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KANA Environmental Department
In 2018, KANA established our Environmental Department with funding received from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Indian General Assistance Program (IGAP). This initiative aimed to create a consortium to address environmental concerns in collaboration with the ten Tribes of Kodiak. The Environmental Department’s primary responsibility is to assess the Tribes’ environmental priorities and develop and implement programs to support those priorities.As a result, projects undertaken by the department are continuously evolving and subject to change.
To date, we have provided assistance to the Kodiak Tribes in various areas such as water quality monitoring, hazardous and solid waste management, and climate adaptation planning. We also offer technical assistance, hands-on training, and support to help build the capacity of tribal environmental programs in assessing and monitoring environmental changes.
To facilitate improved communication and collaboration on local environmental matters and initiatives, KANA hosts a monthly environmental workgroup called K.E.L.P. (Kodiak Environmental Leaders & Professionals). This workgroup brings together tribes, local organizations, and partners to collectively address local environmental issues and promote cooperation.
If you would like to receive updates on any of the programs or join the KELP workgroup or have any questions regarding KANA’s Environmental Programs please contact:
Environmental Department Programs:
Harmful Algal Blooms, (“HABs,) a natural occurrence exacerbated by environmental factors, pose significant challenges to local communities reliant on subsistence harvesting, particularly shellfish. These blooms can produce toxins harmful to both marine life and humans, impacting food security in the Kodiak Archipelago.
Through continuous monitoring of harmful algal blooms and testing of shellfish toxin levels, this program helps address these environmental trends that pose a threat to human health and to other mammals utilized as subsistence resources. Data is used to help create public advisories for shellfish harvesting at sampled locations. Harvesters can view the most recent toxin and phytoplankton data as it is uploaded to the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research (SEATOR) database and linked to the Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom Network website
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is caused by eating shellfish contaminated with saxitoxin. Saxitoxins, also known as paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), are found naturally in Alaskan waters but can be found at heightened levels (know as a harmful algal bloom) with increased water temperatures and sunlight. Saxitoxins can be found in shellfish such as mussels, cockles, clams, scallops, oysters and crabs. Historically, Kodiak Island has had high levels of PSP. There are no beaches in the Kodiak Archipelago that are considered safe from PSP contamination.
Monitoring consists of weekly phytoplankton samples and phytoplankton identification along with biweekly tissue samples collected on the beaches at low tide. Shellfish samples are sent to KANA’s Tribal partners, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, where the tissue is processed and analyzed for Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (PSTs) levels, which can cause PSP.
Since beginning fieldwork in March 2019, the presence of all three harmful algal genus types has been confirmed:
- Alexandrium—associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP)
- Dinophysis—associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP)
- Pseudo-nitzschia—associated with amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP)
In large quantities, each algal genus poses a threat to human health. This project focuses on the abundance of Alexandrium in the water and the PSP toxin, saxitoxin, in shellfish tissue. PSP is caused by eating shellfish contaminated with saxitoxin. PSP toxins can be found in shellfish (such as mussels, cockles, clams, scallops, oysters, crabs, and lobsters) that usually live in the colder coastal waters near the Pacific states and New England.
PSP can cause deadly neurological symptoms but are generally mild. Symptoms can include numbness or tingling of the face, arms, and legs, headache, dizziness, nausea and loss of coordination. In severe cases, muscle paralysis and respiratory failure can occur and can lead to death in 2 to 25 hours.
PSP toxins cannot be removed by cooking, freezing, or soaking shellfish. Crab, because they feed on shellfish, can also become toxic. Even if the crab meat is safe, toxins tend to accumulate in the crab gut and “butter” (the white-yellow fat inside the back of the shell). Clean crab thoroughly and avoid eating the crab butter and guts.
If you feel any symptoms after eating shellfish call 911 or go to your local clinic immediately.
Please remember, commercially harvested shellfish is regulated and safe for consumption.
For more information go to:
Phytoplankton updates and shellfish toxicity levels are public data and can be found at seator.org/data or by signing up for our regular updates here.
Or see our most recent phytoplankton update here.
Ocean acidification is a chemical process that occurs when human-generated carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves in the ocean. The additional CO2 changes the chemistry of seawater and makes it more acidic. This process has been accelerating since the industrial revolution as we burn fossil fuels to generate electricity, fuel cars and planes, and contribute to land-use changes such as deforestation. Because seawater acidity can directly impact marine life, ocean acidification will affect the health of the oceans around the world and the people that depend on them.
This statewide community sampling program provides important data on seawater chemistry in dynamic coastal sites that are important to subsistence harvesting. Water samples have been collected by Tribal members since 2019 and are analyzed at the Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute in Seward. Communities that are participating in this program include the Native Village of Port Lions, Native Village of Ouzinkie, Native Village of Old Harbor, and the Native Village of Larsen Bay. The samples are analyzed for temperature, salinity, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen. Test results help build profiles of local conditions, seasonal changes and environmental impacts to help communities better understand water chemistry in their subsistence harvest areas.
