U. S. Department of the Interior 

Bureau of Land Management 

BLM Alaska Open File Report 124 

BLM/AK/ST-11/005+6674+F0000 

July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring 

Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in the 

National Petroleum Reserve -Alaska: 2008–2009 

Matthew S. Whitman, Shane Walker, and Richard T. Kemnitz 

BLM

Alaska
The BLM Mission 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sustains the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands 

for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. 

Cover Photo 

Ice-road channel crossing at the Ublutuoch River in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. BLM photo by 

Matthew Whitman. Unless otherwise noted, photos in this report are by the authors. 

Authors 

Matthew Whitman is a fish biologist with the BLM’s Arctic Field Office in Fairbanks, Alaska. Natural resource specialist Shane Walker and hydrologist Richard Kemnitz work in the same office. 

Disclaimer 

The mention of trade names or commercial products in this report does not constitute endorsement or 

recommendation for use by the federal government. 

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A bibliography of scientific reports is online at www.blm.gov/ak. 
Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring 


Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in the 


National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska: 2008–2009
 

Matthew S. Whitman, Shane Walker, and Richard T. Kemnitz 

BLM-Alaska Open File Report 124 

July 2011 

U. S. Department of the Interior
 

Bureau of Land Management
 

Abstract 

In 2008 a consulting firm under contract to the Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) completed a fisheries monitoring plan for the

National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). The plan outlined a strategic approach to monitoring fish habitat where oil and gas activities 

are occurring. This report addresses how the BLM’s Arctic Field Office

implemented this plan to manage and monitor fish habitat during oil

and gas exploration in the NPR-A during the winter of 2008–2009.

Two operators, ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. and Anadarko Petroleum 

Corporation, conducted exploration operations during this time. The

BLM’s multifaceted strategy relied on Required Operating Procedures,

lease stipulations, permit-specific stipulations, permitting by other regulatory agencies, compliance inspections, and additional effectiveness monitoring. Primary concerns about fish habitat included impacts on water

source lakes, ice- and snow-road stream crossings, and water quality.

Data and observations confirmed that the majority of management

objectives were accomplished. However, one lake was overpumped and

a potential barrier to fish movements was left at one ice-road crossing

during spring breakup. 

Acknowledgements 

The successful fish habitat monitoring efforts described in this report

would not have been possible without the contributions of the BLM

Arctic Field Office’s hydrology program and oil and gas compliance

program. The expertise, cooperation, and regulatory decisions provided

by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Habitat Division (Jack

Winters and Bill Morris) were essential to mitigating impacts to fish

habitat on BLM-managed public lands. The cooperation of the University

of Alaska Fairbanks Water and Environmental Research Center and 

Geo-Watersheds Scientific also provided many benefits to the fish habitat

monitoring program. 

i 

Contents
 

Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i 

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
 

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
 

Study Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Anadarko Petroleum Company (APC)............................................. 4
 

CononoPhillips Alaska, Inc. (CPAI)............................................... 4
 

Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
 

Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
 

EIS Required Operating Procedures (ROPs) and Lease Stipulations .................... 4
 

EA-Level Permit-Specific Stipulations ............................................ 5
 

Other Regulatory Agency Authorizations and Approvals ............................. 5
 

Compliance Inspections ........................................................ 5
 

Additional Effectiveness Monitoring and Data Collection ............................. 6
 

Protective Measures Summary .................................................. 6
 

Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
 

Water Sources ............................................................... . 8
 

Stream Channel Crossings..................................................... 11
 

Water Quality ............................................................... 19
	

Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
 

Water Sources ............................................................... 19
	

Stream Channel Crossings..................................................... 20
 

Water Quality ............................................................... 21
 

Conclusions and Management Implications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
 

Literature Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
 

Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
 

Appendix A. Selected Required Operating Procedures (ROPs) and Lease Stipulations 

from the NE NPR-A Supplemental Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental
 

Impact Statement .................................................. 27
 

Appendix B. Permit-Specific Stipulations Developed from Environmental

Assessments...................................................... 29
	

Appendix C. Daily Water Use Data.............................................. 33
 

Figures 

Figure 1 . NPR-A map showing CPAI and APC 2008–2009 exploration areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
 

Figure 2 . CPAI operating area for 2008–2009 ...................................... 3
 

Figure 3 . APC operating area for 2008–2009....................................... 3
 

Figure 4 . Lake identification sign at water source lake access road ................... 11
 

Figure 5 . Intake screen being checked for proper use and condition ................... 11
 

Figure 6 . Slotting at crossing AX1 (Seabee Creek) ................................. 12
 

Figure 7 . Slotting at crossing AX2 (Rainy Creek) .................................. 12
 

Figure 8 . Slotting at crossing AX4 (Prince Creek).................................. 12
 

Figure 9 . Slotting at crossing CPX2 (unnamed creek) .............................. 13
 

Figure 10 . Slotting at crossing CPX3 (Ublutuoch River).............................. 13
 

Figure 11 . Slotting at crossing CPX4 (unnamed creek) .............................. 13
 

Figure 12 . Crossing AX1 (Seabee Creek) on 25 May 2009 ............................ 14
 

Figure 13 . Crossing AX2 (Rainy Creek) on 19 May 2009 ............................. 15
 

Figure 14 . Crossing AX4 (Upper Prince Creek) on 19 May 2009 ....................... 15
 

iii 
Figure 15 . Crossing CPX1 (unnamed creek) on 29 May 2009.......................... 16
 

Figure 16 . Crossing CPX1 (unnamed creek) on 1 June 2009 .......................... 16
 

Figure 17 . Crossing CPX1 (unnamed creek) appeared to be a potential barrier to

fish movements on 4 June 2009 ........................................ 17
 

Figure 18 . Crossing CPX2 (unnamed creek) on 29 May 2009.......................... 17
 

Figure 19 . Crossing CPX3 (Ublutuoch River) on 29 May 2009......................... 18
 

Figure 20 . Crossing CPX4 (unnamed creek) on 29 May 2009.......................... 18
 

Figure 21 . Portable drip pan for water trucks that fill up on a water source lake ......... 19
	

Figure 22 . Containment around a bulk fuel tank ................................... 19
	

Figure 23 . Water discharge from an O&G support camp ............................. 19
	

Tables 

Table 1 . Summary of elements contributing to the protection of fish habitat during 

winter oil and gas exploration........................................... 7

Table 2 . Lakes in the NPR-A evaluated for APC’s 2008–2009 winter exploration and

actual water volumes utilized ........................................... 9
	

Table 3 . Lakes in the NPR-A evaluated for CPAI’s 2008–2009 winter exploration and

actual water volumes utilized .......................................... 10
 

Table 4 . Extent of water present at channel crossings for the 2008–2009 APC snow 

road and CPAI ice road ............................................... 11
 

Table 5 . Observations made at ice- and snow-road stream crossings regarding hydrologic alterations potentially affecting fish ................................ 14
 

Table C-1 . Daily water use by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation from lakes in the

NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period .......................... 33
 

Table C-2 . Daily water use by ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. from lakes in the NPR-A

during the 2008–2009 exploration period ................................ 37
 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 1 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Introduction 

In 2008, a consulting firm under contract

to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

completed a fisheries monitoring plan for the

National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A)

(Noel et al. 2008). The plan outlined a strategic approach to the inventory, assessment,

and monitoring of fish and fish habitat in

areas associated with oil and gas (O&G)

activities. This plan analyzed both exploration

and development activities with respect to

potential impacts on fish resources, reviewed

existing protective measures in BLM planning documents, and made recommendations

on how to monitor, evaluate, and improve

the effectiveness of these measures. The 

multiple and complex elements of the monitoring plan require that implementation be

both incremental and adaptive. The information provided within this report addresses

the current state of fish habitat management

and monitoring by the BLM Arctic Field

Office with regard to O&G exploration in the

NPR-A, as guided by the fisheries monitoring

plan and applied to activities conducted

during the 2008–2009 winter.

The O&G industry conducts overland exploration activities in the Arctic during winter to

minimize potential impacts to the ecosystem.

Conducting operations during periods of sufficient snow cover and frozen soil significantly

reduces impacts to the terrestrial landscape.

Similarly, operating in the winter is advantageous for protecting aquatic systems because

lake and stream surfaces are frozen. To 

accomplish its winter work the industry

builds ice or snow roads to provide the stability necessary for moving vehicles and heavy

equipment. Construction of these travel

surfaces and associated infrastructure (such

as drilling pads, construction camp pads, and

airstrips) requires the use of liquid water and

ice chips from lakes. The use of lakes as water

sources, the crossing of stream channels by ice

or snow roads, and the risk of contaminated 

overland runoff from industrial operations are

primary concerns related to fish habitat.

Utilizing lakes as winter water sources

poses several potential problems for fish.

Pumping water from lakes reduces the volume

of under-ice habitat and can affect spring and 

summer accessibility if recharge from snowmelt is not adequate to restore water levels.

A reduction in winter dissolved oxygen (DO)

concentrations is also a concern. Diminishing

space and oxygen can intensify stress due to

overcrowding and increase the concentration

of metabolic byproducts to a point where some

fish die (Schmidt et al. 1989). Additionally,

water velocities generated at pump intake

hoses can capture or impair the movement

of small fish in the vicinity. These potential

problems are particularly critical to address

through management actions because winter

is the most vulnerable period of the annual

cycle for Arctic fish. By late winter, ice cover

significantly reduces available North Slope

freshwater habitat (Craig 1989). This habitat

limitation may be the single most important factor affecting Arctic fish population

size and cyclical fluctuations in abundance

(Reynolds 1997). Many recent studies have

significantly contributed to knowledge about

winter lake water use and confirmed that 

current management practices are effective

in certain hydrologic settings (Hinzman et al.

2006; Baker 2007; Chambers et al. 2008; Cott 

et al. 2008; Holland et al. 2009b; Clilverd et 

al. 2009). However, water use continues to

generate concern in winter O&G exploration

because it involves complex ecological processes. 

Ice- or snow-road channel crossings (ice

bridges) can also impact overwintering

habitat, creating barriers to fish movements

during spring breakup, and degrading stream

bank or stream channel conditions. Ice bridges 

are preferably located where water will freeze

to the bottom under normal winter conditions. 

However, if ice bridges are placed above overwintering habitat, the increased ice thickness

associated with these crossings will result in

a loss of habitat where conditions are already

marginal. Once streams and rivers begin to

thaw in the spring, the increased ice thickness

and density at channel crossings can cause

these bridges to remain intact longer than

the surrounding ice. While the bridges are

typically “prepared” for breakup by slotting in

order to expedite dismantling and provide fish

passage during high flows, the effectiveness of

this practice has not been confirmed in a wide

range of hydrologic settings. When ice-bridge 
Arctic 

Chukchi Sea 

Ocean 

Beaufort Sea 

Barrow 

0 25 50 

Wainwright 

Atqasuk 

Nuiqsut 

Point Lay 

miles 

2 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Figure 1 . Overview of NPR-A showing location of CPAI and APC 2008–2009 exploration areas. 

remnants do persist in a channel, they may

impede fish movements; several species of

Arctic fish make migrations during or immediately after breakup to access more productive

feeding habitat or to reach spawning grounds

(Bond and Erickson 1985; Armstrong 1986;

Chang-Kue and Jessop 1992; Blackman 2002;

Morris 2003; Morris et al. 2006). Remnant

ice bridges may also impact habitat by either

deflecting flow into stream banks or causing

streambed scour. 

Water quality impairment due to contaminated overland runoff during the spring

melting period is another fish habitat concern. Operations associated with winter O&G

exploration activities involve extensive use

of vehicles and heavy equipment, considerable storage volumes of fuels and mechanical

fluids, and temporary ice pads that support

drilling operations and industrial construction camps. Consequently, the mechanisms

are in place for both point- and nonpointsource contamination of surface waters. 

