Afognak Island: Shuyak and Uganik

Preserving Rich Coastal Wetlands and Habitat

The north coast of Afognak Island, with its remote coastline and thick timber stands, provides outstanding wildlife habitat. It supports fourteen species of marine mammals, open, ice-free shallow water for wintering sea ducks and migratory waterfowl, and habitat for Harlequin ducks (the Harlequin population in the Kodiak Archipelago is one of only two known resident populations in the world).  

Thick stands of timber at water’s edge provide a break from Arctic wind chill temperatures and if left intact, could provide globally significant nesting habitat for endangered marbled murrelets. Afognak’s north shore also provides an outstanding spawning system, used by three species of salmon (pink, sockeye, and chum). Majestic Kodiak brown bears and massive Roosevelt elk are also found there.

Working in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), Kodiak Brown Bear Trust, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program, Shuyak Natives, Inc., and Uganik Natives, Inc., ALC protected 4,000 acres of coastal wetland and rainforest resources on the north coast of Afognak along the shores of Perenosa Bay. At the same time ALC and RMEF  conveyed 2,258 acres of timber rights in the Paul's and Laura Lake area near Perenosa Bay. The timber rights were first acquired as part of a related project in the area completed by ALC and its partners in 2005 (see Afgonak Island - Perenosa Bay).

Together these projects add to the vision of a 150-square mile (180,000-acre) contiguous protected area on Afognak’s north shore. Learn more about this project here.