HomeMy WebLinkAboutSUS456SUSITNA HYDROELECTRIC
FLOW REPOR'r
e 1
MIDDLE SUSITNA RIVER
Draft Final
March 1985
Prepared By:
Woodward-Cltde Consultants
701 Sesame Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
In Associatiln With:
Ent .:·ix, Inc.
4794 Business Pack Boulevard
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Submitted To:
Harza-Ebasco Susitna Joint Venture
711 H Street.
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
For:
The Alaska Power Authority
327 Wo 5th Avenue, 2nd Floor
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
series is on
pres~nted. in, a .. variety of
by Alaska ··Department of Fish and
Aquatic: Stu(ly Team, Consultants,
Associates (EW'T&A) and the Arctic
and Data Center (AEIDC). The
provide
for
proposed susi.tna
its
methodology
by
resourcesc
resources
(
was
in
principally on
were thro\}gh June 1984 was
consists
temperature modeling;
principal
for susitna
(2)
River
and life and (3)
downstream
temperatures on
temperatures · on
ice
and an
on
of
I
0
1>1
3 ill .2
3.3.3
3.3.4
3.3.5
3.3.6
3.3.7
ADULT
4.1.1
4.102
4.1.3
4.1.4
4 • .1,5
4.2.1
4.2.2
4.2.3
4.2.4
SALMON'
Salmon
Salmon
Chinook
•
•
•
•
•
. 1
31
31
31
43
7
80
82
84
87
89
90
90
90
9
1
10.
Cook
catch I
catch of upper Cook chinook,
Susitna River and major tributaries
mouth Sheep creek. . . . . ., . .
Susitna Rive:t"' and major tributaries front
Sheep Creek to Devil Canyon o ~~ ., • • • •
11. Miqrational timing of second-run sockeye
salmon based on fishwheel catch per unit
ef~ort at selected locations on the Susitna
21
27
River in 1981, 1982 and 198"3 G • o ., • • a • • • 32
Figure 12. Comparison of second-run sockeye fishwheel
catch and mainstem discharge at Sunshine
Station (RM 80) 1981-1983 .•.••••.•. ., o 34
Figure 13~ Migrational timing of chum salmon based on
fishwheel catch per unit effort at selected
locations on the Susitna River in 1981, 1982
and 19 8 3 Iii G II G G G Gil 1!1 & 0 0 8 0 0 0 II 0 fl 0 4 4
Figure 14. Comparison of chum salmon fishwheel catch and
mainstem discharge at Sunshine Station (RM 80),
l981-198Je e e e e & • e Q e e e e e • • • e e e 45
15. timing of coho salmon based on
per unit
River in
23. DistribU:tion
macrohabitat "E.vn~
26.
the-Chul
May through
on mean
) ,
3
74
I
per
30, 8Jo o
on the
confluence and Devil Canyon 1
1983. are
cell ft 8 8 e e a e 3 G 98
3 "
I
2
of upper Cook
by species,
in
sD•ecJ~es, 1978-1983 ••
sa111on escapements
species and location
7111 Second--run sockeye salmon peak survey
10.
Table 11.
counts sloughs upstream of R!J! 98.6, 1981-
1984. 0 • 0 • Ill •• Ill ••
Second-L~n sockeye salmon total slough
escapement upstream of RM 98.6, 1981-1984
Sex ratios of second-run sockeye at
Flathorn, Susitna, Yentna, sunshine,
Talkeetna and curry stations, 1981-
1984 111 e * o e e e e 111 e • 111 • • 1!11 o e e
Chum salmon peak inde~ counts by habitat
type upstream of RM 98.6, 1981-1984 ••• • e a e
Chum salmon peak indHx t;ounts in sloughs
upstream of RM 98.6, 1981-1984 ••••• • 0 • Ill
,!'able 12 . Chum salmon total slough escapement upstream of
23
8
35
37
39
42
47
48
RM 98.6, 1981-1984 111 • o • o o e • o o o o o o o 50
Table 13., Chum salmon peak index counts in streams
upstream of RM 98.6, 1981-1984 • o o • o
Table 14 .. Chum salmon peak spawner counts in mainstem
habitats upstream of ru~ 98.6, 1981~1984. o ..
0 .. 51
0 0
22. ~ounts
98.6, 198 8
chinook salmon
and
• • e • o • e • •
Yentna,
stations,
75
7
resourceso
provides
this
affected
6· .. ·152]
.6). Effects on
of
are
Susitna
• A diagram
River is
Power Authority (APA) has
3
Susitna : Watana Dam
(RM ) • project wo11ld
summer and increase
sediment levels, turbidity and
follow similar patterns (
levels in winter). Details of dam
(
and expected changes to aquatic
resources are presented by Acres American (1983a,b)o
and aquatic habitat investigations have been
Susitna River for eleven years to evaluate the
I
are
summer
on
hydroelectric project. Beginning in 19 7 4 , studies were
conducted to describe and quantify fish resources,
habitats and habitat utilization. In 1980 the
Hydroelectric Project Aquatic Studies Program was initiated1>
Baseline data collection on fish and aquatic habitat resources
was divided into three groups: Adult Anadromous Fish
(AA) , Juvenile Anadromous and Resident Fish Studies (:RJ) ,
Aquatic Habitat and Instream Flow Studies (AH)e
The objectives of the three groups of this continuing
are:
(1)
3
SUS!TN
·· .. ,
.:).:;:~:>:?:~~: .... '}:•
............... " .. :"t"·· ..... ·;.·:~ ..
ll)
4)
sus
SIM C:li1111Ml Ma!>hat COI\Ihh of Uws~ ~f'Uol'lll of the 'iu,Ui'141 IHv~r tl'oi!l
l'lf'rlllllili'lt conv•y 'l.bn•now during the ~ ~~&litPr S!lt~~l)lll but betWo!t
IIHf'ttlebly dfl!lfotertll du"\119 ~rlodl of 1~ fl•;..~o Sid:! theil>l>el II,Jillt<~t
Nll' t•flt ettkr e,. IO!QH l:illfiN~d ovorHO<!I dtcw.:h, cr 111 ~rlr ~~~"~d
Wilt<er c:e~~rlHU UC~~~~Ipt thrCYgh pnthtly ~~r~d ;rn11l !>ors 111\d l'lllllnl'l'
"'0119 the l!lltr9h1S of '""' liili!tAitll!'l!!l rher. Mdlt C:fiaAMI ttwe•d 12ll!•
vttlOft'> IJN tyl)tnlly lowtr ~hen the P:Un ~thly U4ltt:w surhtl2 tl'l!l•
vettOl'IS of t~M1 <lllllllltee~ St!Jftna llhtr ®ur11•d ~il'lng J-, July ~"'«
Allll:uU. Sth c:llenMl llabUel$ IU'It chirllrtuiJed bJI \11~11-r I'.Qplh$,
IO>i'@t valc.clttn end ~llt-r' Urt~ NtfJthh th<Jn U>'l' "dJtcl!mt
hebltat of the NIAUee\ rh~>r.
Sld4! !ol.oot! tl,ebfht 11 lorat!HJ h1 ~prtr<l) ft4 owerfiC"<~ «:llem~~h Mf.o«~H;
~"if (Jli fl~laln end tt.e RttMt~ ~NI 111.';1 tll~n"h Cq l~
Sush~N~ lihttn• liM h usva11y uper.ued fr@:ll th.:? ~ii~JI"ttf'S 0111 -g.l~
clloMt•s lly , ~n ~"~tllted ~:;.,,.,, ~ e=po»ad <~llu~l~l b~>n:~ ~~~ilil<l
n!)4nteli till! llttd of tM> siC~~~!~~ fr!ll!ll N11'1Ul!l!l fJr side clla~~~~ei fl~.
TM> Clllltro1Hng strta~/~tl't'~ilftll ~i11itwotlon\l lilt t~ UP11t,.lltlf~ 1?1'1!11 of
t~ side sl~s 111r11 s119fttly t~tu then tile wehr 5uvfac!! tle~aHill'i of
tltt meun POIItM)' flows ~;~f t~ Nlnn• Sl.!tltn;~ 111v11r Gl>ii!"'VI!d fof' .N•'I!•
Juty, 81\d ~st. At lnterl!llldlatt ~~~ iOll~flw f)eriOd~. tlli! \IH il~~VIJil~
ltOitvt)f c:lur lilllltl!f' frlll'!ll ~~~ U'lbiltllll'h!t lllfld/91" u~lliM) <JrOO..tl'l!h>UI!V
(AOU$ I'Jalc, !~lb). fMIII c;ll'&r lolllll111" lflfiOI!IS ere IIUfnfllll con·
tl"ll'luttri lO tlllt crx1UtMC' l!if thh hiJ!bHU lY"· Tllf' , .. ctl>r \lldiiU
eiii!Yilt;.lll Of tM SlltltM lihC~!i' 94'nlf1"4illf Uutl'i II lilldWIIlll"' t~
totU ~ IIUo 1114> tiO'llliJII ftCI!I IU l011nr f!~ (AOFiG l9i!lc, iOOJ!:>I.
thou(llt thh !>l!bUanttal tlult·~ti!!r 1uht1. tl'nr tiOU!Jht 1uncHf!fl IIJ~dr!lll•
Hully ~try 1\Uch llh• ta~~ll nre• tY't~ e~ u•~ertl t>undr<~td ht'l <Iff
~~ $louglt tfl:llft4!1 oft~ Cli11Ye>)'i t~&t~r tftd.!~PQ~I'lt of r&llln\t...,.. tlach•ou•r
effi§CU. At fllglt fiGOI'O lite 11111till'r $urhct €1hrv&~thlil of "'" om£1nUM rlv~r
h luff1chrnt to o"'ertop the upper liM of i!lt 11looQII (Al)f!!.C l~fllc.
