Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Koyukuk/Northern Unit Innoko/Nowitna National Wildlife Refuges Decision Summary

              Koyukuk/Northern Unit Innoko/Nowitna
National Wildlife Refuges
Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
DECISION SUMMARY
September 2009
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mission Statement
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to
conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for
the continuing benefit of the American people.
National Wildlife Refuge System Mission Statement
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a
national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management,
and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources
and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and
future generations of Americans.
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997
Front and back cover photograph: M. Hans, USFWS. Moose cow and calf (Alces alces).
Moose or “deneege” in Koyukon Athabascan are abundant on the refuge, particularly in
the Koyukuk River floodplain.
1
Introduction to the Comprehensive
Conservation Plan
A revised and updated Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan for
Koyukuk, Northern Unit Innoko, and Nowitna National Wildlife Refuges
(Refuge) was completed in the summer of 2008. In March 2009 Regional
Director Geoffrey L. Haskett signed the Finding of No Signifi cant Impact
(FONSI) adopting the Service’s preferred alternative (Alternative B)
as described in the Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the
Koyukuk/ Northern Unit Innoko/Nowitna National Wildlife Refuges
(Revised Conservation Plan). The adopted Conservation Plan refl ects the
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) intent to manage the Refuge to
achieve the mission of the Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System
(System) and meet the purposes for which the Refuge was established, in
settings that emphasize natural, unaltered landscapes. Implementation of
the Revised Conservation Plan began with signing of the FONSI.
Refuge locations. The Northern Unit Innoko Refuge is locally known as Kaiyuh
Flats.
USFWS USFWS
The Kaiyuh Flats consist of a mosaic of wetlands, non-forested upland habitat
with a mixture of low shrubs and grass, and conifer and deciduous forests.
What are
Conservation
Plans?
A Conservation Plan provides
broad policy guidance and
establishes overall refuge
management direction. They
ensure that management actions
and refuge uses comply with the
purposes for which a refuge was
established and with other legal
mandates. They defi ne long-term
goals and objectives toward which
refuge management activities will
be directed for the next 15 years
and provide opportunities for
public involvement.
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Miles
19-0001
Figure 1-1 Refuge location within Alaska
Melanie Hans/USFWS
The Koyukuk River meanders
through its namesake Refuge before
joining the Yukon River next to the
community of Koyukuk.
Boney Creek dissects the Benchlands
on the Nowitna Refuge.
Revising the 1987 Conservation
Plans allowed us to:
• update management direction
according to national and
regional policies and guidelines
implementing Federal laws
governing refuge management;
• incorporate new scientific
information on refuge resources;
• re-evaluate current refuge
management direction based
on changing public demands
for use of the Refuges and
their resources, and changing
environmental conditions;
• ensure that the purposes of
the Refuges and the mission of
the Refuge System are being
fulfilled;
• ensure that national policy
is incorporated into the
management of the Refuges;
• ensure that all interested
parties have an opportunity to
participate in the development of
management direction;
• provide a systematic process
for making and documenting
decisions about refuge resources;
• establish broad management
direction for refuge programs
and activities;
• provide continuity in refuge
management;
• provide a basis for budget and
personnel requests; and
• provide a basis for evaluating
accomplishments.
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 1980,
as amended, directs the Service to “prepare and, from time to time, revise,
a comprehensive conservation plan for each refuge” in Alaska. The Revised
Conservation Plan updates and replaces the management direction from the
1987 Conservation Plans for the Refuges.
The purpose of the Revised Conservation Plan is to ensure activities, actions,
and management fulfill the purposes for which the Refuges were established
and to provide clear direction to the public and refuge staff on how the
Service intends to meet those purposes. While the 1987 Conservation Plans
have provided good general direction, we needed to update and revise
them to reflect changes in our understanding of the resources and uses
on the Refuges, and changes in laws, regulations, and policies affecting
refuge management that have occurred since the 1987 Conservation Plans
were developed. We also combined the original plans into a single plan
which covers all three refuge units, and more accurately reflects refuge
management.
Purpose and Need for Plan Revision
Gravel bar along the Nowitna River.
The lower 223 miles of the Nowitna
River is managed as a Wild River
under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
The calm waters of Dulbi River with its reflections impart a sense of serenity.
The wetlands of the Kaiyuh Flats provide excellent breeding habitat for thousands
of waterfowl.
