Portage Creek Indian Reservation Roads Program 2007 Long-Range Transportation Planning October 2006

A plan developed by the Portage Creek Village Council and residents of Portage Creek With assistance from Agnew::Beck Consulting, LLC and Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services Corporation

Table of Contents Community Description ...... 1 Purpose...... 1 Introduction ...... 1 Location...... 1 Background...... 2 Infrastructure ...... 2 Soils and Topography...... 3 Climate ...... 3 Regulations & Master Planning of Transportation Improvements ...... 4 Regulation of Transportation Improvements...... 4 Comprehensive Planning...... 4 ADOT & PF Projects...... 5 ANTHC/ADEC/EPA Projects ...... 5 BIA Projects...... 5 DCCED Projects...... 5 HUD...... 5 Existing transportation System...... 6 User Characteristics...... 6 Community Roadway System ...... 7 Right-of-Way and Roadway Ownership ...... 8 Existing Structural Characteristics ...... 8 Air Transportation...... 10 Right of Way...... 10 Existing Structural Characteristics ...... 10 Boat Landing Area...... 13 Right of Way...... 13 Existing Structural Characteristics ...... 13 Community Trail System...... 13 Intermodal Transportation Systems...... 13 Transportation needs ...... 14 History of needs...... 14 Transportation Health and Safety...... 14 Surface Condition ...... 14 Air Quality ...... 15 Water Quality...... 15 Current Transportation Priorities...... 15 Maintenance ...... 18 Other Community Development Plans...... 19 References...... 20

Appendices Appendix A: Record of Public Involvement Appendix B: Planning, Funding & Implementation Appendix C: Transportation Issues Map Appendix D: Inventory Update

COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

Purpose The purpose of this report is to identify and outline the Tribal transportation needs and to fulfill the long-range transportation goals for the Village of Portage Creek, Alaska (see Map 1: Site Location, page 10 for village location) by developing strategies to meet these goals. The goals for planning are to address future land use, economic development, traffic demand, public safety, and health and social needs for the next 20 years. Within the context of comprehensive planning, Long Range Transportation Planning (LRTP) should develop and maintain a transportation system that respects the social and economic development of the Tribal Government by considering such needs as housing, education, health care, natural resources, culturally sensitive areas, sovereignty, land use, recreation, tourism, pedestrian access, history, and employment. This purpose complies with that stated in 25 CFR 170.410.

Introduction The Portage Creek Village Council contracted with Agnew::Beck Consulting, LLC and Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services Corporation (BEESC) to update their Long-Range Transportation Planning (LRTP) and Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) Inventory. The 2007 Portage Creek LRTP builds on the work of several previous plans, community visits, resident interviews, and research done by Agnew::Beck and BEESC. (Relevant plans are listed in the “References” section at the end of this document.) Additionally, a series of meetings, workshops, and personal interviews were held between June and September 2006 (see Appendix A “Record of Public Involvement”). The work sessions were well-attended, and were held in order to gather community input on transportation issues and concerns of importance to Portage Creek. Priority actions, strategies and resources needed to implement Portage Creek’s LRTP goals were also discussed. These meetings enabled Agnew::Beck Consulting and Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services Corporation (BEESC) to assist the Village Council in assessing the existing conditions of the roads and planning for future development.

Location Portage Creek is located on the bank of the Nushagak River near the mouth of Portage Creek and the “Keefer Cutoff” or the eastern braid of the Nushagak. The village is approximately 29 miles southeast of Dillingham, 35 miles east of Clarks Point, and 300 miles southwest of Anchorage. The geographic coordinates for Portage Creek are approximately 58 degrees 54 minutes North Latitude, 157 degrees 43 minutes West Longitude (Section 01, Township 15 South, Range 51 West, Seward Meridian). Portage Creek is located it the Bristol Bay Recording District. The land area included in the community is approximately 13.1 square miles (DCCED, 2006).

