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Home My WebLink AboutAPA3492TK. ]425 . 8 A23 no.3492 OCT 1 --'['11./:7.<; !S 8 1\2..3 lI\.O •-:s tfti (. -I Colonel Charles A.Debe1ius District Engineer Alaska District Corps of Engineers PO Box 7002 Anchorage,Alaska 99510 Dear Colonel Debelius: r I In response to your letter of March 10,1975,this is our detailed report on portions of 'the Susitna River hydroelectric projects associated with the Southcentra1 Railbelt Area investigation.This report has been prepared in accordance with the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act,48 Stat.401,as amended:16 U.S.C.661 et seq., and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L.90-190;83 Stat.652-856).This report is limited to the selected two-dam plan,i.e.,Devil Canyon and Watana Damsites on the Susitna River. Th~.JHm.a:U daJRsite wa.s.de1eted fQ1'several reasons,e.g.,gn1:icipated severe enviro nta1 rob1ems,and the late p1anningscned e (1995). 'ur er,there is not time within the a ot 1m arne to conduct a detailed evaluation and prepare a fish and wildlife plan for all three sites.Should the Denali proposal become a viable and imminent alternative the Service,in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game,will prepare a detailed report on that project at a later date. This report has been prepared in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as indicated by the appended letter of October 8,1975, from Commissioner James W.Brooks,and by the National Marine Fisheries Service as indicated by their letter of October 8,1975,from Regional Director Harry Rietze.- ARLIS I~-' Alaska Resources Library ex Information Services Anchorage,AJaska Save Energy and You Serve America! ,... - - DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA The Susitna River Basin lies in southcentral Alaska north of the farthest inland projection of Cook Inlet between latitudes 61 0 -64 0 north and longitudes 146 0 -153 0 west.Total drainage of the basin comprises about 19.300 square miles of relatively uninhabited lands.The basin is bordered on the south by the waters of Cook Inlet and the Talkeetna Mountains.on the east by the Talkeetna Mountains and the Copper River plateau.and on the west and north by the Alaska Range. The main stem of the Susitna River from its source in the Alaska Range to its point of discharge into Cook Inlet is about 275 miles long.It flows southward from the Alaska Range 'for about 60 miles;thence,in a general westerly direction through the Talkeetna Mountains for about 100 miles. and then south for the remaining 115 miles to its mouth at the head of Cook Inlet. Principal tributaries of the lower basin have as their origin glaciers high in the surrounding mountain ranges.These streams are for the most part turbulent in the upper reaches and slower flowing in the lower regions.~~:of the tributaries carry a heavy load of glacial silt. The Yentna River.one of the largest tributaries.begins in the mountains of the Alaska Range.flows in a general southeasterly direction for approximately 95 miles,and enters the Susitna River 24 miles upstream from tidewater.Alexander Creek.Deshka River.Montana.Goo.se~Sheep. Caswell,Little Willow,and Willow Creeks are major clear water tribu- taries on the Susitna River. uEs tream from Tbe C .er heads in direction.joining the SUSl Principal tributaries of the upper Susitna drainage are the Oshetna, Tyone.and Maclaren Rivers.The Oshetna and Maclaren Rivers are usually turbid,but have numerous feeder streams that drain many clear-water lakes. 2 flow in the Susitna Basin is characterized by a hj,g,h rate of dis- from May through September and by low flows fromtCtober through Hi h lSC ar au now melt rainfall Streams carry a hea vy load of 91acia1 Si~'l~t~d~u!.!.r~in~g~t":"h..Qe.LJ.U-sYJlllller..,~I-Q.l.~' During the winter when low temperatures retard water flows,streams are relatively silt free. The Alaska Range to the west and north,and the Talkeetna Range to the east make up the high perimeter of the lower Susitna River Basin.The Alaska Range is made up of sedimentary rocks,some of which have been metamorphosed and intruded by granitic masses.The Talkeetna Mountains are primarily granitic.The flam'of the lower basin is largely covered with glacial stream deposits. The upper basin,predominantly mountainous,is bordered on the west by the Talkeetna Mountains.on the north by the Alaska Range,and on the south and east by the flat Copper River plateau.Valleys are floored with a thick fill of glacial moraines and gravels. Climate of the Susitna Basin is rather diversified.Latitude of the region gives it long winters and short summers with great variation in the length of the daylight between winter and summer. The lower Susitna Basin owes its relatively moderate climate to the warm waters of the Pacific on the south and the barriers of surrounding mountains.Summers are characterized by moderate temperatures,cloudy days,and gentle rains;winters are cold and the snowfall is fairly heavy. Talkeetna.representative of the lower basin,has an annual mean temperature of 33.2°F .•and an average annual precipitation of 28.85 inches. The upper Susitna Basin,separated from the coast by high mountains, has a somewhat more severe climate than the lower basin.The nearest weather station at Mount McKinley Park has an annual mean temperature of 27.5°F .