NRCS Alaska News

May 25, 2007

In This Issue

Rika’s Roadhouse Gets Protection from Bank Erosion

Construction of the bank stabilization project on the Tanana River finally took place during the last weeks in April culminating several years of planning and collaboration. Working with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (State Parks), the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Salcha Soil and Water Conservation District, and Whitestone Farms (the park concessionaire), NRCS oversaw the construction of bank protection consisting of a rock vane, rock rip rap and root wad toe protection, topped by soil wraps with layers of dormant willow cuttings.

The project began when State Parks requested technical and financial assistance from NRCS to stabilize the bank of the Tanana River north of Rika’s Roadhouse and Landing to protect Big Delta State Historical Park and to prevent the historic properties from eroding into the river.

Erosion of the riverbank fronting the site had been ongoing for several years, and approximately 1200 linear feet of riverbank were experiencing accelerated erosion rates.  Given the extensive riverbank loss, public facilities at the park site and utilities were threatened including the historic restored Rika’s Roadhouse. 

Rika’s Roadhouse or Rika’s Landing is located directly upstream of the confluence of the Tanana and Delta Rivers, the Richardson Highway and the Alyeska pipeline suspension bridge crossing.  The location is the site of long-term human occupation, extending long before contact with Euro-American explorers and settlers, at a junction of two extensive transportation corridors known for exceptional fall fishing. The river gravels in front of Rika’s Roadhouse are now also known to be important for spawning fall chum salmon, with estimates that 30% of the returning salmon spawn in this area.

The site of Rika’s Roadhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Big Delta State Historical Park.  It is a key statewide tourism infrastructure facility with over 34,000 visitors annually and is used extensively by tour companies and Alaskans. 

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RC&D Assists in Planning for Aquaculture Project

There is a distinct pattern in aquaculture success stories around the world.  Production of a species languishes for years until a sustained, government funded research and development program is focused on removing the constraints to its development.  Removal of constraints, over a 10-20 year period, causes a snowball effect and eventually the species gains developmental momentum and rapid growth of the industry results.

New Zealand, Japan and British Columbia have invested in research and development in their aquaculture programs over the past decades.  As a result, New Zealand has seen a six fold increase in harvest value of its greenlip mussels; Japan’s scallop production has grown from 10,000 tons to 500,000 tons; British Columbia has estimated the potential for culture-based shellfish fisheries to be $760 million and is developing a systematic government-funded research and development program to reach that potential.

New Zealand provides an excellent case study for comparison with Alaska for many reasons.  Both New Zealand and Alaska have small populations, strong fisheries sectors, unpolluted coastline, large distances to primary markets and dependence on export markets. 

In 2006, the State of Alaska and Ketchikan Gateway Borough, recognizing the need for research and development of aquatic farming in coastal Alaska, granted 28 acres on George Inlet for the OceansAlaska Marine Science Center.  The Center will facilitate the emergence of a globally competitive Alaska shellfish industry as a sustainable economic engine for healthy and vibrant coastal communities.  The Center will focus on research, development, demonstration and training projects that are catalysts for the shellfish industry throughout Alaska.

With a grant from the State of Alaska, OceansAlaska hired John Sund to organize and lead an effort to develop a strategic plan for research, development and training that supports the growth of the shellfish aquaculture industry in coastal Alaska.  John has a long history in the Ketchikan area in both local government and the fishing industry, and he invited people from various communities around coastal Alaska to form a team that would help draft a strategic business plan for the Center.  That team would be made up of aquaculture industry business, community, and government stakeholders in Alaska and would focus their efforts on defining the barriers and obstacles to, and recommend solutions for, the growth of an economically sustainable industry.

Paul Coffey, Coordinator for the Southeast Conference RC&D, was invited to be a part of the stakeholder group to assist in the development of the strategic plan.  Meetings of the stakeholder group have been held in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Craig.  Additional meetings with local industry and community representatives are tentatively scheduled for June and July in Anchorage, Seward, Cordova, and/or Homer.  The goal is to have the plan completed, the organizational structure of the Center in place, and implementation of the plan begun by November 2007.

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Mountains of Memorials

Once again the summer season is nearly upon us. We will find ourselves showing off Alaska’s treasures to family and friends alike. Scattered across Alaska are many memorials to the men and women who have protected our greatest treasure – freedom -- since before statehood.

Although most receive little recognition there are 49 sites identified to honor veterans in Alaska. From Attu to Tok and from Fairbanks to Metlakatla, Alaskans have put forth the effort to recognize the contributions veterans have made to Alaska’s defense and development.

We see some of these sites on the news from time to time - such as the Fort Richardson’s National Cemetery or the Alaska State Veteran’s Memorial on the Parks Highway. But, did you know that there is a Major Kermit Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt, buried on Ft. Richardson?

There is also a Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. James Bondsteel, interred there. Sgt. Bondsteel, a former resident of Houston, AK, is also honored on a plaque at the state Veteran’s Memorial at Byers Lake.

Alaska pays homage to another Medal of Honor recipient Archie Van Winkle, with a memorial in Juneau. While in Juneau, you may find yourself traveling along the Veterans Memorial Highway (Glacier Highway).

In 1945 the Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker program was approved to pay tribute to the nation’s armed forces. Nearly every one of us has driven by this marker. It is located in Anchorage where 5th and 6th Avenues meet to form the Glen Highway.

