St. Lawrence Island, AlaskaGambell SitesGIS-BASED HISTORICAL TIME SEQUENCE ANALYSIS(HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS)PRODUCED BY THEUSACE ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERTOPOGRAPHIC ENGINEERING CENTERSeptember 2000FinalF10AK0696--_01.04_0504_a200-1eUS Army Corps of EngineersSt. Lawrence Island, AlaskaGambell SitesGIS-BASED HISTORICAL TIME SEQUENCE ANALYSIS(HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS)PRODUCED BY THEUSACE ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERTOPOGRAPHIC ENGINEERING CENTERSeptember 2000FinalUS Army Corps of EngineersGambell, AK - Site LocationsSite 8St. Lawrence Islandmap by Montgomery Watson, 2/3/97Army ActivityAir Force ActivityUS Army Corps of Engineers3Gambell, AK3-D PERSPECTIVE VIEWVILLAGE OFGAMBELL1955 AERIAL OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHUS Army Corps of Engineers4Gambell, AK - General Study AreaGambellSevuokuk Mtn.TroutmanLakeNayvaghaqLake1984 Image MosaicUS Army Corps of Engineers5Gambell, AK - Objectives & BackgroundOBJECTIVES:• Analyze a series of historic aerial photographs, historical maps, and ancillary data/documents for the 2,542 acre area weshall refer to as the Gambell Sites.• Determine if there are features on these photos that could be indicative of possible burial and/or areas of general grounddisturbance and/or possible historical, cultural features. These features may be potential areas of interest for possible HTRWdisposal and/or conventional ordnance disposal, requiring further site investigation.• Map the location of historical features of interest onto a current aerial photo base produced for the site.BACKGROUND:• Some of the features identified represent new or refined data found during the Topographic Engineering Center’s (TEC’s)analysis of historical aerial photography and therefore are meant to be used in addition to the data found in previousinvestigations and the Archive Search Report. Some information used in this report was provided by USACE Huntsville andUSACE Alaska District.• Data is presented in Geographic Information System (GIS) form and additional information for features is provided onthe CDROM. ArcView is the common GIS display mechanism, though .dxf files are provided in addition to the arccoverages.US Army Corps of Engineers6Gambell, AKINTRODUCTIONMETHODOLOGYThis report presents the results of a historical aerial photographic analysis (GIS-basedhistorical time-sequence analysis) for an area known as the Gambell Sites located onSaint Lawrence Island in the state of Alaska. This study was compiled for the U.S.Army Engineering & Support Center, Huntsville, Alabama by the United States ArmyEngineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Topographic EngineeringCenter’s (TEC) Operations Division (CEERD-TO), located in Alexandria, Virginia.In preparation for this report, research was conducted for historicalaerial photography (AP), maps and some textual information.Information and photography were gathered from the NationalArchives and Records Administration (NARA) in College Park,Maryland and other sources. The analysis was primarily based uponthe interpretation of black and white AP over the project area,spanning the years 1948 through 1994. Stereo-paired aerialphotographs were analyzed for 1948, 1955, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1984,1985, and 1994. Orthophoto base maps was produced using 1984color infrared AP and 1994 true-color AP.The Terrain Analysis Branch (TAB) of the Operations Division was tasked to searchfor and collect historical photographic records and map data relevant to the Gambellarea. The objective of this study was to locate any sites that may be of interest forfurther investigation. These sites may be linked to buried waste or equipmentand/or ordnance and explosives (OE) activities. OD was asked to map any suchsites identified on the historical aerial photography (AP). For the purposes of thisstudy, the entire Northwest Cape peninsula was examined south to a line where thesand spit terminates on the western coast.SITE LOCATION and HISTORYThe study area for the Gambell Sites is located on Northwest Cape, St. LawrenceIsland, in the Bering Sea. It is 36 miles from the Chukotsk Peninsula, Siberia, and 200miles southwest of Nome, Alaska.The Gambell Sites were established in the 1950s as part of the surveillance andintelligence-gathering