•and annual precipitation of 14.44 inches. Spruce,birch,aspen,cottonwood,willow,and alder are found through- out the lower basin up to about 2,000 feet.These are interspersed with low muskeg vegetation on the floor of the basin and grassy meadows on higher benches.Understory of timbered areas consists of moss,ferns, high and low bush cranberry.devil's club,wild rose,blueberry,currants, grass,and wildflowers.Above timberline,thickets of alder and willow occur interspersed with grassy meadows.Above this zone vegetation consists of moss,lichens,and wildflowers. 3 .;; - - - If""" .... Spruce occurs throughout the uppet'basin up to the 2,500 to 3,000 foot timberline.Low,scrubby,black spruce grows on the poorly drained bottomland,while the larger white spruce is found on better drained sites.Dwarf birch is distributed throughout the upper basin,and willow occurs along water bodies.White birch and alder occur in limited amounts.The understory includes blueberry,low-bush cranberry, Labrador tea,crowberry,fireweed,mosses.and lichens.Muskeg is' interspersed throughout the bottomland and tundra is present through- out better drained areas. Within the project area of influence is Mount McKinl~tjona]Park, wniCh lies some 50 miles to the northwest of Dev,1 Canyon.The Park-- contains about 3,030 square miles and is the second largest park in the national park system.exceeded in size only by Yellowstone National Park. It was created by an act of Congress in 1917 and has as one of its ob- jectives the protection of the great herds of mountain sheep and caribou in this portion of the Alaska Range.Mount McKinley.the highest mountain in North America,is the principal scenic feature of the park.This lofty peak rises 20.320 feet above sea level,and soars some 17.000 feet above the surrounding forested plateau;it is the only mountain in the world to rise so high from its own base. Human population of the basin is chiefly concentrated along the railbelt with trappers and miners utilizin the entire basin.The proposed pro- ject ts oca e approximately midway e nc orage and Fairbanks, the two largest cities in the State.It is estimated that these two areas contain about 226.500 people or approximately 75 percent of the entire State's population. Until 1971.the Alaska Railroad was the only overland means of transportation through the lower Susitna River Basin.The recently constructed Parks Highway now parallels the railroad.The Denali Highway passes through the headwater portion of the upper Susitna Basin.Although other secondary roads are being developed.access to remote areas is still possible only by air and boat travel. Economic activiti€sare chiefly centered in the lower 100 miles of the basin along the railbelt.The commercial fishery utiliZing the Susitna salmon runs is located in CoolCInlet.Placer and lode gold.tungsten,~ana construction materials are produced in this lower area,but only in limited quantities.Coal and other minerals are present and are receiving more attention as demand increases.Much of the basin is under lease by on interests.Portions of the lower basin are suited for~ture and forest Tndustries.which still await full development. 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT Devil Canyon:The dam,rising 635 feet above its foundation and 565 feet above the normal water surface of the river,will be of a concrete-arch design at river mile 134.It will have a crest length of 2,475 feet. The reservoir created by the dam will have a surface area of 7,550 ac s an inund lV ream 0 near the Watana dCl-msit~. Watana:The Watana structure would be a rock fill dam rising 810 feet at river mile 165 and would have a crest length of 3,450 feet,at an elevation of 2,200 feet m.s.l.The structure wou e a reservoir with a face area of 43,000 acres and will 'n ut 54 miles of t e Su itna River. Pre lmlnary reserVOlr ata are shown in Table 1. - - Table 1.Pertinent Dam and Reservoi r Da tall ~, Norm.Pool Miles of Type of Crest Struct.el evation Surface Storage river Const.Length Height m.s.l.acres (ac/ft.)inundated tDevi1concrete2,475 635 1 ,450 7,550 1,050,000 28 Canyon thin-arch Watana rockfi 11 3,450 810 2,200 43,000 9,400,000 54 .~. 'j,t~;>le''e-"? -8.5 on the Distribution of the power would require a transmission line from Watana to Gold Creek where it would be split.The Anchorage route would parallel the Susitna River to the Nancy Lakes area,thence due south to Point MacKenzie.The Fairbanks corridor would run north from Gold Creek to Chulitna at which point it would generally follow the Parks Highway and Alaska Railroad to the existing substation at Ester.~ transmission corridor would be about 334 miles in length.Average width wolITd be 125 feet d total re uired ri ht-of-wa would be about 5 1 0 acres.Transmission corridor data is set forth in Table 2 ......- 5 Table 2.Transmission Corridor System To Anchorage Double Circuit 136 miles 345 kv Route Southern Powerhouse -Gold Creek - ,"""SW along Susitna R.,ARR - Talkeetna -E.bank Susitna R.