While regulatory practices have been

enacted to mitigate water quality impacts,

operations must be monitored for appropriate

implementation.

During the 2008–2009 winter, O&G exploration activities in the NPR-A included drilling operations by ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.

(CPAI) and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

(APC) (Figure 1). CPAI’s exploration infrastructure consisted of about 27 miles of ice 

road, 2 drilling ice pads (Grandview #1 East

and Pioneer #1 prospects), and 1 construction

camp ice pad (Talkeetna Camp) (Figure 2).

The company utilized water from 8 fishbearing lakes to construct and maintain this

infrastructure. Additionally, CPAI’s ice road

crossed 4 stream channels that support fish.

APC’s exploration infrastructure consisted of

approximately 36 miles of snow road, 1 drilling

ice pad (Wolf Creek prospect), 1 construction

camp ice pad, and a few miles of ice road in the 

• 

~ 

• 

NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE - ALA 

APC2008-09 
2008–2009 CPAI Exploration Operating Area 

BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 3

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Figure 2 . ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. (CPAI) operating area in the NPR-A for the 2008–

2009 winter exploration period. 

2008–2009 APC Exploration Operating Area 

Figure 3 . Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC) operating area in the NPR-A for the

2008–2009 winter exploration period. 

vicinity of its drilling operation (Figure 3). APC

utilized water from 3 fish-bearing lakes, and 

its snow road crossed 4 stream channels 

that support fish. To mitigate potential

impacts to fish and fish habitat from these 

operations, the BLM utilized a wide range

of tactics. These ranged from time-tested

industry requirements to the implementation

of new management guidelines and data-collection standards intended to help the agency 
4 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

track and better understand the status of fish 

resources. 

Study Areas 

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation 

APC’s exploration activities during the

winter of 2008–2009 occurred in the Arctic 

Foothills Province (Warhaftig 1965) in the

far eastern portion of the NPR-A. This area

is comprised of rolling hills and generally

steeper gradient streams than those in the

Arctic Coastal Plain. Streams in the operating area drain to the east and southeast into

the Colville River. Lakes are sparse in the

uplands, but are fairly prevalent along stream

and river corridors. Upland terrain is typically

rolling hills of tussock tundra interspersed

with riparian zones dominated by relatively

dense, tall willows. APC accessed the area 

from a commercial camp at Umiat, a historic

industrial outpost. Nuiqsut, located approximately 95 miles down the Colville River, is the 

closest village. 

ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. 

During the winter of 2008–2009, CPAI conducted O&G exploration in the Arctic Coastal

Plain Province (Warhaftig 1965) in the far

northeastern portion of the NPR-A. This area

is comprised of extremely low-gradient streams

and a high density of thermokarst lakes that

drain northward into the Beaufort Sea. Upland

terrain is characterized by polygonized tundra

with narrow riparian zones primarily composed

of sparse willows. The flat topography contributes to poorly defined drainage areas that often

consist of complicated networks of interconnected lakes and small tundra streams. 

CPAI gained access to the area from the Alpine

oilfield facility located in the Colville River

Delta. The village of Nuiqsut is approximately

8 miles to the south of Alpine and is located

immediately to the east of the exploration area. 

Objectives 

The objectives of fish habitat management

and monitoring in the NPR-A for the 2008–

2009 O&G exploration period included: 

•		 Protecting fish resources among O&G

exploration activities by mitigating

potential impacts with proactive management requirements

•		 Evaluating the effectiveness of management requirements aimed at protecting

fish resources 

•		 Obtaining additional fish habitat data

during winter and spring breakup to

better understand the potential impacts

of O&G exploration activities

•		 Using collected data to improve adaptive 

management practices 

Methods 

The existing strategy utilized by the BLM

Arctic Field Office to minimize potential

impacts to fish and fish habitat from O&G

exploration is multifaceted. The impetus

behind this strategy is derived from the

NPR-A Fisheries Monitoring Implementation

Plan (Noel et al. 2008). Required Operating

Procedures (ROPs) and lease stipulations

established for industry in Environmental

Impact Statements (EISs) are based on

established and accepted best management

practices. Environmental Assessment (EA)-

level, permit-specific stipulations formulate

additional requirements that are based on

the most recent information available and 

adapted to knowledge gained from past

efforts. The BLM also relies on cooperation

and communication with other regulatory

agencies whose authority and environmental

protection objectives overlap with those

of the BLM. Compliance inspections and

frequent in-season interactions with O&G

companies are essential for in-season tracking of requirements. Finally, additional effectiveness monitoring and data collection by

the BLM, whether through its own resources

entirely, a cooperative effort, or contracted

work, fills gaps in data and provides information to advance the understanding of aquatic

ecosystem dynamics in the Arctic and the

likely effects O&G exploration activities can

have on these systems. It is only through this

comprehensive and adaptive approach that

BLM’s ability to protect fish resources

is optimized. 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 5 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

EIS ROPs and Lease Stipulations 

CPAI and APC were subject to industry

ROPs and lease stipulations from the Northeast NPR-A Supplemental Integrated Activity

Plan/Environmental Impact Statement

(IAP/EIS) (USDOI 2008) for the 2008–2009

O&G exploration work. These ROPs and

stipulations (Appendix A) contribute, either

directly or indirectly, to the protection of fish

resources. Appendix A abbreviates or summarizes the Objective or Requirement/Standard;

complete descriptions can be found in the

IAP/EIS. 

EA-Level Permit-Specific Stipulations 

Although O&G exploration activities are

evaluated during the EIS process using a

general scenario, National Environmental

Policy Act (NEPA) requirements demand that

specific O&G actions also be reviewed through

an EA process before the BLM can grant

an authorization to carry out those actions.

Through this process specific lakes are evaluated and approved for varying levels of water

use, planned ice-road stream crossings are

closely examined, and any other relevant

concerns for fish habitat are addressed. This 

provides an opportunity to apply the most

recent knowledge regarding resource status

and protection and to implement further protective measures if necessary. These measures

may include prescriptive rules as well as data

collection related to effectiveness monitoring.

The BLM imposed similar mitigation and

monitoring requirements on APC and CPAI

for their 2008–2009 exploration projects based

on recommendations made in the NPR-A Fisheries Monitoring Implementation Plan (Noel

et al. 2008). Measurements of ice thickness

and water depth at stream channel crossings

during snow- or ice-road construction provided

quantitative documentation of overwintering fish habitat potential at those locations.

Requiring as-built GPS data of roads and

pads at the time of completed construction

allowed the BLM to evaluate these structures 

in-season before its field site visits. Signs

that clearly identified lakes helped reduce

the possibility of overpumping an individual

lake. (While posting lake identification signs

at access points seems rudimentary, the lack 

of identifiable land features and the numerous 

subcontractors involved in pumping water

made the misidentification of lakes an issue 

during past years.) The BLM was able to keep

close track of activities in-season — rather 

than learning about them in post-season 

reports—due to required weekly submittals of

daily water use records and notification within 

24 hours of any lake overpumping or observation of dead fish at pumping holes. Finally,

operators were required to photograph the

slotting of ice- or snow-road channel crossings

at the end of the winter, enabling the BLM

to obtain necessary information without the

expense of additional site visits.

Where the BLM allowed operators to exceed

current standard practices for lake water use,

the agency mandated additional monitoring

requirements. These deviations from existing

guidelines were supported by new knowledge

that wasn’t available during the initial development of standards listed in the EISs. The

decisions in these cases were in concurrence 

with the State of Alaska’s permitted water

use levels for the specific lakes in question. By

allowing this on a limited basis and requiring

additional data collection, the BLM gained

knowledge that will inform future evaluations.

Permit-specific stipulations designed to

contribute to fish resource protection and

imposed on APC and CPAI for 2008–2009

exploration activities are listed in Appendix B.

These stipulations are summarized from the

EAs that evaluated the companies’ respective

proposed actions. 

Other Regulatory Agency Authorizations 

and Approvals 

In addition to the BLM’s review and 

approval of proposed O&G exploration activities, other federal and state agencies also have 

jurisdiction and regulatory roles regarding

aspects of industrial operations in the NPR-A.

The following list summarizes agency roles

that contribute to the evaluation and protection of aquatic habitat:

•		 Alaska Department of Fish and Game

(ADFG) Habitat Division: Fish Habitat

Permits for Water Withdrawals 

•		 ADFG Habitat Division: Fish Habitat 

Permits for Ice-Road Stream Crossings 
6 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

•		 ADFG Habitat Division: Water Intake 

Fish Exclusion Screen Certifications 

•		 Alaska Department of Natural

Resources (ADNR): Temporary Water

Use Permits 

•		 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(USEPA): National Pollutant Discharge

Elimination System (NPDES) Wastewater Discharge Permit

•		 National Marine Fisheries Service 

(NMFS): Essential Fish Habitat Assessment (salmon only); completed by the

BLM unless consultation is required 

Compliance Inspections 

BLM compliance inspections of O&G exploration activities are critical to the successful 

implementation of management practices,

including measures intended to protect

aquatic resources. On-site examination of

operations helps to verify and document that

operators are properly following rules and

regulations. If problems are identified, or if

clarification of requirements is required, then

prompt, in-season corrective actions can often

be taken to help avoid longer-term issues.

For aquatic resources, key inspection items

include the handling and storage of fuels and

waste, water pumping and ice chip removal

operations at lakes, water pump intake

screens and their condition, and observations 

at ice- or snow-road stream crossings. These

compliance inspections also function well as a

means to maintain direct and frequent communication with industry personnel working

in the field. 

Additional Effectiveness Monitoring and 

Data Collection 

As a supplement to monitoring data

collected by industry during the winter of

2008–2009, the BLM collected other effectiveness monitoring information and field data

through its own resources and cooperative

relations. For example, a new Cooperative

Ecosystems Study Unit agreement established

with the University of Alaska Fairbanks

Water and Environmental Research Center 

helped the BLM to create the Cooperative Arctic Lakes Data Collection Network (CALDCN). 

This network is intended to extend an ongoing cooperative effort among many entities

to study Arctic lakes where pumping has

occurred over the last several years. Through

this mechanism, the BLM funded the collection of late winter dissolved oxygen (DO) data

from selected lakes in the CPAI operating

area. In addition to expanding the ongoing

dataset to include new lakes, the project

will generate data that can be used to test

the accuracy of a recently developed tool for

predicting winter DO depletion rates in Arctic

lakes based on physical characteristics and

pumping activities (White et al. 2008). This

tool, once tested and refined to an acceptable

degree of scientific confidence, has the potential to help regulators base water use management upon more site-specific characteristics

than had previously been the norm. As part

of the CALDCN agreement, researchers also

worked on centralizing winter lake data

collected in this region over the last several

years for inclusion in a summary report.

The BLM evaluated the effectiveness of 

slotting ice bridges across stream channels

by conducting site visits during the 2009

spring breakup. To be considered an effective

practice, slotting a given ice bridge should not

cause hydrologic alterations that hinder fish

passage or degrade stream habitat. The current methods of evaluating these factors are

by field observation, photographic documentation, and professional judgment. In 2009

the BLM supplemented observation from

a helicopter with deployment of time-lapse

cameras at select sites to determine this 

technology’s potential for evaluating ice

bridges at breakup. 

Protective Measures Summary 

Protections for the 3 primary fish habitat

concerns (water sources, stream channel

crossings, and water quality) were provided

through the multiple avenues discussed

above. Implemented collectively, these provide 

a thorough set of protective measures. Table 1

provides a summary of all elements that

contributed to preserving the integrity of fish

habitat during the 2008–2009 winter O&G

exploration period. 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 7 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table 1 . Summary of elements contributing to the protection of fish habitat during winter oil

and gas exploration. 

