2022 Accomplishment Report

Fiscal Year 2022

Rockfish and sea urchins congregate around a large red tree coral

(Primnoa pacifica) in the Gulf of Alaska. Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Table of Contents

Our Mission ………………………………………………………….. 1

HCD Accomplishments by the Numbers ………………. 2

A Message from ARA HCD ……………………………………. 2

HCD Sta ………………………………………………………………. 3

Accomplishments by Goal ……………………………………. 4

Goal 1 ……………………………………………………….. 4

Goal 2 ……………………………………………………….. 5

Goal 3 ……………………………………………………….. 7

Goal 4 ……………………………………………………….. 8

Goal 5 ……………………………………………………….. 10

Goal 6 ……………………………………………………….. 11

Publicaons, Presentaons and Outreach ……………. 12

Publicaons ………………………………………………. 12

Presentaons ……………………………………………. 13

Posters ……………………………………………………... 13

Trainings & Workshops……………………………… 13

Sean Eagan Parng Thoughts ……………………………….. 13

Our Mission

Habitat conservaon, protecon, and restoraon are

the foundaon for sustaining the naon’s sheries. The

Alaska Region (AKR) Habitat Conservaon Division (HCD)

carries out the Naonal Marine Fisheries Service’s

(NMFS) statutory responsibilies for habitat conserva-

on in Alaska under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Con-

servaon and Management Act (MSA), the Fish and

Wildlife Coordinaon Act (FWCA), the Naonal Environ-

mental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Power Act (FPA),

and other laws.

To priorize our resources and acvies, make decisions

in an ecosystem context, and strengthen the science

behind our decision-making, HCD works closely with the

Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), other Naonal

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraon (NOAA) line

oces, the North Pacic Fishery Management Council

(NPFMC/Council), other federal and state agencies, non-

governmental organizaons, local governments, and a

variety of industry and conservaon groups.

The Alaska Region’s mission is science-based steward-

ship of living marine resources and their habitat in the

waters of the North Pacic and Arcc Oceans o Alaska.

Responsibilies include supporng sustainable sheries,

recovering and conserving protected species, and pro-

mong healthy ecosystems and resilient coastal com-

munies.

Kelps, Alaska Peninsula. Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Accomplishments Report

Alaska Region’s Habitat Conservation Division

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

Summary of 2022: By the Numbers

> $ 7

Million

Funded 120 projects from

2006-2022

Early Coordinaon

consultaons

conducted

> $5

Million

Funding awarded

for Fish Passage

projects in AK

Completed EFH

Consultaons

57%

% EFH consultaons

Improved by HCD

recommendaons

$327,375

Funded 4 research

projects addressing

management and

science needs

~$4.5

Billion

Average wholesale value

of Alaska sh landings

per year

A Message from Gretchen Harrington, ARA HCD

The Habitat Conservaon Division’s acvies support NOAA Fisheries' mission for the

stewardship of the naon's ocean resources and their habitat. We provide vital services

for the naon, all backed by sound science and an ecosystem-based approach to manage-

ment. In support of this mission, our team implements several federal laws: the Mag-

nuson-Stevens Fishery Conservaon and Management Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordi-

naon Act, and the Federal Power Act, established to conserve Alaska's marine and fresh-

water sh habitats. Our eorts through these mandates support culturally and economically important sheries.

Aer all, healthy habitats support healthy sheries. Our sta bring diverse and valuable skills to the region to sup-

port the agency’s mission and our goals. This accomplishments report highlights the good work we completed in

FY22, the diversity of acvies, and the collaboraons that support our goals. This is, however, just a glimpse into

our work. In reality, a great deal more eort and dedicaon and collaboraon with partners goes into aaining our

goals. This was also a year of change. We said hello to one new sta member, Skylar Bayer, and said farewell to sev-

eral others. With these changes comes new opportunies, new perspecves, and new direcons. Those changes will

undoubtedly inuence our approach to achieving our goals. Enjoy reading about our work and seeing how we are

changing, and that it inspires you to learn more.

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

The 2022 HCD Team

 Erika Ammann, Fisheries Biologist, NMFS Restoraon

Center

 Cheryl Barnes, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate

 Skylar Bayer, Ph.D., Resource Management Specialist

 Ashley Bolwerk, Alaska Sea Grant State Fellow

 LTJG Stefanie Coxe, Resource Specialist

 Sean Eagan, Hydropower Coordinator

 Charlene Felkley, Essenal Fish Habitat Coordinator

 Bill Hines, Marine Resource Specialist

 Seanbob Kelly, Fisheries Biologist

 Barb Lake, Administrave Assistant

 Doug Limpinsel, Fisheries Biologist

 Joshua Markwell, Administrave Assistant

 Sean McDermo, Supervisory Marine Habitat

Resource Specialist

 John Olson, Fisheries Biologist

 Jodi Pirtle, Ph.D., Juneau Branch Chief & Deputy Assis-

tant Regional Administrator

 Linda Shaw, Wildlife Biologist

 Ellen Ward, Ph.D., Resource Management Specialist

 Molly Zaleski, Resource Management Specialist

Welcome Aboard!

Dr Skylar Bayer joined HCD in Septem-

ber. Skylar is a marine ecologist with ex-

perse in shellsh populaon dynamics,

aquaculture, science communicaon, and

policy. Skylar is joining us from Roger Wil-

liams University where she was the facul-

ty supervisor of the Shellsh Program and

in 2021 as a Fulbright Scholar studied Ice-

landic scallops and their shery in Iceland. Prior to that she

was a postdoctoral research associate with NOAA Fisheries

Milford Lab and a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow in 2018. Skylar

has a PhD in Marine Biology from the University of Maine, an

MS in Biological Oceanography from MIT/Woods Hole Joint

Program, and a BS in Marine Biology from Brown University.

HCD Anchorage

Staff.