USFWS
USFWS Melanie Hans/USFWS
2
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the Alaska National Interest
Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA or Act) into law. The Act, among
other things, established Koyukuk, Northern Unit Innoko, and Nowitna
National Wildlife Refuges and identified their purposes. The Act states
that the purposes of the Refuges include—
(i) (Koyukuk Refuge) to conserve the fish and wildlife populations and
habitats in their natural diversity including, but not limited to, waterfowl
and other migratory birds, moose, caribou (including participation in
coordinated ecological studies and management of the Western Arctic
caribou herd), furbearers, and salmon;
(i) (Innoko Refuge) to conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats
in their natural diversity including, but not limited to, waterfowl,
peregrine falcons, other migratory birds, black bear, moose, furbearers,
and other mammals and salmon;
(i) (Nowitna Refuge) to conserve fish and wildlife populations and
habitats in their natural diversity including, but not limited to,
trumpeter swans, white-fronted geese, canvasbacks and other waterfowl
and migratory birds, moose, caribou, martens, wolverines and other
furbearers, salmon, sheefish, and northern pike;
(ii) to fulfill the international treaty obligations of the United States with
respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats;
(iii) to provide, in a manner consistent with the purposes set forth in
subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the opportunity for continued subsistence uses
by local residents;
(iv) to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable and in a manner
consistent with the purposes set forth in paragraph (i), water quality and
necessary water quantity within the refuge.
The purpose of the 400,000-acre Koyukuk Wilderness is to secure an
enduring resource of wilderness, to protect and preserve the wilderness
character of the area as part of the National Wilderness Preservation
System, and to administer the area for the use and enjoyment of the
American people in a way that will leave it unimpaired for future use and
enjoyment as wilderness.
The lower 223 miles of the Nowitna River is managed as a Wild River
under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This segment of the river was
recognized for its outstandingly remarkable scenic, geologic, wildlife,
historic, and recreational values. There are 142,400 acres that fall under
this management category.
Melanie Hans/USFWS
Establishment of the Refuge
Steve Emmons/USFWS
Peregrine falcons usually nest on
cliff edges. They belong to the fastest
animals in the world, reaching up to
200 mph in a dive for prey.
A bull moose drops its antlers in the
fall and regrows them in the spring.
It takes three to five months for the
antlers to comletely regrow.
Melanie Hans/USFWS
Marten are curious critters and like to
investigate. Melanie Hans/USFWS
Lesser Canada geese feeding on shore.
3
USFWS
Fall colors along the Nowitna River.
Rising mist on a cool autumn morning. Refl ections of the Dulbi River on
Koyukuk Refuge.
USFWS USFWS
Three-Day Slough on the Koyukuk Refuge. Winter in Interior Alaska lasts approximately eight months. During this time, the
land is dominated by snow, ice, and often severe cold.
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Refuge Vision
The National Wildlife Refuges
in the Koyukon region of Alaska
encompass a vast area of boreal
forest, wetlands, lakes, and rivers
that is home to an abundance of
waterfowl, songbirds, mammals,
and fi sh. An experience of
solitude in this intact ecosystem
imparts the sense that this place
is completely untouched by man.
And yet, the land is thoroughly
known and essential to people
whose lives are intertwined
with its bounty. We use our
understanding of the respect,
value and love of this place by the
people who live in, use, or simply
treasure this wild land and sound
biological research and monitoring
to ensure proper stewardship
of the Koyukuk, Northern Unit
Innoko, and Nowitna National
Wildlife Refuges.
USFWS
Goals and Objectives
The vision statement and refuge purposes provide the framework for developing management goals and
objectives. Goals are broad statements of desired future conditions. Objectives are concise statements of what
the Refuges want to accomplish. The planning team developed twelve management goals; several objectives were
identifi ed for each goal. Some objectives, though identifi ed under a specifi c goal, may apply to more than one goal.
When appropriate, objectives will be carried out in coordination with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game,
other State and Federal agencies, and other cooperators.
Identifi ed as an important issue to be addressed in the plan, climate change is specifi cally and implicitly related
to many of the refuge objectives. See Goal 1, Objectives 1 and 4 in particular (Section 2.1.1 of the Revised
Conservation Plan). The updated Inventory and Monitoring Plan (I&MP) will incorporate new studies and
projects focused on climate change, and will recommend continuing cooperation with educational institutions,
federal and State agencies, tribal organizations, and others to develop and implement research on global climate
change and incorporate new monitoring efforts into the I&MP.
Objectives include:
• Continue to implement and update the current Inventory and
Monitoring Plan—refl ecting changes in techniques; focus new projects
on invasive species, climate change, water quality, and wetlands; and
including new and ongoing cooperative efforts.
• Continue to work cooperatively with others to identify key fi sheries
resources and to fi ll in gaps in the Refuges’ knowledge of fi sheries
resources; develop and implement research on effects of climate
change on refuge resources; and incorporate new monitoring efforts
that focus on detecting long-term changes to refuge ecosystems.
• Upon funding, hire a fi sheries biologist/hydrologist and a wildlife
biologist.
Goal 1: Fish and Wildlife. Conserve fi sh and wildlife populations and habitats
in their natural diversity in a manner consistent with natural ecological
processes.
Refuge biologist watching for birds
during the annual breeding bird
survey.
USGS Melanie Hans/USFWS
Chinook (King) salmon run up rivers
and creeks in all three refuges.
