moose encountered over the previous sample years, except for 1987 in which large bulls were more numerous. The results showed a decrease in the number of yearling bulls within the population and a decline in the number of calves from the previous survey year.

Population statistics (ratios) have varied greatly over the years. The bullfcow ratios has fluctuated from an alarming low 28/100 to a high of 48.5/100 (1985). The current bulljcow ratio of 43/100 is considered fair. Both the yearling bullfcow and cowjcalf ratios for 1992 are the lowest ever recorded for this area. WB Peltola· believes that the data may be indicate snow 30

induced movements instead of actual changes in population. These trend areas are being continued, although limited they provide the only means at delineation of at least a portion of the population which inhabits the Tagagawik River drainage. The composition data attained represents the moose present at the time of the survey but this data does not provide any quantitative means of assessing the total abundance.

9. Marine Mammals

Spotted seals and beluga whales are sometimes seen using refuge rivers; beluga whale, and spotted, bearded, ringed, and occasionally ribbon seals occur in the marine waters of Hotham Inlet, which forms the western boundary of the refuge.

Research biologist Gerald Garner and his crew occasionally work out of Kotzebue monitoring polar bears, as a part of a continuing project.

10. Other Resident Wildlife

A. Furbearers

Furbearers present on the refuge include red fox, arctic fox, wolverine, wolf, beaver, muskrat, lynx, mink, marten, least weasel, short-tailed weasel, and river otter. Although not classified as furbearers, arctic ground and red squirrels are also present on the refuge.

B. Red Fox

Although we have no quantitative means to monitor red fox populations, all anecdotal evidence points to an increase in numbers of fox this year, compared to previous years.

11. Fisheries Resources

The refuge's many lakes and rivers support both anadromous and freshwater fisheries, and include spawning grounds for sheefish, northern pike, whitefish, and grayling. Arctic char and chum salmon are also present. Herring spawn in the coastal waters of Kotzebue Sound and Hotham Inlet, which are adjacent to the refuge.

Monte Millard, Fisheries, Fairbanks met with refuge staff about study needs on sheefish in February. A local commercial fisherman's net was checked to give him a first hand knowledge of the resource. One fish was caught. 31

Concern for the local sheefish population remains an issue at the refuge. During the winter and spring, NW Alaska residents utilize this species of fish as a subsistence food source. The population is also exploited commercially. There is presently a 25,000 lbs. limit on this commercial fishery. The subsistence fishery far exceeds this limit. Although, it is felt that current subsistence harvest does not exceed the historical level of harvest.

RM Rearden met with Ross Cavanaugh, NPS Fisheries on the 22nd of April, and discussed regional fisheries programs.

RM Rearden met with Monte Millard, Fisheries in Fairbanks to discuss fishery management needs on the refuge. We're hoping eventually to cooperate with ADF&G and NPS on a joint sheefish study on the Selawik and Kobuk Rivers.

Fred Da'sico, ADF&G fisheries biologist in Nome, flew to meet with RM Rearden on the 8th of September to plan spawning sheefish surveys on the Selawik and Kobuk Rivers. Forty knot winds had Rearden and family stranded on the east shore of Kobuk Lake. Plans are being made to meet again.

16. Marking and Banding

In 1992 the Selawik NWR staff participated in the region-wide effort to band and collar greater white-fronted geese. Dave Rue, from Ambler Air Service, assisted the refuge staff in the effort. This year the refuge banded geese with only limited success. Staff anticipated that the late spring and the fact they were much farther north than Bethel (last station for the RM & WB) that the geese would molt later. By the time banding started most birds could fly.

WB Peltola, ROS Koepsel, RIT Ramoth, OAS Pilot Christensen and Ambler Air Pilot Dave Rue spent the 21st and 22nd of July, banding greater white fronted geese. Equipment failure (leads broke under the strain applied by 120 geese) and the fact that some of the birds could already fly limited the number of geese banded and collared to 77 birds.

