Environment

All Alaska news stories about the environment, climate and weather. Could also include topics like animal die-offs related to the environment.

an avalanche

2 people survive late-season Southcentral Alaska avalanches

The slides come near the end of an avalanche season experts say is notable both for its heightened danger and lack of deaths.
a woman and two children pose with a salmon

Sitka’s seafood donation network connects abundance with scarcity in Western Alaska

The Seafood Distribution Network is supplying sockeye to families on the Yukon and Chignik rivers, whose traditional salmon runs have crashed.

Save those cans, aluminum recycling returning to Bethel

Hold onto those aluminum cans. Recycling is returning to Bethel, and ONC’s Environmental Coordinator Mary Matthias is leading the way. Listen now
birds

Scientists found fewer positive cases of bird flu in Alaska this year

State and federal officials are reporting that the number of bird flu cases, particularly the highly pathogenic kind, are continuing to trend downwards.

Kodiak fishermen find extra work through halibut research amid stock concern

The Pacific halibut fishery may see a drop in stock over the next few years and the International Pacific Halibut Commission, which regulates the fishery, uses surveys in Kodiak waters to collect data. Listen now
A person with a surfboard walks into the water.

‘It’s trippy’: Surfers in Turnagain Arm catch the country’s longest wave

Twice a day, the normally calm waters surge upwards, creating a wave known as a tidal bore that surfers can ride for miles.
a warehouse

Roof of vacant, condemned Anchorage warehouse partially collapses under snow load

The owner of the warehouse on Gambell Street said the building had been condemned and was slated for demolition.
Newtok

‘Inequitable and inefficient’: New report criticizes feds’ climate change response system

For the dozens of Alaska Native communities weighing relocation because of climate change, the path forward isn’t clear.

As gray whales die along the West Coast, Alaska scientists look for answers beneath blubber

Researchers are trying to determine the cause of a gray whale die-off along the West Coast, including Alaska. And they're looking at whether recent warming trends in the Arctic, and reduced sea ice, has affected their prey.
a portrait of a man in glasses

Biden nominates Alaska scientist as nation’s first Arctic ambassador

Mike Sfraga is the chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.
A wideshot of a boat harbor in front of a snow-capped mountain with a small dock fire smoking.

Whittier officials say fuel dock operational after closing due to 4th of July fire

The fire started on Tuesday, sinking a boat, closing the dock and forcing two people to be medevaced with injuries.

Pavlof still rumbling, but no more ash clouds

Researchers say Pavlof volcano is still rumbling and exploding but is no longer sending up massive ash clouds. Download Audio
a Juneau avalanche

Drones could make Juneau’s avalanche monitoring faster and more precise

The new project with drone maker DJI will try to get a bigger picture than fieldwork trips with more frequent, automated drone flights.

Napakiak faces accelerating erosion

As the Kuskokwim Riverbank falls away, the community of Napakiak has picked up its homes and buildings and moved them farther from the water.

Statewide Trails Conference focuses on sustainable trails

The Statewide Trails Conference opens Thursday in Anchorage and will focus on issues such as making trails sustainable and active transportation. It brings together land managers, trail users, and trail builders for a three-day event.
a whale

Close encounters with curious Juneau killer whale a reminder of city’s wild nature

There were at least three reports of close encounters with a teenage female orca in the ocean around Juneau in a single day at the end of April.
eroded Juneau homes

Juneau’s worst glacial outburst flood destroys homes and displaces residents

“We started seeing structural timber,” one resident said. “And then I was like, ‘Oh, my God. That’s from houses upstream.'”