Environment

News

Aftershocks of the 2018 Anchorage earthquake continue in Southcentral Alaska

Updated: Mar. 2, 2021 at 6:00 PM AKST

By Ryan Osborne

Earthquakes are a common occurrence in South-central Alaska, including the 5.3 magnitude quake that was felt last Saturday.

Environment

National Weather Service says everyone can help document snowfall

Updated: Feb. 23, 2021 at 4:07 PM AKST

By John Dougherty

Snow is in the forecast and the National Weather Service in Fairbanks wants everyone to know that they can help track snowfall around Fairbanks and provide important data to the meteorologists.

Environment

Alaska BLM Fire Service seeking to add village-based wildland firefighter crews

Updated: Feb. 18, 2021 at 4:16 PM AKST

By Richard Atkin

The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service is seeking to contract village-based type 2 firefighting crews ahead of the 2021 fire season.

Environment

Alaska Fish and Game warn of increased prevalence of bacteria in caribou

Updated: Jan. 29, 2021 at 4:18 PM AKST

By Richard Atkin

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game warn of an increase prevalence in the bacteria Brucella in Mulchatna caribou.

Environment

Bureau of Land Management to equip officers with body cameras

Updated: Jan. 11, 2021 at 4:17 PM AKST

By Richard Atkin

The Bureau of Land Management will equip officers with body cameras.

Environment

The new climate normal

Updated: Jan. 9, 2021 at 6:23 PM AKST

By Tracy Sinclare

It’s not unusual for a meteorologist to say a temperature or snow total is above or below “normal.” But what is normal and how is that decided?

Environment

Some fishermen on edge after rough year in North Pacific

Updated: Jan. 5, 2021 at 5:15 PM AKST

By Associated Press

Some fishermen in the North Pacific Ocean are on edge ahead of a traditionally fruitful winter fishing season, following a rough 2020 that saw catch rates fall below long-term averages.

Environment

Coast Guard reports hydraulic oil spill off coast of Alaska

Updated: Dec. 28, 2020 at 4:13 PM AKST

By Associated Press

The Coast Guard responded to an oil spill from one of its own ships off the coast of Alaska.

Environment

3 hours and 42 minutes: It is Winter Solstice in Fairbanks

Updated: Dec. 21, 2020 at 5:51 PM AKST

By John Dougherty

Monday is Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the official start of winter. The days will continue to get longer and longer and soon, snow will melt and spring will be here. In Fairbanks, Winter Solstice means we will see approximately 3 hours and 42 minutes of daylight.

Environment

Aurora activity predicted to be high in Alaska due to solar storm

Updated: Dec. 8, 2020 at 5:44 PM AKST

By John Dougherty

Over the next few days a solar storm is expected to reach earth causing increased activity in the Aurora Borealis, otherwise known as the northern lights.

Environment

Federal appeals court rejects Alaska offshore drilling plan

Updated: Dec. 8, 2020 at 5:29 PM AKST

By Associated Press

A federal court blocked an Alaska offshore drilling prospect, while the Trump administration announced plans to auction drilling rights in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s coastal plain.

Environment

Not recycling electronics can expose environment to toxic chemicals like lead and mercury

Updated: Dec. 7, 2020 at 4:19 PM AKST

By Richard Atkin

Electronics contain harmful components that can harm the environment when not properly recycled.

Environment

New firewood kiln harnesses existing energy, creating jobs and clean air

Updated: Dec. 3, 2020 at 4:16 PM AKST

By John Dougherty

A new firewood kiln in Fairbanks is helping to clean up the air and bring jobs to the interior. Aurora Energy Solutions, a sister company to Aurora Energy which runs the power plant downtown recently installed the kiln to dry firewood. The company will be providing dried firewood to the interior that meets standards for air quality to lower pollution.

Environment

Fairbanks sees record temperatures for December 1st, Southeast Alaska sees record rain

Updated: Dec. 2, 2020 at 4:47 PM AKST

By Alex Bengel

On December 1st, Fairbanks broke a record for the highest temperature ever recorded on December 1st.

Environment

Trump administration denies permit for Alaska’s Pebble Mine

Updated: Nov. 25, 2020 at 2:54 PM AKST

By Associated Press and Mark Thiessen

The Trump administration on Wednesday effectively killed a contentious proposed mine in Alaska, a gold and copper prospect named Pebble Mine, near the headwaters of the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery.

Environment

UAF Wildlife Ecologist discusses migratory bird habitat loss due to California wildfires

Updated: Nov. 23, 2020 at 4:23 PM AKST

By Ryan Osborne

Falk Huettmann, Professor of Wildlife Ecology at UAF about how this southern devastation impacts the life of birds which regularly connect our states by migrating to and from Alaska.

