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==Victories==
 
==Victories==
  
For a list of Surfrider Foundation's latest coastal victories, go [http://www.surfrider.org/whoweare6g.asp here].
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For a list of Surfrider Foundation's latest coastal victories, go [http://www.surfrider.org/campaigns/region-victories here].
  
 
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Revision as of 22:55, 19 April 2011

Home Beach Indicators Methodology Findings Beach Manifesto State Reports Chapters Perspectives Model Programs Bad and Rad Conclusion

Alaska

Summary

Alaska's immense size and small, dispersed coastal management staff make coastal management a challenge. Lack of both information and funding is an impediment to addressing coastal access needs, erosion problems, and water quality concerns. In addition to the urban runoff problems experienced by most coastal cities, water quality impairment in Alaska is also caused by large scale land-based operations such as the timber and mining industries and offshore sources including the oil and gas industry and cruise ships. There is only a limited recreational water quality testing program. Despite a high percentage of publicly owned coastal lands, coastal access is limited or not well publicized in many areas.

Alaska Ratings

Indicator Type Information Status
Beach Access55
Water Quality23∗
Beach Erosion3-
Erosion Response-4
Beach Fill5-
Shoreline Structures3 5
Beach Ecology1-
Surfing Areas28
Website1∗∗-
Coastal Development{{{19}}}{{{20}}}
Sea Level Rise{{{21}}}{{{22}}}
Special comments:

∗Since the water quality monitoring program in Alaska only exists on a limited basis, the recreational water quality is largely unknown. Only 117 samples were tested for the state in 2013.

∗∗The Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP) is scheduled to sunset at 12:01 AM, Alaska Standard Time, on July 1, 2011 per AS 44.66.030. The Legislature adjourned the special legislative session May 14, 2011 without passing legislation required to extend the Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP). This webpage will be viewable for reference purposes through June 30, 2012. It will then be archived within the Department of Natural Resources. Beginning on July 1, 2011 the website will remain static and there will be no further updates to the content of the former ACMP website. If you have any questions, please contact the DNR’s Commissioner’s Office at 907-269-8400.


Indicators

(+) NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) approved Alaska's amended Coastal Management Program in December 2005.

(+) Approximately 87% of Alaska's shoreline is publicly owned

(0) Alaska has 6,640 miles of open ocean coastline

(0) Eighty-five percent of the state's population lives within coastal counties

(0) Alaska has a tremendous diversity of water resources, including 365,000 miles of rivers and streams, at least 170 million acres of wetlands, more than a million lakes larger than five acres, and 44,226 miles of coastal shoreline waters.

(0) A limited surf zone water quality monitoring program began to be implemented in Alaska during Summer 2007.

(-) Sewage treatment in Anchorage at the John M. Asplund Wastewater Treatment Facility consists only of primary treatment, with 32 million gallons per day pumped out an 800-foot-long pipe into Cook Inlet. Kenai, Palmer, Soldotna, and Homer treat their wastewater to secondary standards using biological methods to decompose waste before it is returned to the natural environment. Eagle River and Girdwood sewage treatment facilities are capable of tertiary treatment, rendering wastewater to almost drinkable quality. Anchorage stands alone as the city most befouling Cook Inlet.

(-) In a 2009 report by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 178 Alaska communities were found to have reported erosion problems. 26 communities were designated “Priority Action Communities” — indicating that they should be considered for immediate action by either initiating an evaluation of potential solutions or continuing with ongoing efforts to manage erosion.

(-) On average, Alaska's coastline is eroding at a rate of 8 feet per year, and this rate could increase in areas where sea level rise exceeds the rate of isostatic rebound.

(-) Alaska has only about one public access site for every 12 miles of shoreline

Victories

For a list of Surfrider Foundation's latest coastal victories, go here.


State of the Beach Report: Alaska
Alaska Home Beach Description Beach Access Water Quality Beach Erosion Erosion Response Beach Fill Shoreline Structures Beach Ecology Surfing Areas Website
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