Since its formation in May 2006, the Newtok Planning Group (NPG) has recommended and sought funding for the development of a strategic management plan to guide the community of Newtok's relocation efforts and ensure that any potential environmental impacts are minimized. In 2010, the DCRA successfully secured funding from the federal Coastal Impact Assistance Program for the creation of the Mertarvik Strategic Management Plan (SMP). In January 2011, Agnew::Beck Consulting in partnership with PDC Engineers and USKH Inc. was hired to develop the SMP. The consulting team is working closely with the Newtok Planning Group and the Newtok community to produce the SMP.

Mertarvik Strategic Management Plan Documents and Links

The primary goal of the project is to develop a Strategic Management Plan that outlines the community's vision, guiding principles, strategies, and timelines for relocation. The SMP will guide all relocation planning from a high level perspective so as to accomplish the community's vision for their new home and mitigate the potential impacts of these activities to the surrounding Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. The project's scope of work spans two phases. Phase 1 focuses on identification of issues, review of baseline data, and the production of the Preliminary Planning Report. Phase 2 focuses on the development of the guiding principles and overall framework for relocation and the production of a Strategic Management Plan.

Maligtaquyarat (Guiding Principles for Mertarvik)

On June 9, 2011, the Newtok Traditional Council unanimously passed and approved a set of guiding principles for the community's relocation to Mertarvik (click here for full resolution). It is the hope and intent that all community residents and partners working toward the relocation will respect and promote these guiding principles.