-Nancy Lake area -S. to Pt.MacKenzie. Length Devil Canyon-MacKenzie 140 mi .. To Fai rbanks 198 mi les 230 kv .Northern Gold Creek N.to Chulitna along Parks Highway,ARR thru Broad Pass,Nenana Canyon -Healy,then along existing line -Gold Hill - Ester. Devil Canyon-Ester 200 mi. Devil Canyon-MacKenzie-Cleared right-of-way Towers 140 feet Devil Canyon-Ester 140 feet Steel or aluminum Combined electrical production of both dams would be 6.1 billion kilowatt hours of firm energy annually.The two-dam system would also be capable of providing an additional .7 billion kilowatt hours of secondary electrical energy. 6 ~.--_.,-------------------------------------~ FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES Fishery Sport:During the warmer months of the year,t~e Susitna River is silt-laden throughout its entire course due to its glacial origin. Sport fishing is thereby limited to ~he clear-water tributaries, sloughs,and areas in the main Susitna River near the mouths of these tributaries.Principal freshwater sport fishing species are salmon, rainbow and lake trout,Dolly Varden,and grayling.Other species of lesser importance are burbot and whitefish.The longnose sucker, sculpin,three~spine and nine-spine sticklebacks are present in the river but are generally not considered as important sport fishes. Sport fishing pressure in the Susitna Basin immediately above the Devil Canyon site is relatively light,with the primary limitation being that of access.Many lakes and rivers afford landing sites for float-equipped aircraft,and fishermen using this method of transportation are fre- quently rewarded with good catches.The Alaska Railroad and the Parks Highway are the primary means of access to the lower basin.During the summer season,trains sometimes make unscheduled stops at streams along the way to accommodate photographers and fishermen.Completion of the Denal i Highway in 1957 opened a small portion of the upper Susitna Basin to fishennen.The Tyone River,originating at Lake Louise and flowing northwest to the Susitna River,has increased in popularity with boat fishermen during the last ten years and is believed to support the largest winter burbot fishery in the state. That section of the Susitna River downstream from Devil Canyon to its confluence with the Talkeetna and Chulitna Rivers is fed by a few clear tributary streams which furnish habitat for salmon,rainbow trout, grayling,Dolly Varden,and burbot.It is not known how extensivel th main stem S w the Devil Can on ·s utilized for s awning b1 these f~~:,~~:~!JCh usage j s probably 1i ght due to the si It-aden water and thp rel;ttyely muddy,sandy nature of the channel.Sport fishing between the damsite and confluence of the Susitna,Talkee-tna, and Chulitna Rivers is limited to the mouths of the few clear-water tributaries.Lake trout are present in certain parts of the tributary drainages which contain deep lakes above the Devil Canyon site.The Devil Canyon impoundment area is a rugged,narrow canyon with several rapids and a few clear-water tributaries,the largest being Fog Creek and Devil Creek.Grayling,whitefish,burbot,suckers,and cottids occur in these tributaries and in the main river. 7 '" - - - - - - ..... - I~n economic survey conducted by Sport Fish personnel of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on nine Susitna tributaries from Willow to Talkeetna indicated 21,153 anglers expended 255 092 in the Matanuska- :5usUna and Greater nc ora e orou s durin .a brief m .~.ese figures and values are now several years old.Angling intensity has risen sharply since that time and the demand for recreational salmon angl ing is at an unprecedented level.These figures mfght easily double if a similar study were conducted at this time . .- COl1l11ercial:.That section of the Susitna River downstream from the Devil :Canyon damsite to its confluence with the Talkeetna and Chulitna Rivers is fed by a few clear tributary streams which furnish spawning and rearing grounds for five species of Pacific salmon:sockeye (red);coho (silver);chinook (king);pink (humpback);and chum (dog).Portage Creek,three miles below the Devil Canyon damsite,is the uppermost tributary on the Susitna River where significant numbers of spawning salmon have been noted.Inyest;gationsconducted by the Fish and Wildlife Service intermittently from 1952 to 1975 failed to reveal the presence of adult or:Young salmon aoove the proposed Devil CanyOn damsite.No actual waterfalls or physical barriers have been observed in or above the Devil Canyon area which would preclude salmon from utilizing the drainage area above the damsite.Thtmost logical reason for the absence of salon ea however is the robabilit of a hydraulic block re~ultin e ·1 Canyon~ Twenty-seven spring fed slough areas adjacent to the mainstream Susitna River between the Devil Canyon damsite and the confluence of the Chulitna River have recently been identified as being important for fish rearing. Adult spawning salmon have been recorded in 9 of the 27 sloughs.Rearing salmon fry have been observed in 17 of the sloughs.Additional slough areas are probably present in the same reach or further downstream.Adult spawning salmon have also been observed in nine-clear-water creeks. Studies concerning both sport and COl1l11ercial fisheries are currently being conducted under contract between the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service.Unfortunately,study re- sults are not available for this report because of time restraints im- posed on both agencies. 