The Anchorage Veterans Memorial Parkway starts at the same location and continues along the Glen Highway for nine miles. It passes Elmendorf AFB, Fort Richardson and the Alaska National Guard Headquarters. It was dedicated to honor all veterans in the Anchorage area.

In addition to highway dedications there are also bridges that honor veterans. There is the Alaska Native Veterans Honor Bridge in Nenana and the Black Veterans Memorial Bridge at the Gerstle River along the ALCAN Highway. The Fairbanks Veterans Memorial Bridge in Fairbanks is yet to be built, but was dedicated by name alone in a 1989 bill.      

Lacking time and space here to mention all the worthwhile sites honoring veterans in Alaska, I’d like to share my top three veteran recognition sites with you.

1. I am personally familiar with the Yukla 27 Memorial located on Elmendorf AFB. The Airborne Warning and Control System plane crashed in September 1995, taking 22 American and 2 Canadian Airmen’s lives. This memorial honors these veterans specifically. It is part of the Heritage Park on Elmendorf AFB, which honors all veterans. The park also contains some static display aircraft representing the various type aircraft flown in Alaska since WW II, including a P-38 recovered from the Aleutians and restored. This park is a must see for any aircraft or history buff.
2. I am particularly fond of the Delta Junction Veterans Memorial located on Jack Warren road in Delta Junction. This memorial was built from rocks gathered from stream banks between Shaw Creek and Rainbow Mountain, and from the shoulders of the ALCAN from Mentasta to Delta. Some of the rock was gathered from the Gerstle River at the Black Veterans Memorial Bridge.  This local touch adds special meaning to Delta Junction’s tribute to Alaska’s veterans.
3. The largest of all memorials honoring veterans must surly be Mt. POW/MIA located in the Chugach Mountains. Approximately six miles southeast of Wasilla the memorial is visible from the Wasilla F.O and the Alaska State Office. The 4,235 foot mountain was named to honor the roughly 800,000 veterans who were prisoners of war or are missing in action. The U.S. Board on Geographical Names approved the name unanimously on October 2nd 1999. The decision made this mountain the first of its kind in the U.S. It is clearly visible from the Wasilla Veterans Monument and Wall of Honor. There is a plaque at the Wall of Honor that reads “Climbed and named by a Marine vet who cared.”

For more information about sites honoring veterans in Alaska, visit http://www.ak-prepared.com/vetaffairs/veteransmemorial.htm. Then as you show off our beautiful state to outsiders you can inject a bit of information they wouldn’t get on the tour bus.

Most importantly these memorials remind us all that we enjoy freedoms because veterans paid the price, many of them with their life. On this Memorial Day visit a veteran’s memorial near you. Think of veterans whenever you drive over a veteran’s bridge, pass the Blue Star on the Glen Highway, or think about that mountain in the distance. Take a moment on Memorial Day to reflect on the sacrifices veterans have made, and are making for us. Remember to extend a hand to the widows, widowers, and orphaned children left behind by our fallen defenders. A word of encouragement for the families with loved one deployed, would provide them with a smile and an extra sense of pride. Fill your Memorial Day with the happiness born of freedom, and remember to whom we owe that freedom. Enjoy! 

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NRCS Staff Participate in Outdoor Week

At stations along the banks of Campbell Creek, sixth-graders from the Municipality of Anchorage were introduced to many facets of conservation and natural resources management. NRCS staff participated in Outdoor Week along with staff from many state and federal agencies.

NRCS Snow Survey Technician Dan Kenney discussed the history of the snow survey program and how the data is used today.  Dan also demonstrated snow measuring equipment on a tiny patch of snow that remained on the site.

Not more than 100 yards away, NRCS Soil Scientist Dennis Moore challenged his students to think about the importance of soil and discussed career options open to those interested in working in natural resources.

Since the late 1970's, the Bureau of Land Management, the Anchorage School District and various state and federal agencies have partnered in Outdoor Week, a week long session of intensive instruction for sixth-graders held at the Campbell Creek Science Center.

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Agriculture Literacy Training Available to Educators

Alaska Ag in the Classroom will offer an agricultural literacy institute August 7-9 in Palmer. Educators will learn the sciences behind agriculture, get their hands dirty on working field trips to agricultural operations, learn how to use agriculture to make all subject areas fun and meaningful, and take home great ideas and materials. For teachers in outlying areas, there are travel scholarships available.

Registration for the institute is available online, or contact Victoria Naegele for more information. Early registration deadline is July 10.

The $75 institute fee covers tour transportation, lunches, snacks, beverages and materials. The institute runs from 8 to 5 each day. One to two professional development credits (500 level) will be available from UAA at additional cost. This institute is funded by an Alaska Grown grant from the Alaska Division of Agriculture, the Alaska Farm Bureau, the Agriculture in the Classroom Consortium and USDA, with assistance from the Alaska Association of Conservation Districts.

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Personnel Actions

New Employees:

• Jessica Adams, Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) – Biological Science Intern - Anchorage Field Office
• Kolena Momberger, ACES, Administrative Support – Anchorage Field Office
• Deborah Baines, ACES, Tribal Outreach Specialist – Anchorage Field Office
• Sherry Emmons, ACES, Administrative Support – Fairbanks Field Office

Promotion

• Jeff Oatley, Civil Engineer, to GS 12

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