Alaska Field Work Kicks Off

In the third week of June, Katie Engelmann and Kathy Allen started off GSS’s Alaska helicopter field season with a 10-day trip in the Bristol Bay Fisheries Reserve wetland mapping project area. They were based out of Dillingham for five days, surveying areas including Togiak National Wildlife Refuge and Wood-Tikchik State Park. The remaining five days were based out of King Salmon, on the Alaska Peninsula along the Naknek River. From there, the team visited Becharof National Wildlife Refuge, including lands around Iliamna Lake and Becharof Lake. Unique geologic features include Mount Peulik, Ukinrek Maars and the Gas Rocks formation. For the final two days of the trip, Katie and Kathy were joined by fellow-analyst Nicole Ryan, who stayed on to assist with the next phase of field work. The team was also joined by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Coordinator, Nick Jones, for 3 days. The team conducted vegetation and soil data collection in wetlands utilizing methods developed by the Alaska Geospatial Council Vegetation Technical Working Group. Wildlife sightings (from the helicopter) included moose, caribou, brown bear, ptarmigan, and tundra swans. Special thanks to Kurt of Pollux Aviation for his excellent piloting.