Today is a stellar day for the Arctic, especially Teshekpuk Lake. The Department of the Interior announced the final decision for the first-ever, area-wide management plan for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska will protect 11 million acres of the most important bird and wildlife habitat from oil and gas leasing. This includes 3.1 million acres surrounding Teshekpuk Lake This balanced plan allows oil and gas leasing on more than 11 million acres in other parts of the NPRA. Read Audubon President and CEO David Yarnold's statement.

(Photo: Brant pair by Peter Mickelson, US Fish & Wildlife Service)