F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment - Joint Base Elmendorf ...

F-22 Plus-Up Environmental Assessment
3.0 Affected Environment
Georgetown is on the north bank of the upper Kuskokwim River in the Kilbuck-Kuskokwim
Mountains. Europeans first entered the middle Kuskokwim area in 1844 when the Russian
explorer Zagoskin sailed upriver to McGrath. At that time, Georgetown was a summer fish
camp for residents of Kwigiumpainukamuit and was known as Keledzhichagat (Alaska DCED
2000). Gold was found along the George River in 1909 and the mining settlement of
Georgetown was named for three traders.
The town grew to about 200 cabins and several stores. By 1953, only one large structure from
the mining era remained: a two-story cabin that belonged to George Fredericks. The present
settlement developed in the 1950s. A state school was established in 1965 and remained until
1970. Georgetown is presently used as a seasonal fishing camp. It has no year-round residents
(Alaska DCED 2000).
Lime Village is on the south bank of the Stony River south of McGrath. It is a Dena’ina
Athabascan Indian settlement that was settled by Europeans in 1907. Residents of nearby Lake
Clark used the location as a summer fishing camp (Alaska DCED 2000). The 1939 U.S. Census
called the settlement Hungry Village. Sts. Constantine and Helen, a Russian Orthodox chapel
was built there in 1960 and a state school constructed in 1974 (Alaska DCED 2000). Presently,
subsistence is based on hunting and gathering with some seasonal work in fire fighting and
trapping.
Red Devil is located on both banks of the Kuskokwim River at the mouth of Red Devil Creek.
The village was named after the Red Devil mercury mine established in 1921. The mine
continued to operate until 1971 (Alaska DCED 2000). The village is a mix of Eskimo,
Athabascan, and non-native inhabitants who supplement their income with subsistence
activities.
Sleetmute is on the east bank of the Kuskokwim River. It is an Ingalik Indian village that has
also been known as Sikkiut, Steelmut, and Steitmute (Alaska DCED 2000). A Russian trading
post was built at the nearby Holitna River junction 1.5 miles away, but was moved farther
downriver in 1841. Another trading post was started at Sleetmute in 1906. A school and post
office opened in the 1920s and a Russian Orthodox church was built in 1931 (Alaska DCED
2000).
Stony River, also known as Moose Village and Moose Creek, is on the north bank of the
Kuskokwim River near its junction with the Stony River. It began as a trading post and
riverboat landing supplying mining operations to the north (Alaska DCED 2000). The first
trading post and post office were opened during the 1930s, and area natives established
residency there in the 1960s. The village is a mix of Athabascan and Eskimo people who
depend heavily on a subsistence economy.
3.7.2.3 Susitna MOA
No NRHP-listed cultural resources are under this MOA (NRIS 2011). No federally recognized
Alaska Native villages are located under Susitna airspace (Bureau of Indian Affairs 2000).
Page 3-41