Happy New Year! Onward to 2013!
 
2012 was a busy year for the Nuvista team. We visited Bethel, Dillingham, New Stuyahok, and Aleknagik to share project information with interested community members; we continue to follow the permitting requirements of the Federal Energy Regulator Commission (FERC); and we gathered extensive baseline data for our resource area studies. A summary follows:
- Raptor nests located and mapped in the Chikuminuk Lake basin
- Lake Trout and Arctic Char abundant in the lake
- Bathymetry: the deepest part of the lake is 640 feet
- Salmon spawning limited to lower 1,000 feet of Allen River
- Rapids are likely fish barriers
- Flow/Habitat relationship studies, including one trip with ADF&G
- Stream discharge measurements: high flows in summer
- Installed two stream gages with temperature recorders: cold water in the Allen River
- High resolution imagery/mapping of basin
- Avalanche hazard evaluation of transmission line
- Minimal recreational use at lake
- Developed socio-economic profile of the region
- Cultural Resources relocated one known site, unable to relocate another, and found a new site
Many questions remain to be answered about the potential hydro project. We look forward to working with you to understand if this project makes sense for Western Alaska. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
We wish you Health and Hapiness in the New Year! Please enjoy this end of year edition of Nuvista E-News in which we share photos of our 2012 Field Season. (Photo of Elaine Brown, Nuvista Executive Director at Chikuminuk Lake where it flows into the Allen River, June 2012)
Stream Gage Installation - Northwest Passage
Stream gages gather important baseline hydrology information on water elevation and discharge level (water flow). The stream gage data will help us understand the potential downstream effects of the dam on fish habitat. The stream gage in this photo is located where Lake Chauekuktuli flows into Nuyakuk Lake. (Photo: R&M Consulting, September, 2012.)
Water Temperature
Prelminary water temperature readings help establish baseline information about Chikuminuk Lake and the Allen River. (Photo: R&M Consulting team member, taken by Chris Beck, Agnew::Beck Consulting, June 2012.)
Survey Work at Chikuminuk Lake
A project team member gathers survey data to correlate with satellite imagery. Developing an accurate understanding of the topography of the project site is critical to the environmental and engineering analysis. (Photo: R&M Consulting, October 2012.)
Safety in the Field - Bear Guard
The cultural resources team works to identify archaeological and cultural sites within the vicinity of the potential project during a summer site visit. (Photo: Nuvista Light and Electric Cooperative, June 2012.)
|