Portage Creek LRTP COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION 1 Background Portage Creek is an unincorporated community within an unincorporated borough (DCCED, 2006). Historically, Yup’ik Eskimos used the site at Portage Creek as a campground and waypoint on the portage from the head of Nushagak Bay to the mouth of the Kvichak River. The location served primarily as a camping spot and rest point during winter mail run crossings in the region. The upland portage provided a safer travel route without having to risk the open waters of Bristol Bay, and without making the long trip around Etolin Point. Residents from Koliganek and other communities along the Nushagak River migrated to Portage Creek and in 1961 the first modern settlement at the site and permanent dwellings were constructed. In 1963, a school was established by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). By 1965, 11 families lived in the settlement. The 1980 U.S. Census listed 48 residents. The school eventually closed, and the population dwindled as families moved to Dillingham and New Stuyahok where school instruction was available. The school was closed from 1985 through 1996 due to low enrollment. With the decrease in population in 2005, the school closed again and will remain closed until the 10-student minimum enrollment requirement is met. Currently, Portage Creek students attend school either in Dillingham, Anchorage or Sitka at Mt. Edgecumbe, but many members would like to see the school reopen. Portage Creek Village Council (a traditional village government) is the federally recognized tribe that conducts Tribal government affairs within the community. Bristol Bay Native Corporation (a for-profit Alaska Native Regional Corporation), Bristol Bay Native Association (a regional non-profit corporation), and Portage Creek Association, c/o Choggiung, Limited (a village for- profit corporation) are the primary Native organizations within the Portage Creek area. The Portage Creek town site is platted as surveyed under ANCSA 14(c) subdivision Plat 93-11. Base roll Tribal enrollment was 78 when village was recognized as part of ANCSA. A survey is currently being conducted by the village council to update the enrollment figure. The population of Portage Creek, according to the 2006 data developed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Native American Housing Assistance and Self- Determination Act (NAHASDA) is 60. This number represents the population factor used by BIA to calculate funding distributions through the IRR Program (25 CFR 170.220).

Infrastructure Housing in the community consists of 22 homes, and the Village Council states that seven are currently occupied at least part of the year. The buildings are primarily single-family, of stick frame construction. As with many rural Alaska communities, especially in the Bristol Bay Region, housing is in very limited supply during the summer fishing months. Non-residential buildings in the community include a school, which is administered by the Southwest Region School District, a health clinic building, which is in need of a major renovation, and a Village Council building, which is also in need of upgrades. The community does not have a piped water or sewer system that is in operation. The local school has its own well and septic system, and it is fully plumbed, and in use when the school is open. A central well was in existence at one time, but the system is rusted and deteriorated beyond use. A few residents have individual wells and most residents haul water from a fresh water spring downriver. All residents use “honeybuckets” or outhouse facilities. A landfill is located northeast of the village, but is in need of closure.

2 COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION Portage Creek LRTP Electricity is provided by individual generators. Village residents state the desire to renovate the existing electric building. Nushagak Telephone Co-op, Inc. provides local phone services. Most households use VHF and CB radios which are reliable and connect the village with most of the Bristol Bay region. While unreliable, some households use BTRS radio phones known as “Betters” telephone service. Starband provides Internet service to the Village Council building and at least one residence.

Soils and Topography The Village of Portage Creek lies in a moraine- and outwash-mantled plain on the Bristol Bay Lowland, which has elevation changes from zero to 500 feet. The Nushagak and Kvichak Bays border Portage Creek on the south, the Tikchik Mountains and Ahklun Mountains to the west, and the Aleutian Range to the east and south. The geology of Portage Creek consists of gravelly river or stream-laid deposits, with volcanic ash deposits dispersed throughout the area. The gravel layer is covered with a peaty surface layer consisting of decomposing and organic matter. The soil is generally well drained with high groundwater content (Selkregg, 1976). The area surrounding the community is generally flat with a few rolling hills. The vegetation in the lowlands bordering Kvichak Bay is mostly mesic to wet shrub tundra that consists of alder, willow, shrub birch, and sedge tussocks. There are essentially no trees, but isolated stands of spruce hardwood are present in well-drained sites. Portage Creek is located in the discontinuous permafrost zone (Selkregg, 1976). Shallow permafrost is uncommon in the area. Generally, permafrost occurs in low-lying areas where the soils are silty substrates and covered with a layer of thick tundra vegetation. Deep permafrost is mostly from relic permafrost that formed during the Pleistocene era.

