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Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Document
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Title:
Subsistence resources study, Study plan Section 14.5 : Initial study report
SuWa 207
Author(s) – Personal:
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Prepared by Stephen R. Braund & Associates
AEA-identified category, if specified:
Draft initial study report
AEA-identified series, if specified:
Series (ARLIS-assigned report number):
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project document number 207
Existing numbers on document:
Published by:
[Anchorage : Alaska Energy Authority, 2014]
Date published:
February 2014
Published for:
Alaska Energy Authority
Date or date range of report:
Volume and/or Part numbers:
Study plan Section 14.5
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Draft
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Pagination:
v, 36 p.
Related work(s):
Pages added/changed by ARLIS:
Notes:
All reports in the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Document series include an ARLIS-
produced cover page and an ARLIS-assigned number for uniformity and citability. All reports
are posted online at http://www.arlis.org/resources/susitna-watana/
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project
(FERC No. 14241)
Subsistence Resources
Study Plan Section 14.5
Initial Study Report
Prepared for
Alaska Energy Authority
Prepared by
Stephen R. Braund & Associates
February 2014 Draft
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... v
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1
2. Study Objectives................................................................................................................ 2
3. Study Area ......................................................................................................................... 3
4. Methods and Variances in 2013 ....................................................................................... 3
4.1. Task 1: Compilation of Existing Data .................................................................... 3
4.1.1. Task 1: Compilation of Existing Subsistence Baseline Data .......... 4
4.1.2. Variances ......................................................................................... 9
4.2. Task 2: Household Harvest Surveys ....................................................................... 9
4.2.1. Variances ....................................................................................... 10
4.3. Task 3: Household Harvest Surveys in State-Designated Nonsubsistence Areas 10
4.3.1. Variances ....................................................................................... 10
4.4. Task 5: Traditional and Local Knowledge Interviews .......................................... 10
4.4.1. Community Approval ................................................................... 12
4.4.2. Scheduling Workshops ................................................................. 12
4.4.3. Identifying and Contacting Participants ........................................ 13
4.4.4. Protocol Development .................................................................. 13
4.4.5. Workshop Methods ....................................................................... 14
4.4.6. Post Field Processing .................................................................... 15
4.4.7. Variances ....................................................................................... 16
5. Results .............................................................................................................................. 16
5.1. Compilation of Existing Subsistence Data ........................................................... 16
5.2. Household Harvest Surveys .................................................................................. 18
5.3. Household Harvest Surveys in Non-Subsistence Areas ....................................... 18
5.4. Traditional Knowledge Workshops ...................................................................... 18
5.4.1. Susitna River Region .................................................................... 19
5.4.2. Copper River Region .................................................................... 19
6. Discussion......................................................................................................................... 19
7. Completing the Study ..................................................................................................... 20
8. Literature Cited .............................................................................................................. 20
9. Tables ............................................................................................................................... 28
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 3-1. Study Communities ..................................................................................................... 27
Table 4.1- 1. Subsistence Baseline Data by Study Community ................................................... 29
Table 4.1- 2. Number of Traditional Knowledge Sources by Community and Source Type ....... 33
Table 4.1- 3. Traditional Knowledge Sources by Community ..................................................... 34
Table 4.5- 1. Coordinating Organizations by Study Community ................................................. 35
Table 5.2- 1. Sample Achievement, Household Harvest Surveys ................................................ 35
Table 5.3- 1. Sample Achievement, Household Harvest Surveys in Non-Subsistence Areas...... 36
Table 5.4- 1. Summary of Traditional Knowledge Workshops .................................................... 36
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LIST OF ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS
Abbreviation Definition
ADF&G Alaska Department of Fish and Game
ADNR Alaska Deparment of Natural Resources
ADLWD Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
AEA Alaska Energy Authority
ANCSA Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
ANILCA Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
AS Alaska Statute
ATV All Terrain Vehicle
BLM Bureau of Land Management
BOEM Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CRNA Copper River Native Association
CSIS Community Subsistence Information System
FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
GIS Geographic Information System
GMU Game Management Unit
ISR Interim Study Report
MMS Minerals Management Service
MSB Matanuska-Susitna Borough
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association
NPS National Park Service
OSM Office of Subsistence Management
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Abbreviation Definition
SP Special Publication
SRB&A Stephen R. Braund and Associates
TAPS Trans-Alaska Pipeline System
TP Technical Paper
UAF University of Alaska Fairbanks
UCU Uniform Coding Unit
USACE United States Army Corps of Engineers
USFS United States Forest Service
USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service
WAMCATS Washington-Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Subsistence Resources Study 14.5
Purpose The purpose of the Subsistence Resources Study is to demonstrate whether
and, if so, the extent to which communities harvest and use subsistence
resources within or near the Project area, use Project area lands to access
other lands for subsistence harvest and use, and/or harvest and use
resources that migrate through the Project area and are later harvested in
other areas.
Status Data collection began in January 2013 and will continue through the next
study season.
Study Components The study consists of the following components:
1) Compilation of Existing Subsistence Data
2) Household Harvest Surveys
3) Household Surveys in State-Designated Nonsubsistence Areas
4) Subsistence Mapping Interviews
5) Traditional and Local Knowledge Interviews
2013 Variances One additional community, Knik, was selected for Traditional and Local
Knowledge workshops (RSP Section 14.5.4.5).
Steps to Complete
the Study
As explained in the cover letter to this draft ISR, AEA’s plan for
completing this study will be included in the final ISR filed with FERC on
June 3, 2014.
Highlighted
Results and
Achievements
The study team reviewed and compiled existing data for all 37 identified
study communities, completed household harvest surveys in 10 study
communities, and conducted a total of 28 traditional and local knowledge
workshops in seven communities. Pertinent data from traditional and local
knowledge workshops have been shared with the study teams for the
Cultural Resources Study (Study 13.5) and Health Impact Assessment
Study (Study 15.8) for follow-up. Overall, the combination of study
methods and resulting data have created a comprehensive baseline of
subsistence harvest and use information for the Susitna River watershed
and Project area.
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1. INTRODUCTION
On December 14, 2012, Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) filed with the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) its Revised Study Plan (RSP) for the Susitna-
Watana Hydroelectric Project No. 14241 (Project), which included 58 individual study plans
(AEA 2012). Included within the RSP was the Subsistence Resources Study, Section 14.5. RSP
Section 14.5 was intended to provide current and representative data that will characterize the
existing environment of subsistence uses in the proposed Project area.
On February 1, 2013, FERC staff issued its study plan determination (February 1 SPD) for 44 of
the 58 studies, approving 31 studies as filed and 13 with modifications. RSP Section 14.5 was
one of the 13 approved with modifications. In its February 1 SPD, FERC recommended the
following:
The Alaska DFG clarified that its request for mapping of subsistence activities has been
expanded to include the communities of Cantwell, Chase, Chitna, Gakona, Kenny Lake,
McCarthy, Skwentna, Susitna, Talkeetna, and Trapper Creek in 2013, and Copperville,
Glennallen, Gakona, Lake Louise, Nelchina, Mendeltna, Paxson, Tazlina, Tolsona, and
Tonsina in 2014. Alaska DFG notes that changes to Table 14.5.5 should be made to
reflect the additional communities where subsistence mapping would occur and where
appropriate harvest surveys should be labeled “one-year mapping” to differentiate those
efforts from historical mapping efforts that have been completed in the listed
communities.
Alaska DFG also clarified that the list of communities where TLK interviews should be
conducted has been modified and expanded from eight to twenty and includes the
communities of Cantwell, Chase, Chitna, Gakona, Kenny Lake, McCarthy, Skwentna,
Susitna, Talkeetna, and Trapper Creek in 2013 and Copperville, Glennallen, Gakona,
Lake Louise, Nelchina, Mendeltna, Paxson, Tazlina, Tolsona, and Tonsina in 2014.
Alaska DFG suggests that RSP Table 14.5.5 Communities Selected for Traditional
Knowledge, Subsistence Mapping, and Household Survey be revised to acknowledge TLK
interview components of the baseline harvests surveys in the Alaska DFG identified study
communities.
Alaska DFG’s recommended modifications would provide the information needed to accomplish
the study objectives. Therefore, we recommend AEA implement the study with Alaska DFG’s
recommended modifications.
In accordance with the February 1 SPD, AEA has adopted the FERC requested modifications.