8 -------------------~------------------- The Commercial Fisheries Division of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game provided the following estimates in Table 3 of maximum sustained yields (MSY)based on historical catch trends for salmon produced in the gill net districts of Cook Inlet,i.e.the ~rea north of the latitude of Anchor Point. It should be noted the figures shown in Table 3 and those following reflect only minimal estimates of value to commercial fishermen and do not include the equally important additional values related to 1)license revenues,2)taxation of salmon case pack,3)contribution to supportive services dependent upon commerical fishing industry,4)investments in fishing gear,vessels,fishing sites,etc. -Of significant importance in the following information is the total omission of recreational or sport fishing values associated with the Susitna River salmon resource,which is of critical importance in the most densely populated area of the state.The same values for license revenue,taxation on sporting equipment,investment in fishing equipment, etc.,apply to the recreational fishing industry,and could be added to the figures presented. - Table 3.Estimated Maximum Annual Sustained Yield (MSY) Species (salmon) Sockeye Chinook Pi nk Chum Coho Total MSY Estimatea Maximu~ Sustained Yield iJ 1,700,000 66,000 1,800,000 700,000 300,000 4,566,000 - _. - - 1/It should be emphasized that the MSY figures are the best estimates available at this time.. Based on the above "es timates ll it is anticipated that the total s presented _ in Table 4 are produced annually in the Susitna River basin. 9 IT Ai,-.•• Table 4.Salmon Produced for the Commercial Catch in Susitna River Basin - Spe"cies (salmon) Sockeye Chinook Pink Chum Coho Total Estimated Numbel'of ;- Fish-Produced Annually-U 850,000. 59,400 1 ,530,000 630,000 210,000 P- I -i 1/Again,it should be emphasized that the total is the best estimate -available. Using average prices paid to commercial fishermen in 1975,the values to fishermen for their ca.tch on an annual basis are presented in Table 5. Average prices per pound paid in 1975 for sockeye,chinook,pink,chum, and coho salmon were .63,.62,.36,.43,and .47 respectively. Table 5.Average Annual Value to Fishermenll -Sockeye Chinook Pink Chum Coho Average Avera'ge Production Weig,!lt Price/lb. 850,000 6.1 .63 59,400 25.0 .62 1,530,000 3.5 .36 630,000 7.4 .43 210,000 6.1 .47 $3,266,550 920,700 1~~27,80) 2,004,660 602,070 - Total Annual Value to Fishermen lJ Based on average price per pound to fishermen in 1975. 10 The aboYe value does 'not include,of course,the value of salmcm it takes to produce the estimated catch prod.uced in the Susitna Basin. Therefore we will address this problem by using estimated return by spa;wner by species using the 1975 price per pound paid to fishermen as presented in Table 6., I ' Table 6.Value of Sal'n.on Snawning Stock .__--.::::.Retul:n/Sp::::a"'::..~:::;n.:::e.:::.r _ Sockeye Chinook Pink Chum Coho 3.0:1 1.0:1 3.8:1 2.2:1 2.2:1 Value of SR.awners 283,333 59,400 402,632 286,364 95,455 - Species Sockeye Chi.nook Pink Chum Coho Avg.Wt. 6.1 25.0 3.5 7.4 6.1 .63 .0"2 .36 .43 .47 283,333 59,400 402,632 286,364 95,455 Value $1 ,088 ,81.~9 920,700 507,316 911,210 2 7"=\"70f_,b .., I Total Average Annual Value of Spawners ~·:-7(n-:~45) ---------------_...:.:= 1/Spawners needed to produce annual catches sho'Tn in Table 4. WILDLIFE General The dominant wildlife vegetat.i.ve cover throughout the Devil Canyon and Watana impoundment a.rea is s11ruce.Low bottom land along the Susitna River and the tributaries supports black spruce-aspen stands.iV-hite spruce occurs on the steep side hills in conjunction vith paper birch, bla.ck spruce,and occasional stands of aspen and cottonwood.Dwarf birch is present in the·rolling country on each side of the sites, while 'dllow occurs infrequently throughout the entire area.The understo~r includes blueberry,lowbush cranberl~r,narrow-leaved Labrador tea,cranberry,fireweed,mosses and lichens. 11 - ,"" ~, ,... ,/ / Game populations ar~limited in number along the steep walls of Devil Canyon which comprise most of the area to be flooded at that site.A few moose,black and grizzly bears are present.Segments of the Nelchina C~1l herd peri odi call y range thrQlJghollt the impoundment areas,par- tl~ularly~e Watana sit~. Beaver,present in sloughs along the Susitna River,are probably the most abundant furbearers.Other species of fur animals present include land otter,mink,wolf,lynx,marten,wolverine,and muskrat. Hunting and-trapping in the impoundment area~are virtyally nonexistent qye-to inaccessib1ity and ro~gh terrain.This situation may change as the use of snowmobiles and all terrain type vehicles i~crea$es.The steep terrain and turbulent flow make crossing the Susitna River difficult for hunters. Oall sheep frequent the Watana Hills area but none were ob~erved during the period November 1974 to April 1975 when surveys for moose were Fonducted. Within the transmission corridor system the area of greatest concern is the area which basically parallels the highway and Tanana River from Fairbanks to Big Delta.lQere are several historical Peregrine falcon nestjng sites along the Tanana and Salcha Rivers.The gyrfalcon ;s also found in limited numbers in this ¥;~;r~~a~~:£~~~;a~~~~~i~I ~~j~~g:n~{~f~;~~:~yh~~et~:ega~~e~i1:~e:r~ma~~:~~~~;~iiio~:~i~~ai~~~~k:he