Yukon River Research Articles

Origin of last-glacial loess in the western Yukon-Tanana Upland, central Alaska, USA

AbstractLoess is widespread over Alaska, and its accumulation has traditionally been associated with glacial periods. Surprisingly, loess deposits securely dated to the last glacial period are rare in Alaska, and paleowind reconstructions for this time period are limited to inferences from dune orientations. We report a rare occurrence of loess deposits dating to the last glacial period, ~19 ka to ~12 ka, in the Yukon-Tanana Upland. Loess in this area is very coarse grained (abundant coarse silt), with decreases in particle size moving south of the Yukon River, implying that the drainage basin of this river was the main source. Geochemical data show, however, that the Tanana River valley to the south is also a likely distal source. The occurrence of last-glacial loess with sources to both the south and north is explained by both regional, synoptic-scale winds from the northeast and opposing katabatic winds that could have developed from expanded glaciers in both the Brooks Range to the north and the Alaska Range to the south. Based on a comparison with recent climate modeling for the last glacial period, seasonality of dust transport may also have played a role in bringing about contributions from both northern and southern sources.

Satellite remote sensing estimation of river discharge: Application to the Yukon River Alaska

A methodology based on general hydraulic relations for rivers has been developed to estimate the discharge (flow rate) of rivers using satellite remote sensing observations. The estimates of discharge, flow depth, and flow velocity are derived from remotely observed water surface area, water surface slope, and water surface height, and demonstrated for two reaches of the Yukon River in Alaska, at Eagle (reach length 34.7 km) and near Stevens Village (reach length 38.3 km). The method is based on fundamental equations of hydraulic flow resistance in rivers, including the Manning equation and the Prandtl-von Karman universal velocity distribution equation. The method employs some new hydraulic relations to help define flow resistance and height of the zero flow boundary in the channel. Estimates are made both with and without calibration. The water surface area of the river reach is measured by using a provisional version of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat based product named Dynamic Surface Water Extent (DSWE). The water surface height and slope measurements require a self-consistent datum, and are derived from observations from the Jason-2 satellite altimeter mission. At both reach locations, the Jason-2 radar altimeter non-winter heights consistently tracked the stage recorded at USGS streamgages with a standard deviation of differences (error) during the non-winter periods of less than 7%. Part of the error may be due to differences in the gage and altimeter crossing locations with respect to the range of stage change and the response to changes in discharge at the upstream and downstream locations. For the non-winter periods, the radar derived slope estimates (mean = 0.0003) were constant over the mission lifetime, and in agreement with previously measured USGS water surface slopes and slopes determined from USGS topographic maps. The accuracy of the mean of the uncalibrated daily estimates of discharge varied between reaches, ranging from 13% near Stevens Village (N = 90) to −21% at Eagle (N = 246) based on the absolute error, and 5% to −6% based on the error of the log of the estimates. Calibrating to the mean of USGS daily discharge estimates from the streamflow rating for the same period of record at each streamgage resulted in mean absolute errors ranging from 1% to 2%, and log errors ranging from 1% or less. The error pattern of the estimates shows that without calibration, even though the mean is well simulated, the high and low end values over the range of estimates may have significant bias.

Springtime Flood Risk Reduction in Rural Arctic: A Comparative Study of Interior Alaska, United States and Central Yakutia, Russia

