National Marine Fisheries Service
07/20/2026 | Press release | Archived content
Biological Opinion (NMFS) Federal Highways Administration KTN Ward Creek Bridge Replacement, Ketchikan, Alaska
Resources
Biological Opinion (NMFS) Federal Highways Administration KTN Ward Creek Bridge Replacement, Ketchikan, Alaska
July 20, 2026
This opinion considers the effects of removing the existing bridge and abutments, land-based blasting, in-water pile driving of steel piles, excavation and placement of fill and armor rock, construction vessel traffic, and support operations.
Document |
Alaska
NMFS Consultation Number: AKRO-2025-02946
This opinion considers the effects of removing the existing bridge and abutments, land-based blasting, in-water pile driving of steel piles (vibratory, impact, and down-the-hole), excavation and placement of fill and armor rock, construction vessel traffic, and support operations.
The action may affect threatened Mexico Distinct Population Segment humpback whale and endangered fin whale. No designated critical habitat is located within the action area.
This biological opinion is based on information provided in the April 2026, Biological Assessment (BA) submitted by the AKDOT's representative, Solstice Alaska Consulting, Inc. (Solstice) and the IHA Application and Proposed IHA (91 FR 25528, May 11, 2026). Other sources of information relied upon include consultation communications (emails and virtual meetings), recent consultations completed in the same region, previous monitoring reports, and marine mammal surveys conducted in and around Ketchikan, Alaska. A complete record of this consultation is on file at NMFS's Alaska Regional office.
Last updated by Alaska Regional Office on 08/07/2026
National Marine Fisheries Service published this content on July 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 07, 2026 at 22:02 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]