Refuge pilot installing high-visibility
snow marker to measure snow depth
through the winter months.
Melanie Hans/USFWS
Refuge biologist catching tadpoles and
frogs to check for deformities.
Refuge biologist banding a greater
white-fronted goose.
Nathan Schwalen/USFWS
USFWS
5
USFWS
Forest fi res...
...and fl ooding are the main ecological
drivers of Interior Alaska Refuges.
Melanie Hans/USFWS
Forest fi re on the Kaiyuh Flats.
Jenny Bryant/USFWS
6
Goal 2: Ecosystem Health. Ensure the natural character, vigor, and species
diversity of the boreal forest and tundra environments by perpetuating
a fi re regime both natural and prescribed, which maintains a mosaic of
habitats native to Interior Alaska.
Objectives include:
• Continue to implement the Refuges’ Fire Management and
Communication plans
• Continue to refi ne our understanding of the refuge fi re history by
maintaining and incorporating the most current information into the
geographic information system data base.
Goal 3: Fire Management. Maintain a fi re management program that helps
achieve Refuge goals and objectives while providing for the protection of
human life, private property, and identifi ed cultural and natural resources.
Objectives include:
• Combine the Koyukuk, Nowitna, and Northern Unit Innoko fi re
management plans into a single updated plan, incorporating changes
resulting from the revised Conservation Plan along with current policy.
• Continue to contact tribal and local governments in villages near
the Refuges to assess hazardous fuel reduction needs and develop a
mitigation and monitoring plan.
• Update the Refuges’ geographic information system coverage of
cultural resource values at risk and other fi re-related information.
• Continue to develop partnerships with other federal and State agencies
and local governments to further the understanding of fi re interactions
in Interior Alaska.
• Upon funding, hire an assistant fi re management offi cer.
Goal 4: Water Resources. Ensure the natural function and condition of water
resources necessary to conserve fi sh and wildlife populations and habitats
in their natural diversity.
Objectives include:
• Develop, with assistance from the Service’s Water Resources Branch or
other partners, inventory and monitoring programs for refuge wetland,
river, and stream resources, focusing on aquatic plants, fi sh and
wildlife, aquatic invertebrates, and physical and chemical properties of
wetlands, lakes, rivers, and streams.
• Review and evaluate the Refuges’ 1986-1988 baseline evaluation
of placer mining sedimentation and occurrence of heavy metals on
associated aquatic resources; develop and implement a repeat survey.
Goal 5: Communication. Provide information and maintain open
communication for a greater understanding and appreciation of fi sh and
wildlife ecology, habitat preservation, and refuge management that assists
in addressing resource issues important to local residents, the Service,
and others.
Objectives include:
• Conduct school programs and community meetings on a regular basis;
utilize other communication tools (informational kiosks, displays, radio
programs, newsletters, brochures, and web sites) to provide timely
and accurate information about refuge resources and programs to the
public.
• Maintain the existing refuge resource library and continue working
with local schools to develop resources for environmental education.
• Maintain partnerships with the Galena City Schools and the Louden
Tribal Council to annually conduct the Galena Science Camp.
• Increase cooperation with the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife
Refuges, particularly with their local representatives, to develop new
materials and outlets for interpretation and environmental education.
Children discovering wetlands during the Galena Science Camp.
Karin Lehmkuhl Bodony/USFWS
Damselfl y larvae live in the water and
pray on mosquitoes and other small
invertebrates.
Steve Hillebrand/USFWS
Friends of Alaska National Wildlife
Refuges is an independent, non-profi t
501(c)(3) organization dedicated to
promoting the conservation of the
natural resources of all the Alaska
National Wildlife Refuges.
Water Lily.
USFWS
7
Goal 6: Outdoor Recreation. Continue to provide opportunities for hunting,
fi shing, wildlife observation and photography, and other outdoor
recreation in a natural setting.
Objectives include:
• Review current public use monitoring methods; implement new
methodologies, if needed. Continue to assess levels of public use based
on data from the Koyukuk River and Nowitna River hunter check
stations and refuge guide and air taxi reports.
• Continue to develop the refuge law enforcement program, in
conjunction with local communities and State and federal authorities,
through activities such as hunter education, village visits, aerial
surveillance, and annual special use permit reviews.
USFWS
The rivers on the Refuges attract
canoeists seeking solitude and
adventure.
Karin Lehmkuhl Bodony/USFWS
Gravel bars along the rivers—here
along the upper Nowitna—make for
excellent camping spots.
Deborah Webb/USFWS
The Refuges provide outstanding
opportunities for wildlife observation.
USFWS
Many areas on the Refuges are only accessible by air taxis equipped with fl oats.
By annually maintaining a hunter check station at the mouth of the Nowitna
River, refuge staff keep track of the number of moose harvested on the Refuge.