Photo credit:

Michael Williams

Dr. Cheryl Barnes has a new posion at the AFSC in the Gulf

of Alaska Climate Integrated Modeling Project (GOA-CLIM).

Cheryl was a postdoctoral research associate with HCD since

January 2020, where she developed temporally dynamic spe-

cies distribuon models (SDMs) to integrate climate change

consideraons in EFH mapping for North Pacic species.

Ashley Bolwerk completed her year-long Sea Grant Fellow-

ship with HCD. Ashley formed a pinto abalone working group

and conducted a survey of atudes about management of

this species in Southeast Alaska communies. Ashley is mov-

ing on to a subsistence resources posion with the US Forest

Service (USFS) in Sitka. We are so appreciave of the me we

had with Ashley and wish her well.

Sean Eagan is now working with the Naonal Park Service

at Glacier Bay Naonal Park. Much of Sean’s federal career

has been with the Park Service, including American Samoa.

Sean joined HCD in 2015 as a hydrologist supporng the hy-

dropower review program.

Joshua Markwell moved on to train for a new career in safe-

ty management. Joshua joined HCD as an administrave as-

sistant in May 2021 aer leaving the U.S. Air Force. His me

here was short but we enjoyed geng to know him.

Dr. Jennifer Marsh is connuing her research on Arcc sh

communies with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Jen was

a postdoctoral research associate with HCD since January

2020, where she developed Arcc species SDMs to support

EFH mapping for the 2023 5-year Review.

John Olson is now working with the Army Corps of Engi-

neers Civil Works program. John joined HCD in 2000 working

primarily on EFH consultaons and shing eects assess-

ment.

Dr. Ellen Ward has moved to NOAA’s Oce of Internaonal

Aairs in Washington, DC. Ellen joined HCD in June 2020

working on EFH consultaons, climate acon and sh habitat

partnerships. Notably, she studied muskrats as an ecohydro-

logic indicator species (e.g., muskrat in the wetlands).

Fair Winds and Following Seas …..

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

Goal #1

Identify and pursue opportunities to conserve and re-

store marine and anadromous water habitats.

Anadromous Fish Habitat and Renewable Energy

Anadromous shes provide a number of ecological funcons and values, func-

oning as prey in freshwater food webs and as important sources of marine de-

rived nutrients to freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Pacic salmon, as an exam-

ple, are signicant to commercial, recreaonal, and subsistence shing, and hold

signicant cultural value.

In Alaska, climate change is impacng the livelihoods and cultures of local com-

munies. The ability to reduce the state’s carbon footprint is crical. Hydropow-

er development provides a renewable energy alternave to diesel generaon for

many remote Alaskan communies. However, it may also aect the accessibility

of habitat for anadromous shes that support those communies. NOAA Fisher-

ies reviews and provides technical experse for many hydropower projects in

Alaska with the goal of protecng anadromous shes and their habitat while supporng the responsible development of hydro-

power generaon. Conserving and protecng diverse anadromous waters (ries and pools, sediment composion, groundwa-

ter seeps, etc.) supports species resilience as climate change increase water temperatures or alter ow paerns. One example

of successfully striking a balance between anadromous sh, their habitat and hydropower generaon is the Allison Creek Hy-

dropower Project in Valdez.

In 2016, Copper Valley Electric completed construcon of this run-of-river hydropower facility on Allison Creek, which is habitat

for coho and pink salmon. During licensing, HCD recommended run of river ow operaons, minimum ows in the bypass, and

screening to prevent false aracon at the tailrace to avoid adverse eects on salmon habitat. We also recommended moni-

toring of ow condions and sh populaons during operaons. Our involvement was also instrumental in designing a moni-

toring plan. The Project is a win-win as demonstrated by 10 years of monitoring of the salmon in Allison Creek. Valdez now has

6.7 megawas of renewable hydropower, allowing them to avoid burning 700,000 gallons of diesel annually, and the salmon

runs from 2016 to 2021 were similarly robust to the salmon runs before the project was constructed.

Allison Creek Hydroelectric Project in Valdez,

AK. Photo Credit: Copper Valley Electric

OTHER GOAL #1

Dixon Glacier Hydropower Amendment and Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project:

The Bradley Lake Project (est. 1991) is the largest renewable energy project in Alas-

ka. Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) proposed a license amendment to the Bradley

Lake Project to capture water as the Dixon Glacier melts to support consistent pow-

er generaon. Half of Dixon Glacier is located within Kenai Naonal Wildlife Refuge

and Kenai Wilderness. AEA held an inial meeng in February 2022 to describe de-

sign opons. The glacial meltwater will be captured in a diversion basin and either

piped one mile downhill to a new power staon on Marn Stream, or ve miles

north to Bradley Lake reservoir. AEA ancipates generang an addional 55 mega-

was of power from the glacier water for a ten percent increase in Alaska’s hydro-

power capacity. Since the bypass reach is a narrow gorge that was under the glacier

a few years ago, the eects to sh habitat will be downstream. We ancipate as

much as seven miles of riverine habitat will be aected by the diversion. HCD pro-

vided study requests as part of the federal license amendment process to assess

potenal eects to salmon habitat for spawning, rearing, and migraon. Our in-

volvement inuenced the studies that will be completed and supported collabora-

on among the state and federal resource agencies.

Martin River valley, Kenai National Wildlife

Refuge. Photo Credit: Sean Eagan

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

OTHER GOAL #1

Robe Lake Ecosystem Restoraon Project: Seanbob Kelly and Eri-

ka Ammann (NOAA Restoraon Center) met with state and federal

resource agencies, the USACE, and Nave Village of Tatlek repre-

sentaves to discuss the Robe Lake Ecosystem Restoraon Project

study process. This project is part of the USACE’s Secon 206 Eco-

system Restoraon program. The quanty and quality of Pacic

salmon habitat at Robe Lake has decreased signicantly since the

1950s when dikes were constructed to abate oods. The dikes re-

duced the inow of water to Robe Lake, resulng in increased wa-

ter temperatures, vegetave growth, and anoxic condions during

winter. The planning meeng provided an opportunity to dene

problems and idenfy objecves. HCD sta plans to remain in-

volved in this restoraon project.

