Newtok Planning Group Working together for the safe and healthy future of Newtok at Mertarvik Mertarvik, October 2019. Photo: Ukpeagvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC) The Newtok Planning Group was formed in May 2006 when representatives from state and federal agencies and non-governmental organizations began meeting with Newtok to coordinate assistance for the relocation of the community to a new village site on Nelson Island. The relocation site is called Mertarvik, which in Yup’ik means, “getting water from the spring.” The village of Newtok is threatened by advancing erosion caused by the Ninglick River adjacent to the village. This progressive erosion, in combination with permafrost degradation and flooding of the village during seasonal storms has created a serious threat to the existence of the village. Years of erosion studies have concluded that Newtok must relocate as there is no permanent and cost-effective alternative for remaining at the current village site. In 2006, Newtok Village requested the assistance of the Division of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA), within the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), with Newtok's relocation effort. DCCED is directed by two Alaska Administrative Orders ( AO 231 and AO 239) "to act as the state coordinating agency to coordinate with the other state and federal agencies to propose long-term solutions to the ongoing erosion issues in... affected coastal communities..." Consistent with this directive, DCRA organized the Newtok Planning Group (NPG) to coordinate assistance to Newtok on the relocation effort. Severe erosion of bank of the Ninglick River threatens Newtok homes, Photo: Romy Cadiente The NPG has convened regularly since its formation, working with Newtok and across agencies to leverage resources, secure funding, and to establish a framework and strategy for moving the relocation process forward. Download a list of the participants in the NPG. Through the unique partnership of the NPG, a range of initiatives, studies, and pioneer infrastructure projects has been completed or is currently underway at Mertarvik. Collaboration among Newtok and state and federal agencies has been behind the success of every project. To learn more about the relocation efforts currently underway for Newtok and the new village site, Mertarvik, please see "Relocation Activities" in the Resources Section, below. Resources A Brief History of the Settlement of Newtok and Village Relocation Efforts Newtok History Main Page Part One: The Qaluyaarmiut - People of the Dip Net Part Two: Early Efforts to Address Erosion Part Three: Progressive Erosion Brings New Problems Part Four: The Newtok Planning Group Part Five: Mertarvik - Getting Water from the Spring Part Six: References Meeting Minutes/Agendas April 25, 2022 Meeting Materials Meeting Agenda Meeting Notes + Attendees Newtok Relocation Project Manager Presentation BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Program Presentation Sign-In Sheets: In-Person and Zoom December 2, 2020 Meeting Materials Meeting Agenda Meeting Notes + Attendees Newtok Relocation Project Manager Presentation Mertarvik Relocation Master Plan Update 2019 Meeting Materials September 10, 2019 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) September 10, 2019 Meeting Presentation (.pdf) May 31, 2019 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) May 31, 2019 Meeting Presentation (.pdf) February 13, 2019 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) February 13, 2019 Meeting Presentation (.pdf) 2018 Meeting Materials October 17, 2018 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) 2017 Meeting Materials April 13, 2017 Meeting Notes (.pdf) April 13, 2017 Meeting Agenda + Handouts (.pdf) 2016 Meeting Materials May 6, 2016 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) April 11, 2016 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) February 11, 2016 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) 2015 Meeting Materials December 3, 2015 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) October 15, 2015 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) April 14, 2015 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) 