HomeMy WebLinkAboutPre Authoization Assessment of Sus Hydro Project Pre Invest of Water Quality and Aquatic Species
PRE-AUTHORIZATION ASSESSMENT
OF THE
SUSITNA RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS:
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS OF
WATER QUALITY AND
AQUATIC SPECIES COMPOSITION
SPORT FISH SECTION
BY
JAMES C. RIIS
FISHERIES BIOLOGIST
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
SPORT FISH DIVISION
ANCHORAGE
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~.,.._._..__.._..~_....__.__~...~_.._.~..__...•.._-.,...~.__._'._'_4,__._..~.·._.-..__.._........_..._._..._.__..._'_.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
INTRODUCTION
STUDY AREA
r4ATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
FISHERIES
BENTHOS
LIMNOLOGY
CONCLUSION'
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
.LITERATURE-CITED
APPENDIX
._._.~__>._.o....--.•,__.-"""'_•._.__~._0_..,..__
Page No.
ii
i v
3
5
13
18
.53
54
57
61
64
65
1
",
LIST OF TABLES
Number Title Page No.
1 Resu1 ts of Wi nter Fry Sampling in Nainstem Susitna,8
Devil's Canyon Project,1975.
2 Fi sh Col1 ected in Sloughs 8et\veen Ta 1keetna and 11
Portage Creek,-Devil's Canyon Project,1975.
3 Age Analysis of Grayling Sampled from Portage Creek,12
Devi1's Canyon Project,1975.
4 length Variation of Grayling Sampled from Portage 1.2
Creek,Devi1's Canyon Project,1975.
5 West Side Susitna River Chinook Salmon Escapement 14
Surveys,1975.
6 East Side Susitna River Chinook Salmon Escapement 14
Surveys,1975.
7 Aquatic Invertebrates Collected in Clearwater 16
.Tributaries of the Susitna River,Devil's Canyon
Project,1975.
30
8 Aquatic Invertebrates Coll ected in Susitna River,17
Devi 1 t S Canyon Project,1975.
9 Maximum and Minimum Daily Water Temperatures from the 22
Susitna River 'at Parks Highway Bridge,Devil's
Canyon Project,1975.
10 Maximum and Minimum Daily Water Temperatures from 23
Willow Creek,Devil'scanyon Project,1975.
11 Maximum and Minimum Daily Water Temperatures from Birch 24
Creek,Devil's Canyon Project,1975.
12 Highest,Lowest,and Mean Values of l:.imnological Data 26
Coll ected from theSusitna River and Seven Tributaries
of the Susitna River Between and Including Willow and
Montana Creeks,Devil's Canyon Project,1975.
13 A compilation of U.S.Geological Survey Limnological 29
Data of Specific Concern,Collected from Susitna River
Tributaries,Montana,Sheep,and Caswell Creeks,Devil IS
Canyon Project,1975.
Water Qual ity Analysis of samples by U.S.Geological
Survey Central Laboratary in Salt l.ake City,Utah,
Collected March 25,1975 fram tne Susitna River_at
Sunshine,Devil's Canyon Project,1975.
14
ii
Li st of Tao1 as (Cont).
Number
15
16
17
18
19
Ti tl e Page No.
Compiled Data of Interest Collected by U.S.Geological 30
Survey from the Susitna R;ver at Sunshine,Devil's
Canyon Project,1975.
Limnological Data CoIl ectad on Four Tributaries of the 48
Sus;tna Ri vel"beh-Jeen Ta 1keetna and Dev;1 CanYon,Dev;1 1.$
Canyon Project ,1975.
timno]ogtcea1 Data Co 11 ected from the Sus;tnaRiver 48
Immediately Upstream from Gold Creek,Devil's Canyon
Project,1975..
Limnological Data Collected from the $usitna River 48
Immediately Upstream from Portage Creek ,Devf1's
Canyon Project,1975.
Limnolog;cal Data Collected from Fifteen Sloughs 55
Along the SusitnaRiverBetVleen Tal keetnaand
Portage Creek,Dev i,1 s Canyon Proj ec t,·1975.
Limnologiceal Data Collected April 24,.1975 fr·om the 56
Impoundment Area of the Sus i tna River near Jeay,Wa tan a,
and Deadman Creeks,Devil's Canyon Project,197$.
iii
,,
~-~----
LIST OF FIGURES
Number Title Page No.
1 Daily Water Temperatures of the Susitna River Approxi-19
mately Three Hundred Yards Downstream from the Parks
Highway Bridge,Devil's Canyon Project,1975.
2 Maximum Daily Water Temperatures of Birch Creek 20
Approximately Five Hundred Yards Upstream of the
Alaska Railroad,Devil'~Canyon Project,1975.
3 Maximum Daily Water Temperatures of Willow Creek 21
Approximately Two Hundred Yards Upstream of the
Confluence with Deception Creek,Devil's Canyon
Project,1975..
4 Limnological Data Collected from the Susitna River 31 &32
at the Parks Highway Bridge,March 26 to August 18,
Devil's Canyon Project,1975.
5 Limnological Data Collected from f~ontana Creek at 33 &34
the Highway £k~dge,March 26 to August 18,Devil's
Canyon Project,1975.
6 Limnological·Data CoHectedfrom Sheep Creek at the·35 &36
Highway Bridge,March 4 to August 18,Devil's
Canyon Project,1975..
7 Limnological Data Collected from Goose Creek at the 37&38
Highway Bridge,March 4 to August 18,Devil's
Canyon Project,1975.
8 Limno1ogical Data Collected from Caswell Creek at 39 &40
the.Highway Bridge,March 26 to August 18,Devil's
Canyon Project,1975.
9 Limnological Data Co11ected.from KashwitnaRiver at 41 &42
the Highway Bridge,April 24 to August 18,DeviVs .
Canyon Project,1975.
10 Limno1ogical Data Collected from Little Willow Creek 43 &44
at the High\vay Bridge,April 24 to August 18,Devil's
Canyon Project,1975.
11 Limnological Data Collected from \Hl1ow Creek at 45 &46
the Hi gh\'1ay Bridge,f~1arch 26 to August 18,Devil t S
Canyon Project,1975.
iv
Pre-authorization Assessment of the Susitna River Hydroelectric Projects:
Prel iminary Investigations of Water Qual ity and Fish Species Composition.
ABSTRACT
Biological investigations of the Susitna River and selected tributaries
were conducted from February 10,1975 to September 30,.1975 to obtain base-
line data regarding indigenous fish populations,available aquatic habitat~
and water qual ity which ...till aid in the definition of biological areas of
concern requiring additional study prior to authorization of hydroelectric
development by the U.S.Army Corp of Engineers.
INTRODUCTION
Anadromous fish stocks of Cook Inlet and the Susitna River drainage,the
largest freshwater system in Cook 10.1 et,have historically been of great
value to the economy of Southcentral Alaska.
Commercial fishing has been the principle use of the anadromous fish
resource,but in recent years,both anadromous and resident freshwater fish .
species indigenous to Upper Cook Inlet and-the Susitna Rivet"system have be-
come increasingly important to the recreational user.
The direct cumulative value to recreational and commercial fishermen,
and indirect values to the many and varied supportive services and communities
deriVing benefit,makes the fishery resources of the Susitna River an
extremely valuable resource.
The salmon stacks utilizing the Susitna River drainage,particularly
the chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha),and coho salman,(0.,kisutchl,are
currently at depressed levels.Chinook salmon stacks have been the target of
extensive commercial and recreational .fishing closures since the early
1960's.Management of these stacks is currently at a most important,if
,
I
~
not critical,st,age.The proposed hydroelectric development of the Susi1:na
River basin will have a number of identifiable,and currently undefined,
effects upon the existing quality of water and aquatic habitat necessary for
perpetuation'of the anadromousand resident fish species.
The U.S.Army Corp of Engineers has stated downstream Susitna River
flows will be significantly altered by regulation,existing seasonal patterns.
of sil tand sediment,transport will be different,stream temperatures and
water quality parameters may be affected,and 50,500 acres,including 82
river mil es,of natural stream will be impounded by the Devil-Watana dam
impou ndments..
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service,pursuant to provisions in
the Fish and ~Iild1 ife Coordination Act and the "Cooperative Agreement between
the Service and the State of Alaska,Department of Fish and Gamel!provided
.
funding to the Sport Fish Division (Alaska Department of Fish &Game)in the
amount of $8,000 during the period July 1,1974 to June 30,1975,and
$16,000 during the period July 1,1975 and June 30,1976 for biological
sur.veys and studies of the Susitna River basin.
With the available funds study objectives were to:1)determine resident
and anadromous sport fish species present and their distribution in the main-
stem SusitnaRiver,its tributaries,and peripheral slough areas;2)measure
chemical,physical,and biological parameters associated with the mainstem
and important tributaries;3)determine the most acceptable sampling
techniques for the highly variable conditions existing in the Susitna River;
and 4)define future studies required to fully idefo\tify the impacts and
effects of hydroelectric development upon the Susitna River fishery resource.
Study results are discussed in the followi.ng text,conclusions presented
2
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I
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L_
where possible.and recommendations made for further definitive biological
investigatiens.
STUDY AREA
The hydroel ectric project under study wi 11 have major effects upon the
Susitna River which drains an area of approximately 20,000 square miles.That
portion of the river above the proposed Devil Canyon dam site drains approxi-
mately 6,000 square miles.The Susitna River basin is bounded on the east
by the Copper River plateau and the Talkeetna Mountains,on the west and
north by the mountains of the Alaska Range,and on the south by the Talkeetna
Mountains and Cook Inlet.
The Maclaren.the Oshetna,and the Tyone rivers are the largest tribu-
taries of the Susitna River above Devil Canyon.The Tyone River is the only
---------
one of the three which is non ...glacial.There are numerous smaller tribu'"
taries which fluctuate greatly in seasonal rate or flow,but remain silt
free or clear throughout the year.