Band returns from Greater white-fronted geese banded in 1988, 1989 and 1990 have come from SE Alberta, SW Saskatchewan, and from the Gulf Coast of eastern Texas and western Louisiana. While, 1991 returns have come from Alaska, SE Alberta and northern Mexico.

In February WB Peltola conversed with Dr. James Sedinger (UAF) and discussed Selawik NWR assistance this summer with an on-going brant dispersal study and potential banding of brant from the Nugnugaluktuk River colony. 32

77 Whitefronted geese were banded during the summer of 1992. (CC)

On the 30th of July, WB Peltola and RM Rearden went out to read brant tarsal bands at a small colony of nesting birds which utilize islands at the mouth of the Nugnugalurtuk River. Upon arriving at the appropriate location, there were no brant to be found. Approximately 30 minutes of aircraft time was expended surveying the area, in a attempt to locate the colony. A ground check of the area revealed that there was still a lot of standing water on the islands and it was assumed that the late spring had precluded any nesting effort. Nest down was found from last years nesting season, enough evidence to appease any fears that they may have been in the wrong location. Small groups of nesting brant (<20) were observed from the air, on a group of small, offshore islands approximately 20 miles to the NE of the Nugnugalurtuk River.

On the 27th of July WB Peltola and RIT Ramoth set up a rocket net and camped out overnight. The next day they set it off and captured and banded 15 ducks. On the 31st of July WB Peltola and ROS Koepsel once again set off the net at the same site and captured 19 ducks. It is apparent that prebaiting of specific areas is critical to the success of rocket netting. We've found some areas that should provide excellent opportunity for banding next year. 33

Five Green-wing teal were caught and banded this summer during efforts to band pintails. (MK}

On the 24th and 28th of July, WB Peltola, RIT Ramoth and BT Kramer set out duck traps at two locations. Bird use has been high around the traps but only a few have gone inside the traps. Six days of pre-baiting of the trap locations preceded placement of the traps. Fluctuating water levels due to wind shifts made placement of traps difficult.

RIT Ramoth has been prebaiting and preparing to band pintails in the vicinity of the village of Selawik. Even if we didn't catch a lot of ducks, we certainly fattened a lot of them on high quality barley! 34

The northern pintail banding effort continued throughout the month of August. By August 13th sufficient number of pintails did not exist on the Kobuk River Delta, hence the majority of the trapping effort was shifted to Arctic Circle Lake (34 miles southeast of Kotzebue, on the Choris Peninsula). RIT Ramoth continued trapping in the vicinity of Inland and Selawik Lakes until the 26th. By months end a total of 208 ducks had been captured and banded (191 northern pintail, 12 american wigeon, and 5 green-winged teal).

RM Rearden and his children checked a swim-in duck trap behind the refuge houses from the 1st-14th of August. They banded 17 hatch-year pintails.

On the 14th of August, WB Peltola submitted banding schedules which covered the summer's white-fronted goose banding effort and those bands which were destroyed when the Upingivik field station burned down.

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General

Selawik NWR is used primarily by local residents for subsistence activities. Hunting, fishing, berry picking, greens gathering, and firewood cutting occur on refuge lands year round. Non­ resident sport hunters are the primary non-local users of the refuge.

On the 21st of January a public meeting was held to gather comments on subsistence hunting regulations. Subsistence Management Biologist Dave Fisher came out from regional office to run the meeting. RI Victor Karmun assisted and RM Rearden and WB Peltola attended.

A bear regulation subsistence proposal was submitted to the subsistence division in January. We, the NPS and FWS proposed that the regulation be changed from one bear every four years to one bear per year in North Western Alaska. It requires that the ears and scalp between the ears be removed as one piece and turned in for subsistence taken bears. The proposal was passed by the Subsistence Board.

