Tribal Departments & Services

Land and Environment

Mission

“…to understand, protect, restore, secure and enhance traditional lands, environment and uses while maintaining cultural integrity.

 Projects

EKLUTNA TRIBAL LAND TRUST

This tribal land trust was formed to implement NVE’s environmental mission using tools like conservation easements and mitigation land banking.

EKLUTNA RIVER ASSESSMENTS, PLANNING, AND RESTORATION

Eklutna River salmon populations are depressed by low river flows due to diversion for power generation, an abandoned dam, and associated impacts.

NVE coordinates The Eklutna River Watershed Coulcil, which brings together partners to benefit the watershed. (funding from EPA and BIA)

NVE conducted five years of Eklutna River flow monitoring and adult salmon counts. (BIA and USFWS support)

Eklutna River salmon habitat assessments and restoration recommendations development (with USACE partner)

NVE removed a large illegal dump from the river canyon, including 50 junk vehicles. (funded by EPA)

EKLUTNA ARMY SITE REMEDIATION

DoD used the Eklutna Army Site, in the woodlands behind Eklutna Village for housing, supply, vehicles maintenance, and storage from 1961 to 1971

NVE has assessed and removed impacts since 2005 with NALEMP funding. (Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program)

Removed 90,000 pounds of Army Sited debris and 800,000 pounds of building rubble, and leveled a 1,000 ft. by up to 50 ft. high berm.

Removed and disposed of 117 buried drums containing lead base paint, solvents, etc., and 90 yards of contaminated soil from this drum dump.

CONSULTATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROJECTS

NVE seeks to minimize impacts to environmental and cultural resources by consulting with responsible federal agencies. (with EPA support)

Some consultation projects include: Cook Inlet petroleum industry projects, Knik Arm Crossing, Port of Anchorage Expansion, Eagle River Flats extended shelling.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The LE Department conducts frequent environmental education activities with the community youth group, The Eklutna Eagles. (supported by EPA and AmeriComps)

Activities include subsistence fish camp, with the NVE educational fish net. Kids learn recycling with the NVErecycling trailer, which accepts village recyclables.

ROADS

The NVE Roads Repartment Recently completed a new Long Range Transportation Plan, including 60 miles of new roads inventory and prioritized projects. With BIA funding we plan to hire a dedicated department manager and revelop an active program of roads construction and maintenance projects, with a tribal citizenry work force.

The contact address is

26339 Eklutna Village Road
Chugiak, AK 99567
(Attention Land and Environment Department)
Contact number (907) 688-6020 or fax (907) 688-6021,
or email nve@eklutna-nsn.gov.