What is IGAP?

IGAP is a federal Act authorizing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide General Assistance Program (GAP) grants to federally-recognized Tribes and Tribal consortia for planning, developing, and establishing environmental protection programs in Indian Country, as well as for developing and implementing solid and hazardous waste programs on Tribal lands. The goal of this program is to assist Tribes in developing the capacity to manage their own environmental protection programs, and to develop and implement solid and hazardous waste programs in accordance with individual Tribal needs and applicable federal laws and regulations.

Current Craig Tribal Association IGAP Programs

HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS PROGRAM For more information, please visit www.seator.org

The Craig Tribal Association, along with (17) Alaska Tribes, formed a partnership to monitor for Harmful Algal Blooms or HAB's. The Southeast Alaska Tribal Toxins (SEATT) group works with NOAA to monitor specific types of phytoplankton that can carry toxins that have a potential to be consumed by shellfish and other resources. These toxins cause Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), and Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in humans. The data collected will help NOAA and SEATT in establishing a HAB early warning system for researchers, shellfish growers, resource managers, and subsistence users in Southeast Alaska. Here are our recent results for the Craig area.

Side Note:

This is a common phytoplankton I view almost every time from my net tow at our graveyard and False Island boat launch site.

Environmental Program

Moisture Meter Brochure

Environmental Planner is still out there weekly preparing discreet samples for data collection. These water samples are for testing ocean pH levels and other components at the Sitka Tribe of Alaska Environmental Research Lab (STAERL). For more information, please feel free to contact Nicholas or Christine at the office during working hours

8 AM - 4 PM Monday- Friday, we'd love to hear from you!

Through the Tribal Environmental Department, Tribal Members are updated monthly on the Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) levels in our shellfish through the Harmful Algal Blooms Program.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to call our Environmental Office at (907) 826-5125.

Photos taken from ocean data center in California

Meet Chaetoceros!

This phytoplankton has a chloroplast and a cell wall making it a diatom. This particular single celled algae has four setae (spine-like lines) on each cornerof an individual cell. Under a microscope will a person see some species in coiled, curved or straight forms. A cell can range from ~2 um to ~35 um and less than or more than 30 cells chained together. Any species of Chaetoceros can be found in freshwater or saltwater samples.

Looking into 2023-2024, we will be updating our website, facebook and outreach material. Stay intuned!

Facebook updates!

Carbon Monoxide Brochure

Thank you everyone that participated in our 2 clean ups so far this year! The island looks better already. Keep up the great work everyone!

Printable PDF brochures

PHYTOPLANKTON SPOTLIGHT:

Green Cleaning Brochure

LOOK AT WHAT WE DID...

Ocean Acidification Discreet Sampling:

WATER QUALITY PROGRAM:

The Environmental Department has implemented a water quality monitoring program on traditional and customary streams.

Currently, we are monitoring the Thorne River and Control Lake stream systems. Our goal is to have 2 temperature logger data and (3) locations for our team to collect more baseline data.

We are seeking sites of tradition use areas and if anybody has any insight on locations, please call 907-826-5125.

We will be posting about our projects, questions for local input on future projects, timelines for events, and shellfish results on our CTA media page.

Tribal Members also have the opportunity for various recycling. Through our EPA Department you are able to recycle any paper, plastics, aluminum, small batteries, and even recycle larger electronics, which is held annually.