Subsistence harvest of shoreside plants and shellfish is critical to the lives and traditional cultures of coastal Alaska Native communities. Understanding regional ocean acidification is critical to protecting our subsistence resources and culture.
For more information, visit:
In 2023, KANA secured funding from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Grant Program to assess bacteria concentrations at recreational beaches on Kodiak Island. This initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak and the Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor. The purpose of this program is to “decrease the incidence of water-borne illness at public beaches under the federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act.” (https://dec.alaska.gov/water/water-quality/beach-program/ )
The designated beaches for this project include Mission Beach, Buskin Beach, Frye Point (Sometimes Island) and Lighthouse Beach (Old Harbor). This is a two-year project that may see continuation based on funding availability and results obtained over the entire project period.
- To see the full field report for the 2023 sampling season in Kodiak, click here.
- To learn more about the ADEC Beach Program and to see the latest lab results, visit beaches.alaska.gov
- For more questions or to be added to the email notification list, email Environmental@kodiakhealthcare.org
This is a pilot project for Sun’aq, Old Harbor, and Larsen Bay. It involves putting temperature loggers in streams and lakes in areas of importance to the tribes. A lot of the focus is on monitoring areas with salmon. Through this project we want to make the water temperature monitoring data that is also ready out there more accessible to those who want it. The hope is that at the completion of the project we will have a freshwater quality monitoring guidebook to help make starting the process of temperature monitoring easier.
These efforts currently include swapping out water temperature and air temperature loggers in two locations that have been doing temperature monitoring and deploying water temperature loggers and an air logger in a location that has not had loggers in the past few years. These sites include lake sites, a creek site, and a river site. Each site is set up a little differently as you will mold how you set up your site based on what your site looks like.
These efforts follow state of Alaska minimum protocols laid out on AKTEMP’s website. Here you can find protocols, upload temperature data, and see data from other organizations across the state. For more information on AKTEMP head to: AKTEMP | Alaska Water Temperature Database .
This work is being done with assistance from ADF&G (Alaska Department of Fish and Game) and ACOR (Alaska Coastal Observation and Research) who will provide information on how to perform the data analysis and how to collect more in-depth limnological data.
In a significant collaboration intended to enhance local food security and environmental monitoring, Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA) has embarked on a five-year project alongside esteemed partners such as NOAA, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Sea Grant, and SeaTox. This initiative, commenced in September 2023 and slated for completion in August 2028, focuses on studying Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) around the Kodiak Archipelago. During this 5-year project, researchers will monitor the prevalence and toxicity of HABs in critical shellfish beds used for subsistence harvesting. By collecting and analyzing comprehensive data, the project seeks to develop predictive forecasts to anticipate HAB outbreaks. This will aid in determining safe times for harvesting shellfish, thereby reducing health risks for communities. KANA’s involvement ensures that local perspectives and needs are central to the research. KANA offers the Harvest and Hold program to the community, allowing harvesters to test shellfish for HAB toxins before consumption, thereby promoting food safety.
Insights gained from this collaborative effort will advance scientific understanding of HABs and strengthen community resilience against environmental threats. Through proactive engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration, KANA and its partners are addressing complex environmental challenges in the Kodiak Archipelago. By studying and mitigating the impacts of HABs, this initiative demonstrates a commitment to food security, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation, ensuring a healthier and more resilient future for all communities involved.
The Tribes of the Kodiak Archipelago are experiencing significant disruptions to their traditional way of life due to climate change. Planning and preparation are crucial to ensure the health and resilience of these communities and their people.
Most Alaska’s small rural communities use classified III, unlined landfills which leave them the two options to burn and/or bury waste without emissions or leachate treatment. This is the case for all 6 of our rural Alaska Native Villages. There is no safe way to get rid of hazardous wastes in rural Alaska, and backhauling is expensive and logistically difficult.
That’s why Backhaul Alaska was created, with a long-term goal to become a waste service for Rural Alaska agencies, individuals, and businesses. Currently, the program manages electronics -anything with a cord, lead-acid batteries, and fluorescent light bulbs are potentially hazardous materials commonly found in rural landfills. KANA and Backhaul Alaska are working closely together to expand the program regionally by including other types of potentially hazardous waste.
KANA participates in Backhaul Alaska by being the acting regional hub that local participating villages connect with to help manage waste inventories and coordinate waste staging, and shipping logistics. KANA provides hands-on assistance to communities, annual solid waste training, and an Annual Collection Event on the road system for the entire island to participate in.
