~ID(Od Q? Refuge Manager Date Chief

1 Reviews and Approvals

YUKON DELTA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Bethel, Alaska

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ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 1996

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Randy Kacyon Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Bethel, Alaska ) Area Wildlife Biologist - 1989 to 1996 INTRODUCTION

The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), largest of Alaska's 16 refuges (Figure 1), encompasses 21,877,769 million acres ofland and water on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (Delta) in southwestern Alaska and stretches from Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea to the village of Aniak, nearly 300 miles inland. Both the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers, major salmon migration rivers, traverse the refuge. Over the course oftime, these rivers have created one of the largest river deltas in the world. The Mississippi Delta is the only comparable river delta in North America. The Delta, a generally flat marshland containing innumerable lakes and ponds, is the dominant landscape ofthe refuge. Upland areas, the Nulato Hills in the northern part of the refuge, and the Kilbuck Mountains along the refuge's eastern boundary, contain peaks of2,000 to 4,000 feet.

The Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta supports one of the largest aggregations of water birds in the world. Over one million ducks and half a million geese breed here annually, and in some summers, up to a third of the continent's northern pintails can be found on the refuge. In addition, nearly 100,000 loons, 40,000 grebes, 50,000 swans and 30,000 cranes return to the refuge each spring to nest. In addition, millions of shorebirds use the refuge for both breeding and staging. In terms of both density and species diversity, the Delta is the most important shorebird nesting area in the country, and the vast intertidal zone is the most important wetland for post-breeding shorebirds on the west coast of North America. The Delta meets all of the criteria for identifying wetlands of international importance under Article 2 of the Ramsar Convention.

The abundance of water in the form of lakes, ponds, streams, inlets, bays, and coastal areas provides habitat for waterfowl from all four North American flyways. The refuge supports a varied population of mammals, fish, and birds which are important in maintaining the traditional subsistence way of life of local residents. However, nesting and brood rearing habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds, or seabirds give it national significance.

Refuge lands were first set aside as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1909. In 1929, Nunivak Island was set aside as a refuge and breeding ground for wild birds, game, and furbearing animals. In 1930, the small islands and all lands under the waters surrounding Nunivak Island were added to the refuge. Additional lands were reserved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937 when Hazen Bay Migratory Waterfowl Refuge was established. The Kuskokwim National Wildlife Range, established in 1960, was enlarged in 1961, and its name changed to the Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range.

On December 2, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (the Alaska Lands Act). With enactment of the Alaska Lands Act, these existing ranges and refuges were combined and enlarged to establish the Yukon Delta NWR. Two areas within the new refuge were designated as wilderness by the Alaska Lands Act: the Andreafsky Wilderness Area (1,300,000 acres) and the Nunivak Wilderness Area (600,000 acres).

2 INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. HIGHLIGHTS

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

C. LAND ACQUISITION

1. Fee Title ...... Nothing to Report 2. Easements ...... Nothing to Report 3. Other ...... 7

D. PLANNING

1. Master Plan ...... 8 2. Management Plan ...... 8 3. Public Participation ...... Nothing to Report 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates ...... 8 5. Research and Investigations ...... 10 6. Other ...... 22

E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel ...... 28 2. Youth Programs ...... Nothing to Report 3. Other Manpower Programs ...... Nothing to Report 4. Volunteer Programs ...... 30 5. Funding ...... 31 6. Safety ...... 32 7. Technical Assistance ...... Nothing to Report

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1. General ...... 32 2. Wetlands ...... 34 3. Forests ...... 34 4. Croplands ...... Nothing to Report 5. Grasslands ...... Nothing to Report

3 6. Other Habitats ...... 34 7. Grazing ...... 35 8. Haying ...... Nothing to Report 9. Fire Management ...... 36 10. Pest Control ...... Nothing to Report 11. Water Rights ...... Nothing to Report 12. Wilderness and Special Areas ...... 36 13. WPA Easement Monitoring ...... Nothing to Report

G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity ...... 37 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species ...... 38 3. Waterfowl ...... 39 4. Marsh and Water Birds ...... 40 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species ...... 40 6. Raptors ...... 41 7. Other Migratory Birds ...... 42 8. Game Animals ...... 44 9. Marine Mammals ...... 46 10. Other Resident Wildlife ...... 46 11. Fisheries Resources ...... 47 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking ...... Nothing to Report 13. Surplus Animal Disposal ...... Nothing to Report 14. Scientific Collections ...... 55 15. Animal Control ...... 56 16. Marking and Banding ...... 56 17. Disease Prevention and Control ...... 58

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General ...... 59 2. Outdoor Classrooms--Students ...... 61 3. Outdoor Classrooms--Teachers ...... 62 4. Interpretive Foot Trails ...... Nothing to Report 5. Interpretive Tour Routes ...... Nothing to Report 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations ...... 63 7. Other Interpretive Programs ...... 63 8. Hunting ...... 66 9. Fishing ...... 68 10. Trapping ...... 69 11. Wildlife Observation ...... 69 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation ...... 69

4 13. Camping ...... Nothing to Report 14. Picnicking ...... Nothing to Report 15. Off-road Vehicling ...... 70 16. Other Non-wildlife Oriented Recreation ...... 70 17. Law Enforcement ...... 70 18. Cooperating Associations ...... 70 19. Concessions ...... Nothing to Report

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

1. New Construction ...... Nothing to Report 2. Rehabilitation ...... 71 3. Major Maintenance ...... Nothing to Report 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement ...... Nothing to Report 5. Communication Systems ...... 71 6. Computer Systems ...... Nothing to Report 7. Energy Conservation ...... Nothing to Report 8. Other ...... 72

J. OTHER ITEMS

1. Cooperative Programs ...... 73 2. Other Economic Uses ...... Nothing to Report 3. Items ofinterest ...... 75 4. Credits ...... 75

K. FEEDBACK

5 A. HIGHLIGHTS

Large numbers of caribou from the Mulchatna herd moved into the refuge for the third year (D.5).

Personnel changes at station (E.l).

The first nesting of slaty-backed gulls in North America and the first Caspian tern nests in Alaska were confirmed near Cape Romanzof (G.5).

A small Steller's sea lion haulout was documented at Cape Romanzof (G.9).

Public use camps on Kisaralik & Kwethluk rivers (H.9).

Communications across the refuge became better and more reliable with the installation of a satellite telephone system (1.5).

Two major land exchanges were in progress during the year (1.3).

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

The refuge is located in a transitional zone, influenced by continental and maritime climates. Summer is cooler than interior Alaska due to coastal clouds and cold seas. Conversely, winter is warmer than interior Alaska due to the influence of the Bering Sea. Coastal areas freeze last, due to Bering Sea warming, and thaw later than inland areas due to the cooling effect of Bering Sea ice.

Winds at Bethel average over 13 miles per hour throughout the year. Maximum high and low temperatures are 84° and -48° fahrenheit (F), respectively. Freeze-up normally occurs in mid-October and ice breakup in early to mid-May.

6 Table B 1. Climatological data for Bethel, Alaska. 1996. Month Temperature Dates with Total (Degrees F.) Measurable Snowfall Precipitation High Low Precipitation (Inches) (Inches) Jan 38 -02 1 4.2 0.21 Feb 38 -25 11 28.8 3.03 Mar 46 25 4 8.3 0.95 Apr 60 01 4 .3 0.06 May 72 23 2 0.2 0.62 Jun 77 31 17 0.2 1.09 Jul 76 44 13 0.0 3.83 Aug 67 32 11 0.0 2.80 Sep 69 22 19 3.9 1.08 Oct 46 -02 11 8.7 0.99 Nov 47 -09 14 14.4 2.25 Dec 34 -17 16 16.3 0.86

Total 123 86.3 17.77

C. LAND ACQUISITION

3. Other Items

A Land Protection Plan (LPP) is the Service's method of identifying and notifying the public about priorities for acquisition of private lands within refuge boundaries.

The refuge's LPP will further the goal of conserving wildlife and their habitat by setting priorities for resource protection or acquisition of refuge inholdings. Some of the most valuable goose, duck and other wildlife habitat is on private lands within the refuge - mostly regional and village corporation holdings.

Public meetings were held in 14 Delta villages in late 1990 as the first step in completion of the LPP. However, because ofthe large number of refuge inholdings- both Native allotments and Native corporation lands- the computer system used by Realty to store the information was not capable of processing the data. Consequently, work has been delayed on the completion of the plan until an adequate system is in place.

7 D. PLANNING

1. Master Plan

The station Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) was completed in January 1988. No amendments or changes have taken place since that time. In 1996 schedules were developed for review and possible modification of all the CCP's for the region. The initial focus will be on stations with a greater urgency for amendment. The Yukon Delta review will not take place for at least a couple of years.

2. Management Plan

By year's end, a draft Final Kisaralik River Management Plan had been circulated for internal review, with comments due January 15, 1997. The cooperative management team, formed in 1995, failed to produce a workable document. The Service took existing comments and made the final push to get this management plan finished.

The Kenai Fishery Assistance Office participated in updating the Yukon Delta Ecosystem Management Plan. The Plan provides management direction to ensure conservation of species and habitats. Management tasks and objectives were taken from the Fishery Management Plan.

4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates

Dennis Griffin of the University of Oregon, working in close cooperation with the Mekoryuk community and IRA council, was issued a special use permit to conduct anthropological fieldwork on Nunivak Island. Research focused around the abandoned village ofNash Harbor, located along the island's northwest coast. Nash Harbor village, one of the largest historic villages on Nunivak, was the site of the first island school and served as the second largest village until abandonment in 1957. In addition to its importance in historic settlement, Nash Harbor plays a central role in stories of initial island settlement and previous archaeological fieldwork identified it as "type site" for late prehistoric occupation on the island. Seasonal erosion is actively destroying portions of the site and this project was designed to collect as much information as possible on the past use and importance of Nash Harbor before such information is lost. Information collected included local oral history, archaeological data, a review of ethnographic documents and the identification of historic photographs.

8 Mekoryuk high school students participating in an archaeological excavation at Nash Harbor on Nunivak: Island. Paul Souders excavating and Galen Float screening.

Elders examining artifacts from Nash Harbor, Nunivak Island, excavations. Left to right: Elsie Williams, George Williams, Tom Noatak (interpreter), Walter Amos, and Nona Amos.

9 In early August, Archaeologist Debra Corbett from the regional office accompanied Lisa Frink from the University of Wisconsin-Madison to Chevak. They spent several days in Chevak and Old Chevak conducting reconnaissance for future archaeological study in the area.

5. Research and Investigations a. Arctic Nesting Goose Studies

At the time of this writing, an official estimate for the fall population of cacklers was unavailable. The increased use ofhabitat in Washington and Oregon by wintering cacklers has made achieving an accurate count more difficult. A large departure from last year's level of 160,000 birds is not anticipated. Whitefronts (334,000) and emperors (80,000) increased by 20% and 46%, respectively. The brant population estimate is unavailable at this time but should remain at about 130,000 birds.

Breeding ground surveys gave mixed results for population trends for cacklers, emperors, and whitefronts. Pair indices decreased 21% (P

In general, 1996 break-up, migration arrival, and nesting chronology were considered "early". Float angles of eggs indicated an average predicted hatch date of June 17, 15, and 18 for cacklers, emperors, and whitefronts, respectively. Dates for these events were the earliest since 1986. Fox and avian depredation was average and generally good weather occurred during hatch.

The annual assessment of nesting populations of geese in the coastal tundra region was done by estimating the number of total nests, active nests, and eggs from single searches of randomly located 0.475 x 0.950 km rectangular plots. The ground-based sampling of the coastal region of the Delta was based on a new single stratum design intended to improve efficiency and precision of estimates. A total of 50 plots were searched by crews from field camps located at Old Chevak, Tutakoke River, Hock Slough, Manokinak River, and Kigigak Island, as well as four mobile crews based at Kanagyak field station. The survey estimated that 86,000 cackler, 30,000 emperor, and 58,000 whitefront nests were initiated on the 4,000 square kilometers of coastal habitat that contains about 90% of all geese on the Delta.

10 Clutch sizes were unchanged for brant, cacklers, and whitefronts compared to 1995: brant-- 3.8 eggs (n = 96), cacklers--4.7 eggs (n = 280), emperors--4.9 eggs (n = 145), and whitefronts--4.6 eggs (n = 111). Nest success was good--brant (87%), cacklers (62%), emperors (89%), and whitefronts (76%).

The U.S. Geological Survey's Biological Resources Division (BRD) in Alaska conducted several projects on the refuge. See Section D.5e for details and 1996 results of the aerial videography census of brant nesting areas.

The second BRD project was the twelfth year of a cackler, emperor, and whitefront nesting ecology study near the Kashunuk River. Nesting plots in this area were first established in 1974. The continuing work provides some of the best long-term nesting ecology information for these three goose species. Despite another very early break-up and nest initiation chronology for the study area, clutches contained 10-20% fewer eggs than long term averages. Nest densities continued to increase for cacklers and whitefronts while remaining stable for emperors. Nest success was lowest in recent years for cacklers, but similar to other years for emperors and whitefronts. Over 3,000 cacklers have been neck banded on the study site since 1986 to document their demographics. A minimum of 52% ofyearlings were paired and 10% were observed with a nest and/or brood. Thirty-three percent of two-year olds were observed with either a nest or brood, whereas 63% of three year old and older geese were observed with goslings. Eighty-four percent of two-year old and older geese were paired. A comprehensive review of waterfowl investigations on the refuge this winter will in part determine field work in 1997.

The third BRD project was the sixth year of a study of duck research on the lower Kashunuk River. Pintail (273), greater scaup (194), and spectacled eider (100) composed 80% of708 located nests in the 24 square kilometer study area. The mark-resighting study comparing annual survival of spectacled eider females at Hock Slough and Kigigak Island study areas indicated that the difference in survival between the two sites is about 10%, and resighting rates at both sites are about 80%. Differences in survival between the two sites may be due to the lower rate of lead poisoning at Kigigak Island. As part of a study to examine the effects of heavy metals on productivity, blood samples were taken from 45 spectacled eider females captured at the end of laying. Twenty-six of these females were captured again at hatch, and four were captured a third time with a brood. These blood samples along with some viable and nonviable eggs will be examined in relation to body condition (weight), egg mortality, nest success, and incubation behavior. The result of intensive nest monitoring was the documentation of renesting by two marked spectacled eiders. Fifty-one spectacled eider ducklings were captured and marked. Thirty greater scaup females were captured and radio-marked at the end of laying. All but four birds that were tracked renested on the study area. Many of the recaptured scaup were banded in 1995 for the lead poisoning study. Plans for 1997 will be similar to 1996, with additional emphasis placed on measuring common eider productivity.

11 A study oflead infiltration rates, initiated in 1994, is the fourth BRD project. Twenty, one square-meter exclosures in four wetland types used by eiders were seeded in 1994 with number four lead shot to determine the rate of downward movement for spent lead shot. Exclosures were sampled using a suction dredge and most lead was still in the top four centimeters of sediment in all plots. It is not anticipated that future samplings will document any change in distribution depth of the lead shot. Ex closures will be sampled again in 1997.

The fifth BRD project was the third year of a four-year study of emperor goose brood ecology. Study objectives include:

1. estimate gosling mortality rate between hatch and adult primary molt. 2. document gosling foraging bout length. 3. document within brood variation in foraging behavior and its relationship to growth. 4. document foraging bout lengths and peck rates of goslings in different habitats. 5. examine the relationship between brood habitat use of an individual family or group of families and gosling survival and growth in these families. 6. examine the pattern of within individual habitat use of adult females during brood-rearing. 7. examine whether egg size and/or hatching size is related to subsequent gosling survival. 8. examine relationship of clutch size at hatch to subsequent gosling survival. 9. examine the relationship between brood size and behavior of breeding adults. 10. analyze egg composition with respect to laying sequence to determine how relative degree ofhatch asynchrony (a strong determinant of neonatal mortality) may by modulated by egg composition. 11. collection of genetic material to determine whether a pattern of brood loss through shifts in genetic composition of the brood-rearing population can be discerned.

A total of290 emperor nests were located. Forty-two females were nest trapped and either radio collars, regular neck collars, or tarsal bands were attached. Twelve radio-marked broods were followed during the brood rearing period. An additional 204 emperors were banded with tarsal bands during the primary molt in late July. Twenty-two glaucous gull nests were located and blood was drawn from chicks for assessing diets. Additional results have not been summarized. Plans for 1997 include:

12 1. Collect additional data to quantify neck collar effects. 2. Collect blood from nesting adult emperors and goslings to ascertain patterns of nutrient allocation to reproductive effort via stable isotope analysis. 3. Evaluate brood habitat use patterns of geese by conducting walking transects to locate molted flight feathers of all geese. 4. Replicate 1988-1990 nest plots to evaluate if goose density changes at Manokinak River mirror those seen for the whole Y-K delta.

Since 1984, the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, supported a study ofbrant ecology at Tutakoke River. The demographic aspect of the work included banding 2,349 brant for the first time, observing 2,353 previously banded birds, recapturing an additional1,187 previously banded birds, and web tagging 1,730 goslings. Analyses of results indicate: (1) handling during banding has no negative effect on first year survival, (2) by age 5 years virtually all females breed every year, (3) as colony size has increased, gosling size and clutch size of females <5 years old have decreased significantly but no trend was detected in clutch size of older females or for the colony as a whole and first year survival has declined from about 70% for the 1986 cohort to about 45% for cohorts in the early 1990's, (4) the largest goslings at capture survive at essentially adult rates (ca 80%) and the lower average first year survival is the result of poor survival by small goslings and explains the decline in first year survival of more recent cohorts. Study of controls over plant communities involved: (1) manipulation of frequency of tidal flooding, (2) manipulation of grazing intensity on Carex subspathacea, and (3) use of greenhouses and clipping and fertilization to examine effects of warmer temperatures on production and species composition of coastal communities. Preliminary analysis indicates little effect of weekly flooding. Trampling by biologists associated with performing the experiment converted C. ramenskii into C. subspathacea, and indicated that trampling by geese plays an important role in maintaining their preferred grazing areas. Vegetation reaches nearly 1 meter in height inside greenhouses and litter from the additional production of vegetation in salt marsh areas trapped several centimeters of silt during fall floods providing some insight into beach ridge development. Assessments of controls over brant growth and spatial patterns of vegetation communities are unavailable at this time. Work in 1997 will continue unchanged. b. Spectacled and Common Eider Nesting on Kigigak Island

In response to listing spectacled eiders as a threatened species, field work on Kigigak Island was conducted for the sixth year. A field camp staffed by 2-3 YDNWR, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and USGS/BRD personnel was maintained from April30- July 2 with the following objectives:

1. monitoring spectacled and common eider nesting chronology and productivity. 2. capturing and marking nesting female spectacled eiders for survival estimate.

13 3. drawing blood for Pb and DNA analysis. 4. eliminating arctic fox from the island. 5. assisting with coastal goose production survey.

One male arctic fox was killed prior to waterfowl nesting. At least 1 other fox was present on the island though no den was located.

Spectacled and common eiders first arrived on Kigigak Island on May 5, 6-7 days earlier than the past 4 years. Nesting occurred 3-4 days earlier than in the previous 4 years. Peak nest initiation for spectacled and common eiders was similar, May 19-22. Peak hatch was also similar for both species (mean= 17 June).

A total of 190 eider nests were found, including 120 spectacled, 69 common, and 1 king eider nest. Most productivity data for spectacled and common eiders were comparable to historic levels determined elsewhere on the Delta (Table D1).

Table D1. Common and Spectacled Eider Productivity, Yukon Delta NWR, 1996. Category Spectacled Eider Common Eider Nesting Success 81.7% (n = 116) 81.9% (n = 66) (Mayfield) Mean Complete 5.1 eggs (n = 106) 5.6 eggs (n = 67) Clutch Size Egg Hatching Success 81.4% (n = 495) 78.3% (n=318) (successful nests)

Fifty-nine female spectacled eiders were nest-trapped between 8 - 28 June. All females not previously banded were fitted with a colored, uniquely numbered, tarsal band; Service leg band (steel); and uniquely numbered nasal disk. Blood was taken for lead and DNA analysis.

