Alagnak

https://www.nps.gov/alag/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alagnak_River The headwaters of Alagnak Wild River lie within the rugged Aleutian Range of neighboring Katmai National Park and Preserve. Meandering west towards Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea, the Alagnak traverses the beautiful Alaska Peninsula, providing an unparalleled opportunity to experience the unique wilderness, wildlife, and cultural heritage of southwest Alaska The headwaters of Alagnak Wild River lie within the rugged Aleutian Range of neighboring Katmai National Park and Preserve. Meandering west towards Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea, the Alagnak traverses the beautiful Alaska Peninsula, providing an unparalleled opportunity to experience the unique wilderness, wildlife, and cultural heritage of southwest Alaska. Alagnak Wild River is located in a remote part of the Alaska Peninsula, about 290 miles southwest of Anchorage. Access is by boat or small floatplane. King Salmon Visitor Center Located next door to the King Salmon Airport, the King Salmon Visitor Center provides information on the many federal public lands of Southwest Alaska, particularly those in the Bristol Bay area. A large collection of films is available for viewing and an Alaska Geographic bookstore sells maps, charts, videos, posters, clothing and more. This visitor center is located next to the passenger terminal at the King Salmon Airport salmon in Alagnak River underwater photo of salmon swimming in river Each summer, hundreds of thousands of salmon return to the Alagnak watershed to spawn. Rafts along the river inflatable rafts on the edge of a river Rafting is a popular way to experience the river. Alagnak Wild River aerial view of braided Alagnak River Alagnak River's lower reaches are extremely braided. In Celebration of ANILCA Former President, Jimmy Carter, offers a sentimental introduction to the 25th Anniversary Edition of Alaska Park Science and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). Black and white photo of six white men standing in front of an old National Park Service Building. A History of Science in Alaska's National Parks National park units in Alaska precede the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916. The first park unit, Sitka National Monument, was conceived in 1908, and by the mid-1920s four national monuments along with Alaska’s first national park were part of the growing park system. Discover how the early 1900s and observations of a few helped to establish the National Park Service in Alaska. Black and white photo of Arno Cammerer sitting at his desk looking through papers. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Alagnak Wild River, Alaska Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. raft on river Alaska Aviation Safety In Alaska, small planes are often the best way to get around but flying has its risks. Aviation safety requires more than just a pilot’s skill–it takes all of us. Learn more about aviation to increase the safety of your next park flight. An NPS pilot in a plane cockpit flying over a turquoise lake Series: The Legacy of ANILCA The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act impacts the National Park Service in many ways. ANILCA stipulates the designation of wilderness, subsistence management, transportation in and across parklands, use of cabins, mining, archaeological sites, scientific research studies and more. Two men drag a harvest seal from icy blue waters across frozen ice. Bumble Bees of Alaska: A Field Guide This field guide to bumble bees will help you identify these abundant and conspicuous pollinators, which are found across most of Alaska. They are well-adapted to cold, harsh climates and live in every habitat where there are flowers offering up pollen and nectar, including forests, shrublands, tundra, wetlands, riparian areas, beaches, and gardens. a bumble bee perched on tiny pink flowers Subsistence The study of subsistence resources in parks has been a mix of long-term work and projects instigated by issues facing the Federal Subsistence Board. Winter hunting is an important subsistence activity in many Alaska communities and park areas. Human History along the Alagnak Wild River The combination of natural and cultural resources represents an invaluable part of our shared heritage. As remote as the Alagnak River seems to us today, it has supported human activity for thousands of years. From the time of the earliest Alaskans, the river has given much to those willing to learn its ways. View from above of a river in winter with trees and snow Plan Like a Park Ranger - 10 Tips for Visiting Alaska's National Parks Planning a visit to the National Parks of Alaska? Check out our top 10 tips and plan like a park ranger. two people camp next to a glacier Series: Copper River Basin Symposium - Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve February 2020: With a theme of Tradition, Science, and Stewardship, the two-day symposium included keynote speakers, 26 short presentations, and a poster session. A panel discussion delved into opportunities in working with indigenous communities. Ahtna elders provided wisdom in daily welcomes, and there was a presentation by Copper River Stewardship Youth. Topics ranged widely from fisheries to archaeology to geology. As well as sharing knowledge, participants shared meals, stories, and ideas. Copper River Basin Symposium logo by Lindsay and Elvie Shaping the System Under President Jimmy Carter President Jimmy Carter oversaw one of the largest growths in the National Park System. Explore some of the parks that are part of the legacy of the presidency of Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th president of the United States from January 20, 1977, to January 20, 1981. Historic photo of Jimmy Carter walking through a crowd at Harpers Ferry Dark Night, Safe Flight At night, birds use the stars to find their way. But bright lights from buildings can confuse them. That's why national parks are so important - they're like bird hotels! They give birds safe places to rest and eat, especially after flying across the ocean.