Subsistence Division Fox and Detwiler came out on the 25th of February and held a public meeting on subparts A,B,C (seasons/bag limits etc.) of Federal Subsistence Regulations. RM Rearden and WB Peltola reviewed and commented on the federal subsistence proposed regulations (bag limits & seasons) and forwarded those comments to the Regional office. 35

RO Subsistence Jim Kurth, Cheryl Cline, Steve Kovach and George Sherrod came out on the 7th of October and met with the three federal agencies in town. Then on the 8th they held a workshop and a public meeting. They discussed how to submit proposals for the 1993-94 federal regulations, nominations for regional council members and how to apply for the regional coordinator position. Few people attended either the workshop or the meeting.

2. outdoor Classroom-students

INT Karmun spent the 4th-8th of May, in Selawik giving his first full fledged hunter safety course. He passed seven of the 15 students who started the course.

7. Other Interpretive Programs

Volunteer Karmun participated in a firearms training class for youths at Sivunniugvik this year. The participants were allowed to handle and fire a variety of firearms, including shotguns, .22 caliber rifles with different actions, and a 7mm08 center fire rifle (most didn't care for the recoil). This training class is very popular with the kids, teaches safety and hunter ethics, and generates some good PR for the Service.

Interpreter Karmun also gave several presentations to local schools and groups in the area on gun safety.

On 25th of February WB Peltola, Interpreter Karmun met with the school principal and teachers, and gave a presentation to the biology class about the moose census and summer work opportunities. s. Hunting

In 1992 we saw a continuation of the process of change as the federal takeover of subsistence management on federal lands became organized. This transition was smooth, as the regulations adopted by the Federal Government initially were the same as those in place as state subsistence regulations, except for retaining the rural preference overturned by the Alaska State Supreme Court. For further details on subsistence management see H. Public Use 1. General.

On the 8th of September, WB Peltola and MW Johnson manned a hunter check station on the Tagagawik River. The intent of this camp was to get an idea of use along the upper section of the river. A total of 2 guides and 2 outfitters that we know of were utilizing the area for their operations. Although the total harvest of animals in the drainage could not be determined by 36

this low. level of monitoring, contact was made with seven individuals. Some hunters expressed discontent with moose numbers observed in the area. The camp was originally intended to be in place until the 26th, but an early freeze-up prompted refuge personnel to be pulled out two weeks earlier.

9. Fishing

There is currently little sport fishing and much subsistence fishing ·in refuge waters. Most of the "hooking" is through the ice.

10. Trapping

Trapping is a historic and present facet of the subsistence economy of the region. Many of the furbearers harvested in northwest Alaska are used locally for clothing and many of the animals harvested are not reported to ADF&G. Wolves and wolverine are the most sought after furbearers and most are used domestically for ruffs on parkas. Lesser numbers of fox, beaver, otter, mink, and other furbearers are taken.

11. Wildlife Observation

We are a bit off of the beaten path here and there are no organized wildlife tours on the refuge. Local residents and refuge staff observe wildlife from casually to zealously during pursuit of other activities. The local Christmas Bird Count occurs off of refuge land for reasons of shelter, access, weather and hospitality.

13. camping

Camping is allowed anywhere on refuge lands and occurs regularly by subsistence users of the refuge. The extremely remote Selawik Hot Springs enjoys crowds (50 people at a time) of campers during the prime winter traveling months of March and April. Dog mushers traversing the refuge are probably the next most common campers. Because of the very remote nature of the refuge most non-local hunters from out of the region camp here for a week while hunting.

The Selawik Hot springs are located near the eastern-most extreme of the refuge. These Hot Springs have been used for thousands of years by residents of northwest Alaska, and continue to attract the most heavy public use of any part of the refuge. Two cabins and a bathhouse were built at the springs by special use permits 37 in 1986. Responsibility for the hot springs is shared by the refuge and the villages of Shungnak and Huslia.