Thirty-four eiders were new captures, yielding 164 adult females marked on Kigigak Island since 1992. Twenty-five females were recaptures, originally banded on Kigigak Island (6-- 1992, 7--1993, 7--1994, 5--1995). Two recaptures were females banded as ducklings in 1992. Of 42 ducklings (unsexed) banded in 1992, 3 females have returned to nest on Kigigak Island at least once since 1994. One has nested consecutively from 1994-1996. Six additional marked females were resighted, only 1 of which was not seen nesting. c. Kilbuck Mountains Study

Surveys of the Kilbuck Caribou Herd (KCH) have been conducted annually since 1986 following an approved study plan. The Kilbuck (Qavilnguut) Herd Cooperative Management Plan (1994) calls for radio telemetry applications to document movement,

14 estimate population size, composition, and calving ratio. These data are used to develop harvest parameters.

Between 1986 and 1994 82 caribou (10 males and 72 females) were radio-collared. Approximately 27 radio-collars continue to function at the end ofDecember 1996. Aerial biotelemetry surveys (18 by refuge staff and an additional 10 by Togiak NWR or Alaska Department ofFish and Game [Dillingham] staff) conducted in 1996 documented 115 radio relocations for radio-collared caribou on the refuge.

All caribou on the refuge (up to 23,000 estimated) were observed south of the Kuskokwim River from January to April1996, and again from August through December 1996. The majority of these animals are considered part of the Mulchatna Herd (MCH), although few MCH radio-collars were located within this concentration. In April, a general movement to the northeast was documented by aerial radio tracking. By the May calving season, although no radio-collared animals were found within the refuge boundaries, some were observed in traditional calving areas. Due to the departure of the big game biologist, no calving or summer surveys were flown. Reports of a large number of caribou prompted a single flight in mid-August. This survey estimated approximately 23,000 animals located between the Kuskokwim River and the Kuskokwim Mountains. A number of radio collared caribou were also present. This large aggregation was present through December 1996.

Again, none of the regular, annual surveys (calf, composition, census) were conducted in 1996 due to the mixing and emigration of the resident caribou with the MCH. Although specific surveys were not flown on the refuge, approximately half of the radio-collared caribou were located with the MCH on their calving grounds by ADF&G biologists. No additional caribou were captured, marked, or radio-collared on the refuge in 1996.

As in 1995, the ADF&G issued an Emergency Order liberalizing the existing hunting season. The new hunt was open from January through March and November through December 1996 south ofthe Kuskokwim River and allowed two, either-sex caribou to be harvested by an unlimited number of licensed hunters. Previous hunting regulations restricted hunters to only one bull by permit with the total permits limited to 5% of the last population estimate. d. Kuskokwim Mountains Brown Bear Study

The 6-year long study to examine the ecology of the brown bear population in the Kuskokwim Mountains remains "on-hold". Activities have been limited to tracking existing radio-collared bears.

15 The refuge, Togiak NWR, and ADF&G staffhave voiced concerns each year since 1979 regarding the uncertain status ofbrown bears in the region and the incomplete harvest information. Potential threats to refuge brown bears include increased human activities related to mineral development, fish camps, sport and subsistence hunting, poaching, illegal exchange in bear parts, and recreation. The Federal Subsistence Board set new brown bear harvest regulations in 1992 which liberalized the subsistence harvest. One brown bear may be taken per year, instead of one every four years, and the skull and hide are not required to be sealed; only the kill must be reported. It is suspected that subsistence harvest is significant, and in some years believed to substantially exceed the reported take. Knowledge gained from this study would have given a solid basis for management and monitoring of refuge brown bears.

All capture, marking, and radio-collaring of brown bears was discontinued by the Service Director in May 1995 upon appeal by the village ofKwethluk. A cooperative brown bear planning group was established to formulate an alternative, less intrusive study plan. Despite hiring a consultant, the cooperative planning group has not identified an alternative study design to conduct a statistically valid brown bear census.

January 1996 had 27 bears with functioning radio-collars and by June 1996 only 26 were functioning. Only 25 were believed to be functioning in December 1996. Due to reduced staffing, only 17 brown bear biotelemetry flights were made during 1996 which resulted in only 261 aerial radio relocations. Den emergence could not be documented in 1996; den entrance took place between October 11 and November 8. One 11-year-old female was still up on November 8, however. On December 27 a 7-year-old female was found out of her den. Unlike 1994 when 3 brown bears marked in this study were harvested by hunters, none were reported by ADF&G in 1995. The 1996 harvest information is not yet available fromADF&G. e. Cape Romanzof A vi faunal Inventory

The refuge and the U.S. Air Force collaborated on an avifauna! inventory of the Cape RomanzofLong Range Radar Site (CRLRRS) in 1996. CRLRRS lies along the shore of the Bering Sea at the western tip of the Askinuk Mountains between Kokechik and Scammon Bays. The refuge conducted a preliminary reconnaissance of this area in 1994. That effort was expanded in 1996 to include the establishment of permanent nest-searching plots in both tundra and scrub habitats. Between May 1- July 24, and August 7-31, 2-5 refuge personnel were present at Cape Romanzof conducting bird studies. A total of 131 species were detected at the site. A total of231 nests of33 species were located, including green winged teal (2), red-breasted merganser (1), rough-legged hawk (9), willow ptarmigan (2), rock ptarmigan (3), American golden-plover (7), Pacific golden-plover (1), semipalmated plover (5), western sandpiper (47), Baird's sandpiper (2), rock sandpiper (2), red-necked

16 phalarope (1 ), parasitic jaeger (2), long-tailed jaeger (8), arctic tern (1 ), tree swallow (3), bank swallow (2:7), common raven (2), bluethroat (5), northern wheatear (9), gray-cheeked thrush (2), hermit thrush (1), yellow wagtail (15), American pipit (4), yellow warbler (1), Wilson's warbler (3), savannah sparrow (1), fox sparrow (3), golden-crowned sparrow (12), white-crowned sparrow (4), Lapland longspur (10), snow bunting (6), and common/hoary redpoll (50). This total does not include nests counted in the seabird colonies reported in Section G.5. In addition to the nests listed above, broods of common eider and northern pintail were also discovered. In fact, among species suspected of nesting at Cape Romanzof, breeding was confirmed (i.e., nest(s) and/or young discovered) for all but 2 (short-eared owl and orange-crowned warbler). The bluethroat nests were of particular interest because they are the first to be discovered in North America south ofthe Seward Peninsula.

In addition to information on breeding birds, the refuge crew documented the presence of numerous vagrants in the Cape Romanzof area. One group of vagrants included wanderers :from the forests of interior and/or southern Alaska, including bufflehead, lesser yellowlegs, rufous hummingbird, black-capped chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, ruby-crowned kinglet, bohemian waxwing, yellow-rumped warbler, dark-eyed junco, and white-winged crossbill. Some "vagrants" had apparently wandered only :from the taller shrub habitats abundant farther east in the Askinuk Mountains and elsewhere on the Delta, including alder flycatcher, arctic warbler, American robin, varied thrush, blackpoll warbler, northern waterthrush, and Lincoln's sparrow. One species, the purple finch, defied easy classification as to point of origin. The remaining species of vagrants were of Beringian or Asian origin, including common sandpiper, black-headed gull, little gull, eye-browed thrush, and white wagtail. f. Evaluation of Potential Reindeer Range in the Stebbins/St. Michael Area.

Methods The permit area contained 20 full or partial townships of refuge land, and six of these townships were identified as priority grazing areas (PGAs) by the permit applicant. Fieldwork in 1995 concentrated on the PGAs and some of the remaining townships were

17 2 sampled in 1996. Plots (2.6 km ) were delineated by section lines on 1:63,360 U.S. Geological Survey topographical maps and were randomly selected for sampling. Within each plot, different plant communities were identified first by interpreting a 1:60,000 color infrared aerial photograph and then by overflying the plot in a helicopter. Representative locations within each plant community in a plot were selected for sampling plant cover, productivity, and lichen utilization. Cover and production data were used to classify communities as ecological sites as defined by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS; formerly Soil Conservation Service). An ecological site is an area ofland that has the potential for producing a particular climax plant community. Ecological sites differ from one another with respect to species composition and above ground production.

A 100 meter transect was established to estimate plant cover and production. At 20 m intervals, plant cover was assessed using a 50 x 100 em point sampling frame. Monofilament line was attached to the frame to create 50 intersections or crosshairs, and all plant species, soil, or rock situated directly below each intersection were recorded as 'hits.' Percent cover was calculated by dividing the number of hits for each species by the total number of intersections per transect (250) and multiplying by 100. Biomass ofherbaceous, shrub, and lichen species was estimated using a double sampling technique. Current annual growth (CAG) of vascular plants was visually estimated within a 0.2 m2 circular plot placed in the center of each cover plot. Total lichen biomass was also estimated in this hoop or in a 0.04 m2 circular plot if lichen cover was fairly dense. Total lichen biomass, the percent of this biomass comprised by each lichen species, and the percent of each species that was alive were estimated. This allowed calculation of estimated live biomass per species. After biomass was estimated in the five plots, lichens and CAG of vascular plants were collected from two of the plots considered most representative of the transect. All species were bagged and weighed in the field to obtain wet weights. These weights were used as correction factors for the three plots where biomass was only visually estimated. All clipped samples were dried and reweighed to determine dry weight per unit area of each species. Biomass was reported in pounds per acre to remain consistent with previous NRCS work on Alaskan reindeer ranges.

Plant communities were classified as ecological sites based on cover and production data, and mean biomass and cover were estimated for each ecological site. A range map of the permit area was developed using the computer program ERDAS Imagine (version 8.2) to interpret a Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite image. The resulting map was used to estimate total acreage in each community type and visually display the distribution of different habitats throughout the permit area.

Utilization of vegetation by caribou or reindeer was estimated in each plant community using the standardized NRCS Alaska Grazed Class Method. Utilization checks were conducted at 50 observation points along a transect separated by intervals of two paces. At each observation point, a half-circle area with a radius of 1.8 m was examined in front of the observer and was assigned to one of nine lichen utilization cover classes. Utilization

18 can range from Class 0, in which there is no evidence of utilization, to Class 8, in which all of the lichen cover is disturbed and 50-100% of the plot consists of mineral soil, rock, or organic material exposed due to disturbance by caribou or reindeer.

)

Co-op student Delia Person estimates plant cover using a point-intercept plot frame.

Results A total of 33 plots containing 60 transects were sampled during late July-early August in 1995 and late July 1996. Transect elevation ranged from 7-496 m. Biomass (dry weight) of current annual vascular growth ranged from 212-1,303 lbs/acre, and live lichen biomass ranged between 65-15,479lbs/acre. Most transects exceeded the minimum amount of live lichen required for designation as winter range by the NRCS (250 lbs/acre), but a few fell slightly below this level and one transect (65 lbs lichen/acre) was established in a sedge drainage mixed in with winter range. Little evidence of grazing was encountered on most transects, although signs of grazing were more common on higher elevation transects.

Transects were classified into 17 ecological sites, one of which was not previously described by the NRCS. Some of these sites were combined for mapping purposes, and the

19 range map depicted 14 habitat classes including water, shrubs, and rock (Table D2). Seven of these classes (62.6% ofthe entire permit area) were considered to be winter range.

Table D2. Estimated acreage of habitat classes within the proposed grazing allotment, northern Yukon Delta, Alaska.

Habitat Acreage % ofTotal Water 15,5061 2.9 Rock/Lava 14,468 2.7 Shrubs 140,267 26.3 Wetland complex 3,563 0.7 Wet graminoid tundra 18,680 3.5 Tidal flats 1,730 0.3 Burned sedge/shrub tundra 5,220 1.0 Shrub-lichen upland and Willow-Dryas upland* 17,848 3.3

Lichen meadow, mountain* 39,410 7.4 Lichen-sedge meadow, upland* 44,011 8.3

Lichen ridge and Lichen slope upland* 20,548 3.9 Dryas-lichen ridge* 6,813 1.3 Lichen/sedge tundra, live lichen>3,500 lbs/acre* 96,258 18.1 Lichen/sedge tundra, live lichen<3,500 lbs/acre* 107,912 20.3 Total 532,2342

1Water is underestimated because vegetation sometimes obscures rivers and streams. 2Total differs from acreage calculated from original permit request (543,360 acres). This is probably a result of the following factors: slight errors in calculating original acreage in partial sections, rounding errors, and difficulties in determining exact permit area boundaries on the satellite image. *Winter range

20 )

Typical upland habitat within the proposed reindeer grazing allotment.

g. Reindeer survey on Nunivak Island

An aerial survey to count reindeer on Nunivak Island was conducted on March 17-18, 1996. Two aircraft and a total of 11 .5 hrs of flight time were spent surveying the entire island. A

21 total of 911 reindeer in 7 groups were seen. This count represented a substantial reduction over the previous year's count. Specifically, 3,246 reindeer in 251 groups were observed on March 15, 1995. It was believed that most reindeer on the island were observed during the 96 survey, however, it is possible some were missed. It is also possible that some reindeer could have been on the pack ice surrounding the island and missed. If the 96 count was accurate, approximately 2800 to 2900 animals were unaccouncted for. The only logical explanation for this decline is that the animals wandered onto the pack ice and were not counted and/or broke through the ice or were carried away on an ice flow when the wind or current shifted. Incidents, although rare, of small to large numbers of reindeer lost on the pack ice have been documented in the past. It will be interesting to compare 1996's counts with next year's results.

6. Other

Subsistence Waterfowl Harvest Survey

For the eighth consecutive year, Migratory Bird Management and Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge cooperatively conducted a household survey of subsistence waterfowl harvest. Harvest coordinator Cynthia Wentworth (Migratory Bird Management) and refuge information technician/field coordinator Abraham Andrew (Yukon Delta) carried out the survey. They were assisted by the refuge interpreters and by the other refuge information teclmicians. This survey is conducted under Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Goose Management Plan auspices, with support from the Association ofVillage Council Presidents' Waterfowl Conservation Committee (AVCP's WCC).

Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta residents harvested approximately 127,000 birds for subsistence in 1996. In terms of total birds harvested, this was slightly below 1995's harvest of 135,000 birds yet above the 10-year mean of 102,000 birds. The decrease from 1995 was due mainly to large decreases in duck harvests; indeed, goose harvests in 1996 were higher than in 1995. In 1996, approximately 54,000 (42%) birds harvested were geese, 43,500 (34%) were ducks, 13,000 (10%) were swans and cranes, and 15,000 (12%) were ptarmigan (Table 1).

Converted to usable weights, subsistence bird harvest provided approximately 408,000 pounds of food to Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta residents in 1996 [geese, 190,000 pounds (46%); swans, 99,000 pounds (24%); ducks, 73,000 pounds (18%); cranes, 26,000 pounds (7%) and ptarmigan, 15,000 pounds (4%)].

Normally, ducks are taken in greater numbers than geese on the Y-K Delta, even though geese typically contribute more food to the diet due to their larger size. However in 1996, for the first time in the eleven year history of this survey, geese surpassed ducks in total numbers taken as well as in contribution to the diet by weight.

22 In 1996, geese contributed two and one-half times as much food to the subsistence diet as ducks. Tundra swans and sandhill cranes provided 31% of the total pounds of food even though these birds represented only 10% of the total bird harvest.

Both total numbers of geese taken in 1996 (54,000) and the total numbers of Yukon Kuskokwim Delta Goose Management Plan species taken (35,000) were the highest levels recorded since this survey began in 1985 (Table 1). However, goose harvest estimates are still lower than historically. To put the 1996 goose harvest figure in a longer term perspective, in 1964, total goose harvest was estimated at 83,000 (Klein 1966).

All1996 goose harvests were above their 10-year means. Harvests of pacific white-fronts, cacklers, emperors, and snow geese increased from 1995 to 1996. White-front harvests showed the largest gains, increasing from 11,400 birds in 1995 to 14,600 birds in 1996, an increase of3,200 birds harvested. Harvests of cackling Canada geese went up from 13,800 to 15,000 birds between 1995 and 1996, an increase of about 1,200 birds. Over 3,800 snow geese were estimated taken in 1996, 1,500 birds more than were harvested in 1995 and the second highest snow goose harvest since this survey began in 1985.

The 1996 emperor harvest estimate was 2,375 birds compared with 2,050 birds in 1995. This 1996 estimate was barely above the 10-year mean of2,300 emperors (Table 1). The lack of participation ofthe key south coast villages ofKipnuk, Kongiganek, and Kwigillingok again in 1996, as well as the lack of participation of these and other key coastal villages in other years, decreases our confidence in emperor harvest estimates.

Lesser Canada goose harvests were similar between 1995 and 1996 at almost 15,000 birds. Black brant harvests decreased from a high of5,000 birds in 1995 to 3,300 birds in 1996.

Approximately 43,600 ducks were harvested in 1996, down significantly from 1995's harvest of 53,300 ducks and below the 10- year mean of 45,300 ducks. Harvests ofpintails, mallards, other dabbling ducks, scaup, goldeneyes, and oldsquaws were down substantially from 1995. Black scoter harvests were the same as in 1995, and white-winged and surf scoter harvests were above those of 1995. Harvests of all duck species were at or below 10- year means except for pintails, wigeons, black and white-winged scoters, and king and common eiders, which were all slightly above 10-year averages.

The king eider harvest estimate (2,750 birds) was up significantly from 1995 (1,600 birds) and slightly above the 10-year mean of 2,650 birds. The estimated number of spectacled eiders taken in 1996 was 126, down from 1995's estimate of206 and below the 10-year mean of255.

23 The 1996 harvest estimate of 43 Steller's eiders is below 1995's high estimate of95 Steller's eiders taken. (Steller's eiders were on the 1985 survey form but none were reported taken. They were removed from the form from 1986 through 1990, then put back on the form in 1991.)

Estimated tundra swan harvest in 1996 was 8,900 birds, down slightly from 1995's harvest of9,500 birds, which was the highest swan harvest estimate in the history of this survey.

The 1996 swan harvest was substantially above the 10-year mean of 6,800 swans. The estimated 1996 sandhill crane harvest of3,900 cranes was also lower than the 1995 estimate of 5,300 cranes, which was the highest number recorded since this survey began. The 1996 crane harvest was above the 10-year mean of3,300 cranes (Table 1).

Survey results for 1996 showed, as they have every year, that spring is the most important time for waterfowl and other bird hunting. In 1996, 64% of all surveyed households in communities other than Bethel caught birds and/or gathered eggs during the spring survey period. Over half (55%) of all birds taken in 1996 were taken in the spring.

In 1996, for the fourth consecutive year, harvests of cackling and lesser Canada geese, Pacific white-fronted geese, tundra swans, and pintail ducks were particularly high in the Yukon River region. In 1996, 44% of all Pacific white-fronts, 42% of cacklers, 54% of lesser Canadas, and 50% of all tundra swans taken on theY-K Delta were estimated taken in the Yukon River region, mostly in spring and fall. Since only three of the required four Yukon River villages participated in the survey in 1996, however, this limits the accuracy of these estimates.

Since 1985, reported egg harvests have been highly variable (Table 2). Based on these reported harvests, in 1996, about 3,100 goose eggs were estimated taken. This is above the 10-year mean of2,300 goose eggs but below 1994 and 1995 estimates of3,600 and 3,400 goose eggs respectively. Estimated 1996 harvest oftundra swan eggs (560) was below the 10-year mean (690). About 2,100 duck eggs and 4,500 shorebird eggs were harvested in 1996. Murre eggs were reported taken in significant numbers for the first time in the history of this survey (estimate 1,700 eggs taken). These were taken by Kuskokwim River residents, probably on trips to Cape Newenham.

In 1996, 852 households in 24 Delta villages participated in the survey during the spring survey period (Figure 1). An adequate number of villages participated from the Kuskokwim region and a more than adequate number participated from the mid coast region in 1996. However, our village sampling was inadequate in the other regions, and the sample of villages still was not random in any region except the north coast and mid coast due to the lack of participation of certain villages.

24 In the south coast region, two of the required three villages participated in the survey- Eek and Tuntutuliak. However, none of the three villages at the mouth of the Kuskokwim (Kipnuk, Kongiganek, or Kwigillingok) participated in 1996. This, as in previous years, was the major weakness of the 1996 survey. Because of these villages' locations near prime coastal goose habitat and because they are known to do a lot of waterfowl hunting, emperor and brant harvest data are least credible.