1982b). Sl<;rfsc<P watu u•eptrllhlr<n f:>~ tli<l 1111W de>Jgln dtlri"!J ~~,..
-th1 lif'fil prtflclpe11y ~ fu11cH~ ®i elr t~r4ll•Jrt, snler r<"Jdi&Uoll,
1111\d tile t~nture of U~e leu* ,.,.oou.
~~'tftd Sl%11'!or~i!;t&1~\~t.;,'"t: Mt htt.llf'(;Cfl<~ch•il
ot t"* D.DIHU$>l ~i!ltftll l!hiG'I' lW
Ch4)r&ct~rtr~ If; tfl'tP iu··a~&•,.vt3 of k!&tttr
COYI!!e'l"'llJ the ~ub,~rUI! A'~iliH lAg fro=
flw~.
1'rt~Trll 1 li<~~ti1Ut conlll'ltl of ~ 09 c coiiilnlont t~t CCCII!'
$lf"f6lllfhl<lil 0 I<Jdli!OI'~t • lilAO l.hl'm.!lt
hy4rologJt, 91Iology, Dftd cliNt, of
llUrlt!Vt~ts ~1f trtlwtollry lv•lllht 4lnll
lrfbu.J!!.t ~t~ Mablht ellt!!'fltlS fFfiiE!! ''"' ~Pzni"M1JH l!<llnt '" ltii'Tu<Pftc~d 611 ll>l!ln't~ Su~ltM llh!i''f or ~li!U\jtl ll<~~d.,ot~r
1:1-Ur~• t•h•ll~ of tiM~ trlooury !ill-~lch qstN'>i:l$ ln'IO
Sl&tHII.il lllver or tlough {AOI'Ail lM!c, 1\il§ll!).
llll!o lt111bltet con~hh of vaidCtJ5 ~~irrn81'1her ~ra~r.eg~;~, 1~s!!
ho'l<~t~ lahi p!1rCII~ Oil the
(0\lfii!Ct tn tilt Nlnltl!llll! !WtUM
Slfill!$'l. Til<! lelin rocthl!! U•el~r
'IIIJ/Or tfl~t,d<?,.
Al
NA HVDROElE
ENTRSX. INC~
under coniract to
ous
migrational timinq of salmon runs
River c.
population size and relative abundance
in sub .... basins the Susitna River.
total slough escapements for salmon
sJ..ouans upstream RM 98.6.
Estimated relative abundance spawning
RM 98.6.
areas.
in
seasonal
in macrohabitat
for
macrohabitat
and
criteria
cisco,
98.6 -
j
within
) 0
j
1 Hydro
j
resources
include
in
a migrational
area for the
into Cook Inlet 0)
are usually prevented
velocity barrier. Sloughs aJn.d
spatminq habitat for salmoz1, while
and tributary mouths are important
salmon rearing and overwintering (ADF&G 19
area
a, 0
resident species found in the susitna River
Arctic grayling, rainbow trout, lake trout, ,
Varden and round whitefish. Scientific and common names
all fish species observed in the susitna River basin are
listed in Table 1.
3~2 CONTRIBUTION TO COMMERCIA!, FISHERY
With the exception of sockeye and chinook salmon, maj
of the upper Cook Inlet commercial catch salmon
susitna Basin (ADF&G 1984a). ·rhe upper Cook Inlet. area
that portion of Cook Inlet north of Anchor Point
• The long-term average annual catch 3o0
84
lucius
Gadidae
Gasterosteus aculeatus
*Pungitius pungitius
Cottidae
1982a;
ADF&G
pfr..e
1984a,b,
10
I
0
,
most
l984o
hiqh
the
species in
on
systems
Cook
estimates of
was
COltLm.. 1984) ~
fish
2) 8
in
as
4,
$13,5 million ( ., ,
30
,ooo
\
0~------¥-----~~-----T------~------~------r-----~
1950 1955 1980 1965 1970 1976 1980 1985
YEAR
UPPER COOK 1 1
ALASKA POWER AUTHORiTY
SUSITNA HYOROELECTR PROJECT
-~----< ...... ,-------------·-~-·--~ ·---<----
I
,690
380,062 177,729
1,104,904 470,450
692,254 100,952
73~,214 275,296
636,303 100,636
,824 80,933
670 1 C25 104,420
596 497:185 200,125
4,780 684,818 227,372
10,867 664,150 208,710
,792 2.,054,020 192,975
,303 2,.622,487 219,234
13,738 924,415 265,166
,497 1,584,392 283,623
11,548 1,443,294 494,073
1982 20,636 3,237,376 777,
1984 (1 )
396 5,003,070 520,831
8,800 2,103,000 443,000
Average 19,247 1,340,339 263,785
(1)
source:
13
I
I
628,580
326,
483,
336,359
1,256,
544,184
687,092
72,982
1,871,058
127,857
788,972
73,
,ooo
576,
120 416
233,733
659,190 3, ,170
I
2.3
$1.
are
record
Inlet
total chum salmon harvest 684, ooo
was valued at • 0
) .
1954, the upper Cook Inlet coho salmon
264,000 fish annually (Table 2).
commercial co:ho
susitna
an
I
over the
an
,ooo
6).. In
o,
an
50
388 500
4) •
1
0~------.---~~~----~------~------~~----P-----~
1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1976 1980 1985
YEAR
COMMERCI.Pl CATCH OF UPPER COOK INLET _,'"'" ....... -A'"' E, 1 1
ALASKA POWER AUTHORITY
SUSITNA HVOROElECTFUC PROjECT
ENTRI INC.
83
81
84
81
81
82
83
1
2
3
5
6
1,443,000
3,237,000
5,003,000
2,103,000
128,000
789,000
74,000
623,000
843,000
1,429,000
1,124,000
684,000
494,000
777,000
521,000
443,000
11,500
20,600
20,400
8,800
Estimated
Percent SUsitna2
Mean Range
20 (10-30)
20 (10-30)
10 (10-30)
20 (10-30)
85
85
85
85
85
35
35
85
50
50
50
50
10
10'
10
10
ADF&G Commercial Fisheries Division
ADF&GSU February 15, 1984
Station estimated
1982, 1983, 1984
station (RM 22) Escapema11ts,
288,600
647,400
500,300
420,600
108,800
670,650
62,900
529,550
716,550
1,214,650
955,400
581,400
247,000
388,500
260,500
221,500
1,150
2,060
2,040
880
3 287,0003 575,600 4
279,0003 926,400 2,205 0 8
185,0005 685,300 5,537 3 .. 0
605,800 026,400
127 ooo 3 235,800 8,660 6o8 , 3
1,318,0003 1,988,650 16,822 loJ
150,000 5 212,900 4,656 3.,1
3,629,900 4,159,450
3 1,013,550 4,207 297,0003 1.,4
481,0003 1,695,650 6, 1.,4
290,0005 1,245,400 5,233 1 .. 8
812,700 1,394,100
3 315,000 9,391 68,0003 .. 8
148,0003 500 16,664 .. 3
45,0005 305,500 8, l8a
190,100 411,600
7,
10, -12,
250,0006 251,000
, + I +
0 .. 6
0~------~------~------~------.-------.-------.-----~
1950 1965
OF
1970
AlAS
SUSITN
1980
1 1
. .
POWER AUTHORITY
DROEl
S iTf~
1985
ASCO
"
1860 1985 1980 1986
SUSIT~JA
ASCO
N · Ef\IT
.•
1 .. 34 mill
last 30
3;
an $0 .. 5 million
4) •
Salmon
chinook harvest has 1 2
the upper Cook Inlet fishery over the 30
2; Fiqt1re 8) • Since 1964, opening
fishery has been June 25. The Susitna River
run in late May and in mid-June. Thus,
majority of chinook have already passed through
ect to commercial fishing. Catches of chinook
11,600 fish annually for the 20 year
1964-1983. Approximately, 10 of
in upper Cook are Susitna
1984a) ~ This represents an annual
1,960 chinook the Cook Inlet
, or 1,160
the
for 19
Cook
million ( .. Florey, ADF&G, pers ..
3.
fishery were
comm. 84).
at
I
IJ
25
area
of
30
0~----~~~~==~~~~~~----~--~~--~~
1850· 1980
COMMERCIAL CATCH OF
1970 1975 1980 1986
YEA. A
1
AlASa<:A POWER AUT RfTV
SUSITNA HYDROELECTRIC PROJEC
HARZA-E ASCO
SJTNA JOINT, V NTURE
1960 1966
OF
ALASK
SUSITNA H't
21
1980 198
POWER THOfUTY
ElECTRIC PROJEC
1977-1983
the Southcentral
for 1978 through 1983
on mail surveys to a sample of 1
in Table 4 (Mills 1979, 1980, 1981,
estimates represent sport
the susitna Basin and include an area
9, I
I
whieh could affected by the proposed proj (see
9 lO for locations most of the major
3.3.1 Arctic Grayling
annual Arctic ing
in Susitnc.\ Basin 61, in
aver the last six (Table 5) ..