The Susitna Ri ver tributaries belo\'1 Devil Canyon,for the most part ,
originate in the surrounding mountains.The Chulitna,Talkeetna,and 'fentna
are the major tributaries,all of which are glacial.Clear water tributaries
belowOevil Canyon collectively exert considerable influence and are the
major fish producing \'/aters in tn;s system.The major non-glacial tri bu-
taries include:Portage Creek,Indian River,Montana Creek,Goose Creek,
Sheep Creek.Little Wi 110\'/and WillO\-I Creeks,Deshka River,and Alexander
Creek.
The work described in this report was conducted on the Susitna River
primarily from Portage.Creek (located approximately three miles below
Devil Canyon}downstream to the mouth of the Yentna River.
3
One field trip into the upstream impoundment area during late winter
was accompl.ished toatternpt the capture of mainstem residing.fish.Time
and budgetary restraints pre:cludedadditional field studies ihthe upstream
impoundment area during the 1975 summer field season.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Travel to and from sampl ing sites during the winter\'1asaccomplished
via a fixed wing aircraft on skis.A 20 ...foot riverboat,po\·tered by an 85
horsepower outboard,\I/as used to travel on the Sus itnaRiver during the ice:'"
free months.Chinook salmon escapement counts were made \I/ith the use of
fixed wing aircraft (supercub),6eTl ...47 helicopter,and grolJndsurveys.
Adult and rearingsalmonids were cOllected with gill nets,minnow traps,
set lines,seines~dip nets,rOd and reel,andel ectroshocker.
Benthic invertebrates'were coll ected·J'li tn.art ifi'c ia lsupstrates .which
consisted of wire vegetable baskets lined with nylon screen cloth and filled
with rocks taken from the stream bed.The baskets were>le:ft in the water for
a period of approximately 30 days.A hand screen was also used to .collect
benthos.samples.
"In situll analysis of alkalinity as CaC0 3 ,total hardness and pH on
samples from the 5usftna River and the seven eastside tributaries below the:
,
Parks Highway bridge was performed at biweekly intervaTs,using a Hach chemical
kit,Model Al-3GB.Samples were collected approximatelY one to threemeters
from the bank ,at or near the:surface·.Temperatures a tsamplecollection
points were recorded from just below the surface.
Conductivity and turbid'tty samples for the Susitna River and the seven
east side.tributaries were collected at the same time as the above samples,
placed in one-liter polyethylene bottles,and analyzed at the U.S.Geological
4
SurveYt Division of Water Resources Laboratory,using the Hach 2l00A
turbidmeter and a Beckman RB3 conductivity meter ..All conductivity measure-
ments were standardized at 2-SoC.
All thermographic data collected from the Susitna River and twa tribu-
taries were gathered using a Ryan thermograph model 0-30,which was reset
every 30 days.Temperatures were recorded in Fahrenheit on thermograph tape.
The Susitna River water quality parameters from upstream of the Parks
Highway bridge were gathered using a Hach chemical kit model OR-EL/2.Two
sample sites were used;an!approximately 50 meters above Portage Creek and
the other about 150 meters above Gold Creek.All samples were col1ected
approximately'five to ten meters from the bank,at or near the surface.Re-
stricted access and limited time prohibited more extensive data collection
during the field season.
The Susitna River sloughs and tributaries between Devil Canyon and
Talkeetna were also analyzed 'with Hach cf}emical kits,model DR-EL/2 and
Al-36B.All measurements were made approximately t\'10 to five meters from the
bank and 50 meters from the mouths of the sloughs,at or near the surface.
Temperatures were recorded in Fahrenheit to the nearest whale degree and
later converted to the nearest 0.5°centigrade.
RESULTS AND OISCUSSION
FISHERIES
Interviews with staff members provide evidence of resident and rearing
anadromous salmonid fishes migrating downstream from the tributaries into the
mainstem Susitna River during the fall,and back upstream into th.e tributaries
during the spring.A hypothesis was formulated that this migration occurs in
part because of severe icing conditions and reduced flows in tfte tributaries
5
L
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during thew1nter months,which may result in 1)territorial displacement of
.certain species and sizes of fish,and 2)winter habitat preferences,i.e.,
Arctic grayling (Th.xmallus articus)appear to prefer larger bodies of \-/Iter
during the winter.While flows are also greatly reduced in the Susitna River
during the winter,substantial space and,in general,a higher quality en-
vironment may be provided for aquatic species.Concern about this undefined
migration is the basis for designing a biological and limnological study that
included the tributaries as well as the mainstem Susitna River.
The Commercial Fish Division initiated studies in 1974 on the sloughs -
and mainstem Susitna River from the Chulitna River upstream to Devil Canyon
(Barrett,1974).This work was continued and expanded into the Talkeetna and
ChUlitna Rivers (Friese,1975).It was not the intent of the Sport Fish
Division to duplicate work conducted by Barrett and Friese,but to supple-
ment it with limnological data and to further study resident species and
habitat areas not included in their pr"ior and on-going studies.
J
Tne numbers of fi sh.and/or species coll ectedduri ng the fi shery studies
are not statistically significant in that the sample sizes or numbers
collected are inadequate to define specific population sizes.The samples
obtained are important,however,as they document the presence of a number
of fish species,seasonally,in both the Susitna River mainstem and tribu-
tary waters.
The seasonal fisheries investigations have provided considerable insight
into 1)the extreme difficulty in assessing either summer or winter mainstem
,
\.
SusitnF River fish stocks due to high flovis carrYing debris and extreme ice
and snbw conditions respectively,and 2)future study requirements necessary
!I.
to detlermine the significance and extent of the intra-system migrational
I ...
.pheno~enon exhibited by resident and anadromous fi.sh speci es.
6
Winter:
Winter investigations to document the presence of rearing sa1monid fry
;n the mainstem Sus;tna River began February 10,1975 and continued through
April,1975.The mainstem Susitna River \'ias sampled "dth minnow traps)gill
nets,and electroshocker at 11 locations between Susitna station and the
Parks Highway bridge,a distance of approximately 50 miles,and two locations
above Devil Canyon.Studies conducted during t1arch and April,1975 documented
rearing coho,chinook,chum,fQ..keta),gray1 iog,scul pin (Cottus c02natus),
burbot(Lota lota),whitefish (Coregonus 1e...)and sucker (Catostomus
catostomus)over-wintering in the mainstem Susitna River downstream from the
Parks Highway ~ridge (Table 1).The sampling sites and distribution findings
are also plotted on aerial photographs in the appendix of this repo~t.
Minnow traps were installed in Montana Creek,near the three forks,
and Willow Creek,under the highway bridge,during the first week of April,
1975 when water with enough deptry under the ice could be found to effectively
fish a trap.Prior to .this date,difficulty was experienced in finding
sufficient water levels under the ice to set minno"!traps in the tributaries.
Five Dolly Varden {Salvelinus malma)ranging from 85 mm to 142 mm were
trapped in Willow Creek and four chinook fry ranging from 48 mm to 74 mm
were captured 'in Montana Creek.
Minnow traps and gill nets were installed in the mainstem Susitna River
I
above Devil Canyon from April 21 to April 24,1975.A gill net and 12
minnow traps were stationed 100 yards dm-mstream from Jay Cl'eek for 24 hours
with negative results.Six traps and one gill oetwere placed 10Qyards
downstream from Deadman Creek for 12 hours,also withoutcapturlng fish.
7
Table 1.Results of Winter Fry Sampling in Mainstem Susitna River,Devil's
Canyon.Project,191~.
Date 4ocation
Feb.10 Directly off mouth
of Sheep Creek
Sampling Hours
Method Samp!e.d
6 Minnow Traps 24
Number and
Species Captured
o
6 Minnow Traps 72?vIal'.18 2.3 .miles south of
Montana Creek
2tnilessouth of
Ka.shwitna River
Mar.19 Directly off mouth
of Deshka River
Mar.2S Directly off mouth
Montana Creek
Oirectlyoff mouth
Caswell Creek
Apr.10 2.2 miles north of
Willow Creek
Apr.23 100 yardsd.own-
~trea.tnJa.y Creek
100 yards do\m-
stream Deadman Cr •
•Apr.28 50 yards upstream
Montana Cr.mouth
Apr.30 Susitna Station
3 miles south of
Parks Hwy.Bridge
6 ~1innowTraps
12 Minnow Traps
8 Set Lines
4 Minnow Traps
6 l-finnow Traps
25 Minnow Traps
12 Minno\'i Traps
1 Gill Net
6 Minno\'iiraps
1 Gill Net
Electroshocker
Electroshocker
Electroshocker
72
48
48
48
48
192
48
48
24
24
2 SS
1 S
ISS
o
o
3ICS
o
o
-0
o
7 CS
1 GR
1 WF
1 BB
1 S
1 SC
*SS -coho salmon,KS-chinook salmon,CS-chum salmon,S,..sucker,qR~grayling,
1\fF~whitefish,BB ...burbot,SC-sculpin
8
The most successful winter sampling technique for the5usitnaiRive"r
appeared to be the backpack electroshocker.However,this technique is
limited to lat.e winter after certain areas became ice free and before high
"silt laden flows begin.Minnow traps were not as effective during the
winter.asduY'ing the summer because fish are lethargic in cold If/ater.and may
not enter the trap as readily.Thus,samples collected may not be indicative
of fish numbers present at any givensfte.There is a need for testing of
more effective trapping Or fish collecting devices during the winter season.
Summer:
Summer Jnvestigations of fish species inhabiting the mainstemSusitna
River began June 17,,1975.Following 'a reconnaisSance and general familiari ..
zation trip to identify potential sampling sHes,a base campiwasestabHshed
on the Oeshka River near theconfl uence with the Susitna River..Beginning
the week of June 23,1975,a crew of two biologists spent four days each week
through July,1975 sampl ing for rearing fish in themainstem Susitna River
from the Parks Highway bridge do\·-mstream.The results of this five week
sampl ing periOd indicate the foll owing:l}Anadromoussa lmon fry,rainbow
trout,and grayling are scarce in thesi1t laden water of themainstem
Susi tna River during th;s time of year and,2)whi tefish)sculptlhand suckers
were commonly captured in the turbid Susitna River.Tlt/o coho Jry,50 and
69 mmin length,.were captured ata sandbar near the mouth of Sheep Cr.eek
and two chinook fry,59 and 60 mm in length,were collected.downstream of
WiHow Creek.With the exception of these four fry,no other salmon fry,
rainbOw trout,or grayl fng were captured in the Susitna.River when the silt
load was high.The reasons for the scarcity of salmonids inthemainstem
9
Susitna could be attributed to a preference for clearwater by these species
.and the outmigration of chino of<and coho salmon smol ts,pink and chum salmon
fry before sampl ing efforts were i ni tiated.The only sampling techniques'
which proved feasible for collecting fry during the high flow period of the
Susitna River were hand seines and dip nets.Gill nets were ineffective
because of drifting debris in the river during the high summer flows.The
backpack electroshocker is also unsatisfactory when turbidity is high be-
cause affected fish cannot be seen or captured.
