Port Lions is located in Settler Cove, on the north coast of Kodiak Island, 247 air miles southwest of Anchorage. The town was founded in 1964 by the displaced inhabitants of Afognak, which was destroyed by tsunamis after the Good Friday Earthquake. The community was named in honor of the Lions Club, for their support in rebuilding and relocating the village. For many years, Port Lions was the site of the large Wakefield Cannery, on Peregrebni Point. The cannery burned down in March 1975. Soon thereafter, the village corporation purchased a 149-foot floating processor, the Smokwa. Although sold in 1978, the Smokwa processed crab in the area intermittently between 1975 and 1980. A small sawmill, located south of town, operated until 1976. The majority of the population are Sugpiaq Eskimos. Most residents lead a fishing and subsistence lifestyle. The economy of Port Lions is based primarily on commercial fishing, fish processing and tourism. 18 residents hold commercial fishing permits. All of the residents depend to some extent on subsistence activities for food sources, such as salmon, crab, halibut, shrimp, clams, duck, seal, deer and rabbit. Port Lions is accessible by air and water. There is a State-owned 2,600' gravel airstrip, and the city dock may be used by seaplanes. Regular and charter flights are available from Kodiak. The boat harbor with breakwater and dock provide 82 boat slips. The State Ferry operates bi-monthly from Kodiak between May and October. Barge service is available from Seattle. The climate of the Kodiak Islands is dominated by a strong marine influence. There is little or no freezing weather, moderate precipitation, and frequent cloud cover and fog. Severe storms are common from December through February. Annual precipitation is 54 inches, with 75 inches of snowfall. Temperatures remain within a narrow range, from 20 to 60. The community system was built by the BIA and Indian Health Service in 1965. Over 95% of residences are connected to the City's piped water and sewer systems and have complete plumbing. The Branchwater Creek Reservoir provides water, which is treated and stored in a 125,000-gallon tank. The existing dam is weakening; funding has been provided to make repairs. A local priority is to construct a new 500,000-gal. dam on the Creek. A new landfill site has been prepared. One-third of the homes in Port Lions are used only seasonally.