The Tyonek Tribal Conservation District Natural Resource Assessment and Project Implementation Plan Compiled by the staff of TTCD June 2013 THE TYONEK TRIBAL CONSERVATION DISTRICT NATURAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Authors: Christy Cincotta Tyonek Tribal Conservation District Erin Hoffman Innovative Funding, LLC Matthew Schmitt Tyonek Tribal Conservation District Funding for this project provided by: United States Fish and Wildlife Service Tyonek Native Corporation Cover photo: Indian Creek road crossing after culvert replacement and restoration project coordinated by the Tyonek Tribal Conservation District. This project, which was developed as a result of the creation of this document, is discussed in more detail in chapters 6 and 12. Photo taken in August 2013 by Christy Cincotta. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors of this document would like to thank several groups and individuals, whose support and assistance was essential to this project. We wish to thank and acknowledge the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Tyonek Native Corporation who provided funding for this project. We would also like to thank the following individuals: Margaret Perdue and David Wigglesworth of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, who contributed many hours to the completion of this document and assisted with editing and brainstorming; David Kroto of the Tyonek Native Corporation, who shared his considerable ArcGIS skills to assist with the creation of maps for this document; Melissa McCord of the Tyonek Tribal Conservation District who assisted with photos, editing, and tracking down information; the staff of the Native Village of Tyonek and the Tyonek Native Corporation, many of whom took time to answer questions and provide assistance; all of the partners listed in this document who provided us with information, and the TTCD Board of Directors (Patrick Chuitt Jr, Elizabeth J Standifer, Ron T Stanek, Emil J McCord, and Harriet Kaufman), who provided insight throughout the project, answered questions, and provided edits. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………1 A. Goals & Objectives……………………………………………………………………………….1 B. Document Structure………………………………………………………………………………2 C. Methodology & Project Prioritization…………………………………………………………2 D. Project Outcomes…………………………………………………………………………………3 CHAPTER 2: Introduction………………………………………………………………………………….4 A. Purpose and Need for Action…………………………………………………………………....4 B. TTCD Visions……………………………………………………………………………………...4 CHAPTER 3: Background and History………………………………………………………………...7 A. Tyonek Tribal Conservation District…………………………………………………………...7 B. Rural Alaska & Challenges…….…………………………………………………………….....10 C. The Native Village of Tyonek……………………………………………………………………12 D. Other Communities in TTCD……………………………………………………………………14 CHAPTER 4: Eco-region…………………………………………………………………………………….19 A. Location & Climate……………………………………...……………………………………….19 B. Geography…………………………………………………………………………………………20 C. Stakeholders & Current & Potential Projects………………………………………………..20 CHAPTER 5: Soils……………………………………………………………………………………………...23 A. Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………...23 B. Resource Status & Issues of Concern…………………………………………………………..24 C. Data Gaps………………………………………………………………………………………….26 D. Potential Projects…………………………………………………………………………………26 CHAPTER 6: Freshwater Resources…………………………………………………………………...29 A. Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………...29 B. Resource Status & Issues of Concern…………………………………………………………..31 C. Data Gaps………………………………………………………………………………………….38 D. Potential Projects…………………………………………………………………………………38 CHAPTER 7: Marine Resources………………………………………………………………………….44 A. Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………...44 B. Resource Status & Issues of Concern…………………………………………………………..46 C. Data Gaps & Potential Projects………………………………………………………………..49 CHAPTER 8: Air Quality…………………………………………………………………………………….53 A. Overview……………………………………………………………………………………………53 B. Resource Status & Issues of Concern……………………………………………………….….54 C. Data Gaps………………………………………………………………………………………….55 D. Potential Projects.…………………………………………………………………………….…..55 CHAPTER 9: Terrestrial Habitat…………………………………………………………………….…..58 A. Overview………………………………………………………………………………………...…58 B. Resource Status & Human Uses………………………………………………………………..60 C. Issues of Concern………………………………………………………………………………….62 D. Data Gaps………………………………………………………………………………………….64 E. Potential Projects………………………………………………………………………………...65 CHAPTER 10: Wildlife……………………………………………………………………………………….69 A. Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………...69 B. Resource Status & Human Uses………………………………………………………………...70 C. Issues of Concern…………………………………………………………………………………75 D. Data Gaps………………………………………………………………………………………….76 E. Potential Projects…………………………………………………………………………………76 CHAPTER 11: Community Conservation…………………………………………………………….81 A. Housing…………………………………………………………………………………………….81 B. Recycling & Waste Management…………………………………………………...