Environment

What Fairbanks residents can do to help keep PM2.5 emissions down

Updated: Nov. 13, 2020 at 4:18 PM AKST

By Richard Atkin

Steps residents can take to reduce emissions.

Environment

High amounts of mercury found in western Aleutian Steller sea lions

Updated: Nov. 5, 2020 at 4:10 PM AKST

By Richard Atkin

High amounts of mercury found in Aleutian sea lions.

Environment

Government approves Alaska Petroleum Reserve Willow project

Updated: Oct. 29, 2020 at 6:26 PM AKDT

By Associated Press

The federal government has approved the Willow oil project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, allowing construction near a prized conservation area in a largely undeveloped region.

Environment

Road, logging restrictions to end in largest national forest

Updated: Oct. 29, 2020 at 6:18 PM AKDT

By Associated Press

The federal government announced plans Wednesday to lift restrictions on logging and building roads in a pristine rainforest in Alaska that provides habitat for wolves, bears and salmon. Conservation groups vowed to fight the decision.

Environment

Kinross returns mine land, near Fairbanks, to State after reclamation process

Updated: Oct. 27, 2020 at 4:48 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

Kinross, which owns the Fort Knox gold mine north of Fairbanks, has finalized the reclamation process for the nearby True North mine. With final approval coming earlier this month the land is now back in the hands of the State.

Environment

US pulls appeal of ruling that blocked Alaska timber sale

Updated: Oct. 27, 2020 at 1:40 PM AKDT

By Associated Press

The federal government withdrew an appeal of a court ruling stopping one of the largest old-growth timber sales in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest.

Safety

Winter Fortymile caribou hunt opens Tuesday; concerns expressed over weather, treatment of land

Updated: Oct. 26, 2020 at 4:59 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

On Tuesday Oct. 27 the Winter Fortymile hunt will open on the Steese and Taylor highways in Interior Alaska. Alaska Wildlife Troopers are warning of bad weather conditions and residents worry about how hunters will treat the land in the area.

Environment

Winter Fortymile caribou hunters get new federal maps, easier identification of OHV routes

Updated: Oct. 23, 2020 at 1:04 PM AKDT

By KTVF Staff Reporter

Two new maps showing winter access points and legal off-highway vehicle (OHV) areas on federal public lands aim to help hunters be successful while preserving sensitive environmental areas near the Steese Highway during the upcoming State of Alaska Fortymile caribou hunt that begins Oct. 27.

Community

Creamers Field Wildlife Refuge gains 530 acres in state acquisition

Updated: Oct. 20, 2020 at 2:29 PM AKDT

By KTVF Staff Reporter

It was announced Tuesday that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and The Conservation Fund acquired 530 acres for the anticipated addition to the Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl State Game Refuge in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Environment

Snow possible in hills around Fairbanks as temperatures drop

Updated: Sep. 23, 2020 at 4:09 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

Snow may soon be dusting hills around interior Alaska as temperatures drop throughout the week. According to the National Weather Service in Fairbanks, a cold wet weather has replaced the sun in Fairbanks and snow could be seen in some of the hills around town.

Environment

CEO of Pebble Partnership resigns following release of ‘The Pebble Tapes’

Updated: Sep. 23, 2020 at 2:01 PM AKDT

By Cheyenne Mathews

Pebble Limited Partnership parent company Northern Dynasty Minerals made the announcement Wednesday.

Environment

Undercover Hong Kong ‘investors’ dupe Pebble Mine execs, share private meetings describing political influence, vision for 180-year mine

Updated: Sep. 22, 2020 at 4:17 PM AKDT

By Grant Robinson

Undercover "investors" recorded meetings with Pebble Mine executives, revealing details about the vision for the mine that were previously undisclosed.

Environment

Twice a day, 365 days a year: Weather balloons help predict the weather

Updated: Aug. 25, 2020 at 5:02 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

The National Weather Service uses weather balloons to help them paint a picture of weather in Alaska. The balloon are launched from automatic launchers, called autosondes, twice a day at 13 sites around the state.

Environment

Fairbanks thunderstorm record poised to be broken

Updated: Aug. 24, 2020 at 5:44 PM AKDT

2020 could prove to be a record breaking year for the National Weather service in Fairbanks.

Environment

US approves oil, gas leasing plan for Alaska Wildlife refuge

Updated: Aug. 17, 2020 at 11:00 AM AKDT

The Trump administration on Monday took another step to opening Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling for oil and gas, potentially fulfilling a decades-long dream for Republicans.

4 bears killed as part of Alaska bear attack investigation

Updated: Aug. 7, 2020 at 4:05 PM AKDT

By Associated Press

State wildlife department employees have killed four bears near the remote area in south-central Alaska where authorities say a man was fatally mauled last week.

