Valdez Youth Area Watch Project 2005

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Valdez Youth Area Watch Project 2005
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2005 Youth Area Watch

• Site Coordinator
• Mrs. Jenny Heckathorn
• YAW Members
• Michele Beyer, Marilyn Braighboy, Courtney Byrum,
  Sherstin Cullen, Jenny Miller, Elise Sorum,
  Shannon Spader, Sheila Spader

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What did we do?

• Valdez YAW is currently carrying out a long term
  project aimed at mapping and surveying the plant
  and animal life in Mineral Creek State Park.

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Why?

• An agency needed information District Ranger
  Jack Sinclair from the Alaska Department of
  Natural Resources can use the information
  gathered. (ex.- eagle nest location, areas with
  abundant life, bear trails, etc.)
• Idea was generated from a presentation by Bill
  Bixby of The City of Valdez Planning and Zoning
  Commission announcing the creation of the Mineral
  Creek State Park.

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Existing Conditions-Plan Dundeveloped
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Development Plan A
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Comments about Plan A

• PROS
• Easier access for people with disabilities or
  young children.
• Toilet facilities close by- more sanitary?
• CONS
• The parking lot is 50m from an active eagles
  nest.
• Toilet facilities and garbage too close to
  pristine area. (flood danger)
• Boardwalk crosses known bear trails.

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Development Plan B
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Comments about Plan B

• PROS
• Parking lot- less impact on eagles nest
• Less potential pollution from toilet garbage.
• CONS
• Access is more restrictive and a longer walking
  distance is required for people with disabilities
  or with young children.
• Boardwalk crosses known bear trails.

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Development Plan C
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Comments about Plan C

• PROS
• Easier access to area
• Toilet facilities close by- more sanitary?
• Boardwalk doesnt cross known bear trails
• CONS
• Parking lot is too close to active eagles nest
• Toilet facilities too close to pristine area.
• Boardwalk in lower intertidal zone may affect
  feeding of shore birds, introduce more garbage

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Data Collected

• Barnacles
• Mussels
• Eagles Nest Locations
• Species we have seen

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Barnacles Maximum Density April 2005
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Barnacles Random Density Count April 2005
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Mussels Maximum Density Count April 2005
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Mussels Random Density CountApril 2005
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Eagles Nests

• 2 Eagles Nests have been located
• The first has a GPS location of
• 61 07.91 N 146 23.54W
• On the Mineral Creek Plan Maps
• Have not seen any activity
• The second has a GPS location of
• 61 07.78 N 146 24.14 W
• Not on the Mineral Creek Plan Maps
• It is an active nest

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Animal Marine Life

• Pacific Blue Mussel
• Moon Jelly
• Acorn Barnacle
• Sea Otter
• Sunflower Star
• Clam Worm
• Beach Hoppers

• Pacific Littleneck Clam
• Salmon tellin
• No Green Crabs
• Rockweed Isopods
• Sand Shrimps?
• Dunce Cap Limpets

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Plant Marine Life

• Sea Lettuce
• Rockweed
• Red Algae

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Birds

• Bald Eagles
• Mergansers
• Sea Gulls
• Crows
• Arctic Terns

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YAW students and Mrs. Heckathorns science
classes will continue to work on mapping and
surveying the plant and animal life and
monitoring the ecosystem as development of this
area looms on the horizon.