USFWS
8
Goal 7: Subsistence. Provide and promote the opportunity for local
residents to continue their subsistence activities on the Refuge, consistent
with the subsistence priority and with other refuge purposes.
Objectives include:
• Continue the Refuge Information Technician (RIT) program to enhance
local information exchange; seek funding to restore the second RIT
position.
• Continue to conduct annual informational meetings on the refuge
biological program in local villages; work closely with tribal councils and
other local, regional, State, and Federal working groups, committees,
and councils to address issues and concerns of local subsistence users.
• Continue coordination and assistance with Migratory Bird Harvest
Surveys and In-Season Fish Harvest Surveys (Yukon River Drainage
Fisheries Association).
• Cooperate with village organizations and other agencies to develop
opportunities to educate local youth and adults in traditional
subsistence ways; continue to develop outreach tools that make
subsistence regulations understandable to the public.
• Monitor and assess the use of off-road vehicles on refuge lands by
federally qualifi ed subsistence users and produce a report that
determines if ORVs were traditionally used for subsistence access and
examines the need for regulation of their use.
Three-Day Slough on the Koyukuk
Refuge is one of the most productive
areas for moose. Moose are an
important subsistence resource for
people living in local communities.
Freshly caught Chinook (King)
salmon. King salmon is one of the
major food staples for people living on
and near the Refuges.
Steve Hillebrand/USFWS Phil Coleman/USFWS USFWS
Chum (Dog) salmon is sometimes
used to feed sled dogs.
Chum salmon drying on racks.
Deborah Webb/USFWS
Salmon are often caught by using drift nets. .
Refuge staff member measuring antlers of a harvested moose.
Deborah Webb/USFWS USFWS
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Goal 8: Wild Character. Maintain the special values of the Nowitna Wild
River and Koyukuk Wilderness and the wild character of the Refuge.
Objectives:
• Continue to monitor activities on the Nowitna Wild River and
Koyukuk Wilderness for compliance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers
and Wilderness acts and ANILCA; take appropriate action if non-compliance
is identifi ed.
Goal 9: Cultural Resources. Conserve, appreciate, and interpret the cultural,
historic and prehistoric resources of the Refuge.
Objectives include:
• Prepare a Cultural Resources Management Guide for the Refuges.
• Provide training on the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and
the National Historic Preservation Act to refuge employees.
• Identify and monitor all cultural sites at risk from vandalism and
erosion; identify priority areas to inventory.
• Work with local tribes, elders, universities, museums, other partners,
and the regional archaeological staff to: compile a place names
directory and atlas of cultural and historic sites; develop an active
bibliography and library collection of published and unpublished
materials related to cultural, paleontological, and natural history of the
Refuges; investigate and evaluate known cultural sites and identify
new sites in the Refuges; and explore the unique paleontological
resources of the Nowitna Refuge.
• Cooperate with tribes, local residents, and others to develop and
enhance programs that capture traditional knowledge about the
cultural and natural history of the Refuges.
In 2001, Obsidian artifacts were found
on the Koyukuk Refuge.
Aerial view of the Nogabahara Sand
Dunes in the middle of the boreal forest.
The Nogabahara Sand Dunes cover about 16,000 acres and are within the Koyukuk
Wilderness. The individual dunes can be 50 to 200 feet high and up to 300 feet long.
Galena City hall display of pleistocene
bones found on the Refuges.
The Nowitna River Canyon within
the Wild River section is considered a
particularly scenic stretch of the river. USFWS Melanie Hans/USFWS Karin Lehmkuhl Bodony/USFWS Nathan Schwalen/USFWS
Karin Lehmkuhl BodonyUSFWS
10
Goal 10: Cooperation with partners. Promote close working relationships
through effective coordination, interaction, and cooperation with other
federal agencies, State agencies, local communities, tribes, organizations,
industries, the general public, and the landowners within and adjacent to
the Refuge whose programs relate to Refuge management activities.
Objective:
• Collaborate with other refuges, federal and State agencies, research
institutions, schools, tribal and city councils, and others to facilitate
resource management, inventory and monitoring, biological research,
public outreach, and education at the Refuges and in the region.
Goal 11: Facilities and Equipment. Provide and maintain adequate
facilities and equipment in Galena to ensure a safe and secure working
environment to accomplish Refuge purposes, goals, and mandates.
Objectives:
• Fund construction or purchase of an administrative offi ce, shop, and
warehouse in Galena.
• Maintain and upgrade the quarters, bunkhouse, and administrative
cabins to accommodate employees in subarctic conditions; continue
exploring alternative energy sources for refuge facilities.
• Explore options and funding to acquire an adequate fl oat plane facility
and operations site on Alexander Lake in Galena.
Goal 12: Staffing. Ensure the Refuge has adequate personnel to meet
operational needs.