Arctic on record in
in 1980 when an 22,100 fish ltiere
32 total
in 80 1981) •
22
Table 4 .. tna Basin fi
21'lW_~~
Chinook Coho Pink Chum
locations Salmon Salmon Salmon
:Ai~$:L£~ im-'$e'W!~
11ow Creek 22~682 47 905 56 18,901 2 913 280 0
1 Creek
t~ntana Creek 25,762 408 2 85 1 1 6!3 958
ne Creek
1na) 5,040 12 2,20() 28 1 1,501 1
11,869 478 14 1 470 108 0 461
511687 0 151 28 1 0 334
9,111 aso* 1.798 0 0 0
lake 8,767 326. 2,212 254 1~015 154
Alexander Creek 6.914 769. 2,401 183 215 1 0
achu 1 f tna Rt ver 732 12* 88 141 234 0 235 0
Lake Louf lake
f\.J tna, River
w Others
Total 124.695 2,843 15,072 55,418 1 11i,92S 65
Wi 11ow 459 462 94 3 582 1 0
1 Creek 156 624 0 9 Q"i 0 ..,.
Montana 312,.. 1,735 346 2 745 1 527
Sunshine Creek 10 774 157 55 264
C1 (Chunilna) 312 1,248 31 645 355 1 827
Creek 10 462 31 2,418 682 127
lt e Wf11ow s171 0 262 141 745 1
Oeshka River 13,236 2 1 973 0 109
Creek 13,881 1 1&40 882
Creek 81)284 19 236
Tal itna River 2,185 125 47 55
lake i.oui se lake
Susitna, River
Total 1 6,910 12 12 6 171
W·i 11 ow Creek 14,060 144 441 747 77 2,797 1,533 1,475 249 0 1 ~ 1
Caswe 11 Creek 3,860 77 172 901 38 335 0 326 38 144
l\-1ontana Creek 16,657 239 422 2,261 182 1,782 805 1 .. 111 240
Sunshi rae Creek 3,062 57 0 968 220 958 125 249 10 0
Clear (Chunilna) Creek 3,584 86 287 422 29 19 57 1,226 1 9 418 0
Sheep Creek 6,936 0 0 ' 326 105 11'1236 987 201 51 0
little Willow Creek 3,845 0 0 29 67 604 192 374 48 0
IJeshka River 13,248 738 2!)031 632 0 19 0 3 10 0 96
lake Creek 611·~71 163 632 1$035 211 412 48 2 67 19
.~1 exander Creek 69892 278 843 691 67 57 10 2 287 29
Ta1achu1itna River 1,378 57 0 240 172 29 0 0 0 0 0
lal(e louise, lake
Susitna, Tyone River
Othen;
1981 Total 102,240 2,748 4$828 9 1,283 4~207 1311757 3 21 $> 6 5
"-~-~~
Kllomelers
COOK INLET
F
,-.;ANCHORAGE
ALASK.I\ POWER AUTHORITY
SUSITNA HYDROElECTRIC PROJECT
ENTRIX. SNC.
under cnntract to JOINT EN UR
FIGURE 10
ALASKA POWER AUTHORITY
SUSITNA HYDROElECTRIC PROJECT
ENTAD(. INC.
under contract to
H RlA-·EB S 0
SUSITNA JOI ·V NTU
fish harvest for Southcentral Alaska and Susitna Basin in numbers of fi
South-Susitna
Year central Basin
Source: Mills (1979-1984)
Rainbow Trout
South-Susitna
central Basin
Pink Salmon
South· Susitna
central Basin
South-
central
Susitna
Basin
South ..
central
Susitna
Basin
South ...
central
Susitna
n
were (Mills
(Table 3)~
,
198 )
escapement of , ooo
Basin Southcentral
harvests 13,200
(Table 5). In 1982, about I
103,800
coho were
in (Mills
on
the
7,
was
In 3 , almost one
37,300
have averaged 6,800 121 150
78 (Table 5). The largest sport
in
were landed
i tna in occurred 7 8
1979)" 1981
between 1 ..
estimated Susitna Basin chum
700
1983,
le8
annual sockeye salmon sport harvest has averaged 112 ~ 900
Southcentral Alaska and 2,100 fish in the Sus
years 1978 through 1983 (Table 5) e In 1983 over 5,500
sockeye salmon were caught by fishermen in the Susitna Basin,
is the largest annual catch on record (Mills 1984) .. The
catch of sockeye from 1981 through 1983 has averaged 3
percent or less of the estimated Susitna Basin sockeye
escapem.ent (Table 3) o
3o4 SUBSISTENCE FISHING
The only subsistence fishery on Susitna River fish stocks that
is officially recognized and monitored by the Alaska Department
Fish and is near the village of Tyonek, approximately
30 miles (50 southt\Test of the Susitna River mouth ..
Tyonek subsistence fishery was reopened in 1980 after being
closed for s years.. From 1980 through 1983, the annual
subs 2,000 chinook, 250 sockeye
80 19 C)s
30
.1) (ADF&G 198
first
fourth
, 1984a, 1985) • first-run
of SO exclusively in
, which be influenced the proj
in further detail.
sockeye enter Susitna River
1 through 19 fish
July and second
) . These fish are
Canyon
8 1 1985) e of
1 83
3
0)
, are
w
N
0
River
River
6) ..
at
escapements
28). In 1984,
reached Flathorn
car1
). This is based on data
at this location does not
R!ti 22 ) • :r-:rost.
97 .1) in the
(PJ1 98.6)
(RM 28) 1
(ADF&G 1 1985).
6,300
through 84,
annually
of
sockeye
103) (
85). In
1
) I
~.
I ' J
' ' s \ ,
' I
f
I
\ /"\ I ~ / '"'I . , ...
I I
t I "' . ' , ... ....
4 .,
: t •• , ' ' . i.
' ' ,
I
1
1982
flltlat~IEEL CATCH CFC)
DtSC:HARG£ U:U
Sockeye1
,750 21,200 19,600 even even
Station 121,650 431,000 43,900 88, even
Station 900 6,300 54,600 700 even ,500 700
2,400 28,200 1,600 13, I
even
w 248,400 452,200 ,400 (Jl even even
1 escapements o Four-year average 1981, 1984
1981, 1982, and 1984
3 1981 and Even ..
4 1982, 1983 1984
5
{
was
were
in
1, 2~4
l98la,
salmon the
) spawn slough
few
main channel
3 and seven
, 1985)., 1983 mainstem
eleven spawning
sites were located
23
3
) .
in
site was
were located
(RM 138.
and 2
count a11 seven sites was 33 fish
of in
5 • 3 ) ( ADF &G 19 8 5) • S
the 1981 through 84 surveys.
did
1984, were
85).
I
4
8.9)
1
--0 -·,~-------------------,-------
.6 0 0 0
2 0 0 0 7
4 1 0 5 7
9 7 0 0
0 0 0 1
l 0 0 0
0 0 0 2 1
0 2 0 0 1
0 5 0 1
0 8 8
$1 177 68
3 0 8 2 9 5
3 10 5 2 6 6
129 .. 2 81 1 0 7
133 ... 8 2 1 1 0 1
133.8 0 0 1 0
135.3 893 456 248
137.2 0 0 0 1
138.9 6 0 6 16 7
139 .. 7 23 0 5 11
140.1 2 0 0 0 1
141.1 38 53 197 103
144.5 0 0 0 2
1,241 607 555 (1)
ADF&G l98la, 1982a, 1984a, 1985
(1) Four-year average of totals
,
of sockeye
calculating the total
dividing the average
) C! The total slough escapement 2 ,
, 1,500 fish in 1982, 1,100 fish in 1983 2,2
(Table 8).
passage salmon into sloughs and
primarily on depth
are restrictive upstream
e Hydraulic vel~city barriers do not
(RM 98e }
level direct.ly influences
influence on
1
1982)~
0 0 0 7
0 0 5
0 0
0
5 0 0
0 0 0
0 5 0 1
0 l3 0
0 20
0
9 18
212 0
4 0 0 1
1,620 199
0 0 0
0 11
0 10
87 294
0 0 0 5 1
2,178 488 2,
1985
39
or
33,
(27,000
I
,
7)
15,000
a
) occurs
,000
, mainstem
50
into
backwater
occurs,
mouth
groundwater runoff sources"'
and 21 for over 90
peak in slough
SA, successful
reaches the northeast is
cfs 1984d). When the
) , the lowermost
(ADF&G e
I I
due
15, 0
7) •
occur
39
l
are
, 9, ,
Susitna
and the mean length
Station (ADF&G 198 )e
retention from a sample
was eggs per female in 1983 (ADF&G 19 80
the carcasses had retained 25 or fewer ,
seven percent of the fish sampled had retained more
l, 0 each. In 1984, the average egg retention was
female (ADF&G 1985). Most fish examined (67 76
--~~--·->had completely spawned (ADF&G 1985)&
sex ratio (male to female) of second-run sockeye salmon
susitna River was 1.0:1 in 1981, 1.2:1 in 1982, 1.2:1
3 and 1.0:1 in 1984 {ADF&G 198la, 1982a, 1984a, 1985).
ratios varied considerably between some locations and
(Table 9)o Sex ratios of sockeye salmon by age were
by ADF&G (198la, 1982a, 1984a, 1985). Some males matured an
earlier age than females. Most returning adult sockeye were
four or five year fish that had gone to sea after one
freshw·ater (ADF&G 198 , 1985).
