The lake is threatened by salt water contamination from disappearing sea ice, as well as oil drilling in Alpine, Alaska and by ConocoPhilipps Willow project.

[4] Fish species include broad whitefish (Coregonus nasus), Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus), Burbot (Lota lota), Arctic cisco (Coregonus autumnalis), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma), Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta).

[8] In July 2007, a study reported that the disappearance of sea ice near Teshekpuk Lake has been causing rapid erosion in the marshy, wildlife-rich area.

[citation needed] Prior to the decision, led by a coalition of environmental organizations and Alaskan Natives, U.S. citizens sent over 300,000 comments to the Secretary of Interior and the CEO of ConocoPhillips.

[citation needed] Environmentalists and the region's Iñupiat have also cited the impacts of global climate change as a reason to oppose drilling in land near Teshekpuk Lake.

[9] As Teshekpuk Lake will be affected by the ConocoPhilips Willow project, the Alaska Native corporation of the village of Nuiqsut suggested its protection in August 2022.