Climate Portage Creek lies within the transitional climatic zone of Alaska, which is characterized by more pronounced daily and annual temperature variations than the maritime zone regions, and less variation than the continental regions. The transitional zone is marked with lower amounts of precipitation, cloudiness, and humidity than the maritime zone. Prevailing winter winds blow from the north, and summer winds blow predominantly from the south. Fog is common in the summer months (Selkregg, 1976). Weather data from nearby Dillingham Airport, taken over a 55-year period, is assumed representative of the Portage Creek region. Average summer temperatures range from 46 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) to 61°F; average winter temperatures range from 9 to 22°F. Temperature extremes are recorded as a high of 92°F and a low of -53°F. Average annual precipitation is approximately 26 inches, including 83 inches of snowfall (WRCC, 2006).

Portage Creek LRTP COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION 3 REGULATIONS & MASTER PLANNING OF TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS

Regulation of Transportation Improvements The Village of Portage Creek is an unincorporated community within an unorganized borough, and is subject to state and federal regulations for the purposes of platting. The Federal Lands Highway Program, Title 23, United States Code, Sections 202(d), 204(a), and 204(j), details the administration of the transportation program, which includes the IRR Program and Public Law (PL) 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended, that together provide federal guidance for transportation planning. Alaska Statute (AS) 19.10.140 outlines the state’s regulation plan. Road improvements are generally authorized under PL 105-178 and AS 19.05.030. Land use requirements for specific road projects may vary depending on the project location. As applicable, road improvements are subject to the Title 25, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 169 and 170; AS 40.15; Village requirements; and private landowner approvals. Comprehensive Planning Prior to the start of the Long-Range Transportation Planning update process, Portage Creek Village Council undertook a Comprehensive Planning effort (Comprehensive Plan, 2006). During several public meetings, members of the community were able to clearly identify future development priorities in Portage Creek. The process to update Portage Creek’s 2002 LRTP built from these planning efforts. Community members met to identify transportation issues in the area and begin prioritizing transportation projects. A preliminary “transportation issues” map was created during this process (see Appendix C). The timing of these planning efforts and other recently completed plans (Solid Waste and Septage Monofill Feasibility Study, BEESC, 2001) position Portage Creek well to continue building community infrastructure. In conjunction of this plan, BEESC began updating Portage Creek’s IRR Inventory in August 2006. These new roads will be added to the Inventory for future project consideration. The 2001 IRR update request totals 2.3 miles of roads; these were approved and added to Portage Creek’s Inventory by BIA. Portage Creek is within the boundaries of the Bristol Bay Coastal Resource Service Area Coastal Management Program. Other agencies and organizations involved in the community’s development program include U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation (BBEDC), Bristol Bay Housing Authority (BBHA), Choggiung, Ltd. (Choggiung), Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation (BBAHC), and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). The following sections list current and future projects for the Portage Creek area. The projects listed for Portage Creek are determined based on available ADOT&PF, DCCED, BIA, HUD, ANTHC, and village association data base systems.

4 REGULATION & MASTER PLANNING Portage Creek LRTP ADOT & PF Projects There are no current ADOT&PF projects in Portage Creek. Portage Creek is not listed on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for future project consideration.

ANTHC/ADEC/EPA Projects A Feasibility Study was completed for a water and sewer system for the village in 2001. The project is funded through Village Safe Water and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC). A feasibility Study was completed for a solid waste and septage monofill site in Portage Creek in 2003. This project funding was through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Indian General Assistance Program (IGAP).

BIA Projects Portage Creek has not had a project developed by BIA.

DCCED Projects Currently, no DCCED projects are listed for the village of Portage Creek. The last project completed included preparation of Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 14(c) Map of Boundaries and trail improvements. The community is currently in the process of negotiating site control and right of way (ROW) for a landfill and septage monofill.

HUD Housing block grants were obtained in 1999 and 2000. The grants are for Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) and provide operating and construction funds for community housing. Construction of three single-family homes was completed in 2003. Portage Creek remains on the BBHA list for housing funding so that additional homes may be constructed as need arises.