Objectives:
• Restore funding for a wildlife biologist position and second RIT
position; seek funding to hire an additional biological technician. Create
and seek funding for a fi sheries biologist/hydrologist position and an
assistant fi re management offi cer.
• Work with regional high schools and universities in recruiting and
educating diverse candidates for refuge positions.
• Maintain a minimum of three pilots on staff; add staff with pilot
credentials as biological, habitat, and fi sheries positions are funded.
Refuge biologists fi t moose with radio collars to gain a better understanding of
mortality and movement.
A presentation about climate change by
refuge staff in Huslia.
A sled dog team passing through
Galena on its way to Nome during the
Iditarod. Refuge headquarters are in
the background.
The Hog River cabin, one of three
administrative cabins owned by the
Refuges.
Much of the work requires access to
remote areas by fl oat plane.
Melanie Hans/USFWS USFWS Melanie Hans/USFWS USFWS
Melanie Hans/USFWS
11
The Revised Conservation Plan
Management direction under the Revised Conservation Plan will generally
continue to follow the same course of action as under the 1987 conservation
plan as modified in subsequent step-down management plans (e.g., fisheries
and fire management plans, cultural resources management guide). The
new vision statement and the goals and objectives developed by the refuge
staff will be incorporated into the management direction for the Refuge.
Regional management policies and guidelines, as modified for the Refuge,
will be incorporated.
Regional Management Policies and Guidelines
Management of refuges in Alaska is governed by federal laws including
the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act and ANILCA,
regulations implementing these laws, treaties, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service policy, and principles of sound resource management. All of these
establish standards for resource management, and may address the range of
potential activities that may be allowed on refuges. Management policies and
guidelines described in the plan were developed for national wildlife refuges
in the Alaska Region. These policies and guidelines are essentially the same
for all of the refuges in this region.
Land Management Categories
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) requires
us to designate areas according to their resources and values and to specify
programs and uses within those areas. To meet this requirement, Minimal,
Moderate, and Intensive management categories were established as part
of the Service’s Alaska-wide planning effort. Permissible uses of designated
Wilderness areas and Wild and Scenic Rivers are subject to the Wilderness
and Wild and Scenic Rivers acts and ANILCA.
Under the Revised Conservation Plan, refuge lands will continue to be
managed in only three management categories as in the 1987 Conservation
Plans. Of the 6,044,478 acres of federal land, about 5,502,078 acres are
classified as Minimal Management, about 142,400 acres are classified as
Wild River, and about 400,000 acres are classified as designated Wilderness.
Selected lands (an additional 348,499 acres of land within the external
boundaries of the Refuges) have yet to be conveyed and will be managed
under the same management category as surrounding refuge lands until
conveyed (or if the selection is denied). Appropriate activities, public
uses, commercial uses, and facilities are identified in the plan for each
management category. The table on the next two pages includes some of
these uses.
Karin Lehmkuhl Bodony/USFWS
Fireweed gets its name from its
brilliant color and from its ability
to quickly recolonize areas burnt by
forest fires.
Frosted willow bush along the Yukon
River.
Karin Lehmkuhl Bodony/USFWS Karin Lehmkuhl Bodony/USFWS
Frosted leaves after a cold autumn
night.
Black spruce in the boreal forest of the Koyukuk Refuge in mid-winter.
Melanie Hans/USFWS
12
MANAGEMENT CATEGORIES
Minimal Management 5,502,078 acres (91% of total)
Wild River 142,400 acres (2% of total)
Designated Wilderness 400,000 acres (7% of total)
SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT DIRECTION
Ecosystem, Habitat, and Fish and Wildlife Management
Ecosystem and Landscape Management
Habitat Management –
Prescribed Fire
May be allowed in Wilderness Management (will require a minimum
requirements analysis). Allowed in Minimal and Wild River Management.
Fish and Wildlife Population Management
Fish and Wildlife Control –
Chemical Habitat Modifications.
May be allowed in all management categories. Wilderness Management
will require a minimum requirements analysis.
Access
Snowmobiles
Permitted for traditional activities, on or off designated trails, in period
of adequate snow cover and on ice-covered rivers, subject to reasonable
regulation.
Off-Road Vehicles (All-Terrain
Vehicles) –
Includes air boats and air cushion
vehicles.
Not allowed (with very few exceptions).
Public Use, Recreation, and Outreach Activities
Administrative Facilities
Administrative Field Sites –
Permanent facilities.
Use of existing sites allowed including replacement of existing facilities
as necessary; new sites may be allowed in Wild River and Minimal
Management. Wilderness Management will require a minimum
requirements analysis.
Public Use and Recreation Facilities
Boat Launches and Docks –
Designated sites for launching and
storing watercraft or tying up a float
plane.
May be allowed. Wilderness Management will require a minimum
requirements analysis.
Visitor Contact Facilities –
A variety of staffed and unstaffed
facilities providing information on
the Refuges and their resources
to the public; facilities range from
visitor centers to kiosks and signs.