Fish Habitat Concern Protective Elements 

Water Sources Required Operating Procedures/Lease Stipulations

 • B-1, B-2 

Permit-Specific Stipulations

 • Lake identification signs

 • Daily water-use records/weekly reporting

 • 24-hour notification for overpumping or dead fish

 • Lake basin snow surveys to correlate with recharge analyses

 • Lake outlet surveys and observations (breakup, freeze-up) 

Other Agency Authorizations and Approvals

 • ADFG water withdrawal permits 

 (volumes permitted, additional monitoring)

 • ADFG water intake screen certifications 

 • ADNR temporary water-use permits 

 • NMFS Essential Fish Habitat Assessment (salmon only) 

Compliance Inspections

 • Water pumping and ice chip removal operations

 • Water pump intake screen use and condition 

BLM Monitoring and Data Collection

 • Winter DO measurements 

Stream Channel Crossings Required Operating Procedures/Lease Stipulations

 • C-2, C-3, C-4 

Permit-Specific Stipulations

 • Ice thickness and water depth measurements

 • In-season as-built locations for roads and pads

 • Photographic documentation of slotting/breaching

 • Site-specific additional removal requirements 

Other Agency Authorizations and Approvals

 • ADFG channel crossing permits 

 • NMFS Essential Fish Habitat Assessment (salmon only) 

Compliance Inspections

 • Ice bridge structure, location, and condition 

BLM Monitoring and Data Collection

 • Ice bridge evaluations at breakup 

Water Quality Required Operating Procedures/Lease Stipulations 

 • A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, D-1 

Other Agency Authorizations and Approvals

 • USEPA NPDES Wastewater Discharge Permit

 • NMFS Essential Fish Habitat Assessment (salmon only) 

Compliance Inspections

 • Handling and storage of fuels and waste 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Results 

Water Sources 

For APC’s exploration operations in the

NPR-A, 21 lakes were evaluated as potential

water sources (Table 2). Ten of these were

fish-bearing lakes, 8 of which had sensitive

species present. Per ROP B-2, the BLM

approved the use of ice chips in addition to

the maximum allowable liquid water amount

for the 10 fish-bearing lakes. This posed no

additional risk to overwintering fish and was

based on the successful use of this practice

in the coastal region, where adequate spring

recharge has been documented in many cases.

However, because these lakes are located in 

the foothills region where relatively little data

regarding lake water use exists, the BLM

required additional monitoring to evaluate

recharge rates (snow and lake outlet surveys)

and late summer water levels (lake outlet

surveys). ADFG Fish Habitat permits also

stipulated that future use of ice chips in

addition to the standard liquid water volume

at these lakes depended upon demonstrating

the recharge capability. At 2 of these lakes

(M0825 and M0830), ADFG permitted greater

than the standard 15% of liquid water under

7 feet of ice, with the stipulation that water

quality monitoring (including DO concentrations) be conducted before and during

pumping activities. The BLM concurred with

the ADFG decision, which was based on a 

site-specific evaluation that took into account

the relatively large size of the lakes. Table 2

provides information on the water volumes

actually used by APC; the daily water use

record is in Appendix C, Table C-1.

In December 2008, APC withdrew 34,000 

gallons of water from Lake M0829, which was

only permitted for 6,000 gallons. APC verbally

notified the BLM and ADFG of this infraction, 

and within a few days APC followed up with

a full report of the incident and self-imposed

corrective actions. Also in December 2008, 

APC began pumping water from Lake M0830

prior to collecting water quality data as

required by ADFG. Attempts to collect

acceptable water quality data failed for

approximately 2 weeks while APC continued

using water from the lake. As a result of 

the incidents at lakes M0829 and M0830, 

the State of Alaska issued a Notice of NonCompliance to APC.

As required by permit-specific stipulations,

APC conducted additional environmental 

work around water source lakes. Late winter 

snow surveys conducted in several basins

provided quantitative data to estimate

recharge capacity (Baker 2009). Lake water

level surveys and photographic documentation

of outlet conditions were conducted postbreakup, in June, and at the end of August

(Hilton and Lilly 2009a, 2009b; Holland et

al. 2009a). Based on snow-depth surveys and

associated snow water equivalent measurements, it was estimated that ample water

would be available in the spring to recharge

the lakes that were used as water sources. 

Observations during the breakup period

confirmed that lake volumes recharged back

to baseline levels for all lakes evaluated. 

For CPAI’s exploration operations in the

NPR-A, 38 lakes were evaluated as potential

water sources (Table 3). Thirty of these were

fish-bearing lakes, 8 of which had sensitive

species present. Per ROP B-2, the BLM

approved the use of ice chips and/or liquid

water in excess of standard guidelines at some

lakes. The agency adapted this management

decision based on prior-year knowledge gained

about recharge in the coastal plain, where

lakes are highly concentrated. Previous investigations of lakes used exclusively for O&G

exploration have documented spring recharge

rates and volumes (URS 2001; Baker 2002;

Hinzman et al. 2006; Baker 2007; Holland et 

al. 2008). Despite this evidence to support the

decision, the BLM required additional monitoring (snow and lake outlet surveys) at some

specific lakes if and when standard water use

levels were exceeded. 

The State of Alaska required that approval

for the future use of additional ice chips at

lakes would depend upon a demonstration of

recharge capabilities. Because CPAI did not

actually utilize more water than is typically

permitted, the company was not subject to

BLM’s additional monitoring requirements.

Table 3 provides information on the water

source lakes that were evaluated and the 

actual total water volumes used by CPAI.

Appendix C, Table C-2, contains the daily 

8 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 9 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 Liquid Ice Chips Fish Species Latitude Longitude Max Surface Water Volume Volume Present b (N) (W) Depth Area Utilized Approved Utilized Lake ID a (WGS84) (WGS84) (feet) (acres) Sensitive Resistant Approved Liquid Water Volume (gallons) (gallons) Ice Chips? (gallons) M0681 69.37959 152.11275 5.1 16 none none 20% of total lake = 3,300,000 945,600 Y 0 M0811 69.37285 152.19635 <4.0 10 -- -- 0%: too shallow 0 Y 0 M0812 69.36496 152.24990 7.2 20 none none 20% of total lake = 4,744,000 162,500 Y 0 M0813* 69.35913 152.26641 6.9 18 BW/AG none 15% under 7 ft of ice = 0 0 Y 0 M0814 69.35016 152.29122 13.8 26 none none 20% of total lake = 5,250,000 0 Y 0 M0815 69.33174 152.39418 4.1 61 none none 0%: too shallow 0 Y 0 M0816 69.32300 152.41085 6.4 7 none none 20% of total lake = 1,529,000 76,000 Y 0 M0817 69.31465 152.43027 6.2 18 none none 20% of total lake = 3,034,000 0 Y 0 M0818 69.31437 152.44660 7.2 19 none none 20% of total lake = 3,457,000 0 Y 0 M0819 69.26697 153.02817 5.5 18 none none 20% of total lake = 2,012,000 0 Y 0 M0820 69.25321 153.06902 8.5 54 none none 20% of total lake = 18,510,000 4,000 Y 0 M0821* 69.27613 153.17333 10.5 137 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 5,400,000 0 Y 0 M0822 69.25609 153.20339 8.6 20 none none 20% of total lake = 6,170,000 0 Y 0 M0823* 69.24982 153.23138 7.2 89 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 1,459,000 0 Y 0 M0824* 69.30779 153.45055 9.5 232 AG -- 15% under 7 ft of ice = 420,000 0 Y 0 M0825* 69.31807 153.40815 15.9 36 AG -- 20% under 7 ft of ice = 1,570,000* 0 Y 0 M0826* 69.32376 153.42552 10.4 39 AG -- 15% under 7 ft of ice = 104,000 72,000 Y 0 M0827* 69.32385 153.46420 9.7 60 AG -- 15% under 7 ft of ice = 544,000 0 Y 0 M0828* 69.32834 153.41460 9.2 23 AG -- 15% under 7 ft of ice = 330,000 0 Y 0 M0829* 69.33493 153.41479 8.4 129 AG NS 15% under 7 ft of ice = 6,000 34,000 Y 915,153 M0830* 69.33646 153.45258 14.9 46 AG NS 25% under 7 ft of ice = 5,610,000* 2,298,000 Y 0 Table 2 . Lakes in the NPR-A evaluated for APC’s 2008–2009 winter exploration and actual water volumes utilized. a Sources for data: MJM Research (2008a) b BW = broad whitefish; RW = round whitefish; AG = Arctic grayling; NP = northern pike; NS = ninespine stickleback * = additional monitoring required due to approval to exceed currently established guidelines -- = not estimated or not applicable 
10 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table 3 . Lakes in the NPR-A evaluated for CPAI’s 2008–2009 winter exploration and actual water volumes utilized.

Fish Species Latitude Longitude Max Surface Liquid Water Approved Ice Chips Present b (N) (W) Depth Area Approved Liquid Water Volume Volume Utilized Ice Volume Utilized

Lake IDa (WGS84) (WGS84) (feet) (acres) Sensitive Resistant (gallons) (gallons) Chips? (gallons)

L9308/77097 70.29379 151.16922 5.1 855 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 0 0 Y 0 

L9806 70.24957 151.09729 6.8 362 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 14,630,000 226,800 Y 0 

L9803* 70.25830 151.18946 6.7 171 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 440,000 0 Y* 0 

L9804 70.24378 151.21208 5.2 253 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 0 0 Y 0 

L9805* 70.23854 151.15850 5.7 439 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 10,000 0 Y* 0 

L9811* 70.20870 151.16803 8.0 1034 BW/AG NS 15% under 7 ft of ice = 940,000 0 Y* 859,358 

L9813* 70.18531 151.16089 6.3 391 AG NS 15% under 7 ft of ice = 0 0 Y* 0 

L9816 70.21676 151.29542 7.6 198 none none 20% of total lake = 31,690,000 0 Y 0 L9817 70.23330 151.34066 9.3 62 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 5,490,000 0 Y 0 

M0016 70.16151 151.87878 6.2 306 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 4,790,000 0 Y 0 

M0420* 70.20991 151.22279 6.0 126 BW/AG NS 15% under 7 ft of ice = 0 0 Y* 0 

M0702 70.19700 151.22756 6.7 119 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 3,930,000 0 Y 0 

M0703 70.18773 151.20613 6.2 58 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 211,000 0 Y 0 

M0704 70.17240 151.21803 6.0 276 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 564,000 0 Y 419,051 

M0705 70.15990 151.16922 <4.0 167 -- -- 0%: too shallow 0 Y 0 M0706 70.14780 151.21684 6.2 236 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 3,790,000 0 Y 0 

M0707 70.14296 151.17517 6.4 328 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 5,730,000 0 Y 0 

M0708* 70.11957 151.14898 28.9 323 BW/RW/AG/NP NS 15% under 7 ft of ice = 69,980,000 0 Y* 0 

M0709 70.11513 151.23351 <4.0 46 -- -- 0%: too shallow 0 Y 0 M0710 70.13611 151.27399 6.5 604 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 6,060,000 3,950,065 Y 3,309,894 

M0711 70.11554 151.36328 <4.0 125 -- -- 0%: too shallow 0 Y 0 M0712* 70.08731 151.31685 14.4 109 BW/NP NS 15% under 7 ft of ice = 13,810,000 0 Y* 0 

M0802 70.15950 151.24899 7.2 244 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 11,969,000 8,414,154 Y 0 

