Resource uses in new communities: settlement entry and ... Publications/SP2_SP1987-001.pdfFall, J.A., D.J. Foster, and R.T. Stanek. 1987. Resource uses in new communities: settlement

Special Publication No. SP1987-001

Resource Uses in New Communities: Settlement Entry and Fish and Wildlife Harvests: A Research Design for Phase Two

by

James A. Fall

Dan J. Foster

and

Ronald T. Stanek

1987

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Subsistence

Symbols and Abbr eviations

The following symbols and abbreviations, and others approved for the Système International d'Unités (SI), are used without definition in the reports by the Division of Subsistence. All others, including deviations from definitions listed below, are noted in the text at first mention, as well as in the titles or footnotes of tables, and in figure or figure captions. Weights and measures (metric) centimeter cm deciliter dL gram g hectare ha kilogram kg kilometer km liter L meter m milliliter mL millimeter mm Weights and measures (English) cubic feet per second ft3/s foot ft gallon gal inch in mile mi nautical mile nmi ounce oz pound lb quart qt yard yd Time and temperature day d degrees Celsius °C degrees Fahrenheit °F degrees kelvin K hour h minute min second s Physics and chemistry all atomic symbols alternating current AC ampere A calorie cal direct current DC hertz Hz horsepower hp hydrogen ion activity (negative log of) pH parts per million ppm parts per thousand ppt, ‰ volts V watts W

General Alaska Administrative Code AAC all commonly-accepted abbreviations e.g., Mr., Mrs., AM, PM, etc. all commonly-accepted professional titles e.g., Dr., Ph.D., R.N., etc. at @ compass directions: east E north N south S west W copyright corporate suffixes: Company Co. Corporation Corp. Incorporated Inc. Limited Ltd. District of Columbia D.C. et alii (and others) et al. et cetera (and so forth) etc. exempli gratia (for example) e.g. Federal Information Code FIC id est (that is) i.e. latitude or longitude lat. or long. monetary symbols (U.S.) $, ¢ months (tables and figures) first three

letters (Jan,...,Dec) registered trademark trademark United States (adjective) U.S. United States of America (noun) USA U.S.C. United States Code U.S. state two-letter abbreviations (e.g., AK, WA) Measures (fisheries) fork length FL mideye-to-fork MEF mideye-to-tail-fork METF standard length SL total length TL

Mathematics, statistics all standard mathematical signs, symbols

and abbreviations alternate hypothesis HA base of natural logarithm e catch per unit effort CPUE coefficient of variation CV common test statistics (F, t, χ2, etc.) confidence interval CI correlation coefficient (multiple) R correlation coefficient (simple) r covariance cov degree (angular ) ° degrees of freedom df expected value E greater than > greater than or equal to ≥ harvest per unit effort HPUE less than < less than or equal to ≤ logarithm (natural) ln logarithm (base 10) log logarithm (specify base) log2, etc. minute (angular) ' not significant NS null hypothesis HO percent % probability P probability of a type I error (rejection of the

null hypothesis when true) α probability of a type II error (acceptance of

the null hypothesis when false) β second (angular) " standard deviation SD standard error SE variance population Var sample var

SPECIAL PUBLICATION NO. SP1987-001

RESOURCE USES IN NEW COMMUNITIES: SETTLEMENT ENTRY AND FISH AND WILDLIFE HARVESTS: A RESEARCH DESIGN FOR

PHASE TWO

by

James A. Fall, Dan J. Foster, Ronald T. Stanek Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence, Anchorage

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Subsistence

333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518-1599

1987

The Division of Subsistence Special Publications series was established for the publication of techniques and procedure manuals, special subject reports to decision-making bodies, symposia and workshop proceedings, application software documentation, in-house lectures, and other documents that do not fit in another publications series of the Division of Subsistence. Most Special Publications are intended for readers generally interested in fisheries, wildlife, and the social sciences; for natural resource technical professionals and managers; and for readers generally interested the subsistence uses of fish and wildlife resources in Alaska.

Special Publications are available through the Alaska State Library and on the Internet: http://www.subsistence.adfg.state.ak.us/.

