A newsletter from the Prince William Sound Science Center | |
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Education director, Lauren Bien and Cordova's sixth graders at 27 mile, learning about the physical and ecological significance of the Copper River. | |
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The past couple months have been a busy time for folks at the Prince William Sound Science Center. Our team of educators wrapped up a year of Discovery Room with the elementary students, including a 6th grade overnight and shorebird-related field trips. Summer programs began in earnest with something for all ages, residents and visitors alike.
With the arrival of summer, our researchers launched into field season - land, sea, and air! The articles below are just some of the many projects underway. Lastly, on June 10, we hosted our annual benefit gala, Copper River Nouveau. Many thanks to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, attendees, and online bidders for making this a record-breaking fundraising event. We are humbled by your support and generosity.
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New Project on Juvenile Salmon and Herring Interactions Underway | |
A collaborative, multi-year project has begun this year to investigate interactions between juvenile pink salmon and Pacific herring. The study is focusing on a variety of potential interactions, including predation, competition for prey, and disease. A research team from Prince William Sound Science Center and University of Alaska Fairbanks recently joined the Alaska Department of Fish & Game crew on the R/V Solstice to sample fishes with a purse seine in nearshore habitat in southwestern Prince William Sound (see photo below). Sample processing on board included preparing blood smears for disease screening, measuring lengths, dissecting and preserving stomachs for diet analyses, zooplankton sampling, and water quality monitoring. The project will be investigating factors related to recovery of Pacific herring in Prince William Sound and is supported by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. | |
Purse seine deployed from the R/V Solstice during a recent cruise for the juvenile salmon-herring interactions project. Photo by Kristen Gorman. | |
First Major Testing of Oil Spill Response Vehicle | |
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OSRI has partnered with oil and gas companies, oil spill removal organizations, and a government agency to develop a remotely operated surface vessel that can be rapidly deployed for the purpose of applying herders and conducting in-situ burns at an oil spill when mechanical response is not available, such as in remote locations.
The vehicle is a heavily modified jet ski that can operate at speeds up to 50 mph with a 500+ mile range. It carries 30-liters of herder and uses gelled gas to ignite thickened oil slicks. It can be launched from shore, a vessel, or a helicopter and controlled locally or from anywhere using satellite communications. Radar, sonar, and cameras provide navigation information. A tethered observation platform provides aerial observation capability. The vehicle is modular for easy repair and to allow it to be configured for other missions.
Testing of the herder and ignitor systems was conducted in early June 2023 in a test basin at the Poker Flat Research Range (see video below). The vehicle was used to apply the herders around a slick and then ignite the contracted slick. Future testing of open water operations and long-distance vehicle control are planned.
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2023 Aleutian Tern Surveys Completed | |
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Aleutian terns are small seabirds that nest in dispersed colonies along the coast of Alaska and eastern Russia. In Alaska, populations at known breeding colonies have decreased dramatically in recent decades, raising concerns about the population status of the species.
Anne Schaefer (PWSSC) in collaboration with partners from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Oregon State University, National Audubon Society, and McDonald Data Sciences, conducted Aleutian tern surveys from Cordova to Gustavus during June 2023. The surveys consisted of aerial surveys from a fixed-wing plane to locate tern colonies along the coastline and up to 6 km inland. Because accurate counts and species identification (Aleutian vs Arctic) are difficult to obtain from the air, ground observers then visited as many colonies as they could to count and identify the tern species present.
This field season marked the first year of a three-year statewide survey that will generate a statewide population estimate for the species. This work is made possible by support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Pacific Seabird Program and through support from partner organizations.
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Aleutian tern in flight. Photo credit USFS, Tongass National Forest. | |
An “Ed-venture” of a Lifetime with the Copper River Stewardship Program | |
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Ten teens recently embarked on an "ed-venture" of a lifetime with the Copper River Stewardship Program. With origins in Cordova, Nebesna, Slana, Kenny Lake, Chitina, McCarthy, and Copper Center, the stewards traveled throughout the Copper River watershed to connect with their peers and the place they call home.