Alaska Regional Response Team ARRT: Oil spills are a recognized

potenal stressor to marine life worldwide. Toxic components of oil

negavely impact EFH and the tness of marine animals. Seanbob

Kelly parcipates in the NOAA Fisheries Oil Spill Response Team by

coordinang with other Regional Divisions. During oil spill respons-

es and drills, HCD provides informaon on EFH and habitat areas of

parcular concern (HAPC) in a report known as the resources at

risk. The HCD team is present at the oil spill response and prepar-

edness meengs. These meengs are well aended by the public,

tribal governments, and state and federal agencies including the

U.S. Coast Guard, the Environmental Protecon Agency, and the

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservaon. During these

meengs we review the latest reports from across the state, dis-

cuss our accomplishments including the new Alaska Regional Con-

ngency Plan, and learn how to incorporate Indigenous Knowledge

into decision making. We also receive briengs from the Bureau of

Safety and Environmental Enforcement and U.S. Coast Guard Sec-

tor in Anchorage about the development of Response Informaon

for Oshore Oil Spills in our Area Conngency Plans.

Goal #2

Provide EFH conservation recommendations that

maximize mission-critical benefits for Federally

managed species and their habitats.

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Facility Improvements Project

The USFS proposed a large-scale project

at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center

at Juneau. As proposed, the project would

redirect Steep Creek, expand parking, and

ll wetlands to create new trails along the

lakeshore. New boat docks would be con-

structed and would allow motorized ves-

sels on Mendenhall Lake to accommodate

an expected increase of tourists and an

expected decrease of glacier views. Molly

Zaleski and Linda Shaw toured the

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center with

USFS sta and USACE representaves.

HCD sta also reviewed the USFS dra

EFH assessment and dra Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS). Our comments highlighted data gaps pernent to salmon EFH, outlined possible impacts to EFH from

the proposed acons, and oered conservaon recommendaon (CRs). Our recommendaons focused on the sockeye and co-

ho salmon EFH in the area. We also recommended that the USFS consider potenal adverse impacts of invasive vegetaon spe-

cies on aquac and riparian habitats in the watershed. Our input was well received and appreciated for improving the clarity

and transparency of the review process.

Representatives from HCD, the USFS, and the USACE discuss possible changes to the Menden-

hall Glacier Visitor Center and surrounding area (10/14/21). Photo Credit: Molly Zaleski

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

OTHER GOAL #2: Projects by Location: HCD engaged in early coordination and consultation on many proposed projects po-

tentially impacting EFH in 2022. We provide notable accomplishments from our non-fishing effects consultations in this section.

Transportaon Corridors: 1) Stefanie Coxe provided CRs for a

proposed Whier Cruise Terminal project. The purpose is to

perform a geotechnical survey to support designs for a cruise

ship docking facility. These CRs to protect salmon and sub-

merged aquac vegetaon are a connuaon of early coordi-

naon that started in July. 2) Seanbob Kelly met with PRD's

Port of Alaska Cargo Terminal project team to ensure any

CRs put forth or requirements will benet our trust resources

and not conict with each other. Proposed construcon may

begin in 2025 or 2026 and last 5 to 7 years. EFH assessment is

a long way out for the proposed project but early coordinaon

ensures best outcomes . 3) Seanbob Kelly completed the re-

view of the Tongass Highway Pavement Rehabilitaon Project

with a formal leer. The purpose is to enhance the safe move-

ment of vehicles, bicycle, and pedestrian trac by widening

the highway south of Ketchikan, Alaska, in the Tongass Nar-

rows. The project would ll 2.67 acres of EFH across approxi-

mately 4,000 linear feet of shoreline habitat currently impact-

ed by the exisng road. Proposed migaon would restore

sh access to an anadromous stream; thereby, restoring EFH.

Kelp and Oyster Aquaculture Farms: Molly Zaleski pro-

vided CRs to Alaska Department of Natural Resources

(ADNR) and the USACE for 15 proposed kelp, oyster, and/

or multrophic aquaculture farms. Most CRs were pro-

vided informally during early coordinaon with ADNR or

without needing an EFH assessment. Some formal leers

focused on the larger footprint created by perming mul-

tiple farms in a single bay. That concern was echoed by

USFS. In most CRs, the Alaska Aquaculture Permitting Por-

tal was highlighted as a useful tool for permit applicants.

They are in the planning process for potential future

farms, and we saw this as a useful way to be proactive

and front-load the consultation process.

BOEM: 1) Doug Limpinsel and Jill Seymour (Protected Resources

Division or PRD) provided comments to NOAA Headquarters on

the Bureau of Ocean Energy Managements (BOEM), 2023-2028

Naonal Outer Connental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program

report and the Naonal Programmac Dra EIS. They compiled

comments submied from regional subject maer experts from

AKR and AFSC to beer inform BOEM’s naonal process. 2) In a

separate exercise, Doug Limpinsel and Ellen Ward provided pre-

scoping comments regarding the Cook Inlet Lease Sale 258. HCD

recommended BOEM beer represent their greenhouse gas

emission’s analysis. BOEM and HCD plan to discuss improving

their understanding of the Cook Inlet marine ecology.