James A. Fall, Dan J. Foster, Ronald T. Stanek

Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518-1599, USA

This document should be cited as: Fall, J.A., D.J. Foster, and R.T. Stanek. 1987. Resource uses in new communities: settlement entry and fish and

wildlife harvests: a research design for phase two. Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Subsistence, Special Publication No. SP1987-001, Anchorage.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) administers all programs and activities free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or

disability. The department administers all programs and activities in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of

1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility please write:

ADF&G ADA Coordinator, P.O. Box 115526, Juneau, AK, 99811-5526 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042, Arlington, VA, 22203

Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, MS 5230, Washington DC 20240 The department’s ADA Coordinator can be reached via phone at the following numbers:

(VOICE) 907-465-6077, (Statewide Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) 1-800-478-3648, (Juneau TDD) 907-465-3646, or (FAX) 907-465-6078

For information on alternative formats and questions on this publication, please contact: ADF&G Division of Subsistence at www.subsistence.adfg. state.ak.us.

..

, .

• RESOURCE USES IN NEW COMMUNITIES:

SETTLEMENT ENTRY AND FISH AND WILDLIFE HARVESTS

A Research Design for Phase Two

James A. Fall Dan J. Foster

Ronald T. Stanek

•

Division of Subsistence Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Anchorage. Alaska

February 1987

• 518806

...- .. --- - ­+/.5

..

• RESOURCE USES IN NEW COMMUNITIES: SETTLEMENT ENTRY

AND FISH AND WILDLIFE HARVESTS

PHASE TWO

INTRODUCTION

•

Since 1979, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources has made land

available to individuals for private ownership through a variety of land

disposal programs including homesites, subdivisions, homesteads, and remote

parcels. The majority of these offerings have been in the Susitna and Tanana

river basins, relatively accessible areas close to population centers. For

example, in the fall 1982 and spring 1983 disposals, 45 percent of the acreage

offered statewide was located in the Matanuska-Susitna region. In 1982, half

of the homesites (52 percent) available in this region were purchased, while

in 1983, 85 percent were purchased. The current land disposal program

replaced the open-to-entry program of the 1960s and early 1970s which allowed

individuals to claim selected state lands for a variety of purposes. The

open-to-entry program was repealed by the state legislature in 1974.

•

The current land disposal program often leads to relatively concentrated

settlements of newcomers in previously sparsely inhabited areas. For example,

in one 1980 disposal in Trapper Creek, 147 subdivision lots and homesites of

two to five acres were available by lottery. Although most of these lots were

awarded to individuals, no information is available on the number of parcels

that have been improved with structures, the number of people living on the

parcels, or the intent of use of those who won parcels. Though popular among

the public, the land disposal program has generated controversy over issues of

1 518807

, t

access. limited resources. and land management policy. The impacts of these

disposals on the hunting and fishing patterns of the existing residents of the

areas are not documented. Neither is there documentation of the hunting and

fishing patterns of the new settlers.

•

Research conducted by the Division of Subsistence has primarily focused

on the hunting and fishing of villages and discrete communities. Little work

has been undertaken on the patterns of the economies of dispersed settlements.

especially in areas relatively recently settled by in-migrants. Some

information on these kinds of areas is available for the upper Yentna River

area of the western Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Fall. Foster. and Stanek 1983).

In this report. local residents living on dispersed locations were found to

use significant amounts of wild food. None of the upper Yentna area is

accessible by road .

Phase One of this project examined the hunting and fishing patterns of

residents of Game Management Units 14B and 16A. which includes Talkeetna. the

•

Parks Highway from north of Willow to the Chulitna River bridge, and the

Petersville Road (Fall and Foster 1987). This area generally has a dispersed

set tlement pattern and has been the location of land disposals since about

1970. The Division of Subsistence had not previously conducted research in

the area. The results of a survey of 134 randomly selected households in this

study area revealed high levels of involvement in the use of fish and game

resources, but relatively low harvest levels as measured in pounds edible

weight. The economy of the area was found to center upon providing services

to Parks Highway travelers and to tourists.