2014 Meeting Materials December 5, 2014 Meeting Notes (.pdf) December 5, 2014 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) February 11, 2014 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) 2012 Meeting Materials October 15, 2012 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) April 3, 2012 Meeting Packet (.pdf) 2011 Meeting Materials October 21, 2011 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) July 7, 2011 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) February 3, 2011 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) 2010 Meeting Materials December 2, 2010 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) February 12, 2010 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) 2009 Meeting Materials May 8, 2009 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) January 9, 2009 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) 2008 Meeting Materials September 30, 2008 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) August 21, 2008 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) April 17, 2008 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) Feb 13, 2008 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) Jan 10, 2008 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) Jan 10, 2008 Meeting Notes (.pdf) 2007 Meeting Materials September 24, 2007 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) September 24, 2007 Meeting Notes (.pdf) March 29, 2007 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) May 11, 2007 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) May 11, 2007 Meeting Notes (.pdf) January 18, 2007 Scheduling Session Notes (.pdf) 2006 Meeting Materials December 11, 2006 Meeting Notes (.pdf) December 11, 2006 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) October 27, 2006 VSW Layout Meeting Notes (.pdf) September 27, 2006 Meeting Agenda (.pdf) August 17, 2006 Meeting Notes(.pdf) August 17, 2006 Meeting Agenda(.pdf) July 18, 2006 Meeting Agenda(.pdf) June 9, 2006 Meeting Notes(.pdf) June 9, 2006 Meeting Agenda(.pdf) May 25, 2006 Small Group Notes (.pdf) May 25, 2006 Denali Commission Notes(.pdf) Relocation Activities Airport Community Layout Planning Community Power/Alternative Energy Emergency Response Planning Geotechnical and Geophysical Studies Housing Innovative Readiness Training Program (IRT) Mertarvik Mertarvik Access Road Mertarvik Barge Landing and Staging Area Mertarvik Evacuation Center Mertarvik Strategic Management Plan Mertarvik Relocation Project Steering Committee NEPA Documentation Waterfront Development Water/Sewer Infrastructure Quarry Development Newtok Planning Group Documents 2015 Mertarvik Community Layout(pdf) 2015 Mertarvik Paper Plat(pdf) 2011 Mertarvik Community Layout Revision(pdf) 2008 Mertarvik Community Layout Plan(pdf) 2006 VSW Conceptual Community Layout Option 1 - Figure 1(pdf) 2006 VSW Conceptual Community Layout Option 1 - Figure 2(pdf) 2006 VSW Conceptual Community Layout Option 1 - Figure 3(pdf) 2006 VSW Conceptual Community Layout Option 1 - Figure 7(pdf) Reports and Studies 2018 Mertarvik Townsite Subdivision Plat(.pdf) 2018 Final Environmental Impact Statement - Mertarvik Infrastructure Development(.pdf) 2017 Newtok - Mertarvik Overview Booklet(.pdf) 2017 Mertarvik Community Layout and Overall Site Plan(.pdf) 2017 Village Housing Assessment for the village of Mertarvik(.pdf) 2017 Newtok-Mertarvik Relocation Energy Master Plan(.pdf) 2017 Mertarvik Housing Master Plan(.pdf) 2016 Newtok Mertarvik Multi-Purpose Building Retrofit Feasibility Study(.pdf) 2015 Newtok Environmental Site Inventory & Assessment (NESI&A) Part I: Hazardous Materials Inventory(.pdf) 2015 NESI&A Part I: Hazardous Materials Inventory - Appendices A-B(.pdf) 2015 NESI&A Part I: Hazardous Materials Inventory - Appendices C-D(.pdf) 2015 NESI&A Part I: Hazardous Materials Inventory - Appendix E(.pdf) 2015 NESI&A Part II: Assessment(.pdf) 2015 NESI&A Part II: Figure 1(.pdf) 2015 Newtok Village Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan Update(.pdf) 2015 Mertarvik Paper Plat(.pdf) 2015 Mertarvik Community Layout Plan(.pdf) 2014 Airport Layout Plan for the Newtok Airport, Mertarvik, Alaska(.pdf) 2012 Mertarvik Airport Site Selection Study (11.5 MB)(.pdf) 2012 