To learn more about Backhaul Alaska program, visit backhaulalaska.org/
Proper waste management in Alaska is essential to a clean and healthy community. KANA provides technical and in-person assistance with solid waste management plans, waste inventories, hazardous waste management plans, landfill improvements and reorganization, waste categorization surveys and more.
KANA is also funded to develop a plan and improve processes for hazardous waste disposal for Kodiak Region. Seven of the ten tribes are located off of the Kodiak road system, making these communities only accessible by air or water. These village communities are involved in varying degrees of waste management activities, generally in partnership between tribes and their respective municipal city governments.
KANA staff is working closely with the KIB to build strong partnership and develop a plan to allow rural Tribal members and other residents residing in village communities to participate in the ‘Community Spring Clean-Up’.
Every May, Kodiak Island Borough (KIB) holds a free ‘Community Spring Clean-Up’ event for residents on the road system; which excludes those seven tribes off the road system. At the ‘Community Spring Clean-Up’ they accept a wide range of waste streams though specifically targeting and encouraging disposal of hazardous waste (HW). For example: paint, finishes, use oil, use glycol.
Our partnership with KIB, Backhaul Alaska, ANTHC, and our Funders is an essential piece of the rural waste management puzzle. Our region and the state are working diligently on to improve the environmental and human health of our Native village communities.
Kodiak Area Native Association was awarded a Farm to School Implementation Grant by the USDA Food and Nutrition Services that will run through June 2025. One of the primary goals of Farm to School (F2S) is to enhance agriculture and nutrition education at schools throughout KIBSD. Another is to build transactional and lasting relationships between local food producers and the school district to increase the amount of regionally produced fresh food in school meals..
In the first year of this grant, our Farm to School coordinator has worked closely with our town schools to support hands-on learning opportunities. Weekly technical support of Kodiak Middle School’s agriculture class helped facilitate learning about hydroponic growing, soil-based growing and raised bed construction. Student-grown produce was harvested and used for multiple taste-test events and delivered to Kodiak High School culinary arts class. Students helped plant the KMS greenhouses before school ended to help grow food for KIBSD’s summer meals program.
Hardworking volunteers revitalized Peterson, North Star, and East Elementary school gardens with the help of an AK F2S mini-grant that was secured by our F2S coordinator who led this effort. Over 140 students from the three schools learn about planting seeds and transplanting seedings. Students from The Rock Educational Group also started seeds and planted the St. Mary’s greenhouse in an effort to expand agriculture education and get Kodiak’s kid’s hands dirty. Produce from these gardens will be used to support the summer meals program and be used for student taste tests in the Fall.
Another highlight of the years’ F2S efforts is the extraordinary community partnership facilitating the Summer Gardens Intern work crew. KANA, KIBSD, KHFC, Koniag, and KWSCD have teamed up to pilot this project where up to Five beneficiaries will be employed through KANA’s SYETP to help care for school garden sites throughout the summer. This crew will participate in work-based learning and be eligible for elective credits. They will be instrumental to the success of our summer school gardens and facilitate the harvest and delivery of produce to the summer meals program.
In the next year the F2S program will be focused on establishing a transactional relationship between Alutiiq Grown Farms and the KIBSD food services to increase regionally grown food on the menu. F2S staff will also be providing technical assistance to help integrate hydroponic learning into the Port Lions and Ouzinkie schools.
If you are interested in learning more, please access our newsletter below.
High energy costs are pervasive across rural Alaska, including in the village communities in the Kodiak region. While the Kodiak Electric Association produces 99% renewable electricity at relatively affordable rates for the Kodiak road system and Port Lions, fuel for home heating and transportation costs exceed average costs in mainland Alaska and the Lower 48. Electricity and fuel costs for the five other village communities (Akhiok, Larsen Bay, Karluk, Ouzinkie, and Old Harbor) are very expensive. Residential consumers find some relief for electricity costs through the Power Cost Equalization (PCE) program, subsidizing the first 750 kWh of electricity usage monthly to the approximate cost of electricity on the Railbelt in mainland Alaska.
KANA’s Environmental and Climate Programs Director supports the development of renewable energy generation integration and energy efficiency programs throughout the Kodiak region. Through grant funding from the EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG – sub-award from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium) and the Arctic Energy Office (Arctic Energy Ambassador program), KANA can support the Kodiak region on projects aimed at reducing energy costs and improving energy efficiency. Examples include refurbishing hydroelectric generation efficiency in Ouzinkie and developing solar electricity generation in Akhiok.
These initiatives endeavor to lower energy costs and contribute to environmental sustainability and energy independence for these remote communities. Through these efforts, KANA is committed to enhancing the quality of life and economic stability of the Kodiak region by leveraging renewable energy solutions and increasing energy efficiency.