1
--------------------------------------------------------~------
:1
9:1 1
1.2:1 2. 1 51 :1
0 9:1 :1 Q., 1
1.3:1 lfl 1
0 .. 8:1 2.1:1 1 1
1984a,
l aged non-aged
:or.:umes indicate no su:rvey
(
numerous I!
l, 82 1983 is
migration timing is likely
1984a). Peak river
oz~ greater at sunshine Station 1
with reduced fishwheel catches at Sunshine
delayed upstream movement (Figure 14).
( ) Escapement
the last four years, the chum salmon minimum escapement in
Susitna River has averaged 452,200 fish (Table 6).
estimate is based on the summation of escapements at
aHd Yentna stations and does not include escapements
RM so, excluding the Yentna River (RM 28). In 19 ,
812,700 chum salmon reached Flathorn Station (RM 22)
1985). This can be considered the total Susitna
chum escapement because spawning downstream of RM is
(ADF&G 1985). Most chum salmon spawn the Talkeetna
97 0 (ADF&G 1985) II
1
)
43
6),
------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
I
D
SUSITNA HV OELECTRiC pq JECT
s l
co
£
uo
HO -J w w a " ~ • ...
€tC tO
:t I ...
X lib
l't.i ...
B li!l.. -0
u '10 Ill.
80
1
8t ,,
n
i\ . '
8 ' ' \ I
' I
I
' I
' • I
' • I
9
' ' • ' ' ' ' ,
' ,
\ !i ' , v
' • ' ' ' ' \!'--,
'
1 ,,
'• I I
•• I a
: ' I I
' ' ,
' I
J
6
~~
f ' I ' I
' (
' ,
' I
1981
1
" , '
I
' g
.... _,
w w
X
~ ....
t1:
X ...
X en
1.1. -u
ll.
,_.WHEEL CATCH (FC)
EHSCHARGI! (Q)
1!
l\
;; f\ I \ /Y b • Q ' 2 ~ 11 J•
<I') JJ/' \ ,.,
~ g \ ' / \) 0
' \
I
' \
9 I
8 ,700 fish
Station 103) at an
in 1981, 4.9
in 1984 (ADF&G
4
85) ..
0)
0) Talkeetna station and
following rates: 4.5 mpd in 1981, 7 .. 7 8 , .. 3
3 and 8 .. 5 mpd in 1984 (ADF&G 1984a, 1985) ..
( ~pawning Locations
chum salmon spawning in the Talkeetna-to-Devil
occurs in either slough or tributary stream habitats0
3 peak index counts in stream and slough habitats were
, while in 1981, 1982 and 1984 counts were higher i:n
sloughs (Table 10).
Chum salmon peak index counts in sloughs upstream of 98o6
were: 2,596 fish in 1981, 2,244 fish in 1982, 1,467 fish
83 and 7, 556 fish in 1984 (Table 11) • Ten sloughs were
occupied by spawning chum salmon in all four years ( ) ..
Five the ten (sloughs 21, 11, SA, and 9)
over 70 percent the chum salmon counted (Table 11)0
6
------~------------------------···"~ .. ------
1, 3,
2,851 531 3,186 I
l9Sla., l984a,
1 _ .... ___ anci side cn.cmrlel .. -""'·~-... -
...'l..l\~!0..11.."""'~ ~·l'""'.lllul. slough and slough .~., ..... -..... ....;;;J
wt"'t'J~ ... ~~,... aVleraLqe of .._,~,-
99 6 0 0
.2 0
4 0 0 3
9 0 0 0 4
0 0 0
"6 2 1 0 1
&2 0 0 0 0 0
.. 3 2 6 0 5
7 113 .. 2 0 0 0 0 0
113.7 302 0 0
.a 0 0
8 0 1
9 0 4
.. 2 1
.5 167 23
.6 140 0 111
.7 0 2 2 10
1 620 336 37
B 126.3 0 58 7
9 128.3 260 300 350
.2 90 5 0
133.8 182 118 105
133.8 0 2 1
135.3 411 459 586
135.4 0 0 0 0 0
9 4 0 4 8
135 .. 9 0 0 1 0
15 137 1 1 2 100
137.3 3 0 0 15 5
.. 9 21 90 66
.. 1 0 0 0 3
19 139.7 3 0 3 45
20 140.0 14 30 280
141.1 274 736 2,354
144 .. 5 0 0 66
21A 145 .. 3 8 0 0 5
2, 2,244 1,467 7, 3,
1982a,
1 2,9 3
I
of the peak survey
spawning areas in 1981 through
mainstem spawning sites were: 16
in 19821 219 fiSh in 1983 and 11266
) • During 1981 through 1984, 38 mainstem
were identified. Most of the-ae were sites
Three sites were used in three or more of the
14).
, the peak spawning activity of chum salmon
during tlle last week of August in streams and the first
of September in sloughs and mainstem spawning sites
1 through 1984 (ADF&G 198la, 1982a, 198 , 1985).
::i:\ccess
Access and passage salmon into tributaries is
conditions stream mouths., As the stage in
tributary mouths may
501 5, 2,944 ,634 6,
1985
l98la, 1982a, ..JJ..J'Io,jl"''!i'-1985
1 wt"'I·'I~~Jli!il"" a,~Tet'iacre of ~"""g.,&..,
c
c
L
L
L
R
R
R
R
L
140.8 R
141.4 R
6
c
1
2
3
3
6
5
12 4
25
400
2
s
5
6
6
2
1
not
(vi)
(
a new
these were
1 through 84
conditions into
are sim.ilar to conditions
Section 4.l.l,v. Sloughs 9, 1
over two-thirds the total peak
in slough habitats during 1981 through 1984
and :backwater effects at sloughs SA, 11 and 21
mentioned previously (Section 4.1.1). 9,
occurs 19,000 (ADF&G 1984d).
discharge e Passage Reach I
a discharge less
breaching and on
at Slouqh
mean fecundity River
1984a)o This
mean
of
of
as a
,000 or
1,000
chum
I 1.1:1 I 1.2:1
,
(Table ) 0
I 1982a, I
or fi•ve fish
of
Susitna
river Yentna
mid.,.July
(RM 28,
of until third
Coho are numerous
(RM
timing
is in
l984a).
sea
are
I
o. 1
1
0.8:1
l~ 1
1
l98la, 1982a, 1984a, 1985
ncll'\"""8(l'@tl• fish
55
7:1
3 1
1. 1 1
9:1 5:1
1.1:1 :1 1
-----------~------------------
--------~--------·----------------
~---------------------------~---------
salmon escapement
5,700 Station
rangfa of 2, 400 to 11,800 (ADF&G
the of
because a significant
, approximately 75 percent coho
Station 85).
the 1984 escapement (
to account
2
1984 coho
) .
( )
SO)
)
) 81
,"'-,
\
\/\
\
' ' \ I ""'.,
" I • I I
' t I &
I e
I l
;? •
l '
' I ' \ I
\ I
' I
' I ""'
f\
I ' 1\..
\
1981
1982
'
,...WH£1El CATCH (FC)
DOSCHARG£ U:U
E 1
"',\ ,.,, ' \ , '
J ' ' ' \
\
\
\
\
' \
' \
Coho
were: 458
1,434
,
5) 0
1, one
9. 2, in
SA
counts
1.1
131.5
5 .1) on
in 1981, 633 fish
in (ADF&G
upstream BM 98. 6
index su:rveys in 1981 through 1984.
2,
10 fish all years were
in 1982,
in 1981,
1 1985).
Creek, Creek,
(Table
streams coho
in 19 81, Whiskers
I
and
Creek in
3 and
McKe.nz
) .
were:
and
3
,
3
I
Mile 1981
101.4 70
106e9 so
111.2 0
111.6 141
.6 3
116.2 56
117.7 0
131.1 1
136.7 0
138.6 85
144.5 0
148.9 22
458
ADF&G l98la, 1982a, 1984a, 1985
1 Four-year average of totals
1982
176
36
6
74
5
133
8
4
1
101
1
88
633
1983
115
12
2 5 3
19 117
2 9
0 0
3 8 4
0 0 0
53 465
1 6
15. 128
240 1,434
)
were
Ratio
coho sa,lmon in the ,a
(ADP&G 19'85). This estimated
the regression analysis of fecundity as a
and mean length of coho
Sunshine Station (ADF'&G 1985).
(male female) coho salmon in
was 0.9:1 in 1981, 1.4:1 in 1982, 1.3:1 in 1983 and lo2:1
198 ,
la 1 l982a, 1984a, 1985) " The sex
17).
(
were
one or
,
in
0.8:1
:1 2.3:1 8:1
:1 l
1.5:1 1.5:1 7:1
2 1 3:1 2. 1
l984a, 1985
2
at
, 1985) 0
(ADF&G
are
Station in
(Figure
1 and
(
a
distinct
____ .. ,., the
l984a, ) • The
in susitna
3, the
l, 8,400
are based on the
sunshine
80,
3, 9, 9
) II
22
life cycle
occurring in
runs are
odd-year
Flathorn
)
1,
and
stream$
minimum·
93,400 81
In
----------------------....... ----
.I
---------------------------------------
1
--
-_,
w w r
ilt
"":
E
% ...
X
!:
t.o. -to)
@a.
10 I
I I
&fl ' ~ \ ' 0 \ 8
\ I ' , \)
' ' \
\
\ ' ..
