The nearshore waters are critical to most waterfowl in the Arctic. 

 This habitat is the first marine water open in spring and is used by 

 waterfowl for feeding and resting throughout the short summer. The 

 protected lagoons behind the barrier islands are particularly important 

 since two-thirds of the bird populations of the Canadian Arctic islands 

 pass this way. Almost -all of the 163 species of birds in the area are 

 present only from May to September. 



Approximately 22 terrestrial and 17 marine mammal species occur in 

 the region, including most conspicuously, polar bears, barren ground 

 carribou, ringed, bearded and harbor seals and six species of whales. 

 Significant numbers of mammals are present year-round. 



The population centers of Alaska's Arctic slope are largely along 

 the coast at sites historically occupied for subsistence livelihood. 

 Villages are predominantly Eskimo. Barrow is the seat of the North 

 Slope Borough and a distribution center for the region. The exceptions 

 are the new petroleum development camp settlements at Prudhoe Bay and 

 Deadhorse. Steady employment has increased in the Arctic slope since 

 World War II, and some natives are able to work in state and federal 

 agencies and in pipeline related activities to supplement their traditional 

 lifestyle. 



Petroleum Resources 



Geologists believe the chances of finding large amounts of petroleum 

 under the Beaufort Sea are very good. Best prospects are thought to be 

 located on the 20,000 square miles of territory adjacent to the coast 



\ 7 9 



and large onshore accumulations of oil (e.g., Prudhoe Bay). 



52 