Portage Creek LRTP REGULATION & MASTER PLANNING 5 EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Portage Creek is a community inaccessible by road. For this reason, in addition to the narrowness of many roads and their rough condition, travel by passenger vehicle is limited. Other types of transport are more heavily used – primarily ATVs and snowmachines. In addition to land travel, both air travel and boat travel are extremely important. In addition to residents utilizing skiffs and other watercraft for fishing and general transportation, an increasingly large number of recreational fishers also contribute to summer boat traffic.1 This increased boat and float plane traffic often creates congestion and delays at the existing boat ATV transporting a summer fish camp launch site. Seasonal residents of Portage Creek return in summer to live at private fish camps. skiff to the river The road system has an integral role in Portage Creek community life. Every effort should be made to maintain the functionality of these roads, many of which are eroded and difficult to maintain. The road connecting the airport and boat launch area and the road from the village to the landfill are the two most heavily traveled routes. In addition to these recognized, more established, transportation routes, many summer and winter trails exist around the village. Improving this basic transportation network is essential to Portage Creek’s health, safety and community integrity.

User Characteristics Information obtained from a community transportation questionnaire reveals that typical trip modes vary depending on the time of year and purpose (Table 1). Vehicle numbers were estimated based upon best knowledge of the Village Council at the time of the survey (2002). A 2006 review of this survey by the Village Council concluded that vehicle numbers have changed since the 2002 survey was conducted. Winter travel usually includes snowmobile, ATV and truck/car vehicles, with snowmobile use being the predominant method of transportation within the community. During the summer months when peak fishing season is underway, boats and vehicles are the main transportation method. It should be noted that the number of boats increases dramatically, well beyond community usage, during several months of the summer. Fish camps and private individuals rent skiffs to use on the river, adding to the congestion at the launch during a period of time during the summer. A survey in August 2006 of a local commercial boat storage yard counted 22 skiffs in storage at Portage Creek. Private motorized vehicles include pickup trucks, snowmobiles, ATVs, and boats. There are no public transportation systems within the village at this time.

1 The number of fishers that come to Portage Creek is difficult to estimate but in 2004 the Department of Fish and Game reported that on the Nushagak River, over 4,000 anglers were given permits to fish. Approximately 1,500 of these were in the vicinity of Portage Creek (ADF&G). Choggiung, Ltd. which administers the Nushagak River Patrol program on behalf of area Village Councils issues permits for commercial fish camps; a majority of these camps are in the vicinity of Portage Creek. 6 EXISITING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Portage Creek LRTP Table 1 Characteristics of Seasonal Transportation Modes SEASONAL TRAVEL MODES (Number of vehicles) Summer Winter Passenger vehicles 1 0 Snowmobile 0 8 ATV 2* 5 Boat 25* 0 Aircraft 0 0 Taxi 0 0 Bicycle 3 0 Other 0 0 *Summer fishing season increases numbers of vehicles.

Within the community’s developed area, the main trip generators include the airport, school, Village Council building, the boat landing area, and the landfill. Three distinct trip types are identified as (1) work/school, (2) health/social/recreational, and (3) subsistence activities. Each trip type and seasonal activity will create a unique mode of transportation and destination choice. Summer travel mode is generally by truck/automobile, boat, and ATV. Winter travel would include the use of snowmobiles. Average Daily Traffic (ADT) is based on either direct Commercial fish camp along the river traffic counts or default counts determined by the class of the particular road. Should the traffic count fall below 50 trips, for grant purposes, a default count of 50 is used and will be used for Portage Creek. For future 20-year planning and traffic projections, an ADT of 74 is used.

Community Roadway System The Village of Portage Creek is built on a knoll on the southern shoreline of the Nushagak River at the junction of the mouth of Portage Creek and the Keefer Cutoff – the east branch of the Nushagak River. Travel is generally in an east-west direction. Private motorized vehicles include pickup trucks, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and boats. Local streets and roads within Portage Creek consist generally of narrow, two-way earthen or gravel roads. Several of the roads that are used extensively do not have a Boat landing area is referred to by surface material and are simply earth roads. locals as the “beach” Previous efforts documenting existing roads and trails were completed in 2001. Results from this are detailed in