Because of the heavy public use, several problems have developed at the hot springs. Wood stoves are used for heating and cooking in each of the three cabins, and heavy cutting of firewood is occurring close to the hot springs. Trash has been accumulating at the site for years, hidden by snow in the winter, but visits during the summer reveal heaps of trash. Also, toilet facilities are inadequate to handle the heavy traffic.

We are working on developing a safe, efficient toilet facility for the area and have met with several members of the Upper Kobuk Elders Council to discuss how to alleviate the trash problem.

15. Off-Road Vehicle Use

We are not aware of any specific use of refuge lands by all terrain vehicles (ATV's} during summer months, however, these machines are becoming very popular in villages and we intend to begin educational activities aimed at responsible use of these potentially destructive machines to head off a law enforcement issue.

Snowmachine use during the winter months is very common. By special use permit again in 1992, the Archie Ferguson/Willie Goodwin Memorial Snowmachine Race was held in April. The 220 mile route follows intervillage trails from Kotzebue to Noorvik to Kiana to Selawik, back through Noorvik and return to Kotzebue. The winner made it in less than three hours. The local radio warns everyone else to stay off the trails, for good reason. About 20 miles of the route crosses refuge lands.

16. Other Non-Wildlife oriented Recreation

The Kobuk 440 Sled Dog Race was held in late March under special use permit. The route is Kotzebue-Noorvik-Kiana-Ambler-Selawik­ Noorvik-Kotzebue. Three quarters of the route is within the refuge boundary and about 80 miles of the route cross the refuge.

17. Law Enforcement

RM Rearden attended annual law enforcement refresher training in Marana, AZ in March. He qualified with his handgun in Fairbanks in August.

A hunter legally shot a female wolf in late April and then discovered it had pups. Allegedly these pups were then separated and changed hands several times, with money and illegal substances involved in some of the transactions. The pups were 38

becoming house pets when Alaska Fish & Wildlife Protection Officer · (FWP) Carl Brent seized them. ADF&G, NPS and FWS "wolf experts" were consulted and recommended a reintroduction attempt. Refuge staff took care of them until they could be reintroduced into a active den. NPS was using a helicopter in the area and the pilot flew ADF&G personnel out to a active den. The fate of the pups is unknown.

From the 4th to 11th of May, RM Rearden worked a law enforcement spring waterfowl camp on the Togiak NWR. He checked two hunters while he was there and spent most of the time moving snow and building a runway so he could be picked up by airplane.

In December RM Rearden assisted with Operation Brooks Range. Several planes were seized from a local guide and stored in our new hanger, awaiting movement to Anchorage and eventual disposition of the case.

These seized wolf pups were cared for by refuge staff for several days before reintroduction to an active den. (MK) 39

One way to try out a new hangar is to seize three more airplanes and cram them all in. Normally only 3-4 airplanes will occupy the building. (MK)

18. Cooperative Associations

The National Park Service Visitor Center operates an Alaska Natural History Association sales outlet at their Visitor Center. Approximately 10,300 visitors passed through Kotzebue in 1992 and most of them stopped by the visitor center. The attraction for the mostly elderly tourists is being north of the Arctic circle and seeing the "midnight" sun. With daylight savings time and recent changes in time zones, solar midnight is actually at 3 a.m.

The refuge cooperates as a member of the NANA Regional Search and Rescue (SAR) Organization. This is an umbrella organization which coordinates village SAR teams. The program receives state funds from the Department of Public Safety for actual searches, and also receives grants directly from the state legislature. Interpreter Karmun andjor Manager Rearden attend organizational meetings and occasionally participate in searches when the refuge aircraft is available and there is a need. 40

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 1. New construction

This new refuge hangar, at Kotzebue, is one of the most welcome, and finest in the state. (MK)

In December of 1990 the refuge staff was notified that Congress had appropriated $1,635,000 to the Service for construction of an aircraft hangar at Kotzebue. The contract for the Kotzebue Hanger was awarded on the 24th of March. Construction of the hangar began in the summer of 1992 at the existing Service lease at the Kotzebue Noel Wien Memorial Airport.