On August 6,1975 the base camp was moved from the Deshka,River to
Gold Creek.Sloughs in the Gold Creek area and upstream to Devil Canyon
were sampled for fish in conjunction with the limnological study.Results of
the fi sh coll ections are shown in Tabl e 2.Sei ningwas conducted at four
sites in the ma;nstem Susitna between Gold Creek at Portage Creek with
negative results.
Winter and summer observations of rearing fry in the Susitna River lend
support to the hypothesis that salmonids migrate downstream from tributaries
during the fall to overwinter in the Susitna and return to the tributaries
during the spring.
Arctic grayling are the most common resident recreationally important
species indigenous to the Susitna River Basin.Grayling occur in the
major;ty of fresh water tributari es of the.Sus Hna River,both upstream and
downstream of the Oevi1 1 s Canyon Dam site ,and \'iere documentedspecifica Hy
in those immediate downstream tributari es of Portage and Fourth of Jul y
creeks,and Indian River.
An age-length.frequency of 33 grayling col1ected from Portage Creek is
presented ;0 Tables 3 and 4-as a general indication of grayling size and age
composition.
10
!-
.------------------------
. .
.Table 2.Fish COllected in Sloughs.Between Tal~eetna and Port~ge Creek)
.Devil's,.Canyon.Proj ec't.,1975.
".......'....
,..,.
'Da.:te
Aug.13
••
Aug.14
-Slough
.'Numoer
11
13
15
16
19
,·Species
.'Collected
Chinook
Grayling
Sucker
Grayling.
l'lhi tefish
Chinook
Whitefish
Whitefish.
.Number
.'Collected
1
1
1 '.,
1
1
4 .
.l'
5
Fish
.'Site'(mm)
53
56
49
46
37
·43-53
50
·39-45
..'....".',.
.;~
........:
Aug.15
'.,
20
21
Chinook
Grayling
Grayling,
'Whitefish
.10
2
2
5
..-.-".
52-66 .
43,62
:.-.
.""..
....
Aug.19 17
IS
.......
,
..
Coho
Grayling
Burb~t
Sucker
chinook
Coho
Grayling
Wh!tefish
.Burbot.
~.sucker
2"
4
1
1
4
4
1
3
1·'
2
......."
.--__.:
.....","'..'....
:.:."..
'.
.39,48
33-65
59
52
51-S5
39-S4
.'···S3
.·48-53 .
49
.47,54
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.'.. .......
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11
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..'_..:"...•.".~.:'''~... .·.0......"..
.
..• ••.•0;".-:."".•,,.-."........
AS<l A.ft.a.1."4:"of el'a1~.SilIl..l ...b ...1'ol'tas_Cr_ll.Il ....U·.""'l'O\ll 1'1'0.1_«=.""i-=U.1915.
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.:,
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Lasl$V~U=.oJ Cr.syl1lll:r SaaplH fn.l'ort:r.re ~.l:lotT.l.l i •e:-,....1:=J"=.Aul--12.lIms.
.'.
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.'".;
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~:'.{..~~..
".",..;.
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1._
IOO %aQ 3.s0 400
."
Arctic grayling exhibit in~ra-system migrations and a need exists for
comprehensive studies of these seasonal movements and their significance to
determi ne the overall effects of the potenti all os s of any of their aquati c
hab;tat.
All five species of salmon utilize the Susitna River and all are
equally important.The Sport Fish Division recognizes the chinook and coho
salmon as having the greatest potential for satisfying future recreational
needs.The Commercial Fish Division studied pink,chum,and sockeye
-
(0.nerka)salmon and reported on these species in their section.
A number of key tributaries of the Susitna River were selected for
chinook salmon escapement during 1975 (Tables 5 and 6).It should be noted
,
th~se escapement counts do not constitute total numbers,but indicate
relative abundance and depict the importance of the Susitna River as an
avenue of access.Upstream impoundment may affect the migration of fish into
key spawning streams.Prior to impoundment the magnitude of anadromous
salmon escapements should be enumerated totally.
Benthos
Species diversity has become widely used as an indicator of water
--
quality.Diversity indices may be applied to any biotic community but have
had widest application with the benthos.Such indices relate the number of
kinds of organisms to the total number of organisms and to the number of
individuals of each kind.Undisturbed natural communities are assumed to
have a high diversity;that is,a relatively large numBer of species,with
no species having 'disproportionately large numbers of individuals,(Lind,
1974).Diversity is considered to be a sensitive bioassay for assessing
13
Table 5.West Side .Susitna··RiverChinook Salmon Escapem.ent,Oevil's Canyon..Proj ect;.;-1975;..---. -. . . .... --...•-.'.
..Stream
Deshka River System
Alexander Creek ·System
LakeCreekSystem*
Talachulitna River *
Peters Creex*
CanyonCreek*
Total
Helicopter
Counts
4,737
1,878
281
120
14
2
7,032
Table 6.£a$t SideSusitna River ChinoOk Salmon Esca.pem.en.t,D~vil '<s Catty-oIl
Proj ect,1975.
..
Stream
\lfillo\i Creek
Little Willow Creek
Kash\'1ltna River
Sheep Creek
Goose Creek
Montana Creek
Chunilna.Creek*
East Fork Chulitna ~ver*
Middle Fork Chulitna River*
Prairie Creek*
Indian River
Portage Creek
Helicopter
Aerial Counts
103
33
101
Fixed Wing
Aerial Counts -Ground Counts
177
42
13
229
7
5-S
369
31
32
Total
To'tal All Counts
237 180 775
1;192
*Not a direct tributary to Susitna River;however,salmon.must use the
SuSltna as a path\iay to arrive at theserivers •
14
I-
environmental stress (Cantlon,1969;Wilnm,1970).The diversity of a
community is a meaningful parameter which can be measured (Warren,1971).
Warren emphasized the importance of diversity in defining the environmental
impacts of changes to a system.To properly assess impacts,a diversity
index should be computed,using identical methodology,before,during,and
after construction.
In order to use a species as an indicator organism,its environmental
requirements must be reasonablY\'1ell defined within rather narrow limits
(McCoy,1974).It has been demonstrated that presEfnce of species ;n the
orders Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera in streams indicate unpolluted waters.
Members of both these orders were observed on rocks in the impoundment area
of the Susitna River during the late winter field trip,April 21 through
~pril 24,1975 and downstream of Devil Canyon throughout the summer .
Benthic invertebrates were sampled during the summer season with eight
artificial substrates (Tables 6 and 7).Substrates were placed in the ma;n-
stem Susitna River one mile upstream from the Deshka River,100 y~rds upstream
of \iil1owCreek,and immediately above Gold Creek.Waterfall Creek "and
Fourth of July Creek,which are clear water trib\Jtaries of the Susitna,were
also sampled.All locations with the exception of Fourth of July Creek were
sampled with two artificial substrates for a period of 30 days.Fourth of
July Creek was sampled by hand holding a Screen (36"x 36 11
)and stirring the..-
substrate immediately upstream.Aquatic insects collected in both the
Susitna and tributaries are typical of clean cold water streams in Alaska.
Due to the restricted time frame available for this study and report pre-
paration"aquatic invertebrates are keyed only to family.
15
.
Table 7.Aquatic Invertebrates Collected in Clearwater Tributaries of the Susitna River,'Devil Canyon
Project,1975.
.,.
Location
Fourth of
'July Creek
Order
Trichoptera
Dipteria
Plecoptera
Ephemeroptera
Turbellaria
.Family
Sericostomatidae
Rhyacophilidae
Rhyacollh i 1idae
Perlodidae
Perlodidae
Heptagenildae
Baetidae
,'No.,'Collection'Metnod...........
1 Hand Screen
4
1
1
5
7
6
3
1
Collection 'Dates
;Aug 13
.....
)\Waterfall.
Creek
Diptera
Plecoptera
EIlh emeropt era
Oligochaeta
Gastropoda ,
Type 1
Type 2
Type 3
.Type 4
Type.5
Type 6
Perlodidae
Baetidae
Type 1
Type 2
6
4
1
10
2
3
17
1
13
1
5
Artificial Sub-
strate basket
(2)
Aug 7 -Sep 7
Table 8.
,
Aquatic Invertebrates Collected in Susitna RiveryDevil Canyon Project,1975.
0.'•.',••.,••••••,••,..,••
Location
Mainstem Susitna
Upstream from
Gold Creek
Order.
Trichoptera
Oiptera
Plecoptcra
Eph emeropt era
Olgochaeta
,'Family
Rhyacophi1 ida.e
Type 1
Type 2
Pcrlodidac
Perlodidae
Daetidae
'No'.
1
3
,4
1
5
1
1
.'Collection 'Method .~
Artificial SUb-
strate basket (2l
Collection Oates
Aug 1 ...Sep 7
......
-..,J
Mainstem Susitna
Upstream from
lU 11 oW Creek
Mainstem Susitna
Upstream from
Oeshka.River
Tricoptera
Oiptera
Ephemeroptera
Plecoptera
'Tricoptera
Plecoptera
Ephcmeroptera
.