May be allowed under Minimal and Wild River Management categories;
generally not allowed in Wilderness.
13
Temporary Facilities –
Includes tent frames, caches, and
other similar or related facilities;
does not include gravel pads for
tents, hardened trails, and/or
primitive toilets.
Tent platforms may be authorized by permit. All others may be allowed in
Wilderness, Wild River, and Minimal Management categories.
Commercial Uses
Other Commercial Activities
Transportation and Utility Systems –
Includes transmission lines,
pipeline, telephone and electrical
power lines, oil and gas pipelines,
communications systems, roads,
airstrips, and other necessary
related facilities. Does not include
facilities associated with on-refuge
oil and gas development.
Must be authorized by Congress under Wilderness Management; may
be authorized under Wild River Management and Minimal Management
categories but will require a plan amendment.
Staffing and Budget Needs
Short-Term Long-Term
Permanent Full-Time Employees 13 16
Permanent Seasonal Employees 1 3
Temporary Seasonal Employees 4 4
Volunteers 3-5 3-5
Total Annual Budget Needs $2-2.4 $2.4-2.8
Cow moose and calf resting along the Dulbi River on the Koyukuk Refuge.
Melanie Hans/USFWS
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Ruby
Nulato
Kaltag
Galena
Hughes
Huslia
Tanana
Koyukuk
Poorman
152°0'0"W
152°0'0"W
153°0'0"W
153°0'0"W
154°0'0"W
154°0'0"W
155°0'0"W
155°0'0"W
156°0'0"W
156°0'0"W
157°0'0"W
157°0'0"W
159°0'0"W
159°0'0"W
160°0'0"W
160°0'0"W
158°0'0"W
158°0'0"W
66°0'0"N
66°0'0"N
65°0'0"N
65°0'0"N
64°0'0"N
64°0'0"N
Refuge land status
Produced in the Division of Realty &
Natural Resources, Anchorage, AK
Current to: Sept. 19, 2008
NWR
Complex
Anchorage
Map
Extent
0 10 20 40
Miles
0 10 20 40
Kilometers
19-0029
Northern
Innoko NWR
(Kaiyuh)
Nowitna NWR
Koyukuk NWR
Dulbi River
Nowitna River
Koyukuk
River
Kaiyuh Slough
Yukon
River
Other Features
Designated Wilderness
Refuge Boundary
Selected Land Status Conveyed
Other Private
Regional Native Corp.
Village Native Corp.
Wild River Corridor
State of Alaska
All federally owned land within the Refuges is in the Minimal Management category unless noted as Designated Wilderness or Wild River Corridor.
15
Implementation
Implementation of the Koyukuk/Northern Unit Innoko/Nowitna Refuges
Revised Conservation Plan will be accomplished, in part, through
development and implementation of various step-down plans. Each step-down
plan has its own program focus (e.g., wildlife inventory and monitoring,
fisheries management, fire management, visitor services), identifying and
directing the implementation of strategies (actions, techniques, and tools)
designed to achieve programmatic objectives outlined in the Conservation
Plan (see Goals and Objectives previously in this document).
Another aspect of the implementation process includes identifying
partnership opportunities (e.g., with Native organizations, the State of
Alaska, local communities, other federal agencies, universities and museums,
nongovernmental organizations, and other appropriate entities) that result in
implementing strategies and accomplishing refuge objectives.
Both trumpeter and tundra swans occur on the Koyukuk Refuge. They look alike,
but the trumpeter swan is larger and its bill is uniformly black as can be seen here,
while the tundra swan’s bill shows some yellow right underneath the eyes.
Wing display of the common loon.
Male pine grosbeak; the female’s
plumage is gray with yellow-orange
coloring on head, neck, and back.
Greater white-fronted geese, also
called speckle bellies.
Great-horned owl on the Kaiyuh
Flats.
Karin Lehmkuhl Bodony/USFWS Melanie Hans/USFWS Steve Emmons/USFWS
Jenny Bryant/USFWS USFWS
16
Partnerships
Partnerships with other organizations are among the ways in which the
Service fulfi lls its mission: “Working with others to conserve, protect and
enhance fi sh, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefi t
of the American people.”
The Refuges exist within a dynamic ecosystem. Many of the resources
within the Refuges are of national and international importance. The
Service recognizes that the public, various organizations, and other
governmental agencies have interests in Refuges. Implementation of many
refuge programs requires community involvement, support, and assistance.