Portage Creek LRTP EXISITING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 7 Table 2 Portage Creek BIA-IRR Inventory, 2001 Portage Creek 2001 BIA-IRR Inventory Route ID Route Route Name Length (mi) 1001 0.3 Unnamed Road 1002 1.3 Landfill Road 1003 0.2 Main Street 1004 0.2 School Road 1005 0.2 Unnamed Road 1006 0.1 Unnamed Road Total Miles 2.3

Table 2 above. The routes are included on the maps in this document (see Map 2, Map 3) but are not going to be submitted as part of the BIA-IRR Inventory. In 2006, there were approximately 86.9 miles of existing roads and trails documented within the community. This figure includes seasonal trails to other communities (see Map 2: Roads Inventoried for Portage Creek). A baseline map (see Appendix C) was subject to review by the community at a meeting in Dillingham on May 26, 2006. A more detailed map was reviewed at two meetings in September, 2006. Details of the updated routes, including trails, are included in Appendix D. This information will also be submitted as part of Portage Creek’s IRR Inventory. Village members stated that ice roads are used extensively during the winter months for transportation connections to other communities and to subsistence hunting and gathering areas.

Right-of-Way and Roadway Ownership Portage Creek is not an incorporated city, and right of way (ROW) ownership belongs to the Portage Creek Village Council, held in trust by the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Choggiung, Ltd., ADOT&PF, or private landowners. In general, most ROW widths are approximately 40 feet.

Existing Structural Characteristics

Geometric Elements Most of the local streets and trails in Portage Creek were primitively constructed and were built without design engineering standards. Two-way passage of vehicles is dangerous on many local streets, which are narrow. The roads are 7 to 24 feet wide and have no crown.

Surfacing and Subbase Material The roadway surfacing material consists of local borrow material with no visible surface course. During a site visit in August 2006, engineers from BEESC observed that the roads are rutted, poorly graded, and are covered with 2-6 inches of fine sandy silt. Most roads experience seasonal deterioration during spring breakup and winter freeze.

8 EXISITING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Portage Creek LRTP Drainage Culverts and drainage ditches are the main methods used to divert surface water runoff in the roadways in Portage Creek. During a visit to the community in August 2006, engineers from BEESC observed surface drainage flows down the center or sides of the roads. Ditches have been filled in and are no longer functional. Standing water and erosion of the roads indicate the need for an engineered drainage system. Village Council members stated that the culverts are rusted and in poor condition.

Bridges There are no bridges located in Portage Creek.

Both photos show parts of the main road from airstrip to boat launch area – surface and subbase quality degrades as road approaches the river

Portage Creek LRTP EXISITING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 9 Air Transportation Portage Creek is currently accessible by air and water. The predominant mode of transportation to and from Portage Creek is by air. The community has a state-leased, 1,900-foot, unlit, sand and gravel airstrip located east of the community. A crosswind airstrip was added to the existing public runway in the mid-1970s. Improvements to the airport runway and crosswind runway were completed in the early 1980s. Mail and cargo are delivered by air and passenger and charter air service is provided by Bristol Bay Air, Peninsula Air, Shannon’s Air Taxi, and Mulchatna Air. Chartered air transport is most frequently used to reach Portage Creek, but scheduled flights are also available with Peninsula Air (PenAir). A once weekly commercial trip prevails most of the year. During summer fishing season, multiple daily flights arrive and depart the airport. Winter months see little or no scheduled flights.

Right of Way The right of way (ROW) for the airport runways is leased by Choggiung, Ltd. to the ADOT&PF.

Existing Structural Characteristics Geometric Elements The runways in Portage Creek were built using 2001 FAA standards. Primary runway width is 60’, with 1,920’ length. A crosswind runway was installed having dimensions of 60’ by 1,470’. Surfacing and Subbase Material The runway surfacing material consists of locally excavated gravel. During spring and early summer the runway surface becomes softened and occasionally results in runway closure.

10 EXISITING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Portage Creek LRTP Map 1: Site Location

Portage Creek LRTP EXISITING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 11 Map 2: Roads Inventoried for Portage Creek

12 EXISITING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Portage Creek LRTP Boat Landing Area Boat traffic in Portage Creek compromises a vast majority of its traffic during the summer months, specifically June and July. The community currently only has one boat landing area at the end of a road leading from the airport. There are several other sites that could operate as alternative landing sites for boats as well as float plane traffic which also constitutes a percentage of the increased traffic in summer months. The increase sport fishing industry has greatly affected the number of area users on the Nushagak and in Portage Creek itself.