network of the military. Seven individual leases were initiatedby the DoD in this area. The first lease agreement was implimented in September1950, and the final lease was terminated in September 1973. Various units of the U.S.Army and the U.S. Air Force utilized the area. Prior to lease terminations, all DoDowned material was demolished and/or buried on site.The Air Force established an installation in September of 1950 with a lease consistingof 1,580 acres. A base camp was built on the western base of Sevuokuk Mountain anda radar site was built directly above this camp on the mountain top. The Air Forceabandoned this site in 1956, though the lease ran until September of 1962. The Armyoccupied several sites from 1954 through 1963, with a main base camp located justnorth of Troutman Lake. The Navy laid communication cables from the village ofGambell up Sevuokuk Mountain and across to Dovelawik Bay and then south toBrunnell Cape. A final lease by the Gambell National Guard was terminated inSeptember of 1973. The military presence was essentially gone by the late 1970s.US Army Corps of EngineersStereoscopic viewing was performed on the collection of historicalphotos. Film and paper based aerial photo material were used in theanalysis. Features assessed as possible sites of interest were identifiedand labeled. Photos with these features of concern were scanned on ahigh-resolution scanner at 200 to 600 DPI resolution in TIF format. Thehistorical aerial photos were rectified to the 1984 digital orthophoto.All of the identified historical features were digitized on theirrespective rectified image. These features could then be placed ontothe current 1984 and 1994 orthophotos as vector overlays.The image rectification was accomplished using ERDAS IMAGINE 8.3software. Vector layers were generated using ArcView 3.2 software.Shape files were created. The digital data was transferred to a CD-ROM.The digital orthophoto and rectified aerial photos are in tagged image fileformat (TIF) with an associated “world file” or .tfw file. The tfw filecontains the pixel size, and upper left geographic coordinate for theimage file.The orthophoto, rectified photos and corresponding vector layersare georeferenced to the Alaska State Plane (Zone 9), NAD83(datum), and GRS 1980 (spheroid) Zone #6301. Units are in feet.SUMMARY OF FINDINGSThe review of maps and photos for the site reveal numerous changes inthe area over time. Features mapped for the area include pits, disturbedground, possible trenches, and some possible mounded material. Manyof the features occur in burial areas identified in previous studies.A digital version of this report is on CD-ROM media. The CD-ROMalso contains the historical features in vector layers (for use in a GISsystem).7Gambell, AKDocuments ReviewedDocuments ReviewedAlaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Site Summary Update – Saint Lawrence Island.December 1999.Alaska Department of Highways, Mapping Section, City of Gambell, Alaska, Map, Scale 1:3,000, 1973.Alaska Historical Commission studies in history, Anchorage; no. 174, Notes to the historical photographsof Saint Lawrence Island, June 1985.Army Magazine, “The Rock,” May 1984.Bandi, H. G., Preliminary Report on the “St. Lawrence Island Archeological Field Project 1967” of theUniversity of Berne/Switzerland and the University of Alaska. 1967.Beikman, H. M., USGS, Geologic Map of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, Map, Scale 1:250,000, 1980.Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites (DERP FUDS), “Findingsand Determination of Eligibility (FDE), St. Lawrence Defense Area, Alaska,” July 1985.Ecology and Environment, Inc. (E & E), 1992, Site Inventory Report, Gambell Formerly Used DefenseSite, St. Lawrence Island, AK. December 1992.Holmes, C.E. and R.O. Stern, Fairbanks: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, CulturalResources Survey: Gambell Evacuation Route, St. Lawrence Island, February 1983.Masters, P.M. and Zimmerman, M.R., “Age Determination of an Alaskan Mummy: Morphological andBiochemical Correlation.” Science, Vol. 201, 1 September 1978.Staley, David P., (Environment and Natural Resources Institute, University of Alaska, Anchorage.Archeological Work Plan for 1992 Construction Projects in Gambell, Alaska. April 1992.