Seven major river drainages and about 100 smaller streams and tributaries provide critical freshwater habitat for six species of Pacific salmon (Chinook, chum, coho, pink sockeye, steelhead), rainbow trout, Arctic char and Dolly Varden along with salmon-feeding wildlife, such as Kodiak brown bear, red fox, river otter, and bald eagle.

Wetlands abound. The refuge has more than 800 miles of convoluted coastline and tidal zones, seven major watersheds, 11 large lakes, and many estuaries, shallow marshes, bogs, salt flats, and meadows.

Wet tundra with numerous potholes and rolling mountains characterize the southwestern portion of the refuge. This area, known as a refugium, remained ice-free during the last glaciation and allowed hardy species of plants and animals to survive. On drier sites crowberry heathland dominates upland vegetation cover.

The northern portion of the refuge on Kodiak Island is comprised of rugged mountains, alpine tundra, and heavy brush. Mountains in this area still harbor small, residual cirque glaciers. The tallest mountain on the island, 4,400-foot Koniag Peak, lies within the refuge.

The interior of the refuge is covered by dense vegetation. Fireweed and wild parsnip grow to five or six feet often mixed with salmonberry and rosebushes. Dense thickets of willow, alder and elderberry abound.

On Afognak and Ban Islands, Sitka spruce forest is prevalent cover in lowlands and lower mountain slopes. Larger trees reach 150 feet in height.

A maritime climate maintains relatively temperate, wet conditions. Average high temperatures at sea level vary seasonally from the 30’s in January to the 60’s in July. In contrast, monthly rainfall totals, averaging 4 to 6 inches in Kodiak, show little seasonal variation. Some lowlands along the east side of Kodiak Island receive more than twice the amount of total annual rainfall as lowlands along the island’s westside due to storm travel patterns coupled with the rain shadow effect of mountains. Some mountains receive substantial snowfall and small glaciers ring the shadowed sides of tallest peaks