Every spring, riverine communities throughout the Arctic face flood risk. As the river ice begins to thaw and break up, ice jams—accumulation of chunks and sheets of ice in the river channel, force melt water and ice floes to back up for dozens of kilometers and flood vulnerable communities upstream. Via a comparative analysis between two flood-prone communities in Alaska and Yakutia (Siberia), this study examines key components of flood risk—hazards, exposure, and vulnerability, and existing practices in flood risk reduction in rural Arctic. The research sites are two rural communities—Galena (Yukon River) and Edeytsy (Lena River), which sustained major ice-jam floods in May 2013. The data was acquired through a combination of direct observations on site, review of documents and archives, focus group discussions, and surveys. Five focus groups with US and Russian representatives from disaster management agencies revealed a few similar patterns as well as significant differences in flood risk reduction strategies. The main differences included higher reliance on mechanical and short-term ice jam and flood mitigation efforts (e.g., ice-jam demolition) in the Russian Arctic, and lack of a centralized flood management model in the US. Surveys conducted among population at risk during the site visits to Edeytsy (November 2015) and Galena (March 2016) revealed higher satisfaction levels with the existing flood risk reduction efforts among Edeytsy residents. Survey respondents in Galena indicated the lack of ice jam removal and other flood prevention measures as the key drawback in the existing flood management. Historical analysis, conducted via the disaster Pressure and Release (PAR) model, revealed that springtime flood risk in both regions results from complex interactions among a series of natural processes that generate conditions of hazard, and human actions that generate conditions of communities’ exposure and vulnerability. The analysis revealed colonial heritage, top-down governance, and limited inclusion of local communities in the decision-making as the driving forces of vulnerability in both regions. Seasonal weather patterns and regional river channel morphology determine the location, severity, and duration of floods. The analysis also revealed the importance of continuous communication between all stakeholders in timely and effective flood risk management in both regions.

Geomorphic Controls on Floodplain Soil Organic Carbon in the Yukon Flats, Interior Alaska, From Reach to River Basin Scales

AbstractFloodplains accumulate and store organic carbon (OC) and release OC to rivers, but studies of floodplain soil OC come from small rivers or small spatial extents on larger rivers in temperate latitudes. Warming climate is causing substantial change in geomorphic process and OC fluxes in high latitude rivers. We investigate geomorphic controls on floodplain soil OC concentrations in active‐layer mineral sediment in the Yukon Flats, interior Alaska. We characterize OC along the Yukon River and four tributaries in relation to geomorphic controls at the river basin, segment, and reach scales. Average OC concentration within floodplain soil is 2.8% (median = 2.2%). Statistical analyses indicate that OC varies among river basins, among planform types along a river depending on the geomorphic unit, and among geomorphic units. OC decreases with sample depth, suggesting that most OC accumulates via autochthonous inputs from floodplain vegetation. Floodplain and river characteristics, such as grain size, soil moisture, planform, migration rate, and riverine DOC concentrations, likely influence differences among rivers. Grain size, soil moisture, and age of surface likely influence differences among geomorphic units. Mean OC concentrations vary more among geomorphic units (wetlands = 5.1% versus bars = 2.0%) than among study rivers (Dall River = 3.8% versus Teedrinjik River = 2.3%), suggesting that reach‐scale geomorphic processes more strongly control the spatial distribution of OC than basin‐scale processes. Investigating differences at the basin and reach scale is necessary to accurately assess the amount and distribution of floodplain soil OC, as well as the geomorphic controls on OC.

Community-Based Monitoring as the practice of Indigenous governance: A case study of Indigenous-led water quality monitoring in the Yukon River Basin

Indigenous peoples are increasingly developing Community-Based Monitoring programs to protect the waters and lands within their territories in response to multiple ecological and political stressors. Furthermore, CBM tends to focus on Indigenous peoples’ role as ‘knowledge holders.’ This paper explores CBM through a governance lens by understanding CBM as a strategy for the assertion of Indigenous sovereignty and jurisdiction. Research findings revealed that CBM is understood as both a method for generating data useful for decision-making and an expression of governance itself, rooted in understandings of stewardship, kinship and responsibility. Our findings also suggest that data quality and credibility, trust and legitimacy and relevance to decision contexts are key to mobilizing CBM data in relevant decision-making processes. We provide three recommendations to improve linkages between CBM programs and Indigenous governance: Indigenous governments must take a leading role in CBM programs; networked capacity between Indigenous governments can be built using a bridging organization; and CBM programs should be closely coupled with Indigenous environmental governance strategies. All research herein is collaborative and is based on our engagement with the Indigenous Observation Network – an Indigenous-led community-based water quality monitoring network involving Yukon and BC First Nations as well as Alaska Native Tribes. It is considered the largest Indigenous water quality network in the world and is coordinated by the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council and the United States Geological Survey. Results are derived from interviews with twenty samplers and ten other stakeholders with attention to ways to better inform internal and external decision-making processes.