M0803 70.17522 151.41209 8.5 55 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 6,910,000 0 Y 0 

M0804* 70.15385 151.48829 11.3 143 AG NS 15% under 7 ft of ice = 4,884,000 0 Y* 0 

M0805 70.15103 151.40257 8.5 79 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 7,480,000 0 Y 0 

M0806 70.13490 151.40376 7.1 481 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 32,180,000 16,032,777 Y 0 

M0807 70.12562 151.43828 <5.0 371 -- -- 0%: too shallow 0 Y 2,999,653 M0808 70.12723 151.48948 6.1 172 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 1,940,000 0 Y 0 

M0809 70.14870 151.55138 <5.0 22 -- -- 0%: too shallow 0 Y 0 M0810 70.14901 151.79664 8.3 27 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 3,350,000 0 Y 0 

R0059 70.14982 151.88116 7.6 35 none none 20% of total lake = 11,620,000 0 Y 0 R0060 70.14619 151.83354 8.2 115 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 9,230,000 0 Y 0 

R0061/L9911* 70.17119 151.78711 8.0 540 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 59,080,000 0 Y* 2,709,357 

R0062 70.17724 151.61686 <4.0 49 -- -- 0%: too shallow 0 Y 0 R0066/M0151 70.14619 151.76211 9.6 248 AG -- 15% under 7 ft of ice = 5,030,000 4,530,540 Y 244,650 

R0067 70.14296 151.79068 7.5 81 none NS 30% under 5 ft of ice = 4,820,000 0 Y 0 

R0068/M9917 70.18732 151.80140 9.8 63 AG -- 15% under 7 ft of ice = 7,900,000 0 Y 0 

a Sources for data: MJM Research (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008b) b BW = broad whitefish; RW = round whitefish; AG = Arctic grayling; NP = northern pike; NS = ninespine stickleback* = additional monitoring required due to

approval to exceed currently established guidelines-- = not estimated or not applicable 
11 

Figure 4 . Lake identification sign at water source

lake access road. 

water use record for CPAI. 

BLM compliance monitoring trips included

spot checks of lake identification signs at

water source lakes (Figure 4) and also inspection of water pump intake screens to document that these were in place and in functional condition (Figure 5). ADFG fish habitat

permits also specified that intake screens

must be inspected by industry personnel prior

to being utilized. Neither company reported

dead or injured fish in or around pumping

holes. 

Further efforts to advance knowledge

regarding winter lake water use and DO

levels were carried out under the CALDCN 

agreement between the BLM and UAF’s

Water and Environmental Research Center. 

Through a cooperative effort partially funded

by the BLM, researchers from the Water and

Environmental Research Center and GeoWatersheds Scientific measured DO concentrations during March along vertical profiles

in several lakes 

within CPAI’s 

exploration area

and adjacent

development

area. Holland 

et al. (2009b)

completed a

report on these

findings. Hilton

et al. (2009) summarized conditions in water 

source lakes over 

the last several 

years. 

Stream Channel 

Crossings 

Ice- and snowroad channel 

crossings were

assigned arbitrary names

according to the 

company responFish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Figure 5 . Intake screen 

being checked for proper use

and condition. 

Table 4 . Extent of water present at channel crossings for the 2008–2009 APC snow road and CPAI ice

road. 

Channel 

Crossing 

ID Stream Name 

ADF&G Anadromous 

Fish Distribution 

Database Code 

Latitude 

(N) 

(WGS84) 

Longitude 

(W) 

(WGS84) 

Ice Depth During 

Constructiona 

(inches) 

Liquid Water Depth 

During Constructiona 

(inches) 

Anadarko Snow Road 

AX1 Seabee Creek none 69.36763 152.23348 4 0 

AX2 Rainy Creek none 69.32502 152.40278 4 0 

AX3 Prince Creek none 69.30993 152.45579 2 0 

AX4 Prince Creek none 69.25564 153.29909 2 0 

ConocoPhillips Snow Road 

CPX1 unnamed 330-00-10840-2017-3163 70.21089 151.20396 0 0 

CPX2 unnamed 330-00-10840-2017-3483 70.15018 151.54847 0 0 

CPX3 Ublutuoch River 330-00-10840-2017 70.14695 151.62401 24 0 

CPX4 unnamed 330-00-10840-2017-3508 70.14867 151.74046 0 0 

a Information provided by CPAI and APC, respectively. 

BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 
Figure 6 . Slotting at crossing AX1 (Seabee Creek). (Photo

provided by APC) 

12 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Figure 7 . Slotting at crossing AX2 (Rainy Creek). (Photo

provided by APC) 

Figure 8 . Slotting at crossing AX4 (Prince Creek). (Photo

provided by APC) 

sible and the location along the

route (Figures 2 and 3). Industry

personnel measured the extent

of ice and water at crossings

during the construction phase to

document the presence or absence

of potential overwintering fish

habitat (Table 4). Compliance

inspections included observation of

general conditions at stream crossings during the construction and

operation phases. This included

evaluating any issues with site

selection, access ramps, stream

bank willow damage, and extent

of in-channel activities, if any.

At the termination of exploration

activities, the operators slotted the

ice bridges and provided the BLM

with photographic documentation.

APC submitted photos of

slotting at 3 crossings in March

(Figures 6–8). Crossing AX3 in

lower Prince Creek was not slotted 

because no fill or other alteration 

was made at that location. CPAI 

submitted photos of ice-bridge

slotting, which also ocurred in

March, for 3 of its 4 crossings

(Figures 9–11). The crossing at

CPX1 was mistakenly not slotted,

but the BLM did not identify this

oversight until breakup. At the

BLM’s request, CPAI investigated

the issue and confirmed that 

their contractor did not slot that 

crossing. Regarding CPX3, Figure

10 clearly shows the extensive

removal of ice-bridge materials

from the Ublutuoch River channel 

as compared to removal from other

channels. This level of work was 

done in response to a permitspecific stipulation based upon past

experiences with the ineffectiveness

of a single slot in ice bridges across

that particular river.

The BLM conducted further 

observations at ice-bridge locations

during breakup to evaluate the

effectiveness of slotting techniques

in avoiding hydrologic alterations 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 13 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

that might potentially affect fish or

fish habitat. Timing site visits for

spring breakup evaluations at ice

bridges is difficult because helicopter arrangements must be made

far in advance. As it turned out, 

the scheduled site visits in 2009 

occurred too late to observe peakflow events, although conditions

were observed and documented as 

soon as possible. In the foothills

region, where river and stream

breakup occurs earlier than on the

coastal plain, only minor remnants

of APC ice bridges were still visible

on 19 and 25 May (Figures 12–14).

Because of the late timing of the

visits, no additional knowledge was

gained regarding ROP effectiveness

(Table 5).

In the coastal plain region,

although peak flows were missed,

observations still proved valuable

at some sites because small coastal 

tundra streams are often the last 

channel types to open due to melting (Table 5; Figures 15–17). It

was during these site evaluations

that the BLM documented that 

crossing CPX1 was not slotted.

This crossing may have presented

a barrier to fish if it remained in 

place when lake moating occurred

at Lake L9811 (Figure 17). The

ice road in the vicinity of CPX2

veered around the actual planned

stream crossing and was routed

along the edge of Lake R0066

such that no slotting was actually

necessary (Figure 18). Water was

flowing freely through crossings

CPX3 and CPX4, revealing no

potential issues. To address

continuing problems associated

with the timing of these evaluations, time-lapse cameras were

deployed experimentally at 2 icebridge sites. Although deployed

too late to provide useful evaluation information, the cameras 

show promise as a potential alternative to intermittent site visits. 

Figure 9 . Slotting at crossing CPX2 (unnamed creek). (Photo

provided by CPAI) 

Figure 10 . Slotting at crossing CPX3 (Ublutuoch River).

(Photo provided by CPAI) 

Figure 11 . Slotting at crossing CPX4 (unnamed creek).

(Photo provided by CPAI) 
14 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table 5 . Observations made at ice- and snow-road stream crossings regarding hydrologic alterations

potentially affecting fish. 

Observation Stream Crossing 

Guideline AX1 AX2 AX4 CPX1 CPX2 CPX3 CPX4 

Crossing persists Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined Yes NA Undetermined No 

longer than other ice in 

channel? 

Ice damming? Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined No NA Undetermined No 

Flow channelized? Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined No NA Undetermined No 

Cascade created? Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined No NA Undetermined No 

Potential fish barrier? Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined Yes NA Undetermined No 

Breaching technique Undetermined Undetermined Undetermined NA NA Undetermined No 

influences hydrology? 

Figure 12 . Crossing AX1 (Seabee Creek) on 25 May 2009. 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 15 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Figure 13 . Crossing AX2 (Rainy Creek) on 19 May 2009. 

Figure 14 . Crossing AX4 (Upper Prince Creek) on 19 May 2009. 
16 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Figure 15 . Crossing CPX1 (unnamed creek) on 29 May 2009. 

Figure 16 . Crossing CPX1 (unnamed creek) on 1 June 2009. 

L9811 

L9811 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 17 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Figure 17 . Crossing CPX1 (unnamed creek) appeared to be a potential barrier to fish movements on 4 June 2009. 

Figure 18 . Crossing CPX2 (unnamed creek) on 29 May 2009. 
Figure 19 . Crossing CPX3 (Ublutuoch River) on 29 May 2009. 

18 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Figure 20 . Crossing CPX4 (unnamed creek) on 29 May 2009. 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 19 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Water Quality 

Mitigating potential water quality

impacts from fluid or waste spills

is currently reliant on 1) assuming

that ROPs and permit guidelines

are effective, and 2) confirming

through compliance inspections

that the respective practices and

necessary equipment are properly

implemented in the field. Compliance trips to APC and CPAI

operation areas checked for the

consistent use of containment for 

bulk storage and external drip

pans (“duck ponds”) for individual

vehicles and equipment. Inspectors

also looked for visible spills and

examined wastewater discharge

systems (Figures 21–23). BLM

personnel generally found all

required practices in place, and 

they identified no significant spills. 

Discussion 

Water Sources 

As occurs most years, industry

used much less water than it had 

permitted. APC used only 6% of

the liquid water it was permitted

to use on BLM-managed public

lands within its exploration region.

Similarly, CPAI used 11% of its

permitted liquid water on BLMmanaged lands. This is due to

several factors. ADFG Fish Habitat 

permits for removing lake water last 

for 5 years. Therefore, in any given

year, companies will likely use only

a percentage of the total volume

allowable. In addition, companies

give themselves operational flexibility by requesting more water than

they expect to need.

Slight differences existed between

permit-specific stipulations imposed

on APC and CPAI. The BLM 

required APC to collect additional

data because very little lake data

and few observations existed for its 

Figure 21 . Portable drip pan for water trucks that fill up on a

water source lake. 

Figure 22 . Containment around a bulk fuel tank at a remote 

O&G support camp. 

Figure 23 . Water discharge from an O&G support camp

under the EPA’s NPDES permit. 
20 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

project area in the Arctic Foothills region of

the NPR-A; regulatory agencies needed documentation that current water use guidelines

(developed primarily for the Arctic Coastal

Plain) would also be effective in the foothills.

CPAI’s proposed work, on the other hand,

exceeded standard water use amounts, so the 

BLM required the company to conduct additional monitoring. Although multiple years

of data and observations in the coastal plain

region have confirmed that current permitted levels are very effective in protecting fish

habitat, the BLM required additional datagathering to assess the impacts of exceeding

these levels. 

Given the large number of lakes that are

utilized each winter, overpumping is relatively rare, although isolated incidents do

occur, as demonstrated in 2009. Generally,

the safeguards and systems undertaken by

industry and agencies are effective. However,

continuing to re-evaluate and pursue improvements, such as better daily records management, should further reduce the frequency

of incidents. 