Mines: 1) IPOP proposed to mine for gold in the Bonanza Chan-

nel of Safety Sound near Nome. Total impacts from the ve-

year mining plan are dredging 195 acres and the disposal of ap-

proximately 4,827,161 cubic yards

of material. The proposed

mine included dredging and placing ll in wetlands and estuarine

nearshore environments. HCD provided concerns and CRs based

on best available science. In September, USACE denied the appli-

caon for a permit. 2) The USFS issued its record of decision to

raise Kensington Mine tailings dam by 36 feet to accommodate

10 more years of mine tailings storage. If this dam were to fail, a

signicantly larger area of sh habitat in Berners Bay will be cov-

ered in mine tailings compared to spillage at its current capacity.

We advocated for a dry stack tailings pile similar to Green’s

Creek Mine. 3) Transboundary Mining Interagency Working

Group: Molly Zaleski is the technical advisor on the proposed

Eskay Creek Mine in Brish Columbia. The largest risks are two

proposed tailings dams. If failure occurs, this would impact the

Unuk River. HCD highlighted the downstream and transbounda-

ry impacts to EFH from mining operaons in B.C.

Bonanza Channel at Safety Sound near Nome. Photo credit: The Nome

Nugget

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

OTHER GOAL #2: Department of Defense

US Navy training acvies in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) 2023: Char-

lene Felkley reviewed the GOA SEIS/OEIS for an upcoming United

States Department of the Navy (U.S. Navy) training exercise, re-

ferred to as Northern Edge (April to October 2023). Early coordina-

on with the U.S. Navy ensured that the MSA regulatory require-

ments were met and potenal adverse impacts to EFH were mini-

mized. The U.S. Navy provided extensive habitat-related infor-

maon within the consultaon analysis and new, is a large miga-

on area (see map) that covers the connental shelf and slope out

to 4,000 meters depth with the purpose of minimizing adverse im-

pacts to salmon and their migraon routes.

Arcc Research Acvies in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas 2022-

2025: Charlene Felkley consulted on an Oce of Naval Research

project to be conducted September 2022 to 2025. The purpose of

this project is to conduct Arcc Research Acvies in the Beaufort

and Chukchi Seas to test the feasibility of using a eld of acve

acousc sources as navigaon aids to unmanned vehicles collecng

oceanographic and ice data under ice-covered condions. Acvies

in the Arcc include gliders, research vessel acvies, moored and

driing sources, and on-ice measurement systems.

 The USACE was asked by the Village of Solomon to con-

duct baseline sh and wildlife surveys in the surrounding

wetlands of Nome, Alaska. To enhance USACE’s project,

HCD proposed eDNA as a sampling method. In response

to USACE interest in seng up a rural eDNA pilot project,

HCD coordinated a team composed of AFSC sciensts,

USACE, and local stakeholder members to collect eDNA

data for nearshore sh near Solomon and Akun. USACE

has collected eDNA from two locaons in rural Alaska,

several mes during the summer and fall eld seasons.

Results are expected in 2023. Results and methods of

these projects will be a template for future nearshore

eDNA research collaboraons with the USACE in Alaska.

 HCD sta collaborated with the Chilkoot Indian Associa-

on's regional monitoring project where water samples

were collected in the Chilkoot River for environmental

DNA (eDNA) analysis to track eulachon run ming.

HCD published a web story to demonstrate how eDNA

metabarcoding can be used to characterize nearshore sh

communies in a high-latude marine environment. These

ecosystems are inuenced by large dal swings, strong cur-

rents, and signicant freshwater input from large rivers, rain,

and snowmelt.

All organisms shed DNA into the environment. Environmental DNA (eDNA)

can be used to determine the identities of the fish species that are present at

or near the time of sample collection. Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Goal #3

Use the best available science to

conduct EFH reviews and consul-

tations that support sustainable

fisheries, healthy marine

ecosystems, and resilient coastal

communities.

eDNA Pilot Projects

In 2022, HCD encouraged the use of environmental DNA

(eDNA) and NOAA Fisheries’ experse in this area to support

pilot projects applying this method in Alaska. Moreover,

eDNA data can be used to ground truth our EFH maps in data

-poor areas that depend on model predicons and lack sur-

vey or sampling informaon.

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

OTHER GOAL #3: Increasing Information Accessibility

New HCD Leers Database: Ten HCD sta nished entering over

1,200 leers from the last 22 years into our internal database. Sta

can now extract and query leers in mulple ways including by top-

ic, date, author, or state/federal tracking number. Special acknowl-

edgement to Linda Shaw, an excellent leer writer, who has wrien

more leers with EFH CRs than any other living person in Alaska.

Nearshore Fish Atlas of Alaska Database: The Nearshore Fish Atlas

of Alaska (NFAA) database was updated in FY21 to include a 5-fold

increase in data holdings, including addional gear types, locaons,

and surveys from many contributors. In June 2022, HCD and AFSC

sta updated the NFAA database website with user funcon and

accessibility improvements such as new and streamlined query

tools and results export, ability to download the whole database,

and user guide. Darcie Ne and Mandy Lindeberg (AFSC Auke Bay

Labs) walked us through the new website to get nearshore species

and habitat informaon to inform EFH consultaons and other Eco-

system-based sheries management (EBFM) informaon needs.

The project to update the NFAA data holdings and website was

funded by the Alaska EFH Research Plan.

Provide habitat expertise based

on the best available science to

improve habitat conservation and

facilitate EBFM.

Goal #4

Ecosystem-based Fishery Management

(EBFM)

HCD coordinates and

shares habitat infor-

maon with EBFM acvi-

es as an ongoing ele-

ment of our work.

Through these acvies

we have integrated ap-

plied habitat science in

EBFM to enhance NMFS mission eecveness, including de-

veloping an on-ramp to integrate habitat informaon into

stock assessments (e.g., Shotwell et al. 2022), and dynamic

species distribuon modeling methods to idenfy climate

change eects on EFH and spaal stock structure with a case-

study in the Bering Sea (e.g., Barnes et al. 2022). Addional

work to develop and support direct communicaon pathways

from habitat science conducted to management implement-

ed is an ongoing priority for HCD and NMFS AKR.