Park Info National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Te Novarupta A trip planning and information guide to Alagnak Wild River Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve Katmai National Park and Preserve PHOTO COURTESY S. GAGE Issue Number 2022 What’s Inside: PHOTO COURTESY L. LAW NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY NPS PHOTO Brooks Camp ..............6 Katmai Origins...........14 Backcountry Travel ...20 Three National Parks, Many Amazing Experiences National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Alagnak Wild River Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve Katmai National Park and Preserve Katmai was declared a National Monument in 1918; Aniakchak in 1978. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 established Alagnak Wild River, while Katmai and Aniakchak were expanded to include national preserve areas. Katmai was also redesignated a national park. Together, these lands encompass nearly fve million acres of unique landscapes managed by the National Park Service. Mailing Address PO Box 7 King Salmon, AK 99613 Park Headquarters Phone: 907-246-3305 Websites Alagnak: www.nps.gov/alag Aniakchak: www.nps.gov/ania Katmai: www.nps.gov/katm NPS Mobile App Download the app and content from entire parks for offine use prior to visiting as there is limited to no service. Welcome to Katmai Country Welcome to Katmai! Katmai National Park and Preserve (Katmai) lies within the ancestral homelands of the Alutiit-Sugpiat (Aleut) people. Human habitation of this region goes back many thousands of years and speaks of thriving communities and perseverance in the face of challenging environments. Today, the Alutiit-Sugpiat people strive to maintain their traditional lifeways even in light of pressure brought on by an ever-changing world. Their connections to these lands are enduring and worthy of our respect. Accordingly, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge our Alaska Native communities—be they Alutiit-Sugpiat, Dena’ina, or Yup’ik—for their enduring legacy as the caretakers of this wonderous land we are fortunate to experience, and today call Katmai. Geographically, Katmai is found on the Alaska Peninsula which encompasses a vast and beautiful landscape where the National Park Service also has the privilege of managing Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, and the Alagnak Wild River. Regardless of your interests, collectively these diferent park areas ofer a diversity of outstanding Alaskan experiences. The geology of Katmai is both ancient and new. The park’s diverse landscapes comprise expansive mountains, active volcanoes, fowing glaciers and a wild and beautiful seacoast that is frequently fed by sparkling rivers and lakes. The cataclysmic eruption of Novarupta in 1912 took place long ago when compared to a human lifespan but is geologically recent. The resulting ash covered everything for miles and even today life is still recovering from the efects of the eruption. Many dedicated individuals from diverse walks of life have worked tirelessly over the years to ensure that wildlife remains abundant and diverse throughout this region. It is in large part because of these eforts that Katmai today supports world-class fsheries and outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities. To observe an Alaskan brown bear in its natural environment is a testament to the priorities of our nation. We hope that you have the opportunity to experience these special places for yourself. Those that journey here are sure to take back memories that will last a lifetime. Mark Sturm, Superintendent NPS/L. LAW Social Media Contents: Southwest Alaska’s Parklands.................................................2-3 Essential Information..................................................................4 Getting Here, Getting Around ...................................................5 Welcome to Brooks Camp .......................................................6-7 Camping at Brooks Camp ...........................................................8 Brooks Camp Map .......................................................................9 Bear Viewing ........................................................................10-11 Safe Travels in Bear Country ....................................................12 Live Bearcams............................................................................13 2 The Novarupta Katmai and the National Park Idea.....................................14-15 Exploring the Human History of Katmai .................................16 Cycle of the Salmon ..................................................................17 Fishing Information ..................................................................18 Photographing a Wild Heritage & Katmai’s Wildlife ..............19 Backcountry Travel...............................................................20-21 Aniakchak National Monument..........................................22-23 Alagnak Wild River ..........................