Following the first study season, FERC’s regulations for the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP)
require AEA to “prepare and file with the Commission an initial study report describing its overall
progress in implementing the study plan and schedule and the data collected, including an
explanation of any variance from the study plan and schedule.” (18 CFR 5.15(c)(1)) This Initial
Study Report (ISR) on the Subsistence Resources Study has been prepared in accordance with
FERC’s ILP regulations and details AEA’s status in implementing the study, as set forth in the
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FERC-approved RSP as modified by FERC’s February 1 SPD (collectively referred to herein as the
“Study Plan”).
2. STUDY OBJECTIVES
The study objectives are established in RSP Section 14.5.1. As described in the Study Plan, the
overall goal of this study is to demonstrate whether and, if so, the extent to which communities
harvest and use subsistence resources within or near the Project area, use Project area lands to
access other lands for subsistence harvest and use, and/or harvest and use resources that migrate
through the Project area and are later harvested in other areas.
The objectives of the Subsistence Resources Study are as follows:
1. Document whether and, if so, the extent to which communities within the Susitna River
watershed, as well as communities outside the Susitna River watershed that have
subsistence use areas in the watershed, use areas that are within the Project area for
subsistence harvests.
2. Document whether and, if so, the extent to which communities within the Susitna River
watershed, as well as communities outside the Susitna River watershed that have
subsistence use areas in the watershed, use Project area lands to access other lands or
waters for subsistence harvest.
3. Document whether and, if so, the extent to which communities within the Susitna River
watershed, as well as communities outside the Susitna River watershed that have
subsistence use areas in the watershed, use resources that migrate through the Project area
and are harvested in other areas.
4. Collect and document traditional and local knowledge of communities within the Susitna
River watershed, or who have subsistence use areas within the watershed, to assist in
assessing the potential impacts of construction and operation of the proposed Project on
subsistence harvest and use. This information will be directly shared with the program
leads for other resources, as appropriate.
5. Evaluate Project development plans to identify likely sources of potential impacts on
identified subsistence uses.
6. Provide the necessary information needed to support preparation of an ANILCA 810
evaluation.
Through a combination of household harvest surveys, mapping interviews, and traditional and
local knowledge interviews, the Subsistence Resources Study is collecting baseline data and
documenting traditional and contemporary subsistence harvest and use to facilitate the
assessment of potential impacts of the Project construction and operation on subsistence harvest
and use. The data developed through this study will be evaluated along with data from biological
and wildlife and cultural resources studies to supplement the subsistence information and put it
into context with other related resource conditions. This ISR provides the preliminary results of
2013 data compilation and field efforts.
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3. STUDY AREA
As established by RSP Section 14.5.3, the study area includes the Project area, as well as
locations within the Susitna River watershed where the proposed Project could affect natural
resources and access conditions upstream and downstream of the Susitna River as well as its
associated tributaries. The study area includes the proposed reservoir, road and transmission
corridors (including a portion of one corridor adjacent to the Denali Highway that extends
outside the watershed), and other Project facility sites.
As explained in the RSP (Sectin 14.5.3), the study team developed a list of study communities in
order to adequately address potential impacts to subsistence users who use the study area for
subsistence activities. This included communities that are located outside the study area but have
documented use within the study area. AEA developed the following criteria for inclusion as a
study community:
1. The community is located within the Susitna River watershed
2. The community is located outside of the Susitna River watershed but has previously
documented subsistence use areas that extend into the watershed; or
3. The community is one of the communities preliminarily identified by ADF&G as needing
updated harvest information
Based on the above criteria, AEA identified 37 study communities whose subsistence uses could
potentially be affected by the proposed Project (Table 3-1).
4. METHODS AND VARIANCES IN 2013
As described in RSP Section 14.5.4, the Study Plan proposed to complete the following tasks:
1. Compilation of Existing Subsistence Data
2. Household Harvest Surveys
3. Household Surveys in State-Designated Nonsubsistence Areas
4. Subsistence Mapping Interviews
5. Traditional and Local Knowledge Interviews
In 2013, the study team implemented the methods described in the Study Plan with one variance
in the traditional and local knowledge interview task (RSP Section 14.5.4.5), as described in
Section 4.5.7 below.
4.1. Task 1: Compilation of Existing Data
AEA implemented the methods for compiling existing subsistence data as described in the Study
Plan (RSP Section 14.5.4.1) with no variances. The study team compiled existing baseline data
describing the subsistence uses of communities that may be affected by the proposed Project.
Methods for the compilation of existing data as listed in the study plan consisted of the
following:
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• Used ADF&G’s Community Subsistence Information System (CSIS), and identified
and compiled existing harvest data for the 37 communities listed in Table 3-1.
• Compiled available subsistence use area data for the 37 communities listed in
Table 3-1.
• Compiled available baseline indicator data (e.g., timing of harvest activities) from
available sources.
• Requested access to ADF&G’s Wildlife Harvest Ticket database. These data provide
the following information:
o Identification of subsistence users and communities in Alaska who travel to the
proposed Project area to participate in land mammal harvest activities; and
o Additional information about study communities’ (including those located in
nonsubsistence areas) subsistence activities in the Project area.
• Created tables and maps describing the information compiled from the CSIS, Wildlife
Harvest Ticket database, and additional sources.
• Began to incorporate results of the data review and compilation within the context of
the proposed Project into subsistence reports.
In addition to compiling subsistence data, the study team compiled traditional knowledge data
for incorporation into the traditional knowledge workshop summaries. For both of these efforts,
the study team included the 37 study communities listed in Table 3-1.
4.1.1. Task 1: Compilation of Existing Subsistence Baseline Data
To characterize the subsistence affected environment of the study communities, this report
describes the seasonal round, harvest data, and subsistence use areas for each community based
on available data. This report relies primarily on existing subsistence information, including data
recently collected by ADF&G for this project. ADF&G is the primary repository for these types
of data for many study communities. Harvest data are primarily available through ADF&G’s
CSIS (ADF&G 2013). Seasonal round, subsistence use areas, and in-depth descriptions of the
data are provided in the technical papers or reports associated with each subsistence study. These
reports are available online in ADF&G’s e-library. Subsistence harvest information, seasonal
round data, and subsistence use area maps are also available in baseline studies conducted for
Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and federally or academically funded studies. While all
residents of Alaska may qualify as subsistence users under state regulations, the majority of
previous state sponsored subsistence studies have focused on those communities where a
“mixed, subsistence-market” economy is the driving economic force in the community. As such,
less rural areas of the state (e.g., Wasilla area) that do not rely on a mixed subsistence economy
have had far fewer, if any, comprehensive subsistence studies that characterize their seasonal
round, harvest data, and subsistence use areas.
Table 4.1-1. lists the 37 study communities and associated harvest data, seasonal round, and use
area studies identified by the study team. In a number of cases, no harvest, seasonal round, or
subsistence use area data were available for a study community. This is particularly true for
communities located in a state-designated nonsubsistence area. In the past, the ADF&G Division
of Subsistence has generally focused its research efforts on rural communities (i.e., those
communities located outside nonsubsistence areas) and as a result there is often a lack of
subsistence information for communities located in nonsubsistence areas. To address the lack of
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information for certain communities and provide additional information about uses of the Project
area, the study team requested access to ADF&G’sWildlife Harvest Ticket database. The
ADF&G documents harvests and uses of large land mammals and furbearers by Uniform Coding
Units (UCUs) within larger Game Management Units (GMUs) based on harvest tickets
submitted by both resident and non-resident hunters in Alaska.
The following sections describe the methods used to identify and document the various sources
of subsistence data compiled for this report including ADF&G, Federal (e.g., Minerals
Management Service [MMS], U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS], National Park Service
[NPS]), and other sources.
4.1.1.1. Alaska Department of Fish and Game (State)
The study team reviewed, compiled, and categorized public data from ADF&G subsistence
publications pertaining to the study communities. ADF&G subsistence publications include
Technical Papers (TP), Fishery Data Series, Regional Information Reports, Technical Fishery
Reports, and Special Publications (SP). For each community, the study team searched the
reference section of ADF&G’s CSIS (ADF&G, 2011) and the ADF&G e-library, both located on
the ADF&G website, for fishing and subsistence-related literature. Within the publications
searchable database, the study team conducted a keyword search of identified reports and a
document content search for incidences of study community names. All search results were
filtered in order to target only those documents that were related to subsistence. Sources
pertaining to sport harvests, resource management, or resource monitoring were not reviewed.
Documents pertaining to any of the study communities were reviewed for subsistence-related
data including harvest, seasonal round, and use area data.
