Biodiversity

Biodiversity, to me, means the many varied types of biota that live on our planet.  Biologic diversity encompasses mammals, reptiles and amphibians, fish, plants, bacteria and viruses.  Biodiversity includes microscopic soil biota, recently found to communicate with the trees and each other and microscopic aquatic biota.  The Chena River Area is burgeoning with life. there are many kinds of mammals, birds, and beautiful trees and flowers.  We don't see many reptiles because of the cold but the fish handle it just fine.  Many formerly endangered birds nest here. 

The Sandhill Cranes have returned to breed and build nests in the floodplain. Theses birds have wingspan of over 6 feet long have very distinctive call. These birds use the Pacific Flyway and winter from Oregon to California. The seagulls at the Chena Lakes Recreation area are nesting, the seagulls are very protective and aggressive of their nest and will dive bomb visitors if they get too close to their nests.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, (ADFG) has recently stocked trout at several of ponds the and lakes at the project. Northern Pike season opened June 1st many anglers have caught some large pike from the surrounding lakes.  Fishing is restricted for Northern Pike after the ice melts (they say ice out here) because they will eat anything and can easily be over harvested. I encourage anglers to practice catch and release when encounter them on patrol.