BLM REA YKL 2011 Near-Term Future (2025) Landscape Condition Status in Current Distribution of Floodplains in the Yukon River Lowlands - Kuskokwim Mountains - Lime Hills

Some of the YKL rasters intentionally do not align or have the same extent. These rasters were not snapped to a common raster per the authors' discretion. Please review selected rasters prior to use. These varying alignments are a result of the use of differing source data sets and all products derived from them. We recommend that users snap or align rasters as best suits their own projects. - The landscape condition model (LCM) evaluates the degree of human impact on the landscape. The near-term future landscape condition was extracted to the current distribution of floodplains. Human disturbance is currently minimal (0.04 %) on floodplains. The percent disturbance includes the LCM scores very low, low, and medium. The most obvious human disturbance is the building of villages, roads and airstrips completely or partially on floodplains. Examples include Aniak, Galena, Holy Cross, Huslia, Kaltag, McGrath and Nulato. Many of these towns are or will be subject to river erosion and flooding. Other village infrastructure includes broadband communication and cellular service towers and related infrastructure. Diesel generators are the main source of electricity in communities and require short distance transmission lines or cables. Commercial timber harvesting is minimal in the region, although wood is harvested throughout the region for individual household fuel. Most of the villages are located adjacent to floodplains and likely obtain much of this fuel from floodplains. In addition, the largest and most productive Picea glauca are found on floodplains. Floodplains account for 80% of the commercial forests in other parts of Interior Alaska. Hunting and recreational fishing and remote lodges are common on floodplains. Rivers also function as transportation corridors for boats during the summer and fall, and for snowmachines during the winter and spring. Predicted future 2060 human disturbance is minimal with floodplains remaining relatively intact and in good condition. The only major reduction in status is along the potential Kuskokwim Road south of McGrath, and the two proposed open-pit mines for the region: Pebble Mine and Donlin Creek Mine. Either mining project will potentially increase population size in the YKL study area. They may also alter stream channels and lake connectivity, remove or impair riparian vegetation and function, increase sedimentation to important aquatic habitats, and serve as vectors for invasive species importation. Both mines are potential sources of contamination on floodplains and in the river.