Highway. Two species of big-game,i.e.,moose and caribou,need to be addressed in detail.The Alaska Department of Fish and Game,under contract with the Fish and Wildlife Service,conducted monthly game surveys along the Susitna River drainage from November of 1974 until April 1975. Moose:Monthly moose distribution data indicate that movements occur on a major scale (Fig.1).During the November survey a majority of moose observed were found at higher elevations near the timber line.By late January they had become concentrated in the lower portions of drainages, including the Susitna River,and relied heaVily on browse adjacent to the river (Fig.2).They remained along these drainages at lower elevations until late April when they began dispersing,some moving back to higher elevations with the receding snow line. 12 ------,-------------------f----------- Areas of preferred or critical winter range were delineated at both the Devil Canyon and Watana reser'voir sites (Table 7).Classification of each area and boundaries for each area were determined by the relative density of cumulative moose tracks observed from early winter of 1974 until April 23,1975.The classification categories were:(1)Light use -occasional tracks with little cratering,i.e.,areas where snow has been pawed aside to obtain forage,(2)Moderate use -tracks and cratering but not dense,and (3)Heavy use -tracks dense and cratering extensive (Figs.3 and 4). Table 7.Preferred or Critical Moose Winter Range Category of Use Devil Canyon -up to elevation 1,450 m.s.l. Light Moderate Heavy Watana -up to elevation 2,045 m.s.l. Light Moderate Heavy 13 Acres Inundated 7,040 5,760 o o 15,360 18,560 - - .. -------------......;..-------------"".?:w: Photo by Ted Spraker~ADF&G Winter 1974-75 Figure 1.Moose movement on a major scale resulted in the concentration of 43 moose along the Susitna River near Valdez Creek.Similar critical winter habitat exists in the Watana Reser oi site. 14 Photo by Ted Spraker,ADF&G Winter 1974-75 Figure 2.Note heavy use of browse material along the left bank of the Susitna River. 15 Photo by Ted Spraker,ADF&G Winter 1974-75 Figure 3.Close up view of moose II cra tering ll ,i.e.,areas where snow has been pawed aside for forage. 16 \..._------------------------------------------- Photo by Ted Spraker,ADF&G Winter 1974-75 Figure 4.View of typical area rece1V1ng heavy use by rno se along the Susitna River.Note that tracks are dense and cratering is extensive. 17 Wildlife:Devil Canyon and Watana Reservoirs will inundate moose "habitat consisting of 7,040 acres which receive light use,21,120 acres of habitat which receive moderate use,and 18,560 acres of habitat which receive heavy use.The moderate and heavy use areas are con- sidered preferred or critical habitat. Associated with loss of moose riparian browse sites through flooding, i sloss of the passage ways between preferred areas if the wafer or ice level is fluctuated.IhlS problem became apparent by midwinter observation of moose tracks along the Susitna River where animals traveled from one tributary to another (Fig.5).Locations of moose concentration remained the same throughout the midwinter surveys,but trails indicated that individuals moved from one concentration to another frequently during the winter (Fig.5).Figure 6 shows moose moving along the Susitna River near the confluence of the Oshetna River. Photo by Ted Spraker,ADF&G Winter 1974-15 Figure 5.Moose tracks across Susitna River indicate movement from one area to another.Note heavily browsed area on right bank. 18 Photo by Ted Spraker,ADF&G Winter 1974-75 19 Figure 6.Moose movement along the Susitna River near the confluence of the Oshetna River.This habitat area will be inundated by the Watana Reservoir. - .... The total acreages of moose winter range below elevations shown in Table 2 at the Devil Canyon and Watana sites by light,moderate,and heavy use categories are 7,040;21,120;and 18,560 respectively. Caribou:Use of the Watana Reservoir site by Nelchina caribou for grazing and crossing was minimal during the period November 1974 through April 1975.Deeply rutted caribou trails crossing the Susitna River north of Watana Mountain were observed.Caribou observed wintering north of the Susitna River during the November 1974 survey may have crossed the Susitna River to reach their traditional calving grounds near Kosina Creek.If observations had been made in May,June,July and August,it is likely an entirely different migrational pattern of major caribou crossings may have been indicated. The u.s.e....of the SII.s.itAa Rh'er if!the vicir:1ity of Devil CarlYon and'lJatana damSites by Nelchina caribou for razin crossin was m". . g t~erlo ovem er 1974 through April 1975.Deeply rutted trails~of hlstoric crossing sites along the Susitna River were observed,however. Caribou seen wintering north of the Susitna River during the November 1974,survey may have crossed the Susitna River to reach their traditional calving grounds near Kosina Creek.Fluctuating water or ice levels associated with Watana Dam could disrupt movements across the Susitna River with unpredictable effects. The Watana Hills Dall sheep herd was not observed close to areas that would be inundated by Watana reservoir.No direct effects on these sheep are expected,although indirect effects due to improved hunter access may well occur. Increased huntin~~ressure on b~~ame through creation of access co1Fridors is a major effect foreseen by construction of these dams. M60se in the vicinity of the Devil Canyon and Watana Creek Dams are lightly hunted now because of poor access.Loss of the sanctuary area (the uninhabited,lightly-hunted core)of the Nelchina caribou's range may result in displacement of the herd from some of its essential habitat due to increased human actiVity on that habitat.Hunting regulations may be modified by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.The road corridor plus limited river crossing area may prevent movements across the Susitna River.Imgroved access wi II result in increased harvest potenti al and the need for more intensive management . 