Pile driving for the new hanger started on the 15th of July. After a slow start (one pilejone day) and a breakdown of the pile driver, things looked bad. Concrete work began on the 25th and structural steel work started on the 31st. Good weather and good luck had them back on schedule by the end of the month. RO Inspector Tom Egan made sure the work was up to specification. In September, the hanger was enclosed, door on and operable, by months end. The contractor was hoping for completion by mid­ November.

On the 5th of October, Inspector Tom Egan warned hanger contractors that a wind storm was forecasted and they should secure the roof with sandbags. The contractors did not think the 41

roof could be damaged even in its uncompleted state, so did nothing. On the 6th several sections of the roof paneling were sticking up in the air. It looked as if someone had taken a can opener and cut 3/4 the way around the can and then bent the top straight up.

On the afternoon of the 19th of November, the keys to the Hanger were turned over to the refuge. RO Engineering and Contracting made an inspection. BI Tom Egan departed. Tom was here long enough for us to think of him as staff, we will miss him. The contractor is still working on the final punch list, some of which can't be done until spring.

In December, MW Johnson worked with the hanger contractor to make sure that items of the "final punch list" are completed. He is also keeping close watch on the boiler.

2. Rehabilitation

Materials were purchased for the rehabilitation of the joint use facility that was purchased in 1987. The original intent was for the Park Service to acquire money to convert the old hardware store into an office for the NPS, FWS and BLM. The money was never appropriated and the refuge was stuck in a very small office that was difficult for the public to find.

RM Rearden arranged for room dividers and surplus furniture from the RO to be sent to Kotzebue while in the RO in January.

On the 4th of March Walt Szelag and Rudy Berus, from the Anchorage Engineering office, visited the refuge to perform an overview and discuss plans of the EON renovation project (new headquarters) .

On the 30th of March Virgil Naylor was hired on as a carpenter, to start renovation of the new headquarters. FWS received money from BLM that was left over from the initial purchase of the building and was slated to be used for rehabilitation.

On the 22nd of April, Chief, Facilities Maintenance Walt Szelag and crew arrived to work on the new office. MW Johnson was kept busy tracking down and buying many small items they needed.

MW Johnson spent the first seven days of May, assisting the work crew remodeling our new office. Then spent the next week cleaning up, staining and varnishing window trims with the help of Secretary (SEC) Houck.

Moving to the new office began on the 18th of May. 42

WB Peltola soon became comfortable in our new office. (MK)

In June, MW Johnson built shelves for the storage room of the new office. The last of our stuff was then taken out of the old office and moved onto the new shelves .

In September, MW Johnson and plumber Vern Richards drained, flushed, cleaned out, and. refilled our office building boilers and heating lines with new glycol mix.

In September, the electrical company requested that we change a three phase circulating pump to a two phase pump so they could change a transformer to add another building to that transformer. The NPS bought the pump and we installed it. The pump will save electric cost.

MW Johnson spent most of the month of April converting the old biologist office into a one bedroom apartment for the new secretary. He rebuilt the toilet, redid the plumbing to the kitchen sink, installed an electric range, reduced the height of the doors and rehung them to make room for the new carpet that was installed earlier. He installed a fire extinguisher, closet rod, smoke alarm, shower rod and curtain, and cleaned out all the old office equipment and supplies.

In January, MW Johnson laid vinyl floor in entrance and closet and finished installing baseboard and carpet transition strips in the biologist's apartment. 43

During the summer, MW Johnson assisted a local plumber install a Monitor instantaneous water heaters in quarters 482 and 481.

From the 16th-17th of September, RIT Ramoth, BT Kramer and ROS Koepsel cleaned up Upingivik, the burned cabin site. Scrap metal was piled onto wood to keep it from freezing down. We hope to return by snowmobile and remove the scrap in April of 1993.