Jodi Pirtle is on the NOAA Fisheries EBFM Working Group and

AKR EBFM Team with regional oce and AFSC sta. In 2021

the EBFM Working Group published a NOAA Technical Mem-

orandum that idened ways to integrate Ecosystem Status

Reports with achieving other EBFM milestones that improve

connecons with shery management pracces.

The NPFMC hosted the 7th naonal meeng of the Scienc

Coordinaon Subcommiee (SCS7) in Sitka, Alaska. The

meeng addressed challenging and mely shery manage-

ment issues and was well aended by SSC delegates and sta

from all eight Regional Fishery Management Council SSCs, as

well as NMFS Headquarters. Jodi aended and parcipated in

work sessions over the three day meeng. The SCS7 focused

eorts on developing recommendaons for the following

topics: How to incorporate ecosystem indicators into the

stock assessment process, Developing informaon to support

management of interacng species in consideraon of EBFM,

and How to assess and develop shing level recommenda-

ons for species exhibing distribuonal changes.

Alaska EFH Mapper Upgrade: The Alaska EFH Mapper website

that was launched in 2019 has received an upgrade. The work in

2022 by Informaon Services Division and HCD improved user func-

on and accessibility. Upgrades will allow the new Alaska EFH maps

to be installed following the 2023 EFH 5-year Review. HCD in-

formed user-need improvements before project launch and during

a beta tesng phase. We look forward to the updated website

launching in early 2023 and sharing this with our partner agencies!

Fisheries Informaon System Proposal Funded: Improving the

management, security, and accessibility of HCD's spaal data as-

sets, including nearshore sh habitat and EFH datasets, is a priority

under our strategic divisional goals. HCD submied a proposal to

the Fisheries Informaon System FY23 request for proposals to

work with a cross-divisional team within AKR and AFSC to 1) imple-

ment a data archival pathway for our spaal data assets with the

Naonal Centers for Environmental Informaon (NCEI), and 2)

build a new and internally managed NMFS Alaska Nearshore Data

Portal from exisng and growing datasets - ShoreZone, Shore Sta-

on, and Nearshore Fish Atlas - and plan for future integraon of

new datasets. This work is supported in part by AKRO discreonary

funding and work will begin in early 2023.

Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy: The Alaska Mapping Execuve

Commiee (AMEC) coordinates the modernizaon of crical geo-

spaal data and mapping products for Alaska with parcipants

from 15 Federal agencies. AMEC's Coastal Mapping Subcommiee

has developed the Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy Implementa-

on Plan 2020-2030. This plan outlines a 10-year strategy for map-

ping the coast of Alaska in support of the US economy, security,

and environment. In 2022, the subcommiee included Ellen Ward

and Jodi Pirtle.

Fishing for groundfish, Alaska. Photo

Credit: Molly Zaleski

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

OTHER GOAL #4: Climate is a fundamental concern in assessing EFH. We have provided habitat expertise specifically in the

area of climate change in several different ways this year.

 Cheryl Barnes, Jodi Pirtle and others invesgated climate-

informed SDMs in a Bering Sea groundsh case study. We de-

veloped and published SDMs with diering temporal scale and

variability and compared skill in hindcasng and forecasng

species distribuons. Jen Marsh, Jodi Pirtle, and others have

been developing SDMs and revised EFH maps for Arcc sh

and crab species for the current 5-year Review. The Arcc spe-

cies work examines interannual variability in the spaal distri-

buon of species’ EFH area and habitat-related vital rates as a

rst step to consider climate change eects on EFH. These ad-

vancements in habitat science inform good approaches in de-

tecng habitat-related species distribuon shis in a changing

ecosystem to support EFH conservaon and EBFM.

 Ellen Ward was an important part of climate change work in

HCD this year, serving as an Agency Chapter Lead for NOAA on

the Alaska chapter, helping to dra the h Naonal Climate

Assessment (NCA5). Ellen Ward collaborated with Greater At-

lanc Regional Fisheries Oce to review a training she had

developed for the climate change poron of NOAA’s new Mi-

gaon Policy for Trust Resources. Ellen Ward also presented on

the topic of migang climate change impacts on EFH in Alaska

at the American Fisheries Society meeng. All of her eorts in

this arena are applied at the naonal level through the Naon-

al EFH Climate Policy.

OTHER GOAL #4: Over the last year, the HCD and AFSC teams were engaged in Council Committees and pre-

sented current progress on habitat science to the NPFMC, their Groundfish Plan Teams, the Crab Plan Team, Eco-

system Committee, and the Scientific and Statistical Committee.

Ecosystem Commiee Iniaves: Gretchen Harrington was on the

NPFMC’s Ecosystem Commiee and supported their FY22 focus

areas including the Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan Team; the

Local Knowledge, Tradional Knowledge, and Subsistence Task-

force; the Climate Change Task Force and other important ecosys-

tem-related iniaves. The Commiee developed recommenda-

ons for the Council to connue these iniaves, highlighng a

need to be inclusive and recepve to individual perspecves while

applying ecosystem/climate data to inform decisions.

Fishing Eects Evaluaon Launch: Stock assessment authors and

species experts evaluated results from the 2022 shing eects

model for groundsh and crab species with an FMP in the Gulf of

Alaska, Bering Sea, and Aleuan Islands. This process focused on

species with a greater than or equal to 10% reducon in their core

EFH area and/or species below minimum stock size thresholds,

which connued the SSC’s 2017 Review approach. The process was

presented to groundsh stock authors at the Fishing Eects Evalua-

on launch and to crab stock authors during the Crab Plan Team

(CPT) meeng. Molly Zaleski, Jodi Pirtle, Gretchen Harrington, Sa-

rah Rheinsmith (Council), and Sco Smeltz (Alaska Pacic Universi-

ty) played an important role in evaluang eects, answering ques-

ons and addressing concerns the stock authors and CPT had. Mol-

ly Zaleski and Sco Smeltz presented an evaluaon of the shing

eects results to the CPT and the Joint Groundsh Team, receiving

valuable feedback and preparing for the 2022 SSC meeng to in-

form the Council and share habitat experse.

