USFWS
Conservation Planning & Policy
Alaska Region   

Refuge Purposes & Plans

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge covers more than 19 million acres. The refuge is located at the mouth of the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers and has its headquarters in Bethel, Alaska. The Alaska National Interest Lands Act (ANILCA) established this refuge for the following purposes:
(i) to conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity, including but not limited to shorebirds, seabirds, whistling swans, emperor, white-fronted and Canada geese, black brant, and other migratory birds; salmon; muskox; and marine mammals;

(i) to fulfill the international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats;

(iii) to provide, in a manner consistent with the purposes set forth in subparagraphs (i) and (ii), the opportunity for continued subsistence uses by local residents;

(iv) to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable and in a manner consistent with the purposes set forth in paragraph (i), water quality and necessary water quantity within the refuge.

Comprehensive Conservation Plan
ANILCA requires a comprehensive conservation plan for all refuges in Alaska. The conservation plan for the Yukon Delta Refuge was completed in 1988. The plan provides direction for managing the refuge by identifying the types and level of activities that can occur on it. The refuge is managed under four management categories: most of the Refuge, more than 16.9 million acres, is in a Minimal Management land-use category; 302,000 acres is in the Moderate Management category; Congressionally designated Wilderness comprises 1.9 million acres; and there are 9,000 acres in the Wild and Scenic River category.

We plan to start revising the current comprehensive conservation plan in 2005.

Land Conservation Plan
The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Land Conservation Plan (pdf-- 37 mb) was comleted in September 2004.

Visitor Services Plan
No visitor services plan for the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuges has been developed.

Last updated: September 2, 2008

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