State disaster declaration, 2 storms damaged seawall in July and August, $250,000.00 awarded to Shishmaref by the State and federal governments.

Geological and Anthropological Considerations in Relocating Shishmaref done by Owen K. Mason-AK DNR

Federal government declared Shishmaref a disaster area. Storms caused as much as 125 feet of erosion and forced the relocation of 13 homes. 3 homes declined assistance to move, $1,662,788.00 awarded from this disaster from State and federal funds.

April- erosion assessment done by ADOT- Central Region, study finds Shishmaref is losing 5-15’ of shoreline per year. ADOT estimated that 22 homes will be lost if no protection is provided to the community and if the homes are not moved.

Formation of the Erosion and Relocation Coalition consisting of the City Council of Shishmaref, IRA council and of the Board of directors of Shishmaref Native Corporation to work on a solution to the ongoing beach erosion and to represent the community in all activities associated with the relocation to the mainland.

Kawerak funded the Nayokpuk Stores’ beach front protection project- 101’ gabion project. $36,000.00

USDA-NRCS started evaluation of 11 potential relocation sites identified by the Coalition.

A storm prompted Governor Tony Knowles to appropriate $110,000 to complete placing sand-filled gabions along the worst hit shoreline.

Shishmaref completed Strategic relocation plan. State mitigation funds provided- $50,000.00. Kawerak Transportation also provided assistance.

On July 10th Shishmaref voted to relocate to the mainland by a City of Shishmaref sponsored vote July 19, 2002, realizing that the relocation could take 15 to 20 years to accomplish.

October- Senator Stevens calls for GAO study of villages experiencing flooding and erosion. Delegation from Shishmaref testified at the hearing in Anchorage-June 2004.

AVEC/Denali Commission constructed replacement bulk fuel tanks for the Nayokpuk General store.

USDA-NRCS recommended 5 potential sites for further studies to be done.

USDA-NRCS Reconnaissance Study done” Shishmaref Site Analysis for Potential Emergency and Evacuation and Relocation sites. In this report, NRCS recommends that Shishmaref relocate to the Southwest site, which West Nantuq is based on the team’s consensus evaluating the sites and Igloot being the second choice of the team.

GAO report to Congress completed December 2003. This report confirms that Alaskan villages are encountering flooding and erosion and 186 villages are affected by this. Shishmaref mentioned being one of the top four communities amongst the list of the most affected by flooding and erosion needing to be relocated to a safe place away from flooding and erosion. 18 of our 20 villages in the Bering Straits Region are being affected by flooding and erosion.

Army Corps Partnership Program Project funded $1m for a Cost of Alternatives for the relocation of Shishmaref. This study includes the Cultural impacts and subsistence use by the residents of Shishmaref. Study completed. Options for the community include relocating to a nearby location on the mainland at a cost of $180m, staying in place- $110m, Collocating to Nome-$$93m and collocating to Kotzebue-$141m.

Corps completed a Design Analysis for emergency shelters on the mainland for Shishmaref.

Five sites researched by USDA-NRCS narrowed down to two sites- Tin Creek and West Tin Creek. Tin Creek site being the better of the two based on space availability and potential for having more options for infrastructure development.

200’ Kawerak seawall constructed along the west end of town funded through the BIA/IRR roads program.

Further construction of seawall by the City and the Corps of Engineers. Legislative funding $2.45m and the federal funding $1.5m through the Army Corps of Engineers Section 14 program.

USDA-NRCS completed depth sounding of port and gravel fill needs for Tin Creek. Report given to Coalition January 2006.

Funding received by the Corps of Engineers for the full design of beach front protection to be completed by the end of the year.

Funding received in the Transportation bill to start construction of the relocation road. $5m appropriated. $500,000.00 match requirement obtained through the State Legislature. The Reconnaissance study to be started in the late fall 2006 by ADOT and Kawerak Inc., an estimated $1.5m to be left over for construction.

Corps completed “Section 117 Shoreline Erosion Protection, Shishmaref, Alaska” Technical Report, Environmental Assessment and Finding of no Significant Impact” An examination of erosion issues in Shishmaref . This report states that 3,400’ of beach is needing to be protected, if the rest of the beach is not protect similar to the BSSD project, the rest of the community will be jeopardized by the flooding and erosion. Based on aerial comparisons of photos, we are losing 8.9’ of shoreline per year. Since 2001 we have been taking measurements and based on these actual measurements we are losing an average of 22.6’ of shoreline per year. No findings of negative impacts were found and recommendations by the Corps to move forward with the proposed project to construct additional rock seawall in Shishmaref.

Corps completed the examination of Erosion issues of the following villages- Bethel, Dillingham, Kaktovik, Kivilina, Newtok, Shishmaref and Unalakleet, the report is entitled “Alaska Village Erosion Technical Assistance Program”. This report highlights the Corps assistance they have provided to these communities listed through their Tribal Partnership Program. In this report they mentioned that Shishmaref needs help in constructing more revetments to protect the community from flooding and erosion and that the Corps is ready to provide assistance to our community.

Construction of the City of Shishmaref HUD project constructing 297’ of HESCO baskets funded by HUD and the City of Shishmaref.

Public meeting in Shishmaref held, Coalition to have work sessions to consider the relocation sites for recommendation to the community for selection. Decision made by the community to ratify the Tin Creek location as the new relocation site during a public meeting on December 12, 2007.

$6,000,000.00 received by the Army Corps for seawall construction for Shishmaref.