Essential Fish Habitat 5-year Review

At the November 2021 meeng, Jodi Pirtle presented the iterave

review process for EFH component 1 (descripons and idenca-

on) and component 7 (prey of EFH species) with focus on the re-

cently completed stock assessment author review of current and

new informaon in development for these EFH components with

EFH analyst responses.

Molly Zaleski, Gretchen Harrington, and AFSC team members Ned

Laman, Jeremy Harris, and Jim Thorson supported the presentaon

and dra report of the stock assessment author review. Stock as-

sessment authors provided helpful input to strengthen this work, in

parcular for the EFH component 1 new ensemble species distribu-

on models and EFH maps. Their review furthered collaboraon

between stock assessment sciensts and EFH analysts developing

habitat science for species managed under an FMP.

Jodi Pirtle, Ned Laman (AFSC), and John Olson presented to the

Ecosystem Commiee meeng and to the SSC (January 31 - Febru-

ary 4). A team from HCD and AFSC have developed 224 new and

revised EFH Level 1, 2, and 3 descripons and maps for 211 species'

life stages in three FMPs and the complete collecon of new EFH

component 1 informaon available for the 5-year Review was pre-

sented at these meengs (new EFH SDM Discussion Paper). The

shing eects evaluaon was also updated since the 2017 EFH 5-

year Review and a plan for addressing EFH component 2 Fishing

Eects was presented at this meeng (new EFH shing eects Dis-

cussion Paper).

The 2023 EFH 5-year Review process is ongoing with ancipated

compleon in 2023.

Molly Zaleski presenting the stock author fishing effects evaluation results to

the September Joint Groundfish Plan Teams meeting in Seattle, WA. Photo

Credit: Gretchen Harrington.

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

Goal #5

Participate in partnerships within and outside of

NOAA that advance habitat conservation.

Invasive Green Crab in Alaska

Linda Shaw, AKR Invasive Species Coordinator, and other HCD sta worked to prevent

the spread of invasive green crab in Alaska through shared stewardship and persever-

ance. Green crab has implicaons to NOAA trust resources, including predaon on ju-

venile salmon, compeon with juvenile Dungeness crab, and destrucon of eelgrass

beds. Brish Columbia and three western states reported increased populaons of this

invasive species at a Pacic States Marine Fisheries Commission West Coast Green

Crab Meeng in December 2021.

Prior to the crab’s arrival in Alaska, Linda Shaw collaborated on several grant proposals

to nd funding for early detecon eorts in southern Southeast Alaska. Shaw, along

with AKR’s graphic designer (Paul Irvin), and AKR’s Administrave Assistant (Barb Lake)

created a green crab idencaon outreach sign for posng at beaches in Alaska. The

team later worked with the Washington State University Extension Tribal Liaison and U.S. Department of Agriculture to custom-

ize the sign for the Metlakatla Indian Community (MIC) with local contact informaon. Alaska’s MIC Department of Fish and

Wildlife (DFW) provided baseline data in their 2021 report showing no green crab were caught by trapping. On July 19, 2022,

the rst evidence of the invasive green crab in Alaska was discovered by a team composed of folks from MIC-DFW, HCD, and

Sealaska Heritage Instute intern Natalie Benne during a carapace survey at Colby Creek Estuary on Annee Island. By De-

cember, the MIC-DFW had captured 750 live green crab in the estuary and outer shores of the island. MIC-DFW have connued

collecng eDNA samples for early detecon of invasive green crab elsewhere on the island, increased trapping eorts in the

estuary and outreach with community members. We recognize and support these eorts and promote the diversity and inclu-

sion goals of the AKR as these many collaboraons and partnerships have resulted in informaon sharing and ideas for future

eorts with plans to connue to work together on these ongoing invasion issues.

Invasive Green Crab. Photo Credit: Linda

Shaw

OTHER GOAL #5

Oil Spill Response and Preparedness Coordinaon: HCD parcipat-

ed in Arcc and Western Area Commiee Meeng and Industry

Day to discuss oil spill response and preparedness organizaon and

conngency planning alongside the Coast Guard, Federal agencies,

and industry. We also commented on the Arcc and Western, and

Prince William Sound dra Area Conngency Plans. Parcipang in

planning meengs is a good way to maintain our relaonship with

partners and allows our objecves to be built into projects.

Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership (SEAKFHP): NOAA part-

ners with SEAKFHP. Molly Zaleski and Erika Ammann regularly

aend their meengs. Topics covered monthly range from funding

opportunies, research updates, to new resources for coastal or

freshwater sh habitat informaon. Examples of the resources that

have been produced from this partnership include the updated

Conservaon Acon Plan to celebrate accomplishments and pre-

pare new goals, a new wetland mapping tool, the Seacoast Trust,

stream restoraon project updates (video), and a nod to the Na-

onal Fish Habitat Partnership's 2021 Waters To Watch list, which

includes Alaska's Jordan Creek and Eklutna River.

Department of Transportaon (DOT) EFH Coordinaon: Molly

Zaleski and Sean Eagan met with the Alaska DOT to review EFH As-

sessment informaon needs and a dra DOT template intended to

streamline the process and frontload ancipated EFH conservaon

recommendaons with project managers.