In the north coast and Yukon regions in 1996, we had trouble finding good surveyors for some villages, meaning that village participation was inadequate. As already described, this probably affected the accuracy of our waterfowl estimates in the Yukon region, where only three of the required four villages participated. It may also have affected our estimates for the north coast region, where participation was incomplete from two of the three villages surveyed.

In the Kuskokwim region, an adequate number of villages participated in the survey in 1996. However, the consistent lack of participation by the villages of Akiak and Atmautluak continued, as did the near consistent lack of participation by Kasigluk and Napaskiak. This kept the sample from being random in this region.

In the mid coast region, eight villages participated in 1996 (Scammon Bay's participation was incomplete). The six villages drawn for the survey all participated, meaning that our survey in the mid coast region was random for the first time ever. However, the village of Tununak would not have participated in 1996 even if Tununak had been selected.

In the 24 villages which participated in the survey in 1996, 31 village surveyors obtained household permission and distributed and collected survey forms. These surveyors worked under contract to the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Seven of the surveyors did not finish or had difficulty finishing the job and/or finding their own replacement. As a result, data collection suffered or data quality may have been affected in Emmonak, Marshall, Mountain Village, Scammon Bay, Sheldon Point, and Tuntutuliak. The following surveyors in the following villages successfully completed survey work in 1996: Akiachak, Ryan Nose; Aniak, Peggy Robinette; Bethel, Connie and Henry Peter; Chefornak, Alexie Flynn; Chevak, Greg Slats; Eek, Carl White Jr.; Hooper Bay, Agnes Carl and Jerry Moses; Lower Kalskag, Olga Evan; Kotlik, William Odinzoff Jr. and Abraham Teeluk; Kwethluk, Henrietta Nicolai and Margie Fisher; Mekoryuk, Clyde Smith; Napakiak, Anna Middleton and Peter Nelson; Newtok, Murphy John; Nunapitchuk, James Chris; Scammon Bay, Arlene Bell; St. Mary's, Martin De Polty; Toksook Bay, Bernice Therchik-Pitka; Upper Kalskag, Harlan Steward.

A total of $46,000 went directly into local village economies as payments to surveyors. Each surveyor earned an average of$1,600.

25 TABLE 1 MIGRATORY BIRD SUBSISTENCE HARVEST ESTIMATES YUKON-KUSKOKWIM DELTA, 1986-1996 10YEAR 1986 1987 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 AVERAGE GEESE White-fronted Geese 2806 3722 5324 8287 5709 9237 8207 9570 11388 14582 7883 Cackling Canada Geese 2067 3218 3584 5903 4926 4490 7846 9780 13799 14983 7060 Emperor Geese 3091 1352 1616 3440 2394 2669 2602 1493 2041 2374 2307 Black Brant 1483 1030 2372 3133 2258 2798 2502 2326 4995 3302 2620 ------Total GMP Species 9447 9322 12896 20763 15287 19194 21157 23169 32223 35241 19870 Lesser Canada Geese 3649 4497 5455 4066 4305 7169 7088 9541 14931 14734 7543 Lesser Snow Geese 2102 5201 889 1284 863 1655 2119 2115 2305 3634 2237 ------TOTAL GEESE 15198 19020 19240 26113 20455 26018 30362 34825 49459 53809 29650

TUNDRA SWANS 5363 6721 6034 5399 4599 7226 5767 8030 9529 8860 6753 SANDHILL CRANES 3477 2191 3193 2159 3172 4182 2282 3118 5340 3899 3301

DUCKS Pintails 9934 17540 6893 8267 7494 8072 7474 6895 12579 10952 9610 Mallards 8907 9073 6908 12486 3603 5079 4671 4949 6971 5041 6769 Unidentified ducks 2514 2627 2171 1621 1995 1369 1993 1881 2815 1427 2021 Wigeons 1199 2799 824 2886 1926 2141 4356 2950 4525 2967 2658 Shovelers 1381 2395 806 821 756 1022 925 770 1314 804 1099 Green-winged Teals 2353 4264 1605 2529 1500 1223 1103 1268 1557 1910 1931 Buffleheads 298 281 514 231 224 284 319 400 363 139 305 Harlequins 179 242 393 141 82 229 354 116 144 163 204 Greater Scaup 4554 6256 2237 1394 2388 4996 2891 4357 7347 3460 3988 Goldeneyes 774 2332 1129 1797 1800 1379 1364 1287 1894 1232 1499 Oldsquaws 2783 2691 4638 1476 2430 2125 1709 1355 2403 1609 2322 White-winged Scoters 1136 2143 630 4027 2142 5237 2153 1572 1918 2511 2347 Black Scoters 5079 5987 4629 4397 5630 8191 7974 4936 6946 6982 6095 Surf Scoters 342 956 462 1846 593 590 493 713 409 685 709 Common Eiders 971 322 634 417 436 326 583 157 113 615 457 King Eiders 1816 3360 3107 2243 2832 3433 3753 1540 1625 2752 2646 Spectacled Eiders 321 296 493 272 289 370 28 150 206 126 255 Steller's Eiders 21 24 0 18 95 43 34 Common Mergansers 304 304 118 75 14 63 123 60 70 74 121 Red-breas1ed Mergansers 203 299 187 230 398 589 297 148 256 145 275 ------TOTAL DUCKS 45048 64167 36378 47158 36753 46742 42565 35522 53350 43637 45332

PTARMIGAN 8926 15092 13371 12579 30686 15648 19557 9458 16095 14794 15621

OTHER BIRDS Yellow-billed Loons 381 143 88 89 102 101 172 93 34 188 139 Red-throated Loons 133 44 463 90 64 97 25 94 18 36 108 Common Loons 662 1179 689 352 688 743 657 263 390 424 605 Arctic Loons 91 42 96 32 34 114 142 44 20 26 84 Common Murres 242 354 228 21 0 36 29 307 29 42 129 Small shorebirds 604 225 101 48 152 96 599 53 118 76 207 Large shorebirds 75 124 19 140 303 12 145 174 138 774 190 Mew Gulls 21 14 0 11 25 0 15 0 134 54 27 Sablnes Gulls 7 35 0 0 28 39 41 8 101 78 34 Glaucous Gulls 217 287 21 574 41 100 98 184 72 72 167 Arctic T ems 193 42 0 12 11 10 0 0 ------15 28 TOTAL OTHER BIRDS 2626 2489 1705 1369 1468 1348 1923 1220 1069 1771 1699

TOTAL 80638 109680 81921 94m 97133 103164 102456 92173 134842 126770 102355 TABLE 2 EGG SUBSISTENCE HARVEST ESTIMATES YUKON-KUSKOKWIM DELTA, 1986-1996 10YEAR 1986 1987 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 AVERAGE

GOOSE EGGS White-fronted Geese 100 110 1004 722 257 478 598 667 848 454 524 Cackling Canada Geese 48 194 244 509 616 202 375 1005 845 793 483 Emperor Geese 14 43 518 229 40 132 411 351 408 488 263 Black Brant 89 67 278 329 0 81 176 801 524 622 297

Total GMP Species Eggs 251 414 2044 1789 913 893 1560 2824 2625 2357 1567 Lesser Canada Geese 1374 143 681 442 728 941 681 763 816 762 733 Lesser Snow Geese 0 0 0 0 4 19 0 0 0 5 3 TOTAL GOOSE EGGS 1625 557 2725 2231 1645 1853 2241 3587 3441 3124 2303

TUNDRA SWAN EGGS 505 268 1367 953 564 567 961 293 856 565 690 SANDHILL CRANE EGGS 677 158 692 874 721 359 467 276 460 373 506

DUCK EGGS Pintails 85 500 558 697 898 852 1100 705 649 611 666 Mallards 908 184 3332 692 141 361 612 321 409 272 723 Unidentified ducks 249 192 158 107 208 190 373 301 1140 756 367 Wigeons 0 81 155 52 74 60 121 199 54 59 86 Shovelers 28 17 231 46 0 0 65 0 17 0 40 Green-winged Teals 45 246 219 197 42 53 147 50 33 88 112 Buffleheads 0 0 0 0 0 35 46 0 0 0 8 Harlequins 40 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 Greater Scaup 714 51 97 0 40 0 0 119 0 79 110 Goldeoeyes 0 0 112 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 14 Oldsquaws 89 15 437 148 126 24 70 137 154 158 134 White-winged Seaters 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 Black Seaters 403 0 110 0 0 30 0 0 127 0 67 Surf Seaters 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 59 0 8 Common Eiders 0 0 30 15 0 12 33 30 64 27 21 King Eiders 0 31 64 14 56 0 29 0 0 20 21 Spectacled Eiders 4 35 0 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 Stellers' Eiders no survey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Common Mergansers 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 2 Red-breasted Mergansers 0 0 0 0 0 98 6 0 0 0 10

TOTALDUCKEGGS ~ 1380 5503 2013 1585 1733 2602 1862 2717 2103 2404

PTARMIGAN EGGS 117 551 337 957 1609 769 1694 532 559 994 812

OTHER BIRD EGGS Yetlow-billed Loons 8 11 9 0 0 19 37 0 0 10 9 Red-throated Loons 99 0 5 0 40 0 12 0 0 8 16 Common Loons 223 12 141 67 46 136 263 11 29 59 99 Arctic Loons 30 27 9 0 4 16 0 0 0 10 10 Common Murres 0 12 0 0 0 0_ 204 0. 0. 1740 196 Small Shorebirds 174 705 736 233 129 152 1268 1994 1418 2169 900 Large Shorebirds 0 11 5 4 0 39 115 174 120 245 71 Mew Gulls 253 7 17 33 82 209 1338 1004 364 347 365 Sabines Gulls 229 44 56 707 297 184 277 145 33 408 238 Glaucous Gulls 648 420 765 4292 1766 443 797 845 1031 914 1192 Arctic Terns 141 31 51 721 44 64 597 362 647 442 310 TOTAL OTHER BIRD EGGS 1805 1280 1796 6057 2410 1262 4926 4535 3642 6352 3407

TOTAL EGGS 7274 4192 12420 13085 8534 6543 12891 11085 11675 13511 10121 E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel

Left to Right

Front Row: Alex Nick, Christopher Harwood, Abraham Andrew, Paul Liedberg, Henry Ivanoff, Peter Tony. Second Row: Moses Littlefish, Mike Rearden, Ray Ayogan, Brian McCaffery, Bernice Albright, Dennis Strom. Third Row: Mike Wade, Steve Kovach, Dave Cox, James Sipary, George Walters, Chuck Hunt, Mike Wege, John Morgart.

Permanent and Intermittent Staff

1. Michael B. Rearden Refuge Manager, GS-0485-14, EOD 6/95 , PFT 2. Dennis W. Strom Deputy Refuge Manager, GS-0485-12, EOD 8/83, PFT 3. Paul A. Liedberg Refuge Operations Spec./Pilot, GS-0485-12, EOD 6/96 4. Dave Cox Refuge Operations Spec., GS-0485-7, EOD 9/95 , PFT 5. John R. Morgart Supv. Wildlife Biologist, GS-0486-12, EOD 8/87, PFT 6. George Walters Airplane Pilot, GS-2181-12, EOD 7/87, PFT 7. Charles F. Hunt Native Contract Representative, GS-1040-12, EOD1/79, PFT 8. Lorrie J. Beck Outdoor Rec. Planner, GS-023-11 , EOD 3/93, PFT

28 9. Michael L. Wege Wildlife Biologist, GS-0486-11, EOD 4/83, PFT 10. Brian J. McCaffery Wildlife Biologist, GS-0486-11, EOD 10/86, PFT 11. Vernon E. Miller Wildlife Biologist, GS-0486-9, EOD 9/92, LWD 5/96, PFT 12. Steve Kovach Wildlife Biologist, GS-0486-11, EOD 12/96, PFT 13. Pascal L. Afcan Interpreter, GS-1040-9, EOD 8/85, PFT 14. Jean M. Nolan Computer Specialist, GS-0344-9, EOD 9/94, LWD 10/96, PFT 15. Bernice M. Albright Computer Specialist, GS-0344-7, EOD 12/96, PFT 16. Martha Perry Refuge Clerk, GS-0303-4, EOD 2/87, PFT 17. PhillipP. Paniyak Refuge Clerk, GS-0303-5, EOD 1/92, PFT 18. Gary Chayalkun Office Auto. Clerk, GS-0326-3, EOD 3/95, LWD7/96, PFT 19. Michael Jensen Maintenance Mechanic, WG-4749-9, EOD 12/88, PFT 20. Peter W. Tony Maintenance Mechanic, WG-4749-9, EOD 8/91, PFT 21. Michael A. Jimmy Refuge Info. Tech., GS-1001-8, EOD 11/84, INT 22. Alex S. Nick Refuge Info. Tech., GS-1001-8, EOD 11/84, P (Seasonal) 23. Abraham Andrew Refuge Info. Tech., GS-1001-8, EOD 11/91, P (Seasonal) 24. Moses D. Littlefish Refuge Info. Tech., GS-1001-6, EOD 1/93, INT 25. Clyde Smith Refuge Info. Tech., GS-1001-6, EOD 3/93, LWD 8/96 INT 26. James Sipary Refuge Info. Tech., GS-1001-8, EOD 2/96, INT 27. Joe Asuluk Sr. Refuge Info. Tech., GS-1001-8, EOD 1/94, INT 28. Jimmy P. Slats Biological Tech., GS-0404-5, EOD 6/90, INT 29. Leo Moses Sr. Biological Tech., GS-0404-5, EOD 6/90, INT 30. Henry E. Ivanoff Biological Tech., GS-0404-5, EOD 8/91, INT 31. Raymond Ayogan Biological Tech., GS-0404-5, EOD 4/96, INT

Temporary Employees

Christopher Harwood Biological Tech., GS-0404-5, EOD 3/91, Term Christine L. Moran Biological Tech., GS-0404-5, EOD 9/95, Student Trainee

Other FWS Employees Located in Refuge Headquarters

Mike Wade Special Agent, Division of Law Enforcement John Andrew Regional Coordinator, Subsistence Division

Computer Specialist Jean Nolan resigned effective October 1 after having worked in the position for two years. Bernice Albright replaced her on December 8 when she transferred from the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. Bernice is filling the full performance GS-9 position at the GS-7 level while in training.

Wildlife Biologist Gene Miller who had been employeed by the station since 1992 resigned effective May 15. This position was filled on December 10 when Steve Kovach transferred from the subsistence division in the Anchorage Regional Office.

29 A new Refuge Operations Specialist/Pilot position was established at the station when Paul Liedberg transferred from the Koyukuk/Nowitna Refuges in Galena effective May 26.

Refuge Information Technicians Abe Andrew and Michael Jimmy were promoted to their full performance level of GS-8 effective November 24. RIT Clyde Smith who also assumed expediter duties for the station resigned effective August 23. His position in Bethel was filled when Alex Nick moved in from Russian Mission to assume these duties. Alex was promoted to a GS-8 level on November 24. James Sipary from Toksook Bay was hired to fill a new "roving" RIT position effective February 26. James will work in villages throughout the Delta as needed.

The two GS-4 Office Automation Clerk positions were audited during the year resulting in the rewrite and reclassification ofboth PD's and the upgrade of one. Refuge Clerk Phillip Paniyak was selected to fill the GS-5 position effective September 15.

Office Automation Clerk Gary Chayalkin resigned effective July 12. His position was not refilled.

Jack Paniyak, who had occupied a maintenance mechanic position since 1974 retired effective June 7.

Biological Science Technician Ray Ayogan was converted to a permanent intermittent appointment effective April 28. Ray had been working in a temporary position since May of 1995.

Outdoor Recreation Planner Lorrie Beck received an On-The-Spot award for her work in planning the refuge open house for the community as part of the National Wildlife Week celebration in October.

Refuge Operations Specialist Dave Cox and Refuge Clerk Martha Perry received an On The-Spot awards in April for their work associated with submission of the annual narrative. Dave was also promoted to a GS-7 level effective September 1.

4. Volunteer Programs

Eleven volunteers worked on the refuge in 1996. They provided 4,056 hours of resource support and 180 hours ofpublic use support. They, and their Service counterparts, discovered the first blue throat nest south of the Seward Peninsula; discovered spectacled eider spring migration corridor; documented the first breeding record of slaty-backed gull in North America and the first record of Caspian tern in Alaska; and documented the actual number of recreational users on the Kisaralik and Kwethluk Rivers.

30 Christine McCaffery, Peter Zahler and Chantal Dietemann assisted WB McCaffery and Biological Technician (BT) Christopher Hanwood on a joint project between the US Air Force and the Service to inventory birds at Cape RomanzofLong Range Radar Site.

Jennifer Smith and Matt Cooper spent over three months at Kisaralik Lake greeting recreational users as they began their trip down the Kisaralik River. Janet Strom also assisted with public use support at this camp.

Jim Schneeweis, Barry Sampson, Dave Kuehn, Doug Sandstrom, and Dave Steams spent a combined total of three months at Boundary Lake camp, near the Kwethluk River. They collected data on the Kwethluk River fishery and were geared up to interview/determine the impact of recreational users floating the Kwethluk River. However, the river was floated by only one recreational rafting party in 1996.

5. Funding

The complicated funding process continues in the region. MMS projects helped with much needed maintenance projects. Subsistence management funding provided major survey costs for big game management.

Table El. Funding in Dollars for Yukon Delta NWR, FY-92 thru FY-96.

Activity Code FY-92 FY-93 FY-94 FY-95 FY-96

1230 17K 167K 28K 67K 56K 9100 25K 25K 32K 1260 1,746K 1,657K 2,166K 1,915K 1,993K 1411 122K

Total 1,885K 1,849K 2,219K 2,014K 2,049K

Two challenge cost share projects were funded- a goose camp for village students (5K), and continuing the western Alaska science camp (19K). Two subsistence projects were funded which included 30K for continuing the Kilbuck brown bear study and 5K for a Nyac moose survey. In addition, the station received 73K in subsistence funds to support the big game wildlife biologist position. Ecosystem team funding added 16K to the budget for collection ofbaseline seaduck data in unsurveyed portions of the refuge.

Four MMS projects were funded which included 7K to make improvements to an unsafe hazmat storage facility, 2K to complete replacement of the vessel Rex M engines, 20K to

31 replace 200 feet of deteriorated sewer line, and 3K to replace explosion proof lighting in the fuel shed.

Five projects were funded with migratory bird funds totaling 56K. They included pintail and mallard banding (25K), breeding bird survey point counts (3K), breeding bird survey of shorebirds (4K), a west coast shorebird migration study (4K), and continuation of regional harvest surveys (20K).

6. Safety

Safety meetings were conducted whenever needed to inform refuge staff of safety matters pertaining to their work. When safety meetings were not held, Refuge Safety Officer Chuck Hunt wrote a monthly safety memo to office and field staff.

Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Emergency Medical Services Department staff taught one class on First-aid and CPR to the Refuge Information Technicians and other refuge staff during the last week in February. This was in preparation for the RITs travels to the Y-K Delta villages on information and education.

On March 22-23, Refuge Pilot George Walters, refuge staff Gary Chayalkun, and Chuck Hunt assisted in an aerial search and rescue for a person that had become lost while traveling by snowmachine from Bethel to Newtok. The person had been lost for about one week. The lost person later walked into the village Chefornak. He was in good physical condition.

Refuge Safety Officer Charles Hunt attended the Bear Safety and Firearms Training in Anchorage February 13-16. The bear safety was taught by staff of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Alaska Department ofFish and Game. The firearms safety training was taught by an instructor from National Rifle Association.

Native Contact Representative Chuck Hunt and RIT Abe Andrew attended the session with the Western Alaska Science Camp at Nyac, Alaska from July 13 through 24. Hunt taught bear safety to the Science Camp staff and students prior to start of the camp activities.

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1. General

Yukon Delta NWR encompasses approximately 21.9 million acres within the northern boreal zone of southwestern Alaska. About 70% of the refuge is below 100 feet in elevation and consists of a broad, flat delta dotted with countless water bodies. The delta was created by the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers and their tributaries. The Yukon River

32 delta is in the process of building up, while the Kuskokwim delta is slowly being eroded by normal river processes. Many delta streams and sloughs are former distributaries of the two major rivers. Flooding of riverine and lowland areas is common, particularly in spring. The refuge's coastal plain is scarcely above sea level and is frequently inundated by Bering Sea tides.

