The Immediate Action Work Group (IAWG) deals with the early assessment and development of an action plan addressing climate change impacts on coastal and other vulnerable communities in Alaska.

Members include:

• United States Army Corps of Engineers - Patricia Opheen, Co-Chair
• Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development - Mike Black, Co-Chair
• Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry - Chris Maisch
• Department of Transportation and Public Facilities - Michael Coffey
• Denali Commission - Valerie Boyd
• Alaska Municipal League - Luke Hopkins
• Alaska State Legislative Budget & Audit Committee - Bob Pawlowski
• Alaska Division of Homeland Security / Emergency Management - John Madden
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Amy Holman

Upcoming Events:

• Meeting Thursday, February 11, 1:30 - 4:30 pm, at the Anchorage Marriott Downtown, 820 W. 7th Avenue, in the Kenai / Denali Room.
  • agenda
  • 15JAN10 draft meeting summary

IAWG Reports and Related Publications:

• IAWG 2009 Final Recommendations Report, 12MAR09 (2.21 MB)
• IAWG 2008 Final Recommendations Report, 17APR08 (1.04 MB)
• Decision Making for at-risk Communities in a Changing Climate, prepared by the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment & Policy (367 kb)
• Baseline Erosion Assessment by the US Army Corps of Engineers (2.24 MB)
• Alaska Native Villages: Limited Progress Has Been Made on Relocating Villages Threatened by Flooding and Erosion, GAO Report, 3JUN09
• Senate Committee Hearing depositions:
  • Alaska Native Village Erosion, U.S. Senate, Special Committee on Appropriations, 29JUN09 (1.95 MB)
  • The State and Federal Response to Storm Damage and Erosion in Alaska's Coastal Villages, U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, 11OCT07

Communities Impacted by Climate Change

The six Communities listed below were determined by the Immediate Action Work Group to be the most seriously affected by climate change. A future webpage will provide details about each community; for now, the community name is linked to their relocation website, if one is available.