20 .~-_~...__=-s .......__---'----_ EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT ON FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES ", Fish:Devil Canyon and Watana Reservoir will inundate about 82 miles of the Susitna River and tributary streams which support existing populations of grayling~Dolly Varden,whitefish.burbot.suckers s and cottids.,Grayling and Dolly Varden are found primarily in clear water ftreas where tributaries join the Susitna River.It is anticipated that both Devil Canyon and Watana Reservoirs will be turbid.Stream fishing potential and production on inundated portions of these tributaries will be eliminated.It is unknown at this time if significant fisheries can be developed in the reservoirs because of the anticipated turbidity and glacial characteristics of the water in the Upper Susitna Basin. Devil Canyon Reservoir affords the best opportunity for th~developme,nt ora sport fishery as it wi]]be less turbid and more stable than the' Watana Reservoi r.~ fro' A,..Signifjcant portion of Jbe salmonfounS1A Cook Ir:llet utilize the Susitna River and its trjbutaries below the Devil Canyon damsitefor spawning and rearing~At the present time the Susitna is relatively clear in the winter and turbid in the summer.With the project in op~tion,the river is expected to be more tlJrbejd jn the winter and le~urbid in the summer.Other changes expected with the project which may have an adverse impact on fish resources including mortality are:(1)altering the natural seasonal flow (reduced summer flows and increased w'lriter flows),(2)cfianges in natural seasonal water qual ity (the possibility of supersaturation of certain dissolved gases such as nitrogen as a result of spillage),(3)dewaterin of the clearwater sloughs adjacent to the river)~(4)thermal chan es and-increased winter tllrbjdity with atteRdaRt adverse impacts on 'f:'Elsident an a~drQmQ!lS fi sh movement into the mainstem of the Sus itna River. It is anticipated that with the project in operation fishing pressure on the Susitna River below Devil Canyon Dam may increase.Sufficient operational data are not available at this time to determine the magni- tude of releases,and the resulting fluctuations in river flows.Con- ceivably,larger releases could create a hazard for fishermen and have an adverse impact on fish production.If later studies reveal such a possibility,the need for a downstream regulating facili~should be considered. The Susitna River salmon resource has been of economic value to a com- mercial fishery since the late 1800s.In more recent years,it has played an important additional role in providing extensive recreational fishing opportunity in Southcentral Alaska. 21 - - ~\ "'"' - - - - The degree to which these important industries can be affected is totally related to the possible degree of loss which may be incurred as a result of this project. The possibility exists that some loss to the fishery resource could occur ciS a resul t of the project.Loss of Susitna River salmon stocks could contribute to losses of (1)taxes and license revenues,(2)economic hardship or loss of fish processing plants,(3)economic loss to fisher- ment,(4)loss of revenues by supportive services and businesses,(5) loss of capital investments as fisheries are restricted or closed,etc. ~10st of these effects woul d be fel t by both the sport and corrmerc ia 1 ·industries.The potential loss to the economy of Southcentral Alaska through construction of this project could be many times greater than the estimated figures depicted on pages 10 and 11. I~i 1dl ife:Devil Canyon and Wa tanaReservoi rs wi 11 inundate moose habitat consisting of 7,040 acres which receive light use,21,120 acres of habitat which receive moderate use,and 18,560 acres of habitat ,~hich receive heavy use.The moderate and heavy use areas are considered preferred or criti ca 1 wi nteY'lla"bitat. I~ssociated with loss of moose riparian browse sites through flooding, is loss of the passage ways between preferred areas if the water or ice 'level is fluctuated.This problem became apparent by midwinter observation of moose tracks along the Susitna River where animals traveled from one tributary to another.Locations of moose concentration remained the same throughout the midwinter surveys,but trails indicate that individuals moved from one concentration area to another frequently during the winter. Flow regulation below Devil Canyon Dam may create successional changes in the riparian browse areas with adverse effects to moose. The use of the Susitna River in the vicinity of Devil Canyon and Watana damsites by Nelchina caribou for grazing and crossing was minimal during the period November 1974 through April 1975.Deeply rutted trails of historic crossing sites along the Susitna River were observed,however. Caribou seen wintering north of the Susitna River during the November 1974,survey may have crossed the Susitna River to reach their traditional calving grounds near Kosina Creek.As we pointed out earlier,if obser- vations had been made in May,June,July and August,it is likely an entirely different migrational pattern may have been observed.Fluctuating water or ice levels associated with Watana Dam could disrupt movements across the Susitna River with unpredictable effects. 