For each identified publication, the study team documented whether the source contained the
above types of data and provided relevant notes about each source. Certain sources contained
subsistence data for multiple communities, in which case a separate documentation was made for
each community mentioned. The study team tallied over 100 incidences of subsistence data (i.e.,
harvest data, seasonal round data, or subsistence use area data for various study years) related to
study communities from ADF&G sources. These subsistence data were available in 27
individual referenced sources. Other ADF&G sources had subsistence descriptions or data
relevant to the study communities (e.g., harvest data specific to a single caribou herd or to a
seasonal harvest activity) but did not include community-level harvest data, seasonal round data,
or subsistence use areas. These sources are not reflected in Table 4.1-1. Search results identified
a total of five (Copperville, Denali Highway Households, Eklutna, Wasilla, and Willow) of the
37 study communities without any ADF&G source material (see Table 4.1-1). In some cases,
documents were listed as unavailable or unpublished in CSIS search results.
The study team also downloaded harvest data from the publically available CSIS database on the
ADF&G website (ADF&G, 2013). This database provides harvest data collected by the
ADF&G, Division of Subsistence. The data are compiled from technical papers and harvest
reports and include reported and estimated harvest amounts. The website provides the data as
well as the references from which the data were derived. If the CSIS cited unpublished fieldwork
as the source of the harvest data, the study team cited the CSIS (ADF&G, 2013) as the default
source in Table 4.1-1. The study team reviewed all available and cited documents in the ADF&G
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e-library in order to identify the most accurate references for each harvest study year. The study
team conducted a search of the CSIS, by community name, for all study communities included in
this report; CSIS data were not available for 11 of the 37 study communities. Table 4.1-1 shows
the original source of data (i.e., the technical paper associated with the study year) unless the
original source is unpublished or unavailable.
The study team requested access to ADF&G’s Wildlife Harvest Ticket Database but did not
receive the data in time to incorporate them into the ISR. These data, if made available to the
study team, will be incorporated into the Updated Study Report.
4.1.1.2. Federal
In order to identify federal publications that contained data pertaining to the study communities,
the study team conducted a search of documents available for public access from multiple federal
agencies. The federal agencies in this search include:
• National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Sustainable Fisheries Division
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) (previously MMS)
• NPS
• USFWS Office of Subsistence Management (OSM)
During previous research, the study team has attempted to contact each of these agencies in order
to ensure that the data available online via the agencies’ webpages are current and to determine
whether there are any additional repositories for the agencies’ publications. The central library
website for NOAA and NMFS primarily contains links to ADF&G and OSM reports available
on each of the agencies’ respective websites. The remaining reports either do not pertain to the
study area or have restricted access and are only available to NOAA employees. The study team
reviewed MMS / BOEM reports that were relevant to subsistence and reviewed the abstract of
each document for information pertaining to subsistence data for the study communities.
Because BOEM, NOAA, and NMFS jurisdiction is in offshore waters and lands, the majority of
their subsistence-related reports address coastal communities. Therefore, few of these agencies’
reports were applicable to Project area or study communities. The study team reviewed report
titles and abstracts on the OSM website for information on subsistence uses and activities. The
USFS website connects to the Federal Subsistence Board, which, in turn, provides access to
reports through the OSM website. The NPS’s Integrated Resource Management Applications
Portal contained a limited set of documents relevant to subsistence within the study area.
Documents identified using these sources were reviewed for content including use areas, harvest
data, seasonal round, and traditional knowledge data. From the search for relevant federal
documents, the study team was able to identify two documents containing information on 16 of
the study communities (Table 4.1-1.). Other Federal sources had subsistence descriptions or
traditional knowledge relevant to the study communitiesbut did not include primary community-
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level harvest data, seasonal round data, or subsistence use areas. These sources are not reflected
in Table 4.1-1.
4.1.1.3. Other Non-Agency
The study team reviewed, compiled, and categorized data from non-agency documents
pertaining to the study communities and subsistence uses and activities. The study team defined
“non-agency” documents as books, book chapters, journal articles, theses and dissertations,
private sector reports, institutional reports, conference papers, and Alaska Native organization
reports. Non-agency document searches were exclusive of state and federal reports, newspaper
articles, and non-topical books and journal articles (i.e., archaeological or biological studies,
sport harvest or resource management reports).
Keyword searches were conducted on a number of databases to identify, locate, and procure data
sources that might contain relevant information related to the study communities. These
databases include library catalogues (e.g., University of Alaska Anchorage/Alaska Pacific
University Consortium Library), specific scholarly search engines (e.g., Science Direct), and
internet search engines (e.g., Google Scholar). Keyword searches for non-agency documents
included the study community (e.g., “Gulkana” or “Gulkana, Alaska”) as well as study
community AND subsistence (e.g., “Gulkana” AND subsistence or “Gulkana, Alaska” AND
subsistence). Often, the same documents were found in more than one database; for the study
team, this demonstrated a thoroughness of a database search.
In several instances, documents contained information concerning more than one community.
For each relevant document found, the study team conducted a document content search for
incidences of individual study community names and related subsistence information.
Documents pertaining to any of the study communities were reviewed for subsistence-related
data including harvest, seasonal round, use area, traditional knowledge data as well as
information related to the importance and sharing of subsistence resources within the
community/region. The study team identified three non-agency documents which provided
subsistence use areas, harvest data, or seasonal round datafor 18 study communities
(Table 4.1-1.). Additional non-agency documents were largely narrative accounts documenting
the relationship of the study communities to the life and practice of subsistence; very few of the
documents contained primary data related to subsistence use areas, harvest data, or seasonal
round.
4.1.1.4. Geographic Information System
As part of the subsistence use area compilation, the study team reviewed all known sources of
Geographic Information System (GIS) subsistence use area data that pertained to the 37 study
communities. These data sources included previous ADF&G mapping studies (primarily from
the 1980s), federally funded subsistence studies (e.g., Haley and Nemeth 2005), and previous
projects during which Stephen R. Braund & Associates (SRB&A) conducted primary research
(e.g., SRB&A 2007).
All ADF&G subsistence data shown on these maps can be located in their primary source, which
is either a Technical Paper written by ADF&G or one of the Habitat Management Guides
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produced by ADF&G in the 1980s and available for viewing at the ARLIS. The study team
included references to these sources on each map showing ADF&G data. In some instances, both
the Habitat Management Guide and a Technical Paper show the same data set. In these cases, the
study team referenced both the Technical Paper and the Habitat Management Guide. In total, the
study team identified 11 sources of data that contained use areas for 28 of the 37 study
communities (Table 4.1-1.).
4.1.1.5. Compilation of Traditional Knowledge Data
During the review of state, federal, and other non-agency sources for subsistence data (see
Section 4.1.1.1), the study team also identified sources of traditional knowledge for the 37 study
communities. Table 4.1-2 lists the 37 study communities and the number of state, federal, public
hearings, and other sources of traditional knowledge identified by the study team. Table 4.1-1
lists all of the documents identified during the traditional knowledge literature review, in
addition to the communities addressed in each of these sources.
The study team identified 37 documents containing traditional knowledge pertaining to the study
communities (Table 4.1-3). A majority (21) of the 37 documents came from other sources
including books such as Shem Pete’s Alaska (Kari and Fall 2003), Master’s theses, and
recordings of oral history collected by the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). The study
team identified 10 state documents all published by the ADF&G Division of Subsistence, which
contained traditional knowledge for one or more of the study communities. The study team also
identified five federal documents published by various agencies including the USFWS and
NOAA. The SRB&A study team also identified one transcript from a public scoping meeting
held in Glennallen for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) Renewal Environmental Impact
Statement. The study community with the highest number of traditional sources identified is
Tyonek (10 sources), followed by Gulkana with eight sources. The study team was unable to
identify traditional knowledge sources for 18 of the 37 study communities.
Following identification of the traditional knowledge sources, the study team reviewed each
source for quotes relevant to the Project area or the Susitna River watershed and compiled these
quotes for possible inclusion in the traditional knowledge workshop summaries. Quotes were
later incorporated into the summaries where relevant.
4.1.2. Variances
No variances from the existing data compilation methods described in the Study Plan (RSP
Section 14.5.4.1) were necessary in 2013.
4.2. Task 2: Household Harvest Surveys
AEA implemented the methods as described in the Study Plan for conducting household harvest
surveys (RSP Section 14.5.4.2) with no variances. The ADF&G Division of Subsistence
conducted household harvest surveys in 10 of the 37 study communities in 2013. Six of these
communities (Cantwell, Chase, Skwentna, Susitna/Alexander Creek, Talkeetna, and Trapper
Creek) were surveyed explicitly for the purposes of updating subsistence information related to
the Susitna-Watana Project, while the remaining four communities (Kenny Lake, Gakona,
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McCarthy, and Chitina) were Copper River area communities with harvest surveys already
planned.