The coastal plain, including the Yukon Delta Refuge, is contrasted by uplands and mountains to the north, east, and south. Several small mountain groups are scattered across the coastal plain. The southern extension of the Nulato Hills is located near the refuge's northern boundary. These rounded hills, rising from 1,000 to 3,000 feet in elevation, are the western extension of this large geographic feature. The Askinuk Mountains are located along the refuge's western coast, immediately south of Scammon Bay. They are approximately 10 by 40 miles in size and are the only part of the coastal plain that has been glaciated. The Kusilvak Mountains are located approximately 40 miles west ofthe village of St. Mary's and are directly south and east ofNunavaknuk Lake. They are eight miles from north to south, and five miles east to west, rising 2,300 feet. The Ingakslugwat Hills north of Baird Inlet are a group of small volcanic cones, lava flows, and craters. The tallest of these is 650 feet. These hills may be one of the most recently active volcanic areas on the Delta. The Kilbuck Mountains are the southern extension of the Kuskokwim Mountains and are located in the southeast part of the refuge. These mountains range from 2,000 to 4,000 feet in elevation.

Two major islands are located within the refuge. The million-plus acre Nunivak Island lies 20 miles offthe coast and is ofvolcanic origin with several peaks from 1,000 to 1,600 feet. Coastal bluffs range from 100 to 450 feet high. Sandy beaches along the southern coast merge into active sand dunes greater than 100 feet in height. These dunes are particularly susceptible to erosion because protective foredunes and extensive beaches are absent. The second largest island is Nelson Island which is separated from the Delta by the Ninglick River to the north, Baird Inlet to the northeast, and the Kolavinarak River to the east. The southern portion of the island is low-lying and covered with small lakes and streams. To the north, the terrain becomes more rugged with several peaks ranging over 1,300 feet in elevation.

Refuge vegetation is primarily subarctic tundra, underlain by permafrost, and includes a variety of scrub, peatland, heath meadow, marsh, and bog habitats. Tall scrub and forest habitats are found in the eastern interior areas. Alpine tundra occurs in the mountainous areas at higher elevations. Most of these habitats remain essentially untouched by man. Virtually no habitat management as practiced in the lower 48 states occurs on the refuge. Habitat related activities involve mapping and inventory efforts associated with specific wildlife studies and wildlife management.

33 2. Wetlands

Most of the refuge is a vast, flat wetland/tundra complex dotted by countless ponds, lakes, and meandering rivers. The refuge's most productive wildlife habitat is the coastal region bordering the Bering Sea. This narrow strip ofland is unquestionably the most productive goose nesting habitat in Alaska. As a result of the Alaska Submerged Lands Act, additional selected acreage on and adjacent to this coastal strip could eventually be conveyed to Native corporations.

3. Forests

Less than five percent of the refuge is forested. Narrow bands of riparian, black spruce hardwood, mixed black spruce-balsam poplar, and balsam poplar woodlands extend onto the delta along the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers and their tributaries. In addition, pockets ofblack spruce and white spruce are interspersed throughout the Kilbuck and Andreafsky Mountains. None of the wooded areas contain commercially harvestable timber.

)

A diverse community ofboth neotropical and paleotropical migrants nested near Nilumat Creek at Cape Romanzof.

6. Other Habitats

Intertidal mudflats are extremely important feeding, resting, and staging areas for numerous ) species of shorebirds and waterfowl. Coastal cliffs provide valuable nesting habitat for

34 seabirds on Nunivak and Nelson Islands, and at Cape Romanzof. In addition, the refuge has jurisdiction of open water in the Bering Sea for a distance of 12 to 20 miles around Nunivak Island.

7. Grazing

In March 1994, a resident of Stebbins, Alaska applied for a permit to graze reindeer on the northern portion of the refuge. The requested allotment encompasses approximately 437,120 acres of refuge land including selected lands and 294,235 acres in the Andreafsky Wilderness Area. The application also identified an additional83,840 acres ofBureau of Land Management (BLM) land and 22,400 acres ofNative land. Section 303(7)(C) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 states that "subject to such reasonable regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, reindeer grazing, including necessary facilities and equipment, shall be permitted within areas where such use is, and in a manner which is, compatible with the purposes ofthis refuge." In order to fulfill this mandate, the refuge is required to formulate a compatibility determination for grazing requests. This year was the second and last year of field work for WB Lisa Saperstein in conducting the range analysis necessary to do the compatibility determination. Lisa has been on loan from the Koyukuk!Nowitna Refuges for nine months per year during the course of this study. The refuge is concerned about a number of ecological and social issues that may arise if a permit is granted. Potential conflict with the Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WAH) is of primary concern. TheWAH was estimated at 450,000 animals during the 1993 photo-census, and in recent years the herd has expanded its winter range to include regions of the Seward Peninsula and Norton Sound that have not been used in recent history. Significant numbers of WAH caribou have migrated to the northern YDNWR several times during the last 15 years, including the winter of 1996-1997. In addition to loss of reindeer into caribou herds and possible competition for forage resources between reindeer and caribou, attempts by herders to keep caribou away from reindeer may reduce subsistence opportunities for people living near reindeer ranges.

Reindeer grazing can affect other wildlife species besides caribou. Disturbance of nesting birds by reindeer or herding activities is also a concern. Predator control is commonly practiced to protect reindeer herds and may adversely affect populations of predators in the requested grazing area. Conversely, reindeer may provide an alternate source of prey for predators in an area where other sources of food are limited.

A range survey was conducted in late summer of 1995 and 1996 to estimate the quantity and quality of potential winter range in the grazing allotment and determine if habitat in the area could support a reindeer herd without detriment to the natural abundance, diversity, and quality of existing plant communities. Because availability of winter forage, particularly lichens, is generally considered a limiting factor for caribou and reindeer, attention was focused on winter habitat. A summary of the range survey can be found in section D.5.

35 9. Fire Management

This year marked the 13th operating season under the Alaska Interagency Fire Management Plan used by all agencies and most private landowners in the state. The plan incorporates four management options for wildfire suppression, ranging from limited to critical suppression areas. Approximately 50% ofthe refuge is contained in the modified category, which dictates suppression during critical burning dates, but allows less suppression after those dates. The remainder of the refuge is in the full suppression category.

Fire suppression responsibilities on the refuge have been delegated to the Alaska Fire Service. The State of Alaska, Department ofNatural Resources conducts wildfire suppression on the refuge from their base of operations in McGrath- some 150 miles from the nearest point on the refuge and 450 miles from the farthest refuge holding.

There were no fires on the Refuge in 1996.

12. Wilderness and Special Areas

Two wilderness areas occur on the refuge, the Andreafsky and Nunivak Wildernesses. Both are remote and receive little public use.

Sport hunters seeking to fill their muskox permits and local Nunivak Island residents pursuing subsistence activities constitute virtually all the public use.

Ted and Marie Katcheak have applied for a permit to graze reindeer on the northern part of the refuge. Part of the lands applied for include a portion of the Andreafsky Wilderness Area. Reindeer grazing was historically conducted in this area, however, there had been no active permits for approximately 10 years prior to the establishment of the Wilderness Area and the refuge. As part of the compatibility determination process, the refuge is evaluating whether this prior reindeer grazing use constitutes an existing use under the Wilderness Act.

The Andreafsky River, all its headwaters, including its East Fork were designated as a Wild River under ANILCA. This designation covers approximately 265 miles, of which approximately 198 are within the Andreafsky Wilderness, 54 miles cross private lands, and 13 miles cross non-wilderness refuge lands. There are presently no commercial fishing, wilderness, or float-boating guides operating on the Andreafsky River. The upper half of both forks of the river receive almost no float-boat use because oflimited aircraft access, and a lack of suitable landing locations.

Land within the former boundaries of the old Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range and the Hazen Bay Migratory Waterfowl Refuge has been named the Clarence Rhode National

36 Natural Landmark. This is the only "Special Area" presently designated within the refuge. In 1987, the official plaque recognizing this status was mounted in the entrance to the refuge headquarters building in Bethel.

G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity

Birds that utilize the Y-K Delta for breeding, staging, or molting, migrate through all flyways ofNorth America and into many other parts of the world. Of the 68 species of shorebirds recorded in Alaska, 52 occur in this region. Fifteen are Asiatic in origin and straggle to Alaska in small numbers. Migratory shorebirds stage over littoral and supra littoral habitats of the refuge where their total numbers may swell into the millions. Because of the great diversity and abundance of shorebirds using the refuge, the staff recommended in 1991 that much of the coastal strip, the Andreafsky Wilderness, and the coast of the Nunivak Wilderness be nominated for inclusion in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. This recommendation has been placed on hold due to opposition by some ofthe local Native groups. In addition to shorebirds which use the delta for breeding and foniging, large numbers of rap tors, passerines, seabirds and other water birds, including loons, gulls, jaegers, cranes, and waterfowl, use the area.

The refuge hosts approximately half of the continental population (126,900) ofblack brant with about 40,000 nesting here. Cackling Canada and Pacific greater white-fronted geese numbered about 400,000 and 500,000, respectively, 30 years ago. The 1996 estimate for white-fronts was 334,000. No 1996 estimate for cacklers was available, because of poor weather, dispersal, and wintering area changes (1995 estimate was 161,400). While well below estimates from 30 years ago, current population estimates of these two species are some three times those from 10 years ago. The 1996 population estimate for emperor geese (80,035) was up 56% from 1995; we shall see ifthat is just a blip in the long-term average. Undoubtedly, these four species have been a significant factor in shaping the coastal ecosystem.

Despite the reduction in geese from historical levels, the refuge still supports large numbers of ducks. The 1996 breeding pair survey estimated over 1.4 million ducks on the refuge in early June. The principal species were northern pintail, green-winged teal, and greater scaup. Mallards, American wigeon, northern shovelers, black scoters, and oldsquaw are also regularly reported in good numbers. Harlequin ducks breed in many of the watersheds draining the Kuskokwim Mountains, as well as other suitable habitats. Common eiders are locally "common" in the vicinity of some brant colonies, while Steller's eiders are virtually extinct as a breeding species. The formerly abundant spectacled eiders have declined precipitously over the last 25 years. From an average breeding population of about 100,000

37 birds in the early 1970's, the population declined to a low of2,450 breeding pairs in 1993. The 1996 estimate was about 3,000 breeding pairs.

Large mammals are not abundant on the refuge. Muskox are found on Nunivak and Nelson Islands. Over the past few years, muskox sightings on the mainland have increased, with sightings ranging from the coast, north to Mountain Village, and east to the refuge boundary. The small resident Kilbuck Caribou Herd has been swamped for 3 consecutive years by the much larger Mulchatna Caribou Herd from the east.

Moose, grizzly bear, black bear, wolves, wolverine, fox (red and arctic), marten, mink, beaver, and many small mammals also occur on the refuge. One curious observation over the past decade has been the range extension of beaver. Fifteen years ago, beaver were not known in coastal areas. Today their numbers have increased substantially refuge-wide and their distribution includes the coastal zone well beyond the tree line.

Numerous species of marine mammals are resident in or migrate through the refuge's Bering Sea waters. Pacific walrus, seals (e.g., bearded, spotted, harbor), porpoises (Dall and harbor), whales (e.g., beluga, gray, killer), and the threatened Steller's sea lion can all be found offshore.

The refuge supports an abundance of both resident and anadromous fish populations that are important to the region's and the state's economy and subsistence lifestyle. Five species of salmon (chinook, chum, pink, sockeye, and coho) migrate through the refuge and also utilize many refuge streams for spawning. Other common species are smelt, northern pike, blackfish, stickleback, sheefish, burbot, five species ofwhitefish, rainbow trout, arctic char, and grayling. Nunivak Island waters include many marine species such as halibut, truecod, and herring. All told, 44 fish species occur in refuge waters. The submerged lands and coastal waters inside the refuge add another diversity dimension as yet unknown.

2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species

Four listed forms occur or could occur on the refuge. Small numbers of Steller's sea lions haul out on the rocks at Cape Romanzof. Two races of peregrine falcons occur on the refuge, the American (endangered) and the Arctic (delisted in 1994). Peregrine falcons (subspecies unknown) have been reported nesting at St. Michael, in the Askinuk Mountains, and along the Yukon River; the species is more widely distributed in migration. Yukon breeding peregrines probably belong to the American race. The identity of peregrines nesting on the refuge away from the boreal forest is unknown. Eskimo curlews formerly staged in both spring and fall on the tundra near St. Michael, but they have not been detected there in this century. In 1993, the spectacled eider was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Field work on spectacled eiders is described in Section D.5.

38 3. Waterfowl

The refuge is responsible for inventorying and monitoring perhaps the largest waterfowl production area in the Refuge System. The Y-K Delta is the exclusive nesting area for cackling Canada geese, and a primary nesting area for emperor geese, black brant, and Pacific greater white-fronted geese. While populations of two other Canada goose subspecies (lesser and Taverner's) are apparently healthy, the above four species declined dramatically from the mid-60's to the mid-80's. The factors responsible for these declines are many, complex, and not yet completely understood; but certainly include such things as sport and subsistence hunting, loss and degradation of winter habitat, and predation. Current status of these four populations is presented in Section D.5.

Pintail banding was again conducted in 1996 as part of a cooperative program within the Pacific Flyway. Swim-in traps were used within marshy areas ofKgun Lake, which is located in the north-central part of the refuge. See Section G.16 for 1996 totals.

In anticipation of increased recreational use of the refuge's mountain rivers, particularly the Kisaralik, a harlequin duck survey was conducted from a helicopter in the southwest Kuskokwim Mountains on June 1 to 3, 1994. A total of 546 km were surveyed along 19 different streams. Harlequin ducks were observed on the Kisaralik, Kwethluk, and Eek Rivers, as well as on 13 of 16 tributaries. A total of 403 harlequin ducks were detected, including 164 pairs, 66 unpaired males, seven unpaired females, and two of unknown sex. The density ofharlequin ducks on the main stem ofthe\Kisaralik was twice as high as the density on both its own tributaries and the Kwethluk River. Thus the 1994 data indicate that the best harlequin habitat within the survey area exactly coincides with the area most likely to receive increases in recreational activity.

In 1995, the harlequin duck breeding pair survey was reduced in scope because ofbudget constraints. Portions of five streams totaling 196 km were surveyed, including the upper Kwethluk River (27 km), Gold Creek (17 km), North Fork (26 km), Quicksilver Creek (38 km), and the upper Kisaralik River from Quartz Creek to Kisaralik Lake (88 km). In 1994, 95 pairs, 48 solo males, three females, and one harlequin of unknown sex were detected along these stream segments, for a total of 242 harlequin ducks. During the 1995 survey on May 31, almost identical numbers were detected, including 101 pairs, 3 5 solo males, seven solo females, and one harlequin of unknown sex, for a total of 245 harlequin ducks in the reduced study area.

In 1996, SWB Morgart and WB Wege conducted the harlequin duck breeding pair survey on May 25 along the same 196 km of streams surveyed by WB McCaffery and BT Hanwood in 1995. In 1996, 268 harlequins were counted along the 5 survey streams, up slightly from the counts of242 and 245 in 1994 and 1995, respectively.

39 WB McCaffery conducted helicopter duck brood surveys along streams in the Kilbuck and Kuskokwim Mountains on September 3-4, 1996. Because of the difficulty in distinguishing some female ducks from older Class III ducklings and the uncertainty of female departure dates, tightly-bunched ducks are referred to here as "groups" rather than "broods." In the Kisaralik watershed, along Quicksilver Creek, North Fork, Gold Creek, and the Kisaralik River (above Upper Falls), 25 groups and a total of 104 harlequin ducks (females and young) were detected, with a mean group size of 4.16. A similar survey on September 7, 1995, found 32 groups and a total of 172 harlequins, with a mean group size of 5.38. On September 4, 1996, the upper Eek, upper Kwethluk, and Fork Creek were surveyed; 9 groups and 36 birds (mean group size= 4.00) were detected. In this same area on September 19, 1995, 6 groups and 25 individuals (mean group size= 4.17) were detected. An additional2 groups (9 birds) were detected along Quartz Creek during the 1996 survey, for a grand total of36 groups and 149 harlequins (mean group size of 4.14).

During this same survey, 28 common merganser groups (104 total ducks, mean group size= 3.71) were detected in 1996; only 20 (70 total ducks, mean group size= 3.65) were detected in 1995. For red-breasted mergansers, 14 groups (109 ducks, mean group size= 7.79) were detected in 1996, and 17 groups (but only 81 ducks, mean group size= 4.76) were detected in 1995.

4. Marsh and Water Birds

Loons, grebes, and sandhill cranes are widely distributed on refuge wetland areas. Sandhill cranes are particularly abundant and constitute an important component of the Delta ecosystem, including subsistence harvest.

5. Shorebirds. Gulls. Terns. and Allied Species

Shore and water birds visiting the refuge each year number in the millions. Many shorebirds come to breed on refuge tundra, shorelines, and mountaintops. By August, they flock to coastal, lacustrine, and riparian mudflats to build fat reserves for long migrations. The refuge once again cooperated in a flyway-wide telemetry study of western sandpipers. In 1995, during three flights in May, WB Wege and Pilot Walters detected seven different sandpipers, including three banded in San Francisco Bay, California, three banded at Grays Harbor, Washington, and one banded at Honey Lake, California. In 1996, they completed 6 fights during May, and detected 10 radiomarked birds, including 3 females banded in San Francisco, and 7 sandpipers (6 males, 1 unknown sex) banded at Grays Harbor.

Gulls, particularly glaucous gulls, are common along the entire refuge coastline from spring through autumn. Glaucous-winged, mew, herring, Sabine's, and Bonaparte's gulls also nest on the refuge. Slaty-backed gulls are rare but regular visitors to Nunivak Island. Arctic terns are common and widespread breeders on the refuge, and Aleutian terns have nested at several widely scattered sites as well.

40 Cliffs on the southwest side ofNunivak Island provide nesting sites for an estimated 500,000 seabirds, primarily common murres and black-legged kittiwakes, but also pelagic and red-faced cormorants, glaucous-winged and glaucous-winged X glaucous hybrid gulls, horned and tufted puffins, parakeet and crested auklets, and pigeon guillemots. Fork-tailed storm-petrels are not known to nest on the refuge, but they are occasionally seen near shore during autumn storms.

Refuge staff censused three colonies in the vicinity of Cape Romanzof during early July, 1996, and submitted the results to the Alaska Seabird Colony Catalog database. At Cape Romanzof itself, only a few puffins were nesting on the actual cliff face, a stretch about 100-125 m long, and 30-50 m high. Although the habitat seemed suitable for both cormorants and kittiwakes, none were nesting and there was no evidence that any nests had been initiated this year. Farther up the slope above the cliff face, there are several large spires which also hosted nesting puffins. Tufted and horned puffins were seen carrying food to crevices on the cliff (both species) and spires (horned puffins only). We could not determine the number of active nests, but the high counts for the two species in the air and/or in the waters just offshore of the Cape were 108 horned puffins and 16 tufted puffins.

Aniktun Island lies just southwest of Cape Romanzof, and stretches for several kilometers across the mouth ofKokechik Bay. The island is unvegetated, sandy, and extremely low (<2m; most <1m). Glaucous gulls were by far the most abundant nesting species on the island; about 250 were seen on the island. Three glaucous-winged gulls, and at least one glaucous-winged x glaucous hybrid, were detected. Because most of these birds circled and alarm-called while the colony was being censused, it was impossible to assign some of the birds to specific nests. Overall, 138 nests of these two species (and their hybrids) were located. More noteworthy was the discovery of a slaty-backed gull nest with a single egg and tended by two adults. This represent the first confirmed nesting of slaty-backed gulls in North America.

Neragon Island is another long, low barrier island. Neragon lies northeast of Cape Romanzof across the mouth of Scammon Bay. Again, glaucous gulls were the most abundant nesting species. Seventy-two nests were located, and no glaucous-winged or hybrid gulls were seen. In addition, 2:4 arctic tern nests were located near the southern tip of the island. The most surprising discovery at Neragon Island was a trio of Caspian Tern nests, with clutches of 1, 1, and 4 eggs. Although this species has been suspected of nesting elsewhere in Alaska (primarily Prince William Sound), these nests are the first to be located in the state.

