Cataloging New Anadromous Water Bodies on Afognak Native Corporation Lands

In summer 2018, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Habitat, sampled for the presence of anadromous fish on Kodiak Archipelago on land owned by Afognak Native Corporation (ANC) using a backpack electrofisher or baited minnow traps. Adult salmonids observed were counted and their spawning activity noted. Fish presence sampling resulted in 35 nominations to the AWC including 22 km of new anadromous fish habitat.

Afognak Native Corporation match funds were erroneously included in ADF&Gs match in the proposed project funds.

KIB setback requirements, AS 16.05.871, and FRPA riparian standards only provide protection for documented anadromous waters. ADF&G’s tool for identifying and protecting salmon and steelhead spawning, incubation, rearing, overwintering, and migration habitats is the AWC. Because this project will survey waters in advance of development activity and identify those waters supporting anadromous fish, this project will directly benefit the conservation of salmon and steelhead habitat by maintaining instream habitat and riparian areas associated with anadromous waters. Further, a more complete AWC benefits salmon and steelhead habitat because the AWC is used during all fish habitat permitting to avoid, minimize, and mitigate human-induced perturbations from any development activities that may occur in these areas in the future.