The harvest survey documented one year (2012) of subsistence harvest and use by households in
and around the study communities. In addition, the surveys included a “one-year mapping”
component that documented each study community’s subsistence use areas for the previous year
and also included a key respondent traditional knowledge interview component. A detailed
description of the methods used to implement the household harvest surveys will be available in
ADF&G’s forthcoming TPs providing the results of these efforts.
4.2.1. Variances
No variances from the household harvest survey methods described in the Study Plan (RSP
Section 14.5.4.2) were necessary in 2013.
4.3. Task 3: Household Harvest Surveys in State-Designated
Nonsubsistence Areas
AEA implemented the methods as described in the Study Plan for conducting harvest surveys in
state-designated nonsubsistence areas (RSP Section 14.5.4.3) with no variances. ADF&G
conducted household harvest surveys in Talkeetna and Trapper Creek in 2013. Similar to surveys
described in Section 4.2 above, harvest surveys documented one year (2012) of subsistence
harvest and use by households in and around the study communities of Talkeetna and Trapper
Creek. In addition, the surveys included a “one-year mapping” component that documented each
study community’s subsistence use areas for the previous year and also included a key
respondent traditional knowledge interview component. Due to the sizeable populations of
Talkeenta and Trapper Creek, a random sample of households for survey was identified. A
detailed description of the methods used to generate the sample and implement the household
harvest surveys will be available in ADF&G’s forthcoming TP providing the results of these
efforts.
4.3.1. Variances
No variances from the household harvest survey in state-designated non-subsistence area
methods described in the Study Plan (RSP Section 14.5.4.3) were necessary in 2013.
4.4. Task 5: Traditional and Local Knowledge Interviews
AEA implemented the the methods as described in the Study Plan for conducting traditional and
local knowledge interviews (RSP Section 14.5.4.5), with the exception of variances explained
below (Section 4.5.7). The study team conducted workshops with knowledgeable residents in
selected study communities to document traditional and local knowledge about the physical,
biological, and social environment as it relates to the proposed Project. To select study
communities for the traditional and local knowledge research, the study team considered the
following criteria:
• The study community is located within the Susitna River watershed; or,
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• The study community’s use area is located within the Susitna River watershed; and
• At least 50 percent of the community is Alaska Native; or
• A federally recognized tribe is affiliated with the community.
Criteria were based on consideration of the likelihood that the community has knowledge about
the Project area (proximity of community or use area to the Susitna River watershed), as well as
consideration of the presence of long-term knowledge held by at least a portion of the
community (Alaska Native population or affiliation of a federally recognized tribe). Eight
communities were listed in the study plan as meeting the criteria for inclusion in the traditional
and local knowledge studies. Following AEA’s submittal of the study plan to FERC, the study
team added Knik as a traditional knowledge study community (see Section 4.5.8, below). Thus,
the updated list of communities included in the traditional and local knowledge studies is as
follows:
• Cantwell
• Chickaloon
• Chitina
• Copper Center
• Eklutna
• Gakona
• Gulkana
• Knik
• Tyonek
The traditional and local knowledge studies used the following methods to document knowledge
of the physical, biological, and social environment with the selected study communities:
• Coordinated with tribal governments and Alaska Native entities as appropriate to seek
community support for conducting the interviews
• Consulted with program leads for other resources (e.g., cultural resources, wildlife, fish,
vegetation, water quality, air quality, socioeconomics) to identify key topics and
questions for the traditional and local knowledge workshops
• Developed a workshop protocol, incorporating input from program leads for other
resources, that covers the following basic topics:
o Physical Environment
o Biological Environment
o Social Environment, including health
o Issues and Concerns
• Worked with coordinating organizations in each community to schedule and arrange
workshops and to identify knowledgeable residents to participate in the workshops
• With two staff members present, conducted multiple traditional and local knowledge
workshops in each selected community to document knowledge about the physical,
biological, and social environment
• Following the workshops, identified key respondents for follow-up Traditional Cultural
Property (TCP) and Health Impact Assessment (HIA) interviews by AEA;
• Conducted post-field data processing by editing notes and compiling and organizing
quotes by topic and subtopic
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• Reviewed findings with study communities
• Began incorporating results of the traditional and local knowledge workshops in each
selected community, supplemented by respondent observations, within the context of the
proposed Project into study reports
The methods used to implement the traditional knowledge workshops are discussed in greater
detail in the following sections.
4.4.1. Community Approval
The study team coordinated with the tribal government in each of the selected study communities
to gain community approval for the proposed workshops. The study team sent introductory
letters to each tribal government to introduce the project and ask for the community’s
participation in the study. The study team then followed up with a phone call or email to discuss
the project, answer any questions, and to discuss the possibility of obtaining a resolution from
the council supporting the project. In some cases, the community indicated a resolution was not
necessary to proceed with the workshops and instead provided verbal approval of the project.
Several councils, including the Native Village of Tyonek, the Chickaloon Village Traditional
Council, and the Knik Tribal Council, requested an introductory meeting to explain the project
and discuss their community’s participation.
The study team obtained resolutions (including a Coordination Agreement with the Native
Village of Eklutna) from five of the nine tribal governments (Cantwell, Eklutna, Gakona,
Gulkana, and Tyonek), and verbal approval from Chitina and Copper Center to conduct the
workshops. At a joint council meeting, the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council and Knik
Tribal Council requested the development of a Coordination Agreement prior to conducting
workshops. The Coordination Agreement is pending approval from AEA and the councils. For
this reason, the study team was unable to conduct workshops with Chickaloon and Knik in time
for incorporation into the ISR. The study team hopes to finalize the Coordination Agreement and
conduct the workshops in the next study season, the results of which will be incorporated into the
Updated Study Report.
Table 4.5-1 lists the coordinating organization for each of the study communities. After arriving
in the study communities, the study team met with a representative from the traditional council
or other community organization to discuss the study and answer any questions.
4.4.2. Scheduling Workshops
The study team coordinated with the tribal government in each community to schedule
workshops. The study team generally scheduled two to three workshops in each study
community, depending on community size and instructions from the coordinating organizations
(Table 4.5-1). Workshop times were chosen by the council, the coordinating organization, or by
participants depending on their availability. The study team generally scheduled multiple
workshops at different times of the day (e.g., in the afternoon and in the evening), to
accommodate residents’ differing work and personal commitments. In some communities,
multiple workshops were scheduled but not all were held. In these situations, tribal council
representatives, workshop participants, and/or local helpers indicated that the study team had
interviewed a representative group of local residents and that participation in subsequent
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workshops was not likely. As discussed above, Knik and Chickaloon workshops are pending the
approval of a Coordination Agreement. Therefore, the study team successfully scheduled and
conducted workshops in seven of the original nine selected study communities.
For the community of Copper Center, the study team’s primary contact was the Native Village of
Kluti-Kaah. However, the Copper River Native Association (CRNA) also assisted the study team
in arranging workshops with area elders and other knowledgeable people. These additional
workshops organized through CRNA provided opportunities for individuals who were not
residents of Gulkana, Copper Center, or Chitina or who could not attend any of the already-
scheduled workshops, to participate.
4.4.3. Identifying and Contacting Participants
The study team identified potential workshop participants in each community through
recommendations from the coordinating organization as well as from local liaisons, workshop
participants, and in some cases, non-coordinating organizations. The study team informed the
council in each community that they would like to conduct workshops with knowledgeable
community members, including elders, active harvesters, and long term community members,
who would be able to provide information concerning their knowledge of the Susitna-Watana
Project area and Susitna River watershed. The study team asked the council or other coordinating
organizations in each community to encourage knowledgeable community members to
participate in the scheduled workshops and provided flyers to announce the workshop times and
dates. In most of the study communities, employees at the council office contacted local
residents to inform them of the workshops. The study team also offered to hire local liaisons in
each community to assist with contacting residents and scheduling workshops, in addition to
providing translation services when necessary. When the coordinating organization indicated it
was appropriate, the study team contacted potential workshop participants directly and invited
them to attend.
4.4.4. Protocol Development
The study team developed a protocol to guide the traditional knowledge workshops, which were
focused on gathering data relevant to identifying potential impacts and mitigation associated with
the Project. A community’s traditional knowledge covers a broad range of topics relevant to the
physical, biological, and social environment. For the purposes of the traditional knowledge
workshops for this study, the study team designed the protocol to collect traditional knowledge
specifically related to the Project area and the Susitna River watershed. The purpose of
redirecting the focus of the workshops from general traditional knowledge topics to knowledge
of those topics as they relate to the Project was to avoid generating information that was too
generalized or broad to be useful in the identification of Project impacts and mitigation.