Sericostomatida.e
Heptageniidae
Daetodae
Perlodidae
Sericostomatidae
Perlodidae
Ueptageniidae
3
2
5
7
8
1
11
3
Artificial Sub ..
strate basket.(2)
Artificial Sub-
strate ba$ket (2)
,(
Jul 1 -Sep.l
Jul 1 -Aug 1
l
Limnol09Y
The limnological study was initiated March 26,1975 by establishing
sample sites on the Susitna River and all maJor east side tributaries from
the Parks High\vay Bridge downstream.\~ater samples \'iere collected an a
biweekly basis at the bridge crossings of each tributary.Parameters
measured were water temperature,.pH,turbidity,.conductivity,total alkalinity,
total hardness,and dissolved oxygen.
Temperatures were also monitored with Ryan Thermographs (Model 0-30 OF)
in the Susitna River,Birch Creek,and Hillow Creek.It is interesting to
note the similarity in temperature trends between the Susitna River and
tributaries (Figures 1,2,and 3).For example,both the Susitna River and
Wi 11 ow Creek measured 32°F.an Apri 1 1,1975.A slow warming trend was'
observed in both rivers until May 14,1975 when temperatures of both rivers
were measured at approximately 34°F.A steady upward trend occurs after
May 15"until the maximum temperature was reached in mi d-July.The maximum
water temperature in .the Susitna River was 55.5°F.on July 12,1975.Willow
Creek exhibited a maximum of 56°F.during the period July 7 through July la,...
1975.Maximum and minimum daily water temperatures monitored by the thermo-
graphs are presented in Tables 9 and 10.The temperature remained relatively
stable in both rivers between July 15 and August 30,1975,fluctuating
between 48°F.and 53°F.The water temperature began to decrease by
September 5,1975 and was 45°F.;n bath the Sus;tna River and Willow Creek
,on September 23,1975 when the thermographs were removed ..
East side tributaries of the Susitna River downstream from the Parks
Hi gh\vay ari dge do not have 1ake systems present,but are theresul t of
surface and subsurface runoff from the surrounding mountains and foothills.
Montana Creek,Sheep Creek,Goose Creek,Caswell Creek,Kashwitna Ri-ver,and
18
I
.J
Figure 1.Dailyl1ater Temperatures (Monitored with a Ryan Thermograph)of the Susitna River Approximately
Three Hundred Yards Downstream from the Parks Higlwmy Bridge,Devils Canyon Project,June 20
to September 23,1975..
IS.6o.t 60~
......
\D
50....
'M
G)
ii
lI.l
k.c:
CIS
IJ..
4.4°1 40
10.0°G)
'0
(\l
k
b4
'M...
~
(l)
u
Sep 1Aug1Jul1Jun1Hay1
o.OOJ 32oL::---j ,•,I
Apr 1
Note:Tel1lperatt\res tak~n prior to June 20th ''Iere with a therlnometeron a bi-
Itlonthlybasis.
Figure 2.Maximum Daily Water Temperatures (Monitored with a Ryan Thermograph)of Birch Creek Approximately
Five Hundred Yards Upstream of the Alaska Railroad,Devil Canyon Project,April 10 to August 30,
1975.
21.2 61
(70°
15.6°-t 60'"
\U P
"0 -.-1
N <Ii \U
0 H .gbl)
'n 10.0°\U 50°v r.
l=':.a<v <Ii
U J.J.,
4.4°.1 40°·
O 0
0 t ".,°t
•;}.~I i I ••
Apr 1 May 1 Jun 1 Jul 1 Aug 1 Sep 1
Figur~3.Maximum Daily Water Temp~erature (rfQnitored\\lith !l Ryan Thermograph)of '\lillO\\I Creck Approximately
Two Hundred Yards Upstream of the Confluence '\lith Deception Creek,Devil Canyon Project,April 10
to September 23,1975.
15.()o.~60°
Sep 1Aug1Ju11May1
32°,r;~~"-----~:~'~:-------~~Ti-~-~---:--"'---------"'---------.,.----------•I
Apr 1 '•
lO.OG.'50°.....
'nQ)..c:s::
g)
1-1
~
f..I,.,
4.4°~40 G
•
Q)
"'0
tl1~
'n~c::
(l)u
N....
,~
Table .9.Haximum and Minimum Daily Water Temperatures CtF-t1Ryan ll Thermo-
graph~t>lodel 0-30)from the 5usitna River at Parks High,,,ay Bridge ~
..Devil ..CanyonPToj ect,..1975 •..,..,.... ..............,.............."
•••-••'.'• ; "••••••••••••"'.'•••••••••••••••••••"••••••0-,"••••"••
Date
Temperature
Ma.x~.'.·Min..'Date
Temperature
"Hax~""Bin •
Temperature
Date'""Hax~".·Hin.
Jun 20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
,30
Jul 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20.
21
49.0
49.0
4"9.0
47.8
48.8
49.0
49.0
49.0
50.0
50.0
50.0
49.0
49.0
49.0
49.0
49.0
50.0
51.0
52.0
54.0
55.0
55.0
55.5
54.0
"53.0
51.7
51.7
52.0
52.0
52.0
51.0
51.0
"48.0 .
47.8
47.8
49.0
49.0
•49.0
50.0
51.0
52.0
54.0
54.0'
53.0
51.5
50.5
51.0
51.0
Jul 22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Aug 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
..17
18
19
20
"21
22
51.5
51.5
51.5
51.0
52.0
52.0
52.0
51.5
51.5
51.0
52.0
52.0
52.0
52.0
52.0
51.0
51.0
51.0
51.0
51.0 "
51.0
52.0
52.0
52.0
,·52.0
52.0 "
52.0
50.5
50.5
50.5
50.5
53.0
22
51.0
51.0
51.5
51.0
51.0
51.0
51.0
Aug 23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Sep.1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10'
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
53.0
53.0
52.0
52.0
52.0
52.0
50.0
48.0
48.0
48.0
53.0
53.0
52.0
52.0
50.0
·48.0
48.0 .
47.5
47.0
47.0
47.0 .
46.0
46.0
45.0
45.0
45.0
45.0
45.0
45.0
45.0
45.0
45.0
52.0
50.0
48.0
48.0
49.0
48.0
49.0
48.0
"45.0
-_.-....---_.._'.~
TABLE 10.Uaxi\llUlll and HinimWII Oail.r lYa,terTetnperattu'es C·F-RY\l.n1'he~gt ..ph.
Mociel O-ZO)from Willow Ct'eek.Devil Ca..·lYonl'roj~'C:.197$.
'T'lllpe:,attn'e Temperatu.e TelllPet::ature
Dab ~f~.~fin.Daite Max.~lin.Date Max.~lin.
Apr 10 34.0 Jun 5 43.0 37.0 Jut 31 50.0
11 34.0 6 43.0 39.0 Aug 1 Sl.O 50.0
12 34.0 1 44.0 38.0 2 52.0 51.0
13 34.0 8 44.0 39.0 .3 52.0 $1.0 .
14 34.0 9 44.0 38.0 4 53.0 51.0
1'5 34.0 10 43.0 38.0 5 53.0
16 34.0 .,.11 43.0 39.0 6 51.0
11 34.0 12 44.0 38.0 1 51.0 50.0
18 34.0 1:5 44.0 38.0 a 50 ..0
19 34.0 14 45.0 40.0 9 50.0
20 34.0 IS 44.0 40.0 10 49.0 48.0
21 34.•0 16 44.0 .11 49.0
22 34.0 11 44.0 1:2 49.0
23 34.0 18 44 ..0'13 49.0'
24 34.0 19 44.0 14 51.0 49.0
25 34.0 -20 45.0 44.0 15 S1..0
26 35.0 21 44.0 43~0 16 51.0 49.0
27 35.0 22 43.0 11 50.0
28 35.0 23 45.0 43.0 18 50.0
29 35.0 24 45.0 IS 50.0
30 35.0 2S 46.6 45.0 20 $0.0
May 1 35.0 26 50.0 46.0 21 50.0
2 ·3S.0 27 52.0 46.0 22 50.0
3 35.0 28 41.0 23 '$0.0
4 35.0 29 46.0 24 50.0
5 35.0 30 46.0 25-50.0
6 35.0 Jul 1 48.0 46.0
26 $0.0
7 36.0 35.0 .2 48.0 21 $2.0 50.0
8 38.0 35.0 3 47.0 46.0 28 48.0
9 36.0 ..4 51.0 46.0 ·29 48.0 ..
10 36.0 35.0 5 54.0 49.0 30 48.0
11 35.0 6 54.0 50.0 31 47.0
12 34.0 7 56.0 52.0 Sep 1 48.0 41.0
13 34.0 8 56.0 52.0 2 '48.0 -14 34.0 9 '"'S6.()$3.0 $4$'.0
IS 36.0 35.0 10 56.0 54.0 4 48.0
16 36.0 35.0
11 55.0 52.0 5 47.0 44.0
17 36.0 12 51 ..0 49.0 6 44.0
18 36.0 IS 51.0 49.0 1 44.0 42.0
19 39.0 36.0 14 51.0 8 44.0 42.0
20 40.0 35.0 15 50.0 48.0 9 44.0 42.0
21 .38.0 3$..0 16 52.0 48.0 10 44.0 42.0
22.38.0 36.0 17 52.0 11 43.0
23 42.0 37.0 18 52.0 51.0 12 .45.0 40.0
24 42.0 39.0 19 51.0 49.0 13 44.0 40.0
25 38.0 36.0
.20 50.0 49.0 14 43.0 41.0
26 42.0 36.0 21 49.0 IS 45.0 43.0
27 40.0 36.0 22 4S.0 16 44.0
28 43.0 37.0 23 50.0 49.0 .11 44.0
29 42.0 36.0 24 50.0 18 44.0
30 42 ..0 36.0 25 50.0 19 43.0
31 46.0 35.0 26 50.0 20 45.0 43.0
Jun.1 43.0 38.0 27 52.0 50.0 21 44.0 43.0
2 42.0 40.0 25 .52.0 22 45.0 43~0
;)42.0 38.0 29 51.0 23 4.5.0 44.0
4 42.0 38.0 SO 50.0
23
Table 11.Maximum and ?-linimum Oaily \'later temperatures COF ..t'Ryan"J'hetmo-
.graph",Model 0..30),from Birch,,Creek,Devil Canyon,Proj ec't".1915.
