It stings as wind-driven snow, soaks as gentle rain and penetrates as thick fog. It piles up in fields of ice, fed by springs and river overflows during winter. In spring, its sparkling drops gather to flood the river corridors, washing gravel bars and nourishing plants. During summer, it courses through rivers and streams, the veins and arteries of the Refuge. Finally it reaches the coast, enriching the ocean with its load of minerals.
Water is the lifeblood of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Ensuring water quality and quantity for fish and wildlife resources is one of the purposes of the Refuge. But water quantity is limited, especially on the coastal plain - technically a very dry area. Less than five inches of precipitation falls there each year. In addition, compared to areas west, where surface water is plentiful, the coastal plain has few lakes, and they are shallow and unevenly distributed. Most of the water available in summer comes from spring snowmelt.