3. Major Maintenance

MW Johnson took, and passed a video correspondence course in boiler installation and set up in August. Then in September, he completed a Weil-Mclain video course on boiler maintenance and trouble shooting. These two courses will help him maintain the large boiler system in our office. He then used the training to trouble shoot lack of heat problems with the apartments above the office.

In October to supplement his correspondence courses, MW Johnson attended a 30 hour Water Boiler, Hydronic Heat Systems Maintenance Training put on at the Kotzebue Technical Center. He also spent time out at the hanger learning its maintenance needs.

Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corp (KIC) had a purchase order in September to deliver and spread 20 dump truck loads of gravel. They delivered the gravel but then their dozer broke down and the could not spread it. The office parking lot was filled with gravel piles that began to freeze solid. After waiting one week KIC's dozer came to spread the piles and broke down again. We had to hire another firm to spread the gravel so we could get our parking lot back.

In the interagency shared use facility agreement it was arranged for MW Johnson to do maintenance for the BLM and in return BLM would reimburse the refuge for $5,000. 44

The aftermath of the cabin fire. A few parts here, a few parts there and Willy had it running like new. (MR)

4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement

It soon became apparent, that although the supercub is a marvelous survey aircraft it is not appropriate for general logistics when any amount of freight or people is involved. We submitted a request, when the opportunity arose, to trade the cub for a Cessna 185.

On the 2nd of September, sealed bids were opened on a small lot sale. All 29 lots (38 items) sold. The sale generated $1,239.95 and cleaned out junk that would have cost more to repair than it was worth.

On the 2nd July, we received a Pro Collection font cartridge for the laser printer and three copies of Word Perfect 5.1 to bring this station up to Regional Office standards. The printer has not been the same since. It occasionally prints only half the page, sometimes the top, sometimes the bottom and other times the middle. It often takes three print commands to get one good copy.

In July, the 24-foot Sea Dory was put into the water and the engines broken in. This boat was over a year old but had never been used. After break-in the boat was used to take duck traps 45 out to the Kobuk delta. The flat bottom design of the boat makes for excellent river transportation, yet is not suitable for large water body crossings in moderate wind, such as Hotham Inlet. WB Peltola and BT Kramer will attest to this after spending a somewhat miserable evening waiting out a moderate storm on the east shore of Hothan Inlet.

In August, the appraisal of a house we want for the refuge bunkhouse came within the amount of money set aside years ago for a bunkhouse so Realty made a offer to the owner. By years end we were still trying to get the paperwork though!

The field camp at Upingivik on the Selawik River was prepared for a move in 1991. The glu-lam foundation was bolstered for towing. The cabin is immediately adjacent to a Native allotment and we wanted to move it to an area that is not abutting private lands. It was hoped, if snow conditions allowed that we could drag it with a dozer during heavy snow cover. The heavy snowcover didn't materialize and the cabin was not moved.

On the lOth of June, three boaters on the Selawik River stopped for coffee at the base of the bluff leading to our field cabin. They built a fire which got away from them and raced up the bluff. The cabin, blocked up for a move, caught fire and burned to the ground. The hunters were only able to save a couple barrels of fuel. Alaska Fire Service smoke jumpers were able to put the fire out after it burned approximately 20 acres. We lost about $32,000 worth of equipment stored in, or next to, the cabin. FMO Lugtenaar (Koyukuk\Nowitna NWR) intends to use us as an example as why cabins should have fire breaks, when he's talking to cabin permittees. The whole staff was been involved in writing acquisition requests to attempt to quickly replace the equipment.

Since many of our bands, and the inventory, were stored at our field cabin, WB Peltola began the lengthy process of doing inventory of all bands issued to the refuge.

In September, the last barge of the year arrived in Kotzebue with our new cabin package. It will be flown to Selawik, then snowmachined to the cabin site during March of 1993.

