Environment

All Alaska news stories about the environment, climate and weather. Could also include topics like animal die-offs related to the environment.

a road camera image

Southcentral, Southwest Alaska to see deep subzero wind chills through the weekend

Subzero Arctic air funneling into the region along with wind gusts could produce wind chills of 50 degrees below zero, meteorologists say.
a white, snowy landscape of a dam covered in snow and mountains covered in snow.

Anchorage Assembly preps for legal fight with Bronson administration over future of Eklutna Dam

The Assembly and administration have major differences over who sets the policy and what the city’s position actually is.
Lisa Murkowski

Murkowski calls proposed endangered listing for Alaska king salmon ‘wrongheaded’

Sen. Lisa Murkowski says the Wild Fish Conservancy's proposal, like its lawsuit over Southeast king fishing, is meant "to basically stop our wild fisheries."
a grader

Kuskokwim Ice Road crew fights weather to keep river traffic flowing

The crew has established and marked more than 200 miles of roads along frozen rivers, during warm weather and intermittent snow storms.
Tom McKay

Alaska House approves relaxed environmental rules for ‘advanced recycling’

Rep. Tom McKay, R-Anchorage and House Bill 143’s prime sponsor, said the bill now headed to the state Senate would keep plastic out of landfills.

Unalaska weighs energy options as geothermal project requests new terms

Unalaska is closer than ever to building a geothermal power plant on Makushin Volcano, but the project is facing investment challenges and the city is weighing its options.

Heavy winds and wet snow lead to icy streets and power outages in Anchorage

The city saw gusts as high as 82 mph in the Potter Marsh area, leading to power outages for thousands of residents.

Cuvier’s beaked whale found dead on Kodiak Island

Beaked whales are a rare sight and spend most of their lives deep in the ocean. But one was found dead on a beach near Kodiak last week.

Climate change is making it harder to survey pollock in the Gulf of Alaska

Between 2017 and 2019, pollock surveys in the Gulf of Alaska produced wildly different estimates.

More areas around Kodiak Island could become critical habitat for endangered North Pacific Right Whales

It’s estimated that less than 50 North Pacific Right Whales exist today in a range that extends from Hawaii to the southeastern Bering Sea and beyond.
man exiting legislative chamber

Alaska Senate moves toward rejecting some of Gov. Dunleavy’s 12 executive orders

Senators expressed concerns about several of Gov. Mike Dunleavy's 12 executive orders. The Legislature has until mid-March to reject them.
Cook Inlet

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy’s plan to lease land for carbon storage comes with questions

Analysts say estimates that the state could earn hundreds millions from leases are overpromising.
A narrow lake among snow-capped mountains

Eklutna hydro owners say they won’t extend wildlife restoration process

Stakeholders who have fundamental objections have little time for further negotiation, and little recourse but federal court.

Attorneys argue scope of Metlakatla’s off-reservation fishing rights in federal court

Attorneys presented oral arguments in a long-running dispute over fishing rights on Alaska’s only Native reservation on Thursday.
Emergency first responders stand in a snowy pullout next to emergency vehicles at dusk. Snow covered mountains in the background.

Avalanche near Cooper Landing kills 28-year-old skier

Recent high winds and rapidly changing weather in Southcentral increase the potential for avalanches in the backcountry.
A man in sunglasses blows snow off the roof.

Anchorage building officials are trying to identify roofs prone to fail under heavy snow

Anchorage roofing companies have been slammed with snow removal jobs amid record snowfall and a series of collapses.
a Chugach electric sign

Green energy advocates say Anchorage utility ‘freezing out’ efforts for gas-saving price structure

An Anchorage nonprofit wants state regulators to force Chugach Electric Association to hand over detailed data on customers’ energy consumption.
Gloved hands holding a bunch of mussels

Scientists investigate paralytic shellfish poisoning as possible factor in large marine die offs 

Recent testing data from Knik Tribe scientists show paralytic shellfish toxin throughout the food web
A moose eating branches in a snowbank

Palmer teen trampled by moose as deep snow puts animals under greater stress

Troopers say the teen escaped with only minor injuries Wednesday. The moose was shot and killed, as heavy snow has forced the ungulates into Anchorage.
a building

Hilcorp fined $260K for missing well integrity test on Alaska’s North Slope

Thursday's penalty came two days after the oil company was fined $452,100 over unauthorized injections into Prudhoe Bay Unit oil pools.