6. Raptors

Seventeen species ofraptors have been recorded on the refuge, including golden eagles, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons. The Kisaralik River is among the most important areas on the refuge for nesting rap tors, and supports one of the densest population of breeding

41 golden eagles in North America. For the sixth consecutive year, the refuge conducted an aerial survey for cliff-nesting raptors in the Kisaralik watershed (to include the Kisaralik River and Quicksilver Creek). Along approximately 100 km of river, we located 14 active nests, including five golden eagle, four gyrfalcon, and five rough-legged hawk nests. The number of golden eagle nests was down from eight in 1995, and well below the six-year (1991 to 1996) average of9.17; gyrfalcons and rough-legged hawks were nearer their 6-year averages of 5.00 and 4.5 nests, respectively.

Rough-legged hawks took advantage of high numbers of micro tines by breeding in good numbers at Cape Romanzofin 1996. Nine rough-legged hawks nests were discovered; one was an apparent re-nesting attempt. No eggs were layed in this second nest, although it was eventually as well constructed as the first nest. The original nest apparently failed due to repeated disturbances by local fishermen and their families, and a nearby wildfire inadvertently set by the ADFG crew monitoring the herring fishery. Short-eared owls were also fairly common in the Cape Romanzof study area. Although no nests were found, extensive courtship and territorial behavior suggested that breeding occurred.

7. Other Migratory Birds

The refuge supports an abundance of neotropical migrants, particularly passerines. Habitats supporting large numbers of migrant passerines (forests, woodlands, thickets) total over 2.5 million acres, an area larger than the states ofRhode Island and Delaware combined. Migratory Bird Management-Anchorage provided the refuge with funding in 1995 to continue neotropical migrant monitoring under the Partners in Flight program.

The refuge's Breeding Bird Survey effort was somewhat thwarted by low river levels in 1996. The Tupuknuk Slough BBS route could not be completed (or even scouted!) because of the extremely low water. It is hoped that more typical water levels in 1997 will permit conducting this route again. BT Harwood and SWB Morgart did conduct, however, the Gweek River BBS for the third consecutive year and WB McCaffery and RM Rearden conducted the St. Mary's BBS for the fourth consecutive year. Perhaps the best "bird" detected on the BBS 's was the harbor seal seen 7 miles up the Gweek River!

WB's Wege and McCaffery continued documenting migration chronology, winter presence, and plumage of snow and McKay's buntings at Bethel. Forty-seven birds were trapped in 1996 and marked with metal and colored tarsal bands. Three birds banded in 1994 and one bird banded in January 1996 were recaptured in December 1996.

42 Redpolls are among the most abundant songbirds breeding in shrub habitats across the refuge.

WB McCaffrey and BT Harwood conducting breeding bird habitat measurements.

43 8. Game Mammals a. Muskox

Muskox are probably the refuge's most important game mammal in terms of public use and interest. Muskox were introduced to Nunivak Island from Greenland in 1935. In 1967 and 1968, muskox were transplanted to Nelson Island where the herd reached a high of 287 animals by 1986. Nelson Island muskox have dispersed onto the Delta mainland for the past 15 years, crossing frozen channels between the island and the mainland. Growth ofthe mainland muskox population is severely limited by illegal hunting. Both the Service and ADF&G are attempting to promote growth and expansion of the refuge's mainland muskox population and are working with local villages to obtain their support.

A combined muskox and reindeer fixed-wing aerial survey ofNunivak Island was conducted on March 17-18. A total of 484 muskox in 40 groups were counted. Muskox were observed throughout the island, however, 90% of all sightings (n = 457) were on the south and west sides of the island. Most muskox were in mixed sex and age groups of >5 (n = 400; 91% of all muskox; 70% of all groups). No dead or dying muskox were observed. The herd appears healthy and is being managed consistent with population levels established in the cooperatively developed Nunivak Island Reindeer and Muskox Management Plan.

During the course of field work at Cape Romanzof, WB McCaffery located a herd of 11 muskox, including a calf and a yearling. This is the first confirmation of successful breeding in this isolated mainland population. b. Moose

Lower Kuskokwim River (NYAC) Moose

A 'Gasaway' type moose census was planned for the Kuskokwim River area and the Kuskokwim Mountains in the eastern part of the refuge for March 1996; however, the census was canceled due to lack of snow cover. The census will be attempted again in 1997.

Prior to 1950, moose were rarely seen on the Y-K Delta. During the following years, their numbers increased as they colonized the refuge's eastern boundary and riparian woodlands along the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers. Moose numbers are highest on the refuge (particularly in winter) along the Yukon River between Russian Mission and Holy Cross. In summer, moose are more widespread and are occasionally found as far west as the Bering Sea Coast. Overall, moose numbers are very low on the refuge.

The Yukon River portion of the refuge has three census areas while the Kuskokwim River portion has only one census area. A moose census is conducted on a single area in any one year, with the area rotating from year to year. A second census area, covering 892 square

44 miles in the vicinity ofNyac, was identified last fall in cooperation with ADF &G. An effort to census the Nyac area in February/March 1996 was cancelled due to lack of adequate snow conditions. c. Caribou

Historically, caribou occurred on the Y-K Delta in large numbers and were the most abundant ungulate. Numbers peaked in the 1860's and during this period, caribou ranged over much of the refuge, even crossing the ice pack to Nunivak Island. Caribou subsequently disappeared from the region with the exception of small, remnant herds in the Kilbuck and Andreafsky Mountains. In recent years, the Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WACH) has occasionally migrated as far south as the middle portion of the Andreafsky River, but generally remain only a few weeks. The W ACH was not documented on the refuge in 1996; however, a large number of caribou from this herd was reported just north of the refuge by a resident of Stebbins in December.

Since 1988, thousands of caribou from the rapidly expanding Mulchatna caribou herd (MCH) also have been appearing along the Aniak River drainage in late winter. Five of the animals that appeared on the Aniak River were satellite radio-collared in 1990 and were confirmed to be from the Mulchatna herd after moving east of the refuge.

After 8 years of intensive study, we have a better understanding of population status and distribution of the small resident Kilbuck caribou herd (KCH). Before 1985, the KCH was considered by many to be part ofthe expanding MCH; however, we have documented 2 distinct calving sites in the Kisaralik Lake area (1987 to 1994). Movements of radio collared caribou over a 6 year period (1988 to 1994) indicated the herd is expanding its range as evidenced by changes in seasonal distributions ofbulls and cows. During the course of the initial study (1986 to 1992) and subsequent surveys (1993 to present), the KCH has increased in size. Although the original study supports the hypothesis of a distinct, resident herd, significant increases in numbers and radio telemetry observations have documented annual mixing with the MCH for the last 3 years.

Seasonal distribution of caribou in the Kilbuck Mountains starts with movement to higher, wind-swept slopes in January and February to forage on open ridges. When previously snow-covered browse at lower elevations is exposed, usually after April, there are movements to these areas. Cows return to the high mountains near North Fork or to tundra lowlands east of the refuge in May to calve. Bulls remain at lower elevations along major drainages during May. After calving, the cows, calves, and yearlings congregate in large groups to feed in the lower river valleys, but remain separate from bulls. Snow fields are frequented during summer by both herd segments for relief from biting insects and heat. In late September and October, the sexes mix at the lowest elevations ofthe year for the rut. They remain in the lowlands where exposed tundra is available during late fall and early winter.

45 The status, distribution, and fate of the Andreafsky Caribou Herd are poorly understood. Like the KCH, we believed this was a distinct, resident population and that excess hunting pressure kept it at a low level. Due to remoteness of their range, little work has been done on this herd. The limited amount of available information comes from occasional overflights across the area or personal communication with local guides and residents. In previous years, cursory surveys provided some information on distribution and calving, but it has been far from adequate. Extensive aerial surveys conducted in 1991 and 1992 suggest that a resident population of caribou probably no longer exists in the Andreafsky Mountains.

9. Marine Mammals

Bering Sea marine mammals add an interesting diversity to the refuge's wildlife plus provide a vital subsistence resource for coastal villages. Pacific walruses, spotted seals, ringed seals, and Pacific bearded seals are hunted on the ice in spring, and some seal hunting continues during summer in bays and estuaries. Other marine mammals include harbor and Dall porpoises, northern fur and harbor seals, and beluga, fin, gray, killer, and minke whales.

The Marine Mammals Division, Ecological Services, Anchorage, manages polar bears, walrus, and sea otters in Alaska. The National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has responsibility for all other marine mammals. This is part of the delta's ecosystem, but is treated like a separate entity.

Alaskan Natives who dwell on the refuge coast (primarily Yup'ik Eskimos) may take walrus and other marine mammals for subsistence purposes. Sport or recreational hunting of marine mammals is illegal. Authentic Native articles of handicrafts or clothing may be sold or transferred to a non-Native, or sold in interstate commerce as long as the materials for these crafts were taken incidental to the subsistence harvest. Furthermore, handicraft articles must be "significantly" altered. For example, polishing or carving initials or signature on an ivory tusk would not qualify as a significant alteration. New Service regulations require that all walrus tusks, polar bear hides and skulls, and sea otter hides and skulls taken by Native hunters be marked and tagged by a designated tagger. Resident Native taggers are now located in many coastal villages.

During the course of a wildlife investigation at Cape Romanzof, a small Steller's sea lion haulout was documented. A minimum of 4 sea lions was observed resting on rocks at the Cape. Additional marine mammals detected at the Cape included harbor porpoises, belugas, walrus, and spotted seals.

10. Other Resident Wildlife

An aerial survey to census reindeer on Nunivak Island was conducted on March 17 and 18. Two aircraft flew a total of 11.5 hours in surveying the island. Sighting conditions were generally excellent although two small areas on the north side of the island had lost part of

46 its snow cover. A total of 911 reindeer in seven groups were seen. This count represented a substantial reduction over the previous year's count. Specifically, 3,246 reindeer in 251 groups were observed on March 15, 1995. It was believed that most reindeer on the island were observed during the 1996 survey, however, it is possible some were missed. It is also possible that some reindeer could have been on the pack ice surrounding the island and missed. Ifthe 1996 count was accurate, approximately 2,800 to 2,900 animals were unaccounted for. The only logical explanation for this decline is that the animals wandered onto the pack ice and weren't counted and/or broke through the ice or were carried away on an ice floe when the winds or current shifted. Incidences, although rare, of small to large numbers of reindeer lost on the pack ice have been documented in the past. It will be interesting to compare 1996's count with the next year's results.

Recently, wolves have been sighted with increasing :frequently in the Kilbuck Mountains, probably in response to increasing numbers of caribou. Fur sealing certificates also document this increase in wolf harvest over the last few years. A pack of three wolves was reported seen in the Askinuk Mountains by an air taxi pilot in mid-summer.

Beaver distribution continues to expand on the delta. There is concern by some local residents that beaver dams are hindering fish and boat travel.

11. Fisheries Resources

Refuge waters are very important for fishery resources of western Alaska, supporting over 44 species of fish. Refuge streams and rivers also contribute significantly to the salmon stocks in Kuskokwim Bay and Norton Sound, supporting anadromous runs of five species of Pacific salmon; chinook, chum, coho, sockeye, and pink. Other important species include herring, Pacific cod, whitefish, Alaska blackfish, burbot, northern pike, and halibut. a. Kuskokwim River tributary salmon escapement studies.

Chinook and chum salmon runs returning to refuge rivers in the lower Kuskokwim River must pass through an intense mixed stock commercial and one of the states largest subsistence fisheries. Perpetuating these runs is very important since they provide a major portion of the protein to the subsistence users ofthe area. Management efforts have included elimination of a directed commercial harvest of chinook salmon in the late 1980's and restriction of large mesh gill nets. Chum and coho salmon are fully utilized in the subsistence and commercial fisheries and time and area closures are required to meet escapement goals. Coho salmon in the Kuskokwim River drainage are heavily harvested and little information on spawning distribution and contributions are known. Therefore a measure of spawning stock size in refuge rivers is essential to regulate fisheries, assess the effects of management actions, project future return sizes, and inventory refuge resources.

47 The Kenai Fishery Assistance Office operated a fish weir in the Tuluksak River from 1991 to 1994, and on the Kwethluk River in 1992. A fish weir on the Kwethluk River was not started until1992 because ofhigh waters in 1991. Local opposition to the Kwethluk River fish weir occurred at the end of the 1992 season and it was removed in 1993 and shipped to the Andreafsky River.

Weir materials remained on site on the Tuluksak River during 1996. Plans are to resurrect the project when local support is favorable and funding is again available. The Tuluksak River remains an important river from which to index other systems in the lower Kuskokwim River drainage.

b. East Fork Andreafsky River salmon escapement study.

Resulting from catastrophically low chum salmon returns in 1993, the Service obtained fishery stewardship funds to monitor Yukon River drainage salmon populations. In 1994, a 280 foot resistance board weir was constructed from new materials and existing ) components and installed at a site downstream from the refuge boundary. St Marys Native Corporation granted use of their lands to establish a seasonal camp and store weir components.

Prompted by a growing interest to develop a late-season commercial fishery and the availability of additional funding through a partnership with the Bearing Sea Fishermen's Association (BSF A) and local tribal entities, weir operation was extended to monitor coho salmon returns in 1995 and 1996. In 1995, the weir was moved downstream to a 350-ft wide section of the river to improve operating efficiency during high water events commonly associated with fall. Additional weir components were constructed to accommodate this wider section of river. A lease agreement was reached with Nerklikmiut Native Corporation to establish a seasonal camp and store weir components on their lands.

East Fork Andreafsky River weir with the two counting traps installed in 1996. )

48 The weir was operated from June 19 to September 16, 1996. A total of 108,450 chum, 2,955 chinook, 248 sockeye, 214,837 pink, and 8,037 coho salmon were counted. In addition, one Dolly Varden, 3,724 whitefish, and 125 northern pike were counted through the weir.

Weir counts for pink salmon may represent only Yz to % of the actual escapement and are primarily used as run timing indicators. Picket spacing on newer weir panels was intentionally made wide enough to permit unmonitored pink salmon passage, and this species was observed swimming upstream between pickets on a regular basis.

The East Fork weir facilitated Service monitoring of refuge spawning salmon stocks that contribute to major lower Yukon River subsistence and commercial fisheries. Data collected at the weir are also used by the Yukon River Joint Technical committee in U.S./Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiations and are shared with the Department for daily management of commercial chinook and summer chum salmon fisheries and chinook salmon scale pattern analysis studies.

In 1996, the Service and local tribal entities (through BSFA funding) hired at least half of the four to five person crew from the village of St. Marys. These people, Martin Long, Chris Mike, and Richard Sipary, were instrumental to the project's success. Martin Long and Richard Sipary worked for both the Service and the tribal entities. c. Kwethluk River Fish Counting Tower

The Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) obtained funding for a tower project on the Kwethluk River in 1996. Ken Harper of the Kenai Fishery Resource office helped with site selection during early June and the Kenai Office provided a portable shelter (Weatherport), a single side band radio for communications and some weir panels. Ken Harper visited the site in late June and again in mid July. A VCP hired people from the village of Kwethluk to run the tower and collect age, length and sex data from the escapement. Tower operations commenced on June 22 and continued through July 27. Total escapement was estimated from tower counts that were conducted during 20 minute counts each hour. Preliminary estimates of salmon were 27,462 chum, 7,859 chinook, 2,057 sockeye, 2,899 pink and 180 coho. Weir escapement counts during 1992 were 30,596 chum, 9,675 chinook, 1,316 sockeye, 45,952 pink and 45,605 coho salmon. Coho salmon counts during 1996 were low due to the short counting season which ended on July 2 7, just as the coho salmon run was starting.

49 )

Flash panels made from sand bags at the Kwethluk River tower. Photo by Ken Harper

d. Status and trends of wild fish populations and their habitat

Kwethluk River rainbow trout survey

Increased angling pressure is of concern to fisheries managers because rainbow trout in the Kuskokwim River drainage are at their northern most distribution, are slow growing, and mature after 6-8 years making them vulnerable to over fishing. Population declines measured by abundance and size structure alterations or catch, has prompted the Alaska Department ofFish and Game to enact seasonal gear and harvest restrictions in other systems in Southwestern Alaska. Size structure and abundance surveys on the Kwethluk River are necessary to determine if the population is changing and to base management decisions upon. It is also necessary to collect public use information on which to gauge future.

50 Data was collected during 1996 on both the public use and the fish populations. A two person crew was stationed at a small access lake in the headwaters of the Kwethluk River during the summer to monitor public use, and gather fisheries information. In addition, two floats were made on the Kwethluk River to gather baseline rainbow trout information. During the June float, Deputy Refuge Manger Dennis Strom and Fishery Biologist Ken Harper from the Kenai Fishery Resources Office conducted a reconnaissance float. A second sampling trip with participants from the regional office and the refuge was made between July 15 and 20. Length and scales samples were collected from a combined total of 445 rainbow trout, 161 Arctic grayling and 22 Dolly Varden. Participants during that trip included Regional Director Dave Allen, RM Mike Rearden, RM Aaron Archibeque, Togiak NWR, Alaska Chief of Refuges George Constantino, Special Agent Mike Wade, FB Ken Harper, Kenai F AO, and Refuge Program Specialist Daryle Lons.

View of upper Kwethluk River above Crooked Creek. Photo by Ken Harper

51 )

Regional Director Dave Allen with rainbow trout sampled from the Kwethluk River, July 1996. Photo by Ken Harper.

Refuge Manager Mike Rearden assisting Daryle Lons with navigation on the ) Kwethluk River rainbow trout sampling trip. Photo by Ken Harper.

52 Kisaralik River survey

A two person crew was placed at Kisaralik Lake to obtain information on anglers floating down the Kisaralik River. The crew was at the lake from June 27 until September 10. During that time they collected lengths from two Arctic char, 17 Arctic grayling, two burbot, 38 Dolly Varden, 99lake trout, and lengths and scales from 11 chinook salmon, 14 coho salmon and one red salmon. e. Subsistence fishing

The population of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is among the largest of any similar Native/aboriginal occupied region in Alaska. The priority use of the salmon is subsistence. Approximately 1300 families participate in the annual harvest of salmon in the Kuskokwim drainage alone. Fish play an important part in the subsistence cash economy and account for 30-60% or more of the yearly food supply in most Yukon Delta villages. Chum, chinook and coho salmon, respectively, are the most heavily used salmon species, while several whitefish species, northern pike, sheefish, Alaska blackfish, burbot and Pacific herring are also harvested. The subsistence harvest of fish continues to grow annually with the increase in village populations.

During 1993 the Kuskokwim River chum salmon run was below average and to meet the escapement goals the subsistence fishery was closed for the first time during part of the season. Since that time the runs have appeared to be healthy enough to allow for subsistence fishing and commercial use. However accurate information on the status of individual stocks returning to refuge rivers was not gathered. In the Kuskokwim River the subsistence harvest of salmon generally averages around 85-90,000. On the lower Yukon River 75,744 summer and 9,714 fall chum were harvested by subsistence users in 1995, up from the 62,637 summer and down from the 12,102 fall chum salmon harvested in 1994. Preliminary results from the 1996 subsistence harvest on both the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers will not be completed until the spring of 1997. f. Commercial fishing

Commercial fisheries within the refuge are concentrated in the lower Yukon River, the lower Kuskokwim River, along the western coastline, and Nunivak Island. The commercial harvest of salmon in the Kuskokwim River began in the early 1900's and has grown dramatically from 1960 to the present. The 1988 Kuskokwim River harvest of chum salmon was a record of approximately 1.4 million, and coho salmon harvests have grown steadily and now total more than Y2 million and provide over 50% of the commercial fishery value. Some of these harvests have continued to grow without a comparable gain in the knowledge of timely escapement data from refuge rivers. Improved efficiency of the commercial fishing fleet to harvest fish in a mixed stock in river fishery may place refuge stocks in jeopardy ofbeing over fished during years oflow

53 returns. Coupled with the commercial harvest is the growing, subsistence harvest, targeting salmon during the summer months.