Right of Way The right of way for the boat launch belongs to the ADOT&PF. There is also a private allotment at the existing launch site.

Existing Structural Characteristics Geometric Elements The launch site is approximately 40’ long at the area used most for boat put-in and take-out and float plane tie-down. The slope on the put-in area is quite steep and lack of soil stabilization contributes to a high degree of site erosion. Surfacing and Subbase Material The site has seen very little development or improvements. The materials are a combination of silt and gravel, which is susceptible to erosion by both regular traffic at the launch and boat wake.

Community Trail System There are several trails within the village, and more providing access to lands surrounding the village and linking Portage Creek to nearby communities such as Dillingham, Levelock, Clarks Point and Ekwok. These trails are described in detail in Appendix D. Portage Creek would like to continue to encourage use of established roads and trails and create a trails plan that would effectively direct traffic toward legal right of ways and maintained trail heads and public access points. The trail system is used for both summer and winter travel.

Intermodal Transportation Systems Intermodal facilities in Portage Creek are limited. There is no rail, public transit systems, or commercial docking facilities available at this time in Portage Creek. The village has one public airport (see earlier Air Transportation discussion), which connects the community to large metropolitan areas such as Dillingham, King Salmon and Anchorage.

Portage Creek LRTP EXISITING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 13 TRANSPORTATION NEEDS

History of needs The Village of Portage Creek did not submit a 1993 JATP Transportation Planning Questionnaire. No further analysis was pursued nor was there a Long Range Transportation Plan developed at that time. No 1990 JATP projects were carried forward for inclusion in the 1993 Portage Creek inventory update and since none were in the 1993 JATP road construction projects, none were carried forward as 2001 priority projects. In 2002 Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services Corporation (BEESC) assisted Portage Creek Village with conducting an IRR Inventory and producing a Long-Range Transportation Plan. Interest in reviewing these priorities and updating the previous Plan began in early 2006. A meeting was conducted between the Portage Creek Village Council and representatives from Agnew::Beck on May 26, 2006. Priority projects for Portage Creek were identified and discussed. Attendees also prioritized projects to fit a 20-year transportation planning timeframe (see Table 2). The village members stated the need to improve several main roads and improvements to airport (lighting and runway condition) and boat launch as a top priority (see Appendix C). All in-town roads are in need of reconstruction and resurfacing. The future transportation needs include opening up access to communities nearby. Protecting subsistence areas and providing access to those areas also remains a high priority.

Transportation Health and Safety In 2002, Village Council members responded to a survey concerning transportation issues. The results detailed many of the issues that Portage Creek faces with transportation. Almost all of the issues in the 2002 survey remain priority issues.

Surface Condition The Village Council stated that several roads are in need of reconstruction. Most roads are rutted and experience seasonal deterioration during spring breakup and winter freeze. Survey respondents stated that the overall condition of the roads has gotten worse over the last five years.

In the 2002 Long-Range Transportation Plan, respondents to the questionnaire stated that the airport does not meet Federal Aviation Administration regulations and that the existing airport needs to be resurfaced on the main runway and the crosswind runway and have lights installed. During spring breakup, the airport and crosswind runway are closed periodically because the runway becomes too soft and unstable. Respondents to the questionnaire state that the availability for emergency evacuation services is inadequate due to the unlit runway, and that the runway is only maintained during the winter. During spring breakup, the airport has to be closed due to the unstable soil conditions that make it unsafe for landing.

Travel during spring breakup conditions is reported to be unsafe due to the severely eroded and slick roads, especially the road to the beach where boats are launched and fuel is delivered. In addition, numerous ruts and potholes on the roadway surface cause great concern to the

14 TRANSPORTATION NEEDS Portage Creek LRTP residents. When wet, the top surface becomes soft, slick, and rutted; sometimes impassable. When dry, the material hardens to the shape of the ruts, creating a poor surface condition.

Air Quality The Portage Creek Village Council and community members are concerned about the dust pollution that severely compromises air quality during the dry season. If there is no wind, the dust lingers in the air, causing a severe health hazard for some people. Roads with gravel surfaces or a mixture of oil and gravel are desired by the community to reduce dust and improve air quality.

