This study was based on the sediment quality triad (SQT) approach. A stratified probabilistic sampling design was utilized to characterize the Kachemak Bay system in terms of chemical contamination, sediment toxicity and benthic infaunal community structure. The purpose was to define the extent and magnitude of toxicity and other biological effects associated with contaminants in the Kachemak Bay system. Five strata (Homer harbor, Western intertidal, Western subtidal, Eastern intertidal, and Eastern subtidal) were established in the shallow (less than 10 fathoms) northern area of the bay. Sediment samples were collected at multiple stations in each strata. A broad suite of sediment contaminants were analyzed at each station, including polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated pesticides including DDT and its metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), trace elements, and butyl-tins Other parameters included grain size analysis, total organic/inorganic carbon (TOC/TIC), and percent solids. Characterization of infaunal assemblages and the abundance of organisms present in sediments provide additional information to help determine areas of degraded sediments. Whole sediment toxicity bioassays with two species of amphipod were conducted to test for overt contaminant toxicity. This project provides invaluable baseline data on sediment infauna species richness, chemical contamination and toxicity that is georeferenced and posted on the internet through the NOAA's National Status and Trends data portal.

In response to the growing concerns among Chugach communities, contaminant body burden and histopathological condition of chum and sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus keta and Oncorhynchus nerka) and the shellfish cockles and softshell clams (Clinocardium nuttallii and Mya arenaria) were assessed. The fish and shellfish were collected from traditional subsistence harvest areas in the vicinity of Nanwalek, Port Graham and Seldovia, AK, and were analyzed for trace metals and residues of organic contaminants. Additionally, the fish and shellfish were histologically characterized for the presence, prevalence and severity of tissue pathology, disease, and parasite infections. Data served under this project include measurements of trace elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls, DDTs, chlorinated hydrocarbons and histopathology parameters, which include an array of about 30 parasitic taxa (e.g. bucephalus, chlamydia, ciliates, cestodes and nematodes) and 11 diseases (e.g. tumors, neoplasm and necrosis). This project provides invaluable baseline data that is georeferenced and served on the internet through the NOAA's National Status and Trends data portal.

These data establish a baseline of benthic habitats to support future change detection activities in the Klawock River Lagoon on Alaska's Prince of Wales Island. In spring 2011, benthic habitats were mapped in the lagoon, adjacent Klawock Bay, and Klawock Harbor. The mapping emphasized eelgrass beds, which are essential for the early survival of salmon fry. The Klawock River drains a 29,061-acre watershed with 132 miles of streambed habitat, supporting seven salmon and trout species. The salmon fishery is a vital economic, cultural, and food resource in the Klawock area. In 1964, a causeway was constructed, blocking access to the lagoon from Klawock Bay and significantly reducing salmon harvests. The Nature Conservancy led a partnership to construct a culvert through the causeway, reestablishing free passage between the river and Klawock Bay. This is expected to help restore full use of the river as salmon-spawning habitat and generally improve the lagoon's quality. Aerial multispectral imagery was collected over the lagoon, bay, and harbor during the week of April 19, 2011, coinciding with the causeway's breaching. Environmental factors crucial for successful benthic mapping were incorporated into mission planning. These included collecting imagery within 1.5 hours of a zero or negative tide, clear water conditions (no algal blooms or sediment plumes from runoff), low winds to avoid surface waves, and sufficient solar illumination for imaging submerged areas. Due to insufficient biomass or illumination through the water column at the time of the aerial mission, eelgrass habitats in the lagoon could not be mapped from that source. Therefore, eelgrass habitats were determined by two field-digitizing processes, conducted in August 2010 and September 2011. The final hybrid data capture habitats 10 meters by 10 meters or larger and possess the same positional accuracy as the source imagery. The layers available within the data download include: biotic, geoform, and substrate. Partners: The Nature Conservancy