The refuge staff looks for opportunities to coordinate activities with the
following (among others):
• State of Alaska
• Other federal agencies
• Federal Subsistence Western Interior Regional Advisory Council
• Migratory Bird Co-management Council
• Tribal governments in Galena, Hughes, Huslia, Kaltag, Koyukuk,
Nulato, Ruby, and Tanana
• Village corporations—Gana-A’Yoo (Galena, Koyukuk, Nulato, and
Kaltag); K’oyitl’ots’ina, Limited (Hughes and Huslia); Dineega (Ruby);
and Tozitna, Limited (Tanana)
• Tanana Chiefs Conference, Inc. (regional Native non-profi t organization)
• Local governments in Galena, Hughes, Huslia, Kaltag, Koyukuk, Nulato,
Ruby, and Tanana
• Yukon Koyukuk, City of Galena, and Tanana school districts
• Universities and museums
• Nongovernmental organizations (e.g., Friends of Alaska National
Wildlife Refuges, Alaska Geographic, and Ducks Unlimited)
The community of Huslia is situated along the Koyukuk River at the center of the
Koyukuk Refuge.
Approximately 78 citizens live in the
community of Hughes northeast of the
Koyukuk Refuge.
Robert Lambrecht/USFWS
Melanie Hans/USFWS USFWS
Ruby, an old mining town, lies
nestled between the hills bordering the
Nowitna Refuge.
Nulato—old town site. Several
communities situated along rivers
in Interior Alaska moved newer
buildings onto higher ground to avoid
the risk of fl ooding, resulting in an old
town site and a new town site.
The city of Galena—new site.
USFWS Melanie Hans/USFWS
17
Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitoring helps the refuge staff track
the progress of plan implementation. It is accomplished by a variety of
methods, including surveys, inventories, and censuses. Table 4-1 in the
Revised Conservation Plan (USFWS 2009; posted on the FWS website at
http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/planning/koynowpol.htm and on the web sites
for Koyukuk and Nowitna refuges) includes more specific details on what
monitoring questions the Refuge will ask and how they will evaluate their
findings (key indicators, management standards, and possible management
actions if standards are not being met). Proposed monitoring will be refined
as wildlife and habitat inventory and monitoring, fisheries management,
visitor services, and other step-down plans are prepared or revised. The
results of monitoring show how refuge objectives are being achieved and
help measure progress towards accomplishing refuge goals. Evaluation
of these results may lead to amendment or revision of the Revised
Conservation Plan. Such changes are a necessary part of the Service’s
adaptive management approach.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Melanie Hans/USFWS
Black bear along the Nowitna River.
Bank swallows nest in colonies along
the Dulbi River.
Melanie Hans/USFWS
Mink (pictured) and otter look similar
but the otter is much larger and has a
flatter tail.
Melanie Hans/USFWS Melanie Hans/USFWS
Caribou from the Galena Mountain herd. Porcupine on the Nowitna Refuge.
Rare sighting of a wolverine.
Melanie Hans/USFWS Melanie Hans/USFWS
18
Periodic review and change of this conservation plan will be necessary.
As knowledge of refuge resources, users, and uses improves, changes in
management may be identified. Fish and wildlife populations, user groups,
adjacent land owners and users, and other management considerations
change with time, often in unforeseen ways. Challenges also may be
encountered in trying to implement the plan.
Revisions are a necessary part of the adaptive management approach
used by the Service. This means that objectives and strategies to reach
goals can be adjusted. Most of the resulting changes will fine-tune the
plan. These changes will not require modification of this document because
minor changes will be addressed in the more detailed refuge step-down and
annual work plans. Only if a major change is required in management of the
Refuges will it be necessary to revise this Conservation Plan with a new
environmental document outside the regular review schedule.
To enable refuge users; adjacent landowners; local, state, and federal
agencies; and other interested parties to express their views on how the
Refuges are being managed, the Refuges will periodically hold meetings
or use other techniques such as comment cards and surveys to solicit
comments for evaluation purposes. By encouraging continuing public input,
the Refuges will be better able to serve the public, to determine potential
problems before they occur, and to take immediate action to resolve existing
problems.
Every three to five years, refuge staff will review public comments,
local and state government recommendations, staff recommendations,
research studies, and other sources to determine if revisions to the plan are
necessary. If major changes are proposed, public meetings may be held, and
a new environmental assessment or environmental impact statement may
be necessary. Full review and updating of the conservation plan will occur
every 15 years.
Plan Amendment and Revision
Reflections at the mouth of the Nowitna River.
Melanie Hans/USFWS
Frozen Lake on the Nowitna Refuge.
USFWS USFWS
Sunset above Nowitna Refuge.
19
U. S. Department of the Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service
Region 7, Alaska
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Koyukuk and Northern Unit Innoko/Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has completed the Revised Comprehensive
Conservation Plan (Plan) for the Koyukuk and Northern Unit Innoko/Nowitna National Wildlife
Refuge (Refuge). The draft revised plan and Environmental Assessment (EA) (herein
incorporated by reference) describe two alternatives for managing the Refuge and associated
effects on the human environment. No substantive changes in Alternative B, the proposed
action, were made in response to public comments. Technical corrections and edits were made
in response to public comments. Alternative B is selected for implementation.
