Cultural and Paleontological Monitoring, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska

Brice self-performed cultural and paleontological resources monitoring of a seismometer installation at four locations in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. Our scope of work consisted of supporting consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, field monitoring of four separate seismometer locations, roughly 10 acres in size each, and a report of findings.

The work was performed for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), and the Paleontological Resources Protection Act (PRPA). We developed a predictive model-based geology, geomorphology, and environmental factors, and archaeological and paleontological context of the project area, and a research design to guide survey and monitoring. Field monitoring employed archaeological inventory and evaluation, and archaeological and paleontological monitoring. Fieldwork was performed at four separate areas of potential effect, roughly 10 acres in size, in remote areas of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. We accessed the project area via helicopter from Bethel, Alaska.

The project resulted in a finding of “no historic properties adversely affected” and clearance to proceed with the proposed undertaking.