2006 Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge Weed-pull Event

The most extensive effort during the 2006 Invasive Plant project included six days of work and travel along the Dalton Highway, a mostly gravel road that parallels the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline and connects Fairbanks with Prudhoe Bay Oil Field and Deadhorse, 414 miles north. A partnership of the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, AmeriCorps* sponsored by the Tanana Chiefs, and the Friends cooperated to make this remarkable accomplishment happen.

*(AmeriCorps is a network of local, state and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country's critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. This group was made up of 8 strong young people from Arizona and Alaska.)

The combined effort was to clear white sweet clover from the roadway and river crossings along the Dalton Highway from the Kanuti River just south of the Arctic Circle to Atigun Pass. The greatest attention was needed between Coldfoot, 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle, and the Kanuti River. The heaviest infestation was at Pump Station 5 near the Jim River. Dedication, curiosity and a sense of adventure allowed part of the group to drive over Atigun Pass to Galbraith Lake at mile 275, just to make sure there were no more invasive plants to pull. The trip, despite heavy rain, was awesome.

Being participants in this weed pull was rewarding for all of the "Friends" who traveled north to help. Almost every blooming white sweet clover plant was removed from the Kanuti River south of the Arctic Circle to Coldfoot, Alaska. This activity produced well over a ton of the targeted plant, which was turned over to Alaska DOT for destruction. The organization and energy of the BLM and NPS employees who guided and assisted was remarkable.

More event photos...