Alternatives Considered
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) requires the Service to
designate areas according to their respective resources and values and to specify programs and
uses. To meet this requirement, the Alaska Region established management categories for the
refuges including Minimal, Moderate, Intensive, Wilderness, and Wild River Management.
Appropriate activities, public uses, commercial uses, and facilities are identified for each
management category. Minimal, Wilderness, and Wild River Management apply to the Refuge.
Two alternatives were considered in the EA. Alternative A, the no-action alternative, would
continue current management. Alternative B, the proposed action, would include management
direction updated by changes and adjustments to policy since completion of the 1987 plan.
Alternative B also includes a vision statement, goals, and objectives for management of the
Refuge. Under both alternatives, management of the refuge would generally continue to follow
the current course of action, but Alternative B provides additional details in the vision statement,
goals, and objectives and incorporates new regional management policies and guidelines. The
distribution and amount of land in the Minimal, Wilderness, and Wild River Management is the
same under both alternatives.
Public Review
Public comments on the draft plan and EA were solicited from October 6, 2008 through
December 15, 2008. Public meetings were held in Galena, Hughes, Huslia, Kaltag, Koyukuk,
Nulato, Ruby, and Tanana. These villages are located near or within the Refuge. Comments
were received from four individuals, the State of Alaska; The Wilderness Society, the Nulato
Tribal Council, and Born Free USA.
There were no comments specific to the draft plan received during the village meetings. The
majority of comments made regarded the current population of moose, wolf, and salmon or
wildlife observations made over the years.
One individual commenter asked “how about making these refuges into a wilderness area?”
Another individual commented “that my priorities for our NWRs are making them places where
20
animals and nature are prioritized, NOT humans and all their ‘recreational’ needs.” The third
individual said that “global warming is a great concern.” A fourth individual, who commented
via e-mail, felt we should use the word “protection” instead of “conservation”; hunting was not a
compatible use; we are not meeting the needs of the public; there should be no prescribed fires;
and old data was used for the analysis.
The state of Alaska made several helpful suggestions that clarified various parts of the plan. The
Wilderness Society was concerned about the wilderness review process, wilderness stewardship
and management, motorized and mechanized activities in wilderness, the wild and scenic river
review process, and climate change. The Nulato Tribal Council was concerned about
maintaining subsistence activities, an expired Land Bank Agreement, and the regulation of
commercial guides, ATVs, and commercial timber harvest. Born Free USA was concerned
about a comprehensive, biological inventory, management of trapping, the impacts of trapping
and hunting, the use of leg-hold traps, and alternative trapping methods.
Revisions from Draft Plan
No substantive revisions to Alternative B, the proposed action, were made as a result of the
public comments on the Draft Revised Refuge Plan. A number of technical corrections were
made in response to comments and many of the editorial suggestions provided by the state of
Alaska were adopted.
Alternative B, the preferred alternative, provides a realistic balance between public use of the
Refuge and the conservation needs of the Refuge. Alternative B best accomplishes refuge
purposes, best helps achieve the missions of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the
Service, and best meets the vision and goals identified in the plan. It provides long-term
protection of fish and wildlife populations and their habitats while allowing for appropriate
levels of fish and wildlife-dependent recreation, interpretation and environmental education,
subsistence, and other public uses.
Analysis of Impacts
The EA analyzed direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on the physical, biological and socio-economic
environment. It included an ANILCA Section 810 subsistence evaluation and finds
the proposed action would not result in restrictions of subsistence use. No significant effects
were identified in the analysis.
Conclusions
Based on review and evaluation of the information contained in the EA and revised plan, I have
determined that there will be no significant individual or cumulative impacts to the human
environment, within the meaning of section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969, as amended. I have determined that the activities prescribed in this plan are not major
Federal actions. Accordingly, the Service is not required to prepare an environmental impact
statement.
/Signed by/ Geoffrey L. Haskett____ April 27, 2009____
Geoffrey L. Haskett Date
Regional Director
21
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov
September 2009
Requests for additional information about the Koyukuk/Nowitna
Refuge and its Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan should be
directed to:
Refuge Manager
Koyukuk/Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge Complex
P.O. Box 287
Galena, AK 99741
Headquarters Phone: 907-656-1231
Headquarters Fax: 907-656-1708
E-mail: r7kynwr@fws.gov
Internet: http://koyukuk.fws.gov
http://nowitna.fws.gov
Requests for a CD-ROM or paper copy of the Revised
Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Koyukuk/Nowitna Refuge
Complex should be directed to the Refuge at the address above or to:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Conservation Planning & Policy
1011 E. Tudor Road, MS-231
Anchorage, AK 99503
Division phone: 907-786-3357
Division Fax: 907-786-3965
E-mail: koyukuknowitna_planning@fws.gov
Internet: http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/planning/koynowpol.htm