following summer these pits, plus three additional ones, were visited to 

 assess if fish were present. The pits were then revisited during the 1978-79 

 winter to assess if fish remained in the pit after freezeup or moved into 

 the river. If fish remained in the pit, subsequent visits were made to 

 determine if fish could survive the winter. Sampling was conducted with 

 a variety of gear types including minnow traps, set lines, gill nets, hook 

 and line, and observation. In addition, an underwater television system 

 was used for surveillance under the ice at two pits. Dissolved oxygen and 

 temperature were measured when water was present. Ice thickness, presence or 

 absence of flowing or open water, or both, and formation of aufeis by over- 

 flow were recorded. 



Terrestrial Ecology 



Introduction. The terrestrial field program identified habitats af- 

 fected by gravel removal operations and assessed the impact of habitat 

 modification on associated wildlife. Qualitative and quantitative surveys 

 were conducted during a 3-day field effort to characterize the plant com- 

 munities and serai stages present on disturbed and undisturbed areas. Wild- 

 life utilization of these habitats also was evaluated. The undisturbed 

 sites encompassed serai stages likely to develop with time on the disturbed 

 site, and were believed to be most representative of the disturbed areas 

 prior to gravel removal. 



The program was expanded to 5 days at one representative study site 

 (regional representative site) in each of five geographical areas: Arctic 

 Coastal Plain (North Slope), Arctic Foothills (North Slope), Seward Penin- 

 sula, Northern Interior, and Southern Interior. The increased time at these 

 study sites allowed for additional sampling efforts using the same sampling 

 procedures. 



Soils. Soil sampling was conducted within each habitat on disturbed 

 and undisturbed sites to evaluate the growing conditions and the potential 

 for revegetat i on. Within each habitat or definable soil unit, the character 

 of the upper horizon, depth of organic layer, surface drainage, and domi- 



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