Bristol Bay

The chief executive of one of the companies pursuing the proposed Pebble Mine project was the guest speaker at a breakfast meeting held in Anchorage Thursday morning by the Resource Development Council, an industry group. Cynthia Carroll, the CEO of Anglo American PLC, spoke in front of more than 300 people at the Dena'ina Center. "I want to make one thing absolutely clear: fish and mining can co-exist," Carroll said. "Much of what I hear from the opposition to Pebble is that this is not possible.

If you live in Anchorage or another urban area with high speed internet, think back to the days of the dial-up modem.  Remember how slow and annoying that was?  Now you can empathize with Rural Alaskans, who still struggle with a slow and cumbersome satellite system. But once GCI's Project TERRA-Southwest is completed, all that will change for about 65 communities in Western Alaska.     TERRA is an acronym for “Terrestrial for Every Region in Alaska,”  a tall order.  But the project's mission for now is to bring high speed internet service to Bristol Bay and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today (Wednesday) wrapped-up the public portion of its scientific "Peer Review" of the proposed Pebble Mine. Twelve scientists will spend the next few months -- in closed-door sessions -- gathering information that will eventually allow the agency to determine whether Pebble can be operated in compliance with the "Clean Water Act of 1972. " The Bristol Bay Fishermen -- and Alaska Natives --  who brought the E.P.A. Into the decision process allege that Alaska State authorities have never blocked a major mine project in the history of the state.

Sea otters in Southwest Alaska might soon be designated as an endangered species if their numbers continue to decline. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service came up with a plan to help increase the population by dividing management areas between the western Aleutian Islands and Bristol Bay, to more easily target specific problems. Wildlife biologists say the region’s northern sea otter population dropped more than 50 percent in the last 30 years.  There's no clear indication why otters in other parts of the state are thriving, while otters in Southwest Alaska continue to struggle.

Palin, Todd Snowmobile Arctic Cat Sno Pro 600cc Age: 47 Hometown: Wasilla, Alaska Racer Status: Veteran Years Raced: 4 time Iron Dog Champion (1995, 2000, 2002, 2007); since 1993, 13 top 10's, 1 11th; and 4 DNF's   Biography Todd is a lifelong Alaskan married to Sarah with 5 children Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig. Two grandchildren also grace the Palin's - Tripp and Kyla Grace. Todd, who with his family, is a self employed Bristol Bay commercial fisherman.

Warm and sunny---that is today's weather in a nutshell for much of the state.  The upper level ridge responsible for the dry and warm air mass will move into Canada and flatten out, allowing clouds to increase by tomorrow. Expect highs near 60 to the low 60s in Anchorage and the Mat Su.  60s to near 70 in the Interior will make for the warmest day of the season so far.  Even some areas of the Arctic Coast will warm to near 40, which is near record warmth for that part of the Alaska.

Rain and snow showers remain over the southern and western parts of the state thanks to a low pressure area in the southern Bering, just west of Bristol Bay.  Flow around the low is drawing moisture out of the Gulf of Alaska into southern Alaska.   Clouds overnight keep temps in the teens and 20s.  While temperatures will not climb as dramatically as in past days due to the cloud cover, near average highs will be widespread.  Look for 30s and 40s from SE through Southcentral, with 20s and 30s in Southwest.  Moderating temps with scrappy clouds are in store for the Interior.  Highs will be in the teens to near 30. North of the Brooks Range, cold dry air and winds to 20 mph will make for yet another day of brutal wind chills.  Wind chill advisories for wind chills to 65 below are in effect along the Arctic coast.

We are looking at major temperature variations this morning around the state.  Ketchikan reported 46 degrees at the same time that McGrath was at 54 below zero.  That is a 100 degree temperature change from SE Alaska into the Western Interior.  The synoptic pattern has changed very little.  Lows continue to track over the eastern Gulf with a strong high pressure ridge over Siberia blocking these storms from moving into the Interior and bringing...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to assess the environmental impacts of the Pebble Mine are now causing repercussions on Capitol Hill. The Anchorage Daily News reported this week that some congressional republicans are challenging the E.P.A's authority to rule on Pebble Mine. Some Congressman feel that Pebble is an Alaska issue, not a federal one. But this week, the E.P.A. said that critics who challenge its authority on this issue are wrong. The Agency says that under the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972, it has the responsibility to protect the nation's waterways.

A surface low is embedded within an upper level trough over the Bering Sea.  At the base of the trough is a strong jet stream.  Moisture is wrapping around the low into Kodiak, Bristol Bay and the Alaska Peninsula.  Snow has been reported in Cold Bay and the Pribilofs.  Snow may mix in with rain this morning around Dillingham and King Salmon.   Clouds are found along the West Coast.  St. Lawrence will get in on a few snow showers but...