In order to ensure that the study team covered topics useful to other resource authors, the study
team requested that each resource author provide the study team with a list of relevant key
topics/questions for the traditional knowledge workshop. The study team received responses
from authors related to the following eight resource topics:
• Water Quality
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• Wildlife and Vegetation
• Fish
• Ice
• Aesthetics
• Socioeconomics/Recreation
• Cultural Resources
• Health
Once all responses were received, the questions or topics provided by the authors were
incorporated, where relevant, into the workshop protocols. The workshop protocol was divided
into five sections:
• Physical environment;
• Biological environment;
• Social environment;
• Health; and
• Additional comments and concerns.
Each of these sections included questions on various traditional knowledge topics. The physical
environment section of the protocol included questions on the watershed; terrestrial environment;
storms, winds, and climate; ice and snow; and air quality. The biological environment section of
the protocol focused on knowledge about vegetation, fish and wildlife, and wildlife habitat. The
social environment section of the protocol included questions on cultural resources; subsistence;
noise and views; and social and economic topics. A section on health addressed community
perceptions about the health of their community; sources of health care; traditional views on
health; impacts and benefits of development on health; and factors that contribute to a healthy
lifestyle. For each of the topics under the physical, biological, social, and health sections, the
study team included specific questions that addressed the topics requested by the resource
authors. The protocol concluded with a section on additional comments or concerns related to the
Project, including perceived impacts or benefits of the Project and suggestions for how potential
impacts could be lessened and benefits maximized.
4.4.5. Workshop Methods
Before each workshop began, study team members explained the purpose of the traditional
knowledge studies and the topics to be addressed in the workshop, and asked each participant to
read and sign an informed consent form. The informed consent form guaranteed the
confidentiality of each workshop participants’ identity and information (unless the participant
specifically requested to be identified) in all project deliverables. Study team members provided
workshop participants with handouts including a map of the Project area and Susitna River
watershed, as well as a map of previously documented subsistence use areas for their community
vis-à-vis the watershed. The rationale for providing respondents with a map of their community’s
use areas is that community residents would likely have the greatest amount of knowledge about
the area where they conduct subsistence activities and therefore would benefit from a map that
provides a closer and more detailed view of their particular use area. The study team asked
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workshop participants to review the documented traditional subsistence use areas and indicate
whether these use areas appeared to accurately represent the community’s uses.
The study team developed a PowerPoint presentation for each community that was based on the
workshop protocol specific to that community’s region and used the presentation to guide the
workshops and to keep participants focused on protocol topics. Two study team members were
present for each workshop. One member of the study team led the discussion with respondents,
while the other member of the study team typed detailed notes of the discussion and responses of
the workshop participants, using a laptop computer. The study team hired translators in
communities as necessary to help communicate questions and subsequent discussions to elders,
and to then translate the elders’ responses to study team members.
The workshop facilitator began each section of the workshop by introducing the topic to be
addressed (e.g., ice and snow conditions), and then allowing participants to provide knowledge
they believed to be relevant to that topic. The study team then followed up with more specific
questions and facilitated discussion among the workshop participants. While the study team tried
to focus workshop participants on providing knowledge specific to the Project area or the Susitna
River watershed, this was not always possible. In a number of cases, workshop participants
indicated that they did not regularly use the Project area or watershed and therefore could not
provide specific information about that area. In these cases, residents often provided more
general information about their region; these observations, although not specific to the Project
area or Susitna River watershed, often provided relevant information and drew comparisons or
parallels to conditions in the watershed. On average, the traditional knowledge workshops lasted
2 or more hours. Each community participant received an honorarium for participation in the
workshop.
The study team chose to conduct workshops with community members rather than individual
interviews for several reasons. A workshop setting allows participants to corroborate their
personal observations and traditional knowledge with other community members, and facilitates
respondent recall through participant interactions. This approach also allows more residents in
each community to participate in the study. The main drawback of a workshop setting, rather
than individual interviews, is that sometimes a small group of respondents dominates the
discussion, while other participants do not contribute as much or choose to defer to the opinions
and observations of other participants. The study team encouraged the participation of all
workshop participants by directly querying individuals and by asking follow-up questions (e.g.,
“Has anyone else observed these changes?”). In some cases the study team conducted individual
interviews. This occurred when only one individual attended a scheduled workshop or when an
individual was unable to attend one of the scheduled workshops but still wanted to provide their
input.
4.4.6. Post Field Processing
After completing each traditional knowledge workshop, study team members edited all notes that
were taken during the workshop, correcting typos and providing text in brackets for clarity of the
quotes. Field notes consisted of quotes transcribed during the workshops, which the study team
used in the report to illustrate the direct observations of workshop participants. The study team
organized all pertinent quotes by topic and subtopic, to aid in the writing of the report. The study
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team presented as many pertinent quotes as possible to adequately capture all relevant
respondent observations. In some cases, the study team had multiple quotes about a given topic,
but only included the quotes that provided the most detail or best articulated the views of
workshop participants. Quotes were excluded if they were irrelevant to the topics addressed in
this study (e.g., concerns about non-AEA development projects); if the topics or views in the
quote were already addressed elsewhere in the report or in other quotes; or if the content of the
quote was confusing or the intent of the respondent’s statement was unclear.
4.4.7. Variances
Only one variance from the Study Plan occurred; the addition of Knik to the list of communities
identified for traditional and local knowledge workshops.
The Study Plan listed eight communities for inclusion in the traditional and local knowledge
studies. However, following AEA’s submittal of the study plan to FERC, the study team realized
that its methods for selecting study communities did not capture the Knik Tribe, a federally
recognized tribe with ties to the Susitna River watershed. The original list of 37 study
communities focused on census designated places (CDPs). Because the Knik Tribe is not a CDP
but rather a tribal entity that is based out of the larger community of Wasilla, and because the
study team based its selection of traditional knowledge communities on the 37 study
communities, Knik Tribe was not listed in the study plan. During initial discussions with the
Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, the council requested that Knik Tribal Council be
invited to their introductory meeting. Based on the Chickaloon request and because of their ties
to the Susitna River watershed, the study team determined that it was appropriate to add the Knik
Tribe as a coordinating organization and to conduct traditional knowledge workshops with their
tribal members.
5. RESULTS
5.1. Compilation of Existing Subsistence Data
Subsistence is a central aspect of culture and life in the Copper River and Susitna River regions,
and is the cornerstone of the traditional relationship of the indigenousAhtna and Dena’ina people
with their environment. Residents rely on subsistence harvests of plant and animal resources for
nutritional sustenance and cultural and social well-being. Subsistence is not only a source of food
for people in the Copper River and Susitna River drainages, but the activities associated with
subsistence strengthen community and family social ties; reinforce community and individual
cultural identity; and provide a link between contemporary Athabascans and their ancestors.
Subsistence customs and traditions encompass processing, sharing, redistribution networks, and
cooperative and individual hunting, fishing, gathering, and ceremonial activities. These activities
are guided by traditional knowledge based on a long standing relationship with the environment.
Both federal and state regulations define subsistence uses to include the customary and
traditional uses of wild renewable resources for food, shelter, fuel, clothing, and other uses
(ANILCA, Title VIII, Section 803,andAlaska Statute[AS] 16.05.940[33]). The Alaska
Federation of Natives not only views subsistence as the traditional hunting, fishing, and
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gathering of wild resources, but also recognizes the spiritual and cultural importance of
subsistence in forming Native peoples’ worldview and maintaining ties to their ancient cultures
(Alaska Federation of Natives 2005). A recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study (USACE
Forthcoming) conducted a literature review of existing subsistence definitions and a proposed
definition of subsistence, which addressed the various elements and components of subsistence
(economic, social, cultural, and nutritional). In part, this definition reads as follows:
Subsistence refers to a way of life in which wild renewable resources are
obtained, processed, and distributed for household and communal
consumption according to prescribed social and cultural systems and
values….
