1 0 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 76 



Fig. 9- Wet meadow adjacent to Nanvak Bay, 24 July 1 976. Photo fry M. R. Petersen. 



western portion, fast or close ice begins to form as early as October and 

 may last until May; in some years, pack ice extends to several kilometers 

 south of the study area (Brower et al. 1988). In summer, sea surface 

 temperatures reach 1 1° C. 



Inland and on part of the west coast, placer mining has been 

 widespread (Fig. 10), but only one camp, Nyac, on the Tuluksak River 

 is now inhabited all year. Elsewhere, human settlements are mainly at 

 the mouths of the largest rivers and include the villages of Carter, 

 Goodncws, Platinum, and Togiak. The U.S. Air Force has a small station 

 at Cape Newenham. Other mining camps are used in summer, as are 

 some of the bays and larger rivers for subsistence hunting and fishing as 

 well as recreation. 



Most of the Kilbuck and Ahklun mountains are part of the Togiak 

 and Yukon Delta national wildlife refuges. Many parcels of land have 

 been selected for ownership by native villages and individuals. The 

 offshore islands are part of either the Alaska Coastal National Wildlife 

 Refuge or the Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary. The Kisaralik River 

 is a candidate for Wild and Scenic River status. The remaining land areas 

 are under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and the 

 State of Alaska. However, ownership and control of much of the land 

 has yet to be resolved. 



