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Economic Development and Advocacy for Southwest Alaska
May 2012   
Greetings!
Hello, and thanks for reading this latest SWAMC newsletter for members and friends of the region. Summer is on its way and things are about to get busy in Southwest Alaska as folks prepare their nets and finish digging out from a long winter. This month's newsletter will touch on the SWAMC CIP list, ferry service, a new staff member, and more. As a reminder, next month we will start our summer membership drive as the new fiscal year begins July 1. Give us a call with any questions or comments, and have a great day.

Submit Your Community Projects for Southwest CEDS Update

As the designated economic development organization for Southwest Alaska, SWAMC develops the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the region. As we update the strategy this year to reflect the region's opportunities and respond to changes in the economy, we also want to collect the region's community improvement projects for inclusion in this year's update. SWAMC is the Economic Development Administration's (EDA) planning partner for SW Alaska, so if your community plans to pursue EDA funds this year for a capital project, please submit your project list to us to make sure it is recognized in the CEDS as an economic development priority for the region. Erik Obrien of SWAMC will follow up with community leaders soon to incorporate project information into our CEDS, but this article will serve as a first reminder for your community. Please try to have project information to our office by May 31. Contact SWAMC Executive Director Andy Varner with any questions.

Alaska Marine Highway 50th Anniversary Public Comment Period  tusty  

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2013 and is looking for interesting ideas of how the ferry system can celebrate its golden anniversary.  As part of the celebration, AMHS is also looking for unique anecdotal information or photos. More information about the Alaska Marine Highway 50th Anniversary may be found online at FerryAlaska.comThe public comment period for the AMHS 50th Anniversary celebration will close May 11, 2012. Anyone with ideas is encouraged to email [email protected] before the deadline.

 

In related news, the AMHS recently announced it is starting regular ferry service to the Kodiak Island communities of Ouzinkie and Old Harbor. The Tustumena will call on Ouzinkie every other Friday through the 2012 summer season and Old Harbor will be visited 4 times as part of a variation on the Chain Run. Ouzinkie and Old Harbor become the thirty-fourth and -fifth AMHS ports of call in Alaska to receive direct ferry service. Great news for Southwest!

 

Finally, the captain of the Tustumena for the past 15 years is retiring after 36 years total with the AMHS. Listen to Captain Robert Crowley's story on KMXT Kodiak where he talks about his fondness for Southwest Alaska and the "Trusty Tusty." Smooth sailing Capt. Crowley. 

SWAMC Staff Gains New AmeriCorps*VISTA Volunteerstemcdean

SWAMC's staff recently grew by one as Cameron Dean joined the office as the new STEM Education Coordinator for the Southwest region. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and this position will work to integrate these educational topics into school curriculum and other projects in the region as a way to prepare Southwest Alaska's younger generations for the industry fields of the future. Cameron (and Erik Obrien in SWAMC) has already started to design some Ocean Sciences curriculum to deploy in SW school districts, and he will work with Junior Achievement to deliver some financial literacy classes in the region as well.    

 

Cameron is SWAMC's VISTA volunteer for 2012-2013.  He earned a B.A. in anthropology and Russian from the University of Michigan, his home state, in Spring 2011.  While in college he worked in IT support and as an ESL tutor.

Cameron can be reached at [email protected]

Community Spotlight: PORT HEIDEN spotlight
This new feature will highlight one SW community each month.

If you were listening to the radio this weekend you may have heard how residents of Port Heiden saved a Sea Otter pup. When not looking after the best interests of the local wildlife, this community of about 100 is really hopping from April to November. During WWII Port Heiden had a thriving population of 5,000, which consequently left behind infrastructure and materials for local residents to clean up. As a result, any economic downturn clouding over the U.S. couldn't be further from the scene found in Port Heiden as all able-bodied individuals are gainfully employed in high paying jobs, funding the future for the small community. In addition to the booming labor market and natural beauty of Port Heiden, the entrepreneurial spirit instilled in the local population makes the community a potentially sound investment. With 4 B&B's up and running and a fifth on the way there is ample capacity to meet the demand for the magnitude of Eco Tourism opportunities right off the back door of the community. The miles of black-sand beach offer world-class beachcombing and wildlife spotting - birds, whales and bears are abundant. If the beach is not for you, then Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve lies just inland in the mountains, where whitewater rafting and hiking to the Aniakchak Crater are some of the local favorites. If neither of these activities sounds appealing, it might be time to leave the landlubbers behind and experience either sport or commercial fishing - multiple rivers are accessible, and Port Heiden lies on the line separating Area M from Bristol Bay, providing an access point for both fisheries. 

Southwest Alaska Monthly Economic Indicator - Mariculture

Anyone who has ever spent much time living in coastal Alaskan communities will likely tell you it is safe to harvest shellfish in months that have an "r" in them; i.e., avoid the summer months. Unfortunately, this particular advice is misleading and comes with very high risks of contracting Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP).  

 

The Phytoplankton (phyto=plant, plankton=wandering) Alexandrium excretes the poison Saxitoxin, which causes PSP, commonly refereed to as Red Tide. There is still a great deal unknown about what conditions lead to a Harmful Algal Bloom of Saxitoxin-spewing Alexandrium, but the danger is really catching the attention of scientists and public health officials. NOAA's Phytoplankton Monitoring Network recruits volunteers to take ocean samples and identify outbreaks of Alexandrium, and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is preparing to launch a program of volunteers to collect bivalves so that local levels of Saxitoxin can be determined.   

 

Bruce Wright, Chief Scientist with Aleutian Pribilof Island Association (APIA), has put considerable effort into educating Alaskans on these dangers in his own work identifying Saxitoxin levels. As his evidence points out, variation in toxicity is the only constant.  

 

The graph below shows recorded PSP levels in Sand Point between 2006 and 2011, with the red line indicating unsafe levels for human consumption, as identified by the FDA. The most consistent data provided here is that Saxitoxin levels show more consistency year to year, than month to month. Notice how the levels are low in all readings between June 2006 and January 2010, but after May 2010 all readings are above the identified safe level. Granted the data is limited, so drawing any steadfast conclusions about toxicity at any one location is inconclusive; however, data taken from Sand Point and other Southwest communities shows that dangerous Saxitoxin levels are present at all times of year, not just the summer months, and some summer months are perfectly safe. What should be understood is that shellfish harvesters are running a risk if testing is not conducted prior to consuming shellfish in Alaskan Waters. Please review additional findings from Bruce Wright's work here. This indicator is presented as one of the areas our STEM program will focus on as we investigate the mariculture potential of Southwest Alaska.   

Sand Point PSP

In This Issue...
Regional CIP List
AMHS 50th Anniversary
New VISTA Project
Community Spotlight
SW Monthly Indicator

Some of Our Partners

EDA

ardor

DCCED

USDA RD

denali comm

APED

sourcelink

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SWAMC Board of Directors
Shirley Marquardt, Pres.
Alice Ruby 
Glen Gardner
Joe Sullivan 
Kathleen Totemoff 
Lamar Cotten 
Layton Lockett 
Louise Stutes
Patrick Jordan 
Paul Gronholdt 
Trevor Brown 

SWAMC Staff

 Andy Varner
Executive Director


Erik O'Brien 
Economist; Development Specialist 
 
Cameron Dean 
STEM Coordinator/VISTA 
Upcoming Events & Dates to Remember
As always...
Thanks for your support of SWAMC. Please don't hesitate to share your thoughts, ideas, concerns and events. For previous newsletters, click the link below.