We purchased Q DOS III and SPSS/PC Statistical software for the wildlife biologist computer. A Hewlett Packard Laserjet III Printer, and Erdas software also arrived.

On the 28th of September a new Xerox photocopier arrived.

Numerous items came in October. We received: Bunk bed frames ordered in Fiscal 91 (mattresses arrived months ago), a Dell 486 computer with 1.4 Gigabyte hard drive that was requested in June, Foam board insulation for our new field cabin which was ordered 46

in June after our cabin burned down, two Weatherports to replace ones lost in the cabin fire, and miscellaneous kitchen supplies for the field cabin.

A snow blower finally arrived in November, after mistakenly being sent to Canada. This heavy duty blower has successfully kept the driveways of both residences and the office open.

Winter is hard on vehicles. The 1979 Suburban refuses to run and has been parked till steps can be taken to get rid it. "Lurch", the 1986 Jeep, had its starter go out. MW Johnson first had to order a special socket wrench to remove the starter before he could order a new starter. The starter has been replaced and Lurch is functioning. The 1991 Blazer's 4-wheel drive does not work and he is still waiting for the shop manual to arrive to determine how to fix it. With the snows in December, this vehicle is of little use.

T

"Lurch" our only operating vehicle in December navigates the trench to the refuge residences. (MK) 47

The two mobile home residences in Kotzebue which served to house the original and some of the following staff of the Selawik NWR were found to be not up to par for government quarters following an inspection by the regional engineer and the safety officer on March 6, 1991. The wiring was unsafe, the plumbing was all but destroyed by repeat freezing and rehabilitation would have cost more than the value of the building. In August, 1992 two surplus house trailers were sold to the NANA Corporation. The trailers were on land leased from NANA and the sale to them greatly simplified their removal.

Izembek B/P Chris Dau came up on the 19th of November to borrow 91251. The plane refused to start in the cold weather. Actually it just wanted to be the first plane to use the new hangar. After a night in the hanger it started up fine. Chris made it to Galena on the 20th, then eventually on to Cold Bay.

We received two new Polaris Indy Trail snowmobiles in December. One of these was purchased with subsistence money and the other is to replace a snowmobile that was destroyed in our cabin fire. s. Communications systems

On the 15th of June, RM Rearden, ROS Koepsel, BT Kramer and MW Johnson took down the radio antenna and tower at the old office and moved it to the new office. The radio was moved to the new office. A BPA was established with a radio repairman to hook up the radio and antenna. A local contractor drilled a hole and installed an I-beam to be used as a base for the new antenna. The staff then raised the antenna and secured it onto the base.

6. Energy Conservation

New door panels were ordered to replace the ones on house 482 which leak a lot of cold air during the prevailing east winds during winter.

MW Johnson assisted local plumber install a Monitor water heater in quarters 481 and 482. The old method used the furnace to heat the water. The Monitor is more fuel efficient. This will allow the boiler to be shut off in the summer, saving more fuel and keeping the house from being so hot.

7. other

In September, fifteen drums of remaining polar bear project jet fuel, stored at a local private hanger, were given to the National Guard. The airport authorities are getting much 48 stricter about storing fuel in drums and single walled tanks on airport property.

In September, refuge staff did a complete cleanup of refuge equipment and supplies. Some foods were donated to local search and rescue authorities in support of an ongoing search and several truck loads of junk were hauled to the dump.

J. OTHER ITEMS

1. cooperative Programs

Our cooperation with the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management continued this year. A joint facilities agreement between the three federal agencies defines the roles and responsibilities of each organization in an attempt to stretch facilities and dollars in this remote location.

On the 3rd of March RM Rearden met with representatives from the BLM and NPS, to renegotiate the multi-agency facility use agreement. In Fiscal 93 MW Johnson will do maintenance for BLM and in return they will reimburse the refuge $5,000.

