Decision of the Secretary Concerning a Proposed Land Exchange Between the Secretary of the Interior and King Cove Corporation Involving Lands Within Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
The Takeaway: A controversial land exchange in the remote Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Alaska is being pushed through to facilitate a road.
This action is not just about a few miles of gravel; it jeopardizes the international integrity of the NWR system, threatens critical waterfowl populations, and sets a legal precedent that could allow any Secretary of the Interior to trade away designated public wilderness.
The Hunter’s Betrayal: What Is Being Traded?
The proposed land exchange involves the Department of the Interior (DOI) trading a narrow corridor of land—some of it federally protected wilderness—within the Izembek NWR to the King Cove Corporation. In return, the King Cove Corporation would give the USFWS different land tracts outside the refuge. The purpose is to allow the community of King Cove to build a 12-mile road to the all-weather airport in Cold Bay for emergency medical access.
While the humanitarian argument is compelling, hunters should be focused on the devastating environmental and legal realities:
- The World’s Waterfowl Highway: Izembek is one of the most critical wetlands on the planet. Its eelgrass beds are a vital, irreplaceable fuel source for millions of migrating birds. Crucially, virtually the entire global population of Pacific Black Brant and a majority of Emperor Geese rely on Izembek’s sheltered lagoons to feed and rest before continuing their migration.
- The Impact: A road would slice directly through this narrow isthmus, increasing disturbance, vehicle noise, and the potential for habitat degradation and pollution in the refuge’s most sensitive areas. The result could be a catastrophic collapse of these unique waterfowl populations.
- The Dangerous Precedent: Izembek’s core wetlands have the highest level of federal protection: designated Wilderness. Allowing a non-conservation-related land swap to put a road through this level of protection effectively re-writes the rules for every national park, national forest, and NWR in the country. It sends a chilling message: If the Izembek Wilderness can be sold off for a road, what’s protecting the public land you hunt in the Lower 48?
Why You Should Be Aware (Beyond the Ducks)
This is the ultimate public land advocacy test. Hunters are stakeholders in the National Wildlife Refuge System because we are the primary funders of its operations and maintenance via the Duck Stamp and Pittman-Robertson Act funds.
| Proponent Argument | The Hunter’s Reality Check |
| “It’s for medical access.” | Multiple analyses, including some by the Army Corps of Engineers, found viable, less destructive alternatives exist, such as an all-weather hovercraft or upgraded ferry system. This is a complex land-use issue, not just a humanitarian one. |
| “The land swap is fair value.” | The value is not equal. You cannot trade a piece of irreplaceable, internationally recognized, wilderness-grade wetland for remote, non-wilderness land elsewhere without sacrificing conservation integrity. |
| “It only affects Alaska.” | The legal justification used for this swap, if upheld, can be applied to federal lands nationwide. This decision sets a low bar for future land exchanges that could prioritize special interests over conservation laws. |
Your Call to Action: Defend the Refuge System
The fight is currently in legal and administrative battles, meaning your voice is critical for showing political support for conservation.
- Support Organizations Fighting the Swap: Major hunting and conservation groups like Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, and the National Wildlife Refuge Association are actively engaged in the legal and administrative fight against this swap. Support their efforts, which protect the integrity of the system you rely on.
- Contact the Department of the Interior (DOI): Write or call the Secretary of the Interior. Clearly state that, as a dues-paying sportsman and Duck Stamp purchaser, you strongly oppose any land exchange that weakens the Wilderness designation or allows a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. Reference the need to uphold the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and the core mission of the NWR System.
- Spread the Word: This is a complex issue. Explain the precedent angle to your hunting partners. The battle is not about if King Cove should have better access, but how that access is achieved without fundamentally undermining the land protection principles that define American conservation.
Relevant Links for the Dedicated Hunter:
- Izembek NWR Background: For a full history of the area and its ecological importance, find more information on the USFWS site for “Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.“
- The Road Debate: For a non-biased overview of the legal and policy history, download the entire .pdf of the “Decision of the Secretary – Concerning a Proposed Land Exchange for Between the Secretary of the Interior and King Cove Corporation Involving Lands Within Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. “Download the Izembek Road Proposal Timeline.“
Editor’s Note: The battle for Izembek is the canary in the coal mine for public lands. We must ensure that the “irreplaceable” remains just that.