22 ----_._.------------------------~------------- The Watana Hills Dall sheep herd was not observed close to areas that would be inundated by Watana Dam.No direct effects on these sheep are expected,although indirect effects due to improved hunter access may well occur. Increased potential hunting pressure on big game through creation of access corridors is a major effect foreseen by construction of these dams. Moose in the vicinity of the Devil Canyon and Watana Creek Dams are lightly hunted now because of poor access.Loss of the sanctuary area (the uninhabited,lightly-hunted core)of the Nelchina caribou·s range may resul t in stricter hunting regulations in order to properly manage the resource.The road corridor plus limited river crossing area may prevent movements across the Susitna River. Loss of winter range for moose,loss of the river corridor for moose movement during the winter,disruption of caribou movements by fluctuation of water/ice levels or transportation corridors,increased hunting pressure on all big game,and increased human activity on 'key caribou range are some of the problems that may result from construction of dams on the Susitna River.The Watana Creek Dam and any other dams upstream will have substantial effects,while the Devil Canyon Dam will probably be mild in its impact on big game. Birds:Bald eagles,golden eagles,owls,falcons,and various species of hawks are found throughout the entire Susitna River basin.The Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a survey in June of 1974 and found that the population densities of cliff-nesting raptors were low between the Devil Canyon site and the Oshetna River.Several nesting pairs of gyrfalcons and bald eagles were observed in or near the canyons of t~e upper S~sitna River.No~~~:~g~~EeCies of per~rine.f~, arctlc or n are know -lonathe u er Susltna RlVer, aTf ough peregrines have been si migration erlO s 1 he B'roa Unknown numbers of spruce grouse,willow ptarmigan,and rock ptarmigan are found within the project area.Songbirds,shorebirds,and other small birds are found throughout the entire Susitna River basin,but the project is not expected to have a serious impact on these resources. Waterfowl of various species are found in small numbers along the Susitna River during the nesting season.The Susitna River drainages provide a migra.t.ory corridor.4:!!J?<?undments created by Devil~ and Watana dams may provide concen~resting areas ~ds prior to their mlgra"""t1lm-south.------ 23 m NO - rUG - ..... tI -- - - "... PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT FOR FISH &WILDLI FE RESOURCES Recommendations: 1.The project be designed,constructed and operated in such a manner as to provide water releases or a flow regime below Watana and Devil Canyon Dams of suitable temperature and water quality,to preserve eXisting downstream fish resources.Sufficient detailed hydraulic and biological information is not ava"ilable at this time to determine the above requirements.SQould the flow requirements and water quality ~~e~rt~~~:~er:~~~;~~~~sf~s~eS~i~"~~e~h~O~r~je~~t~iO- construction or operatiQn,artificiat-propagation facilities will be r~uired at project CQS~In the event that adequate natural reproduction fails to occur in the tributary streams to the reservoir areas,a stocking program will be required at project expense.Costs of approp- riate studies,design,construction,operation and maintenance of the facilities should be authorized as a project cost.The design and location of the artificial propagation facilities should be developed cooperatively with the Fish and Wildlife Service,Alaska Department of Fish and Game,National Marine Fisheries Service and the Corps of Engineers.The facility would be operated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. 2.If fluctuations of discharge flows below Watana and Devil Canyon Dams create a public hazard or are detrimental to the maintenance of downstream fish resources,a regulating dam and reservoir will be required . 3.Ij:o\f;d.e..safe and corwenient ac.c.e.s..s.-f.or fi shE;rlI]enN-.pr....oj-e.ct teEilities for recreational pu~s. 4.The report of the District Engineer include the preservation,prop- agati on and management of fi sh and wi 1dl ife resources among the purposes for which the project will be authorized. 5.Project lands be acquired in accordance with Joint Army-Interior Land AcqUisition Policy for Water Resource Projects. 6.Leases of Federal land in the project areas reserve the right of free public access for hunting and fishing. 