The village of Akiachak has a received a permit from the State to commercially purchase up to 6000 pounds of whitefish. Because there is little known about this fishery more biological data should be collected on this species.

Commercial harvests on the Kuskokwim River were lower in 1996 than 1995. Fishing periods during the chum salmon run were shortened due to limited processing capacity for chum salmon. This resulted in fewer fish being caught by all the commercial fishers. Coho salmon however added to the overall harvest of fish in the Kuskokwim River drainage.

)

Fishermen and their families camp along the shores ofKokechik ) Bay during the spring herring run.

54 Pacific herring are harvested in three commercial districts along the refuge coast. These districts are Cape Avinof, and Nelson and Nunivak Islands. The impacts of these harvests on sea birds is not understood.

The commercial harvest of salmon from within the refuge on the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers is of economic and nutritional importance to local residents on the Delta. During 1996 Kuskokwim River permit holders were paid $4.2 million, and Lower Yukon River $3.7 million for their catch. This amount was down from the 10 year average of$5.6 million (1986-95) on the Kuskokwim and the 5 year average (1991-1995) of$6.9 million on the Lower Yukon. Effort on the Kuskokwim River was the lowest on record lowest since 1983, with only 713 permit holders participating where there are normally over 800. It was also the lowest on record for the lower Yukon with only 628 permit holders. Average income per commercial permit holder in the lower Kuskokwim River was only $5,890 and on the lower Yukon River only $5,952. Because incomes are low and other types of employment are scarce, the importance of perpetuating the runs becomes very clear. It is also very hard politically to effect conservation measures when the economy and the finances of people with only one income are impacted. h. Sportfishing

Sport fishing pressure on the refuge is currently low, but the tributaries feeding the Kuskokwim and Yukon rivers provide anglers with an excellent variety of trophy fish. Some of these rivers are just now being discovered by people from outside the region. Salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic grayling, northern pike, whitefish and sheefish make up the list of fish accessible to anglers on many of the refuge tributaries. Favorite rivers for sport-fishers include the Aniak, Kwethluk, Kasigluk, Kisaralik and Andreafsky. People from the village of Akiak were the first in the lower Kuskokwim River to enter into the sport fish guiding business. They established a fishing camp on the Kasigluk River in 1991 and have been pursuing the refuge to open the Kisaralik River up to guided users. A river management plan written by the refuge does not allow for guided use on the Kisaralik River. This will not stop anglers searching out new waters that are not crowded. To fill the increasing demand, an air taxi operators in the Bethel Area have added a DeHavilland Beaver on floats to carry anglers to the remote lakes and rivers in the vicinity of the refuge. Anglers and floaters are also accessing the refuge from Dillingham and Anchorage via float planes. Additional information is needed on sportfishing pressure. This use in conjunction with the commercial and subsistence fisheries, will have to be closely monitored to insure refuge fish stocks are maintained, and subsistence use is not adversely impacted.

14. Scientific Collections

Dying or freshly dead wildlife specimens were salvaged as a matter of course for the National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory or for taxidermy purposes. Specimens

55 collected for these purposes included: one cackling Canada goose, one greater white fronted goose, one common eider, three northern pintails, one willow ptarmigan, one black-legged kittiwake, one fox sparrow, one alder flycatcher, one white-crowned sparrow, and one common/hoary redpoll. Eight addled spectacled eider eggs were collected on Kigigak Island for Ecological Services for lead shot analysis and/or DNA determinations.

15. Animal Control

A fox was shot and killed on Kigigak Island as part of a predator removal study on this important waterfowl nesting area. Removal limits egg depredation by foxes and improves nesting success (in particular for black brant, cackling Canada geese, and spectacled eiders).

16. Marking and Banding a. Passerine Banding

Fall migration mistnetting was conducted 0.5 miles SE of Cape Romanzof. WB McCaffery and BT Harwood banded 266 passerines as detailed in Table Fl.

Table Fl. Fall mistnetting at Cape Romanzof, August, 1996.

Species Number banded Black-capped Chickadee 4 Arctic Warbler 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 Bluethroat 2 Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 Hermit Thrush 14 Orange-crowned Warbler 2 Yellow Warbler 7 Northern Waterthrush 2 Wilson's Warbler 30 Savannah Sparrow 23 Golden-crowned Sparrow 91 White-crowned Sparrow 15 Redpoll ( spp ?) 66

56 Nearly 100 golden-crowned sparrows were banded during fall mist-netting at Cape Romanzof. b. Waterfowl Banding

The USGS-BRD banded 461 cackling Canada geese near Old Chevak in July. All but 88 received neck collars.

The BRD also captured 45 adult and 51 duckling spectacled eiders, and radio-marked 30 greater scaup females at the Hock Slough study site. These birds were used for a renesting study.

Two hundred and forty-six emperor geese were banded with either radio collars, regular neck collars, or tarsal bands by BRD personnel at the Manokinak River study area.

At Kigigak Island, refuge personnel banded (metal Service and yellow plastic tarsal bands with letters and numbers) 37 spectacled eider females. The University of Alaska, Fairbanks, banded black brant at the Tutakoke River and Kokechik Bay colonies.

The refuge continued to participate in a cooperative program to band mallards and northern pintails within the Pacific Flyway. Ducks were trapped along the northwest shoreline ofKgun Lake and adjacent lakes from August 5-28. Waterfowl concentration areas were baited with whole com and birds were captured using swim-in traps. A total

57 of715 northern pintails and 166 mallards were banded by refuge staff. In addition, 11 non-target green-winged teal were captured and banded. Two, five, eight, nine, and 21 pintails banded at Kgun Lake in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995, respectively, were recaptured in 1996. Three of the eight birds banded in 1993 were also recaptured in 1994, with a fourth bird recaptured last year. Two of nine birds banded in 1994 have been recaptured in both subsequent years. One of two 1991 birds was also recaptured in 1994 and two of five 1992 birds were recaptured last year. No bird has been recaptured for three or more years subsequent to banding. Five of these nine birds were banded as AHY females, one as an AHY male, and three as HY females. In 1994 the proportion of recaptured birds that were banded as males nearly doubled from previous years and has remained at this level through 1996. Most ofthis increase has been due to the recapture of adult males. On the other hand, the proportion of adult female recaptures has steadily declined. Mallard recaptures included one, three, five, and eight birds banded at Kgun Lake in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995, respectively. Two each ofthe 1993 and 1994 birds (AHY males) have been captured each year subsequent to banding.

Table F2. Total numbers, age, and sex ofwaterfowlleg and/or neck-banded under station permit on Yukon Delta NWR, 1996.

Age and Sex Species AHY-M* AHY-F HY-M HY-F Unk. Total

Northern pintail 330 233 77 75 0 715

Green-winged 9 0 1 1 0 11 teal

Mallard 146 16 3 1 0 166

*AHY = after hatch year; HY =hatch year; M = male; F = female.

17. Disease Prevention and Control

While lead poisoning has long been known as a cause of waterfowl mortality, it has been only recently been seen as a possible or partial cause for the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta spectacled eider population's decline. Eiders are exposed to lead by eating lead shot as grit. Intensive sampling conducted along the Kashunuk River in western Alaska by BRD revealed that one out of 10 spectacled eider females captured in spring had eaten lead. Twice as many females as males had eaten lead. By hatch (approximately mid-June) one out of four females had eaten lead. By late August, one out of two females and one out of nine ducklings had eaten lead. Sampling conducted elsewhere on the Yukon Delta showed that exposure to lead by spectacled eiders at Manokinak River and Kigigak Island was similar and lower than, respectively, the Kashunuk River. Other species

58 sampled for exposure to lead include greater scaup, oldsquaw, common eider, and emperor geese. Approximately 2% (n = 57), 4% (n = 28), and 20% (n = 24) of greater scaup, common eider, and oldsquaw, respectively, samples contained evidence oflead exposure. Only one emperor goose sample contained trace amounts of lead.

Exclosures that were seeded with lead shot in 1994 were sampled with a suction dredge. It appeared most lead was still in the top four centimeters of sediment in all plots. Exclosures will be sampled again in 1997 to determine how long spent shot remains available to eiders feeding in various wetland types.

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General

More than 90% of refuge's public use involves subsistence activities (hunting, fishing, trapping, and berry picking). Other public use activities include sport hunting and fishing, river floating, and wildlife viewing.

The refuge is isolated from common tourist travel routes in Alaska. Once people arrive in Bethel, they still must travel great distances to get to mountains, coast, or river systems other than the Kuskokwim River. Travel to scenic refuge areas is expensive and keeps the number of non-local visitors low.

The major public relations activity in 1996 continued to be the information and education efforts associated with the Y-K Delta Goose Management Plan and the four goose species of concern. The goose calendar contest helped facilitate this effort. Of 1,400 entries for the 1997 calendar contest, over half (800) of the posters and literature entries were submitted from schools located on the refuge. Fifteen schools across the Y K Delta participated in the contest and six students from these schools were recipients of prizes and awards. The prizes were supplied by the National Audubon Society - Alaska/Hawaii Region. Once again, Ducks Unlimited, Incorporated, contributed $40,000 towards the publication of the calendar. Approximately 7,500 calendars were distributed to school children and community members on the delta.

Twenty two special use permits were issued in FY96 in the following categories:

Air Taxi YKAviation Nordic Flying Service Biological Research USGS, Biological Resources Division (4) University of Alaska, Fairbanks Association of Village Council Presidents Big Game Guiding Eruk Williamson Commercial Photography Stephen Krasemann

59 Paul Konrad, Wildbird Native Allotment Surveys Bureau of Land Management Sale of sand/gravel/rock City of Mekoryuk City of Toksook Bay City of Chevak Military Exercises Army National Guard Soil Testing Public Health Service Heavy Equipment Transport Gene Cheney Dog Sled Race Kuskokwim 300 Archaeological Research Dennis Griffin Trail Marking State of Alaska, DOT Vessel Access/Nature Walks Hanseatic Cruises

In addition, several multi-year permits were in effect throughout the year. They included

Transporters Charlie Spud, Spud's Transporting and Tendering Svc. Abraham David, Nunivak Island Experiences

Big Game Guides Fred Don, Nunivak Outfitters Robert Adams, Adams Guide Service Ed Shavings, Nunivak Island Guide Service

Three villages (or their consultants), requested the purchase of rock and sand from the refuge for the construction of various public works projects. All three villages, Mekoryuk, Toksook Bay, and Chevak are located on 22g lands where the refuge owns the subsurface under the corporation lands surrounding the villages. Although we actively sought some way to waive the fees, especially for Chevak where the material was to be used for a new water and sewer project, we were unsuccessful. The following amounts were removed and billed or paid by year's end.

Mekoryuk 819 yards rock@ $1.25/yd $1,023.75 6,114 yards sand@ $1.25/yd $8,253.90 Toksook Bay 13,686 yards rock@ $1.25/yd $17,107.50 Chevak Negligible amount removed in this first year of five year project.

Commercial recreational services on the Yukon Delta have been few to non-existent in the past. However, numerous inquiries have been received from local residents about legalities of operating on the refuge, types of services allowable, how to set up a business, and potential client sources. By year's end the refuge started planning a public seminar and training session for individuals and groups to identify common ground

60 where legal, safe, and profitable ventures can be started that do not conflict with refuge purposes. Initially this will include information on transporting and guided birdwatching opportunities.

An International Black Brant Monitoring Project has been developed along the Pacific Coast Flyway for students to participate in an on-going international, cultural, and scientific exchange of information about the brant geese. Participants include schools in Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and Baja, Mexico. The curriculum offers students and classes the opportunity to become a part of this international project. Each of the project sites will use telecommunications (e.g., Internet) to share information about the location of the geese during their migration. We will contact a few coastal schools on the Delta, near brant nesting areas, to determine their level of interest in participating.

2. Outdoor Classrooms-Students

The refuge participated in three career day activities at village schools. A total of 136 junior and senior high students attended these one-day sessions.

a. Western Alaska Natural Science Camp. Due to lack of timely funding, the Western Alaska Natural Science Camp only held one 10-day session in July, hosting 16 students from across the Delta. It was again held at NYAC, a gold mining camp in the Kilbuck Mountains, Students learned about plants, birds, fish and their habitats; and compared and contrasted traditional Alaska Native natural resource knowledge with western scientific approaches to resource management. Yup'ik elders and tradition leaders from the Delta attended the camp and provided information on traditional Eskimo culture, values, and knowledge. Charles Hunt, Refuge Safety Officer provided bear safety training, bear protection for the camp, and served as a Teaching Assistant during the sessiOn.

The camp was made possible through the Challenge Cost Share Agreement and grants provided by the Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD), Placer Dome Mining, and the Association ofVillage Council Presidents (AVCP). The cooperating agencies include the Alaska Department ofFish and Game; AVCP; National Audubon Society, Alaska/Hawaii Region; Calista Corporation; and the Lower Kuskokwim School District.

b. Yukon Delta Goose Camp. A cooperative venture between the Service, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska Department ofFish and Game, and the National Biological Service, allowed three young adults from the Delta to work with professional biologists at three research camps for 10 days. They assisted with banding, radio tracking, web tagging, and bird identification. This experience introduced 3 students (Tommy Martin from Kotlik and Theresa Erik and Adeline Panruk from Chefornak) to the scientific knowledge and skills needed to perform natural resources work. Scientists and resource

61 managers worked with the students during their stays at Tutakoke Camp, River Camp, and Hock Slough Camp.

( )

Students collected and classified plants as part of their week long stay at the Western Alaska Natural Science Camp.

3. Outdoor Classroom-Teachers

Teachers have been directly and indirectly involved with the refuge's many information programs. Much of the interest centers around the annual goose calendar contest; our "Teach About Geese" and "Wetlands and Wildlife" curricula and activities; and our resource learning library, featuring videos and books available for loan. Over 100 books and videos were loaned to teachers in 15 villages. We conducted two teacher workshops --one for 20 bilingual teachers and aides from 15 villages, and one for 4 college students (teacher-wanna-bees) attending the Kuskokwim Campus, University of Alaska Fairbanks. The focus of both teacher workshops was "Teach About Geese" and "Wetlands and Wildlife" curricula.

62 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations

The refuge visitor center is slowly becoming known as a location in Bethel for learning about big game, birds, and wildlife habitat, as well as the Yup'ik culture. During 1996, 34 programs were presented to over 600 students, teachers, community members, and visitors. Videos and activities from the "Teach About Geese" and "Alaska Wildlife Week" curricula were often used during these presentations.

7. Other Interpretive Programs

The 2nd annual National Wildlife Refuge Week celebration was held October 11 and 12. In recognition of this annual event, we hosted a Community Festival (October 11) and Visitor Center Open House and Family Fun Run (October 12). Over 200 people attended the evening festival, held at the local Yup'ik Cultural Center. The activities included coloring and casting contests for kids; plaster cast tracks of common mammals; ) door prizes donated by local businesses and individuals; balloons and refreshments; a lead/steel shot exchange program; displays on the Duck Stamp program and Spectacled Eiders; and a refuge slide program. The Saturday Fun Run attracted 15 runners and walkers and the refuge visitor center was toured by 15 visitors later during the Open House. Refreshments were provided by Alaska Natural History Association (ANHA) funds.

The Refuge emperor goose was used to attract visitors for NWR week ) celebration

63 )

Our emperor goose, a.k.a. RM Rearden, takes a break from decoying in visitors for National Wildlife Refuge week.

) 64 Refuge Pilot George Walters entertains youngsters at the National Wildlife Refuge Week activities.

The Nontoxic Shot Instructors Group met on January 22 in Bethel at the refuge conference room to plan for seminars, shooting and patterning clinics in the Y-K Delta villages. The instructors were from the refuge, AVCP, and ADF&G staff that had been trained by steel shot expert Tom Roster.

Nontoxic shot patterning clinics were to be held in St. Mary's, Marshall, Nunapitchuk, Pilot Station, Tuntutuliak, and Kwethluk. Nontoxic Shot Seminars and Shooting Clinics with Tom Roster were planned for Quinhagak, Chefornak, Hooper Bay, and Scammon Bay. There was an attempt to hold patterning clinics in Mt. Village and Kotlik, but no one showed due to other activities in the village. Another attempt in these two villages will be made sometime in April 1997.

In the 12 villages that patterning and shooting clinics were held, 183 attended the seminars and 151 attended the shooting clinics. The patterning clinics were held by nontoxic shot instructors Dennis Strom, Abe Andrew, James Sipary, Sr., and John Andrew. Tom Roster's team included James Berlin, Jr. of AVCP, Inc., Tom Rothe of ADF&G, Chuck Hunt of the refuge, and by James Sipary, Sr. who assisted in village preparation.

) 65 8. Hunting

Big game guides reported taking the following animals as part of their operations on the refuge in 1996. Clients Days Hunted Species Taken Ed Shavings Sr., Nunivak Island Guide Service 4 7 4muskox Fred Don Sr., Nunivak Outfitters (did not hunt) Bob Adams, Adams Guide Service 4 44 2 bm bear Eruk Williamson, (did not hunt)

The ADF &G operated a moose hunter check station during September located at the junction ofPaimiut Slough and 12-Mile Slough on the Yukon River with help from refuge law enforcement staff and volunteers.

The number of hunters hunting near the check station remained very high; between 200 and 300 hunters were within the vicinity. One hundred and seventy hunters were interviewed during the 1996 season. Possible explanations for the popularity of this area for hunting are:

1. Moose densities in Game Management Subunit 21E are much greater than those downstream in Unit 18. Therefore, success rates can be much higher when trying to bag a moose. 2. Increasing numbers of hunters from the lower Yukon River are traveling further with faster, larger, and more efficient boat transportation. Approximately 80% of the hunters hunting in this area from the lower Yukon River are commercial salmon fishers from Districts Y-1 and Y-2 and they use their commercial fishing vessels for both commercial fishing and subsistence gathering activities. Income earned during commercial fishing often allows hunters to travel long distances to hunt moose, despite high fuel costs. 3. Hunting this portion ofUnit 21E has become a tradition for many hunting families from the lower Yukon River communities for the last 30 to 40 years.

This is the thirteenth season the moose hunter check station has been in operation. A total of 54 moose were brought to the check station during the season. Lower incisors were extracted for aging from 51 of these moose. The largest bull moose was 63 inches and the smallest was a spike/fork. Again, most of the moose sampled were yearling bulls to three year old bulls, indicating that recruitment for 1995, 1994, and 1993 had been quite successful.

Another check station was begun this year on the Kuskokwim River about nine miles below Lower Kalskag. The station was established to sample hunters residing in GMU

66 18 but hunting in GMU 19A,B, and C. As with the Paimiut Slough station, this one was done in cooperation with ADF&G and is not a mandatory check station.

The following information was collected at the check station: areas hunted, number of moose and caribou harvested, antler size of moose harvested, age of moose (by incisor extraction and later analysis), transportation used, number ofhunters, days hunted, and information about other species of wildlife observed or harvested. It was in operation from September 2 to 27. With the exception of one who was from Anchorage, all hunters interviewed were from the Kuskokwim villages below the check station.

)

A successful Yukon Delta waterfowl hunter.

67 One hundred and eighty five hunters reported harvesting 103 moose. Only two of these would have been harvested in the refuge. Sixty five caribou were reported taken, all of which would have been taken outside the refuge. From observations of boats that did not stop at the check station, it is believed that the reported harvest represents from 50 to 65% of the actual harvest in the area of interest. Because of concerns by upriver residents about the non-local harvest of moose, we plan on continuing this check station in future years.

This was the fourth season (1995 to 1996) for the Western Alaska Brown Bear Management Area. This management area was put into place to better accommodate subsistence brown/grizzly bear hunters. The bear bag limit was liberalized to one bear per regulatory year, the season was lengthened, and a registration permit issued by the state replaced the former $25 big game tag fee requirement. Other conditions were added to the hunt area to differentiate between sport hunters and subsistence hunters; for example, subsistence bear hunters no longer had to seal the skull and hide if the meat was salvaged for human consumption and if the hide and skull did not leave the hunt area. These changes are seen as potentially increasing compliance with bear hunting regulations and to encourage harvest reporting. Fifty-four permits were issued for the 1996 to 1997 season during August and September 1996 by the state and local village license vendors.

