In fall, these migrating birds use the lagoons as feeding and staging areas. Shifting sea ice, ocean currents, and waves continue to form spits and lagoons possessing important scientific, cultural, and scenic values. Along the outer beaches, Alaska Natives still hunt marine mammals. Local rural residents are allowed to hunt in the Monument. A road to the Red Dog mine crosses the northern boundary.
Trucks haul zinc from open pit mines to a tidewater port.
Cominco Alaska operates the mine, along with the NANA Regional Corp., a Native corporation based in Kotzebue.