The Klawock River on Alaska's Prince of Wales Island drains a 29,061 acre watershed with 132 miles of streambed habitat supporting seven salmon and trout species. Traditionally the river and lagoon supported salmon harvests exceeding 30,000 fish annually. The salmon fishery is an important economic factor and food source in the Klawock area. It is also an important cultural resource to local inhabitants. In 1964 a causeway was constructed blocking access to the lagoon from adjacent Klawock Bay. This has resulted in dramatic decreases in salmon harvests. The Nature Conservancy has lead a broad partnership to construct a culvert through the causeway thus re-establishing free passage between the river and Klawock Bay which is expected to help restore a full use of the river as spawning habitat by salmon and generally improve the quality of the lagoon. Benthic habitats in the lagoon and adjacent Klawock Bay and Klawock Harbor were mapped in spring 2011 to establish a baseline of benthic communities in the area with emphasis on eelgrass beds which are essential to the early survival of salmon fry. The habitat map will guide ongoing monitoring activities in the lagoon and form the basis of future change detection efforts. Aerial multi-spectral imagery was collected over the lagoon, bay, and harbor during the week of April 19, 2011. The mission was timed to coincide with the breaching of the causeway. The environmental considerations important to successful benthic mapping were incorporated into the mission planning. These included, imagery to be collected within 1.5 hours of a zero or negative tide, clear water conditions (no algal blooms, or sediment plumes from runoff), low winds to avoid surface waves, and sufficient solar illumination to image submerged areas. These collection parameters were defined by the Office for Coastal Management prior to collection of the imagery. Despite weather and water conditions which were not ideal, imagery adequate to map most of the habitats in the lagoon was successfully collected on April 19, 2011. Eelgrass habitats in the Lagoon did not have sufficient biomass or illumination through the water column at the time of the aerial mission to be mapped from that source so eelgrass habitats were determined by two field-digitizing processes, one in August 2010 and one in September 2011. The final hybrid map captures habitats 10m x 10m or larger and has the same positional accuracy as the source imagery. Field data to guide the mapping was supplied by several project partners. A comparison between the field data and the map shows high levels of agreement, although no traditional quantitative accuracy assessment was conducted. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for anadromous fish species in the Bristol Bay Subarea. The Subarea includes marine and coastal areas of Bristol Bay and part of the southern Alaska Peninsula. (This area extends from directly south of Goodnews Bay to slightly north of Port Seniavan along the Bristol Bay side of the Alaska Peninsula, as well as the Pacific Ocean side of the Alaska Peninsula from Cape Providence to Kupreanof Peninsula.) Vector lines in this data set represent species occurrences in rivers and streams. Species-specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer.This data set comprises a portion of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data for the Bristol Bay Subarea. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. See also the FISH (Fish Polygons) data layer, part of the larger Bristol Bay Subarea ESI database, for additional fish information.

Fish metals sampling data collected in the coastal lagoons of Alaska in 2015 for the National Park Service. Methods are described in the monitoring protocol: Jones T, Apsens S, Miller S, Robards M. 2018. Coastal lagoons vital signs monitoring protocol for the Arctic Network: Volume 1, report narrative, version 1.0. Natural Resource Report. NPS/ARCN/NRR—2018/1824. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2257596 and standard operating procedures: Jones T. 2017. Coastal Lagoon Vital Signs Monitoring Protocol for the Arctic Network: Standard Operating Procedures Version 1.0. National Park Service https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2310242

Fish metals sampling data collected in the coastal lagoons of Alaska in 2015 for the National Park Service. Methods are described in the monitoring protocol: Jones T, Apsens S, Miller S, Robards M. 2018. Coastal lagoons vital signs monitoring protocol for the Arctic Network: Volume 1, report narrative, version 1.0. Natural Resource Report. NPS/ARCN/NRR—2018/1824. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2257596 and standard operating procedures: Jones T. 2017. Coastal Lagoon Vital Signs Monitoring Protocol for the Arctic Network: Standard Operating Procedures Version 1.0. National Park Service https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2310242

Since 1988, scientists at the Auke Bay Laboratories have been using the /Delta/ submarine for a wide range of research projects. Over 500 dives have been completed. The video collected during these projects provides valuable direct observations of seafloor habitat and biological attributes. This project is assembling a database that will include dive locations and basic biological and substrate information from each of the dives. To date, biological and substrate data have been processed for about 40% of the dives.

The data set consists of basic water column properties of the Beaufort Sea and the Chukchi Sea near Barrow, Alaska. The environmental properties include salinity, temperature, chlorophyll a, major plant nutrients, and ice and snow cover. The microbial data included the abundance of various microbial groups, leucine incorporation, and the abundance of genes for 16S rRNA and ammonia monooxygenase (amoA). The data were collected in summer 2007, winter and summer 2008, and winter 2009.

This data set contains vector lines and polygons representing the shoreline and coastal habitats of the Bristol Bay Subarea, classified according to the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) classification system. The Subarea includes marine and coastal areas of Bristol Bay and part of the southern Alaska Peninsula. (This area extends from directly south of Goodnews Bay to slightly north of Port Seniavan along the Bristol Bay side of the Alaska Peninsula, as well as the Pacific Ocean side of the Alaska Peninsula from Cape Providence to Kupreanof Peninsula.) This data set comprises a portion of the ESI for the Bristol Bay Subarea. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources.