Kuluk Bay

The history of Kuluk Bay extends as far back as Russian imperial expansion into Alaska; the name of the bay comes from a 1936 transliteration of the Aleut name for the bay, first recorded by Captain Tebenkov of the Russian Imperial Navy in 1852.^[1][7]

Among other locations on Adak Island, Kuluk Bay has a relatively substantial history in Pacific War action by the United States during WWII. One such example is the WWII airfield along Kuluk bay whereupon, in 1942, fighter planes often landed to protect against the possibility of a Japanese offensive.^[8] Various locations on Adak Island, including Kuluk Bay, were fortified during the Second World War. At Kuluk Bay There existed a Gun Battery^[9] and other large gun emplacements, which used 155mm shells and had a range of 17 miles. These emplacements not only served to protect the bay, but also Adak Harbor to the South.^[10]

During 1942, many US military missions also took place at Adak Island, at least three of which took place at Kuluk Bay. On August 30, an American Army operation took place in order to build Adak airfield which ran along Kuluk Bay; On September 2, an 11th Air Force escorted reconnaissance mission took place over Kuluk Bay; finally, On September 3, after bombing Kiska Island, the group of 11th Air Force Bombers and Fighters flew to provide air cover over the bay, however 7 aircraft aborted due to inclement weather conditions.^[11]

As a part of a large scale MEC (Munitions and Explosives of Concern) investigation on Adak Island from 1996 to 1999, the shoreline of Kuluk Bay was investigated for the presence of WWII and Cold War era land mines. During the investigative process. The region about the settlement of Adak was divided into three regions of priority, the area along Kuluk Bay was investigated as a part of the priority three region. Following the main, six phased investigation of the priority three area, a potential minefield located along Kuluk bay, where six active gun emplacements existed, was searched. Ultimately 89 anomalies were excavated in the beach area, three of which were discovered to be MEC items.^[12]

Prior to its completion in 2003, the Sea-based X-band radar (SBX 1), a missile defense radar system, was planned to be located in Kuluk bay.^[13][14] The SBX was developed for the United States by Boeing, with Boeing subcontractor, Manson Construction, responsible for creating the Sea-Based radar mooring site Kuluk Bay. Large anchors and other components were placed in the bay using cranes, barges, and tugs. The mooring site was reportedly completed three weeks in advance to the deadline.^[15] In preparation for the SBX, roughly 26 million dollars in underwater rigging was prepared in the summer of 2007 in Kuluk Bay. The rigging consisted of steel chains connected between eight 75-ton anchors fixed beneath the bay.^[13][15] Despite its supposed positive economic implications for Adak, as of 2010, the SBX was not located anywhere near Adak Island nor did there exist plans to relocate it to Kuluk Bay.^[13]

In preparation for the SBX, a US army restricted area within a radius of 1000 yards about the Sea Based radar mooring site was outlined within the bay. This army restricted area was established in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 33-Navigation and Navigable Waters, part 334. Section 334.1325 as of November 23, 2007.^[6][13] This restricted area was proposed in July 2007 by the US Army Corps of engineers in anticipation of potential movement of the SBX into Kuluk Bay per the Missile Defense Agency. The restriction was intended to better secure the SBX, its crew, and other vessels transiting the area.^[13][14][16]

From 1999 through 2011, the United States Navy has sampled polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels in both Kuluk Bay, and sweeper cove within Kuluk Bay. The sampling references a type of fish, rock sole, and a type of shellfish, blue mussel, in order to measure the reflected environmental levels of PCBs within the area.^[17]

The sampling of PCB levels took place as a part of the Superfund law (CERCLA). Rock sole and blue mussel were chosen because they are common and readily available sources of seafood on Adak Island. After testing, both rock sole and blue mussel were found to contain relatively high amounts of PCBs. As a result, an advisory to limit consumption of either species from Sweeper Cove or Kuluk bay went into effect. After initially monitoring PCB levels for 5 years, in 2003 a decision was made by the United States Navy to monitor PCB levels every other year until 2009; this date was extended to 2011 and then again to 2013 after further samples were collected and examined. As of February 2012, following cleanup of potential contaminants, facilitated by the US Navy, PCB contamination was expected to decrease slowly with time.^[17]

Throughout the documented course of study, average levels of PCBs were shown to decrease gradually from their initial high in 1999; however as of 2012 had not decreased below the benchmark maximum concentration of 6.5 ppb (parts per billion) of PCBs. The study also noted that PCB levels were highest in Kuluk bay's sweeper cove, near which contaminants existed with relative proximity.^[17]

As of September 2019, the US Navy was considering resuming operations and exercises in Kuluk Bay. Recent operations in Kuluk bay are a part of a resurgence in military activity in the Aleutian Islands for the first time in more than 30 years. These new military exercises are designed to test arctic and cold-climate capabilities of the US Navy. Adak Island once was the site of an active military base with roughly 6,000 service members and families, now with a trend of rising sea levels and average temperature, the arctic is becoming more easily navigable, and Kuluk Bay is again being considered for naval and other military activity.^[18]