AGP Executive Report

Ocean Monitoring Rollback: The National Science Foundation is “descoping” the Ocean Observatories Initiative, pulling most of the $368M, 900+ sensor network that has tracked ocean health and climate signals off Alaska, Washington, Oregon, North Carolina and Greenland—leaving data streams to go dark as instruments are removed over the next 15 months. Wildlife & Habitat: A long-term DNA study of Bristol Bay belugas finds multiple mating partners may help maintain genetic health in a small, isolated population. Marine Life in Trouble: Gray whales are washing up in record numbers on Washington’s coast, with researchers pointing to malnutrition and food shortages, plus added risks from ships. Alaska Energy & Climate Policy: The Trump administration plans to use the Defense Production Act to funnel nearly $700M to support coal facilities, including matching funds for Alaska projects. Local Environment & Subsistence: Alaska’s Supreme Court hears a challenge to Donlin Gold’s state water permit, with the Orutsararmiut Native Council arguing the mine could de-water salmon spawning habitat. Public Lands & Logging: The Forest Service held a subsistence hearing for a proposed Prince of Wales logging project, where old-growth harvest could affect deer subsistence use.

Ocean Monitoring Rollback: The National Science Foundation plans to dismantle most of the Ocean Observatories Initiative, pulling more than 900 deep-sea sensors from the Pacific and Atlantic, including off Alaska—an especially bad moment as scientists warn of record ocean heat and an approaching super El Niño. Marine Wildlife Stress: Researchers say 25 gray whales have already washed up on Washington’s coast this year, with malnutrition and food shortages driving deaths and pushing whales into riskier waters. Gulf of Alaska Data Loss: Ocean Station Papa in the Gulf of Alaska is also slated for removal, threatening one of the longest-running North Pacific data sets used to track ocean warming. Subsistence & Logging: The Forest Service held a subsistence hearing for the proposed Twin Mountain II Timber Sale on Prince of Wales Island, where impacts to deer subsistence use are a central concern. Marine Mammal Trade Law: A bill (ARTIST Act) headed to the president would protect Alaska Native artists’ ability to sell marine-mammal ivory, bone, and baleen. Rural Fuel Costs: A report highlights how Middle East conflict-driven fuel price spikes hit Western Alaska villages hard, with heating fuel and gas often far above statewide averages.

Ocean Monitoring Under Threat: The Trump administration is dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative, removing hundreds of instruments from waters off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina and the Irminger Sea—ending real-time data scientists use to track currents, marine life and climate signals like the Atlantic circulation that helps shape global weather. Arctic Wildlife Health: A polar bear death in Svalbard has been linked to highly pathogenic bird flu (H5N5), with researchers also finding signs of neurological damage in other bears. Alaska Climate Signals: Kodiak saw record-cold May conditions, including a Memorial Day daily low, even as forecasts point to warmer-than-average ocean impacts tied to El Niño. Rural Fuel Costs: In Western Alaska villages, residents are still paying extreme prices for heating fuel and gas, with some hauling supplies across tundra when road access isn’t available. Moose Safety: Alaska wildlife officials warn summer moose calving season is driving more dangerous encounters, urging people to keep distance and know what to do if a charge happens. Local Impacts on Supplies: Juneau Costco is changing shipping services for Southeast Alaska small businesses, potentially raising costs and making deliveries harder for outlying communities.

Ocean Monitoring Cuts: The Trump administration is dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $368 million network of 900+ ocean sensors that has tracked climate and marine ecosystems for more than a decade; NSF says it’s “descoping,” but scientists warn it will create long-term data gaps. Climate Extremes in Alaska: Kodiak saw record-cold May highs and a Memorial Day daily low, plus hail during CrabFest—while researchers expect El Niño to bring warmer ocean conditions later this summer. Southeast Supply Shock: Juneau Costco will end its specialized shipping service for outlying communities starting June 7, forcing small businesses to buy full pallets of individual items instead of bundled shipments. Wildlife Safety: Moose calving season is underway, and Fish & Game urges hikers to keep distance and be ready to move fast if a charge happens. Marine Research Policy: A federal bill to support marine carbon dioxide removal testing is drawing attention from Kodiak fishermen who want fisheries protected first. Invasive Species Watch: New UAF research links warmer Southcentral waters to increased northern pike feeding, raising concerns for young salmon. Energy & Access: A push is underway to finance Alaska’s Ambler mining road, drawing tribal and environmental opposition over impacts to caribou and salmon.