Abalone Working Group:

Sea Grant Fellow, Ashley

Bolwerk, led a meeng in

February, 2022, to form an

abalone working group in

Southeast Alaska. Several

organizaons joined to hear

about the goal and share

their interests. External

partners lead a discussion about eorts that used community en-

gagement to advance outreach and educaon, monitoring and con-

servaon of abalone. One method, abalone "condos", crab pots

lled with concrete blocks, were found to be used by both juvenile

abalone and rocksh. Ashley Bolwerk went to Hoonah and Prince of

Wales Island to conduct community outreach and connect with

tribal and community partners. This working group provides an

opportunity to exchange ideas for the future of abalone.

Pinto abalone. Image Credit: NOAA

Fisheries

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

Goal #6

Improve our organizational excellence and cohesion

by integrating the AKR Shared Values with our work-

place interactions and products.

HCD Awarded Team of the Year

HCD received the Alaska Region’s Team of the Year for our

successful compleon and connued dedicaon to the Team

Development Program (TDP). Alaska Region Senior Leadership

Team (SLT) sponsored HCD to pilot TDP in 2021 to embed the

culture of the AKR Way in the way we work, build capacity

around team eecveness, and promote purposeful individu-

al learning and growth. We engaged in TDP training and acon

-based learning and sustained our momentum in 2022 by inte-

grang the learning in our day to day work with very encour-

aging results. Jodi Pirtle was instrumental in making this train-

ing happen. When training was complete, she created the

HCD Team Development Toolbox, compiling all the training

tools in one place for other Divisions to use. She then transferred

the TDP to the organizaon with an SLT workshop, Management

Team presentaon, and OMD consultaon.

Over the past few years, NOAA Fisheries’ AKR has been commied to a Change Strategy that enables us to collecvely trans-

form how we think about our culture, shared values, work norms, and overall performance. As we strive to capitalize on our

strengths, we also recognize the need to build this vision through team-based training and development that will foster beer

relaonships, enhance team working skills, and produce more eecve soluons to meeng organizaonal and divisional

goals. The TDP is a 6-month, high-impact training program designed to provide team members new knowledge, skills, tools,

insights, and experiences to work more eecvely together to deliver enhanced results and mission-performance. The design

of the TDP enabled opportunies for there to be a ‘Leader in every Chair’ - we are all responsible and accountable for co-

creang the team that we want to be.

As team members, each of us has an integral role in co-creang our team’s future. By engaging in the TDP, we empowered sta

to work together and produce high quality results to meet our HCD Goals and enhance mission-performance. Key outcomes of

the TDP for HCD include:

Tools to become a high funconing team:

 Empowering individuals to lead

 A greater sense of community and job sasfacon

 More ecient, innovave, and strategic communicaon in our work

 Connued learning and growth as individuals and as a team

 Being a team model and providing a pathway for others in NOAA

Since compleng formal training in September 2021, we connue to in-

tegrate our learning in all that we do; innovang, adapng, and growing

as individuals and a collecve team; and celebrang our success! We

look forward to other AKR teams to be inspired and adapt this training in

ways that work for their path to furthering AKR’s organizaonal excel-

lence.

Alaska Region’s Team of the Year award. Photo Credit: Gretchen Har-

rington

Our shared values are essential and guiding principles for

all the work we do. Image Credit: Paul Irvin, NOAA Fish-

eries

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

OTHER GOAL #6: HCD and The AKR Strategic Plan

It’s All in the Details: From September 2021 to December

2022, Charlene Felkley completed the Strategic Planning Co-

ordinator detail, an assignment that fosters learning culture

through employee development. Assigned to the Regional

Oce and working alongside SLT, she developed a new AKR 5

-year strategic plan that embeds AKR Change Strategy, align-

ing resources with our highest priories. Charlene completed

this detail by providing coordinaon with the strategic plan-

ning contractor, SLT, and many AKR personnel. She convened

several teams to support development of Strategic Plan ob-

jecves, measures and iniaves; reported regularly on the

project and progress through the region’s internal weekly

report, Soundings, intranet page, Directorate meengs, re-

gion-wide Strategy Review Meengs and all-hand meengs;

and created the dashboard to monitor and easily communi-

cate progress of the Strategic Plan.

Charlene volunteered for this opportunity to grow her under-

standing of the AKR’s mission, policies, and the work we do,

develop new skills, and assist in eorts to improve our Strate-

gic Plan. She will bring these experiences and skills back to

HCD, broadening the division as a whole.

Strategic Planning and Collaboraon: The purpose of the

AKR Strategic Plan is to idenfy important areas for improve-

ment based on feedback. Consultaons is an area that has

been idened. Three objecves within the AKR Strategic

Plan direct improvements in how we work together with

those who rely on consultaons to fulll our mission.

HCD and PRD have creat-

ed a steering commiee

to strive toward these

three objecves. Accom-

plishments of this com-

miee and sta include

creang measures to

track progress, creang

the process to gather

input from acon agen-

cies post-consultaon,

increasing our cross-programmac communicaons, increas-

ing our cross-training opportunies, and improving coordina-

on. How HCD and PRD collaborate, share informaon, and

grow with our employees is crically important to reach our

mission.

Jodi Pirtle and Gretchen Harrington are leading two objec-

ves in a cross-divisional eort focused on EBFM and climate

change. This work will enable NMFS AKR to more eecvely

meet EBFM priories and become operaonally adapve and

responsive to management needs regarding climate change

and other global changes.

Publications,

Presentations, and

Outreach

PUBLICATIONS

Barnes, C.L., Essington, T.E., Pirtle, J.L., Rooper, C.N., Laman, E.A.,

Holsman, K.K., Aydin, K.Y., and Thorson, J.T. 2022. Climate-

informed models benet hindcasng but present challenges

when forecasng species–habitat associaons. Ecography:

e06189. hps://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.06189.

W. Morrison, T. L. Rankin, S. A. Oakes, C. J. Harvey, S. Lucey, E.

Keiley, M. Mackey, K. Abrams, and K. Osgood (editors). 2022.