Date.·,
Temperature
'Max~'·Min.
Temperat;ure
Date'. ,..·~lax~·Bin.Date
Tem.perature
"Max~.'Min.
35.0
·34.0
34.0
34.5
35.0
35.0
36.0
36.0
36.0
36.0
,3.6.0
36.0
37.0
36.3
36.0
38.0
53.0
52.0
52.0
Apr 11
12 .
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25 .
26
27
28
29
30
May 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
38.0 ,
38.0
31.0
35.0
35.7
35.5
35.5
35.2
36.0
36 .•0
36.0
37.0
38.0
38.0
37.0
37.0
37.0
38.0
38.0
38.0
38.1
39.0
40.0
38.0
38.0
39.0
38.0
38.3
38.8
38.0
38.0
38.0
38.0
38.0
38.0
38.0
39 ••0
.39.0
39.0
39.5
40.0
40.0
41.0
41.0
41.0
41.0
43.0
45.0
36.0
35.0
35.0
37.0
36.2
37.0
38.0
40.0
...
41.0
43.0
f.'Iay 29
.30
31
Jtin 1
2
3
4
,5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Jul 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14·
47.0
47.0
48.0
50.0
51.0
51.0
51.0
51.0
51.0
51.0
51.0
51.0
52.0
54.0
54.0
54.0
54.0
54.0
54.0
54.0
54.0
54.0
55.0
56.0
55.0
54.0
55.0
55.0
59.0
59.0
60.0
60.0
58.0
58.0
58.0
59.0
60.0
59.0
62.0
62.0
64.0
66.0
69.0
68.0
63.0
64.0
6'1.0
46.0
46.0
46.0
48 •.0
50.0
50.0
50.0
51.0
52.0
52.0
55.0
54.0
53.0
53.0
55.0
57.0
58.0
58.0
57.0
57.0
56.0
56.0
59 ..0
59.0
62.0
63.0
66.0
64.0
61.0
59.0
Jul
Aug
15
16
17
18
19
20 .
21
22
23 '
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
59.0
59.0
59.0
59.0
59.0
59.0
59.0 57.0
60.0 59.0
60.0
60.0 59.0
59.0
60.0 59.0
60.0
60.0 58.0
58.0
.5S.0
58.0
60.0 58.0
59 ..0 57.0
56.0
60.0 56.0
59.0'58.0
59.0
59.0
59.0
out'of order
out of order
out of order
out of order
out'of order
out of order
out of order
out .of order
out of order
out of order
out of order
Out of order
ou~of order
58.0
58.0 57.0
57.0 56.0
56.0
56.0
56.0
53.0
53.0
52.0
I
I
L
Little Willow Creek temperatures were taken bhJeeklyandtrends \'#ere con-
sistent with measurements of the Susitna River and Willow Creek (Figures
4-11)
Birch Creek was selected as a thermograph site to collect temperature
data on a creek draining a lake.Birch Creek is the outlet of Fish Lake and
empties into the Susitna River upstream of the Parks Highway Bridge.It also
differed from the tributaries downstream of the Parks Highway Bridge by
havi ng less gradient and vol ume.Temperatures were considerably \'1armer in
Birch Creek.,as suspected·,reachi n9 a high of 69°F.on July 10,1975
(Tabl e 11).Lentic environments have the capacity to retain heat,resulting
in different thermal-patterns than lotic environments.Lakes also act as a
buffer by stabilizing 1lu~tuating flO\'!s.The thermal patterns and stabilized
flows in the outlets of lakes benefit productivity.
The highest,lowest and mean values Of limnological data col1ected from
the Susitna River and east side tributaries downstream of the Parks High",ay .
Bridge are presented in Table 12.
A more detailed a~alysis can be made by refe.rringto Figures 4 through
11)which represent the six limnological characteristics measured in the
Susitna River and seven east side tributaries.
Hydrogen ion concentration in the tributaries exhibited a tendency to
ri se during the summer (Fi gures 4 through 11).A similar rise is al so evident
in the hydrogen ion data collected from the Susftna River at the Parks High-
way Bridge.
Total alkalinity,represented in Figures 4 through 11,exhibited an
overall rise throughout the summer months;except in the Kashwitna River,
which demonstrates a less distinct increase.The highs and lows varied
depending upon the tributary (Table 12),although the maximum limits tn all
25
T---•
..~.
.",
TABU!12•.IUfbcst.l.ov~scaRdJloal'lV'l~s ot Lhmoloslc;llS'O.ta Co"~c;tcdFro.Tho S\lshn.Riyer and Soven Trlbutari~s'ot tho Sushn.MYel'.
Th..tiA t 0 ..
Turbldlty
Total
I'.,..ioll T9Elj)l)raturo Conduct h4.y AllIaUnlty ltardncss '
Collected (e)(lilllhos/ell)(JTttl pU (_ell-CaCOl)(1II,Il-CliC0 3)..
Tri\luurx 1\)15 t"gh to")1ean lUSb Lolt Rcall llllth Low'tlfan lUgh Low Meall Ulgh Low Mcan !!!.ih Low )lean
'Susltna River .t
Parks ~lshl{ay aridgo 3/26 -B/lS 13.0 0.0 ••2 210 74 126 US 35 lOS '.S 7.5 7.9 103 34 48 120 51 lOS
)Iontllna Croek 3/26 -8/11 14.5 n.o B.2 105 27 48 27 0.3 4.9 7.5 6.7 7.2 61 11 :n 51 17 25 .ii
GoO$e Creek 4/.-8/18 12.0 0.0 7.3 77 21 41 64 0.3 9.4 7.7 6.7 ttl 68 17 34 34 17 24
Sheep Creek 4/4 ..IIlI 14.0 0.0 7.7 80 30 46 31 1.0 4.3 7.6 6.6
7.1 68 17 37 51 17 }1
N
Q\C&$>(ol1 Cnek.5/14 ..11'11 16.5 n.G 10.6 115 30 61 28 1.0 5.1 1.6 6.6 7.2 68 17 42 a6 17 36
4/24 ..8118
..
53bshwhnaRher13.0 6.5 B.t It 37 no 2.0 38 7.6 6.t 7.3 51 1.1 39 61 17 37
Li tt 10lU HOlt Ctc:ek 4/24 ...8'1'14.0 0.0 6.'13 20 41 15 1.2 2.8 1.5 6.6 7.0 .6 17 38 51 17 27
11'11101{Creek 3/24 ..8/18 14.0 0.0 6.7 160 26 U 20 0.5 3.6 7.7 6.6 7.2 51 17 39 60 17 37
Notot This data loin collected biwecklyfroa oaehof tho tributaries durin,tho lilAe 'r••o lndh:atc4.This is sc:nor.l info~atton only.a .oro dotailed
analysis.can bo ..dohy roforri~l to Filurcs •thrau,h 11.
cases were no greater than 86 mg!l CaC0 3.It appears the lower Susitna
River has a greater total alkalinity than its tributaries.
Hardness,(Figures 4 through 11)shows a decrease from the end of March
to the middle of May.For example,it dropped from 86 mg!l CaCOS to 17
mgll CaCOs at Caswell Creek.Thi s drop,in all seven lower Susitna River
tributaries,appears to have occurred just as the waters began to warm sig-
nificantly.As summer progressed,it appears the hardness of these waters
remained relatively low and stable.The relative stability reflected in
Susitna River tributarial waters during the months of July and August is
evident in information presented in Figure 4.These comparisons demonstrate
a constantSl mg!l CaC03 through July and August,whereas the relative
stability of tributarial waters ranges between 17 and 34 mgl1 CaC0 3.It
woul d appear the tributarial waters have a consi.stentl y 1esser degree of
hirdnessthan the Susitna River waters with the same relatively low summer-
..
time con~tancy.Tributaries exhibited high late winter hardness levels.
Conctuctivity measurements for the seven east side lower Susitna tribu-
taries (Figures 4 through ll)all reflect a similar decrease from late
winter to early summer with 28 umhos/cm reflecting the average low and
107 umhos!cm reflecting the average high.Once the minimum specific con-
ductance is reached from the middle of May to the middle of June,a general
rise in conductance ;s observed during the summer months.Samples collected
on June 27,reflect an abnormally high increase in specific conductance,
which may be attributed to extreme heavy ra i.ns prior to or during sampl e
collection.The Susitna River displays a substantially higher specific
conductance than that of the seven east side tributaries and a general
increase from e-arl y June through Augus t.
27
There appears to be no consistent trend in tl,Jrbidity in all seven east
side Susitna River tributaries under investigation.Both the Kash\vitna River
and Caswell Creek demonstrated an increase in turbidity from mid-April to
mid-August.This increase was significantly greater in the Kashwitna River
because of its glacial origin.However,there was a high degree of fluctua-
tion in turbidity in both streams.A similar fluctuation was demonstrated in
the remaining five tributaries.i.e.,Montana,Goose,Sheep,Little Willow and
Willow creeks (Figures 4 through 11).This high variability in turbidity can,
in all 1ikelihood.be attributed to precipitation.
Turbidity in the Susitna River was relatively 10\'1 at 55 Jackson turbidity
units during May and June (Figure 4).On July 7 a substantial rise to 170
J.T.U.was measured and a peak 'of 185 J.T.U.was reached on August 18,1975.
The maximum reading for east side tributaries below the Parks Highway Bridge
was 110 J.T.U.in the Kashwitna River on August .18,1975.
Data collected by the U.S.Geological Survey on three Susitna River
east side tributaries provides a limited means with which to compare data
collected in this study between March and September,1975,(Table 13);.
With respect to Montana Creek,the ava i1 able figures would tend to
support temperature,pH,hardness and specific conductance as determined in
.the field during the summer of 1975.Sheep Creek figures cannot be compared
due to the time frame in which the one set of data was collected.With re-
spect to Caswell Creek,temperature and specific conductance are the only
parameters which fall closely within the range of U.S.Geological Survey
data.Hardness and pH are significantly different from more recently collected
data.
28
...
TA~"E U.A Co.pHation of U.S.Goololl«:lI)Survey Lt1lll'lolocIcai Pata of $pcdf~c (oMern.CoUccu4 fr..$u5itJ)al\ivor Tributarlos,
t.
