The Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak Natural Resources Department (STK NRD) is dedicated to monitoring and protecting water resources throughout the Kodiak Archipelago. With funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak has partnered with Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association, Larsen Bay Tribal Council and Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor to establish a network of water temperature monitoring stations in streams and lakes throughout the Kodiak Archipelago. Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak monitors ten (10) water temperature stations in streams (7 sites) and lakes (3 sites) near the city of Kodiak. Among all of the partners, 27 stream sites and 25 lake sites continually collect water temperature data.

Through this effort, STK NRD staff and project partners are monitoring climate trends that may affect salmon life cycles throughout the region.  The monitoring of water temperatures within salmon habitat reflects the partnerships’ recognition of the importance of salmon to the economies and ecosystems of the archipelago and the need to provide reliable time-series data to support the development of proactive approaches to management of salmon in response to climate change.  The information derived from this project will better inform resource managers and help them anticipate and alter management plans as the climate changes.