Izembek Road: Exchange Offers Quantity, but not Quality
The Izembek road proposal that moved forward with the passage of P.L. 111-11 (the Omnibus Public Land Management Act) would sacrifice 206 acres of high-quality federally designated Wilderness lands in exchange for about 56,000 acres of far-less-valuable non-federal lands. This exchange would sacrifice quality habitat for a greater quantity of acres. It is not a fair exchange, and should be rejected.
Even though 45,000 acres of the proposed exchange lands could potentially be designated as wilderness, they do not provide the habitat needed by the migratory birds, marine life, and mammals who rely on the resources found only in the narrow isthmus located between Izembek and Kinzarof Lagoons — the ecological heart of the refuge currently protected as Wilderness. No amount of additional acreage can compensate for this loss of the world-class resources found only in Izembek’s Lagoons Complex.
At the core of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge are two lagoons, Izembek and Kinzarof. Izembek and Kinzarof Lagoons are separated by a narrow isthmus that is about three miles wide. Combined, these lagoons, their watersheds, and the isthmus — the Lagoons Complex — make up the ecological heart of the refuge. The area has been recognized internationally for having some of the most striking wildlife and wilderness values in the northern hemisphere. Some of the largest eelgrass beds in the world are found within Izembek and Kinzarof Lagoons. These eelgrass beds attract hundreds of thousands of waterfowl and other migratory birds, and support fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals, including a threatened sea otter population. The isthmus separating the two lagoons is a vital migratory corridor and foraging area for wildlife, and it is the only path between the west and east sides of the refuge.
The exchange lands being proposed would provide habitat that is in no way comparable to that of the Lagoons Complex. Indeed, no amount of exchange lands can compensate for the irreversible impacts a road would have on these globally significant wildlife habitat values.
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About Nicole Whittington-Evans
As Alaska Regional Director, Nicole has worked with tribes, members of the public, conservation partners and land managing agencies to advance conservation measures in the state of Alaska. She has focused her work on national forests, wildlife... More about Nicole Whittington-Evans