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, Archives Search Report – Findings for the FormerGambell Site. Revised March 1998.U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska, Final Phase II Remedial Investigation, Gambell, AK. December1998.U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Gambell – Its History, Population, and Economy.January 1977.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region X, Site Inspection Report – St. Lawrence Island – City ofGambell, Alaska, September 1994.U.S. National Archives. Multiple still photographs. July 1972, July 1960, 1959, 1953, 1955.USGS, St. Lawrence, Alaska, Map, Scale 1:250,000. 1948.US Army Corps of Engineers8Gambell, AK - Aerial PhotographyNOTE: FOR CERTAINYEARS ONLYPARTIAL COVERABEWAS AVAILABLEUS Army Corps of EngineersDATETYPESCALEAugust 24, 1948Black and White1:21,000September 15, 1955Black and White1:10,000September 15, 1955Black and WhiteobliquesJanuary 15,1958Black and White1:6,000July 4, 1972Black and White1:1,500July 4, 1972Black and White1:3,000October 30, 1973Black and White1:3,000July 19, 1980Black and WhiteobliquesAugust 19, 1980Black and White1:6,000August 19, 1980Black and White1:24,000October 22, 1985Black and White1:6,000October 22, 1985Black and White1:18,000July 19, 1984Color Infra-red1:65,000July 12, 1994True ColorobliquesAugust 12, 1994True Color1:10,000 Orthophoto base mapOrthophoto base map9Gambell, AK - Aerial Photography19481955Aerial PhotographicCoverage ExtentbyYear1958197219731980198419851994US Army Corps of Engineers10Gambell, AK - Span of AnalysisChange DetectionThrough TimeCaptured Features:Disturbed GroundTrenchesPitsMounded MaterialDepressionsBuildings of InterestCultural Features ofInterest1948 Aerial Photo1984 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers11Gambell, AK - Archeological SitesSEKLOWGHYAGET SITEIEVOGHIYOQ SITEMIYOWAGH SITEANDHILLSIDE SITEMERUWTU POINTUS Army Corps of EngineersLocations Approximate12Gambell, AK - Pre-DOD FeaturesBuilding Footprintsof former structures1948 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHFeatures of InterestCleared area for runway1994 AERIAL PHOTO WITH 1948 FEATURESUS Army Corps of Engineers13Gambell, AK - Features of InterestSep 1953 North Beach, GambellVillage of GambellUS Army Corps of Engineers1953 Army Site from Mtn.1953 View of North Beach from Mtn.1959 North Beach and Sevuokuk Mtn.Ancient Village Site14Gambell, AK - DOD Leased TimelineDOD ComponentCommentsTimelineAir ForceAircraft Control and WarningSep 1950 - Sep 1962AIR FORCEUSEARMY USE19501953ArmyGambell Army Site No. 1Oct 1954 - Sep 1963ArmyGambell Army Site No. 2Jan 1955 - May 1958ArmySt. Lawrence Island Army SiteJan 1956 - Dec 1963ArmyGambell National Guard SiteMar 1962 - Sep 1973ArmyGambell Army StationNov 1963 - Dec 1963Air ForceGambell Communications AnnexJun 1960 - Sep 1962US Army Corps of Engineers1963196215Gambell, AK - DOD Leased AreasArchives Search Report 1998Plate 2US Army Corps of EngineersArchives Search Report 1998Plate 316Gambell Sites, AKSTUDY AREAS2113STUDY AREA 1US Army Corps of Engineers17Gambell, AK - STUDY AREA 1Air Force 1960 - 1962Army 54 -62DOD LeasedPropertyArmy Nov - Dec 631Army1958 - 1963Army1963 - 1963Air Force 1950 - 1962Army 1953 - 1962US Army Corps of Engineers1984 OrthophotoBase Map18Gambell, AK Installations in Northern AreaAir Force Radar SiteArmy and Air ForceInstallations in 1955Air Force CampTramway SiteGeneral Locations inNorthern AreaTroutmanLakeVillage of GambellArmy InstallationN1955 Oblique Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers19Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1Disturbed GroundFeature of Interest for ReferenceFeatures Identified from1955 Aerial PhotosPits and TrenchesTroutman Lake1955 Aerial Photo and FeaturesUS Army Corps of Engineers20Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1PitsDepression1984 Aerial PhotoDisturbed GroundFeatures Identified from1973 Aerial Photos1973 Aerial Photo and FeaturesUS Army Corps of Engineers21Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1Note: the 1973 Depression nolonger apparent in 1980 and1994 aerial photosTroutman Lake1980 Aerial Photo1955 and 1973 Identified Features onmore current Aerial Photos1994 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers22Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1Navy Station(Vacant in 1980)as per Dept. ofHighways MapHigh SchoolPanning to theEastfrom theprevious slideareaTroutman Lake1980 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers23Gambell