Potential impact of natural organic ligands on the colloidal stability of silver nanoparticles

Interaction of natural organic matter (NOM) with engineered nanoparticles (NPs) determine NP fate, transport, and environmental persistence. However, the effect of NOM chemical composition, structure, and concentration on aggregation kinetics and dissolution behavior of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are still poorly understood because of heterogeneity and variability in NOM and AgNP properties. Here, aggregation behavior of citrate-coated silver nanoparticles (cit-AgNPs with a z-average diameter of 18nm) was investigated in the presence of l-cysteine (l-cys) and N-acetyl l-cysteine (NAL-cys) using UV–vis spectroscopy. We also investigated the effect of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) and a NOM isolated from the Yukon River (YRNOM) on the stability of cit-AgNPs. The dissolution of cit-AgNPs decreased with increased L-cys and NAL-cys concentration from 0 to 10μM. The critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of cit-AgNPs decreased in the presence of l-cys and increased in the presence of NAL-cys. Similarly, l-cys destabilizes cit-AgNPs in the presence of SRFA. The differences in the stability of cit-AgNPs in the presence of l-cys and NAL-cys can be attributed to the differences in the functional groups in these two cysteine molecules. l-cys has both negatively charged carboxylic group and a positively charged amine group, resulting in bridging between different particles. NAL-cys is a derivative of cysteine wherein an acetyl group is attached to the nitrogen atom thus shielding the positive charge on the amine group and therefore eliminating the bridging interaction mechanism. SRFA and YRNOM enhanced the stability of cit-AgNPs and increased the CCC value to higher counter ion concentrations. The concentration of SRFA (1–5mgL−1) did not affect the CCC, whereas the increased concentration of YRNOM increased the CCC of cit-AgNPs to high Na+ concentrations likely due to increased sorption of higher molecular weight compounds on the surface of cit-AgNPs. The outcome of this study suggests the importance of understanding the molecular properties of NOM (e.g. functional groups and molecular weight) in determining cit-AgNP environmental behaviors.

Ecosystem carbon emissions from 2015 forest fires in interior Alaska

BackgroundIn the summer of 2015, hundreds of wildfires burned across the state of Alaska, and consumed more than 1.6 million ha of boreal forest and wetlands in the Yukon–Koyukuk region. Mapping of 113 large wildfires using Landsat satellite images from before and after 2015 indicated that nearly 60% of this area was burned at moderate-to-high severity levels. Field measurements near the town of Tanana on the Yukon River were carried out in July of 2017 in both unburned and 2015 burned forested areas (nearly adjacent to one-another) to visually verify locations of different Landsat burn severity classes (low, moderate, or high; LBS, MBS, HBS).ResultsField measurements indicated that the loss of surface organic layers in boreal ecosystem fires is a major factor determining post-fire soil temperature changes, depth of thawing, and carbon losses from the mineral topsoil layer. Measurements in forest sites showed that soil temperature profiles to 30 cm depth at burned forest sites were higher by an average of 8–10 °C compared to unburned forest sites. Sampling and laboratory analysis indicated a 65% reduction in soil carbon content and a 58% reduction in soil nitrogen content in severely burned sample sites compared to soil mineral samples from nearby unburned spruce forests.ConclusionsCombined with nearly unprecedented forest areas severely burned in the Interior region of Alaska in 2015, total ecosystem fire-related losses of carbon to the atmosphere exceeded most previous estimates for the state, owing mainly to inclusion of potential “mass wasting” and decomposition in the mineral soil carbon layer in the 2 years following these forest fires.

