Habitat Pressures and Risk Areas - Rapid Assessment Methodology
Background
Profile
Salmon
Ecology
Geology
Climate
Economy
Ownership
Habitat Pressures and Risk Areas
- #1 The Oil Pipeline
- #2 Roads
- #3 Policy, Politics, and Enforcement
- Methodology
References
We engaged the services of three retired Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists with over 60 years of combined experience in salmon management in the region. The biologists represented three areas of expertise: A field biologist experienced in on the ground research, a fisheries management biologist experienced in resource harvest management, and a habitat biologist experienced in habitat use and impact assessment.
The instructions to the biologists were simple; they were to use their personal experience and professional perspectives to identify areas within the watershed where changes in patterns of use might jeopardize salmon and/or salmon habitat, areas where use was increasing and impact potential unknown, and areas of biological concern.
Additional rapid assessment work was done in partnership with the Copper River Watershed Project's (CRWP) "Fish Watch" planning team. The planning team and associated working group broadly represents interests in the watershed, including communities, tribal interests, federal and state biologists, an independent research facility, and subsistence, sport and commercial fishing interests. To cover interests both upriver and on the river delta, the working group met in both Cordova and Glennallen, Alaska. Maps were marked up, and potential impacts to salmon and salmon habitat from various land and resource uses were discussed and prioritized. The final compilation should not be considered as the opinion of any specific contributor. Some areas and items listed did not appear on all contributor lists. Widely diverse opinions contributed to a broad spectrum of priorities, concerns and areas of interest. Roads, land development and the pipeline were universal themes. Timber harvests were listed by almost all contributors as activities potentially impacting salmon. Resource and land management policy and the politics of enforcement were identified as significant challenges.