Although spring recharge in water source

lakes has been documented in numerous 

instances (URS 2001; Baker 2002; Hinzman

et al. 2006; Baker 2007; Holland et al. 2008),

local variation in snow distribution and 

basin-scale topography nonetheless requires

that recharge rates be evaluated to some

degree each year. Also, because water use in

the northeast NPR-A will potentially span

decades, long-term trends in annual lake

conditions need to be documented. While the 

outflow of water from a lake in the spring

defines “recharge” at one moment, water

inputs are dynamic over time. Thus, the implications of winter water use on lake outflow 

regimes during the entire open-water period 

—and the attendant impacts on fish access

and movements—is the next critical aspect

needing investigation.

The large natural variability in winter

DO depletion rates among Arctic lakes

complicates the evaluation of the relationship between water removal and a potential

decrease in DO concentration. However, much 

progress has recently been made in studying

this relationship. At current pumping levels

there has been little to no impact observed on 

DO concentration (Hinzman et al. 2006; Cott

et al. 2008; Chambers et al. 2008; Clilverd et 

al. 2009). This research knowledge has been

placed in a practical context through the

development of a tool in which water removal

rate parameters can be used to model winter

DO depletion rates (White et al. 2008). Testing this DO model with field data from a

variety of Arctic lakes is the fundamental next

step to evaluate its potential for contributing

to site-specific management decisions regarding use of lake water. Lake DO data collected

by the CALDCN on the coastal plain and by

APC in the foothills region as required by the

State of Alaska will be utilized for this purpose. 

Stream Channel Crossings 

According to measurements made at stream

channel crossings during the construction of

ice and snow roads, bridge location caused no

issues with overwintering fish habitat. Photographic documentation of ice-bridge breaching at the end of the winter proved valuable

because it provided a record of compliance

with a BLM ROP, documented the extent of 

ice removal at each site, and eliminated the 

need for a site visit. 

As previously described, various species

of fish can be impacted by remnant ice

bridges if routine spring migrations are

inhibited. Most mature Arctic grayling make

an upstream spring migration to spawning

grounds before occupying feeding habitat,

and the timing of this migration is strongly

associated with ice breakup (Tripp and

McCart 1974; Armstrong 1986; Blackman

2002; Morris 2003). Grayling behaviors

observed during the migration include swimming under the ice and congregating in areas

well before ice conditions allow free passage

(Tack 1980; Beauchamp 1990). Delayed

access to spawning habitat or increased

energetic demand could affect spawning

success of grayling. Fleming and Reynolds

(1991) found that many grayling, particularly females, continued to mature during a

spawning-run delay. The results of the study

indicated that the delay led to premature

spawning during the run, with individuals

failing to make it to upstream spawning

areas. If downstream areas were of lesser 

quality, such effects could be compounded 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 21 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

annually because Arctic grayling spawn in

their natal areas (Hop and Gharrett 1989).

Spawning delays may also affect egg viability. While no data are available for Arctic

grayling, reduced egg viability has been

reported for rainbow trout when spawning

was postponed (Sakai et al. 1975; Bry 1981).

Instream barriers can also affect other 

Arctic fish attempting to migrate from

overwintering areas to feeding habitat during the early part of the open-water season.

Many broad whitefish move upstream during

breakup to access productive feeding habitat

(Bond and Erickson 1985; Chang-Kue and

Jessop 1992; Morris 2003; Morris et al. 2006).

In some cases this includes taking advantage

of the opportunity to reach locations only

accessible during spring flooding (Lugas’kov

and Stepanov 1988). Humpback whitefish

and least cisco have been documented making similar upstream migrations early in

the open-water period (Alt 1979; Bond and

Erickson 1985). Given the common life-history

strategy of Arctic fish to utilize multiple

habitats throughout the year to optimize

feeding and growth (Craig 1984, 1989; Morris

2003; Moulton et al. 2007), other species may

also be at risk if ice bridges create barriers

to movements. Energy reserves are already

typically low for most fish, and additional

stress or delayed access to feeding habitat

could have a detrimental impact. A barrier to

movement could alter migration patterns to

lower quality feeding habitat, and increased

energetic demands could ultimately compromise survival. 

Due to the late timing of ice-bridge site

inspections relative to peak breakup, little

was learned in 2009 regarding the potential

for ice bridges to impact fish or fish habitat in

the spring. However, an issue was identified

at crossing CPX1, which was not slotted at

the end of the winter exploration season. As

a result, a portion of the ice bridge remained

intact much later than other ice in the respective channel, as was most apparent during

the 4 June observation (Figure 17). While

Lake L9811 was still locked up in ice on that

date, fish may have attempted to move out

of the lake as soon as a moat formed around 

the lakeshore early in the ice melting process.

Lakes L9811 and M0420 and the connecting 

channel crossed by the ice road are all listed

waterbodies in the State of Alaska’s Anadromous Waters Catalog. Broad whitefish and

Arctic grayling, among other species, are

known to utilize this stream/lake system.

While site visits will still be implemented,

future evaluations of ice-road channel crossings

during spring breakup will be augmented by

the use of time-lapse cameras. These cameras

can be mounted in late winter; if placed properly, they will be able to document ice-bridge

conditions at all stages of breakup. This will

alleviate the problem of scheduling helicopter

use and will also provide more information by

taking hourly photos. (Even when breakup

timing is correctly predicted, observations from

a helicopter typically occur only once a day.)

Future evaluations should also incorporate

post-breakup visits to observe stream bank

conditions at the crossings. 

Water Quality 

Regulatory agencies will need to continue

addressing water quality concerns through

prescriptive measures to avoid spills (e.g.,

containment), prompt and effective cleanup

of spills that occur, and other proven methods

to minimize impacts (e.g., EPA NPDES).

Smaller, unnoticed equipment or vehicle leaks

and industrial emissions may also be contributing to non-point source pollution of surface

waters. However, a study to investigate this

would currently be cost-prohibitive due to the

high number of streams and lakes in operation areas and the degree of technology that

would be required. 

Conclusions and Management 

Implications 

Water use management guidelines again

proved effective during the 2008–2009 O&G

exploration season. All physical and chemical

data and observations of outlet conditions 

support water use at current levels to avoid

impacts. Carefully observing deviations to

these levels in a few select locations while 

requiring additional monitoring data served

to advance the knowledge base of lake water

use limits, which are still theoretically and

practically unknown. Although present levels 
22 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

of permitted water use appear to be ecologically sustainable, close monitoring of these

activities should still be a priority because of

the variable climatological and hydrological

factors involved, as well as the number of 

organisms that rely on water resources.

Regarding ice- and snow-road channel

crossings, obtaining in-season information

about as-built ice-bridge locations and water

presence provided an increased level of

resource tracking. Similarly, requiring photographic documentation of ice-bridge slotting

provided a prudent, cost-effective method of

confirming compliance and recording conditions prior to spring breakup. Thoroughly

reviewing submitted information promptly,

working proactively with industry, and

encouraging better communication between

industry and its contractors conducting field

work will all help ensure that every stream

crossings is slotted at the end of the season.

Improvements in effectiveness monitoring

can also be made; time-lapse cameras offer a

hopeful solution.

In general, fish habitat management and

monitoring related to O&G exploration activities in the NPR-A were improved greatly this

past year by following many of the recommendations made in the NPR-A Fisheries 

Monitoring Implementation Plan (Noel et al.

2008). Permit-specific stipulations, in particular, provided an opportunity to implement

site-specific evaluations and adaptive management based on the most current knowledge

available. This should continue to be a primary mechanism to help protect and monitor

fish resources. 

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Baker, M. Jr. 2009. Wolf Creek 2009 snow 

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Blackman, B.G. 2002. Radio telemetry studies

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Bond, W.A. and Erickson, R.N. 1985. Life 

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Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Northwest Territories. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries

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Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

Bry, C. 1981. Temporal aspects of macroscopic

changes in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

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treatment with 17 alpha-hydroxy-20 beta-dihydroprogesterone. Aquaculture 24:153–160. 

Chambers, M.K., White, D.M., Lilly, M.R.,

Hinzman, L.D., Hilton, K.M., and Busey, R.C.

2008. Exploratory analysis of the winter

chemistry of five lakes on the North Slope of

Alaska. Journal of the American Water 

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Chang-Kue, K.T.J., and Jessop, E.F. 1992.

Coregonid migration studies at Kukjuktuk 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 23 

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Creek, a coastal drainage on the Tuktoyaktuk

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Clilverd, H., White, D., and Lilly, M.R. 2009.

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R.A., Mills, K.H., Somers, W.M., and Fillatre, 

G.A. 2008. The effects of water withdrawal 

from ice-covered lakes on oxygen, temperature, and fish. Journal of the American Water 

Resources Association 44(2):328–342. 

Craig, P.C. 1984. Fish use of coastal waters

of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea: a review. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society

113:265–282. 

Craig, P.C. 1989. An introduction to anadromous fishes in the Alaskan Arctic. Biological

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Fleming, D.F. and Reynolds, J.B. 1991. Effects

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Hilton, K. and Lilly, M.R. 2009a. Lake

recharge surveys for the Wolf Creek Prospect,

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2009. Geo-Watersheds Scientific Report 09.04,

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Hilton, K. and Lilly, M.R. 2009b. Lake

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09.08, prepared for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, The Woodlands, TX. 

Hilton, K., Reichardt, D., Toniolo, H., and 

Lilly, M. 2009. Summary of lake chemistry

and physical data for selected North Slope,

Alaska, lakes: 2006–2009. Cooperative Arctic 

Lakes Data Collection Network, Alaska, 

Report No. INE/WERC 10.003, Fairbanks, AK. 

Hinzman, L.D., Lilly, M.R., Kane, D.L.,

Miller, D.D., Galloway, B.K., Hilton, K.M.,

and White, D.M. 2006. Physical and chemical

implications of mid-winter pumping of tundra

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Hop, H. and Gharret, A. J. 1989. Genetic 

relationships of Arctic grayling in the

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118:290–295. 

Holland, K., Reichardt, D., Cormack, C., 

Derry, J., Myerchin, G., Toniolo, H., and Lilly,

M.R. 2008. Snowmelt and lake recharge monitoring for selected North Slope, Alaska, lakes:

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Holland, K., Remillard, E.M., and Lilly, M.R.

2009a. Lake recharge surveys for the Wolf

Creek Prospect, National Petroleum ReserveAlaska, Spring 2009. Geo-Watersheds

Scientific Report 09.03, prepared for Anadarko

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Holland, K., Reichardt, D.A., Toniolo, H.A., 

and Lilly, M.R. 2009b. Lake chemistry physical data for selected North Slope, Alaska,

lakes: March 2009. Cooperative North Slope

Hydrology Projects, Report 09.01. 

Lugas’kov, A.V. and Stepanov, L.N. 1988.

Feeding and movement of broad whitefish, 

Coregonus nasus, in the lower Ob’ Basin. 

Journal of Ichthyology 29:64–72. 

MJM Research. 2000. Fish utilization of 

lakes in eastern NPR-A: 1999–2000. Report

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AK. 

MJM Research. 2003. Baseline surveys of

fish habitats in eastern NPR-A: 2001–2002. 
24 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Report prepared for ConocoPhillips Alaska,

Inc., Anchorage, AK, and Anadarko Petroleum

Corporation, The Woodlands, TX. 

MJM Research. 2005. Baseline surveys of fish

habitats in eastern NPR-A, 2004. Report prepared for ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc., Anchorage, AK, and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, The Woodlands, TX. 