Tracking Dynamic Northern Surface Water Changes with High-Frequency Planet CubeSat Imagery

Recent deployments of CubeSat imagers by companies such as Planet may advance hydrological remote sensing by providing an unprecedented combination of high temporal and high spatial resolution imagery at the global scale. With approximately 170 CubeSats orbiting at full operational capacity, the Planet CubeSat constellation currently offers an average revisit time of <1 day for the Arctic and near-daily revisit time globally at 3 m spatial resolution. Such data have numerous potential applications for water resource monitoring, hydrologic modeling and hydrologic research. Here we evaluate Planet CubeSat imaging capabilities and potential scientific utility for surface water studies in the Yukon Flats, a large sub-Arctic wetland in north central Alaska. We find that surface water areas delineated from Planet imagery have a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of <11% and geolocation accuracy of <10 m as compared with manual delineations from high resolution (0.3–0.5 m) WorldView-2/3 panchromatic satellite imagery. For a 625 km2 subarea of the Yukon Flats, our time series analysis reveals that roughly one quarter of 268 lakes analyzed responded to changes in Yukon River discharge over the period 23 June–1 October 2016, one half steadily contracted, and one quarter remained unchanged. The spatial pattern of observed lake changes is heterogeneous. While connections to Yukon River control the hydrologically connected lakes, the behavior of other lakes is complex, likely driven by a combination of intricate flow paths, underlying geology and permafrost. Limitations of Planet CubeSat imagery include a lack of an automated cloud mask, geolocation inaccuracies, and inconsistent radiometric calibration across multiple platforms. Although these challenges must be addressed before Planet CubeSat imagery can achieve its full potential for large-scale hydrologic research, we conclude that CubeSat imagery offers a powerful new tool for the study and monitoring of dynamic surface water bodies.

Landscape antiquity and Cenozoic drainage development of southern Yukon, through restoration modeling of the Tintina Fault

The impact of Tintina Fault displacement on the development of the Yukon River and drainage basins of central Yukon is investigated through geophysical and hydrological modeling of digital terrain model data. Regional geological evidence suggests that the age of the planation of the Klondike Plateau is at least Late Cretaceous, rather than Neogene as previously assumed, and that surprisingly there has been little net incision in the region since the late Mesozoic. The Tintina Fault has been previously interpreted to have experienced ∼430 km of dextral displacement, primarily during the Eocene. However, the alignment of river channels across the fault at specific displacements, coupled with recent seismic events and related fault activity, suggests that the fault may have moved in stages over a longer time span. Topographic restoration and hydrological models show that the drainage of the Yukon River northwestward into Alaska via the ancestral Kwikhpak River was only possible at restored displacements of up to ∼50–55 km on the Tintina Fault. We interpret the published drainage reversals convincingly attributed to the effects of Pliocene glaciation as an overprint on earlier Yukon River reversals attributed to tectonic displacements along the Tintina Fault. At restored displacements between 230 and 430 km, our models illustrate that paleo-Yukon River drainage may have flowed eastward into the continental interior via an ancestral Liard River. The revised drainage evolution has wide-reaching implications for surficial geology deposits, the flow direction and channel geometries of the region’s ancient rivers, and importantly, for exploration of placer gold deposits.

On the geochemical heterogeneity of rivers draining into the straits and channels of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