Sites, AK - Army Installation 1955NFeatures ofPossibleConcern1955ObliqueAerialPhotoArmy FacilityPossible AmmoFacilityTrenchStacks of drumsIdentified as MilitaryLandfill in SiteInvestigation ReportOutdoor StoragePossible PitUS Army Corps of Engineers24Gambell Sites, AK - Army Installation 1955Troutman LakeNArmy FacilityStacks of drumsOutdoor StoragePossible AmmoFacility/Quonset HutPossible PitIdentified asMilitary Landfillin SiteInvestigationReportUS Army Corps of EngineersNote: Trench25Gambell Sites, AK - Army Installation 1955Possible AmmoFacilityArmy Facility Northof Troutman Lakewith Detail of PossibleAmmo FacilityUS Army Corps of Engineers26Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1Rows of DrumsArmy Facilityin 1953Troutman LakeLooking tothe SoutheastSeptember1953ObliqueAerial PhotoLumberStacksSeptember 1953US Army Corps of Engineers27Gambell Sites, AK - Army Installation 1955Stacks of DrumsNote: Trench1955 Aerial ObliqueNote: QuonsetHut Building/Berm1955 Building Footprints1955 Features on 1994 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers28Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1DrumsDisturbedGroundTrenchPitTrench1994 Aerial PhotoPitFeatures Identified from1955 Aerial PhotographyTrenches1955 Building Footprints of1955 Building FootprintsArmy Facility1994 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers29Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1Army Installation 1953 - North of Troutman Lake1953ObliquePhotoPossible Debris BurialSite/Disturbed GroundDrums MarkingPathwayUS Army Corps of Engineers30Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1Approximate Locationon 1994 Aerial Photo1953 Oblique PhotoPossible DebrisBurial Featurefound only on1953 ObliquePhotoNote: ASR Army Site #11954 - 1962Pits1994 Aerial Photo With 1955 Identified FeaturesUS Army Corps of Engineers31Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1Possible PitFeature1955 AerialOblique PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers32Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1PitTrench1973 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers33Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 11973 Trench and Pits1973 Trench and Pits1973 Trench and Pits1973 Aerial Photo1980 Aerial PhotoPit Feature LocationUS Army Corps of Engineers1994 Aerial Photo34Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 11955 DisturbedGroundNorth BeachNorth BeachDisturbed Ground1955 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers1955 Feature on 1994 Aerial Photo35Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 11980 Identified FeaturesDepressionsDepressionsTrenchesTrenches1980 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of EngineersTrenchesTrenches1980 Features on 1994 Aerial Photo36Gambell Sites, AK - RUNWAY AREA1994 Aerial Photo with Mounded MaterialIdentified from 1972 Aerial PhotoMounded Material and LeakingDrum Stack Found near RunwayEvident in 1972 Aerial PhotosUS Army Corps of Engineers37Gambell Sites, AK - July 1960 Ground PhotosNote Drums nearVillage of GambellJuly 1960US Army Corps of EngineersPossible Photo LocationNote Drums nearVillage of GambellJuly 196038Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 22213STUDY AREA 2US Army Corps of Engineers39Gambell Sites, AK1953 - Ground PhotosArmy Landing Area Supply ShipDisposal Site ?Stacked Drums1953 North BeachUS Army Corps of EngineersHandling of Drums 1953 - North Beach40Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 2U.S. Air Force Installation “Camp” - July 1952US Army Corps of Engineers41Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 2Air Force Installation at Base of Sevuokuk MountainJuly 1952Looking EastBerm Surrounding EquipmentJuly 1952US Army Corps of Engineers42Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 2Air ForceInstallationAreaNote: Yellow Rectangleindicates approximatelocation of Air ForceInstallationDisturbed GroundDepressions(Military Housing/Operations)1980 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers43Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 2Depressions and Disturbed ground from 1980 Aerial PhotosJuly 1952DisturbedGroundDepressionsFormer Communications Facility Burial AreaFormer Military (AF) Housing/OperationsBurial AreaDisturbed GroundIdentified as BurialAreas on Fig. 2-2 ofSite InvestigationReportOrdnance Burial