MJM Research. 2007. Survey of lakes in support of CPAI exploration prospects – 2007.

Report prepared for ConocoPhillips Alaska,

Inc., Anchorage, AK, and Anadarko Petroleum

Corporation, The Woodlands, TX. 

MJM Research. 2008a. Survey of lakes in

association with Anadarko prospects – 2008.

Report prepared for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, The Woodlands, TX. 

MJM Research. 2008b. Survey of lakes in

support of CPAI exploration prospects – 2008.

Report prepared for ConocoPhillips Alaska,

Inc., Anchorage, AK, and Anadarko Petroleum

Corporation, The Woodlands, TX. 

Morris, W. 2003. Seasonal movements and 

habitat use of Arctic grayling (Thymallus 

arcticus), burbot (Lota lota), and broad whitefish (Coregonus nasus) within the Fish Creek

drainage of the National Petroleum ReserveAlaska, 2001–2002. Technical Report No.

03-02. Alaska Department of Natural

Resources, Office of Habitat and Permitting,

Anchorage, AK. 

Morris, W.A., Moulton, L.L., Bacon, J., Rose, 

J., and Whitman, M. 2006. Seasonal movements and habitat use by broad whitefish

(Coregonus nasus) in the Teshekpuk Lake

region of the National Petroleum ReserveAlaska. Technical Report No. 06-04. Report

prepared for the North Slope Borough,

Barrow, AK. 

Moulton, L.L., Morris, W., Rose, J., and 

Whitman, M. 2007. Surveys of fish habitats

in the Teshekpuk Lake region, 2003–2005.

Report prepared for North Slope Borough,

Barrow, AK. 

Noel, L.E., Moulton, L.L., Whitman, M.S., 

and Bontrager, L. 2008. NPR-A fisheries

monitoring implementation plan. Prepared by

ENTRIX for U.S. Department of the Interior,

Bureau of Land Management, Arctic Field Office, Fairbanks, AK. 

Reanier & Associates. 2000. Year 2000 lake 

studies in the Phillips exploration area,

National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. 

Report prepared for Phillips Alaska, Inc.,

Anchorage, AK. 

Reynolds, J.B. 1997. Ecology of overwintering

fishes in Alaskan freshwater. In Milner, A.M 

and Oswood M.W., editors. Freshwaters of 

Alaska: ecological synthesis. New York, NY:

Springer-Verlag. 

Sakai, K., Nomura, M., Takashima, F., and 

Oto, H. 1975. The over-ripening phenomenon

of rainbow trout, II. Changes in the percentage of eyed eggs, hatching rate and incidence

of abnormal alevins during the process of

over-ripening. Bulletin of the Japanese Society of Scientific Fisheries 41:855–860. 

Schmidt, D.R., Griffiths, W.B., and Martin, 

L.R. 1989. Overwintering biology of anadromous fish in the Sagavanirktok River Delta,

Alaska. Biological Papers of the University of

Alaska 24:55–74. 

Tack, S.L. 1980. Distribution, abundance and 

natural history of the Arctic grayling in the

Tanana River drainage. Annual performance

report for migrations and distribution of Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in interior

and arctic Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish

and Game, Federal Aid in Fish Restoration, 

Annual Performance Report, 1979–1980.

Project F-9-12, 21 (Study R-I). 

Tripp, D.B., and McCart, P.J. 1974. Life

histories of grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and

longnose suckers (Catostomus catostomus) in

the Donnelly River system, Northwest Territories. In McCart, P.J., editor. Life histories 

of anadromous and freshwater fish in the 

western Arctic. Alaskan Arctic Gas Study Co.,

Biological Report Series 20(1):1–91. 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 25 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

URS. 2001. 2001 Lake monitoring study, National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Final report 

prepared by URS Corporation for

Phillips Alaska Inc., Anchorage, AK. 

[USDOI] U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau

of Land Management and Mineral Management Service. 2004. Northwest National 

Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Integrated Activity 

Plan/Environmental Impact Statement

Record of Decision. Bureau of Land Management and Mineral Management Service,

Anchorage, AK. 

[USDOI] U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau

of Land Management and Mineral Management Service. 2008. Northeast National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Supplemental Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental

Impact Statement Record of Decision. Bureau

of Land Management and Mineral Management Service, Anchorage, AK. 

Warhaftig, C. 1965. Physiographic divisions

of Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey Professional

Paper 482. U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, Alaska. 

White, D.M., Clilverd, H.M., Tidwell, A.C., 

Lilly, M.R., Chambers, M., and Reichardt, D.

2008. A tool for modeling the winter oxygen

depletion rate in Arctic lakes. Journal of

the American Water Resources Association 

44(2):293–304. 

BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 27 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Appendix A. Selected Required Operating Procedures (ROPs) 

and Lease Stipulations from the NE NPR-A Supplemental Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement 

A-2 Required Operating Procedure 

Objective: Minimize impacts on the environment from non-hazardous and hazardous 

waste generation. 

Requirement/Standard: Lessees/permittees

shall prepare and implement a comprehensive

waste management plan for all phases of

exploration and development. 

A-3 Required Operating Procedure 

Objective: Minimize pollution through effective hazardous-materials contingency planning. 

Requirement/Standard: For O&G-related 

activities, a Hazardous Materials Emergency

Contingency Plan shall be prepared and

implemented before transportation, storage,

or use of fuel or hazardous substances. 

A-4 Required Operating Procedure 

Objective: Minimize the impact of contaminants on fish, wildlife, and the environment, 

including wetlands, marshes, and marine

waters, as a result of fuel, crude oil, or other 

liquid chemical spills. 

Requirement/Standard: Before initiating any

O&G or related activity or operation, lessees/

permittees shall develop a comprehensive spill

prevention and response contingency plan. 

A-5 Required Operating Procedure 

Objective: Minimize the impact of contaminants from refueling operations on fish,

wildlife, and the environment. 

Requirement/Standard: Refueling of equipment within 500 feet of the active floodplain of

any water body is prohibited. 

A-6 Required Operating Procedure 

Objective: Minimize the impact on fish, wildlife, and the environment from contaminants 

associated with the exploratory drilling process. 

Requirement/Standard: Surface discharge of

reserve-pit fluids is prohibited. 

B-1 Required Operating Procedure 

Objective: Maintain populations of, and

adequate habitat for, fish and invertebrates. 

Requirement/Standard: Water withdrawal 

from rivers and streams during winter is

prohibited. 

B-2 Required Operating Procedure 

Objective: Maintain natural hydrologic

regimes in soils surrounding lakes and ponds

and maintain populations of, and adequate

habitat for, fish and invertebrates, and waterfowl. 

Requirement/Standard: Water withdrawal 

from lakes may be authorized on a site-specific 

basis depending on water volume, depth, and

fish population and species diversification.

a. Lakes that are ≥7 feet with sensitive fish 

(any fish except ninespine stickleback

or Alaska blackfish): water available

for withdrawal is limited to 15% of 

calculated volume deeper than 7 feet;

lakes that are between 5 and 7 feet with 

sensitive fish: water available would be 

calculated on a case-by-case basis.

b. Lakes that are ≥5 feet with only nonsensitive fish (i.e., ninespine stickleback

or Alaska blackfish): water available for

withdrawal is limited to 30% of calculated volume deeper than 5 feet.

c. Any lake with no fish present, regardless

of depth: water available for withdrawal

is up to 35% as specified within the

permit.

d. A water-monitoring plan may be required

to assess drawdown and water quality changes before, during, and after

pumping any fish-bearing lake or lake of

special concern.

e. The removal of naturally grounded ice

may be authorized from lakes and shallow rivers on a site-specific basis depending upon its size, water volume, and

depth, and fish population and species

diversification. 
28 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

f. Removed ice aggregate shall be included

in the 15% or 30% withdrawal limits 

—whichever is the appropriate case— 

unless otherwise approved.

g. Any water intake structure in fishbearing or non-fish-bearing waters shall

be designed, operated, and maintained to

prevent fish entrapment, entrainment, or

injury.

h. Compaction of snow cover or snow

removal from fish-bearing water bodies

shall be prohibited except at approved

ice-road crossings, water pumping stations on lakes, or areas of grounded ice. 

C-2 Required Operating Procedure 

Objective: Protect stream banks, minimize 

compaction of soils, and minimize the breakage, abrasion, compaction, or displacement of

vegetation. 

Requirement/Standard: 

a. Ground operations shall be allowed only

when frost and snow cover are at sufficient depths to protect the tundra. 

C-3 Required Operating Procedure 

Objective: Maintain natural spring runoff patterns and fish passage, avoid flooding, prevent

streambed sedimentation and scour, protect

water quality, and protect stream banks. 

Requirement/Standard: Crossing of waterway courses shall be made using a low-angle

approach. Snow and ice bridges shall be

removed, breached, or slotted before spring

breakup. Ramps and bridges shall be substantially free of soil and debris. Except at

approved crossings, operators are encouraged

to travel a minimum of 100 feet from known 

overwintering fish streams and lakes. 

C-4 Required Operating Procedure 

Objective: Avoid additional freeze-down of 

deep-water pools harboring overwintering fish

and invertebrates used by fish. 

Requirement/Standard: Travel up and down

streambeds is prohibited unless it can be

demonstrated that there will be no additional 

impacts from such travel to overwintering

fish or the invertebrates they rely on. Rivers

and streams shall be crossed at shallow riffles 

from point bar to point bar whenever possible. 

D-1 Lease Stipulation 

Objective: Protect fish-bearing rivers, streams,

and lakes from blowouts and minimize alteration of riparian habitat. 

Requirement/Standard: Exploratory drilling is prohibited in rivers and streams, as

determined by the active floodplain, and

fish-bearing lakes. 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 29 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Appendix B. Permit-Specific Stipulations Developed from 

Environmental Assessments 

APC Additional Mitigation and Monitoring: EA DOI-BLM-LLAK01000-2009-0001 

The following permit stipulations implement

practices that will help reduce the likelihood

of impacts to fish habitat and water resources

(Noel et al., 2008). Anadarko shall: 

•		 At time of ice-road construction, take the 

following measurements at stream or river

channel crossings and provide the data

to the BLM AO within 1 week of collection. Measure the ice thickness and water 

depth under ice (if not grounded) at a

minimum of 3 mid-channel locations (at

approximately road centerline and road

edges).

•		 Provide the BLM with an as-built of the 

snow and ice roads, and as-built corner locations for the airstrips and ice pads. Data

should be in the format of global positioning system (GPS) points or tracks at the

time structures are ready for utilization.

•		 Post a sign on the access road to each lake

being utilized as a water source, clearly

identifying the lake by its number.

•		 For each lake utilized as a water source, 

maintain a daily record of water removed

in liquid form and in the form of ice chips.

Provide the BLM with this daily tracking record on a weekly basis. The BLM

will provide Anadarko with a formatted

spreadsheet to be used for the required

reporting. The completed weekly spreadsheet should be submitted to the BLM 

within 5 days.

•		 Notify the BLM AO within 24 hours if

water/ice removal exceeds the volume approved at any lake in the NPR-A.

•		 Notify the BLM AO within 24 hours of any

observation of dead fish on intake screens, 

or in the hole being used for pumping.

Temporarily cease pumping from that hole

until discussions with the BLM or ADF&G 

Division of Habitat result in application of

additional preventative measures to avoid

additional fish mortality. 

•		 Provide the BLM with photographs documenting breaching/slotting of ice-road

channel crossings at the end of the winter 

season. 

The following additional mitigation measures

are required for the removal of ice chips and

liquid water in 2008–2009 in excess of current

standard practice. Based on results of the first

year’s program, the BLM may add, delete, or

modify mitigation measures for water use in

future years of exploration covered by this EA. 