4. credits

ROS Koepsel wrote the narrative. RM Rearden was the primary editor. WB Peltola edited the Wildlife section. Pictures were taken by ROS Koepsel (MK), RM Rearden (MR), WB Peltola (EP), OAS Pilot Chris Christensen (CC), FWP Officer Carl Brent (CB), and Tripod (TP).

K. FEEDBACK

The Inupiaq people of northwest Alaska truly have cultural, traditional and nutritional ties to the land and wildlife. The perception, and in many ways the reality is that if this tie is cut so is the tenuous relationship to the past and therefore the future. Many of these people rely on the Alaskan refuges as the landbase for this relationship. Many of them do not know the refuges exist.

We have an identity problem and it is clear we need to educate people about the values of refuges.

We should emphasize that many of the purposes of the refuge mesh well with the desires of local residents. If we emphasize the thornier aspects of our relationship, such as law enforcement, without first laying a foundation of cooperation and 49 understanding, our effectiveness in protecting resources will be severely diminished.

Traditional lifestyles in Alaska's villages have been in a disruptive turmoil during the last twenty years. Many valuable cultural traits are being lost. Many young people are no longer being taught the traditional values that engendered respect for wildlife and the land. Concurrently, they are gaining the tools that can contribute to long-term destruction of habitat and wildlife. Inappropriate uses of ATV's threaten to destroy fragile tundra habitat. Increased accessibility and mobility due to snowmobiles and boats threaten some wildlife species. Pollution of wild lands and free running water is occurring.

Many destructive activities occur not out of neglect so much as ignorance of the long-term effects they are having on their environment. This is a problem that must be resolved to maintain the viability of habitat and resources, and preserve the unique subsistence-based culture that is the backbone of many rural peoples' dignity and self-esteem.

Environmental education, directed at young people, is the solution. Young people must learn the value of maintaining clean waters, natural habitats and healthy wildlife populations. If these conceptual values are coupled with the teaching of traditional values that engender respect for the land and wildlife, then these people can be expected to become responsible users and managers of Alaska's wild lands.

Schools provide an opportunity to teach these values but in many ways they are limited by the classroom environment, curriculum and time restraints. Most children learn through personal experience, and Native children customarily learn through the process of observance and practice.

In order to be effective, we must become active in involving young people in organized outdoor activities. Several refuges have recently experienced the benefits of such programs. After a cooperative moose collaring project at Marshall on the Yukon River, students there took a proprietary interest in "their" moose. When one was poached I heard local kids express a keen interest in catching the violator. It is the personal involvement that makes the difference. Those students had helped capture that moose, collar it and had flown in the back seat of refuge airplanes while we tracked it. They had worked with the telemetry data in their math and biology classes and written up the results and narratives of the project in their language arts classes. They knew the value of that study and supported it because it was partly theirs. It is that feeling of ownership that we need to convey to people about refuges. If they consider it "their" refuge they will be more responsible users. 50

The government provides us many options and programs that we can use to involve local people in the management of the refuges. The YCC program requires a lot of supervision, but involving youngsters in our daily activities in the field pays big dividends. The local hire provisions of ANILCA enable us to hire local people based on their expertise and knowledge of the conservation unit. These employees can be invaluable when it comes to opening doors in villages that aren't familiar with our work. They are excellent-sounding boards for determining what issues are of concern in their village. More rural students are going to college and we should be actively promoting careers in biology and wildlife management. The Resource Apprenticeship Program for students (RAPS) allows us to employ nominated Native high school students, and the BIA pays their salary!

The more local people that we employ and educate, the fewer concerns we will have with habitat and wildlife degradation from the primary users. Also, local people will gain a different perspective on "outside" users. Often, they will see that, properly managed, there are often adequate resources for both local people and "outsiders".

We've got a lot of work ahead of us in rural areas of Alaska. The most important work will be in the villages. All of the biological and enforcement work we do will come to naught if we don't garner the support of the people who actively use the refuges.