Yukon Crossing Study: Regional Analysis and Community Development Plans

Abstract

Following discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay in 1968, a transportation and utility corridor was established to link the Arctic Coast with southern Alaska. In 1974-75, a road was constructed within this corridor to facilitate construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, now scheduled for completion in 1976. Initial developmental decisions preceded any planning for the future of land in the corridor or within the region. To provide a basis for future management, the Fairbanks District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1974 commenced a comprehensive study of resources, development potentials and constraints, and management objectives. In early 1975 BLM produced a preliminary plan for the utility corridor, which in most places extends in width from 6 to 24 miles. In spring 1975, a regional planning seminar under Professor Victor Fischer at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, devoted the entire semester to an analysis of regional factors in northern Alaska that would effect the future of the corridor and use of the North Slope Road. Whereas the assumption had previously been that the new road to the Arctic would be open to the general public, this regional planning seminar carried out the first systematic examination of use alternatives, taking into account environmental, economic, and social factors. One of the questions that emerged quite early in the land-use planning investigations was whether a new community should and would evolve at the intersection of the North Slope Road and the Yukon River-Yukon Crossing. A planning team sponsored by BLM carried out an initial investigation in cooperation with the Alaska State Division of Lands, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, and others. This, in turn, led to a decision to carry out a more thorough investigation of the regional factors that may affect establishment of a community at Yukon Crossing and of the land use and other requirements that would have to be accommodated if a community were established. BLM arranged with the Institute of Social and Economic Research of the University of Alaska to perform the necessary research and to produce a report that could serve as a basis for further decisions and investigations. The Yukon Crossing Study is the report prepared for BLM by the Institute of Social and Economic Research. The report was prepared under the direction of Vic Fischer, who is its principal author. Planning support was provided by Steve Reeve and Ron Kasprison, who also prepared the graphics for the report. An exhaustive regional analysis that provided the base for this report was prepared by Tom Warren. ISER editor, Ronald Crowe, managed final production of the report, June DeSimone was responsible for the many preliminary reports and drafts, and Susan Woods produced the final manuscript. The earlier work done by the U. of A. regional planning class proved of great value in the initial phases of the study. Valuable help was provided ISER by many individuals in both government and private organizations. Key among them were Jesse Dingman, David Mihalic, and others of the Bureau of Land Management and William Copeland and John Dunker of the Alaska Division of Lands. Technical information was provided by Doyon Ltd., Tanana Chiefs Conference, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, Fairbanks Town and Village Association, Alaska Arctic Gas, El Paso Alaska Company, the U.S. Forest Service, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, the University of Alaska’s Agricultural Experiment Station, Mineral Industries Research Laboratory, Alaska Miners Association, the Alaska Division of Tourism, the Alaska Visitors Association, Wien Alaska Airlines, Alaska Airlines Westours, Alaska Tour and Marketing Services, the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Federal Highway Administration and many others. While helpful individuals are too numerous to mention, their support is greatly appreciated.