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Environment

Environmental stories that take place in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Akiak Loses A Mile Of Riverbank To Erosion

By • May 22, 2019
Erosion in Akiak swallowed 75 to 100 feet of riverbank along the village on May 20, 2019.
Ivan Ivan / City of Akiak

People in Akiak woke up on Monday to find their smokehouses in the river. Massive erosion along the riverbank had eaten those structures earlier that morning.

Quinhagak Begins To Look At Climate Change

By Johanna Eurich • May 20, 2019
Katie Basile / KYUK

Like many coastal communities in Alaska, Quinhagak is keeping a close eye on how warmer temperatures are affecting the community. Located with the ocean in front of it, and two rivers and a swamp on the other sides, Quinhagak is assessing the hazards, everything from sea water rise to increased river erosion and permafrost melt.

Napakiak Erosion Worsens After Spring Storms

By • May 14, 2019
Krysti Shallenberger / KYUK

Napakiak doesn’t have a boat landing anymore. Storms over the past week ate huge chunks from the Kuskokwim riverbank close to the city school and fuel tanks. That includes the banks where people land their boats. The village has been dealing with river erosion for decades, but they’ve seen it accelerate over the past few years because of climate change.

Early Spring: Ducks, Eggs, And Greens

By Johanna Eurich • May 10, 2019

Spring bird hunting is a tradition in Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, but this year it began very early and had a very different look. 

“It’s weird that spring bird hunting can occur via boat instead of snowmachine or ATV on the tundra, which is somewhat novel," said Bryan Daniels, waterfowl biologist with the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge.

Daniels says that this is the earliest waterfowl nesting year ever. Locals can start gathering eggs a week after the birds arrive and nest, which is something that usually doesn’t happen until the end of May.

No Flooding So Far As Break Up On The Kuskokwim River Continues

By • May 3, 2019

There’s no reports of flooding in communities along the Kuskokwim River so far, and that’s a good thing.

Ice Sheets From Tuluksak Area Could Endanger Boaters

By • Apr 30, 2019
Courtesy of Mark Leary

Travelers should beware of ice on the Kuskokwim River stretching 20 miles above Tuluksak. That’s according to the latest river update from the National Weather Service. 

A Gentle Breakup In Progress For Kuskokwim River

By • Apr 29, 2019
Courtesy of Mark Leary

Breakup is well on its way, but the Kuskokwim River is still patchy with ice in some areas. That’s according to the latest river watch update on April 29. 

Bethel Kuskokwim River Ice Breaks At 4:02 P.M. On Friday, April 12

By • Apr 12, 2019

The Kuskokwim Ice Classic tripod tripped its clock at 4:02 p.m. on Friday, marking the official time of river breakup in Bethel. This is the earliest breakup ever, beating the former record set in 2016 by eight days. The new record follows a series of other records broken this season.

February, March Break Temperature Records In Bethel

By • Apr 12, 2019
Joey Mendolia / Alaska's Energy Desk/Alaska Public Media

Last year’s winter had a promising start in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta: temperatures were closer to the normal cold that residents expect. That changed in February and March. 


Ice Leaves Kuskokwim Tributaries During Early Breakup

By • Apr 4, 2019
The Kwethluk River opened on April 2, 2019.
Sarah R. Jackson

It’s only the first week of April, and many tributaries along the Kuskokwim River are relatively ice-free. In some, boating has begun.

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