Wildlife & Disease Watch: Alaska’s first mule deer harvest is a milestone, but biologists warn the expanding range could bring parasites and contagious diseases north—especially winter tick, which has devastated moose in parts of the U.S. and Canada. Climate-Driven Water Risks: NOAA says harmful algae blooms are increasing in Alaska’s Arctic waters as warming makes blooms more frequent; researchers flag toxins that can trigger paralytic and amnesic shellfish poisoning. Southwest Alaska River Change: A research team is studying changing conditions on the Kuskokwim River after breakup and storms are leaving communities like Aniak more isolated for longer stretches. Moose Safety in Anchorage: After five people were injured in moose encounters tied to people getting too close to cow calves, Fish and Game urges visitors to back away and avoid brushy trails with poor visibility. Arctic Deep-Time Discovery: Tiny fossil mammal teeth from northern Alaska suggest the Arctic was a cradle for mammalian evolution 73 million years ago—more connected and dynamic than once thought. Energy & Environment: A federal agency is offering large elk-migration habitat in Colorado for oil and gas leases, raising concerns about wildlife impacts and dark-sky tourism.

Kuskokwim River Change Study: A University of Alaska Fairbanks research team is working with the Native Village of Napaimute to track how shifting river conditions are reshaping spring breakup, erosion, and storm impacts in Southwest Alaska—monitoring water levels, salinity, temperature, and ice-driven hazards that can isolate communities for weeks. Moose Safety in Anchorage: After five people were injured in Anchorage moose encounters tied to people getting too close to cow moose with newborn calves, Fish and Game is urging Alaskans to avoid brushy trails with poor visibility and to back away if they spot a calf. Harmful Algae Watch: In Kachemak Bay and beyond, Alaskans are on the lookout for harmful algae blooms, with local monitoring tied to public health and shellfish safety. Ocean Science Under Pressure: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a network used to study ocean circulation changes that scientists link to climate-driven weather risks. Climate Extremes Warning: A new global outlook says record heat and extreme weather are becoming more frequent, with the Arctic warming faster than the rest of the planet. Coastal Access Debate: An Alaska Long Trail opinion argues scenic recreation should not come at the expense of practical public access across state lands. Wildlife Recovery Note: Reporting highlights how bowhead whales are recovering from near-extinction, underscoring long-term ecosystem resilience.

Harmful Algae Watch: Alaska’s harmful algal bloom risk is rising as warmer conditions help toxin-producing algae like Alexandrium spread, threatening people and wildlife with paralytic shellfish poisoning. Arctic Marine Safety & Wildlife: Alaska airports keep facing wildlife strikes; a recent deer collision at Kodiak Airport damaged an Alaska Airlines jet and canceled flights for the day. Clean Power Push: Chugach Electric says its planned Beluga solar farm could produce electricity at about the same cost as current natural gas generation, with potential savings as gas prices rise. Local Food Security: Anchorage’s Assembly moved to reaffirm that small-scale farmers can keep selling hay and feed in neighborhoods, aiming to protect livestock supply when barges or crops run late. Interior Energy Costs: Golden Valley Electric Association warned of major rate pressure tied to global fuel prices and outages, underscoring how Interior Alaska’s long supply chains amplify climate and market shocks. Subsistence & Land Stewardship: Valhalla Metals says it’s planning drilling in northern Alaska’s Ambler Mining District after completing its Smucker Project acquisition, with promises to work with local communities and the federal and state governments.

Renewables & Power Costs: Chugach Electric says its planned Beluga solar farm near Anchorage could produce electricity at about the same price as natural gas now—and may beat imported gas as Cook Inlet supplies tighten. Local Food Security: After a dispute, the Anchorage Assembly passed an ordinance reaffirming that small-scale farmers can keep selling hay, feed and compost in neighborhood areas. Aviation Safety: The FAA proposed a $165,000 civil penalty against Alaska Airlines over alleged cases where visibly intoxicated passengers were allowed to board multiple flights. Arctic Climate Impacts: A UAF-led research team is studying how a changing Kuskokwim River is reshaping breakup patterns and isolation risks in Southwest Alaska. Energy Infrastructure Politics: Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins urged lawmakers to include an affordable spur line to Fairbanks in any Interior gas pipeline plan. Fisheries Management: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is set to take public comment on pelagic trawl gear, focusing on bycatch impacts in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. Invasive Species Watch: USGS warns invasive species are spreading fast via boating, camping, gardening, shipping and travel, with Alaska among the states already seeing new records.