Phase Two of the project will focus on the resource use patterns,

demography. and cash economy of the portion of GMU 13E north of Talkeetna and

south of Cantwell. Much of the population of this area lives along the

2 518808

• Alaska Railroad corridor on the east side of the Susitna River. This area is

not accessible by highway. Most residents of this area obtained their land

through state land disposals within the last 20 years. The study area has

been divided into three subareas (Figure 1). The first, Subarea A, contains

the communities of Chase and Sherman, and has a population of approximately

150 people. This Subarea will be the primary focus of the research because

the residents are presently preparing a land use plan for the area in

coordination with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. If time permits, the

research will move on the Subarea B, Gold Creek and Indian River, and finally

to the Subarea C, the Parks Highway corridor between Hurricane and Cantwell.

Resource uses in Cantwell were documented in an earlier study (Stratton and

Georgette 1984).

Phase Three of the project - scheduled for the summer of 1987 - proposes

• to examine another settlement area, Slana in the Copper River basin, which

occurred on federal lands. Information on Slana's resource use prior to the

settlement program there was collected by the division in 1983 and summarized

in Technical Paper No. 107 (Stratton and Georgette 1984). This will provide a

good comparison with data on the new settlers' resource use. A separate

research design for Phase Three of this project will be prepared at a later

date.

PURPOSES

Phase Three of this project has the following purposes:

(1) to learn about hunting and fishing patterns of residents of

• a portion of GMU 13E .

518809 3

•

•

• Figure 1.

;,.../\

OAD PASS ~

'1"""-H-_-I~,LO"~

o 10 !

20 I

'.11 L E 3

N

1 3 0 I

The Study Areas for Phase Two of the "Resource Uses in New Communities" Study.

518810

(2) to examine the impact that state and federal land disposals ~

have had on the hunting and fishing patterns of the area's

residents prior to the disposals;

(3) to document the hunting and fishing patterns of new settlers

attracted to an area by land disposal programs;

(4) to understand the economy of the communities along the railbelt

corridor north of Talkeetna and south of Cantwell; and

(5) to provide information that will be useful to residents of the Chase

and Sherman area for their development of a land use plan.

Research questions include:

(1) To what extent do residents of the study area participate in

hunting and fishing? What species are harvested and used?

(2) Do land disposals have an adverse impact on hunting and fishing

~ activities of existing residents?

(3) For what reasons do people settle in land disposal areas?

(4) Where do residents of the study area hunt and fish? What areas are

used most frequently? What areas are the most reliable producers of

fish and game harvests?

(5) What is the character of the local economy in the Chase area? What

businesses are present in the area? What kinds of employment

opportunities do they offer? To what extent do wild resources

contribute to households' economies in the study area?

Research objectives for Phase Two include the following:

(l) For the entire Phase Two study area [Firs t for communities

along the Alaska Railroad north of Talkeetna to Sherman; second

from Gold Greek to the intersection of the railroad with the

~ Parks Highway near Hurricane; and third from Hurricane to

5 51 8811

· .

· .

• (but not including) Cantwell] objectives include:

(a) Estimates of population size;

(b) Maps of population distribution;

(c) Estimates of the number of businesses and employment

opportunities within the study area;

(2) For all households with year-round residents in the study area,

the objectives of Phase Two are:

(a) Estimates of fish and game harvests for a 12 month study

period January 1986 throughDecember 1986;

(b) Estimates of the level of participation in hunting and

fishing activities of household members;

• (c) Demographic data on household size, ethnicity, age, and

length of residency in the study area;

(d) Employment patterns for each adult in the sample,

including number of months employed by job during the

study period and the location of cash employment;

(e) Estimates of household monetary income provided by each

job;

(f) Information on possible impacts of land disposals and

increased non-local hunting effort on long-term local

residents I hunting patterns (such as loss of access to

traditional hunting areas or reduced harvests); and

(g) maps of resource harvest areas used while residing in the

study area.

• 518812 6

· . DATA COLLECTION METHODS

A. Literature Review

Before the start of field data collection, published and unpublished

sources on the population and economy of the study area will be examined (e.g.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough 1985). These also will include records of the

Matanuska-Susitna Borough such as plat maps and tax assessor lists.

