Chevak
Chevak (Cev’aq), located on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta on a bluff along the northern bank of the Ninglikfak River, is home to the Chevak Native Village, a federally recognized Tribe. The village’s 1,072 residents largely rely on subsistence practices for survival and cultural identity.
Chevak’s primary concerns are erosion of the bluff bordering the river and permafrost thaw. Erosion of the bluff is occurring at 5-10 ft per year, and severe storms can remove large swaths of land in a single event, putting critical infrastructure, including homes, a general store, powerlines, and a decommissioned bulk fuel tank farm at risk. In addition, due to its proximity to the Bering Sea, Chevak experiences high wind, flooding, and erosion associated with extreme storms, which are projected to increase in both intensity and frequency due to global warming.
After a history of relocating twice within a single generation, Chevak is focused on adaptation measures that will allow the village to protect-in-place against climate change threats and uphold the health, safety, and traditional harvest practices of the village’s residents.
