THE EFFECTS OF THE ENDICOTT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ON THE BOULDER PATCH,AN ARCTIC KELP COMMUNITY IN STEFANSSON SOUND, ALASKA

The Boulder Patch in Stefansson Sound, Beaufort Sea, of Alaska harbors a diverse arctic kelp community in areas where rock cover exceeds 10% . In 1985, the Endicott Development Project, the first major offshore oil development in the Alaskan Arctic, was constructed shoreward of th is community at the mouth of the Sagavanirktok River. A 7-year study w as conducted to determine the effects of the development on kelp healt h and growth and taxa diversity of the overall community. No adverse e ffects were detected. The regional patterns of sediment transport serv ed to protect the community from development-derived sediment loadings and discharges. Sediment transport patterns likely also contribute to the unusual presence of this community in the sound.