Levelock Watershed Community Planning Project Final Summary Report September 30, 2005 A project of the Levelock Village Council with assistance from Agnew::Beck Consulting Acknowledgements Thank You The Levelock Village Council would like to thank all those who have helped in this Community Planning project. This project was made possible by the Nick Apokedak, George Wilson, Sr., Alex Tallekpalek, Peter Apokedak, Jr. involved and concerned residents of participate in the August Levelock Watershed Community Workshop. Levelock, who gathered to tell the story of their lands and waters, to discuss the issues and challenges they confront in managing these lands, and the goals they have for their community - both present and future. This report is a summary of the Levelock Village Council work they have done, and a sign of their ongoing interest and effort to manage their watershed effectively, for many generations to come. Howard Nelson President Levelock Village Council was also pleased and helped by the involvement of many other people interested in the health of the Ida Apokedak watershed area. Successful watershed management happens through a Vice President coalition of concerned and involved people. Levelock Village Council would like to thank: Shirley Andrew Secretary • Sue Flensburg Environmental Program Manager Hans Apokedak Bristol Bay Native Association Ray Apokedak • Helen Lons Katmai Park Planner National Park Service Levelock Natives Limited • Thomas Hoseth Lands Management Program Manager Ray Apokedak Bristol Bay Native Association President • Tim Troll Peter Apokedak Sr, Executive Director Vice President Nushagak-Mulchatna/Wood-Tikchik Land Trust Marlys Dobkins • Jason Dye Secretary Sport fi sh Biologist Alaska Department Fish & Game Annette Wilson • Rick Tennyson Sophie Anelon Land Manger Choggiung Limited Howard Nelson This project was facilitated by Agnew::Beck Consulting at the request of the Levelock Village Council. Community planners Ellen Campfi eld, MaryAnne LeMaitre, Kirsten Richardson, Chris Beck and Thea Agnew contributed to this report and project. All photos by Agnew::Beck Consulting, unless otherwise credited. 2 Levelock Watershed Community Planning Project :: Final Summary Report :: Introduction Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................... 2 Project Overview....................................................... 4 Executive Summary .................................................. 5 Levelock’s Watershed................................................ 9 Description of the Area ..................................................9 Land & Water Uses ....................................................... 12 Survey of Water Bodies................................................ 15 Community Issues & Concerns.............................. 17 Community Goals & Strategies ............................. 24 Recommendations & Next Steps........................... 28 Appendices ............................................................... 29 Appendix A: Contacts List........................................ 29 Appendix B: Record of Meeting Notes ................. 31 Appendix C: Watershed Management Models..... 37 Appendix D: Nushagak-Mulchatna-Based Management Programs ...................... 39 Appendix E: Priority Projects Worksheet............. 43 Appendix F: Subsistence Data................................. 44 Appendix G: Sport Fish Data ................................... 48 Appendix H: Commerical Fishing Data.................. 50 Appendix I: Bristol Bay Salmon Run Naknek-Kvichak District................... 51 Appendix J: Area Lodges ......................................... 52 Appendix K: Select Project Bibliography ............... 53 River grasses along the bank of the Kvichak. Levelock Watershed Community Planning Project :: Final Summary Report :: Introduction 3 Project Overview Project Objective To gather public input from residents of Levelock on environmental impacts to the Kvichak and Branch (Alagnak) Rivers and watersheds. To assess strategies and prioritize projects addressing local concerns, and empowering local management. Project Goals • Design and carry out a two-month process which documents village Howard Nelson and Ida opportunities, issues and values related to its watershed areas, focusing Apokedak review maps of on environmental impacts on these watersheds. Levelock’s watershed area. • Engage the full community in agreeing on the underlying values and priority actions for the future. Promote clear communication and decision-making among community members. • Document community discussion on watershed issues, opportunities and recommended strategies for addressing priority concerns. • Prepare a map that outlines watershed areas of significance to the community. • Compile background materials that the community can use to make decisions. • Give direction on priorities to local and regional governing organizations for new projects and programs designed to protect and promote the health of these watershed areas. • Give the community greater control over its destiny, and a stronger position working with parties from outside the community, such as government agencies and large private businesses. • Help sustain cultural traditions, subsistence, history and culture in the watershed areas. Focus Area of Study Map Prepared by Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services Corporation 4 Levelock Watershed Community Planning Project :: Final Summary Report :: Introduction Executive Summary Purpose of the Project The Kvichak River, outside of Levelock The Levelock Village Council Environmental Program initiated this Levelock Watershed Community Planning project in order to respond to community concerns over the use and health of the watershed upon which Levelock residents depend. Subsistence hunting and fi shing are vital aspects of community life and economy in Levelock. In order to protect subsistence resources for future generations, Levelock Village Council, along with residents and other partners, intends to play an active role in protecting the health of the watershed and resolving confl icts between competing uses. The purpose of this project was to gather public input from residents of Levelock on existing uses and potential threats to those uses along the Kvichak and Branch (Alagnak) Description of the Project Rivers and watersheds. This and Process During the course of this project, During the fi rst community “We want this project to bring the Levelock Village Council workshop in August, village convened two community residents identifi ed traditional together knowledge of the river workshops, facilitated by contractor and seasonal uses in specifi c areas systems, how they have been used, Agnew::Beck. Prior to the fi rst within the watershed. Residents how they are being used today.” workshop, Agnew::Beck worked also identifi ed threats to these with Bristol Environmental and uses and brainstormed potential Engineering Services Corporation solutions. Sue Flensburg, from project also identifi ed community to develop illustrative maps of the Bristol Bay Native Association, solutions to counter threats. This Kvichak and Branch (Alagnak) who provides staff assistance to the report brings together the results of rivers and tributaries. Additional Nushagak Mulchatna Watershed Levelock’s work in order to prioritize maps were created to identify areas Council, gave a presentation on that projects addressing local concerns, traditionally used by Levelock organization and its work. Residents and empower local management. residents. Agnew::Beck also also identifi ed areas for further completed background research research such as how other village into other watershed councils and corporations have enforced citations organizations, both in Alaska and against trespass and hunting on the nation. village corporation lands. The meeting ended with a well-attended community potluck. Levelock Watershed Community Planning Project :: Final Summary Report :: Executive Summary 5 Following the fi rst workshop, Agnew::Beck completed requested research and used the results from the workshop to draft a summary About 25 Levelock report and annotated map. This residents draft was then reviewed by village and guests council staff, and by the community participated at a second community workshop. in the fi rst In addition, potential partners were Community Workshop. invited to the second workshop to discuss implementation of potential strategies to protect the watershed. Summary of Community avoid certain areas for subsistence During the second community Issues, Goals & use because there are too many workshop, village residents reviewed Recommendations boats and other users. and affi rmed the conclusions in Erosion along riverbanks - due to the draft report, added comments, Issues an increase in boat traffi c, changing and prioritized outcomes. The Workshop participants identifi ed a weather patterns and other factors highest priority outcome identifi ed number of threats to the watershed. - has increasingly become an issue was to convene a meeting of Pollutants are a primary concern, of concern. Much of the riverfront project partners to plan to originating from a number of in the village of Levelock is being reinstate the Kvichak-Branch River sources including village landfi lls and washed away; the Branch (Alagnak), Patrol. Levelock youth, adults sewage lagoons; sport hunting and too, is seriously affected in some and elders participated, as well as fi shing lodge septic systems, fuelling