Book Description

Although wetlands cover over half of Alaska, the status, management and regulation of these areas is problematic. The technical literature on Alaskan wetland vegetation, soils and hydrology is abundant, but the application of the literature to wetland management is poorly developed. This report identifies problems, issues and information gaps in the management of Alaskan wetlands. There are numerous arguments and debates on the designation, function and values, and disturbance of certain wetlands in Alaska. Permafrost, fire cycles and unique hydrologic regimes complicate the designation and delineation of Alaskan wetlands. The functions and values of most Alaskan wetlands clearly lie in their importance as habitat, particularly for migrating waterbirds, but an understanding of their role in flood water storage, water quality improvement, subsistence and other functions remains controversial and in need of study. Disturbance and other impacts on Alaskan wetlands is small relative to the large area that wetlands cover and in comparison with the loss of wetlands in the lower 48 states. However, several development projects in Alaska have affected large wetland areas and methods to restore these wetlands are being developed. Cumulative impacts are unknown, as are techniques for restoring permafrost wetlands containing gravel fill.