AbstractTen rivers across northern Canada and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) were sampled during spring 2014 and summer 2015 to investigate their geochemical heterogeneity for comparison against larger North American (i.e., Mackenzie and Yukon Rivers) and Siberian rivers. In general, rivers draining the western and/or northern regions of the study area have higher solute concentrations and lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios compared to rivers draining the eastern and/or southern regions. The inorganic geochemical signatures largely reflect the bedrock geology, which is predominately carbonate in the western and/or northern regions and silicate in the eastern and/or southern regions. Riverine δ18O values primarily correlate with latitude, with only a few exceptions. Measurements of total alkalinity (TA) were combined with a regional analysis of bedrock geology and extrapolated to produce a range for the mean characteristic TA of rivers draining into the straits and channels of the CAA (628–819 µeq kg−1). Combining this estimate with contributions from the Mackenzie River yields a revised North American river runoff TA of 935–1182 µeq kg−1, which is much lower than that of the Mackenzie River (1540 µeq kg−1). This lower concentration suggests that TA may not be used to distinguish between North American and Siberian river contributions in regions such as Davis Strait.

Catalog of Chinook Salmon Spawning Areas in Yukon River Basin in Canada and United States

Abstract Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha return to the Yukon River in northwestern North America each summer, migrating to spawning destinations from the lower river to more than 3,000 km upstream. These returns support numerous fisheries throughout the basin. Despite a long history of fisheries research and management, there is no comprehensive account of Chinook Salmon spawning areas in the basin. To address this issue, we cataloged, summarized, and mapped the known spawning areas of Yukon River Chinook Salmon by using a variety of sources including published articles, gray literature, and information archived in agency databases. Most of our sources were published within the past 30 y, but some refer to observations that were recorded as long ago as the late 1800s. We classified spawning areas as major or minor producers with three indicators of abundance: 1) quantitative estimates of escapement (major producer if ≥500 fish, minor producer if <500 fish), 2) radiotelemetry-based proportions of annual production (major producer if ≥1% of the run, minor producer if <1% of the run), and 3) aerial survey index counts (major producer if ≥165 fish observed, minor producer if <165 fish observed). We documented 183 spawning areas in the Yukon River basin, 79 in the United States, and 104 in Canada. Most spawning areas were in tributary streams, but some were in main-stem reaches as well. We classified 32 spawning areas as major producers and 151 as minor producers. The Chinook Salmon spawning areas cataloged here provide a baseline that makes it possible to strategically direct abundance, biological sampling, and genetics projects for maximum effect and to assess both spatial and temporal changes within the basin.

Glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors, subarctic Alaska

AbstractArctic river discharge has increased in recent decades although sources and mechanisms remain debated. Abundant literature documents permafrost thaw and mountain glacier shrinkage over the past decades. Here we link glacier runoff to aquifer recharge via a losing headwater stream in subarctic Interior Alaska. Field measurements in Jarvis Creek (634 km2), a subbasin of the Tanana and Yukon Rivers, show glacier meltwater runoff as a large component (15–28%) of total annual streamflow despite low glacier cover (3%). About half of annual headwater streamflow is lost to the aquifer (38 to 56%). The estimated long‐term change in glacier‐derived aquifer recharge exceeds the observed increase in Tanana River base flow. Our findings suggest a linkage between glacier wastage, aquifer recharge along the headwater stream corridor, and lowland winter discharge. Accordingly, glacierized headwater streambeds may serve as major aquifer recharge zones in semiarid climates and therefore contributing to year‐round base flow of lowland rivers.

Age of some Pleistocene interglacial beds and associated fossils in eastern Beringia defined by fission tracks in glass shards of Chester Bluff tephra

AbstractApplication of the glass fission-track dating method to Chester Bluff tephra (CBt), exposed in loess deposits at Chester Bluff along the Yukon River in east-central Alaska, has clarified the age of the immediately underlying fossiliferous interglacial bed. Surprise Creek tephra (SZt), at site CRH47 in the northern Old Crow basin of the Yukon Territory, is a correlative of CBt so that the new age information on CBt can also be applied to the interglacial sediments below SZt. Two independent age determinations were obtained on CBt, 243±28 ka and 249±26 ka, giving a weighted mean age and error of 246±19 ka. Therefore, the closely associated interglacial bed belongs to the early part of Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 7. The stratigraphy and paleoenvironmental setting of SZt show that deposition of the tephra occurred soon after interglacial conditions, when the climate became colder, probably between MIS 7.5 and 7.4, that is, slightly younger than the mean fission-track age, but within the 1σ uncertainty. This result tightly constrains the age of the rich mammalian faunal assemblage found at and just below SZt at the CRH47 site.

