This welcome surprise makes our lives easier and also bodes well for our salmon this summer. With above average water levels stored in our hills during the winter, and the slow release this spring, we’ll have more in-stream flow this summer allowing better fish passage in smaller creeks and cooler water temperatures.

And we’ll know just how cool those temperatures are because this is the fifth year in a row that Cook Inletkeeper has coordinated the Stream Temperature Monitoring Network for Cook Inlet Salmon Streams. We are leading community organizations, Tribal entities, federal and state agencies, and a cadre of wonderful volunteers on the Kenai Peninsula – and across Cook Inlet – to work together to monitor temperatures in local salmon streams.

Until about 10 years ago, few people thought about temperatures in salmon streams. We’re in Alaska – healthy salmon, cold streams, no problem. But as the on-the-ground evidence of rapid climate change became more compelling, and a number of local water quality projects reported higher than expected in-stream temperatures, interest began to grow.

Why should we care about warming stream temperatures? Because warm temperatures stress salmon, making them more vulnerable to pollution, predation and disease.  At all life stages, warm temperatures can have profound physiological or behavioral effects on wild salmon.

So when we talk about warm temperatures, what are we talking about? In areas where eggs are incubating in gravel or salmon fry are emerging, water above 55 degrees Fahrenheit is considered warm and stressful. In juvenile rearing areas and adult migration routes, temperatures above 59 degrees Fahrenheit feels to a salmon like the first day you get off the plane in hot and humid Houston - it’s hard to breathe and you’re lethargic.

In 2008, we started collecting data in 48 streams, which represent a range of watershed sizes, forest and wetland land covers, and headwater elevations. We use in-stream data loggers and program them to collect a temperature reading every 15 minutes all summer long.

In addition to collecting temperature data, we are also working with climate scientists to understand how future air temperatures are likely to change by season. We are learning that July air temperatures may increase as much as 9 degrees Fahrenheit up in the Susitna River valley. But more importantly for us on the Kenai Peninsula and west side of Cook Inlet, increasing winter air temperatures may put us above freezing for longer periods of time, thus drastically reducing snow accumulation.

In the summer of 2012 we will reach our 5-year data collection goal to capture recent annual variation. These data will play an important role in identifying the most temperature-sensitive salmon streams in Cook Inlet. With this information, we can then prioritize our conservation and restoration efforts to give our Alaska wild salmon a fighting chance as thermal change continues.

For our snow-loving salmon that need a deep snowpack to feed the rivers all summer long, the future looks warm. And for our salmon-loving communities that rely on healthy fish populations to feed our families and local economies, the future requires our attention now. As your memories of snow blowing and shoveling fade from this past winter, appreciate our exceptional snow year and the gradual spring break-up. Our salmon will be breathing easier, at least this summer.

The Escopeta drilling program this summer raises serious concerns for anyone concerned about healthy Cook Inlet fisheries and the countless families they support.

Escopeta attracted national attention last year when it departed from the Gulf of Mexico without a valid Jones Act waiver to use a non-US transport vessel and crew to bring the rig to Alaska.  Escopeta’s then-President – Danny Davis – a swashbuckling Texas oil man, got so desperate he enlisted the help of his friend and actor Robert Duval to provide support.  Nonetheless, the violation netted Escopeta a $15 million fine from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Escopeta has appealed the ruling.

So, why would Escopeta flagrantly violate an important federal law designed to protect U.S. jobs?  Because it was racing to reap a gigantic tax credit offered by the State of Alaska – up to $25 million – if it drilled its well before anyone else.  I wrote about the mad rush to drill in Cook Inlet last summer, and how these massive government subsidies have prompted corner cutting and law breaking.