1982
.'\ \ (\. !\ " \ . \. \_.,... ..... ! "' I \J \ ~ \.,..r
~ p ., '
I
' ' I
ASHWH££L CATCH (FC)
DISCHARGE UU
( )
9,
Talkeetna
in
Station
upstream of RM 103
return downstream below Talkeetna
1984, 85 percent of
Station returned downstream
escapement (177 ,900 fish) tc)
account for the milling
Canyon reach accounted
the 84 pink escapement to
Migration Rate
pink salmon migrated from sunshine Station (RM 80)
1
Talkeetna Station (RM 103) at average rates of speed 2 ~ 6
per day (mpd) in 1981, 7.4 mpd in 1982, 5.9 mpd in 83
5.9 mpd in 1984 (ADF&G 1984a, 1985)" The average rates
travel increased between Talkeetna Station and curry
(RM 120): 6.0 mpd in 1981, 10.0 mpd in 1982, 7.1 mpd in SJ
and 9. 4 m.pd in 1.984 (ADF&G 1984a, 1985) •
(iv) Spawning Locations
majority of pink salmon in the Talkeetna ..... to-Devil
reach (RM 98e6-152) spawn in tributaries (ADF&G 1984a, 85).
index counts for streams upstream
1, 2,
8
82, 1,329
1,
98.6 were 378
1983 0 5
e7
8
131.1
136.7
138.6
l44o5
9
1985
1 ~t-Vde.a.r average totals
2 EV~m-~\T~r average totals
1
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
2 113
8
6
29
0
2 738
1 21
0 169
378 2,
67
0 1
6
0 3 0
0 6
0 0
0
17
0
7 4
0 0
0 0
0 0
s
9
J..
0 3
78
7 4
5 14 3
2,707
1,329 I
1 was 38
0
3;
l,
1,3
Total slough
in Slough 8 (Table 19).
upstrr;;am of RM 98G6 was 297
) '" of the seven sloughs (11
over 80 percent escapement. No
20)
in sloughs in 1983; fish counted in
spawning were
1984a) • In 1984, the total salmon
.6 was 647 fisn (Table )o
sloughs were: 8A, 11 20. In 1981
activity in sloughs occurred about
,,_,,"'--, in 1982 it occurred first
and in 1984 it
198 1 198 I 5) G
(v)
salmon into
0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 2 0 0
0 0 0
0 5 0 161 0
0 18 0 0 0
0 18 0 0 0
0 170 0 0
0 75 0 0
0 9 0
38 297 0 647
totals
69
20
areas
the local
pink occurs
(ADF&G 1984d, 1985)~
Fecundity and Sex Ratio
fecundity for susitna River pink
1, 3 eggs per female, lAYhich is based on
of fecundity as a function of length and
of all female pink salmon measured at sunshine
3 (ADF&G 1984a).
(
sex ratio (male to female) of all pink salmon sampled
Susitna River was: 0.8:1 in 1981, 1.4:1 in 1982, 0.9:1
1983 and 1Q)3:1 in 1984 (ADF&G 198la, 1982a, 1984a, 1985)m
ratios at sampling locations in the susitna River for 1981
through 1984 are presented in Table 20 ~~ pink
returning to the Susitna River are two year old fish that
to sea in their first summer of life (.ADF&G 198la,
1984a, 1985).
70
4:1 o. l
0.8:1 0:1 9:1
0.8:1 l. 1 1
1.2:1 1.6:1 1
0.8:1 1.5:1 1.0:1
ADF&G 1984a, 1985
oa.snes indicate no survey
71
,
be
1981
fishwheel catches
( in 1983 reduced
did coincide
relationship of ri,;·er
fishwheel catches Sunshine P
chinook
( )
minimum
3 was
that a
percent
some creams
as for
This
21)
survey
once;
the
I
l934a)
(3)
2
-----------------------------... ____ """"-
82
I -----------------------------------------
12
1
I
~
"" 0 0 ... ' 0 •,
~ .,
' .. ~ .. ,,... I "" .. ~,
4\
I' ( \ -I \ I \.\ ..II
1M I \ B \ I w ;; I \ ' I X , I \
ill: § , ' I ... \} ' I
c ... I '~' :'ll: I \A ....
X ~
!! "" Q.o. g -0
0
01\.
Q n
:\ 1981
r \
8 \
, l
I \
I \
' i I \ I .,-.... •• , ' \ ,
I '' \ , \
I \ ..
I
• ' I
I
~
1982,'
I \
I '
I '
I '
I ' I \j
I
I'.. . ,
" ' ,.,,\I I' v , r
I
-..J w w
X
jg ....
li
:X ...
J:
!2
!
u
16.
,_..WNEa. CATCH (fC)
I'USCHA~GE U:U
20
A
Jl
H
I \
)\
\ a ' § ' ....
\
I \
\ «)
~
~
0
ALASKA POWE
SUSITNA
5,412 9e246
21,693 39,642
160 133
203 336 362
833 598 436
1,445 1,443 881
455 630 1,209
b b b
1,660 1,065 1,661
b b b
-J
Ln
b b b
44 135 b
3,735 7,391 8,
2,280 4,102 1,
b 8 b
b 1,511
b b b
1,319 1,856
a
6,
,385
b
1,
b
1,086
b
b
b
4,
a
b
b
b
1,648
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
b
a
b
b
b
a
a
b
b
b
a
a
a
a
a
814
1,
b
1,
b b
b b
b
a 3,
a a
8 b
b
b
2, 3,
a
24
6,
b b
b b
b b
b b
b b
b b
.J b b " b b
537 393
b b
b b
702 374
b b
50,615 77,937 I
a
b
b
b
b
b
b
b
b
114
b
b
140
b
I
37
a
a
b
b
b
b
b
b
b
b
285
b
b
190
b
a
a a
1, 3
a a
b b
b b
b b 5 8
b b b 1 0
b b b
b b b 2
b b
b b
a
b b 2 6 7
b
a I
b b b
( )
(24, 800)
factor,
5
(ADF&G 1985).
ration Rate
)
the
-··-u--·~ ·~a~~wu migrated Sunshine Station 80)
Station 103) an average of
<11 miles day (mpd) 1982, 1.8 mpd in 3e3
(ADF&G , 1985). The rate
station and Station 120) was 2 2 mpd
, 2.7 mpd and 4.3 in (ADF&G 1 1985)e
(iv)
canyon iD 6·-152) 84a
counts .. 6 were:
1,121 1, 2, 82, I 32 83
7, 4 22) 0
1,121 2, 432 7, 3,
ADF&G 198la, 1982a, 1984a, 1985
1 "H't""m·,~~I.7C.:::~~!,.... a:~le:t4age of ....-"-...lliiilJ
78
should be
chinook
98.6; (2) more
count
may not
and Indian River are
for chinook salmon
9 8 • 6 ( ADF &G 19 ) o
over 90 percent of the peak index
1984 (Table 22).
of the spawning activity in tributaries
.6 was between the last week of July and the first
in 1981, 1982 and 1983 (ADF&G 198la, 1982a, 1984a).,
Access
are usually prevented frvm migrating upstream of
(RM 152) because of the high water velocity. Low
1982, 1983 and 1984 allowed a few· chinook salmon to
Devil Canyon. In 1982, 21 chinook salmon were
two tributaries in upper Devil Canyon (ADF&G 1982a) •
1983, 34 chinook salmon were observed in three tributaries
Devil Canyon (Table 22). In 1984, 46 fish were
three tributaries in upper Devil Canyon (Table 22).
( 83)
are
1
)
, 4
0) e
to of
2.8:1 in 1981, 1,.4:1 , 1.5:1
19,8la, I
in for
( la,
salmon were or seven
sea one 8 I
) .
• 2
98. )
one
2.7:1
1.9:1
1984a, 1985
1 .....,..._ __ ~ all aged ard non-aged fish
oasnes indicate no survey
4:1
1.2:1
2.3:1
1. 1
2:1 0:1
1
:1
(2)
I
during
literature
incubated in low and
concentrations were smaller
at higher concentrations;
oxygen
development may
the
hatching,
e ,
the
(19 )
sac
increase
a
(1979)
( , 9,
1983,
than mean
SA
whereas
lowest
the
(
, 21)
(
Slough
development.
this slough as a
may have caused some
to
(9,
met.
Diversion
of an
cold
jam
(1975)
development.
and 21)
recommend a
for
at '
5.0 mgjl. In
thus far,
is
in
I
Development
embryos
Reiser
or near
,
lower
9
, can
was
Bjornn
are
3a).,
or
are
I
is
temperature
general, the lower 1
initial incubation of salmon are
(AEIDC 1984) • Incubation can occur
if the initial temperature is
0 4. 0 c. This initial sensitivity
temperatures is apparently related to embryo
because once the blastopore is closed on the developing
, the sensitivity is reduced (Combs and Burrows 1957)o
most species in the susi tna River, the timing
deposition is sufficiently early in the season to avoid
initial temperatures. The relationship between temperature
embryo development is frequently measured in temperature
These are defined as the difference between
temperature and o0 c over 24 hourse example, if were
incubated at 7°C for 5 days, the accumulated TU'S would 35o
an embryo accumulated 140 temperature units
approximate developmental stage needed to achieve
it probably
areas
one
, mean
83)
have
river
of
could mean _ t:hat
an
not
result are out
rear one
( 8 )
(
(
a
m:m.
be
a1.·e unable
require
depends
large
on extensive studies on
U .... i,.!. -eo. a '· .l.~Zl .......
nor is salmon
(
I
ca.n
1 ~
use ( l
or
of the flows
moderately high flows
interchange of intraqravel
oxygen supply to embryos (Reiser
, depending on conditions, may remove fine
, velocities should be less than those that
bed materials {Reiser and Bjornn 1979).
