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Title: Metal Concentrations in Tundra Seep, Tributary and River Waters of the Western Brooks Range, Alaska, 2022-2023
Historically characterized by pristine streams that support robust populations of Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden, and chum salmon, the southern slopes of the Brooks Range provide valuable economic and subsistence resources for local communities. However, since 2019, dozens of formerly clear-running streams have turned turbid and orange with iron precipitates. Seeps have been identified in the tundra and in upland rock formations. Limited data show very low pH in seep water (less than 3.0), downslope vegetation mortality, and dramatic declines in juvenile fish abundance in affected headwaters. The causes of this rapidly spreading degradation of pristine streams remains unknown. The proliferation of turbid orange streams west of the Dalton Highway ( greater than 30 since 2019) is a threat to wilderness characteristics, drinking water, subsistence resource availability, and a growing commercial salmon fishery in northwest Alaska. With many terrestrial and aquatic species dependent upon the seasonal influx of salmon, the loss of fish habitat could induce ecosystem collapse, despite the protections afforded by a vast network of National Parks and Preserves. The degradation of formerly pristine streams is occurring at such a rapid pace that we may soon lose the opportunity to compare affected with nearby unaffected streams. This comparison is essential to develop the mechanistic, causal understanding that would allow us to predict which streams will turn next and the threats to downstream villages. The community of Kiana, for instance, sits at the confluence of the Squirrel and Kobuk Rivers. At least two streams in the Squirrel watershed have turned since 2020, while two large tributaries of the Kobuk turned in 2019. The Squirrel and large Kobuk tributaries, like the Salmon River, produce much of the fish harvested by Kiana residents. This dataset includes field measurements of pH, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen and turbidity, along with laboratory measurements of metal concentrations in acidified water samples from tundra seeps, tributaries and rivers in the western Brooks Range. The watersheds that were sampled include Timber Creek, Tukpahlearik Creek, Salmon River, Kallarichuk River, Kobuk River and Devil's Lake, which is the drinking water source for the village of Kotzebue, Alaska.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2325290 2325291
PAR ID:
10531435
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
NSF Arctic Data Center
Date Published:
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
Permafrost Iron Rusting Aluminum Cadmium Nickel Aquatic Salmon Grayling Copper Anaktok Kanaktok Nikok Kitlik Salmon River Tukpahlearik Creek Timber Creek Kobuk River Kobuk Valley National Park
Format(s):
Medium: X Other: text/xml
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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