•		 Submit to the BLM the water quality monitoring data required by ADF&G under

State Fish Habitat Permits FH08-III-0273 

and FH08-III-0278 for Lakes M0825 and 

M0830 within 1 week of collecting in situ

field measurements and within 1 week of 

receiving lab analytical data. Water quality data collected at these lakes under other

programs must also be provided to the

BLM within 1 week of obtaining the data.

•		 At the end of winter operations, conduct

snow surveys in the following 2 drainage

basins: the vicinity of the 7 lakes utilized

in the Wolf Creek area (M0824, M0825,

M0826, M0827, M0828, M0829, and 

M0830); and the vicinity of Lakes M0813

and M0821. Consult with the BLM in 

developing the methodology, timing, and

selection of appropriate locations for these

surveys. Provide snow survey data to the

BLM within 1 week of collection. 

•		 Survey water levels at Lakes M0825 and

M0830 in the Wolf Creek area and at 

Lakes M0813 and M0821 in the NE NPR-A. 

Document conditions at the outflow with 

photographs and flow measurements

taken: immediately after spring breakup,

at the end of June, and at the end of 

August. At lakes M0823, M0824, M0826,

M0827, M0828, M0829, and M0831, document conditions at the outflow with photo-
30 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

graphs taken: immediately after spring

breakup, at the end of June, and at the

end of August. Provide data to BLM within 

1 week of collection. These requirements

apply when the listed lakes are used for

water supply. 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 31 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Appendix B. (continued)
 

CPAI Additional Mitigation and Monitoring: EA DOI-BLM-LLAK01000-2009-0004 

The following permit stipulations implement

practices that will help reduce the likelihood

of impacts to fish habitat and water resources

(Noel et al. 2008). CPAI shall: 

•		 At the time of ice-road construction, take 

the following measurements at stream or

river channel crossings prior to the addition of any snow or ice and provide data to

the BLM within 1 week of collection. Measure the ice thickness and water depth under ice (if not grounded) at a minimum of

3 mid-channel locations (at approximately

road centerline and road edges).

•		 Provide the BLM with an as-built of all 

snow/ice roads and Rolligon trails, and

as-built corner locations of ice pads at the

time structures or routes are ready for

utilization. The as-builts shall be submit

ted in digital format on a CD or from an

accessible internet location (such as an ftp

site) as follows: 

a. digital GPS file(s) referencing WGS

Datum of 1984 (WGS84) with a defined projection; and

b. digital ESRI shapefile(s) or

geodatabase(s) feature referencing

the North American Datum of 1983 

(NAD83) with a defined projection

and supplementary metadata.

•		 Post a sign on the access road to each lake

being utilized as a water source, clearly

identifying the lake by its number.

•		 Maintain a daily record of water removed

in liquid form and in the form of ice chips

for each lake utilized as a water source. 

Provide the BLM with the daily tracking

record on a weekly basis. The completed

weekly spreadsheet should be submitted

to the BLM within 5 days of the week’s

end. The BLM will provide Conoco with a

formatted spreadsheet that must be used

for the reporting.

•		 Notify the BLM within 24 hours if water/

ice removal exceeds the volume approved

at any lake in the NPR-A. 

•		 Notify the BLM within 24 hours of any observation of dead or injured fish on intake

screens or in the hole being used for pumping. Temporarily cease pumping from

that hole until discussions with the BLM 

or ADF&G Division of Habitat result in 

the application of additional preventative

measures to avoid further impacts to fish.

•		 Provide the BLM with photographs documenting breaching/slotting/removal of iceroad channel crossings at the end of the

winter season. 

The following monitoring activities are required for the removal of ice chips and liquid

water during the winter of 2008–2009 in excess of guidelines in BLM’s ROP B-2. Based on 

results of this year’s program, the BLM may

add, delete, or modify mitigation measures

for water use in future years of exploration

covered by this EA. Before conducting work in

future years CPAI must have written concurrence from BLM regarding water use. 

•		 At the end of winter operations, conduct

snow surveys adjacent to each of the following lakes and provide data to the BLM

within 1 week of collection: 

a. L9811, M0708, M0712, and M0804 if 

the combination of liquid water and

ice chips utilized exceeds the calculated volume of 15% of water under 

7 feet of ice. 

b.		L9813 and M0420 if the amount of ice 

chips utilized exceeds the calculated

volume of 30% of water under 5 feet of 

ice. 

c.		L9803, L9805, and R0061 if the 

amount of liquid water utilized exceeds the calculated volume of 30% 

of water under 5 feet of ice. 

•		 At each of the following lakes, survey

water levels and document conditions at 

the outlet of each of the following lakes

with photographs immediately after spring 

breakup, at the end of June, and at the 

-
32 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

end of August. 

a. L9811, M0708, M0712, and M0804 if 

the combination of liquid water and

ice chips utilized exceeds the calculated volume of 15% of water under 

7 feet of ice. 

b. L9813 and M0420 if the amount of 

ice chips utilized exceeds the calculated volume of 30% of water under 

5 feet of ice. 

c.		L9803, L9805, and R0061 if the 

amount of liquid water utilized exceeds the calculated volume of 30% 

of water under 5 feet of ice. 

•		 Submit to the BLM any water quality data

that is collected at water source lakes in 

the NPR-A as a requirement by ADFG

State Fish Habitat Permits or is collected 

at water source lakes under any other

program. In-situ field measurements must

be submitted within 1 week of collection, 

and water sample analytical data must

be submitted within 1 week of receiving

results from a lab. 

The following mitigation measure is required

for building an ice-road channel crossing (ice

bridge) on the Ublutuoch River. CPAI shall: 

•		 Remove as much of the ice bridge as is

reasonable without damaging stream 

banks or the streambed. 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 33 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Appendix C. Daily Water Use Data 

Table C-1 . Daily water use by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation from lak

in the NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period. 

Liquid Water 

Volume Removed Ice Chips Volume 

Lake Name 

MO681 

Date 

11/18/08 

(gallons) 

57,600 

Removed (gallons)

0 

MO681 11/19/08 86,400 0 

MO681 11/20/08 61,200 0 

MO681 11/21/08 61,200 0 

MO681 11/22/08 82,800 0 

MO681 11/23/08 82,800 0 

MO681 11/24/08 75,600 0 

MO681 11/25/08 111,600 0 

MO681 11/26/08 39,600 0 

MO681 11/27/08 32,400 0 

MO681 11/28/08 21,600 0 

MO681 11/29/08 18,000 0 

MO681 11/30/08 39,600 0 

MO681 12/01/08 61,200 0 

MO681 12/02/08 72,000 0 

MO681 12/03/08 42,000 0 

MO812 12/03/08 27,000 0 

MO812 12/04/08 26,000 0 

MO812 12/05/08 33,500 0 

MO812 12/06/08 16,000 0 

MO812 12/07/08 20,000 0 

MO812 12/08/08 26,000 0 

MO812 12/11/08 14,000 0 

MO816 12/09/08 46,000 0 

MO816 12/10/08 30,000 0 

MO820 12/11/08 4,000 0 

MO825 01/23/09 2,000 0 

MO825 01/24/09 2,000 0 

MO825 01/25/09 2,000 0 

MO825 01/26/09 6,000 0 

MO825 01/27/09 8,000 0 

MO825 01/28/09 4,000 0 

MO825 01/29/09 8,000 0 

MO825 01/30/09 8,000 0 

MO825 01/31/09 16,000 0 

MO825 02/01/09 6,000 0 

MO825 02/02/09 14,000 0 

MO825 02/03/09 4,000 0 

es

(cont.)
	
34 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table C-1 (continued) . Daily water use by Anadarko Petroleum Corpor

tion from lakes in the NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period. 

Liquid Water 

Volume Removed Ice Chips Volume 

Lake Name 

MO825 

Date 

02/04/09 

(gallons) 

6,000 

Removed (gallons

0 

MO825 02/05/09 6,000 0 

MO825 02/06/09 12,000 0 

MO825 02/07/09 4,000 0 

MO825 02/08/09 2,000 0 

MO825 02/09/09 14,000 0 

MO825 02/10/09 8,000 0 

MO825 02/11/09 4,000 0 

MO825 02/12/09 14,000 0 

MO825 02/13/09 4,000 0 

MO825 02/14/09 12,000 0 

MO825 02/15/09 14,000 0 

MO825 02/16/09 12,000 0 

MO825 02/17/09 8,000 0 

MO825 02/18/09 4,000 0 

MO825 02/19/09 8,000 0 

MO825 02/20/09 4,000 0 

MO825 02/21/09 16,000 0 

MO825 02/22/09 2,000 0 

MO825 02/23/09 14,000 0 

MO825 02/24/09 6,000 0 

MO825 02/25/09 10,000 0 

MO825 02/26/09 6,000 0 

MO825 02/27/09 10,000 0 

MO825 03/02/09 2,000 0 

MO825 03/03/09 6,000 0 

MO825 03/04/09 8,000 0 

MO825 03/06/09 6,000 0 

MO825 03/09/09 2,000 0 

MO825 03/10/09 2,000 0 

MO825 03/11/09 4,000 0 

MO825 03/13/09 4,000 0 

MO826 12/14/08 68,000 0 

MO826 12/16/08 4,000 0 

MO829 12/12/08 20,000 0 

MO829 12/13/08 14,000 0 

MO829 12/29/08 0 23,316 

MO829 12/30/08 0 116,580 

a-

) 

(cont.)
	
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 35 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table C-1 (continued) . Daily water use by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation from lakes in the NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period. 

Liquid Water 

Volume Removed Ice Chips Volume 

Lake Name Date (gallons) Removed (gallons) 

MO829 12/31/08 0 108,808 

MO829 01/01/09 0 110,751 

MO829 01/02/09 0 73,834 

MO829 01/03/09 0 54,404 

MO829 01/05/09 0 25,259 

MO829 01/06/09 0 52,461 

MO829 01/07/09 0 58,290 

MO829 01/08/09 0 58,290 

MO829 01/09/09 0 9,715 

MO829 01/11/09 0 62,176 

MO829 01/12/09 0 114,637 

MO829 01/13/09 0 46,632 

MO830 12/14/08 18,000 0 

MO830 12/16/08 10,000 0 

MO830 12/18/08 70,000 0 

MO830 12/22/08 20,000 0 

MO830 12/23/08 50,000 0 

MO830 12/24/08 56,000 0 

MO830 12/25/08 42,000 0 

MO830 12/26/08 62,000 0 

MO830 12/27/08 50,000 0 

MO830 12/28/08 46,000 0 

MO830 12/29/08 58,000 0 

MO830 12/30/08 62,000 0 

MO830 12/31/08 108,000 0 

MO830 01/01/09 86,000 0 

MO830 01/02/09 92,000 0 

MO830 01/03/09 88,000 0 

MO830 01/04/09 86,000 0 

MO830 01/05/09 104,000 0 

MO830 01/06/09 56,000 0 

MO830 01/07/09 62,000 0 

MO830 01/08/09 62,000 0 

MO830 01/09/09 56,000 0 

MO830 01/10/09 44,000 0 

MO830 01/11/09 46,000 0 

MO830 01/12/09 66,000 0 

MO830 01/13/09 70,000 0 

(cont.)
	
36 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table C-1 (continued) . Daily water use by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation from lakes in the NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period. 