When drilling started late last summer – in a rush to beat the winter ice season – Escopeta  violated state law requiring a survey of the bottom features to understand if it was safe to locate the rig where it did.  Then, once drilling commenced, operations quickly ground to a halt when the drill bit got stuck in Cook Inlet’s well-known coal seams. That’s because Escopeta imported a drilling crew from Outside that didn’t understand the basics of drilling in Cook Inlet’s challenging conditions.  The whole scenario prompted an unusually strong rebuke from  Alaska Division of Oil and Gas Director Bill Barron, who wrote to Escopeta “I am gravely concerned about what I perceive to be Escopeta’s apparent disregard for regulatory requirements.”  While Mr. Baron was “gravely concerned,” however, his agency issued no penalty to Escopeta for its violations of state law.

So, at the height of our salmon fishing season – and in the heart of critical habitat for the endangered beluga whale – a renegade oil and gas company out of Texas will once again drill for oil deep below Cook Inlet.  If they hit a pocket of gas or encounter unexpected formation pressures, a serious blow-out would be virtually uncontrollable.  There have been several blow-outs in Cook Inlet over the years (one lasting for more than a year), and as the BP Gulf Disaster reminds us, even the best technology fails.  So, we’ll be keeping a sharp eye on Escopeta this summer, and if you hear or see anything we should know, don’t hesitate to call me (907.299.3277) or email.

In many coastal communities, the timing of returning species of shorebirds can be written in ink on the calendar. We know when to start looking for cranes or when to listen for the first snipe or Yellowlegs. These migration events are predictable; however, they are influenced by, and sensitive to, small variations in climate. In this time of rapid climate change, we should expect to see these migration patterns shift.

Phenology – or the study of the timing of natural events such as the date that migrating birds return and the first flower dates for plants – allows us to track how a changing climate is altering nature’s calendar.  As our winters warm and spring time comes earlier, the response of plants and animals will be to shift their behaviors earlier since many of these life history events are triggered by temperature. For example, in New York City this year, the cherry blossoms peaked a week before expected and before the Cherry Blossom Festival due to the above average temperatures.  But other than some potential loss in tourist dollars due to miss-timed festivals, is a shift in timing of these events something to be concerned about?

In Alaska, where our rate of warming is greater than any other state in the country, there is a potential for the shift in the timing of ‘green up’ or ‘ice out’ to be different than the shift in the timing of birds arriving from southern states. This could result in poor forage or breeding conditions once the birds arrive. Another potential phenological shift may result from warmer stream temperatures causing the timing of salmon fry leaving their natal stream to happen earlier and becoming mismatched with optimal survival conditions in the marine environment. It’s like showing up for a feast a week early before the table is set – you’ll go hungry.

So keep your eyes and ears alert and celebrate the incoming shorebirds. They bring their peeping calls and artistic flight displays to our shores, but the timing of their arrival is an important indicator of our changing climate.

(Photo from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - National Digital Library)

• Fouls boat props and float plane rudders
• Makes boat launching and navigation difficult
• Fouls private and public nearshore beaches and habitat
• Decreases salmon spawning habitat

Elodea is currently found in Sand Lake and Delong Lake in Anchorage, areas of the Chena River and Chena Lake in Fairbanks, and Eyak Lake in Cordova. What can you do to help stop the spread of Elodea? Always inspect and clean your plane, boat, and trailer before entering and exiting a launch area. Make sure to report any sightings of Elodea (with GPS coordinates if possible) to the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game’s invasive species hotline: 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748).

Three steps to stop aquatic hitchhikers:
CLEAN – Rinse and remove visible mud, plant debris from boats, trailers, floatplanes, and gear.
DRAIN – Empty coolers, bilges and buckets, and wring out gear before leaving a waterbody.
DRY – Completely dry equipment and gear between visits to freshwater lakes and slow-moving rivers.

Information for this blog post was provided by documents on the Fairbanks Cooperative Weed Management Area website. Check it out for more information: www.fairbanksweeds.org/elodea-educational-materials.php

Photo by the Fairbanks Cooperative Weed Management Area Elodea gallery.