Water Quality The current launch site has several issues that could negatively contribute to water quality. The bank is becoming severely eroded and sections are falling into the river. As mentioned previously, there is overcrowding at the launch. The increased boat traffic and the wake from high speed exit and entry contributes to the launch erosion. Currently fuel storage is also located at the launch site. During flood conditions these tanks could be washed into the river potentially contaminating the local water supply and affecting the subsistence uses and sport fishing uses on the river.

Current Transportation Priorities The consensus of the Village Council, as related by the questionnaire and the public meeting, determined the first priority project to be the improvement of the Landfill Road (Route 1002), in conjunction with a new landfill. The second priority project is the improvement of Qaugyaq Road (Sand Pit Road, Route 1012). The third priority project is the improvement of the Main Street (Route 1003), which provides access to the Nushagak River from the Airport. The Village Council priority projects are listed in Table 2, prioritized by short- (3-5 years), medium- (6-12 years), and long-range (13-20 years) needs. Improvements to the waterfront and airport also remain priorities. Waterfront facilities would include docking facilities that would ease summer congestion and be able to be removed in the winter months. Additional improvements might include an alternative boat launch site for local residents and alternative docking site for float plane traffic; both to ease congestion and improve access. Mitigation measures to address erosion issues as well as posting “Low Wake” signs near the landing would also protect and improve the boat launch area. Airport improvements would include upgrading the runway surface to improve drainage and the addition of runway lights.

Portage Creek LRTP TRANSPORTATION NEEDS 15 Table 2. Portage Creek Transportation Priorities and Needs

Portage Creek Transportation Priorities

Priority BIA Route Route Name Use 1002 Landfill Road Medium Qaugyaq Road Short-range (3-5 years) 1012 Low (Sand Pit Road) 1003 Main Street High Waterfront improvements High (removable dock, second launch) Airport & runway Improvements Medium

Qaugyarcaraq Road 1013 Low Medium-range (7-12) (Gravel Pit Road) School Road 1004 Low (Elitnaurvik Road)

Apaller Road 1007 Medium (Church Road)

Quyurvik Road 1008 Medium (Council Road)

Unnamed Road 1006 Low (Targaqvak Road)

Unnamed Road 1001 Low (Issaluq Road)

Unnamed Road 1005 Medium (Amaqaayak Road)

Qissunaq Road Long-range (15-20) 1009 Medium (Alternative River Road)

Misvik Road 1010 High (Airport Access Road)

Kenurirvik Road 1011 Low (Power Plant Road) 1014 Ekwok Trail Seasonal 1015 Dillingham Trail Seasonal 1016 Clarks Point Trail Seasonal 1017 Levelock Trail Seasonal

16 TRANSPORTATION NEEDS Portage Creek LRTP Map 3: Portage Creek Roads

Portage Creek LRTP TRANSPORTATION NEEDS 17 MAINTENANCE

At this time, the maintenance of the local roads in Portage Creek is determined by the ownership of the right of way. The right of way in this community belongs to the Portage Creek Village Council, the Village Corporation, or the ADOT&PF. The airport runway and apron are currently the only surfaces that receive regular maintenance.

Portage Creek is not an incorporated community and is not within an organized borough, so has no municipal-level or borough-level entity responsible for conducting roads maintenance or to help support its facilities and services. The Portage Creek Village Council states that no funds are currently put into road maintenance through the Council’s budget. Consequently, the roads are not improved, and many roads are no more than earth trails.

The 2005 BIA Transportation funds distribution for Portage Creek was $32,366. The 2006 distribution was $25,000. This amount has decreased because Portage Creek has not added to its Inventory in recent years. Up to 25% of annual road funds can be used for maintenance.2 One of the highest priority maintenance projects is to repair Main Street (BIA Route 1003). Basic repair could entail obtaining permission from BBNC to haul gravel from the local gravel pit, adding that to the road surface. Small, shallow ditches along the sides of the road would better direct water runoff. Additionally, placing larger stones in the trenches to slow water flow would aid in erosion control.