……….....82 C. Food Production……………………………………………………………………………….....85 D. Energy………………………………………………………………………………………………87 E. Potential Projects…………………………………………………………………………………95 CHAPTER 12: Conclusions…………………………………………………………………………………98 A. Accomplishments………………………………………………………………………………….98 B. Future Projects…………………………………………………………………………………..101 C. Final Thoughts…………………………………………………………………………………...101 APPENDIX A. Figures 1. Overview Map of TTCD………………………………………………………………………..A-1 2. Land Ownership within the TTCD……………………………………………………………A-2 3. Tyonek Historical Locations…………………………………………………………………..A-3 4. The Native Village of Tyonek………………………………………………………………….A-4 5. Subsistence Use Areas………………………………………………………………………….A-5 6. Potential Project Sites………………………………………………………………………….A-6 7. Tyonek and Beluga Vicinity Culvert Locations……………………………………………..A-7 8. Future Development within TTCD……………………………………………………………A-8 9. Vegetation Types in TTCD…………………………………………………………………….A-9 B. Tables 1. Overall Project List…………………………………………………………………………….B-1 2. Tyonek Subsistence Use………………………………………………………………………..B-5 3. Beluga Subsistence Use………………………………………………………………………..B-9 C. Additional Resources 1. Soils Data & Resources………………………………………………………………………..C-1 2. Freshwater Data & Resources………………………………………………………………..C-6 3. Terrestrial Habitat Data & Resources………………………………………………………C-25 4. Invasive Plants Survey………………………………………………………………………...C-29 5. Wildlife Data & Resources……………………………………………………………………C-40 Chapter 1: Executive Summary In this chapter, we will discuss the goals, methods, and strategies that were used in the development of this document. In this chapter: A. Goals & Objectives B. Document Structure C. Methodology & Project Prioritization D. Outcomes A. Goals & Objectives Tyonek Tribal Conservation District (TTCD) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to conserve, enhance, and encourage the wise use of the natural resources in our District. In 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) awarded TTCD with a grant to develop a Natural Resource Assessment and Project Implementation Plan. The Tyonek Native Corporation (TNC) provided matching funds to TTCD for this project. As part of this project, a list of goals and objectives were identified in discussions between TTCD and USFWS staff. The broad goals for the project were to: 1. Create one comprehensive document compiling current data to centralize the information, avoid duplicating projects, and to provide a tool to assist staff with funding future projects. 2. Prioritize potential projects for each document chapter, broadly covering general natural resource concerns within the district. The specific objectives associated with these goals included the following: 1. Organize document into chapters. 2. Identify potential partners for each chapter. 3. Collect data and information available from relevant public, private, and governmental entities. 4. Communicate with partners to develop an initial list of priority projects. 5. Connect compiled data with the initial priority list of projects and determine feasibility of the project based on budget and TTCD capacity. 6. Determine information gaps or data needed to complete each priority project. 7. Travel to Game Unit 16B (GMU 16B) to collect data through surveys, inventories, GPS data collection, and photos. 8. Use ArcGIS to create necessary maps for the project including but not limited to streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. 9. The final document for each chapter will include a list of priority projects with maps, potential partners, potential funding sources, land ownership, and an estimated budget. 1 B. Document Structure This document has been organized into chapters by background information, natural resources, and community conservation issues. All information in this document is relevant to TTCD’s District, which shares its boundaries with GMU 16B. The following is a list of the chapters included and relevant information that can be found in each chapter. • Ch 2: Introduction – Background information on this project as well as TTCD visions. • Ch 3: Background & History – Background information on TTCD and the communities in the district. • Ch 4: Eco-region – Climate and geography information. • Ch 5: Soils – Information on soils, issues, and potential projects. • Ch 6: Freshwater Resources – Water quality, waterways, aquatic plants, and fish passage. • Ch 7: Marine Resources – Regulatory information, marine mammals, plants, fish, and invertebrates. • Ch 8: Air Quality – Information on air quality issues. • Ch 9: Terrestrial Habitat – Terrestrial habitat types, forestry, medicinal and