Winter Solstice 2004, Volume 9 #4

This paper reviews recent research on the impacts of roads on wildlife in Alaska. This research has largely focused on caribou in relation to oil and gas infrastructure, including roads, but some has considered effects on other wildlife. The exemption of the Tongass and Chugach National Forests from roadless rule protection and the increase of RS 2477 claims will also be explored, as these two policy developments have the potential to greatly increase road development and its effects on wildlife in Alaska. Caribou

These guidelines were developed to assist citizen scientists in monitoring aquatic habitat following road removal. Roads can have major impacts on water quality and habitat value due to landslides and general erosion of the road bed over time. For fish, increased fine sediment in streams has been linked to decreased fry emergence, decreased juvenile densities, loss of winter carrying capacity, and increased predation. Road removal has been shown to reduce erosion and sedimentation but its impact on aquatic systems has not been well studied.