A 1949 drill site in the Naval Petroleum Reserve Number 4, Alaska, the Fish Creek Test Well 1, was examined in August 1977 to determine the disturbance caused by drilling activities and to analyze the response and recover of the vegetation, soils, permafrost, and surficial materials to that distrubance. The site, abandoned in 1949, is located along Camp Creek, a tributary to Fish Creek located 28 km. south of Atigaru Point and west of Nuiqsut.

Following the discovery of large petroleum reserves in northern Alaska, the US Department of Energy implemented an integrated field and modeling study to help define potential impacts of energy-related disturbances on tundra ecosystems. This volume presents the major findings from this study, ranging from ecosystem physiology and biogeochemistry to landscape models that quantify the impact of road-building. An important resource for researchers and students interested in arctic ecology, as well as for environmental managers concerned with practical issues of disturbances.