Climate Outlook: A new UN-backed forecast warns the planet is headed for years of extreme heat, with a high chance at least one year from 2026-2030 will top the hottest year on record, raising risks for ecosystems and people—especially in the Arctic. Arctic Change in Alaska: A UAF team is investigating how a shifting Kuskokwim River is changing breakup patterns and stranding realities for Southwest Alaska communities. Wildlife & Food Safety: Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea is seeing new concern over algal toxins, adding to the region’s environmental stressors. Subsistence & Fisheries: The Forest Service will hold a June 9 virtual public hearing on proposed changes to the Taku River federal subsistence salmon fishery. Public Lands Access: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says more than 95% of refuge lands could be open to hunting and sport fishing under proposed expansions. Community & Culture: Sealaska Heritage Institute kicks off its 2026 Celebration in Juneau June 3-6, spotlighting Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian culture.

Climate Watch: The UN’s weather agency warns global temperatures are very likely to stay at or near record levels through 2026-2030, with an 86% chance at least one year tops the hottest year on record and a 91% chance of a temporary breach of the 1.5°C Paris benchmark—raising risks for extreme weather, ecosystems, food and displacement. Marine Heat & Fisheries: Scientists link a growing North Pacific marine heatwave with a likely El Niño this summer, warning it could fuel longer, harsher ocean warming that disrupts fisheries and ecosystems. Wildlife & Pollution: Alaska Zoo is taking in orphaned caribou and moose calves for summer care, while elsewhere a bald eagle was rescued after acute lead poisoning—another reminder that human waste can hit wildlife hard. Local Wildlife Safety: Alaska’s Fish and Game reports five people injured in Anchorage moose attacks, with mothers defending calves. Invasive Species: Wrangell-area monitoring ramps up for European green crabs, with the Forest Service helping set traps. Policy & Funding: Alaska lawmakers approved a major boost for school construction and maintenance—$148M+ for 2027—aimed at fixing dangerous, long-neglected facilities. Energy & Governance: Chugach Electric voters elected Penny Gage and Rachel Morse to the board and debated membership-fee authority. Health Access: U.S. senators advanced a bill extending the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration, including Alaska hospitals in the program. Data Centers: States are tightening or reshaping incentives as data centers strain power grids and household bills; Alaska lacks a clear statewide policy.

Climate Watch: A new UN-backed forecast says global temperatures are nearly certain to stay at or near record levels through 2026-2030, with an 86% chance at least one year will beat the current hottest year on record and a 91% chance of a temporary 1.5°C spike above pre-industrial levels—raising risks for extreme weather and ecosystem stress. School Infrastructure: Alaska lawmakers approved more than $148M for school construction and maintenance in fiscal year 2027, more than triple the prior year, aiming to tackle leaking roofs, broken pipes, and failing foundations—especially in rural schools used as emergency shelters. Invasive Species Response: The Wrangell Ranger District is helping monitor for invasive European green crabs in Southeast Alaska, using traps and volunteer support to improve identification as the species spreads. Wildlife Care: The Alaska Zoo has started its 2026 orphan season, welcoming one caribou calf and four moose calves for round-the-clock bottle-feeding and recovery. Marine Safety: Nigeria’s NSIB opened a “very serious” investigation into a Bonny Anchorage collision involving a container ship and an oil products tanker, after an oil spill and crew injuries.

Arctic Climate & Food Safety: New research and local student work in the Northern Bering Sea area are flagging algal toxins as a growing concern for subsistence harvests as warming reshapes bloom patterns. PFAS Pollution: British Columbia sea otters are showing “forever chemical” PFAS in new lab findings, adding to the Pacific Northwest’s mounting contamination worries. Southeast Energy Transition: A federal-backed heat pump push for coastal Alaska is moving slowly, with fewer than 600 applications and only about 100 installs so far—raising questions as grant funding winds down. Conservation Land Grab: Kachemak Bay State Park is expanding after the Conservation Fund and Alaska Parks bought Herring Pete’s Cove near Nuka Island, protecting habitat and safer harbors. Cruise Pressure on Alaska: Alaska is projected to welcome about 1.7 million cruise passengers this year as lines renovate ships and compete harder—good for tourism, but a reminder to watch impacts on wildlife and local communities. Global Heat Warning: A new UN-linked climate outlook says there’s an 86% chance at least one year from 2026–2030 will beat the hottest year on record. Arctic Military Readiness: U.S. forces trained for sustained high-north aviation operations in Alaska, underscoring how logistics and infrastructure shape Arctic capability.