,
"
Suspended Dissolved Dissobed
Vater SpedUc SedilllCnt Ortho-,NitrAte'
NalllO of TCllllperlltur.Condllctanco Dischare.SlIScpended Pi schar!:.HltrllU HardncSl Phosphate Hilr.he
Tributary Dato (e)(umhOS/CIIl)(cfs)Sodlllcnt (Tons/OilY)r!!(lIIgll-NO l!(IIItll-CO~03)(111&/1-1')(-8/1";-«)241.;03)
Jlbntana Creek 7/1/71 ',0 24 2.280 20$1.~60
.'t/n '.5 2~I,SOO .IU 1,7S0 ..."·t.\.."
fJ/17/71 1.5 ....,(3 176 2'20,7.2 h~O IS
8/11/n.16.5 .7 182 ·-,..-17 .00 .05
N .
'"'9/26/12 4.5 37 606 ·-6.J -13 .11 .0'
Sheep Creek 1/4:/12 -6J -·-7.5 ,0.36 25
Caswell Creek'9/8/72 -,U.S'54 :u ·-6.8 ....20 ••05 .00
9/26/72 ".0 51 II ..-7.2 0.•19 .02 .00
.,
•
"
t',,
'..
,.......;
'Fable 14 ..,.:..
'.
W'ater Qua.lity.Analysis 'of Samples by the U.S.Geological Survey
'Central Laboratory in Salt Lake City"Utah.Collected March 2S~
1975 from the Susitna River at Sunshine ..
A1k".Tot Cas CaCOS)mg/l 71 N02~N03 as N russ.mg/l 0 .•21
Bicarbcnate mgll 86 Phos Ottho Dis as P .mg/l 0.04
Calcium Diss .mgJl 29,·Phostlhate Dis Ortho mg/l 0.12..
Chloride Diss .mg/1 21 ·Potass!umOiss mg/l .2.1
Color ~.0 Residur Dis Cael Sum.mgll 137
•Conductivit.Y.242·Residue Dis TonlAft 0.19
Fluoride ni~s .mg/l 0.2 Residue Dis l80e mg/l 141
Hardness Monarb .mgll 20 Sar ..0.5
Hardness To~al :mg/l 91 .Silica~Dissolved mgll 9.2
!ron Dissolved ,ug/l 10 Sodium Diss mill 11
Magnesium Diss ..:mg/l 4.5 .:Sodium Percent .....•20 ,
Manganese Dissolved ug/i a ·Sulfate Diss mg/1 ''17
NitT?gen~1i!as N tot rag/I.0.05 ,.1 Nitrogen Tot'Org N mgll 0.18
.':Nitrogen Tot as N ..mg/l 0.42 Nitro gen ·:rot 100 asN mgll ,..'0.23
"Nitrogen 1"ot as l·rOS mg/l 1.9 N0 2+NO 3 as N Tot ..--.mg.f~.0.19..'..O'~Ol....Phosp~orUs'Tot ,as ,P -,mgjl...."'.
"Cations .'An·';,.:.." .J.ons -..
,•.'.'
.
~.~.
".'.'"":0 •
. ,:~m'g/l ineq/l
......
,':Ca1t;ium D1ss"..',·29 '1;448
lwIagnesiu."'l1 Diss''.'4.5 0.311
,Potassium Diss''.''.2.1-"0'"054
Sodium Diss ..11'0.419
Total
.'.'-:.....:..:~.:f::'~.:"!Jl1..'.m~9il .'."".'
.I3icarboriat'~'"'...86.'~.1.4l0...:.
.Chloride Dis.s:. . . . '21'.'. , 0•593
·Fluoride Dfss 0.·2 ....0.011·
Sul£a~e Diss .....17'·'0.345
1IQZ+NO S as N.D.'.0.21 '0.015
....."...'..Total ~":2.381 ...,;.
--
....'.........:-..
...
:..'.•.:
.~'."..
:....·~ablEf 15~:'C'ompi1ed riat'a of Interest Collected·bY~~.S';·G~~lO~ieai~ur~~y·.
..::"from'.the Susitna River at Sunshine.....:'.:,. . .
.......-.~:....'-•.*.''.,'~::'-.;
..'.....'..~..........'......'"'.
."".-,~
..:'.Speeific ~-.'":.:';.."':..Suspended :"~.
Conductance-·:'"~,.'.....Sediment::.'
(um.ios/cm)·~...;.;.,'(merll)'.,:::..
9 -"."
.'"....,.....
.......".
Date.,-
7/2/71
7/2/71
8/11171
.'"...
.'lili..'.
.7.5':
7.'5
9.0 .
.30
,. ...14 8 <.,'.,',
131
170
......'.1,,040
1,140
3,,510
• 1
Figure 4.Limnological Data Collected.from the Susitna River
at the Parks Highway Ir~dg.,March 26 to August 18,
Devil's Canyon Project,1975.
(,)16.0 9.0
0•w 12.0 8.0a::
::;)
tia::
I.IJ 8.0 ~7.0a.
::l!
bJ.....,
a::4.0 6.0
I.IJ...
~0.0 5.0 '·1 I r;k""~3/26 4/30 5/Z7 I 6/Zl 7/21·8/IS
814 .!5/14 sIll 7/7 $/14
ItO
~90·u
o
U
130 1
....lIO
70..o
..J
~.:e•. '.>
Z
::i.<
~
=:J<.
"
I
1-.
L 31
. j
,.4
.Figure 4.(Cont.)Limnolog ica I Data Collec:ted froli'ltheSu:sitnaRJverat
the Parks High\vay Bridge,March 26 to AugliJst 18.
Ceyj 1 1 s Canyon Project J 1975.
J80
170
}60-
150
140
120
no
100
:;:)90
I-...,
80
~...
'"0 70
.Q
~
:::J 60I-
50
40
3080
90
120
130
150
140
70
.~..
170
180
190 •
160
220
210
200
...
u 110:J
-0
C
3 100
'>'-
x
,~
II)o.t::
X
::I.-
I .
~26
-,
32
Fig.5.
(.)
.0•~16'.0
::>
~
0::
W
~8.
w
1-:4.0
0::
W
~O.
~
..
Limnological Data Collected from ~Iontana Creek at the High\'1ay
Bridge,lvfarch 26 to August 18,Devil's Canyon Proj ect,1975.
9.0
8.0
~7.0
6.
.~.4130 !/Z'f '.6/27 'l"2J S/t8
.,~-::"._<'.."6111 7/7 8/-+
DATE-IS75
:.....:i
..
"I"')ou«u
en 90.«
:::!.70(,!).
.:E
. I I::'.>-""•...:
.··z 30.::i
.«
~..J IO~"""-"T'"""'-r-""'T"",~...,.....-r-"'T"""'';-'''''''-'«ZI/2S 4/'30 'J/'Z:f SIZ:r 7/21 S/18'
ell4 .6/t1 7/7 $/4 .
..J .DATE-IS7S
t=o......
.'.
..'::".
.Fig.s.(Cant).Limnological Data Collected from ~!ontana Creek at the
High\ia}'Bri.dge~'Ha:r;ch 25 to k\ugust 18,DeviPs Canyon Profec,¢,19?_S.
.5
DATE ....1975
100
~90~r.n ::>0
:t:to-
:E'-:>
I
~70 ,...
•J-,...-l-e.....'60 CD:>0::.....
J-50 ::>
(.)to-
=:;)'.
0 .
2:40
0
(.)
30
..
"
...,IaO 5/%t 6/%t 1'/21 ellS
M4 .s/U 7/1"8/4
DATE'*-1975
34 '
Fig.6.Limnological Data Collected from Sheep Creek at the Bridge,
March~4 Thrqy.gh August ·18"Devil's Canyon Project,;1975.
9.0
5.0""O-'....,\~,r--I~rl-1"'1-rj.....,..--...-.....1-1...;.,.".
4/4 ~/14 eAI 7/7 8/4
4/30 5/21 8/207 7/2'8/18
DATE ...1975
:r:7.c..
8.0
t't 1
4/4 rslZ7 e/Z7 1/21 8Il8
4/10.6/n 1n 8/4
DATE~1975
(.)o
I
~16.0
::J
~12..0
0:
lL1
~S.O
LtJ
".......4...
ct:
UJ!;;;c 0.0
3=
3S
~.\..\
\.
:":"t•.,·.-::~
~..~_..
I
4/4 a/14 6/11 7/7 .8/040
4/30 15/2.1 6/Z7 7/11 8/18
DATE-1975.
20
50
30
40
.-.
f1")
- 0
(,)
<(,)
en
oCt
-'.'(p
:::E,
t.nt.n
L.tJ
Z
~.10
<C:r:
jJ.....
....
ft')o
(,)
<(,)
.~90
-'.......
e>.':i
'1'5..>......-z 30--';2 ..10'--"""l""'~:'-";",-r--,...........r--~....I ~.......,.........
-'4/4 .1'2 15/14;6/11 '.'7/'7 '/8/4/.oCt .4,,,,0 IS Z7 em 7;21 a 18
-'4 DATE-1975
.~
~I
I
I
I
,.
Fig.6 .•(~ont).Linmologieal Data Collected from Sheep Creek at the
Bridge~-Mar,eK 4 Through August'IS,Devil's 'Cany~m Pro)ect~-.-1975.
14/4 S 14 6/11 "/7 $/...
.•4/30 S/2.7·6/271/2.1 ,$/IS
DATE ...1975
~
I-10
''''':)
I',...
!::c...
~5
:J
I-
"
..:
~aSi
(J)oX:E'
~e
I>-I-'5 50-1-'g 40
azo 50t-""'l""-.,.........,....--r--,...........-4=::;....,...-.....--.
(.)4/4 e114 6/11717 814
4/30 ,m·81'l:T 7/21 ells
DATE-J975 '
•.••0·.
.....
36
.'
Fig~7.Limnological Oa~a Collected from G"oose Creek at the.S-r'idge,
March 4 Through 'August 18)Devil"s Canyon Proj ect,1975.''.-
(.)0.fS.O'"
IJJ
0::
::;:)f2.0
~e::
lJJ 8.a..
