The powerful remnants of Typhoon Merbok pounded Alaska’s western coast on Sept. 17, 2022, pushing homes off their foundations and tearing apart protective berms as water flooded communities. Storms aren’t unusual here, but Merbok built up over unusually warm water. Its waves reached 50 feet over the Bering Sea, and its storm surge sent water levels into communities at near record highs along with near hurricane-force winds.

Storms can bring a bounty to the beach - driftwood sometimes or in this case, clams! But be careful out there. There are new concerns about emerging levels of harmful algae in Western Alaska waters, which could impact shellfish and human health.

There were a plenty of what appeared to be juvenile dead stickle back fish on the top of the embankment of a few ponds.

Hundreds of northern lampfish were observed on Nahku Bay beach. The last die-off occurred in March 2011.

2/20/15 Needle fish die-off - Kongiganak, Alaska, USA