…. The Subsistence way of life satisfies to various degrees and in various
contexts, the economic, social, cultural, and nutritional needs of
subsistence-based communities. (USACE Forthcoming)
As discussed above, subsistence includes economic, social, cultural, and nutritional elements, all
of which are intertwined and necessary to the maintenance of subsistence as a whole. The
economic element of subsistence focuses on “procurement and exchange of resources and
production of those resources into goods such as food, clothing or tools in a non-market system”
(USACE Forthcoming). Subsistence is part of a rural economic system called a “mixed,
subsistence-market” economy, wherein families invest money into small-scale, efficient
technologies to harvest wild foods (Wolfe 2000). According to Wolfe and Walker (1985), fishing
and hunting for subsistence resources provide a reliable economic base for rural regions and
these important activities are conducted by domestic family groups who have invested in fish
wheels, gill nets, motorized skiffs, and snowmachines. Subsistence is not oriented toward sales,
profits, or capital accumulation (commercial market production), but is focused toward meeting
the self-limiting needs of families and small communities. Participants in this mixed economy in
rural Alaska augment their subsistence production by cash employment. Cash (from commercial
fishing, trapping, and/or wages from public sector employment, construction, oil and gas
industry, or other services) provides the means to purchase the equipment, supplies, and gas used
in subsistence activities. The combination of subsistence and commercial-wage activities
provides the economic basis for the way of life so highly valued in rural communities (Wolfe and
Walker 1985).
The social element of subsistence focuses on social organization, celebration and ceremonies,
education, and special roles (USACE Forthcoming). Subsistence activities revolve around social
networks that span across kin relationships, friendships, partnerships, and communities. These
social networks organize the harvesting, processing, sharing, and consumption of subsistence
resources and serve to strengthen social and family ties within a region. Individuals with special
roles such as whaling captains, skin sewers, and processors are integral to subsistence as they
help ensure that the community harvests adequate resources and that these resources are properly
prepared, stored, preserved, and distributed throughout a community (USACE Forthcoming).
The social element of subsistence also includes the transmission of knowledge between
generations (i.e., education) through subsistence harvesting and processing activities, stories, and
celebrations and ceremonies such as potlatches. The passing on of traditional knowledge is
crucial to the maintenance and continuation of subsistence.
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The cultural element of subsistence includes ethics and values, cultural identity, spirituality,
language, and traditional knowledge (USACE Forthcoming). Participation in subsistence
activities promotes transmission of traditional knowledge from generation to generation and
serves to maintain people’s connection to the physical and biological environment in addition to
strengthening group and individual identity. The subsistence lifestyle encompasses cultural
values such as sharing, respect for elders, respect for the environment, hard work, and humility.
Certain spiritual beliefs, such as the belief that how one treats the environment and its resources
affects the success of the community in subsistence hunting and harvesting pursuits, also
continue to be important aspects of subsistence among people in the Copper River and Susitna
River basins. Traditional knowledge is relevant to both the social and cultural elements of
subsistence and includes the passing on of knowledge about the physical, biological, and social
environment. Knowledge about harvest locations (including Native place names and other
language education); harvesting, processing, and sharing methods; subsistence resource habitats,
behavior, distribution, and movements; how to travel safely through various weather and terrain
conditions; and various other topics are crucial to the success of subsistence activities.
In addition to being economically, socially, and culturally important, subsistence is a source of
nutrition for residents in areas of Alaska where food prices are high and opportunities for cash
employment are often limited. The nutritional element of subsistence includes the health benefits
and the cultural and physical satisfaction associated with eating traditional foods (USACE
Forthcoming). From a physical health perspective, subsistence food “is a source of important
nutrients like protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, and
Omega-3 fatty acids” (Poppel and Kruse 2009). Subsistence foods are not associated with many
of the health problems (e.g., cancer, heart disease, diabetes) that tend to be associated with more
processed foods (USACE Forthcoming). Alaska Natives, especially elders, report craving
subsistence foods when they are not available and indicate that non-traditional foods do not
satisfy in the same way as subsistence foods. Thus, the consumption of subsistence foods
contributes to the health, satisfaction, and identity of the Ahtna and Dena’ina people.
5.2. Household Harvest Surveys
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence, completed household
harvest surveys in the communities of Cantwell, Chase, Skwentna, and Susitna
Station/Alexander Creek in January, February and March 2013. Table 5.2-1 identifies household
participation and response rates for each community. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game
will publish complete results of the household harvest surveys in their technical paper series.
ADF&G also completed household harvest surveys in the communities of McCarthy, Chitina,
Kenny Lake, copper Center, Gakona, Chistochina, Slana, Mentasta Lake, Mentasta Pass, Beluga
and Tyonek; results from these surveys are forthcoming.
5.3. Household Harvest Surveys in Non-Subsistence Areas
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence, completed household
harvest surveys in Talkeetna and Trapper Creek in January 2013. Table 5.3-1 identifies
household participation and response rates for both communities. The Alaska Department of Fish
and Game will publish complete results of the household harvest surveys in non-subsistence
areas in their TP series.
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5.4. Traditional Knowledge Workshops
Workshop participation varied between communities depending on participant availability,
community size, and community interest. Table 5.4-1 reports the number of workshops, dates of
workshops, and number of community participants for each of the nine study communities. The
study team conducted a total of 28 workshops in seven communities. Workshop size varied from
1 participant to 15 participants. A total of 136 participants attended the 28 traditional knowledge
workshops, which were held between March 18 and October 21, 2013.
5.4.1. Susitna River Region
For the Susitna River Region, the study team held traditional knowledge workshops in Cantwell,
Eklutna, and Tyonek. Three workshops were held in Cantwell on April 1 and 2, 2013 with a total
of 9 participants. Three workshops were held in Eklutna on April 10, 23, and May 15, 2013 with
a total of 12 participants. Ten workshops were held with Tyonek respondents, one of which was
conducted in Anchorage at the Tyonek Native Corporation. Tyonek workshops occurred on June
26 and 27, 2013; September 5 and 6, 2013; and October 21, 2013 with a total of 15 participants.
A total of 36 Susitna River Region residents attended these workshops and provided their
knowledge and observations. These three Susitna River Region communities are located in three
geographically distinct areas within the Susitna watershed. In addition, each community has their
own unique socio-cultural environment in which they are situated with Eklutna located in an
urban setting, Cantwell located in a more rural setting but with nearby road connections to larger
urban areas, and Tyonek located in the most remote setting. For this reason, respondents often
offered unique perspectives on both the physical/biological environment as well as the
sociocultural environment. Observations by these three communities focused on topics/areas
with which they were most familiar and had the most knowledge.
5.4.2. Copper River Region
For the Copper River Region, the study team held traditional knowledge workshops in Gakona,
Gulkana, Copper Center, and Chitina. Three workshops were held in Gakona on March 18 and
19, 2013 with a total of 17 participants. Three workshops were held in Gulkana on April 15, 16,
and 18, 2013 with a total of 16 participants. Five workshops were held in Copper Center on
March 20 and April 16-18, 2013 with a total of 64 participants. One workshop was held in
Chitina on April 19, 2013, with a total of three participants. A total of 100 Copper River Region
residents attended these workshops and provided their knowledge and observations. Copper
River Region communities are not located within the Susitna watershed. For this reason,
respondents were sometimes unable to provide specific information on environmental conditions
in Susitna watershed, particularly in the Project area, instead providing observations about areas
closer to their communities. In most cases these observations, although not specific to the Project
area, provided relevant information and drew comparisons or parallels to conditions in the
Susitna watershed.
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6. DISCUSSION
Overall, the Subsistence Resources Study is progressing as planned. As discussed in the Study
Plan, traditional and local knowledge data collected during workshops has been shared with the
study teams for both the Cultural Resources Study (Study 13.5) and Health Impact Assessment
Study (Study 15.8), to facilitate study integration and subject specific follow-up. Furthermore,
information produced in this study, including traditional and local knowledge data, as well as
initial household harvest and data compilation results, can be shared among all studies, thus
facilitating greater data integration among all related and applicable resource studies, as
identified in the ISR interrelatedness diagram in the Study Plan.
As noted in the Data Gap Analysis (NLUR 2011), data collected for the original Project between
1979 and 1985 largely included and characterized subsistence fish and wildlife harvest and use
activities within the categories of sport or commercial harvest; the investigation of subsistence
use “was not a significant research component of the 1980’s studies” (NLUR 2011:17). As a
result, little baseline information regarding subsistence harvest and use within and around the
project area has been reported. Research being conducted for this study will provide the baseline
data needed to assess Project impacts to subsistence as well as meet agency obligations under
Title VIII of ANILCA and State of Alaska needs regarding subsistence resource management.
7. COMPLETING THE STUDY
[As explained in the cover letter to this draft ISR, AEA’s plan for completing this study will be
included in the final ISR filed with FERC on June 3, 2014.]
8. LITERATURE CITED
ADF&G (Alaska Department of Fish and Game). 1985. Alaska Habitat Management Guide.
Southcentral Region: Reference Maps. Produced by ADF&G, Division of Habitat:
Juneau, Alaska.
