Prince William Sound
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II . L... r I r I II PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND [I I. : ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 11 i i I i COUNCIL . '. OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT .' . STRATEGY 1998 I j IJ U [J !J PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 1998 OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION David Dengel, President David Cobb, Vice President i ,I Betty Miller, Secretary Jim Roberts, Treasurer I ,I STAFF Sue Cogswell, Executive Director i I Kara Merrell, Proj ect Manager I I Dale Knutsen, Business Manager Susan Epp, Administrative Assistant i I I Fundingfor this document was provided by ARDOR Alaska Regional Development Organization Prince William Sound Economic Development Council P. O. Box 2353, Valdez, Alaska, 99686 ARDOR member since 1991 i I : I Executive Summary :I Valdez, as the population hub ofPrince William Sound, is extremely influential in the general economic climate for the entire area. In our long I range plan, this factor has influenced our decisions. Each town and village has been adequately described in this document. Each is unique in its needs and potential, as we have explained. ! I The present situation in Prince William Sound can be reflected by the I following developments using Valdez as a main pivotal point. , I Oil production has slowly declined over the past ten years, but we have been assured by industry leaders that production on the North Slope and shipment through Valdez will remain substantial for the next twenty years. ! \ A liquid natural gas line is closer to becoming a reality as recently I announced by a coalition of major companies. Foothills Pipelines of Canada, Yukon Pacific Corp., Marubeni ofJapan, Phillips Petroleum Company and Arco Alaska signed an agreement to begin engineering, I permitting and commercial work on the project on August 11, 1998. And important to Prince William Sound, after much debate, it's suggested that I the new line be built along the present oil pipeline route terminating west of the present shipping facility. This will provide an estimated 10,000 ! \ constructionjobs, and 600 permanent jobs after construction according to Governor Knowles' office. It's been suggested that new technology could use the same pipeline now in use for oil. More services and businesses will I be able to flourish in Valdez and throughout the Sound with this increase in -! populationand employment. A quote by Jay H~e_~~~dministrator, Energy InfQrmation Administration, U. S. Department ofEnergy, in the BP Exploration Juneau Report states, j "Over the next two decades, gas use is projected to rise at more than three times the rate for oil use." I Fishing has historically been a strong economic factor in Prince William Sound. Commercial and sport fishing continues to be very important, but J circumstances continually change. Scientific studies are being done to aid this industry and many questions are being asked. How is the world market I I and fish farming affecting Alaska's fisheries? The downturn in Asian economics effects Alaskan fisheries. Are areas being over-fished by commercial or sport fishing? Is aquaculture the answer to future demand as world populations increase? These and many other questions are being discussed by the State fisheries and biologists. According to most scientists, Alaska's recent salmon shortfalls are resulting from ocean conditions, although many fishermen blame salmon shortages on foreign fishing practices in the North Pacific. This report by the Associated Press recently appeared in the Anchorage Daily News. Cultural tourism is growing at an astounding rate. New museums open around the country and the world on every subject imaginable. With this in mind, PWSEDC is doing preliminary investigation on building a world class maritime museum for Alaska in Valdez. An Alaska Maritime Museum would provide cultural enrichment and enhanced opportunities for professional employment, as well as additional seasonal employment in the area. Alaska's age ofEuropean discovery began in Prince William Sound in 1741, but its maritime history began centuries earlier with Alaska's coastal Natives. This history, when joined by the commerce and military sagas, should provide an exciting experience for visitors to Prince William Sound at the new museum. Valdez Museum and Archive was founded in 1901. Transportation in the Sound is key to the successful new museum and tourism, in general, for the area. Alaska Department ofTransportation has informed us that by 2001 our ferry service will expand substantially. From 1996 through summer, 1998, tourism increased by over 20,000 visitors in Valdez. As tourism grows in Valdez, the other towns and villages