Permafrost Degradation Assessment

Unalakleet, a native village on Alaska’s west coast, is the 8th most at-risk community in the state due to climate change. The village faces severe challenges from permafrost degradation and increased flooding, both of which are exacerbated by a rapidly warming climate. These changes have led to widespread damage to critical infrastructure—such as buildings, roads, and utility systems—and have limited access to traditional hunting grounds, threatening the community’s way of life and food security.
In response, Unalakleet is actively pursuing relocation inland. As part of this effort, we are partnering with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to support the relocation planning process. This work focuses on analyzing permafrost degradation and drainage patterns to inform sustainable, resilient site development for the new village location.