———. 2013. Community Subsistence Information System. Available online at
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Smelcer, J. ed. 2011. Ahtna Noun Dictionary and Pronunciation Guide, Second Edition.
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———. 1985. Copper Basin Resource Use Map Index and Methodology.Alaska Department of
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Diomede, Alaska. Prepared by ResourceEcon, Stephen R. Braund & Associates, and Dr.
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———. 2010. 2010 Census Tables. Available online at:
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/02000.html. Accessed August 2013.
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2013.
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No. 295. Juneau, Alaska.
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August 2013.
———. 2001. The Subsistence Harvest of Harbor Seals and Sea Lions by Alaska Natives in
2000. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence Technical Paper
No. 266. Juneau, Alaska.
Wolfe, R., J. Fall, and M. Reidel. 2009a. The Subsistence Harvest of Harbor Seals and Sea
Lions by Alaska Natives in 2007. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of
Subsistence Technical Paper No. 345. Anchorage, Alaska.
———. 2009b. The Subsistence Harvest of Harbor Seals and Sea Lions by Alaska Natives in
2008. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence Technical Paper
No. 347. Anchorage, Alaska.
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by Alaska Natives in 2001. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of
Subsistence Technical Paper No. 273. Juneau, Alaska.
———. 2003. The Subsistence Harvest of Harbor Seals and Sea Lions by Alaska Natives in
2002. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence Technical Paper
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———. 2004. The Subsistence Harvest of Harbor Seals and Sea Lions by Alaska Natives in
2003. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence Technical Paper
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———. 2005. The Subsistence Harvest of Harbor Seals and Sea Lions by Alaska Natives in
2004. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence Technical Paper
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and Game, Division of Subsistence Technical Paper No. 169. Juneau, Alaska.
Wolfe, R., and C. Mishler. 1997. The Subsistence Harvest of Harbor Seal and Sea Lion by
Alaska Natives in 1996. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence
Technical Paper No. 241. Juneau, Alaska.
———. 1998. The Subsistence Harvest of Harbor Seal and Sea Lion by Alaska Natives in
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Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin.
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9. TABLES
Table 3-1. Study Communities
Number Study Community Community
inWatershed
Use Area in
Watershed
ADF&G Identified Study
Community
1 Beluga X
2 Cantwell X X
3 Chase X X X
4 Chickaloon X
5 Chistochina X
6 Chitina X
7 Copper Center X
8 Copperville No Data X
9 Denali Hwy Households X No Data
10 Eklutna X
11 Gakona X
12 Glennallen X X
13 Gulkana X X
14 Healy X
15 Kenny Lake X
16 Lake Louise X X X
17 McCarthy X
18 McKinley Park X
19 Nelchina No Data X
20 Mendeltna X No Data
21 Mentasta Lake X
22 Nabesna X
23 Parks Hwy Households (Chulitna, Gold
Creek, Hurricane/Broad Pass)
X X
24 Paxson X X
25 Petersville X No Data
26 Skwentna X X X
27 Slana X
28 Susitna X No Data X
29 Talkeetna X No Data
30 Tazlina No Data X
31 Tolsona No Data X
32 Tonsina X X
33 Trapper Creek X No Data
34 Tyonek X
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Number Study Community Community inWatershed Use Area in Watershed ADF&G Identified Study Community
35 Wasilla1 X No Data
36 Western Susitna Basin X
37 Willow X No Data
1 Wasilla includes the outlying CDPs of Big Lake, Buffalo-Soapstone, Fishhook, Houston, Knik-Fairview,
Meadow Lakes, Point MacKenzie, and Tanaina.
Stephen R. Braund & Associates 2013.
INITIAL STUDY REPORT SUBSISTENCE RESOURCES STUDY (14.5)
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Table 4.1- 1. Subsistence Baseline Data by Study Community
Community Harvest Data by Study Year (Source) Seasonal Round2 Use Area All Resources Mammals1 Fish Birds
Beluga 2005-06 (Stanek, Holen,
and Wassillie 2007) - - - SRB&A 2007;Stanek,
Holen, and Wassillie 2007
1983 (ADF&G 1985); 2005-06
(Stanek, Holen, and Wassillie 2007);
1987-2006 (SRB&A 2007)
Cantwell 1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984); 1999
(Simeone 2002)
- - 2000 (ADF&G
2013) Simeone 2002 Lifetime (Simeone 2002); 1964-1984
(Stratton and Georgette 1985)
Chase 1986 (Stanek, Foster,
and Fall 1988) - - - Stanek, Foster, and Fall
1988
1968-1986 (Stanek, Foster, and Fall
1988)
Chickaloon 1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984) - - - - 1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
Chistochina
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987 (McMillan and
Cuccarese 1988); 2009
(Kukkonen and
Zimpelman 2012)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005)
2000 (ADF&G
2013)
McMillan and Cuccarese
1988; Kukkonen and
Zimpelman 2012
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985); 2009 (Kukkonen and
Zimpelman 2012)
Chitina
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987 (McMillan and
Cuccarese 1988)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005)
2000(ADF&G
2013)
McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
Copper Center
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987 (McMillan and
Cuccarese 1988); 2010
(ADF&G 2013)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005)
2000 (ADF&G
2013)
McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985);2001 (Haley and Nemeth
2005)
Copperville - - 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - - -
Denali Hwy
Households - - - - - -
Eklutna - - - - - Traditional Use Areas (SRB&A
Unpublished-c)
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Community Harvest Data by Study Year (Source) Seasonal Round2 Use Area All Resources Mammals1 Fish Birds
Gakona
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987 (McMillan and
Cuccarese 1988)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985);
2001 (Haley and Nemeth 2005)
Glennallen
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987 (McMillan and
Cuccarese 1988)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
Gulkana
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987 (McMillan and
Cuccarese 1988)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005)
2000 (ADF&G
2013)
McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985);
2001 (Haley and Nemeth 2005)
Healy 1987 (ADF&G 2013) - - - - Unknown (Wolfe et al. Unpublished)
Kenny Lake
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987 (McMillan and
Cuccarese 1988)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
Lake Louise
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984); 1987
(McMillan and Cuccarese
1988)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
McCarthy
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984); 1987
(McMillan and Cuccarese
1988)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
McKinley Park 1987 (ADF&G 2013) - - - - -
Mendeltna
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984); 1987
(McMillan and Cuccarese
1988)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
MentastaLake3 1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987a, 1987b (McMillan
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
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Community Harvest Data by Study Year (Source) Seasonal Round2 Use Area All Resources Mammals1 Fish Birds
and Cuccarese 1988)
2010 (ADF&G 2013)
Nabesna
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987 (McMillan and
Cuccarese 1988)
- - - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
Nelchina
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984); 1987
(McMillan and Cuccarese
1988)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
Parks Hwy Households 1986 (Stanek, Foster,
and Fall 1988) - - - Stanek, Foster, and Fall
1988
(1940s-1986) Stanek, Foster, and
Fall 1988
Paxson
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987 (McMillan and
Cuccarese 1988)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
Petersville 1985 (Fall and Foster
1987) - - - - -
Skwentna - - - - Fall, Foster, and
Stanek19834
1983 (Fall, Foster, and Stanek 1983);
Previous to 1983 (ADF&G 1985)
Slana5
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987a, 1987b, 1987c
(McMillan and Cuccarese
1988); 2010 (ADF&G
2013)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
Susitna - - - - Previous to 1983 (ADF&G 19856)
Talkeetna 1985 (Fall and Foster
1987) - - - - -
Tazlina 1987 (McMillan and
Cuccarese 1988) - 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988 -
Tolsona 1982-83 (Stratton and - 2001 (Simeone - McMillan and Cuccarese 1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
INITIAL STUDY REPORT SUBSISTENCE RESOURCES STUDY (14.5)
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FERC Project No. 14241 Page 32 February 2014
Community Harvest Data by Study Year (Source) Seasonal Round2 Use Area All Resources Mammals1 Fish Birds
Georgette 1984);
(McMillan and Cuccarese
1988)
and Kari 2005) 1988 1985)
Tonsina
1982-83 (Stratton and
Georgette 1984);
1987 (McMillan and
Cuccarese 1988)
- 2001 (Simeone
and Kari 2005) - McMillan and Cuccarese
1988
1964-1984 (Stratton and Georgette
1985)
Trapper Creek 1985 (Fall and Foster
1987) - - - - 1985 (ADF&G 1985)
Tyonek
1983 (Fall, Foster, and
Stanek 1984); 2005-06
(Stanek, Holen, and
Wassillie 2007)
1996, 1997 (Wolfe and
Mishler 1997, 1998);
1998 (Wolfe and
Hutchinson-Scarbrough
1999); 2001, 2002,
2003, 2004 (Wolfe, Fall,
and Stanek2002, 2003,
2004, 2005); 2005
(ADF&G 2013); 2007,
2008 (Wolfe, Fall, and
Reidel2009a, 2009b)
- 2000 (Wolfe
2001)
Fall, Foster, and
Stanek1984; Foster 1982;
SRB&A 2007;Stanek,
Holen, and Wassillie 2007
1983 (Fall, Foster, and Stanek 1983);
1978-1984 (Fall, Foster, and
Stanek1984);1987- 2006 (SRB&A
2007); 2005-2006 (Stanek, Holen,
and Wassillie 2007)
Wasilla - - - - - -
Western
Susitna Basin
1982, 1984 (Stanek
1987) - - - - Historic and Contemporary Trapping
(Stanek 1987)
Willow - - - - - -
Blank cells indicate no current (e.g., post-1960) systematically collected subsistence harvest, seasonal round, or use area data discovered for this community.