Mertarvik Airport Site Selection Study: Appendices A - C (17.6 MB)(.pdf) 2012 Mertarvik Airport Site Selection Study: Appendices D - E (13.1 MB)(.pdf) 2012 Mertarvik Waterfront Development Study (Draft - Main Report)(.pdf) 2012 Mertarvik Waterfront Development Study Appendices A-B (Draft)(.pdf) 2012 Mertarvik Waterfront Development Study Appendix C (Draft)(.pdf) 2012 Mertarvik Waterfront Development Study Appendices D-E (Draft)(.pdf) 2012 Mertarvik Strategic Management Plan(.pdf) 2012 Mertarvik Strategic Management Plan Background Report(.pdf) 2012 Mertarvik Relocation Plan(.pdf) 2011 EA and FONSI, Innovative Readiness Training at Mertarvik, Nelson Island, Alaska(.pdf) 2011 Mertarvik Relocation Report (.pdf) 2011 Long Range Transportation Plan - Native Village of Newtok (.pdf) 2011 Quarry Field Trip Report with Rock Sample Summary (.pdf) 2011 Newtok Airport Relocation Material Site Boundaries (.pdf) 2010 Final Mertarvik Mining Plan (.pdf) 2008 July: EA and FONSI, Newtok Evacuation Center (.pdf) 2008 April: Newtok Section 117 Project Fact Sheet (.pdf) 2008 March: Newtok Local Hazards Mitigation Plan (.pdf) 2008 March: Newtok Airport Relocation Reconnaissance Study (.pdf) 2008 March: Newtok Airport Relocation Recon. Appendices (.pdf) 2008 February: Mertarvik Townsite Geotechnical Report (.pdf) 2007 October: Final Well Test, Mertarvik (.pdf) 2007 April: An Overview of Erosion, Flooding and Relocation Efforts of the Native Village of Newtok(.pdf) 2007 April: Mertarvik Geophysical Investigation (.pdf) 2007 October: Memorandum to the Co-Chairs of the Immediate Action Working Group on the Challenges to Village Relocation(.pdf) 2006 February: Newtok Preliminary Relocation Planning Activities Table (.pdf) 2006 August: Newtok Integrated Solid Waste Plan (.pdf) 2006 February/April: Preliminary Relocation Planning Analysis (.pdf) 2006 February: Newtok Relocation Planning Activities Preliminary Schedule (.pdf) 2004 April: Interim Conveyance 1876: U.S. Department of Interior to Newtok Native Corporation (.pdf) 2004 April: Newtok Exchange Map, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (.pdf) 2004 January: Background for Relocation Report (.pdf) 2003 Public Law 108-129 Alaska Native Village and the Interior Department Land Exchange (.pdf) 2002 Map entitled "Proposed Newtok Exchange" dated September, 2002 (.pdf) 2002 November: Preliminary Geotechnical Overview, Village Relocation Site (.pdf) 2001 December: Newtok Transportation Plan (.pdf) 2001 October: Newtok Land Exchange Briefing Report by the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (.pdf) 1984 February/November: Ninglick River Erosion Assessment (.pdf) Maps and Aerial Photos Newtok Community Profile Map - Area Map Newtok Community Profile Map - Sheet 1 Newtok Community Profile Map - Sheet 2 Mertarvik Area Use Map - Sheet 1 Mertarvik Area Use Map - Sheet 2 Mertarvik Area Use Map - Sheet 3 Mertarvik Area Use Map - Sheet 4 Newtok Erosion Map 2005-2007 (from Newtok IGAP Coordinator) Newton Erosion: GPS on Satellite Photo (from Newtok IGAP Coordinator) Aerial Photo of Takakchak (Mertarvik) with Inset Feature Photos Newtok Shoreline Erosion Map Map Showing Extent of September 22, 2005 Flood Newtok Airport Relocation: Nelson Island Overview Map Newtok Airport Relocation: Map of Previous Geotechnical Investigations Map of Site Alternatives for Village Relocation Mertarvik Site Visit Photos July 18, 2013 IRT VIP Site Visit 2011 Site Visit DCRA's Community Resilience Programs State and Federal Programs Section Page Community Resilience Programs Main Page Alaska Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) Program Assistance to Environmentally-Vulnerable Communities Alaska Community Coastal Protection Project Village Inter-Agency Planning Groups Newtok Planning Group Kivalina Inter-Agency Planning Group Shaktoolik Inter-Agency Planning Group Shishmaref Inter-Agency Planning Group Alaska Climate Change Impact Mitigation Program For more information contact: Sally Russell Cox Local Government Specialist 5 / State and Federal Programs Division of Community and Regional Affairs Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1650, Anchorage, AK 99501-3569 Phone (907) 269-4588 Fax (907)269-4539 Email: sally.cox@alaska.gov Revised 8/1/2024