:E
~lJJ
J-
et::tJJ O.O ........~~:-r--r--r-r-'.....,....'"T--,--t:0/27 6/13 7/2'8IIS
.....sIn 717 8/4-
:s:DATE -1975
9.0
8.0
:t:7.0
0.
S.O
DATE ..l975
'-"'.
~~.50
c..>
~40
:...J ••.
~.!O ',-
:!•(/)2
tn
LtJ
Zo··.10-)1 1.'I ,t·I·,.•1
....,4/4 • •15/14 6/11 •.•1/7,·S/4
w-•4/30 tI/'l.7 .8/17 7/al ·S/II
~DATE...1975
".
37
'.
Fig.7..(Cont).·Limnological Data Collected from Goose Creek at the
.Bridge~March.4 1b.rough August 18,Dev~i's CanyonPl'oject,197$.
.0
....
50
:E SO
<.:>
Ct;70
o:t::eao
=r:
~55·-.....4·0
:J
~30
o
(.)201 .....'"'"-~..,..--...--.....-..__........_-
4/4 M4 6/11 7n S/4
4/30 eIZT a/z:r 7/2t S/IS
DATE-isi5
,
4/"$0 '/21 6/27 7/21 13/18.1/14 6/n 7/7 el9
9ATE-I~75
38
Fig.8.Li,mnological Data Collected from Cas\'iell Creek at the Bri<1ge,
March '2,6 ,Thro,ugh ,August 18,Devil's,Canyon Project,1975.'
S/7:l'S/27 7J 21 a/Is
sA,7/7 8/4
'.OATE-1975
•
l
.'.
g1
<C
o 60
(/)
<t
...1 50
~
:E,4Q.'
.'r
!::
2:
...J«:::c:
..J«1().J--.,..-r--r-....,.......,........T-,........,~--r-'"""'"T"-
3/26 •5/14 6/11.7/7 8/4
,..J &/%7 #$/27 7/21 ell8
.~OATE-1975 .o
I-
39
90
..,,80o
(.)
t3 7
en
«:GO
...J.,
~50
•,~4
IJJ
Zo 30
0::«
:I:20
10 3/26 6/1"5;z16/116/21/7 7/218 /4 8/18
.D.ATE-I975_
Fig.8.(Cont)..Limnological Data Collected from Caswell Creek at the
Bridge,March 26 Through August 18,Devil's Canyon Project,1975.
'.
180-
170-
160
..
40
]
&/f4 e/lt 7/7 8/4
5/27 6127 7121 .8/18
DATE-i9i5
.;.
....
Fig.9.Limnologic~l Data Collected from the Kashwitna River at the Bridge,
Apri).024.-~Thro.~ghAugust.18,Devil.'s Canyon Project,1975 ..'
5.0'..L-,.......,.......-r-,...-..-\..,.......,....-r-....,......,..........
4/24 .!VI4 6111 7/1 8/+
+/aoe/27 t$/ZJ 7/21 elI8
EtO
9.0
$/27 8/27 7/21 S/IS
6/11 7/7 S/4
oo•l1J
0:::16.0::>
~-0:::12.
IJJa..
:IE
IJJ
"t-4.
0:::
IJJ~o.
3:
OATE-1975 OATE-r975
•
OATE-1915
'.~
rt)70
oo~60
~50
-I
~40..:e
I
.U):3
f3is 20
0::«:c:10-lit I i J I t I I
4/24 '/14 8/n ·7/7 8/4··
+/30 '$1r1 8/27·7/21 8/1&
OATE-1975
.-
It)oo
<C<..>
U)«
.~
......
C)7:e,.,
t-.·z.'-..J
<C
~.
.J 10~""'l,~1"""""'r-""--r-~"'!""""-r-"""''"'''r-''''
<t .4/24 lS/14 6/1t 717 S/4
.J 4/"5).$/27 eli7 7/21 S/18
~o
i-
...
41 •
..
Fig.9.(Cont)..Limno1ogical-Data Collectedfrom the Kash\'litna River at
the Bridg"e;'April"24 Through August 18,'Devil 's Ca.nyon Project,197S.
5
10
::)
I-
J ,
>-...-C-to
0::
::)...
..
4/t..~1S/14..$/lt 7/7 $/4
4/1.0 Gh:T8/277/21 a/IS
OATE ...1975
:IE 80
~
~10:x:
:E
::t.60,
>-
!:::·50>
i=4(.).
::)
C
" Z 30""!..-""-'-"'-"~"""""""""'---"""""""""o
(.)
"..
j
4/30 S/2.7 6/27 TIll 8/18
151\4 sIn 7/1 8/4
OATE"~'1915'"
42
."
-.
.'
Fig.10.
~-..-
Limnologlcal Data CoHected from Little \1illoW'Creelc at the
Bridge,April 24 Through August 18,Devil's Ca.nyonProject ..1975.
..
9.0
5.0~""'r-""T""-r-1 ""r,-r-r....;."...,..,--.~r
4/24 M4 tI/l1 .1/1 8/4
4I3Q smS/21·1/21 8/18
DATE-1975
-S.O
:r:0.7.0
4/24 e/14 6/11 7/7 8/4
-4/30 5/21.$/?:1'7/21 8/18
·DATE ..1975
oo
I
W
a::16.0
:Jtta::12.
w
0..~8.0
LJ.I
~I-4.
0:
l.IJ.....O.O'""'--t"'-"f-r-r-,......,...-r--..,-.,.--r--
~
tt)o
(,)«o
(J)
<:
-..J 90~
-~70
->-I-,2 50-:3 .
<:30~
....J«10.........-,...""":"'•.....,..."""'r.....,........,...-.,.,.....,.....
....J .4/24 S/I4 8/11 117 S/4
~4/'$0 6/27 6/2.7 1/21 8/19
o DATE ..1975
)-
rt)-. 0 ~
(.)
.e:t
(.)
(I)50
<
~40
(!)
~30
(I)
(f)
~20
o
0::10..L-~r--r-r'--r-r---r--r-.,...-~~4/24 ell'"6/11 717 8/4
4150 S/21 &/%1 7/21 8/18
DATE-1975
43 ..
...
Fig.10.(Cont).Limnological Data Collected from Little Willow Creek at
the Bridge,April 24 Through August 18,Devil's Canyon Project,,197S.·
....
1101
~.•60
•)0-
J-50>....5 40
:Jo
Z 30o
(.)
20 "
,4/24 .lS/14 6/1J 7/7 8/4
4/30 !/Z7.'0/2.1112.1 S/19
DATE'-1975
10
:J
J-
-:>•>-
J-5o-CO
0:::
:JJ-"
.'
,4/30 6/27 1/:'7 7/21'ellS
.elI4 8/n 7/7 .8/4
DATE-1975
..
44
•.•.••'"*.
.'.
Fig.11.Limnological Data Co-llected -from Wi 110\'1 Creek at the Bridge).
March '26 Through August 18,Devil's Canyon Project,1975.
9.0
6.0
S/Z8 4/s0 S/aTe/a7 7 al 8/18
11I/14 6/11 7/7 8/4
DATE-1975
~7.0
'0
o•l1J 16.0
0:::>
~12.0
0:
l1J0..8.0
:E
..l.LJI-4.0
0:LtJ O.OI.4--t""==7='=;Ic-"r~~--r""';""'''''''''--r"'-r-t;alae 4M 5/27 6/27 7/21 ailS~6/11 7/7 8/4
~.DATE-1975
..."-.
10·~26'4/30 ~7 6)27 7/21 a/ul .
sll+·ellt 7/7 S/4
DATE-J975·
3/ZS 4/SO 5/27.$/27 7/2J ailS
5/1+6/11 7/7 a/4
.OATE-1975
....
rt)8 60-
~en 50
«
.J 40......
(!)
~30enenw20zo
0:
<C.:z:
~..
4S
~..
..
-Fig.11.(Cont)..Lirnnological Datta Collected from>WilloW Creek at the
Bridge,.}farc;l).26 Thr?l:lgh August 18,Devil t.s Canyon P:roject,1975\
::>....
"":)•>-.t-=-...o......
CD
0:::
::>...."
.'
..
2fl-..'L.-I...---......-..,..,........_--........,..-.-.,-,-
!/'J:S 4/30 c/2.1 sm 1/21 8/19
lSI""Ellll .7/78/4
.DATE ...J975
40
30
160
...
•.>"......~...
_1-1-.....,...~~......,..-r-r--r--r,--:-,-~.,.
4{'$O 5/2.7.6/'2.7 7/2.1 a/fa
51"6tll 7/71-.8/~.
'.-DA~~-1979
.'
46 of •
..
·.
The base camp was relocated from the Deshka River upstream to Gold
Creek ort)August6,1975 to collect limnoTogical data on the Susitna River
('
and tributaries closer to the proposed dam site.
Data collected at four tributaries,i.e.,Fourth of July,Gold,and
Portage creeks,and Indian River,are shown in Table 16.Because only a
single sample was collected,no trends are observable.One tributary,Gold
Creek,does differ from the remaining tributaries,however,in that it re-
flected a significantly higher pH,total alkalinity,and hardness.No fish
populations were found in Gold Creek other thana few grayling,at the mouth.
A probably reason for the absence of fish is a placer gold mining operation
approximately 6.5 miles up the Gold Creek Canyon.Findings for Fourth of
July Creek,Indian River,and Portage Creek are within the range of para-
meters investigated on the lower portion of the Susitna River tributaries.
Chemical and physical parameters collected at two locationsalqng the
SusitnaRiver at Portage Creek and Gold Creek are presented in Tables 17
and 18.All data were collected on four different days and will be valuable
for future comparative analysis.Hardness and total alkalinity may be con-
sistent within specified limits at both Gold Creek and PortageCreef<.
Conductivity,in many previous cases,tended to increase over the spring
and.summer months;although later winter-early spring findings have demon-
strated an unusually high specific conductance.This same apparent trend
appears true for the Sus;tna River at$unshine,although data ;s limited.