Invesgang and Improving Applicaons of Ecosystem Status

Reports in U.S. Fisheries Management. Report from a 2021

Workshop organized by the Naonal Marine Fisheries Service

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Working Group. U.S.

Dept. of Commerce., NOAA. NOAA Technical Memorandum

NMFS-OSF-11, 44 p.

Shotwell, S.K., Pirtle, J.L., Watson, J.T., Deary, A.L., Doyle, M.J.,

Barbeaux, S.J., Dorn, M.W., Gibson, G.A., Goldstein, E.D.,

Hanselman, D.H. and Hermann, A.J., 2022. Synthesizing inte-

grated ecosystem research to create informed stock-specic

indicators for next generaon stock assessments. Deep Sea

Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 198,

p.105070. hps://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2022.105070

“PRD and HCD have created a

great working group to improve

processes. Improvements we are

making will ripple through and

enhance communication and

relationships with action

agencies.”

-Bonnie Easley-Appleyard, PRD

Lawrence, D.J., Mills, K.E., Morrison, W., Peterson, J.O. and

Porath, M.T., 2022. Ecological and social strategies for man-

aging fisheries using the Resist‐Accept‐Direct (RAD) frame-

work. Fisheries Management and Ecology.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/fme.12545

Lynch, A.J., Rahel, F.J., Limpinsel, D., Sethi, S.A., Engman, A.C.,

M., Limpinsel, D., Magill, R.T., Magness, D.R., Melvin, T.A.,

Newman, R.A. and Porath, M.T., 2022. RAD adapve manage-

ment for transforming ecosystems. BioScience, 72(1), pp.45-

56. hps://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biab091

Lynch, A.J., Thompson, L.M., Morton, J.M., Beever, E.A., Cliord,

ing science through shared values, goals, and stories: An evi-

dence-based approach to making science maer. Human-

Wildlife Interactions 15(3), Article 27. DOI: https://

doi.org/10.26077/9wss-av78

Merkle, BG, Valdez-Ward, E, Shukla, P, and SR Bayer. 2022. Shar-

Accomplishments Report // Fiscal Year 2022

Aerial view of streams in wetland

with forests and mountains. Pho-

to Credit: Alaska Shorezone

 American Fisheries Society Conference – Ellen Ward – Migang Climate Change

 NOAA Fisheries Symposium - Sean Eagen & Alisha Falberg – Hydropower Policy and Legal

 Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership - Molly Zaleiski – EFH recommendaons

 Joint Groundsh Plan Team (Sept 2022) - Molly Zaleski – Fishing Eects (FE)

 Crab Plan Team (Jan 2022, Sept 2022) - Molly Zaleski – FE

 Ecosystem Commiee (Jan 2022) - Jodi Pirtle - EFH Descripons and Maps - Molly Zaleski - FE

 Scienc and Stascal Commiee (Feb 2022) - Jodi Pirtle - EFH Descripons and Maps - Molly Zaleski -

 Denali Commission Funders Coordinaon Meeng – Gretchen Harrington – EFH Consultaon

 Western Regional Panel on Aquac Invasive Species Annual Meeng - Linda Shaw - Invasive Green Crab

Discovery and Response

 Evidence of Change in Alaska’s Marine Ecosystems and Fisheries (Feb 2022) - Doug Limpinsel - Non-

shing Eects

 Joint Groundsh Plan Teams (Nov 2021) - Jodi Pirtle - EFH Descripons and Maps and EFH 5-year Review

overview

 Mariculture Conference – Ashley Bolwerk, Linda Shaw, & Molly Zaleski – EFH Recommendaons for Kelp

& Shellsh Farmers

Sean Eagan Parting Thoughts

Sean Eagan joined AKR HCD in 2015 as a hydrologist evaluang the eects of hydropower facilies and mining development on sheries and

habitat, leading the environmental review for several prominent acons in the region. Through his 31 years in Federal service, Sean has

worked for the USFSA and NPS in places like Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, Lassen Volcanic Naonal Park, and American Samoa. Trained in forest-

ry and hydrology, Sean has been a tree climber, trail crew, bio technician, park interpreter, and sta supervisor. He’s protected prairie dogs,

managed prescribed burns, and baled invasive starsh. Sean recently accepted a job at Glacier Bay Naonal Park. We were grateful to

have worked with him and his robust mixture of experience, technical skill, and energec personality. Below are some parng thoughts.

What are the important takeaways about hydropower and habitat that you'd like to share? Hydro-

power can help us migate climate change. With careful planning, eects on salmon can be greatly

diminished at most locaons. Tidal energy has amazing potenal, and it would be great for NMFS to

help advance the understanding of eects. Tackling this amazing source of energy will include ac-

cepng some risks concerning our sh and marine mammals. Also, good working relaonships with

the ulies allows us to protect anadromous sh. While ulies are tasked to provide reasonable

cost energy to Alaskans, every person I worked with also cares about salmon. We should never imply

that they don’t care. Climate change is currently changing the intensity of storms and changing the

norm. We need to remind ulies to design hydropower facilies for storms that will come and future

condions.

You've had a long and interesng career in Federal service. What is the most important thing you learned along the way? There are many

federal and state agencies working to protect the resources. Fighng among agencies is counter producve. We need to avoid it.

What do you love about Alaska? I love all the wild lands where you can go all day without seeing anyone. There are enough adventures

in Alaska for many, many lifemes.

PRESENTATIONS

POSTERS

TRAININGS & WORKSHOPS

 Culverts and Bridges Training – Sean Eagan & Erika Ammann – Stream Crossings for Ecological Funcon

 Federal Powers Act Training – Sean Eagan – Anadromous Fish Passage

 Alaska Invasive Species Partnership Workshop - Linda Shaw & Taylor Stumpf MIC DFW - Invasive Green Crab Discovery and Response

 Approaches to Adapng to Alaska’s Rapidly Warming Climate - Doug Limpinsel - Non-shing Eects