9. Fishing

Sport fishing is a very important seasonal activity for Bethel's 5,000 plus residents, especially on weekends during the months of June, July, and August. Only a small number of non-local residents travel to the refuge for sport fishing; however, numbers of non-residents visiting the refuge for sport fishing will probably increase along the higher quality fishing waters of the Kwethluk, Kasigluk, and Kisaralik Rivers. During the winter months, ice fishing, both for sport and subsistence, takes place on these same rivers, nearby lakes, and tributaries of the Kuskokwim River. Rainbow trout, dolly varden, grayling, pike, and all five species of salmon are sought by sport fishers.

In 1996, the Refuge placed volunteers at Boundary Lake on the Kwethluk River and Kisaralik Lake, the main access point for the Kisaralik River, from June 24 to September 10 to contact river floaters. Additional information on the fisheries studies taking place on these rivers can be found in G.11d.

Using a visitor register in 1995, twenty groups were reported using the Kisaralik River for floating. In 1996 the two volunteers on site (or staff in Bethel before volunteers were in place) contacted 32 groups and 148 people who floated the river. During the period when volunteers were in place, it was estimated that there were only five days without float groups on the lake or river. The heaviest use was in August with 11 groups on the

68 river between August 22 and 23. A typical float trip on the Kisaralik River is approximately seven days.

Volunteers on the Kwethluk River did not record any floaters during their three months at Boundary Lake which was considered the most likely drop-off location. Rumor was received of a party putting in on a tributary above Boundary Lake but this was not confirmed. There are no plans to continue monitoring the river in the future until a level of documented use is occurring.

10. Trapping

Furbearer trapping continues to be a supplemental source of income for many local residents (Table 6). Trappers focus their efforts on beaver, otter, mink, fox, and muskrat. Other less abundant species are also sought after, such as wolf, wolverine, marten, and lynx. Trappers of beaver, otter, wolf, wolverine, and lynx have mandatory sealing requirements both under State regulation and Federal CITES agreements. A total of 300 resident trappers reported harvesting furs during the 1994 to 1995 season, however, many more are licensed to trap. Trapping success during the past five years is well below historical average harvest, mostly due to low fur prices paid for raw pelts.

Table G 1. Estimated fur harvest and prices. 1996. Species Harvest Price (avg. dollars) Arctic Fox 250 $25 RedFox 400 30 Beaver 523 35 Lynx 13 75 Marten 25 40 Mink 300 35 (lg. male) VVolf 8 300 VV olverine 6 275

11. VVildlife Observations

See Other Interpretive Programs (H. 7).

12. Other VVildlife-Oriented Recreation

Other recreational activities, such as backpacking, boating, camping, hiking, photography, and river floating occur to a small extent on the refuge. Power boating and camping are generally associated with subsistence hunting and fishing. There may be an increasing amount of rafting occurring on the Kisaralik River. Since the refuge is so remote and costly to access, this use may be low in comparison to that of other refuges.

69 Activities associated with rafting include camping, fishing, hiking, wildlife observation, and photography.

15. Off-road Vehicles

Transportation on the refuge is limited to aircraft, boats, and snowmachines. Snowmobiles are used heavily, both for recreational and subsistence uses. Three and four-wheeler use is common in and around villages, but is not permitted on refuge lands. An ongoing effort is made to make local residents aware of refuge regulations and the threat these vehicles pose to resources.

16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation

Sled dog racing remains a popular winter sport. The most popular race is the "Kuskokwim 300". The race route originates from Bethel, follows the Kuskokwim River to Aniak, then goes overland to Whitefish Lake and Tuluksak before rejoining the Kuskokwim River on its way back to Bethel. Most of the race occurs on Native Corporation lands, however, it crosses refuge lands for a short distance along the trail's northern portion.

17. Law Enforcement

No waterfowl citations were issued on the Delta during the May monitoring program. Poor snow cover hindered travel and hunting in most areas. Special agents patrolled known waterfowl hunting areas in May.

State of Alaska, Fish and Wildlife Protection officers issued several game violations to hunters on the refuge. Special Agent Mike Wade assisted Fish and Wildlife Protection Officers during the hunting seasons.

18. Cooperating Associations

The refuge operates a small sales outlet for the Alaska Natural History Association (ANHA). During FY 96, we generated $2,071 in sales, which was almost identical to sales in FY 95 ($2,075). The ANHA educational materials were displayed and sold at several cultural and craft shows during 1996 - the Bethel Council on the Arts Craft Show, the VFW Christmas Bazaar, and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Mink Festival. Over the past 4 years, sales from these pre-Christmas craft shows have accounted for more than 50% of our total yearly sales.

In October, ANHA co-sponsored the Family Fun Run and Open House, held in conjunction with National Wildlife Refuge Week. Over $240 worth of ANHA materials were sold at the Open House which was attended by over 200 community members.

70 We hope to gain more exposure and recognition through increased involvement and membership in the Bethel Chamber of Commerce. We are planning to open the visitor center and ANHA bookstore at least one Saturday a month during 1997 to increase sales and recognition.

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

2. Rehabilitation

Two new Volvo Penta 200 horsepower engines were installed in the vessel Rex M by MW Jensen in Dillingham and it was returned to Bethel in June. The vessel was delivered in 1993 with engines inadequate for the craft.

The storm damaged roof at Kanagyak field station was replaced with metal roofing. The old church building at the Old Chevak village site was jacked up and leveled using hydraulic jacks placed on 4' X 4' treated timber pads insulated with 4" closed cell foam. The jacks will be left in place to accomplish periodic adjustments to the building.

5. Communications Systems

Yukon Delta NWR continues to research new technology that will provide reliable communications in southwest Alaska. Mark Young of Black Canyon Radio located in Montrose, Colorado traveled to Bethel to test and install the America Mobile Satellite Corporations Skycell Satellite telephone system early in the year.

The system tested has full interconnect voice, fax, data and dispatch capabilities. The features, reliability and effectiveness of the system tested proved excellent for requirements on the refuge. The best feature of this unit is the 24 hour dispatch capability, otherwise known as talk around, which transmits directly through the satellite rather than over a phone line. These units will quickly pay for themselves with money saved from conventional FM repeater maintenance. Four fixed base units were purchased during the year- three of which were used in field camps and one in the main office. Set-up for a fixed base unit takes about one hour. A portable briefcase telephone was tested throughout the year and will likely be purchased in 1997. Cost for these units is approximately $3500 each.

Currently a software package and tracking device is being developed using GPS and the satellite telephone system for tracking aircraft as often as every ten seconds and providing increased communication for the aircraft.

71 Contractor Mark Young tests satellite telephone communication using a portable briefcase telephone on Kisaralik Lake.

8. Other

Abandoned BIA schools and armories in villages is a nightmare in the waiting for the refuge. Because of clauses in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), these old sites which are generally federal property, revert to the nearest federal landowner ) when abandoned. Many, if not all of the sites have some form of hazardous material concerns that will prevent our donation to the village or some other entity until cleaned. These range from asbestos in siding, floor covering, and on pipes, fuel spills, batteries, chemicals used for water purification, and other possible contaminants. Some of these school sites were previously leased by the State and we can prevent transfer to the refuge until the cleanup has been done. However, some of the sites are already in our hands and we may have little control over the armories being transferred to us.

In September the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation did a site inspection of the old BIA school in Nightmute. Title to the school and lot reverted to the refuge when the State of Alaska relinquished their lease upon building a new school in the village. The inspection revealed a large amount of asbestos, possible fuel spills, and other contaminants.

) 72 J. OTHER ITEMS

1. Cooperative Programs a. Kilbuck (Qavilnguut) Caribou Permit Distribution

The Kilbuck Caribou Management Plan continued with village governments being given the opportunity to distribute harvest permits. This has given local village councils an active role in the management plans.

This year permits were issued to two villages before the first harvest period in December, 1996. Each village issued permits for the successful drawing winners. We did not receive very good reporting for this harvest year due to complications caused by the major influx of the Mulchatna herd.

The ADF&G again opened an emergency season in Unit 18 after large numbers of caribou from the Mulchatna Herd moved through the Kilbuck Mountains from the east. The state set a limit of two caribou for this season. All holders ofhunting licenses could harvest two animals if they had not been successful in other units. b. Y-K Delta Goose Management Plan (GMP) Meetings

The first Association ofVillage Council Presidents (AVCP)Waterfowl Conservation Committee (WCC) meeting of the year was held on February 26-28 in Bethel at the Yukon Delta NWR conference room. Several issues were discussed including sport harvest estimates in the Pacific flyway, updates on spectacled eiders, report on nontoxic shot seminars and shooting clinics in the Y-K Delta, update on amending the Migratory Bird Treaty, law enforcement, and review of the five Year Moratorium resolution submitted by Chevak Traditional Council earlier that year.

The second WCC meeting for the year was held at Hooper Bay on December 10-11. Items discussed at this meeting included the update on the four species of arctic nesting geese, subsistence harvest survey report, sport harvest estimates, harvest strategies for cacklers and whitefronts, spectacled/Stellers eider outreach, nontoxic shot seminars and clinics report, update on MBTA Protocol amendment, and review of the Y-K Delta Goose Management Plan.

During the Hooper Bay WCC meeting, John Pingayak of Chevak, requested that the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service abstain from conducting biological research for a period of five years.

Refuge Information Technicians (RITs) began their travel to the Y-K Delta villages for information and education programs during the week ofMarch 10.

73 RITs disseminated information during village meetings and school programs on the GMP, goose populations update, spectacled eiders, lead poisoning, nontoxic steel shot & requesting permission to conduct subsistence waterfowl harvest surveys and training village harvest surveyors. c. Compacting

Several meetings were held throughout the year with village representatives to discuss various forms of compacting or cooperative agreements for managing refuge projects.

On October 7 several residents from Mekoryuk, along with their legal counsel, met with the refuge and ADF&G to discuss projects they could take over on Nunivak Island. Past requests have included proposals that we provide them funding up to $400,000 for the $10,000 of work that the refuge normally conducts on the island. Several ideas were put forward including cooperation on Nunivak muskox work and a science camp. No further discussions were held throughout the year.

Several meetings were held with the Association of Village Council Presidents, a legally entitled compacting entity, to discuss possible compactable programs. One of the meetings was held in the RO where Migratory Birds and Subsistence staffs participated. Although no firm agreements were in place at the end of the year, positive discussions continued which could result in a formal compacting agreement next year. d. Land Exchanges

Two different land exchanges were in progress during the year. Since 1988 Calista Regional Native Corporation has been working at the Washington level to secure an exchange that would have basically given the refuge subsurface acreage on about 200,000 acres of village corporation lands in exchange for money and/or rights to federal excess property. The exchange, which was resisted at every level in the FWS in its proposed form, met with enough resistance in the 104th Congress to stop the proposal for now.

The community of Newtok approached the refuge in November with a proposal to relocate their village to refuge land because of erosion along the banks of the Ninglick River. The river has reportedly been taking over 100 feet of river bank each year and is only several years away from undermining the village. Two groups in this village of less than 200 were competing for a preferred relocation site. By the end of the year the village corporation had decided to request a land exchange of 19,200 acres so the village could move approximately eight miles to an upland site on Nelson Island. The first formal meetings were scheduled for January of 1997.

74 3. Items oflnterest

Editor ofWildbird magazine Paul Konrad visited the refuge in June. He later wrote an article along with photographs which appeared in a fall issue of the magazine.

4. Credits

Lorrie Beck E.4,H.1,2a&b,3,6,7, 12, 15, 16,18 Dave Cox Editing Dennis Griffin D.4 Chuck Hunt E.6, J.1b Mike Jensen I.2 Steve Kovach D.5c,d,G.8b,c Paul Liedberg E.1, I.8, J.1c&d Brian McCaffery D.5e, G.15,16a John Morgart F.7, G.2,6,7,8a,14,H.8,J.1a Mike Rearden Feedback Lisa Saperstein D.5f,H.10 Dennis Strom B, E.5,F.9, H.10 George Walters I.5 Mike Wege D.5ab, G.1,3,5,16b,17 Cynthia Wentworth D.6

K. FEEDBACK

As you probably noticed in the front, this narrative is dedicated to an Alaska Department ofFish and Game employee, Randy Kacyon. Randy, the area game biologist, and his pilot died when their plane crashed while doing a moose survey on the Yukon River on November 30, 1996.

Alaska game management has been in turmoil during the last few years - much of it has been imposed by the clash of state and federal law, and interpretations ofthe courts. It has caused some managers to develop a caustic, uncooperative nature. Not so Randy. He was part of the "team" dedicated to making responsible wildlife management decision, with good public input. He didn't concern himself as to whether it was a "state" or "federal" responsibility. He helped us with many surveys and we helped him with hunter check stations off refuge. It was a great professional and personal relationship that benefited wildlife and people.

Randy's easy-going, laconic nature helped him get to know local people easier than most, and he had friends scattered across the delta. This contributed substantially to the

75 success of the cooperative management plans that require lots of personal contact and respect for local opinion.

It was a terrible shock to many when he died, but none of us were particularly surprised that it happened on a Saturday, a day he was supposed to be taking off. He took his management responsibilities seriously, and worked hard to make sure that they were met.

We were blessed with this mutually respectful relationship, and feel that it should establish a standard for all wildlife managers: Leave the politics to the politicians and in the meantime, by working together, we might even get most of our work done, and best serve the public that is paying our salaries.

76 Yukon Delta Carved by Water Ducks are three times as numerous as geese . Greater scaup, oldsquaw, and pintail are the most abundant National The most powerful influence of the Yukon Delta terrain species while common seater, green winged teal , is the scouring and building action of water. The Yukon mallard, and wigeon are common. Less numerous are River carves its way over 2,300 miles to the Bering Sea the spectacled and common eiders whose habitat is Wildlife through mountains, foothills, forestland, and tundra. confined to a narrow coastal zone and the open sea. Two hundred miles to the south, the Kuskokwim River t '"""y- also reaches the sea. A centuries-long process, the An estimated 100 million shore and waterbirds Plant Life ,,. .. :;-··'"'··. .. ,_ ... representing over 50 species use the Delta for nesting, '·- ··...... waters of these two longest rivers in Alaska form a giant ·.. .. - 4> "'• "': Refuge delta between their mouths. resting, and foraging during migration. These include During the short summer the area bursts into life. There \ gulls, jaegars, cranes, loons, grebes, plovers, snipe, are hundreds of species of plants on the refuge, many The Nulato Hills rise abruptly from the north bank of godwits, sandpipers and the rare bristle-thighed curlew. blooming in splashes of color. Most of the land is the Yukon River. The 1.3 million acre Andreafsky Dense concentrations of kittiwakes and murres, lesser carpeted by a moist spongy layer of tundra. Permafrost, Wilderness is located within these hills. The wilderness numbers of puffins, auklets, guillemots, and cormorants a layer of permanently frozen soil, lies just beneath the includes both forks of the scenic Andreafsky River-a are found in seabird rookeries along the rocky shores of tundra. designated Wild River. Cape Romanzoff, Nunivak, and Nelson Islands. Woodland vegetation is found in the inland portions of Nunivak Island is a unique part of the refuge. Located Large mammals such as black and grizzly bear, the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. Less than 10% of the 20 miles offshore in the stormy Bering Sea, the main caribou, and moose are found primarily along the delta is thinly wooded. Trees grow slowly because of island and 50 associated islands total nearly 1 ,700 highlands and in the woodlands along rivers. They the harsh subarctic conditions. The trails of a single square miles. Its tundra interior is interspersed with range on about 20 percent of the refuge with moderate season may last over a decade. hills, craters, and lava flows. The island's coastline in to low densities. Small mammals include the aquatic cludes sea cliffs, sand dunes, beaches, saltwater furbearers-beaver, muskrat, mink, and otter. Arctic lagoons, and rocky shores with coves and bays. and red fox are common; wolf and wolverine infre quently venture from the uplands. A Diversity of Species The coastal waters of the Bering Sea support harbor, Spring comes to the Delta with whistling wings, calling, ribbon, ringed and bearded seals, and walrus. Many Introduction squawking, and honking of millions of birds as they species of whales pass along the coast during their arrive at their traditional breeding grounds. The birds migration. Resident fish include trout, char, and Rivers, sloug_hs, lakes, and ponds are the predominate arrive from nearly every state and province in North grayling in the mountain streams and pike, sheefish, landscape ot the Nation's largest wildlife refuge. Its America and from all continents bordering the Pacific whitefish, and burbot in lowland waters. Each summer la~ds ar~ prem1er waterfowl habitat with nearly one Ocean . The most notable of these migrants are the great numbers of king, silver, red, pink, and chum th,_rd of 1ts 20 million acres covered with water. The brant, geese, and swans. More than half of the conti salmon migrate through the Delta Rivers to clear retuge was created in 1980 by the Alaska ationalln nent' s population of black brant are hatched on the upland spawning areas. terest La_ ~ds Conservation Act for the purpose of con Delta' s sensitive coastal habitat. All of North America' s serv1ngt1s-h and wildlife in their natural diversity, cackling Canada geese (a species that is declining) are Muskox were introduced on Nunivak Island from preserving habitat and ~ater resources, and providing produced in these coastal lowlands. Large populations Greenland in 1935. Through careful management their the opportunity for subsistence uses by local residents. of emperor geese, pacific white-fronted geese, and population is maintained at about 500 animals. This tundra swans nest near the coast and on the inland nucleus herd was the source of the expanding popula tundra. No area of similar size is as critical to their tions on the nearby mainland and several other survival as the Delta. transplants in Alaska. A Living Heritage Ownership of large acreages within the refuge bound aries has been conveyed to Native corporations and in Yukon Delta Yupik Eskimos have depended on land and its dividuals. These lands, as well as scattered fishing and resources since crossing the Bering land bridge hunting camps should be respected as private property. When visiting be careful that your actions do not alter thousands of years ago. Hundreds of historic sites bear Those planning a journey in the region should consult National Wildlife Refuge the character of the landscape or disturb biological testimony to their way of life. These aboriginal in with the Association of Village Council Presidents in processes. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is a vast but habitants traveled widely in search of fish and wildlife Bethel regarding the location of private land and pro delicate habitat. Its protection is essential to wildlife resources. Winter villages were small and widely scat cedures for visiting villages. Address: P.O. Box 219, populations of local, national, and international in tered. Their homes were subterranean sod structures Bethel, Alaska 99559. terest. Make demands on yourself not on the land. supported by whalebone and driftwood. During the brief sumn •.: r families moved to isolated fishing camps. Weather and Insects

Many families still move to summer camps where Winter begins on the Delta early in October. January salmon is caught and dried. Wild game continues to be temperatures average near Q<> F although the high winds an important food source. Many traditional ways of often cause a wind chill factor that exceeds -60°F. preparing meat and furs are still being used. The Yupiks Annual snowfall may exceed 50 inches but winter have adopted much of the modern world, but their thaws prevent much accumulation. Ice breakup does lives remain linked to the harsh environment. not occur until May or early June. Because of the ALASKA 1984 Yukon Delta' s remoteness and unpredictable weather, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Visiting the Delta a safe trip requires careful planning. Top quality equip FISH AND W ILDLIFE SERVICE ment and insect repellent are essential. Recreational uses may include wildlife observation, hiking, and boating. Hunting and fishing are allowed in accordance with state and federal regulations. Informa- As the Nation' s principal conservation agency, the tion on hunting and fishing regulations is available from _,.• ---.• ,. ..•..... _,_.-··)• .••.,'. Department of the Interior has basic responsibilities for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, P.O . Box 90, Q water, fish. wildlife. mineral, land, park and recrea Bethel, AK 99559, or from the refuge...... -···' ·, ...-···, · ~'f tional resources. Indian and Territorial affairs are other ··.>~? . .r r ··~..f major concerns of America' s " Department of National The refuge is accessible only by boat or aircraft. Airline ,-····· ..••[· ).... .,_ _, Resources." service is available from Anchora.ge to Bethel, St...... _f'"'····.:: ... --..·:."1 · ! ·· · .~~:·.> ... ·····' ··.., ,. ...; ,.. .- -,, .. ·-. Mary' s, and Aniak. Flights to other villages and remote l .., < --: · ""'"··"' ' ••. / ' •.. ...,. .•A J > ""·,~ , ...... ,...j· The Department works to assure the wisest choice in areas can be arranged but lodging will not likely be .• ~.. - ·...... · ··--..... ·~· :r " · · ~{ ' .· __ .....!' managing our resources so each will make its full con available...... - -·.···1 -·· ···""'"·''!·-- --· ···,/·:--,_ .·.'""·' tribution to a better United States- now and in the .i (._ :.. ,..... future...... '-...... : ••• : ••• ,<" " ; :-·""··.•'"

sco~:3==E:~~o======s~o======,oEo~======,3so miles

refuge boundaries FOR MORE INFORMATION: villages • Refuge Manager wild rivers Yukon Delta ational Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 346 Bethel, Alaska (99559) wilderness (907) 543-3151 - . - - -··-·-=-- ~...... _ ~-=~~~~~- ~:::::...- -._ - tr U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFACE: 1987- 794-903 ~-~. - ~~ ~-_--:_-_-.... :-- ~---..._ - --.:;,r_.-- - --=- - ...... -...... - - - Yukon Delta National ildlife Refuge