Susitna River and its tributaries, high stre.amflows
material movement predominantly occur during the
season eith3r due high discharge from rain
meltinge Increases in streamflow in
slough babitats can also occur during the ice
jams and cause
and 1983) ..
materials.
one
or
occurrence was
post-hatching
events various
Stober et al.
that should
field conditions.
valid the severe
(
used
Such
occur on the Rivero
point , I
severe conditions moving
can occur if
were
can occur,
have some
the
areas
can consume 1 il
coarse
are
on
.,3 .. 1
(
sockeye salmon in the
(RM 98.6-152) occurs during the month of
198 , c) • In most sockeye j of
have reached 33 mm length. This
similar the April June emergence reported
(1980) Scott Crossman (1973).
( )
in
98 ..
0
1
i
or move
j
8
sockeye
Cc..nyon
, 82a,
rear
, s
82, over
were in
198
in side slough and
1983 rearing sockeye were
upland slough side slough
most important upland slough was Slough
important. side slough.
Slough ll for rearing
factors. First, Slough 11 is an
spawning, accounti.ng for over 75
Sl
is 1
s
escapement for adult sockeye salmon in 1982 (
84a) • And secondly, Slough 11 is breached only
s
21)"
11
discharges (over 42,000 cfs) (ADF&G 1984d) This condit
provides more favorable rearing conditions than breached
There have been decreased catches in natal side
sloughs after breaching transforms the side slough to side
channel habitat (ADF&G 1984b).
During July and August 1983 there was a redistribution of
juvenile sockeye from natal side slough habitat upland
slough habitat (ADF&G 1984b)~ Slough 6A was the most important
upland slough for juvenile sockeye in 1982 and 1983 (
1983b, 1984b). This slough has low water velocity 6 clear
water, adequate depth and abundant cover and is quite di
from the
sub-basin
ority of sloughs in the Talkeetna-to-Devil
1984b) ..
91
Sl
iBU Rl ES
81
j
( 2)
9
were
suggested a
Cladocerans copepods were
in 11
terrestrial insects were
ration
sockeye
98.6-152)
( 13 )
t).le
during first
12,395 j
1983 were
adult
was
84b).
is
8
,
1983.
OAT£
FRY DAilY CATCH PEt~ HOUR RECOR
ANT TRAPS, MAY 18
1984
DATE
OAIL Y cA·rcH PER
AM MIGRANT TR
AOF&G 1e84
AY 18
E 2
AL
SUSiT
E
under contract to
9
S SIT
co
J T V N U
season ..
outmigrating age 0+
mm in late June and increased
198 • Age 1+ sockeye in 1982
and mm in late July. In 1983
separated by length analysis. In early May
6
2
were less than 56 mm, while age 1+ fish were 56 mm or
In late June age O+ sockeye were less than 71 mm,
1+ fish were 71 mm or greater {ADF&G 1984b).
Population Estimates
83 population size of age 0+ sockeye was estimated in
Talkeetna-to-Devil canyon reach ( 98. 6-152) <!) were
clipped and tagged with half-length coded
, 11 and '11
103. The
recaptured in
size was an 560,0
Petarson mark/recapture estimator and 575 1 00
using the Schaefer es~imator (ADF&G 4b).
5
i
(Russell
or smoltse
was
0+
1966,
0.6 8 .. 5
salmon emergence in the Talkeetna-to-Devil
98.6-152) occurred during 1982 in late February
)
1983b,c). By late April most juvenile chum were 35 mm
• Thus, it appears that chum salmon emergence C>ccurs
this reach of the susitna River from February through
(ii) Seasonal Movements
emergence chum salmon may outmigrate to a
single night if they are in systems close to ocean (
and Crossman 3). However, in situations
out.tniqration for days or (Morrcw 80) ..
juvenile chum in the Talkeetna-to--Devil
98.6-152) by late April, while the
( 103) noY:. occur until
8 ,c; j
j
)
habits
River.
(
same areas
juvenile chum have
However, j
the
) befo:t·e outmigrating
this (ADF&G
they feed on
It
this
,
( 2
been
spend one
j
S Iough
Slouoh 9
SIDE S
COA\181
MACROHAB
T
juvenile
reach ) (
was done to compare 1983 j
rates with mainstem discharge
to mid-July (this period
2) ~
catch at the downstream migrant traps)
the variation in catch rates was accounted
discharge. The coefficient of
discharge and juvenile chum outmigration
0.79; r = 0.89 1984b)~
reached a length of 35 mm by late
mean size . . "' JUVenJ....~..e
Canyon ) was 42 mm (..,....,...~,,"'-4
2
some juvenile chum
others
of
some
82
j
2,
to
reach
from
rates, population
juvenile were
Fish were
Bismark
could
were
chum population
rates were 2e3
within
and
Slough
11 was an
was 32&7
rate was
82
(
I
(
occurs
over a
can occur
time of
ements
is a downstream movement
the summer the
@6-152) (Fiqure
0+,
(ADF&G
I 2+)
1
coho (96
si.de
for j
3
Some
the
were
mean
j
Canyon
,
( ) .
3 were
s D OLDER DAILY
THE DOWNt~TREAM MIGRANT y
A G 1
In d I cut Rivet
&.e•J.
Wl\hlllitrt
CU.lli k
four TrH•utorhc
Combined 3.2 ~~.
COMBINED M R ABI
TYPES
SIDE
u NO H
AlA
sus~#rN Et
(
occurs
and
were examined ir1 August and
canyon reach 9811i6-152)a
dominant food item numerically in
chironomids are small, their volumetric
less than their contributiono
a selection
were
dipterans, and mayfly and stone fly were
occasionally • Riis and 1978) found
numerous
in the River fed on drifting
in the
were major
1 while the adult of
summer
83) report
food
are more to occur
a.re more
2+ were caughte
outmiqrant 103,
2
la,
June
of scales in 1982
at Curry Stati'Jn (RM 120)
from the Susitna River as
82a, 1984a).
or
correlation analysis was done to compare j'll'!l"ll''ll'an, ....
outmigration catch rates at RM 103 with mainstem
1984b). The coefficient of determination (r2 )
discharge and outmi_gration rates was 0. 17 0+
fish and 0.22 for age 1+ fish. Thus, 17 and 22 percent
variation in the outmigration rates was accounted by
mainstem discharge.
(v) Size
The average size
Canyon sub-basin
age O+ coho in the
98o6-152) was 56 mm in
41 mm in late June 1982o The size increased to 63 mm in
September 1981 and 65 mm in September 1
3b). 1 0+ coho were
were 2 &a
This
than
(
j
98
1981
l.
on
2
)
0) ·was
occurs
(
canyon
(
ocean
canyon
Scott
such a
, those :migrate
may nymphal larval
juvenile pink the
on
and r -J·
were
( 26) ..
July
move ·~
3
0
::c
0 a-
4
0.4
0 0.2
19
1~~-----MAY----~.-----------------JUN
PSNK SALMON FRY BAllY CATCH PER HOUR RECORDED AT THE DOWNSTREAM
MAY 18 THROUGH JUlY 8. 1983. A 1984
AlA KA PO\VE
SUSBTNA
,
(28 fish).
population size j
canyon reach
been low for this
were caught in t.he downstream
3, 24>5 juveniles were captured
runs of salmon are numerically
in the Susit.na River, with even-year
than odd-year escapements
) e The progeny of even-year
in following odd year. Therefore,
juvenile pink salmon likely greater in odd
even
(i)
in
,
) I
even
II
)
areas I
tri~utary
redistribution ·
been observed the
(1981),
1978) and
Montana
the
(RM 77)
Susitna
the Susitna River by
) • Some juveniles move downstream
reach. The
,
i
Eight Sihu;
Combined 4.0 *I~ ______ .......,
Whiskerf£ Creek
ShHJ~Ih
Side C tu.uuus I
TRIBUTARIES
SIDE
s c
COMEHNED MACROHAS
FIGURE 27
SIDE
CHANNELS
ND SlO
SU~ITNA HYDROELE
ENTRD<e INC.
under con~r fi c t to
)
,
chinook
Chul
s
food habits were in
1982 sloughs SA, , 20, 21
July Creek (ADF&G 1983b). Fish were
primarily on ohironomid larvae, pupae
, dominance of food items was based on
or • Since chironomids are
importance may overemphasized by
I
Electivity indicated that juvenile chinook
a positive selection chironomid larvae.
aquatic insects were also eaten
studies in 1982
chinook diets are usually
o05) (ADF&G
(
swnmer
28}G 0+
ISO
12.5·
MIGRANT
AGE
MAY 18
PER
1983.
(
o.
can
areas
s
was over
)
was done
and o o 19 ( r -o • )
the il'1
mainstem _..,..,..,_.., .. _..._
90 mm May
1 and (ADF&G 1983b) • l+
the Canyon sub-basin 98.
reach
separated
May
early
the River,
length
chinook
they are
81 mm. are less
103 are
of
0+ and
103 are
than 71 and
l all
fish 198
8 ) e
j
same
occur throughout the Susitna
Upstream Talkeetna,
spawning and rearing,
occurs the {ADF&G 19S4b).