B. Household Survey

The primary method of data collection for resource harvest and use

information will be a survey of the study population using a questionnaire

(Appendix A). These questionnaires will be administered in person by the

field workers. For Subarea A, division researchers will develop a list of

~ households and map household locations with the aid of knowledgeable residents

at a community meeting in Chase in late February. They will then conduc t

interviews and mapping sessions (see below) with all households on the list.

If time and travel conditions permit, the research with extend to Subarea B in

late March and early April. The researchers will assemble a list of

households with the assistance of key respondents. Interviewing in Subarea C

will take place in April and May, depending upon the availability of funds and

personnel. Again, the researchers will attempt to interview all resident

households as identified by key respondents.

C. Mapping

Each interviewed household will indicate their resource harvest areas on

clear mylar overlays on USGS maps at a scale of 1: First, the

~ households will draw circles around areas used for hunting, fishing, and

7 518813

, .

. .

• gathering since they began living in the area. Mapping categories will be:

1. , Moose

2. Caribou

3. Black Bear

4. Sheep

5. Trapping furbearers

6. Salmon

7. Other fish

8. Plants and berries

9. Wood.

Second, households will indicate which areas have been the most reliable

for moose hunting by drawing circles around those areas where, over time, they

seem to have consistently harvested moose. Third, households will encircle

• the areas they used to hunt moose in 1986.

DATA ANALYSIS

Results of the household survey and resource use area mapping will be

compiled in a final report. The report will summarize the study design and

provide a historical background to the area. A separate chapter will discuss

demography and employment patterns of area residents. Next, the major section

of the report will present a series of tables which summarize the resource

harvest and use data collected with the survey instrument. Numbers of fish

and game, will be converted into pounds edible weight using standard

conversion factors. For each resource and for each major resource category,

• the report will present:

1. Percentage of the sample using the resource;

518814 8

. '

• 2 • Percentage of the sample attempting to harvest the resource;

3. Percentage of the sample harvesting the resource;

4. Percentage of the sample giving the resource to other households;

S. Percentage of the sample receiving the resource from other

households;

6. Mean household harvest of the resource in pounds edible weight;

7. Mean per capita harvest of the resource in pounds edible weight; and

8. Total harvest of the resource in number of animals, fish, or other

appropriate unit of measurement.

Data on resource use areas will be compiled in a series of maps depicting:

1. Total area used by community members for all hunting, fishing and

• gathering activities;

2 Total area used by community members for:

a. Moose hunting

b. Caribou hunting

c. Black bear hunting

d. Sheep hunting

e. Furbearer trapping

f. Salmon fishing

g. Other fishing

h. Plant, wood, and berry gathering

3. Areas where community members have consistently been able to harvest

moose;

4. Areas used by the community to hunt moose in 1986; and

S. Moose harvest sites over time •

• 9

518815

• SCHEDULE

February 1987.

February 21, 1987.

February 22-25.

Feb. 26 - March 31.

April 1987.

May 1987.

June 1987.

July 1987 •

•

Prepare research design

Meeting with Chase Community Council. approval of research design.

Obtain

Final modifications to design.

Survey and Mapping, Subarea A; if time and travel conditions permit, conduct interviews and mapping in Subarea B.

Data analysis and drafting of technical paper. Extend research to Subarea C, if possible.

Community meetings to review research findings.

Complete final report.

Begin Phase Three.

• 10 518816

'. . ~

. .

• REFERENCES CITED

Fall, James A., and Dan J. Foster 1987 Fish and Game Harvest and Use in the Middle Susitna Basin: The Results

of a Survey of Residents of Game Management Units 14B and 16A, 1986. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence Technical Paper No. 143. Juneau.

Fall, James A., Dan J. Foster, and Ronald T. Stanek 1983 The Use of Moose and Other Wild Resources in the Tyonek and

Upper Yentna Area: A Background Report. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence Technical Paper No. 74. Juneau.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough 1985 Community Profile. Palmer

Stratton, Lee and Susan Georgette 1984 The Use of Fish and Game of Communities in the Copper River

Basin, Alaska: A Report on a 1983 Household Survey. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence Technical Paper No. 107. Juneau .

•

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