Relationship between δ15N values of bulk sediments and total organic carbon concentration in response to orbital-scale biogenic opal production in the Bering slope area over the last 600 kyrs

Biogenic opal production in the surface water of the Bering Sea shows clear orbital-scale variations such as interglacial highs and glacial lows. In this study, we examined the variation patterns in δ15N of bulk sediment (δ15Nbulk) reflecting nitrate utilization, and total organic carbon (TOC) concentration in terms of organic carbon (OC) production, in response to the orbital-scale biogenic opal production during the last 600 kyrs at Site U1343 (IODP Exp. 323) in the Bering slope area. At Site U1343, δ15Nbulk value and TOC concentration do not show the distinct glacial-interglacial change. Moreover, contrary to the weak correlation between TOC and biogenic opal concentrations, TOC concentration is positively correlated with δ15Nbulk value, indicating the strong control of OC production on nitrate utilization. It should be noted that glacial terminations are characterized by high δ15Nbulk value, high TOC and low biogenic opal concentration whereas the following full interglacials are characterized by low δ15Nbulk value, low TOC and high biogenic opal concentration during the last 600 kyrs. In other words, glacial terminations are characterized by complete nitrate utilization associated with high OC production under low biogenic opal production, whereas the following full interglacial periods are characterized by decreased nitrate utilization associated with low OC production under high biogenic opal production. Such different glacial-interglacial variation patterns of OC production and nitrate utilization in response to biogenic opal production can best be explained by variable Si/C (or Si/N) uptake ratio by diatoms possibly owing to Fe availability. The glacial Fe input increase at Site U1343 is thought to be ascribed to more dust input or large discharge from the glacial Yukon River. These findings imply that Fe transport and contribution may play a significant role in governing the nutrient cycles in the Bering slope region of the Northern Hemisphere.

Importance of lateral flux and its percolation depth on organic carbon export in Arctic tundra soil: Implications from a soil leaching experiment

AbstractTemperature rise in the Arctic is causing deepening of active layers and resulting in the mobilization of deep permafrost dissolved organic matter (DOM). However, the mechanisms of DOM mobilization from Arctic soils, especially upper soil horizons which are drained most frequently through a year, are poorly understood. Here we conducted a short‐term leaching experiment on surface and deep organic active layer soils, from the Yukon River basin, to examine the effects of DOM transport on bulk and molecular characteristics. Our data showed a net release of DOM from surface soils equal to an average of 5% of soil carbon. Conversely, deep soils percolated with surface leachates retained up to 27% of bulk DOM while releasing fluorescent components (up to 107%), indicating selective release of aromatic components (e.g., lignin and tannin), while retaining nonchromophoric components, as supported by spectrofluorometric and ultrahigh‐resolution mass spectroscopic techniques. Our findings highlight the importance of the lateral flux of DOM on ecosystem carbon balance as well as processing of DOM transport through organic active layer soils en route to rivers and streams. This work also suggests the potential role of leachate export as an important mechanism of C losses from Arctic soils, in comparison with the more traditional pathway from soil to atmosphere in a warming Arctic.

Effect of Ichthyophonus on blood plasma chemistry of spawning Chinook salmon and their resulting offspring in a Yukon River tributary.