Chulitna confluence (RM
in May
Whiskers Creek 104s4),
?tnd Fourth of 131.1) are or
areas this
are
) • Both sexes by
is a areas
areas
in
I
,
areas
move
8 1 19
rainbow
' were not influenced
on recaptures from thre~e years of
size of rainbo~w trout in the
were
was estimated to be about 4,000 fish
( 8
length) (ADF&G 1984b). This estimate
as an approximation because it does not account
recruitment, mortality or emigration {ADF&G 1984b).
83) 1
grayling are found throughout the Susitna Basin (ADF&G
Jb) o In the Ta.lkeetn~-to-Devil Canyon reach,
grayling primarily use mainstem habitats for overwintering
tributaries for spawning and rearing (ADF&G 1983b-,
of Talkeetna, Arctic grayling move into
and early June (ADF&G 1983b, 1984b). High
occurred in Whiskers Creek Slough (RM 101.2), Lane
e 6) I of Jul:r (RM 1310 1) I
I
pools
•• 3
the River
to be more
River confluence 1984b). are
the
areaso
spa-w-ning areas
areas
198 I 19S4b). are
are
0.5)
II areas
j
I
were to occur
it
Susitna
Whitefi.sh.
whitefish occur throughout the susitna River
l98ld). Downstream from Devil Canyon, they appear
more abundant in the middle riv,er reach (ADF&G l983b) o
reach, round whitefish are most numerous between RM 2s6
150el (ADF&G 1984b).
whit~efish were found in tributaries and sloughs ra.ore
thart mainstem a.:reas in 1982 and 3 (ADF&G 1984b) ..
mainstem is used for some spawning and juvenile rearing, and as
a migra.ti~onal corridor.
is an upstream migration of
whitefish that is thought to be associated with spawning
1983b). This species spa~~s in the mainstem and at
are
j
areas were
were:
as
rear
occur
to
confluence (RM 98.6)
Canyon reach (RM 98.
associated with tributary
the mainstem is also used throughout
1
areas
(ADF&G 1983b, l984b). The major overwinterin1:l
rearing areas of this species are unknown
The mouths of Trapper Creek (RM 91.5) and Sunshine
and side channel (~~ 85.7) are known spawning areas
l983b).
4c5.3 Humpback Whitefish
Humpback whitefish are found downstream of oe·~.ril Canyon
lOol and 150el (ADF&G 19S4b). They appear to be more
abundant downstream from the Chulitna River
(RM 98e6) (ADF&G 1984b). In ·the Talkeetna-to-Devil
tributary and slough mouths are used by adults
, with the mainstem serving mainly as a
1983b 9 l984b). Due to catches of
1 littl~ 1
I
found in
creek (RM 111. 5) , ho'"ever
of RM 50.5 (ADF&G 198Jb, 1984b).
found in tributaries and
•
s5.6 Threespi;na Stickleback
of
stickleback have caught
-~·~~.~ as 146. , but are more
River confluence
rearing
o;;;:A..L!i.JLLwJ.~c . .~. mouths (ADJ:i.,&G 1983b) o
(ADP'&G 198
occur
~ 6)
mouths
the
occur
areas
!1
occur
J
summer
or
gone· to
1982a).
as
sculpin occur throughout the Sus.itna
198le, l.983b) o They are most abundant
tributary mouths,
e Sculpin in the
spawnJ.ng, juvenile re~rinq
limited area (ADF&G 19.~3b) a
mainstem is also
are
adult movements
addition to
species of
198 0
w.ay occur in the lower
occur throughout
,
or
itna
l \._ ·····----~--""""'.-"""""""""~--~,q;;s~~-------~~~~~~.,.~~-~-
8 ,b;
were
rare in
Su Hydro, unpublished
summere
cover
and until
I l983e).
channel consists of portions the
that normally streamflow during ·
season become appreciably during periods
islands
ate
5clcl Adult
2). channel habitat exist
,
through
s:ca.aller
river
3
or poorly
submerged
mainstem
1982,
the
the
1983
\
• J I
a
5
summer
Iii
) serve .as
of
, ,
migration
high-flow season.
cause slowed
..,
I
li)
I
1984
) "
high flows subside (:r"'igures 12, 14,
upstream migration was observed
I:J ,
0
If
Canyon reach at flows 40,
(RM 6.8) (ADF&G l984d).
and side channel spawning upstream of 98.6
for sockeye, chum coho salmon (ADF&G l98la, a,
) * Chum salmon apparently utilize
and side channels spa~~ing more than coho or
do. Counts chum salmon spawning in
habitats were: 14 fish in 1981, 0 in 1982u
2 19 1,266 fish in 4 14)0 Only
channel
were observed
during 1981-1984..,
in late August
, high
limit
4
mid-SepteirtberG
velocities and
in
spawning
The
(
5
use in
) are
,
1984b).
for
23).
l984b) (
are
j
3
I
use
22) il
21).
and
1983 most j~n•en---
m.id-July I
use
low
( 5)"
I (
j
lb, 198
were done
with mainstem discharge
coefficient was highest for j
3 j
= 0.79), indicating that outmigration
chum may be influenced river
coefficients were moderate to low for
j salmon and ranged r = Ooa (r2 =
pink to r = 0.24 (r2 = Oe 06) for 1+
5.1.3 Resident Species
(r =
OcJO}
•
resident species use the mainstem and side channels as
corridors.. species, such as bur bot
spawn in these habitats (ADF&G 1983a, 8 ) ~
an
fish~ Rair~ow trout,
extensively during
Other 1 as Dolly Varden, I
can
,
water
of
an source some
the mainstem controls the water
portion of the sloughs by forming a
source
some distance upstream into the sloughe
is divided into two parts--clear water from
turbid water from the mainstem~ The ma!nstem
a pluq at mouth of the slough that backs
the
in the slough. As the stage in the mainstem
character of the backwater changes, reducing
the entrance to sloughs.
flows overtop upstream (head)
flowa out sediments
portion the sloughs.
in mainstem
slough, through the slough
clear, with in settling
,
. l.n
j
l984b)e
5,
by near· zero
the
Beaver
el Adult
I .... ...., .......... , pink and
habitat the
81a,
and spawning
chum and
pink and
been
82a, l984a,
in 1981
most numerous
abundant.
that
common
canyon
RM 98.6 1981
are
!}
2
4
0
25
,
5,
2 0
, ,
~&4~ --~·~-u, and
, 1982a, 1984a, 5)$
are important habitats juvenile
Canyon reach (RM .,.6-152)
( 74
overwintering areas.,. The use
j
c.~ne to
-Most
(EtA,
Sloughs
is discussed
rear in
21)
sockeye
9
21).
more
areas
periodo
move into sloughs to
may important
chinook.
Species
areas for some fish.
and round whitefish use
rearing,
l984b). These
sloughs during the
fish
some burbot rear in
sloughs
,
I
in
the more
or
the
Salmon
serve as
during (ADF&G
salmon
are
l
are a
spawning
I
) .
l.984a,
spawned
are
) ..
of 1
j
.6-:152)
70
3
4,
1,
l,
salmon
) • In
counts of
as
that more
in tributary mouths
limit
and
one
utilize
In 1983,
f
'1.
in
1985)o
the
areas
Some of
,
(ADF&G
and
some j
including
occurs
summer
areas
1984b)o
,
more mobile
may be
Canyon
areas
summer as
areas j
i zed by j 'l'!'t1";ll!!~r-...... ..!!..
fish
are
1
I
4
6.,
may 1
I
various
occur
River.
some of as
described in other
exposure limiting factors
that are able
resources
River ar~
ect is with-proj monitoring will
if factors
and measures or
SALMON
When ,
can
l
, access
( areas
can remove
significant than the
( ) -barriers upstream migration
canyon, impassable reaches sloughs
conditions and beaver dams can prevent
spawning areas. is unknown
precludes successful spawningo Salmon
of sloughs, which can
mortal I been noted (ADF&G ) .
factors such as or low
I as
1 upstream migration
) • However, these have
the
ranges
such as
of
, 1 161 18, 20) 1
resume
(i)
(
area can 1
carJ. 1
swimming will
• High velocity may l
utilization of mainstem and side
the Susitna River.
) Water Depth -Depth is usually a factor
is too shallow. Salmon tend to
which varies from species to
stock. Depth may limiting in some
habitats under_low flow conditions.
(iii) Substrate -Lack of usable substrate within the
utilized by a species limits the amount
available for spawning incubation ..
such as sand, silt, or large substrate
are not usable. Even though
gravel may be present, the substrate
area
by silts., This may one reasons
the limited use of mainstem and side
habitats sa for spawning in
7
can
1 use
seek areas of
areas offer
ing areas often
likely limit
areas
spawning
like chum salmon.
) Predation -Sculpins and other fish
implicated as taking significant numbers
eggs. For example, Hunter (1959) found
pink and chum fry, the mortality from
range from 23 to 86 percent. Predation on
eggs and embryos in the Susitna River has not
quantified ..
(vii) Low Streamflow -Low water can dewater spawning areas
and expose incubating eggs and alevins (McNeil 69).
Reduced winter flows may cause significant ,
adult fish spawned under high water conditions
redds were located along the margins. This may
occurred during 1982 spawning and 2-198
incubation periods (ADF&G 198 The occurrence
groundwater upwelling may reduce mortalities in areas
upwelling when flows in Susitna
are lower
1 8
(
(
(
areas
Sus
83a)..,
on upwell
due
influx
flow through
mortality ..
sloughs and
, ice
River ..