will see increases, as well. A cultural "Great Circle Route" can become a reality in southcentral Alaska. I Fly to Anchorage, enjoy the local attractions - take the train to Seward, visit the Alaska Sea-Life Center - continue on to Whittier by train or road - I use the Alaska Marine Highway to Valdez, visit the Alaska Maritime Museum ... on to the next adventure. The options are unlimited. I Whittier will see significant changes in tourism as soon as the new road : I i l opens in 2000. The increase in tourism is overwhelming initially, as described in detail later in this document. Important to mention is the fact that not all towns and villages are seeking huge increases in tourism. But because of their remote locations and inaccessibility, these areas can choose the tour numbers they find acceptable. While these major projects are underway, Prince William Sound Economic Development Council will continue to sponsor environmental projects - the latest is a sewage system to service boat harbors in Cordova, Whittier, Tatitlek, and Chenega Bay. Immediate plans also include implementing a revolving loan program and small business seminars for the Sound. These major projects, we believe, will provide momentum and inspiration during the next five years for Prince William Sound. 1 I Native Representation on the 1 Prince William Sound Economic Development Council I Board ofDirectors 1 John Christensen Alutiiq Gary Kompkoff Alutiiq Betty Miller Alutiiq Charles Totemoff Alutiiq --I I \ PWSEDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS I OFFICERS (September 1998) John Christensen BettyMiller Secretary ChenegaBay IRA Council BP Exploration (Alaska) P.O. Box 8079 P.O. Box 196612 ChenegaBay, AK 99574 Anchorage, AK99519-6612 T- (907)573-5132 F-(907)573-5120 T- (907) 564-4848 F-(907)564-4124 ChenegaBay Seat ElectedSeat Dave Cobb vice President RobinMoore ValdezFisheries Development Association Inc. CityofWhittier P.O. Box 125 P.O. Box 608 Valdez, AK 99686 Whittier, AK99693 T- (907)835-4874 F- (907)835-4831 T-(907)472-2447 F-(907)472-2404 Elected Seat Whittier Seat Dave Dengel President Jim Roberts Treasurer City ofValdez E-Mail [email protected] P.O. Box 307 P.O. Box 1751 Valdez, AK 99686 Cordova, AK99574 T- (907) 835-4313 F-(907)835-2992 T-(907)424-3357 Valdez Seat ElectedSeat LarryHancock ChuckTotemoff Cityof Cordova Chenega Corporation P.O. Box 1210 4000Old SewardHwy. Suite 101 Cordova, AK 995574 Anchorage, AK 99503 T- (907)424-6200-·· F-(907)424-6000 T-(907)211-5706 F-(907)277-5700 Cordova Seat ElectedSeat Gary Kompkoff TatitlekIRA Council P.O. Box 1717 Tatitlek, AK 99677 T-(907)325-2311 F-(907)325-2298 Tatitlek Seat I I TABLE OF CONTENTS Prince William Sound Region 1 Current Population 3 Chenega Bay 4 General Description ofthe Area 4 Natural Resources · 4 Environmental Issues 4 Environmental Sensitivity 4 Political Geography ~ " 5 Population 3I1d Labor Force S Economy 5 Infrastructure and Services 5 Education 6 Planning and Economic Development 6 Cordova 7 General Description ofthe Area 7 Natural Resources 7 Environmental Issues :8 Enviromnental Sensitivity' 8 Political Geography 9 Population and Labor Force 9 Economy 9 Infrastructure and Services 9 Education 10 Planning and Economic Development 11 Tatitlek 12 General Description ofthe Area 12 Natural Resources: 12 Environmental Issues 12 Enviromnental Sensitivity 13 ------.P.olitical..Geography, -'-' H.•.•.•.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'H.'.'.'.'.'.U.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.13L.- _ Population and Labor Force 13 Economy 13 Infrastructure and Services 14 Education 15 Planning and Economic Development 15 Valdez 16 j General Description ofthe Area 16 Natural Resources 16 Environmental Issues 17 Environmental Sensitivity 17 J Political Geography 17 I I I TABLE OF CONTENTS Valdez. Continued I Population and Labor Force 18 Economy 18 I Infrastructure and Services 19 Education '" 21 I Planning and Economic Development 21 Whittier 23 General Description ofthe Area 23 Natural Resources 24 Environmental Issues '" 24 Environmental Sensitivity 24 Political Geography 24 Population and Labor Force 25 Economy 25 Infrastructure and Services 25 Education , 26 Planning and Economic Development 26 APPENDICES Appendix A Manunals 27 Appendix B Fish 28 Appendix C Invertebrates 29 Appendix D Plants 30, 31 Appendix E . Birds ~~; 32,:i!3·& 34 I I -.J L...- -"" ~.'::!,:;;·:i:,~~~i:.;l;: ;!;,l;·X;~;·fi:i~!iilj;~~f.~*~i~!~~;;;~;;'k;;:;,~'a ; b.~ ':~:, .:,.~;.: .. ,..;;":,,.:, i:";";::. f :'.",:::' .vt- " •• ~::~~~~:~ns.f r:~r:l.ln 1 N::' .. :.'" . ······;,:r:::;:,·~1'.,i.;;.{'.i" 2' 1'1 ·····'i ..'.,..... ~ ';f.·~,;~"·.11/.", N.UT~MllES2" 0\;~~'w;t'~:i~:Ii @ A_ORAGe . ;:. ..... \~ . .• . ~'---1t· __klQ t .. 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