Trump Jr. expresses opposition to Pebble mine project

Updated: Aug. 5, 2020 at 9:33 PM AKDT

By KTVF Staff Reporter

President Donald Trump’s eldest son agreed Tuesday with calls to block a proposed copper and gold mine near the headwaters of a major U.S. salmon fishery in southwest Alaska.

Environment

A small town in Siberia has likely broken the Arctic high temperature record

Updated: Jun. 22, 2020 at 12:53 PM AKDT

By Tracy Sinclare

Verkhoyansk, a small town in Siberia, recorded a daily high temperature on Saturday of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit—or 38 degrees Celsius

Environment

Seismic explorations for oil have lasting impact on Alaskan wildlife refuge, study finds

Updated: Jun. 16, 2020 at 2:48 PM AKDT

By Alex Bengel

A study by researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has found that seismic exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would have long-term impact on the land.

Environment

Seismic explorations for oil have lasting impact on Alaskan wildlife refuge, study finds

Updated: Jun. 16, 2020 at 2:47 PM AKDT

By Alex Bengel

A study by researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has found that seismic exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would have long-term impact on the land.

Environment

Stocked Up: Interior Alaskan Lakes are ready for reeling

Updated: Jun. 15, 2020 at 5:48 PM AKDT

By Jordan Rodenberger

As of Friday, approximately 100 Interior lakes and ponds have been stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery.

Environment

Stocked Up: Interior Alaskan Lakes are ready for reeling

Updated: Jun. 15, 2020 at 5:48 PM AKDT

By Jordan Rodenberger

As of Friday, approximately 100 Interior lakes and ponds have been stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery.

Environment

Two Salcha area wells tested for possible ground water contamination

Updated: Jun. 8, 2020 at 4:16 PM AKDT

By Press Release

As of Monday two well systems in Salcha, Alaska have been tested due to possible ground water contamination.

Environment

Two Salcha area wells tested for possible ground water contamination

Updated: Jun. 8, 2020 at 4:16 PM AKDT

By Press Release

As of Monday, two well systems in Salcha, Alaska have been tested due to possible ground water contamination.

Environment

Beautiful but invasive: Officials looking to remove invasive chokecherry trees

Updated: Jun. 4, 2020 at 5:30 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

The USDA Forest Service and the Alaska Division of Forestry are offering grants to map and remove invasive chokecherry trees. as well as raise public awareness.

Environment

Beautiful but invasive: Officials looking to remove invasive chokecherry trees

Updated: Jun. 4, 2020 at 5:30 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

The USDA Forest Service and the Alaska Division of Forestry are offering grants to map and remove invasive chokecherry trees, as well as raise public awareness.

Environment

Large ice jam damages buildings in Kotzebue

Updated: May. 28, 2020 at 4:58 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

A large ice jam has damaged buildings and property in the western Alaska city of Kotzebue after ice on Kobuk Lake broke.

Environment

Large ice jam damages buildings in Kotzebue

Updated: May. 28, 2020 at 4:58 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

A large ice jam has damaged buildings and property in the western Alaska city of Kotzebue after ice on Kobuk Lake broke.

Washed away road may hinder long-term research at experimental forest

Updated: May. 19, 2020 at 4:33 PM AKDT

By Sara Tewksbury

Glenn Juday with the University of Alaska Fairbanks has been taking measurements of trees in the Bonanza Creek Experimental Forest for 34 years. Juday says recent weather events have washed out the road that travels into the forest.

Washed away road may hinder long-term research at experimental forest

Updated: May. 19, 2020 at 4:33 PM AKDT

By Sara Tewksbury

Environment

Chena River flood control prevents $50 million in damage, diverts several feet of water

Updated: May. 16, 2020 at 4:59 PM AKDT

By Sara Tewksbury

Officials with the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project said that if they had not used the gates in the Moose Creek Dam earlier this week, the Chena River could have been up to seven feet higher than it currently is.

Environment

Chena River flood control prevents $50 million in damage, diverts several feet of water

Updated: May. 16, 2020 at 4:58 PM AKDT

By Sara Tewksbury

Officials with the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project said that if they had not used the gates in the Moose Creek Dam earlier this week, the Chena River could have been seven feet higher than it currently is.

Environment

Alaska State Troopers, Weather Service warns of river danger

Updated: May. 14, 2020 at 6:03 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

The Alaska State Troopers and National Weather Service are warning about high water on Alaska's Interior rivers.

Environment

Alaska State Troopers, Weather Service warns of river danger

Updated: May. 14, 2020 at 6:03 PM AKDT

By John Dougherty

The Alaska State Troopers and National Weather Service are warning about high water on Alaska's Interior rivers.