7.All project lands and waters at the Devil Canyon and Watana Reservoirs which are not designated for recreation,safety,and efficient operation be dedi cated to use for fi sh and wildl ife management in accordance with the provisions of a General Plan prepared pursuant to Section 3 of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.These lands and waters should be made available to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for management. 24 --------------------------------------- 8.Detailed biological studies of fish and wildlife resources affected by the project be conducted jointly during pre-and post-authorization periods by the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service,Alaska Department of Fish and Game,National Marine Fisheries Service,and the Corps of Engineers. These studies shall be allocated as a joint cost among project purposes. 9.'ldlife Servic and f the U er Su'R'ver B the areas as replacement habitat for losses caused by the proposed project. Tneareas delineated should be covered by a General Plan prepared pursuant to Section 3 of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.Operation,main- tenance and replacement costs shall be authorized as a project cost. 10.A reservoir clearing plan and a reservoir recreational zoning plan be developed,as necessary,to insure that certain areas,or certain periods,are available for fishing,hunting,and other fish and wildlife purposes without conflicting uses.These plans shall be developed cooperatively by the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service,Alaska Department of Fish and Game,Corps of Engineers,and Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. 11.To produce the least potential adverse impact on raptors,tbetrans- mission lines should be placed along the west side Of the Parks Highway. 12.Section of road right-of-ways,borrow areas,and related construction operations be planned in cooperation with the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service,Alaska Department of Fish and Game,Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, and the Corps of Engineers,so as to minimize damage to fish and wildlife and other recreational resources. - ~, We request that the recommendations in this report be included in your report for authorization. We appreciate the opportunity to cOl11Tlent on thi s project and shoul d like to be notified of changes in project plans as they occur. /.--~ Sincerely,l .~ \.J(~~'-"~,) 'l,',:lng Area Dire~Jor "',/ ;;..../ 25 .""", - - - ------_......._---------------------------------",' ..... IDEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAt\.ME JAY $.HAMMOND,GOVERNOR 333 RASPBERRY ROAD ANCHORAGE 99502 October 8,1975 Gordon Watson,Area Director Fish &Wildlife Service u.S.Department of the Interior 813 D Street Anchorage,Alaska 99501 Dear ~tr.Watson: The Southcentral Railbelt,Upper Susi tna River Basin Hydroelectric Report prepared by your agency has been reviewed by this department. The Alaska Department of Fish and Ganle concurs with the contents of the report,with mmor exceptions. We have compiled a list of suggested changes and/or corrections and submitted thEm directly to~.Ivan Harjehausen of your office through our Anchorage Stisitna River project coordinator.Your attention to these connnents is requested. This department would once again like to emphasize the very great need for continuation of existing,and initiation of new studies,to further define the impacts to fish and wildlife. If we may be of further assistance in finalization of your report,feel free to contact us. Sincerely, James Brooks,Commissioner Depart~~~t of Fish and;Game j(X~~~-~-/J,I~~r- By:Larry J.Heckart ADF&G Coordinator Department of Fish and Game LJH:mk U.S.DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE P.O.BOX 1668 -JUNEAU,ALASKA 99801 October 8,1975 Mr.Gordon W.Watson Director,Alaska Region Fish and Wildlife Service 813 D Street Anchorage,AK 99501 Dear Mr.Watson: The National Marine Fisheries Service has received your draft final report "South Central Railbelt Area,Upper Susitna River Basin Hydroelectric Project,Two Dam Planll for review and comment. We concur with the recommendations as outlined in the "Plan of Development for Fish and Wildlife Resources." We note,however,that results of current studies concerning sport and commercial fisheries are not available for this report.We,therefore,expect to make later comments and offer further recommendations pending conclusion of these studies. Sinci:3reli''~/'"-~----/-2 .r V"-~-/1-77/'-/~'_ '1.....a ry L.Rietze .''rlffit ctot.Alas Reg~ ~--...;.;.,.;....,.----------------------------------- UPPER SUSITNA RIVER PROFILE RIVER MILES 120-290 -J OCTOBER 1975 FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE u.S.DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR UPPER SUSITNA RIVER BASIN TWO DAM PLAN SOUTHCENTRAL RAILBELT AREA,ALASKA \ I ) .........~ ~ ('-1./"'" ) -1 ~'-~llSon \ \ l \ ~)--/' r-/ ,-J _-1 ./c::::., \ \1 ) I 'C?<f\&' l-v1 \ )-'-:> J) P ~\>~"\ 0"'0,(1. <;;> r---r I____I --v /'-'-.('---~/\-/ .-./ 1 -""\. ) \ l""'\., &..y '"\U'~"'_ Olo 1 (/1-:\ <J..;z ( ?>)-\ ) / '-\. ~r \ ~ \ l \ 20Miles DiSlmte..r.t..'o ......abu'lalBlJUlh. Elevationtre'.rtomeon_Iev.1. 1510 SCALE CJ o 1450 DEVIL .CANYON ...", ~<.>'" ~,(f -,..." ",<.>'" ""if~<.><>,,,,, ,,?-,,,~CJ I -11II CORPS OF ENGINEERS BASE MAP