Liquid Water 

Volume Removed Ice Chips Volume 

Lake Name Date (gallons) Removed (gallons) 

MO830 01/14/09 82,000 0 

MO830 01/15/09 26,000 0 

MO830 01/16/09 36,000 0 

MO830 01/17/09 36,000 0 

MO830 01/18/09 44,000 0 

MO830 01/19/09 40,000 0 

MO830 01/20/09 30,000 0 

MO830 01/21/09 42,000 0 

MO830 01/22/09 48,000 0 

MO830 01/23/09 50,000 0 

MO830 01/24/09 44,000 0 

MO830 01/25/09 32,000 0 

MO830 01/26/09 16,000 0 

MO830 01/27/09 24,000 0 

MO830 01/28/09 18,000 0 

MO830 01/29/09 10,000 0 

MO830 01/30/09 4,000 0 

MO830 02/03/09 4,000 0 

MO830 02/07/09 8,000 0 

MO830 02/08/09 24,000 0 

MO830 02/09/09 18,000 0 

MO830 02/10/09 8,000 0 

MO830 02/11/09 18,000 0 

MO830 02/13/09 12,000 0 

MO830 02/15/09 8,000 0 

MO830 02/17/09 8,000 0 

MO830 02/20/09 14,000 0 

MO830 02/21/09 10,000 0 

MO830 02/22/09 14,000 0 
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 37 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table C-2 . Daily water use by ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. from lakes in the

NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period. 

Liquid Water 

Volume Removed Ice Chips Volume 

Lake Name Date (gallons) Removed (gallons) 

L9806 12/29/08 108,864 0 

L9806 12/30/08 117,936 0 

L9811 02/03/09 0 281,898 

L9811 02/04/09 0 382,612 

L9811 02/05/09 0 170,556 

L9811 02/07/09 0 0 

M0704 01/30/09 0 24,293 

M0704 01/31/09 0 254,062 

M0704 02/01/09 0 86,543 

M0704 02/06/09 0 78,446 

M0704 02/07/09 0 0 

M0710 12/29/08 3,780 0 

M0710 12/30/08 11,340 0 

M0710 12/31/08 14,700 0 

M0710 01/01/09 25,200 0 

M0710 01/02/09 9,450 0 

M0710 01/03/09 9,450 0 

M0710 01/04/09 29,400 0 

M0710 01/05/09 47,040 0 

M0710 01/06/09 82,320 0 

M0710 01/07/09 82,320 0 

M0710 01/08/09 64,680 0 

M0710 01/09/09 58,800 0 

M0710 01/10/09 82,320 0 

M0710 01/11/09 47,040 0 

M0710 01/12/09 47,040 0 

M0710 01/13/09 35,280 0 

M0710 01/14/09 11,760 0 

M0710 01/15/09 119,070 0 

M0710 01/16/09 105,840 0 

M0710 01/17/09 285,600 212,562 

M0710 01/18/09 532,140 327,953 

M0710 01/19/09 639,240 282,404 

M0710 01/20/09 790,230 343,136 

M0710 01/21/09 487,200 270,257 

M0710 01/22/09 89,460 218,635 

M0710 01/24/09 4,200 0 

M0710 01/25/09 3,150 0 

(cont.)
	
38 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table C-2 (continued) . Daily water use by ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.

from lakes in the NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period. 

Liquid Water 

Volume Removed Ice Chips Volume 

Lake Name Date (gallons) Removed (gallons) 

M0710 01/26/09 2,940 0 

M0710 01/27/09 3,150 0 

M0710 01/29/09 4,200 0 

M0710 01/30/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/01/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/03/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/04/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/05/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/06/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/07/09 3,150 0 

M0710 02/08/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/09/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/11/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/12/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/13/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/14/09 3,150 0 

M0710 02/15/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/16/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/17/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/18/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/19/09 3,150 0 

M0710 02/20/09 3,150 0 

M0710 02/21/09 3,150 0 

M0710 02/22/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/23/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/24/09 4,200 0 

M0710 02/26/09 7,350 0 

M0710 02/28/09 175 0 

M0710 03/02/09 4,200 0 

M0710 03/03/09 7,350 0 

M0710 03/04/09 7,350 0 

M0710 03/06/09 7,350 0 

M0710 03/07/09 7,350 0 

M0710 03/08/09 7,350 0 

M0710 03/10/09 7,350 0 

M0710 03/11/09 7,350 0 

M0710 03/13/09 4,200 0 

M0710 03/14/09 4,200 0 

(cont.)
	
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 39 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table C-2 (continued) . Daily water use by ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.

from lakes in the NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period. 

Liquid Water 

Volume Removed Ice Chips Volume 

Lake Name Date (gallons) Removed (gallons) 

M0710 03/15/09 4,200 0 

M0710 03/16/09 4,200 0 

M0710 03/17/09 4,200 0 

M0710 03/19/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/20/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/21/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/22/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/23/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/24/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/25/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/26/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/27/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/28/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/29/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/30/09 2,100 0 

M0710 03/31/09 2,100 0 

M0710 04/01/09 2,100 0 

M0710 04/02/09 2,100 0 

M0710 04/03/09 2,100 0 

M0710 04/04/09 2,100 0 

M0710 04/07/09 2,100 0 

M0710 04/08/09 2,100 0 

M0710 04/09/09 2,100 0 

M0710 04/11/09 2,100 0 

M0710 04/12/09 2,100 0 

M0802 01/23/09 153,300 0 

M0802 01/23/09 153,300 0 

M0802 01/24/09 85,260 0 

M0802 01/24/09 85,260 0 

M0802 01/25/09 402,780 0 

M0802 01/25/09 402,780 0 

M0802 01/26/09 326,970 0 

M0802 01/27/09 371,700 0 

M0802 01/28/09 579,684 0 

M0802 01/29/09 460,110 0 

M0802 01/30/09 393,960 0 

M0802 01/31/09 330,750 0 

M0802 02/01/09 270,480 0 

(cont.)
	
40 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table C-2 (continued) . Daily water use by ConocoPhillips, Alaska, Inc.

from lakes in the NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period. 

Liquid Water 

Volume Removed Ice Chips Volume 

Lake Name Date (gallons) Removed (gallons) 

M0802 02/02/09 270,480 0 

M0802 02/03/09 335,160 0 

M0802 02/04/09 401,100 0 

M0802 02/05/09 392,910 0 

M0802 02/06/09 315,210 0 

M0802 02/07/09 63,000 0 

M0802 02/12/09 128,310 0 

M0802 02/13/09 0 0 

M0802 02/21/09 80,850 0 

M0802 02/25/09 148,050 0 

M0802 02/26/09 14,700 0 

M0802 02/27/09 122,850 0 

M0802 03/04/09 226,800 0 

M0802 03/05/09 98,700 0 

M0802 03/06/09 26,250 0 

M0802 03/07/09 194,250 0 

M0802 03/08/09 211,050 0 

M0802 03/13/09 225,750 0 

M0802 03/14/09 151,200 0 

M0802 03/15/09 235,200 0 

M0802 03/21/09 156,450 0 

M0802 03/22/09 283,500 0 

M0802 03/23/09 87,150 0 

M0802 03/24/09 160,650 0 

M0802 04/03/09 68,250 0 

M0806 01/22/09 417,270 0 

M0806 01/22/09 417,270 0 

M0806 01/23/09 520,170 0 

M0806 01/23/09 520,170 0 

M0806 01/24/09 653,940 0 

M0806 01/24/09 653,940 0 

M0806 01/25/09 426,090 0 

M0806 01/25/09 426,090 0 

M0806 01/26/09 351,960 0 

M0806 01/27/09 345,240 0 

M0806 01/28/09 432,600 0 

M0806 01/29/09 398,370 0 

M0806 01/30/09 468,930 0 

(cont.)
	
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 41 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table C-2 (continued) . Daily water use by ConocoPhillips, Alaska, Inc.

from lakes in the NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period. 

Liquid Water 

Volume Removed Ice Chips Volume 

Lake Name Date (gallons) Removed (gallons) 

M0806 01/31/09 494,130 0 

M0806 02/01/09 414,330 0 

M0806 02/02/09 374,850 0 

M0806 02/03/09 134,400 0 

M0806 02/10/09 339,570 0 

M0806 02/11/09 738,360 0 

M0806 02/12/09 703,290 0 

M0806 02/13/09 233,100 0 

M0806 02/14/09 414,750 0 

M0806 02/15/09 231,000 0 

M0806 02/16/09 228,900 0 

M0806 02/17/09 127,890 0 

M0806 02/18/09 99,330 0 

M0806 02/19/09 178,500 0 

M0806 02/20/09 278,250 0 

M0806 02/21/09 201,600 0 

M0806 02/22/09 244,440 0 

M0806 02/23/09 216,300 0 

M0806 02/24/09 334,950 0 

M0806 02/25/09 119,700 0 

M0806 03/02/09 278,250 0 

M0806 03/03/09 476,700 0 

M0806 03/04/09 515,550 0 

M0806 03/06/09 128,100 0 

M0806 03/07/09 107,100 0 

M0806 03/09/09 16,380 0 

M0806 03/11/09 24,360 0 

M0806 03/12/09 6,552 0 

M0806 03/13/09 187,017 0 

M0806 03/14/09 195,300 0 

M0806 03/15/09 60,690 0 

M0806 03/16/09 6,300 0 

M0806 03/17/09 24,150 0 

M0806 03/18/09 27,300 0 

M0806 03/19/09 16,044 0 

M0806 03/20/09 2,730 0 

M0806 03/21/09 24,654 0 

M0806 03/22/09 16,170 0 

(cont.)
	
42 BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table C-2 (continued) . Daily water use by ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.

from lakes in the NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period. 

Liquid Water 

Volume Removed Ice Chips Volume 

Lake Name Date (gallons) Removed (gallons) 

M0806 03/24/09 136,500 0 

M0806 03/25/09 342,300 0 

M0806 03/26/09 291,900 0 

M0806 03/27/09 86,100 0 

M0806 03/28/09 102,900 0 

M0806 04/02/09 313,950 0 

M0806 04/04/09 82,950 0 

M0806 04/05/09 51,450 0 

M0806 04/08/09 166,950 0 

M0806 04/09/09 22,050 0 

M0806 04/12/09 49,350 0 

M0806 04/13/09 129,150 0 

M0806 04/16/09 2,100 0 

M0806 04/18/09 2,100 0 

M0807 01/27/09 0 158,915 

M0807 01/28/09 0 112,354 

M0807 01/29/09 0 244,446 

M0807 01/30/09 0 267,221 

M0807 01/31/09 0 190,800 

M0807 02/01/09 0 273,800 

M0807 02/02/09 0 259,629 

M0807 02/04/09 0 85,025 

M0807 02/10/09 0 329,471 

M0807 02/11/09 0 547,600 

M0807 02/12/09 0 341,111 

M0807 02/13/09 0 87,555 

M0807 02/15/09 0 101,726 

R0061 02/05/09 0 385,648 

R0061 02/06/09 0 460,551 

R0061 02/07/09 0 528,368 

R0061 02/08/09 0 596,692 

R0061 02/09/09 0 387,673 

R0061 02/10/09 0 105,775 

R0066 02/03/09 0 244,650 

R0066 02/04/09 425,670 0 

R0066 02/05/09 500,640 0 

R0066 02/06/09 633,990 0 

R0066 02/07/09 755,790 0 

(cont.)
	
BLM Open File Report 124 • July 2011 43 

Fish Habitat Management and Monitoring Related to Oil and Gas Exploration in NPR-A: 2008–2009 

Table C-2 (continued) . Daily water use by ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.

from lakes in the NPR-A during the 2008–2009 exploration period. 

Liquid Water 

Volume Removed Ice Chips Volume 

Lake Name Date (gallons) Removed (gallons) 

R0066 02/08/09 922,740 0 

R0066 02/09/09 802,410 0 

R0066 02/10/09 489,300 0