The delta was created by th.e Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers and theit tributaries. The Yukon River-delta is in the process of building up, while the Kuskokwim delta is slowly being eroded by normal river processes. Tfl.e .coastal plain, including the delta, is contrasted by uplands and moun:tains 1!J the north, east, and south. Several small mountain ranges are. scattered across the coastal · plain, including the Nulaw and.lngakslugwat Hills; and the Asflinuk, KusUvak, .Eek, and KUbuck Mountains. Because the traditional Yup'ik subs~ce Ufestyle nd cultural herit:4ge iutve a strong 1!tesenfe on the refuge, tneU.S. -Fish and WUdlife SerW:e sttlves to manage tlie natutal r~urces uSJ.ng a .h~.tul of westem tet;hnU,ues, idong w,lf{t trilifffion4l :values and IIWis. . ' Histor~ ------

Bethel, the transportation hub of the Delta, began surrounding gold camps. With the when a permanent village called Mamterillermiut discovery of a moderately deep channel was established by the Yup'ik Eskimos. Russian fur up the Kuskokwim to Bethel in 1910, its traders arrived during the 1830s and built trading future was set as sea port, serving the posts along the river. The first trading post at the second largest river in Alaska. Reindeer present site of Bethel was constructed by Reinhold herding and fur farming were among the Separe through a contract with the Alaska first industries in Bethel. Commercial Company. Moravian missionaries arrived in 1884 in search of a place to begin a mis~ In 1928, the first airplane landed on a sion. The following year, John Ki lbuck and William sandbar at Bethel and soon the town Weinland founded a mission one~half mile west of became the air transportation hub of the £ the trading post. The first school was opened in delta. As a result of these commercial Yup'ik youngster in fur parka. 1886, and by the turn of the century, the mission activities and river uses, Bethel emerged was well organized. By the early 1900s, prospectors as an economic and trade center for the surrounding Although many economic changes have occurred in who had stampeded to the Klondike and the beach ~ region. Government and social services grew con~ Bethel since its beginning, the traditional lifestyles es of Nome, began to ascend the tributaries of the siderably during the 1960s and soon became the and culture of the Yup'ik people remains visible Kuskokwim. Bethel served as supply center for the dominant force in Bethel's economy. today. Purposes of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge-- : 4; To conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity including, but not limited to, shorebirds, seabirds, whistling swans, j emperor, white~fronted and Canada geese, black brant and other migratory birds, salmon, muskox, and marine mammals; i .4 to fulfill the international treaty obligations with respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats; I - I 4; to provide the opportunity for continued subsistence uses by local residents; and ' j 4; to ensure water quality and water quantity within the refuge.

' YUKON .. KUSK01

For Additional· In 1984, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service neg

Each year, Alaska Native employees of the U.S job is expla ining the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta people." He added, "These men and women Fish and Wildlife Service, Refuge Information Goose Management Plan and the eider duck'out believe what they do is important; they feel they Technicians. travel hundreds of miles to provide reach program. They also provide information on can make a 'difference in the quality of hunting, residents of Delta vi llages with up-to-date infor law enforcement and research activities. Since fishing, and the management of natural resources mation about waterfowl and other resources. The they deal with complex wildlife issues, the RITs on behalf of Native people." RITs' job is to develop a dose working relation must have extensive knowledge of local, state, ship between the Service and people living on or and federal laws, as we ll as Native traditions. The RIT program was established on the Yukon near the refuge. They serve as liaisons, educators, Delta refuge in 1984 because the Service needed interpreters, and public relations specialists. They According to Chuck Hunt, supervisor of the RIT to spread the word to residents of the Delta about present information and education programs; program on the Yukon Delta refuge, "Much of the alarming declines in populations of emperor, help with waterfowl harvest surveys; and meet success of the RIT program is due to their hard cackling Canada, white-fronted, and black brant with Native leaders. village residents, and school work and knowledge of refuge programs, wildlife geese. The first of its kind for the Service, it was students and teachers. An important part of their issues, and the land and traditions of Native so successful other refuges soon followed.

-~~~:..><"..!.~~;;..~ , ...... , -:-- · ~ ·- . "~·-f ~)~ ·~~.. ;;~-~i:~~.:.."'...':W~~~-.. : .... __ . - - . - -- -- Caribou Management __

Historically, caribou occurred on the Yukon Caribou·have continued Kuskokwim Delta in large numbers. Numbers to expand their range to peaked in the 1860s and during this period, the west, inhabiting the delta lowlands in the caribou ranged over much of the refuge, even fall and winter. Radio telemetry has contributed crossing the ice pack to Nunivak Island. They greatly to our knowledge of this herd. Radio subsequently disappeared from the region with collared animals have provided us with individ the exception of small herds in the Kilbuck and ual movements and seasonal distribution. Andreafsky Mountains. Before 1985, Kilbuck Telemetry has aided our spring calving survey caribou were considered to be part of the and our fall census by helping locate groups of expanding Mulchatna herd; however studies have caribou. indicated the Kilbuck animals comprise a dis tinct, resident herd. The Kilbuck herd is ex-pand Peak calving for the Oavilnguut herd occurs ing its range and is increasing in size. This around mid-May. After calving, cows, calves, increase coincides with the implementation of and yearlings congregate in large groups and the Oavilnguut (Kilbuck) Caribou Management feed in lower river valleys, remaining separate Plan. The goal of the plan is to establish a viable from the bulls. During summer, caribou use herd of caribou in the Kilbuck Mountains and to snow fields in the Kuskokwim Mountains for provide for eventual higher harvest levels. relief from biting insects or heat.

Tlie mafority of tlie refute is wetland tundra interlaced witli countless ponds, lakes, and meandering sluggisli waterways. Tlie ancestralliome of tlie Yup'ik Esfdmo, tlie Yuflon .. Kuskofnvim Delta is tlie largest nesting and 6reeding area for migrawry waterfowl in Nortli America. Moose Management

Prior to 1950, moose were rarely seen on the Delta. telemetry, we have learned that some moose in During the following years, their numbers increased both the Yukon and Kuskokwim River areas travel as they began to inhabit the eastern boundary of large distances, while others are sedentary. the refuge and the forests along the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers. Moose are undoubtedly more The refuge staff recently began working with common now than 40 years ago, but their densities representatives of the Yukon River villages to are still low relative to ava ilable habitat. The develop a moose management plan for the lower greatest number occur along the Yukon Ri ver Yukon . The plan's major objective is to increase betwee!tbOhogamiut and Holy Cross, particularly moose numbers along the lower Yukon River. The during winter. During the summer, moose are plan recognized the need to protect female more wi<;lespread and are occasionally found as far moose to achieve the population goals outlined .., .. . , ... , west as the coast. Through radio collars and radio in the cooperative plan .

Five species of salmon (chinook, chum, pink, sockeye, and coho) migrate through the refuge SALMON RUNS and use many refuge streams for spawning. King/Chinook June (all month) They are a very important food source. White Dog/Chum 3rd week of june to mid-July fish, northern pike, sheefish, Alaska blackfish, Red/Sockeye 3rd week of june to mid-July burbot, and Pacific herring are also harvested. Pink/Humpback 2nd week of August to end A variety of marine speci es , such as halibut and to September black pollock, are found around Nunivak and Silver/Coho 3rd week of August to end Nelson Islands. All told, 44 fi sh species are of September known to occur in refu ge waters.

Historica lly, a large proportion of subsistence this phenomenon Fi sh are of major importa nce ca ught fish was used to feed sled dogs and fo r in the subsistence economy and account for t rade. In recent years, dependence on sled dogs 30-60% or more of the yearly food supply in has decreased due to increased use of snowmo most Delta villages. In the fu ture, subs istence biles and airplanes. A red uced subsistence harvest of fish is expected to grow annually with harvest of some species in va ri ous areas re fl ects increased vi llage populations

Commercial fishermen wa it to sell their eaten. Threatened and Endangered Species_

Three threatened and/or endangered species occur I in both spring and fall on the tundra near St. or could occur on the refuge. The American pere Michael, but they have not been detected there grine falcon occurs on the refuge and is listed as this century. In I 993, the spectacled eider was list endangered. In previous years, peregrine falcons ed as a threatened species and is protected under have been reported in the Kilbuck Mountains, the Endangered Species Act. The Arctic peregrine Askinuk Mountains, Nulato Hills, and near the vil falcon was recently removed, or delisted, from the lage of Chevak. The Eskimo curlew formerly staged threatened and endangered species list. Neotropical5irds ______

The Yukon Delta Refuge supports an abundance of ing, or molting migrate through all flyways of North neotropical migrants, particularly passerines. America. Of 68 species of shorebirds recorded in Habitats supporftng large numbers of migrant Alaska, 52 occur in this area . In addition to shore passerines (forests, woodlands, thickets) total over birds which use the delta for breeding and forag- 2.5 million acres, an area larger than the states of ing, large numbers of seabirds and other water ~ Rhode Island and Delaware combined. Birds that birds, including gulls, jaegers, cranes, and water- j use the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta for breeding, stag- fowl use the area. "- Winnowing cranberries in Kotlik.

Published by the Alaska Natural History Association Editor: Lorrie Beck Transportation_ Project Director: Lisa Dunham eCaendar Design: Syzygy Design The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is only accessible by Illustrations : john Clarke air. The villages of St. Mary's, Aniak and the city of Contributors: Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Staff Bethel are all serviced by daily jet service. St. Prin ter: Anchorage Printing The annual goGse calendar is a populaF activity Mary's is the transfer point if you are intending to designed to heighten awareFJess of tfue four visit areas along the Yukon drainage. If visiting maiJl specie.s of Arcllic rflesting geese. EaG!ii year. along the Kuskokwim drainage or the central coast th0usanms of sChool age students in grades IV of the Delta, then Bethel is the transfer point. 12 submit pester and literature entries for judg ing. T,tie top 24 winners are featured in a beauti~ The refuge is open for such public uses as sport ful calendar pt!l lished DuCks Unlimited. Im:. 5Y and subsistence hunting, fishing, and trapping; en e ~out 8,000 geose calendars are distributed to camping, hiking, and boating; and wildlife observa Delta schools and villages. Sponsors of the cal tion. Landing fixed-wing aircraft is permitted on endar also include the Association of Village refuge lands. Any activities other than those listed Col.Ylcil Presidents. Alaska Department of Fish above such as collection of plants or animals, bio and Game, National Audubon Society, and the logical studies, etc. will most likely require a spe ~ Since J 992, the Westem.Alaska Natural Science U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. cia] use permit from the Refuge Manager. Camp has hosted students (ages 13~16) from I western Alaska during 1o-day sessions in July at Nyac, Alaska. Owned by the Calista Corporation, the Nyac camp setting allows stu~ Weather______dents the opportunity to explore and investi~ Southwestern Alaska is affected by the maritime Periods of bad weather can occur at any time but, gate various ecosystems. such as riparian, influence of the Bering Sea and by the continental in general, the weather is best from mid~ May to beaver pond, and alpine tundra. Yup'ik elders influence of Interior Alaska. In summer this results late June. This period fortunately corresponds with an tradition bearers share their traditional in high humidity, fog, considerable cloudiness, the nesting season of most of the birds in the area. owledge and understanding of the natural strong winds, and frequent periods of light rain. Nearly continuous daylight during this period is an environment with the students. Summer temperatures average in the mid 50's. advantage.

The camp is sponsored by the Alaska Average Monthly Temperatures (F) Department of Fish and Game, the Association of Village Council Presidents, Calista Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Corporation, National Audubon Society, University of Alaska/Fairbanks ~Kuskokwim Mean 6 7 11 25 40 52 55 53 46 31 17 6 campus. and the u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service. Max 13 15 20 34 49 61 62 60 52 37 23 13 Min -1 0 2 17 32 43 47 46 38 25 11 -1

' ~ ·"-- . YUI< ON DELTA YUKON DELTA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE NATIONAL WI LDLIFE REFU GE

- ·-- . ·-· . ·- ..-<:~ it . .. - -~ -. - -- - .,_. ~ '· . ···-"'.'I ~- TEGGANEPUT AYAGYUARULLRATNI... - W hen our elders were youngsters ... the sky above ALASKAM KANAKNALIRNERANI YAQULELIPIALALLRUUQ. Western Alaska was filled with geese and ducks. KAY~NGUITNEK-LLU

PISSULALLRUUT, CAll QEMAGCI

LUTENG UKSUMI NEQKAMEGGNEK. eggs in the spring and supplies for the coming winter. 1 AKAURTEKSAITUQ ... YUINAQ WA-LLU YUINAQ QULNEK (IPLUKU 1984-AAMI YUPIIT ALLRAKUNI AIPAAGNI PINGATUQ ... ATANERUARIT ALLAT-LLU - ELLA NEPAIRUTKANILLRUUQ. YAQULEGNEK PENG'GAR In 1984 Yup'ik leaders agreed to N ot that long ago ... IKGELIINARLUTENG YAQULGET TELLRIIT YUUT work together with other con (All LLGUTKELLRUUT 20 or 30 years maybe .. . ALASKAM KANAKNALIRNERANI cerned people to help bring YAQULGET AMLLERIKAN back the geese. They the sky grew quieter. Fewer TANGRRUUYAURTELLRUUT INGNAQLUKI. HOOPER signed the Hooper and fewer waterfowl could KIAGMI. BAY AGREEMENT-AAQ Bay Agreement, be seen in Western Alaska SAINALLRUAT, MAA-1 UNA YUKON now called the KUSKOKWIM DELTA GOOSE MANAGEMENT in the su mmer. Yu kon-Kuskokwim Delta PLAN-AAMEK PIYAURTELLRUAT. Goose Management Pl an. YAQULEG(UTULIT ALASKAMI , WASHINGTON-AAMI, OREGON-AAMI , (ALIFORNIA G oose hunters from Alaska, MI-LLU ALERQUUMALLRUUT PLAN-AQ MALIG- Washington, Oregon, and California, were asked to follow TAQUSQELLU KU . the Plan. -- PLAN-AQ PICIURTUQ! QUYANA IKAYUULLUCI. .. The Plan is a success! T hanks to everybody's cooperation ... there are now more White-fronted Geese and Cackling Canada Geese throughout their range. Good-work everyone! MAA-1 NEQLERET TUUTANGAYIIT-LLU AMLLERIUT. ASSIRTUQ CALIARCI TAMARPECI!

Leq{eq, Lagi{uggpiaq - Wliite-'frontei (joose 'Tuutangaya~ Lafi:s.afi:s.ar, Caci(Jing Canaaa (joose Qg.ugeq- 5 pee tacleri 'Eirler 'Due(( -

TAUGAAMMAA-1 NACAULLGET IKAYUUCUGNGAUT. ALASKAM YUIN NEQLERNAT-LLU IKAYURNARQUT AMLLERIKANIQAINAUGAITYAQULGET AMLLENRILAMENG. ANARNISSAGAAT NAAQUTAIT. QAUGRET-LLU CALIIKAYUANARQUT. E veryone in Western Alaska can E mperor Geese and help. Alaskans can increase the Black Brant ... still need more population of these birds. 'Emperor (joose support. SpectacleQ___an d Steller's Eiders also need help. ALASKARMIUT AKEMKUMIUT- LLU CALILLGUTEKNARQUT NEQLERNAT ANIRTUNGNAQLUKI. / S o1Aiaskans · QAILLUN WIIIKAYUUCUGNGASIA ANINQELLERKAATNUN YAQULGET?" and people from the " ,vv.-,,.-•m states need to "What can I do to help conserve the waterfowl?"

Leq[ernaq, :A&q[ernaq __:___ 'B[ac('Brant ··· PICSAQENRITAMKEN, ELLAM-TANG Wll

ALLAMIAQUAQAN AMLLERET YAQULGET TUQUALARTUT AYUQUCIA PISSURTEMEGTEGGUN WA-LLU ELLARRLUGKUN. CIMIRCII GALKEKA.

E ach year many geese die from natural causes S orry, predators and weather or storms. I can't change the weather. ALLAMIAQUAQAN AMLLERET YALQULGET TUQUALARTUT YUUT CAYARAITGUN PISSULLRATGUN, KALTIISSANEK TUQUNARQELLRI ANEK, PEKSUSSALLRATGUN, UITAVIIT MISVIGKAI RULLUTELLRATGUN, CIQITATGUN, ASSIILNGUR TEGGUN-LLU CAARRLUGTEGGUN.

E ach year, many geese die from human causes - H ey, 1 can do something about those problems! hunting, lead shot poisoning, egging, habitat loss, pollution/toxic wastes. PISSUNGNAQEVKENAKI NAUCAULLGET ACKIILGET-LLU NAAQUTAIT IKGELNGINANRATNI. PISSURARKANKA ALLAT YAQULGET PAIVNGAUT.

PeKSUITTEGUKSAUNAKI UKUT CETAMAN YAQULGET: I can refrain from hunting Emperor Geese and 'LAKCAKCARAAT, NEQLERNAT, NEQLERET, NACAULLGET CAll Spectacled Eiders while their populations are ILAKLUKI QAUGRET ANARNISSAGAAT-LLU. low. There are other birds available.

I can avoid taking eggs from the four goose species: Cackling Canada Geese, Black Brant, White-fronts, Emperors and including the Spectacled and Steller's Eiders. - N EQLERNANEK, 'LAKCAKCARNEK NEQLERNEK-LLU - PISSUSSIIYAAGPEK'NII IRNI LLRATA PIYAGAULLRATA-LLU NALLIIGNI AMLLERINERCIRLUKI.

I can reduce my hunting of Black Brant, Cackling Canada Geese and MALIGTAQUCUGNGAUNGA PISSUQSAUNII AMLLERNEK YAQULEGNEK White-fronted Geese during the nesting and breeding season. NEQKAITNEK TAUGAAM lLAMA KIINGAN.

I can continue to cooperate by taking only the waterfowl my family needs. TEGGLIT KALTIISSAT TUQUCI LARTUT YAQULEGNEK NER'AQATKI. YAQULEGCUUTNEK CAVIULRIANEK ATURCIQUA IMALLERNEK PIVKENII.

L ead shot poisons birds when they eat the pellets.

I can use steel shot instead of lead. YuKoN-KUSKOKWIM DELTA GoosE MANAGEMENT PLAN-AQ MALIGTAQU'URLUKU ALASKAM KANAKNALIRNERANI YAQULGET ANIRTUAYUGNGAANKA.

I can help save the waterfowl in Western Alaska by fol lowing the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Goose Management Plan. A special thanks to Paschal Afcan for translating the text into Yupik and for Martha Pen-y's assistance YAQULGET CIULIANKA ANIRTULALLRUIT KAINIQAQATA, in editing. The booklet is a joint project between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Alaska State Office of the National Audubon Society. Design and Illustrations by Debra Dubac. Wll WANIWA YAQULGET ANIRTUANARQANKA. '-.., J ust as these geese saved my ancestors during hard times, now it's my turn to save the geese. The U.S. Department of lmerior prohjbits discrimination in Depanmemal Federally Conducted Programs on the basis of race, color, nationaJ origin. sex, age. or handi- cap. lf you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program. acti vi ty. or facility operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or if you desire funher infonnation please write to:

U.S. Department of the Interior Office for Equal Opponunity 1849 C. Street. .W. Washington. D.C. 20240