Ichthyophonus is a protozoan parasite of Alaska Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. In this study, we determined whether spawning Chinook salmon in the Yukon River drainage exhibited a measurable stress response (i.e. elevated plasma cortisol concentrations) and detectable changes in selected blood plasma chemistry parameters when infected with Ichthyophonus. The resulting alevin were also analyzed for any differences in blood plasma chemistry caused by parental infection with Ichthyophonus. In 2010, 2011, and 2012, spawning adult Chinook salmon were collected from the Salcha River, Alaska, USA, and the prevalence of Ichthyophonus in these fish was 7.8, 6.3, and 8.3%, respectively. Fish with no clinical signs of Ichthyophonus and Ichthyophonus-positive parents were cross-fertilized to investigate potential second-generation effects as a result of Ichthyophonus infection. We found no significant difference in cortisol concentrations in blood plasma between Ichthyophonus-positive and -negative adults or between alevin from Ichthyophonus-positive and -negative parents. There were no significant differences in blood plasma parameters (e.g. alanine aminotransferase, creatine kinase, glucose) of Ichthyophonus-negative and -positive adults, with the exception of aspartate aminotransferase, which was significantly higher in plasma of Ichthyophonus-negative adults. All clinical chemistry parameters for alevin resulting from both Ichthyophonus-negative and -positive parents were not significantly different. Based on this study, which has a limited sample size and low prevalence of Ichthyophonus, offspring of Chinook salmon appear to suffer no disadvantage as a result of Ichthyophonus infection in their parents on the Salcha River.

The incorporation of traditional knowledge into Alaska federal fisheries management

Fisheries policy and management processes for federal waters off western Alaska currently lack consistent and considered integration of traditional knowledge (TK), TK holders, social science of TK, and subsistence information. The incorporation of these into fisheries work can lead to more informed, equitable and effective policy and management practices. This paper includes information and recommendations derived from previous work by the authors as well as from two community workshops with indigenous TK holders and fisheries experts. Discussions of TK and related concepts, TK research in the Bering Strait and Yukon River regions, and Alaska federal fisheries management-related institutions and processes as pertains to TK are presented. Substantive recommendations are provided for improving processes, increasing tribal representation, capacity building, effective communication, outreach and relationship-building, the incorporation of indigenous concerns and values, and regarding the development of a Fisheries Ecosystem Plan for the Bering Sea.

Wealth Woman: Kate Carmack and the Klondike Race for Gold. By Deb Vanasse

In Wealth Woman, Deb Vanasse draws readers into the world of Kate Carmack, the Tagish woman who—with her husband, George, and her brother Keish (Skookum Jim)—was at the center of the 1896 gold discovery that launched the epic Klondike Gold Rush. Kate has been underrepresented or misrepresented in many popular accounts of the discovery and its aftermath. Vanasse endeavors to correct the record with this biography. In the process, she offers readers a view of the Klondike Gold Rush from an indigenous perspective. The first half of the book provides the cultural and historical context of Kate’s life before the gold discovery. Vanasse follows Kate (then Shaaw Tláa) from the subsistence round of her girlhood through a decade of travels along the Yukon River with her husband, the white prospector and trader George Carmack, culminating in his filing the Klondike discovery claims and extracting the gold that would make them rich. In the second half of the book, Vanasse follows Kate, George, and their daughter, Graphie, from Dawson to Seattle in 1898 and then on to California, where they settled on a ranch owned by George’s sister. Just two years later, George abandoned Kate for another woman. After legal action failed to save her marriage or win her a portion of the Carmack fortune, Kate returned with Graphie to the Yukon, where she lived in Carcross near Tagish family members until her death in 1920. Vanasse is a non-Native author who taught English in Alaska Native villages. Throughout the book, she treats Kate and her culture with empathy and respect.

Genetic Analysis Identifies Consistent Proportions of Seasonal Life History Types in Yukon River Juvenile and Adult Chum Salmon

Genetic Analysis Identifies Consistent Proportions of Seasonal Life History Types in Yukon River Juvenile and Adult Chum Salmon

Genetic Analysis Identifies Consistent Proportions of Seasonal Life History Types in Yukon River Juvenile and Adult Chum Salmon

Genetic Analysis Identifies Consistent Proportions of Seasonal Life History Types in Yukon River Juvenile and Adult Chum Salmon