The process to improve roads where the right of way belongs to the ADOT&PF, would be to contact the DOT directly for permission to improve the road. There is only one road for which the ADOT&PF holds the ROW – Route 1002. There is also a 17(b) easement to the river, reserved in the conveyance to the Village Corporation. This easement guarantees public use. The Bureau of Land Management is the lead on 17(b) easements, but not the active managers of these easements. Improvements to this section could be made by the Village Corporation. Additional concurrence may be needed from the Alaska Department of Community, Commerce & Economic Development (DCCED) and the Village Corporation if improvements are substantial.

Roads where the right of way belongs to the Village Corporation, Choggiung, Ltd. require that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) govern the process and relationship between Choggiung, Ltd. and the Portage Creek Village Council for maintenance and use of roads. The document would formalize the cooperative agreement between the two bodies.

2 A more complete understanding of agencies, their funding requirements, and possible funding opportunities can be found in Appendix B: Planning, Funding & Implementation. 18 MAINTENANCE Portage Creek LRTP OTHER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS

While in the past couple years the population of Portage Creek has diminished to only one family, this transportation planning, done in conjunction with the recently completed Comprehensive Plan, were written with the goal of increasing the year-round population. The population in the past 50 years has varied from as little as five residents to as many as 60 in the 1970’s. While many challenges face the village of Portage Creek, this community has great potential to once again become a thriving community with an operating school and other public facilities, sustainable businesses, and residents living subsistence lifestyles. This transportation planning helps to facilitate many of the goals established in the Comprehensive Plan. Comprehensive transportation planning for the community considers such issues as social, tourism, economic, housing, natural resources, education, and public health. The collective agreement of all interested parties working together to guide the decision-making framework for Portage Creek is required for future success of the village (USDOT, 1999). The Village Council and community members have expressed a desire for several development projects to ensure the successful growth of the community. Villages, regional organizations and statewide entities all recognize the need for communities to clearly state their goals and visions for the future. By planning ahead, villages can act on new opportunities and be prepared for challenges associated with economic and demographic changes. Community goals can range from constructing facilities, such as housing or a community center, to expanding infrastructure, creating jobs, protecting subsistence areas and sustaining cultural traditions. Portage Creek would like to see some general coordination among their transportation networks to organize their routes, as the use of both formal and informal trails and roads create issues. Maintaining the roads, trails, and waterfronts are vital to providing Portage Creek with a transportation system to support its general community goals and vision of the future that includes being a year-round residence for their children and grand-children.

Portage Creek LRTP OTHER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS 19 REFERENCES

Final Long-Range Transportation Plan. Phase II. Portage Creek Village Council, Portage Creek, Alaska. Indian Reservation Roads Program. Submitted by Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services Corporation. June 2002.

Alaska Department of Community, Commerce and Economic Development (DCCED). Community Profiles Online. Alaska Community Database website 2006: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/commdb/CF_COMDB.htm

Bristol Bay Native Association Website. 2006. http://www.bbna.com

Selkregg, Lydia. Alaska Regional Profiles, Southwest Region. Volume III. University of Alaska, Arctic Environmental and Information Data Center. 1976.

U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Juneau Area Transportation Plan. 1993 Update.

Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC). Western U.S. Climate Historical Summaries, Alaska; and Climate Maps of the U.S. Website. 2006: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/summary/climsmak.html; http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/climmaps/

Division of Community Planning, Department of Community & Regional Affairs. Portage Creek Advisory Land Use Plan. 1983.

Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services Corporation. Engineering Study of Water, Sewer, and Solid Waste Facilities at Portage Creek. Prepared for Portage Creek Village Council and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. November 2001.

Agnew::Beck Consulting. Portage Creek Comprehensive Plan. October 2006.

Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services Corporation. Solid Waste and Septage Monofill Feasibility Study. Portage Creek, Alaska. BEESC Project No. 24054. Prepared for the Village of Portage Creek. December 2003.

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. 25 CFR Part 170. Indian Reservation Roads Program; Final Rule. Part III. July 19, 2004.

Parsons Brinckerhoff in association with HDR Alaska, Northern Economics, The Glosten Associates, Christopher Beck & Associates, and Ogden Beeman & Associates. Southwest Alaska Transportation Plan. Prepared for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. November 2002.

20 REFERENCES Portage Creek LRTP