9 suffered a heavy
the of
move
areas by
ingc
can
of
by high
flows occur
breakup 1982
of s
spawning
and
itat
( ) Intraspecific Competition -The eggs ~nd
up to a
competition
)
resulting fry can increase
(
was not
in 83.
point.
superimposition of
on egg
concluded the
--Adult
,
results
I
salmon
of or
s
z
can caueH~
s
( ii) is
occur~~.
ow ..
If only a
dissolved oxygen,
permeabil may be
densities, this level might
cause poorly or, severe casesp
mortality. studies by (1983a)
dissolved oxygen levels Sus
not a problem for incubating
(xiv) Ice Processes -In certain instances,
ice cover can raise the level of the river
cold mainstem water (0°C) into sloughs are
predominantly supplied by warmer upwelling
(e.g. Slough SA in 1982-1983; ADF&G 1983a).
6 .. 3 REARING
:r~actors that limit the phase of salmonids are complex
and vary with species, size, time of These
may affect species for only a short period of time (e.g.,
salmon fry may only be in freshwater for a few days before they
outmigrata) or for more than a year (e .. g.. chinook, or
sockeye juveniles) .. Following is a brief summary of major
factors that affect rearing fish:
(ij Primary secondary production -the amount of
fie of year can
0
i
I can
sources
(
autochthonous or
sources outside system such as
the production in
is presently unknown,
to detertnine
Nutrients
limiting in
blooms of benthic have
brief clear-water periods that occur
freeze-up.
(
(ii) Water Velocity .... This factor is important both
allowing production of food organisms and
optimization of energy expenditures by fishe For
example, fish will seek areas in which they do not
have to needlessly expend energy. Low to moderat~.e
stream gradients and \<later velocities generally are
considered productive juvenile rearing habitat
(Canada Fisheries and Oceans 1980) .. Peak flow events
that affect mainstem rearing areas may cause a
downstream displacement of juvenile chinook (ADF&G
1984b)"
(iii) Water Depth -Small fish appear utilize shallower
areas with greater frequency.. Unless too shallo'l'rl to
free movement, depth does not usually cause
1
cover
{e .. g.
for
15°C, temperatures
Susitna).
) Juvenile salmonids require cover
provides protection from predators. can
include turbid water, vegetation, substrate
depth. Large substrates and turbidity
provide cover in mainstem and side channel
Vegetation and organic debris provide cover in
and side slough habitats.
2
D.,
3
41
0
3a.
Fish
assessment of
River. Prepared
Anchorage, AK. 207
1
8.
of and Game. 1979. Little
juvenile chinook and coho salmon study ..
Delaney and Roger Wadman, Division
Anchorage,
Department Game. 198 Susi
Studies
Inc.
Aquatic
I Final Draft
Fish and
I
on
, Inc.
4
198
sus
I NY ..
for
E
pp.,
1
I
I
.... Phase
fish
of
Studies -
(October,
2, 3
of
oil ,
82.
6
2
pp ..
I
I
II
May,
and Game.
Bas
5
. .
1983),
198
83c
2
,
0
Volume 3:
c ..
Fish
1:
of
Studies 1 Rep·ort No. 2:
fish investigations,
83,
3
198
3 •
198
1 Stephen S.. Hale, Dr<sw L ..
( .. ) , Prepared : Alaska
Anchorage, AK. 396
Department of Fish
salmon fishery, 1983 ..
Game. 1984c. Tyonek
Division
6:
AK.. 178
I
Fish and
Report
I
Game. 1984d ..
3:
s of the
8 e ..
3
2 .. I
83 ..
84f
3
3:
Department of Fish and Game. 1985 ..
___ ...__ .... 1 Report No. l:
~~-H~, May -October 1984 .. ft ..
Authority. I 7 +
appendices.
1984. Comments on
of 9,
198 ,
resources
7
I N ..
o ..
) : 3
, K .. Roth. 1981 ..
Study. ADF&G
22. AFS -1 & 2 ..
81 .. Thermal tolerance of
's Thesis. salmon embryos ..
1984. Commercial
Communication ..
1, J.P .. , R .. L .. 1 J.Co , P .. E.
, R .. G ..
A .. P ..
resources
I
.. No
8
I I< .. H ..
;
on
( : 83 86.,
II>Jf> 1969
~J. 1979
" .. on Salmon
Fisheries
National
Alaska Statewide Sport Fish
in Fish Restoration. Volume 20 -11,
80 .. Department of Fish and Gamem Aid in
Fish Res~oration. Volume 21. F-9-12 1 SW-I. 65
ls, .J.. 81~ Alaska statewide Sport Fish
1980 ADF&G Federal Aid in Fish Restorat
Volume 22. -13, SW-I ..
F • J .. 1982 .. Alaska Sport Fish Studies.,
Federal Aid Fish 23.,
,
Mills, M .. J .. Statewide Fish
Fish 24 ..
I
1
I " 33
1983<1
1983
on
1
4
fish
I
proj
Buffalo,
and
Phase I
207
81.,
Su.sitna River ..
, Inc. Buffalo, NY 7
Fish and 81.
Phase I
for
81 ..
1
11 ..
1 Inclt
I
of Fish and
60
1
2
3
" 1981 ..
(Vol., 2 2) :
ectg
1
Studies -Phase I Report:
Prepared for Acres American,
13 pp.
Department of Fish Game. 1982m Susitna
Aquatic Studies -Phase II Final Data Report:
2. Adult Anadromous Fish Studies. Anchorage 1
239
aska Department of Fish and Game~ 1982. susitna Hydro
Aquatic Studies -II Repo:tt: Volume 2:
Anadromaus Fish B: Appendices
I AK.. 3 pp ..
13,. Alaska Depar::ment of 83.. Sus
-Phase II Report: Summarization
Volumes 2, 3, 4; Parts I and , and 5 ..... su
Basic Reports; 1982~
I 6 pp$
20 ..
3
Aquatic
Volume 3:
studies
studies
4:
2, Part
83~
8
7
Gamet! 3(1
I
Fish Game. 3
II
Resident j
Canyon, 8 .. 277
Fish
(
Phase
3
Phase
habita·t.
"-iii\o4.&U ...... ., 19 8 3 .. Sus i tna.
II Data
... 1983.,
Basic
ic
182
Hydro
Report"
3 f)
2 i>
25.
6 ..
27.
of 3
) .
168
of Fish and Game. 83 ..
studies: Phase II
Volume Aquatic habitat and instream I
1982, Appendices F-J (Draft) ..
236 pp.
Department of Fish and Game. 1983. Susitna
Aquatic Studies Phase II Basic Data
Volume 5: Upper Susitna River impoundment studies 1
1982.. Anchorage, AK. 150 pp.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game .. 1984 .. Susitna
Studies, Report No. 1: Adult Anadromous
Investigations, --October 1983 .. Prepared
Alaska ~Power Authority, Anchorage, AK.. 380
and itna of
ic Studies,
anadromous
and juvenile
, May -October 1983.,
c .. S.. Hale 1 I
32 ..
" B
1:
8
I AK~ 2
Fish Game.
No .. 3:
Flow Investigations,
3:
I •
Department
I
4:
f
of
5:
Continuous water
Prepared ~ Alaska
5 PPo
Fish Game. 84
No .. 3:
Alaska
30 pp ..
Game .. 84.
No .. 3:
Sus
ic
I
1983)
1983)
and
(+
3
3 "
(+
3
,
"l
I ..d>'"
8
4. sus
May ....
7:
Salmon Spawning Habitat
of the -Middle sus
Authority, Anchorage, 8
Department of Fish and Game.. 1984.. Sus
A_quatic Studies, Report No 3: Aquatic
Instream Flow Investigations 1 -October 1983 ..
Pe.-r·t , Chapter 8: An Evaluation of Salmon Spawning
Habitat in Selected Tributary Mouth Habitats of the
Middle Susitna River. Prepared for Alaska
Authority, Anchorage, 70 pp ..
36. Alaska Department of Fish and Game .. 1984" Susitna
Aquatic Studies 1 Noe 3: A~~atic
Flow Investigations, May -1983 ®
9: Habitat ility Criteria
Chinook, and Pink Salmon Spawning~ Prepared
Power AuthoritJ 1 Anchorage, AKo 61 ppo
37 ..
0 3:
for I
Alaska
Anchorage,
39., of Fish and Game, 198 o
studies:
for Alaska ,
Ancho:cage, Ak. 255 pp ..
o., Alaska Depa~tment o£ Fish and Ga~eo 1984.
AqUat,ic; Studies: .Pro.cedures Manual, ~iay 1983 -
1984. (Appendices). Prepared for Alaska
Authority, Anchorage, Ak. 119 pp ..
41., Alaska Department of Fish and Game .. 1985.. susitna
Aquatic. Stud.fes, Report No .. 1: Adult Anadromous Fish
Inves.tigation, May -October 1984.. Draft e
f~r Alaska Power Authority.. Anchorage, AK., 177 +
appendices ..
Barrett, B .. Mo 1974.
populations in
Devil
An assessment of the anadromous
the Upper susitna River
and Chul
Division Commercial , Alaska Department
Game, Anchorage, Ak. 57
1 !.tc; B., G., cunningham .. 83.,
5 .. I
,
,
,
como~osition.
and
Fish
Anchorage,