Tributaries

Tidbits from the Headwaters

Another Great Golden Eagle Spring Migration Season!
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Another Great Golden Eagle Spring Migration Season!

Since 2020, we’ve been studying the spring migration of golden eagles along the southern slopes of the Mentasta Mountains. One of the goals of our studies is to get a better idea of how many older golden eagles (those age four and older) are migrating through this area as they head back to their nesting territories.

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Stop the Spread of Invasive Plants in the Copper River Watershed
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Stop the Spread of Invasive Plants in the Copper River Watershed

Summer’s here, so it’s time to manage invasive plants! As the air and soil warm up during longer days, stubborn invasive plants go to seed and spread further into the environment. Many infested sites are highly recreated parts of the watershed, along major highways, and nearby disturbed areas such as construction sites and where land is developed — even in your yard!

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Locals Take to the Skies at Gulkana Airport Day
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Locals Take to the Skies at Gulkana Airport Day

On Saturday, June 21, hundreds of locals and visitors braved the heat and the haze to attend the fourth annual Gulkana Airport Day. This event, organized by Copper Valley Alaska Services, offered $10 flight-seeing tours, live music, food and vendor booths, and the feel of a neighborhood block party.

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Three Active Fires in Copper Basin
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Three Active Fires in Copper Basin

The Alaska Division of Forestry (DOF) reported three active fires in the Valdez/ Copper River area this week. All of the following information is from the DOF interactive wildland fire map (akfireinfo.com/maps) and DOF press releases on the Alaska Wildland Fire Information webpage.

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Wellwood Summer Trails!
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Wellwood Summer Trails!

Wellwood Conservancy is offering a program of learning and hands-on activities this summer that is intended to develop interest and capacity within the community for trail maintenance, first aid, and stewardship of the natural world.

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HAARP Welcomes Public During Open House
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

HAARP Welcomes Public During Open House

On Saturday, June 14, members of the public were invited to an open house hosted by the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP). HAARP is a research facility located on over a thousand acres of land in Gakona where scientists study the ionosphere. The HAARP website quotes NASA’s definition of the ionosphere as “the boundary between Earth’s lower atmosphere — where we live and breathe — and the vacuum of space.”

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Tales from the Tundra May 2025
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Tales from the Tundra May 2025

As spring returns to the Copper Basin, some of its resident wildlife start to change their behaviors and begin migrating toward where they will have their young and spend the summer. Nelchina caribou are a clear example of this migratory behavior as they leave wintering areas across the basin to converge on their calving grounds in the Western Talkeetna mountains.

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Remembering the Fallen: Memorial Day Service Continues Rain or Shine
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Remembering the Fallen: Memorial Day Service Continues Rain or Shine

This past Memorial Day, under a steady morning rain, local Veterans, members of the American Legion, the VFW, Auxiliary groups, and dedicated community volunteers came together once again to ensure that those who paid the ultimate price in service to our country were honored with the dignity and the remembrance they deserve.

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Profile: Retired Major  Clint R. Marshall Serving Country and Community
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Profile: Retired Major Clint R. Marshall Serving Country and Community

Retired Major Clint R. Marshall served over twenty-six years in the United States Marine Corps before retiring in 2016 with many Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and Campaign Ribbons awarded.  Born in Alaska, Marshall is the son of the late Elmer Marshall from Chitina Village and a grandson of the late Robert and Mae Marshall. He is Athabascan and a member of the Udzisyu (Caribou) Clan, residing in Tazlina with his wife Katherine, whom he first met on deployment in Australia in 1991. They reconnected and married 18 years later and have been married for over twelve years.

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The German-Americans who Led the U.S. to Victory during  World War II
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

The German-Americans who Led the U.S. to Victory during World War II

The 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) recently occurred on May 8, 2025 and the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) will occur September 2, 2025. It may come as a surprise to the reader that the top two American commanders during World War II in Europe and the Pacific were German-Americans! 

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Deceased Humpback Whale Found at Dock Point
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Deceased Humpback Whale Found at Dock Point

On May 12, a deceased humpback whale was found near Dock Point Beach in Valdez.  In the hours that followed, members of the Valdez community came out in droves despite the rain to witness this rare event. 

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Wellwood Conservancy Awarded Trails Grant
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Wellwood Conservancy Awarded Trails Grant

American Trails announced the 2025 Awardees for its Trail Capacity Fund and a local organization was among the winners. Wellwood Conservancy, a non-profit organization that manages the 115-acre Wellwood Nature Preserve, was awarded a $10,000 grant to develop capacity within the local community for trail maintenance, first aid, and stewardship of the natural world. These funds were provided by the “Ford Bronco Wild Fund,” which supports projects that help to sustain the environment and connect people to the outdoors responsibly. 

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Chamber MembersWelcome Spring
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Chamber MembersWelcome Spring

On April 24, the Greater Copper Valley Chamber of Commerce held a spring community potluck supper and dessert auction hosted at the Copper Valley Air Hangar at the Gulkana Airport. A little over 30 people enjoyed the opportunity to share a meal in the short pause between managing winter weather and the busy summer season. Before supper, attendees shared prayers for the young men recently lost in a tragic accident  and all of their loved ones.

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CRNA’s Environmental FairEncourages Public Awareness andYouth Engagement
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

CRNA’s Environmental FairEncourages Public Awareness andYouth Engagement

On April 22 and 23, the second Environmental Fair was held at Glennallen High School. This public event was organized by CRNA’s Tribal Community Services Environmental Program and included lectures, presentations, booths, and activities from over two dozen local and regional organizations involved in environmental protection, education, and preservation.

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Kenny Lake Elementary Students Create Wax History Exhibit
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Kenny Lake Elementary Students Create Wax History Exhibit

On Wednesday, March 23, third through fifth grade students at Kenny Lake Elementary School presented a wax museum exhibit that taught students, parents, and members of the public about interesting historical figures. The wax museum was organized by Jennifer Hodges, who has taught the third through fifth grade class at Kenny Lake for the past seven years. Also on display in her classroom were some of the wax figures made by students in previous years.

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Big Changes at the Valdez Animal Shelter
Michelle McAfee Michelle McAfee

Big Changes at the Valdez Animal Shelter

The Valdez Animal Shelter made sweeping changes to its visitor, adoption, foster, intake, and outreach policies in early March. All these changes are meant to limit the time animals spend at the shelter and improve the wellbeing of the animals.

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