Alagnak Wild River Alaska Alagnak National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Unbounded by dams or artificial channels, the Alagnak makes its way from headwaters in the Aleutian Range across the Alaska Peninsula to Bristol Bay. Along its course, this wild river nourishes more wild— a place where we humans work and play by nature’s rules. Lifeline Through Tundra Wild Alagnak As remote as the Alagnak River seems to us today, it has supported human activity for thousands of years. From the time of the earliest Alaskans, the river has given much to those willing to learn its ways. wooden posts that probably came from far away. Many items point to cold weather use: central fire pits, stone oil lamps, food storage pits, and stone projectile points for hunting caribou. Mid-summer waters teem with salmon. Fall brings migrating caribou herds and a harvest of salmonberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Winter, frozen and seemingly endless, yields fish and game for hunters, trappers, and ice fishers. The Alagnak came to the attention of the outside world in 1852 when Russian Capt. Mikhail Tebenkov, surveying the Alaska coast, sailed up the river from Bristol Bay. After Alaska became US territory in 1867, American settlers built cabins and small villages along the banks. Some of the homes are still there, abandoned to the elements. From its source at Kukaklek Lake, the Alagnak twists and braids through vast tundra, joins with the Kvichak River, and ends in Bristol Bay. Its uppermost 69 miles are designated a wild river, meaning free flow, no dams, and little human impact. The Alagnak’s upper reaches have sparse remains of riverside camps used 7,000–9,000 years ago. In 2004 archeologists studied a riverside village 1,200–2,300 years old. Partially underground dwellings were reinforced by sturdy In the early 1900s two salmon canneries were built near the river’s mouth, connected by a narrow-gauge railroad. Cannery jobs drew people from all over the world. Commercial fishing is still big business; Bristol Bay is Alaska’s largest commercial salmon fishery. longer live in riverside villages, modern native people—Yupik, Alutiiq, Denaina and others— carry on traditional subsistence hunting, gathering, fishing, and trapping. Alagnak Wild River was established in 1980. In this federally protected area many activities are still compatible with preserving the river corridor unimpaired for future generations. Though they no Recreational pursuits like sport fishing, canoeing, and rafting offer you the rare gift of your own connection with the wild Alagnak. Above: Lockanok cannery at mouth of Alagnak, 1920s. Left to right: moosehide canoe; local folks trapping beaver, 1930s; young muskrat hunter. Below: Prospector Elbert Sargent by Alagnak, 1947. CANNERY—COURTESY VIOLET WILSON; BOAT, TRAPPERS, BOY WITH MUSKRAT— COURTESY ALEX TALLEKPALEK; ELBERT SARGENT—COURTESY JOANNE SARGENTWOLVERTON Top left: Sandhill crane. Background: Alagnak means ”making mistakes” in Yupik. The river channel is elusive amid ever-shifting branches and braids. CRANE—ALEX MODY; BACKGROUND—© TROY HAMON A major reason for protecting the wild river is its importance to the life cycle of Pacific salmon species—sockeye, pink, chum, king, silver. Salmon hatch in rocky shallows and stay in freshwater lakes for about two years, until they’re large enough to journey down­stream to the ocean. They spend three or so years in salt water, then return midsummer to their freshwater birthplace to spawn and die. Many animals eat salmon— even other fish. Brown bears routinely fish for bright red sockeyes along the banks. The river and its bounty also draw caribou, moose, beaver, foxes, wolverines, minks, otters, and wolves. Bald eagles, sandhill cranes, ospreys, and other birds feast on many kinds of fish that thrive in the cold, clean water. Alagnak’s waters nourish riverside communities of spruce, willow, and grasses. For subsistence use, native residents can harvest salmonberries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, fiddlehead ferns, wild celery, and sourdock. Right, from top: Alagnak through tundra; riverbank spruce forest; sport fishing. Left to right below: Blue flag irises; brown bear; silver salmon; sock­eye salmon; marsh marigolds; moose; thimbleberries. ALAGNAK AERIAL AND FOREST—NPS / ROY WOOD; ANGLER—© RICHARD MASCHMEYER / ACCENT ALASKA; TOP IRIS—© PATTY HANKINS; BOTTOM IRIS, BEAR, AND MOOSE—PHOTO RESEARCHERS; SALMON—US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE / TIM KNEPP; MARIGOLDS—© DIANNE STEVENS, MADISON, WI; THIMBLEBERRIES—© WALTER VAN CAMPEN Your Visit to Alagnak Wild River Alagnak Wild River was established in 1980 as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), which added 47 million acres of national parklands. The wild river designation includes the Alagnak’s upper 69 miles to its source lakes in Katmai National Park and Preserve. Be Bear Aware! Brown bears are active day and night, and can be anywhere. Salmon-l

