3.0 Affected Environment - Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority

Knik Arm Crossing DraftFinal EIS
Affected Environment
subsistence on federal land, state law regulates subsistence on state land, and the regulations
differ. Federal law defines rural and nonrural areas, and a person must be a rural Alaska
resident to participate in subsistence on federally owned lands under federal subsistence
regulations. Under State law, however, all Alaska residents are eligible to participate in
subsistence on State-owned lands, but only in State-defined subsistence use areas.
The Knik Arm Dena’ina do not qualify as subsistence users under state and federal
regulations because the greater Anchorage–Mat-Su Valley “urban” region encompasses their
traditional lands and harvest areas, and current federal and State regulations do not recognize
subsistence activities in Knik Arm. Under federal subsistence regulations established under
ANILCA Title VIII, federal lands have to be classified as “rural,” and Knik Arm is not
considered rural. Similarly, state regulations (AS § § 16.05.258 and 16.05.940) do not allow
for subsistence in nonrural or nonsubsistence areas. The Cook Inlet basin is considered
nonrural, with the exception of designated subsistence areas for Tyonek, Nanwalek, and Port
Graham, which are outside of the Study Area (KABATA 2004a).
3.2.5.2 Contemporary harvest patterns of the Cook Inlet Dena’ina
Although there is no state- or federally-recognized subsistence in the immediate Study Area,
the Cook Inlet Dena’ina harvest local resources, and depend on them both economically and
culturally. Three major categories of fish and wildlife are found in the Study Area: salmon,
moose, and beluga whale. Historically, salmon, moose and beluga whale have been harvested
by the Dena’ina Athabascan. Information on harvest levels of fish and wildlife for the Upper
Inlet Dena’ina communities is both limited and dated. While some traditional harvest
information is available for Tyonek and Chickaloon, information is not available for the
traditional harvest by Knik and Eklutna. Subsistence harvest information for the Dena’ina
community of Chickaloon in 1982 indicates that over 50 percent of the total harvest—as well
as the per capita harvest was moose and caribou, with salmon making up the next largest
category, at 20 percent of the total harvest (ADF&G 2001). These figures provide an estimate
of the tribal reliance on these fish and wildlife resources.
3.2.5.2.1 Salmon
Under AS 05 Alaska Administrative Code (AAC) 93.200, both the Knik Tribal Council and
Native Village of Eklutna Tribes are allowed to harvest salmon for personal consumption
under educational fishery programs. The Knik Tribal Council uses an educational fishery site
on the west side of Knik Arm near Fish Creek. The Native Village of Eklutna uses a site on
the east side of Upper Cook Inlet. Reported harvest levels for the educational fisheries are
500 salmon for the Knik Tribal Council (ADF&G Permit SF 2005-101) and 1,000 salmon for
the Native Village of Eklutna (ADF&G Permit SF 2005-133).
3.2.5.2.2 Moose
Moose are harvested by tribal members under sport hunting regulations. Moose hunting
occurs primarily during the fall season in the general Study Area (KABATA 2004a).
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