SiteUS Army Corps of EngineersFigure 2-2 of SI Report44Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 2Disturbed GroundIdentified from1980 AerialPhotographyDetails from Figure 2-2 of Site Investigation ReportUS Army Corps of Engineers45Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 2Quonset HutDetailJuly 19601948 Aerial PhotoTop ofSevoukukMountainUS Army Corps of EngineersTramway DetailDecember 5, 195346Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 2Disturbed Ground and Quonset “Footprints”1980AerialPhotoBuilding FootprintRemnants Found on1980 AerialPhotographyJuly 1960 PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers47Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 21980AerialPhotoDisturbed Groundfound at possible siteof Upper TramwayStationDecember 519531980 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers48Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 32South ofTroutman Lake133STUDY AREA 3US Army Corps of Engineers49Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 3Troutman LakeTroutman LakeBuildingsand PitIdentified as Former RadarPower Station area in Table 2-1of SI Report1955 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers1955 Features on 1994 Aerial Photo50Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 3As per Plate 2 ofArchives SearchReport, Leased byArmy Jan ‘55 to May‘58Troutman Lake1955 Aerial PhotoTroutman LakeDisturbed Ground andPossible StackedOutdoor Storage ofsome kind1955 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers19941955 Features on1994 Aerial Photo51Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 3As per Plate 2 ofArchives SearchReport, Leased byArmy Jan ‘55 to May‘58Troutman LakeTroutman LakeArmy1972 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of EngineersGround Disturbance NotIdentified until 1972Timeframe with AerialPhotos1972 GroundDisturbance on 1994Aerial Photo52Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 3As per Plate 2 ofArchives SearchReport, Leased byArmy Jan ‘55 to May‘581980 AerialPhoto1980 Disturbed Ground featuresoverlaid upon SI Report Figure 2-2Note: # 12 = Lake Disposal Site (SI Report)US Army Corps of Engineers1980 Disturbed Ground on 1984Air Photo Base Map53Gambell Sites, AKGambell Sites, AlaskaSummary of FindingsUS Army Corps of EngineersGambell Sites, AK - Study Area 1Possible DisturbedGround Identifiedon 1955 AerialPhotos1994 AerialPhotographyAs per Site Investigation Report Previously identified Military LandfillsAdditional QuonsetHut and Bermidentified from 1955Aerial ObliquesUS Army Corps of EngineersPossibleDepressions andPits identified on1980 Aerial PhotosPossible1953/55/73Trenches,DisturbedGround, andDepressions(approximate)55Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1Historic Featureson 1994 Aerial PhotoBase Map1994 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers56Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 1Historic featureson 1994 Aerial PhotoBase Map1994 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers57Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 2Previous Location ofAir Force RadarFacilityPrevious Locationof Air ForceCamp FacilitySevuokuk Mtn.Previous Location ofQuonset Hut FacilityPrevious Location ofTop of Tramway1980 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers58Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 2Base of Sevuokuk MountainTop of Sevuokuk MountainDisturbed GroundDepressions andDisturbed groundPrevious Location ofAir Force RadarFacility1980 Aerial PhotoApproximate Location ofFormer Air ForceFacilityBuilding footprints found on1980 Aerial PhotosUS Army Corps of EngineersPrevious Location ofAir Force QuonsetHut Facility1980 Aerial Photo59Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 3Troutman LakeDisturbed Ground andOutdoor Storage wereID’d from 1955 AerialPhotosNayvaghaqLakeBuildings and Pit wereID’d from 1955 AerialPhotos1994 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers60Gambell Sites, AK - STUDY AREA 3Disturbed Ground andStacked Storage foundon 1955 AerialPhotographyBuildings foundon 1955 AerialPhotographyTroutman LakeNayvaghaq LakePitDisturbedGround foundon 1972 AerialPhotography1994 Aerial PhotoUS Army Corps of Engineers61Gambell Sites, AKPROJECT POCs:Joseph HarrisonCOMM 703.428.6026jfharris@tec.army.milJohn WilderCOMM 703.428.8006jwilder@tec.army.milUS Army Corps of Engineers