Tribal Energy Grants Stalled: Federal grid-upgrade money promised to Alaska tribes is stalling three years into a five-year program, leaving communities like White Mountain frustrated and still juggling unreliable power. Heat Pumps, Slow Roll: A federal push to install thousands of electric heat pumps along coastal Alaska is off to a slow start, with fewer than 600 applications and only about 100 installs so far—raising worries as funding runs down in 2029. Wildlife & Water Protection: Kachemak Bay State Park expands with a new Conservation Fund land acquisition near Nuka Island, adding habitat and recreation access. Marine Life Care: Alaska SeaLife Center admitted its first harbor seal pup of the 2026 season, describing the animal as orphaned, malnourished, and dehydrated. Public Safety in Bear Country: A growing network of automated kiosks lets visitors rent bear spray on arrival, aiming to boost deterrent use during dangerous encounters. Climate Outlook: UN/WMO forecasts keep global temperatures near record levels and warn the Arctic is warming far faster, with Alaska facing increased rainfall risk. Aviation Safety: FAA proposes a $165,000 fine for Alaska Airlines over alleged intoxicated passenger boarding, while the airline says it has already made policy and training changes.

Climate Forecast: The UN weather agency and the UK Met Office warn global temperatures are likely to stay near record levels for the next five years, with an 86% chance at least one year from 2026–2030 tops 2024’s record heat and a 75% chance the 2026–2030 average exceeds the 1.5°C threshold; the Arctic is expected to warm even faster. Arctic Wildlife: New research links declines in Alaska’s arcticola dunlin to problems at East Asia wintering grounds, pointing to habitat loss in coastal wetlands and calling for targeted conservation there. Alaska Policy: The Alaska Legislature approved the state’s first tax on e-cigarette products, adding a 25% retail tax and restricting sales to people 21 and older. North Slope Oil Review: A Trump administration proposal would streamline federal environmental reviews for new North Slope oil projects in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, drawing criticism over impacts to tundra, wetlands, and wildlife. Mining Update: Nova Minerals says it has mobilized for a fully funded 2026 Estelle program, including up to a 10,000-meter drill campaign and antimony sample work aimed at late-2026/early-2027 production. Local Enforcement: A Juneau-area commercial fisherman was sentenced to 10 years (with suspension) for repeat fish and shellfish violations, including falsifying fish tickets and selling clams without proper testing.

Anchorage Small Business Strain: Two long-running bars, Crossroads Lounge and Williwaw Social, shut down in Anchorage, with owners pointing to rising insurance, rent, and supply costs as inflation keeps pressure on local nightlife. Marine Safety in the Bering Strait: Tribal representatives and stakeholders met with the U.S. Coast Guard in Nome to explore a Bering Strait Waterways Safety Committee to improve safe, efficient, and environmentally sound traffic as use grows. Transboundary Mining Watch: A Q&A looks at the transboundary mining boom in Southeast Alaska’s Coast Range, highlighting concerns about tribal consultation and potential pollution impacts on salmon country. Wildlife Management Debate: An opinion piece argues for the science behind Alaska’s predator control programs, responding to criticism and defending how wildlife populations are managed. Climate Carbon Mapping: New research from NASA’s ABoVE program aims to better map carbon stored in Arctic and boreal ecosystems as warming and disturbances threaten to flip forests and tundra from sinks to sources. Public Health for Pets: Vets in Alaska recommend dog vaccinations for leptospirosis as warming temperatures could expand the disease’s reach. Cruise Pressure in Alaska: Coverage on cruise growth and overtourism context points to how Alaska ports are trying to manage visitor surges while residents push back.

Homer Harbor Expansion: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a new feasibility study and environmental assessment for expanding Homer Harbor, citing chronic overcrowding, safety issues at the small-boat entrance, and growing demand for moorage for larger vessels; the public can comment as the city weighs right-sized options. Invasive Species Watch: The U.S. Forest Service is helping monitor for invasive European green crabs around Wrangell, setting traps at Anan Creek and coordinating with local groups to identify and track the habitat-destroying crabs. Wildlife Safety Reminder: Alaska wildlife officials say moose calving season is peaking and urge people to keep distance from cows and calves, avoid scaring animals, and report aggressive encounters. Airline Safety: The FAA proposed a $165,000 fine for Alaska Airlines over alleged incidents of intoxicated passengers boarding multiple flights; the airline says it has already made training and screening changes. Conservation Science: A new study using ancient pollen from northern Alaska proposes a better way to map climate refugia by focusing not just on survival, but on whether species actually recovered afterward. Cruise Emissions Push: The Port of Seattle extended its Norwegian Cruise Line homeport deal through 2035, with sustainability conditions and a plan to test non-fossil marine fuels.