Stakeholders and Climate Change Themes

Summary of the Main Themes and Observations of Environmental Change Discussed in the Stakeholders and Climate Change Project Jukebox

Rivers and Lakes: The most common comment on rivers and lakes is that lakes are drying up and rivers are at lower water levels in the spring after breakup. Low water levels in the rivers has an impact on the period for navigation and the lack of a strong surge in water after break up adversely impacts the amount of driftwood available to residents in Tanana. A couple of respondents noted that the lakes drying up is due to melting of permafrost. Two respondents noted a relationship between fires, melting of permafrost around lakes and lakes draining.
Watch video clips of various people talking about changes to rivers and lakes:

Clarence Alexander

Simon Francis

James Kelly, Sr.

Paul Starr

Stan Zuray

Tom Hyslop Talking About Driftwood

Plants and Animals: Concern was expressed that with lakes drying up, the moose have fewer sources of lake vegetation, an important part of their diet. It was also noted that low water levels in the lakes impacts waterfowl, muskrats, and beaver. An elder in Chalkyitsik noted that the drying of lakes and sloughs impacts the migratory pattern of whitefish.
Watch video clips of various people talking about changes to plants and animals:

Harry Carroll, Jr.

Richard Carroll II

Joe Herbert

James Kelly, Sr.

Minnie and William Salmon

Fire: Several people noted that fires leave trapline trails a jumbled mess that is very hard to re-cut. Some concern was expressed about the impact of ash from fires entering lakes and impacting the vegetation that moose depend upon for forage. One respondent noted the positive impact of fires and re-growth on the country but mentioned that it was hard on furbearers that can’t escape the flames.
Watch video clips of various people talking about changes to the forest fire cycle:

Charlie Campbell

Richard Carroll II

Charlie Wright

Permafrost: There were many general observations about permafrost melting. Some linked this to lakes drying up and two people noted the impact of fires on permafrost melting.
Watch video clips of various people talking about changes to permafrost:

Clarence Alexander

Tom Hyslop

Fred Thomas

Weather and Seasons: Several people commented on how unpredictable the weather has been in recent years, particularly as it relates to fall and spring, freeze-up and break-up. In fall, people feel that the weather is turning cold later than usual and a couple of people linked this to moose hunting where cool weather is necessary to get the bulls to start moving around and move toward the rivers. Some feel there is also a correlation between when the weather gets cooler and onset of the rut. In springtime, one person noted that travel for geese hunting can be dangerous because they can’t predict the weather and the condition of the ice for traveling.
Watch video clips of various people talking about seasonal change and weather unpredictability:

Clarence Alexander	Charlie Campbell Talking About Seasonal Change and Moose Hunting	Charlie Campbell Talking about Changing Temperatures and Seasons	Richard Carroll II Talking About Seasonal Change and Geese Hunting	Richard Carroll II Talking About Wind
Tom Hyslop	James Kelly, Sr.	James Roberts	Minnie and William Salmon	Fred Thomas Talking About Seasonal Change and Moose Hunting
Fred Thomas Talking About Winter Temperatures, Snow, and Ice	Charlie Wright	Stan Zuray