The primary focus of this year’s expedition was the invertebrates that contribute to the health and wellbeing of our ecosystems and communities. Students investigated alpine lakes, rivers, ponds, tide pools, glaciers, and Prince William Sound for invertebrates and environmental parameters. The data they collected, including species counts, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and salinity, can be viewed on the ArcGIS map they created.
When asked what they learned about the watershed, one steward wrote, “Upriver and downriver activity can go both ways and [the ecosystem] is far more connected and fragile than I expected.” Follow this link to see additional photos and learn more about their incredible experience.
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Canoeing on Alaganik Slough. | |
Walking on Root Glacier in McCarthy. | |
Coastal Community Experience in Cordova | |
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The Community Coastal Experience (CCE) is a brand new, 5-week immersive experience funded by the CORaL Network. Participants are adults of all ages from the Exxon Valdez oil spill affected region of Alaska. Participants are currently traveling between Kachemak Bay, Seward, Cordova, and Kodiak. The overarching goal of the program is to promote equity and co-production of knowledge in STEAM fields throughout our region.
The Community Coastal Experience recently spent a week in Cordova. They went on the R/V New Wave for a research cruise where Dr. Rob Campbell performed a plankton tow, then brought the samples back to the Science Center for identification. They also met with many of our partners to gain valuable wildlife management knowledge and survey skills, including Chugach Regional Resources Commission, U.S. Forest Service, Copper River Watershed Program, and Alaska Department of Fish & Game.
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CCE participants after a day on the R/V New Wave in Cordova. | |
Education Month in Review: June | |
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June brought forth the first glimpse of summer weather with wildflowers blossoming throughout town. We celebrated by hosting a “buds and blooms” nature journaling session up at the ski hill. We also hosted Discover Cordova - Speak for the Trees at Nirvana Park for younger kids.
On World Ocean Day, June 8, we organized a coastline cleanup and hosted a children’s event to learn about ocean pollution.
We saw many visitors throughout the month of June. In addition to CCE, we engaged with two Hurtigruten cruise ships. We took a small group of passengers hiking along Haystack Trail and discussed the landscape, plants, and animals; native history; and the work that PWSSC conducts.
We also met with a visiting Teaching Through Technologies (T3) group. The group was composed of high school students from various parts of Alaska, all interested in learning about mariculture - specifically kelp farming. They met with the Native Village of Eyak and performed an experiment making plastic out of dried seaweed, explored Fleming Spit at low tide in search of seaweed, and later did a spore release with Dr. Alysha Cypher.
And summer wouldn’t be complete without the onset of our summer camp programs. We have hosted two summer camps to date with many more to come!
Find more details about our June events here. For an overview of May's education programs, click here.
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T3 students making plastic out of dried seaweed. | |
Community Events Calendar for July | |
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We hope you can join us this month for some educational fun! Different programs are intended for certain ages, noted below. All are welcome to attend. A calendar of events can be found on our website. If you would like to receive email notifications for upcoming community education programs, subscribe here.
July 7 (10-11 am) Discover Cordova: Tots in the Tide!
Meet at Orca Beach. Geared towards families with kids in grades K-4. Caregivers are required to stay with children.
July 10 (6-7 pm) Nature Journaling: Slugs and Bugs
Meet at Odiak Pond by the Cordova Community Medical Center. Geared towards teens and adults, though all are welcome.
July 15 (3-5 pm) Small Fry Activities
Join us at the Ski Hill for an array of activities put on by local organizations. A Salmon Jam pass is required to attend.
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The Prince William Sound Science Center is committed to resilient communities and healthy ecosystems. We need your help now more than ever. If you believe in our mission and care about what we do, please consider making a donation today. Every dollar helps us stay stable during these uncertain times. | | | | |