1 Mammals includes land mammals and marine mammals
2 Seasonal round data include general seasonal round tables and figures, data on the timing of subsistence harvests, and narrative descriptions of a
community’s seasonal round. McMillan and Cuccarese 1988 contains seasonal round data for the Copper River Basin as a whole, rather than for individual
communities.
3 Mentasta Lake also includes Mentasta Pass
4 Fall, Foster, and Stanek 1983 includes data for the Upper Yentna region, which includes Skwentna and surrounding areas
5 Slana also includes Slana Homestead North and Slana Homestead South
6 Use area data are Alexander Creek/Lower Susitna
Stephen R. Braund & Associates 2013.
INITIAL STUDY REPORT SUBSISTENCE RESOURCES STUDY (14.5)
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Table 4.1- 2. Number of Traditional Knowledge Sources by Community and Source Type
Region / Community State Sources Federal Sources Public Hearings Other Total
Beluga 1 1 2
Cantwell 2 4 6
Chase 0
Chickaloon 0
Chistochina 3 3
Chitina 2 1 3 6
Copper Center 1 1 3 5
Copperville 0
Denali Hwy Households 0
Eklutna 1 1 5 7
Gakona 1 1
Glennallen 2 2 1 1 6
Gulkana 2 2 3 7
Healy 0
Kenny Lake 1 1 1 3
Knik1 1 3 4
Lake Louise 0
McCarthy 0
McKinley Park 0
Nelchina 0
Mendeltna 0
Mentasta Lake 3 1 4
Nabesna 1 1
Parks Hwy Households 0
Paxson 1 1 2
Petersville 0
Skwentna 0
Slana 2 1 3
Susitna 2 2
Talkeetna 1 1
Tazlina 1 2 2
Tolsona 0
Tonsina 2 2 4
Trapper Creek 0
Tyonek 2 1 7 10
Wasilla 0
Western Susitna Basin 0
Willow 0
1 Although it is not a CDP and is therefore not listed as a study community, the study team determined that it was
appropriate to add the Knik Tribe as a coordinating organization and to conduct traditional knowledge
workshops with their tribal members.
Stephen R. Braund & Associates 2013.
INITIAL STUDY REPORT SUBSISTENCE RESOURCES STUDY (14.5)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
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Table 4.1- 3. Traditional Knowledge Sources by Community
Citation Community
Betts and Greiser 1985 Cantwell
Brenwick 2001 Copper Center, Tazlina
Buck 1998 Chitina, Eklutna, Glennallen
Carter 2009 Eklutna, Knik, Tyonek
Carter and Neilsen 2011 Tyonek
Ecotrust 2005 Copper River Basin
Eskilida 1999 Chitina, Copper Center, Kenny Lake, Tonsina
Ewan 1999 Gulkana
Johns and Johns 1998 Copper Center, Gulkana, Paxson, Tonsina
Kari 1976 Talkeetna
Kari 1978 Susitna
Kari 1980 Tyonek
Kari 2002 Cantwell, Chitina, Gulkana
Kari 2008 Cantwell
Kari and Fall 2003 Tyonek
Kari and Kari 1982 Tyonek
Peter and Holen 2004 Eklutna, Knik, Tyonek
Simeone 2006 Copper Center, Gulkana, Kenny Lake, Nabesna
Simeone and Fall 2003 Glennallen
Simeone and Kari 2002 Chitina, Glennallen, Slana
Simeone and Kari 2005 Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Gakona, Glennallen, Gulkana, Kenny
Lake, Mentasta Lake, Paxson, Slana, Tonsina
Simeone and Valentine 2005 Chitina, Glennallen, Gulkana, Mentasta Lake, Slana
Simeone, Valentine, and Tuttle 2007 Chistochina, Gulkana, Mentasta Lake, Tazlina, Tonsina.
Simeone et al. 2010 Copper River Basin
SRB&A Unpublished-a Eklutna, Knik
SRB&A Unpublished-b Eklutna
SRB&A 2007 Beluga, Tyonek
SRB&A 2010 Eklutna
SRB&A and Huntington Consulting 2011 Tyonek
Stanek 1981 Cantwell
Stanek, Holen, and Wassillie 2007 Beluga, Tyonek
Stephan 1996 Eklutna, Knik, Susitna, Tyonek
Stickwan 2005 Tazlina
USDOI, BLM 2002 Glennallen
Williams et al. 2005 Cantwell
Stephen R. Braund & Associates 2013.
INITIAL STUDY REPORT SUBSISTENCE RESOURCES STUDY (14.5)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 35 February 2014 Draft
Table 4.5- 1. Coordinating Organizations by Study Community
Community Coordinating Organization
Cantwell Native Village of Cantwell
Chickaloon Chickaloon Village Traditional Council
Chitina Chitina Village Council
Copper Center Native Village of Kluti-Kaah; Copper River Native Association
Eklutna Native Village of Eklutna
Gakona Native Village of Gakona
Gulkana Gulkana Village Council
Knik Knik Tribal Council
Tyonek Native Village of Tyonek; Tyonek Native Corporation
Stephen R. Braund & Associates 2013.
Table 5.2- 1. Sample Achievement, Household Harvest Surveys
Cantwell Chase Skwentna
Alexander/
Susitna
Interview goal 83 18 35 13
Households interviewed 55 16 30 11
Households failed to contact 19 2 2 1
Households declined to be interviewed 9 0 3 1
Households moved or nonresident 34 0 1 0
Total households attempted to interview 98 16 34 12
Refusal rate 14.1% 0.0% 9.1% 8.3%
Final estimate of permanent households 83 18 35 13
Percentage of total households interviewed 66.3% 88.9% 85.7% 84.6%
Interview weighting factor 1.51 1.13 1.17 1.18
Sampled population 130 31 53 20
Estimated population 196 35 62 24
Source ADF&G Division of Subsistence household surveys, 2013.
INITIAL STUDY REPORT SUBSISTENCE RESOURCES STUDY (14.5)
Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project Alaska Energy Authority
FERC Project No. 14241 Page 36 February 2014 Draft
Table 5.3- 1. Sample Achievement, Household Harvest Surveys in Non-Subsistence Areas
Talkeetna
Trapper
Creek
Interview goal 159 158
Households interviewed 102 69
Households failed to contact 106 40
goalHouseholds declined to be interviewed 29 27
Households moved or nonresident 35 93
Total households attempted to interview 166 189
Refusal rate 22.1% 28.1%
Final estimate of permanent households 374 148
Percentage of total households interviewed 27.3% 46.6%
Interview weighting factor 3.67 2.14
Sampled population 215 156
Estimated population 788 335
Source ADF&G Division of Subsistence household surveys, 2013.
Table 5.4- 1. Summary of Traditional Knowledge Workshops
Community Number of Workshops Dates of Workshops Number of Participants
Cantwell 3 April 1 & 2, 2013 9
Chickaloon Fieldwork Pending
Chitina 1 April 19, 2013 3
Copper Center 5 March 20, 2013; April 16-18, 2013 64
Eklutna 3 April 10, 2013; April 23, 2013; May 15, 2013 12
Gakona 3 March 18 & 19, 2013 17
Gulkana 3 April 15-16, 2013; April 18, 2013 16
Knik Fieldwork Pending
Tyonek 10 June 26 & 27, 2013; September 5 & 6, 2013;
October 21, 2013
15
All Communities 28 March 18-October 21, 2013 136
Stephen R. Braund & Associates 2013.