Alagnak Wild River An An Illustrated Illustrated Guide Guide to to the the Cultural Cultural History History of the the Alagnak Alagnak Wild Wild River River of Purpose and Use of Guide People of the area have used the Alagnak River and its natural resources for many hundreds of years. Evidence of prehistoric settlements, historic fish camps and cabins, as well as an abandoned contact-era village with a Russian Orthodox Church and cemetery, dot the landscape. The combination of natural and cultural resources represents an invaluable part of our shared heritage. The purpose of this guide is to help visitors appreciate and enjoy the Alagnak’s distinctive cultural history. This guide is not intended for navigational use. A circa 1912 John Thwaites photograph of a Yup’ik cache on Nushagak Bay, perhaps near Snag Point (modern-day Dillingham). The cache was made of hand hewn white spruce logs with square notched corners and a sod roof. Photo courtesy of John Thwaites Collection-0132-549, Special Collection Division, University of Washington Libraries. Facing page: Elbert E. Sargent prospecting along the Alagnak in 1947. Photo courtesy of Joanne E. Sargent-Wolverton. i The Alagnak Wild River The Alagnak Wild River meanders through a unique landscape of open tundra, spruce forests, and dramatic canyon walls. Established as a Wild River in 1980, the Alagnak is rich in cultural history, physical beauty, and natural resources. Here, evidence of past and present people intermingles along the banks of rolling tundra and among diverse populations of fish and wildlife. Today, the Alagnak is used by visitors and residents for recreational and subsistence activitiesprimarily fishing and angling, camping, gathering, rafting, paddling, and hunting. Whichever activity you choose, the Alagnak River provides a rare opportunity to connect with history and the surrounding landscape. So fasten your life-vest and get ready to enjoy the Alagnak Wild River! 1 Midriver braided channel. The River The Alagnak is a clear free-flowing river that drains an area of 3,600 square kilometers (2,237 square miles) and empties into the Kvichak River near Bristol Bay in southwestern Alaska. The river and its major tributary, the Nonvianuk River, flow westward from lakes located within Katmai National Park and Preserve. Headwaters of the 127 kilometer (km or 79 miles [mi]) long river and its tributary are Kukaklek and Nonvianuk Lakes, respectively. The Alagnak is managed free of impoundments and diversions. It is inaccessible by road, its shorelines are primitive, and its water unpolluted. In the local language the word alagnak means, “making mistakes.” According to a life-long area resident, “the channel is always changing, causing mistakes and getting lost.” Every year the river changes and branches which is why it is known locally as “the Branch River.” The Yup’ik people pronounced Alagnak as “Ah-lock-anok.” Euroamericans anglicized its pronunciation as Lockanok. The Alagnak River was first documented by the Russian Captain Tebenkov in 1852. 2 River Designation The upper 108 km (67 mi) of the Alagnak, including the two upper branches, were designated a Wild River in 1980 by Title VI, Section 601(25 and 44) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and is managed by the National Park Service (NPS) according to the provisions of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. All but the lower 29 km (18 mi) of the river have been designated Wild River status. The NPS manages the River to: Protect and enhance the River as a dynamic ecosystem by maintaining its free flowing nature and preserving water quality, Preserve the outstanding natural values on the River that include its natural channels and flow, naturally occurring fish and wildlife populations, cultural resources, and its peaceful and scenic character for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations, and Preserve the outstanding values on the River of subsistence and recreation that are compatible with the other values for which the River was designated. Marsh marigold Land Ownership Land ownership along the river is a checkerboard of public and private property; therefore, river users should not assume that every “pull-out” is open to public use. There are currently no established campgrounds. It is recommended that river users consult a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land status map to ensure property rights are observed. 3 Prehistoric Past Ice from the last Ice Age receded from the Alagnak River drainage well before 12,000 years ago. Pottery made of local clay and tempered with hair or down, and later with sand or gravel, is common in sites on the Alaska Peninsula beginning 2,500 years ago. Present day 2,200 b.p. 9,000 b.p. 12,000 b.p. Cultural evidence of people who occupied the river banks and lake outlets since the last ice age, is found on the surface of the glacial drift and outwash deposits at the lake outlets. Some evidence of