The freshwater sloughs adjacent to the Susitna River,as identified by
Barrett (1974)and Friese (1975)between Talkeetna and Portage Creek are
important salmonid habitat.These sloughs are used for both spawning and
rearing and could be greatly affected by changes in the flow regime.·
47
...
..
Table 16.Limno1o~ical Da~a Collected from Four Tributaries of the Susitna River.
Poreage
Creek
,"tributary
Gold Indian
~Rivet'
Fourth of
'July;CreekTYPeofData
Date (197S)
Time
Depth ran~e (feet)
Water temperature ee)
pH •.
.Total alkalinity (mg/l as <:aCO:s)
Hardness (mg/l as CaCOS)
Dissolved'Qxygen (11tgfl a.s 02)
8/9 '
4:1~p.m.
1-3
14.0
7.5
34
17
9
8/13
6:00 p.m.
.5-3
12.0
8.1
120
160
11
8/19
11:50 a.m.
1-4
9.0
7.5
34
34
11
8/10
5:00 p.m.
.5-4
9.0
7.S
51
34
11
Table 17.LimnolQgical Data COll~cted from 'the Susitna Rive-r Immedia'tely Above Gold Creek,August 1975.
Tn'e of Data,
Water telllPerature (C)
pH ,.
Total alkalinity (mg/l as CaCO S)
Hardness (mg/l as CaCOs)
Dissolved oxygen (mg/l as 02)
Orthophospha'C8 (mg/l as P)
Nitrate (mg/l as N)
.Nitrate (mg/l as N)
Turbidity (FTUJ
Specifi<:conductance (unhos/cm)
8/13
6:00 p.m.
14.0
8.0
86.0
94.0-
11.0
70.0
165.0
8/18
3:00 p.m.
12.0
8.0
86.0,
110.0
10.0
0.04
,>0.01
>0.10'
Tabie 18.Limnological Data Collected from the Susitna.River Illljllediately Above Portage Creek~
Augp.st 19i5.'
..
...Trpe of Data.
Water temperature ee)
.--pH,
Total lilkalinby (mg/l as CaCOS)
.Hardness ·(mg/1 as Ca.CO_J "
.)Dissolved oxygen (mg/l as 02)
Orthophosphate (mg/l as P)
Nitrite (mg/l as N)
Nitrate (mg/l as N)
Turbidity (FW)
8/12
.1:10 p.m.
13.0
8.0
68.0
"68.0
13.0
O.OS
0.01
0.5
8S.0
8/18
3:00 p.m•
11.0
8.0
.94.0,
103.0
11.0 '
O.Os
0.02
0.3
190.0
..:. ..-....:•48 .........
.'
~'.'
"',',;
,..~;
"
:.
.....
":,;'
i ·'..
• !
TAl.\LE 1'9.Limnological Data Collected From Fi£teen Sloughs Along 'rho Susitna River Between Talkeetna And PortageCl'eeK:
".·'
I ..
4.5 S,G,e ·7.0'"
8.0 .MiS,Sa 1.5
9.S ,'S;Sa,G,e 1.5
9.5 5,Sa,G,C 8~O .
10.0 S,Sa,G,C,n 7.S
"""'---'
Slough Date
Number 1975--
8a 8/9
9 8/9
lOa 8/1
lOb 8/7
11 8/7
12 '8/7
.j::o 13 8/13\0
14 8/7
15 8/.8
16 8/8
11 8/.14
18 8/14
19 8/10
20 ell0
21 8/10
Time
2:50pm
1:16plll
-,
4:25pm
12:0Spm
1:26pm
9:00am
9 :40am
11:2Sam
12:13pm...'
1:33pm
Depth
(feet)-.....
0 •.85 '
2.30
0.66
1.46
1.63
0.50
,0.83
0.15
2.94
"'"
Temp.
(C)
~
13.5
8.0
9.5
10.0
8.5
S.S
6.5
9.0
13.5
7.0
Bottom
Typc*...---
S~Sa,G,e
S,Sa,G,e,
M,S,G
M,S,G,e
Sa,G,e
M,S,G,e
Sa.G
S,Sn,GtC
S,Sa,G
S,G,e;
pH
7.5
7.0
7.0
1.S
1.5
7.5
1.5
7.0
1.0
6.S
Total'
Alkalinity
(mg/1~CaC03)
86
51
68
86
103
1;\7
lQ3
68
51
~1
51
68
86 ,
68
103'
•
Hardness'
(mg/l-CnC 03)
68
68
68
100
120
120
.100
51
34
34
51
68
68
51
86
Di~solvcd
Oxygen
(m~1l-b2)
t ..~
-,,8..
, . 7
"
.~f -Muck,S -Silt,Sa·-Sand,e ..Gravol,C -Cobb!",B ••Boulder
,.
"
TABLE 20.Limnological Data Collected from the Impoundment Area of the Susitna River Ne~r Jay,Watana,
and Deadman Creeks,Devil's Canyon Project,April.24,1975.
U1o
Tl'Pe of Data
Depth
Water Temperature (C)
pH
Total Alkalinity (mg/l as CaC03),
Hardness (mg/1 as CaCO:n
Dissolved Oxygen
Turbidity (JTU)
Conullctivi ty (..ttmhos/cm)
Jay Creek
(100 Yds.Downstream)
Surface
o~o
8.0
102.6
119.7
13.0
0.5
280
Watana Creek
(3Mi.,Upstream)
Surface
0.0
7.5
102.6
136.8
13.0
0.5
255
Deadman Creek
(100 Yds •.Downstream)
Surface
0.0
7.5
51.3
68.4
13.0
0.4
220
-..-~---_:_-.._._---.--_.~----.----.--.----._._--._--~.._--------._----
L
Tabfe 19 is a.compilation of field investigations reflecting the limno-
logica 1 data collected on 51ough5 8 through 21,along the Susitna Ri ver from
August 7 through 14.In all cases,except slough 12,there were fish fry
present,including grayling,burbot,rainbow trout,whitefish,coho,and
chinook salmon.
Exceptfpr slough 12,total alkalinity measurements ranged fro1ll5.l lllgll
to 103 mgll CaC0 3 .Hardness values ranged from 34 mg/l to 12<l"rng/lCaCOa"
Dissolved'oxygen measurements ranged from 7 to 10 p.p.m.
Table 20 shows the results of water samples taken;n the;mpoundment
area.
The limnological results reveal no alarmi,ng readings and arecha.rac-
teristic of undisturbed Alast<a rivers.
The section of the Susitna River between Devil Canyon and Talkeetna
.will be most adversely affected by flow regulation ofahydroelectric
This section of river has,not had a systematiclimnologicalstudyconducted
ona year-round basis.An expanded 1imnologH:al study is necessary to
fully understand the present characteristics of the $usitnaRiver.
CONCLUSION
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has not conducted studieS of
limnologica lcharacteristi csor ind;genous fish stocks·of themainstem
Susitna River prior to'1974.Therefore,comparative data are either minimal
arnon-existent.
This fisheries study documented anadrornous and resident fish fry utilizing
the Susitna River for rearing during the winter when the water is silt.'free.
It appearS the majority<of salmonidsmigrate to freshwater-tributaries and
51
other peri phery areas of the Sus Hna River when the si 1tl oads increase dur-
ing the summer.This undefined migration warrants additional study \'Ihich
should attempt to define species composition of the Susitna River on a
seasonal basis.The section of river which will be most affected is
directly downstream of the proposed Devil Canyon Dam site.A limited amount
of sampling of resident fish stocks in this area revealed populations of
grayling in all tributaries except Gold Creek.The timing in which these
grayling and other resident fish utilize the Susitna River is not kno'tm,and
should be documented.
The limnological aspect of this study contains important baseline data
that should be continued and expanded in order to document changes in water
chemistry following impoundment.It has become apparent during this study
that one of the more critical areas which require additional research is
definition of floltJs.Minimum seasonal flows should be established through
regulation to insure access in and out of sloughs for fish.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Jeffrey D.Hock,
temporary Fishery Biologist,the U.S.Geological Survey,Water Resources
Division,for their advice and use of ti1'eir laboratory,and the U.S.Fish
and Wildlife Service for funding.
52
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
Following is a list of impacts the Fisherie~Divisions of the Alaska
Department of Fish &Game has compiled.This is not necessarily a complete
list,as other impacts may become apparent during the COurse of the study.
Environmental impacts will occur both up and downstream from the dams.Two
phases of development of the hydroel ectric facil ities will occur:(1)the
construction period projected to extend over a 12-year period,and (2)the
operation of the facility.Environmental impacts of this project will be
(1)those occurring during the construction period,and (2)those occurring
during the post-construction period which constitutes the entire life of
the project.
53
4.Degradation Of water quality resulting in possible alterations in/the
~quatic food chain.Some orders of insects t important food items for
salmon frYt may be unable to adapt to thechanged\'la~er quality.
5.Reduced flows associated with filling of the reseryoirmaY reduce
downstreamspavming habitat and could ~1ter fish distribution below
dam.During the low flow construction period a substantialris!<of
water pOllution from concrete pour;ng t 0 fl sp ill age,etc~wi11 be
present.
6.Reduction in run of salmon could follow reduction off10w (Penn.1975).
Reducing flows could result in reduced acces$for salmon ut'i1izing
the upper stream areas.
Post-Construction Impacts
1.Turbidity - ..The SusitnaRiver currently carrie$a heavy load of glaci~l
silt in spring and summer.The river 1 s\'1ater is clear during falla.nd
winter months.Impoundment wi1lresult in increased turbidity and
silt loads year..round.A1so,turbidity may be increa$~difthere;$
permafrost in the area (Afton,1975).This condition may contribute to.:
a.Inabil ity of fry to uti]ize themainstem for rearing.
b.Decreased summer turbidity allows greater light penetration which
would,encourage more primary production.Rate of zooplankton
development may not necessarily be increased due to>possible
lower temperature in April ..May period.Rearing salmon depend on
zooplankton stock at this time.
c.Infl uence of bedrock on impoundment water qual ity may affect
fisheries (Duthie and OstrofskYt 1975}.
d.Increased mortality due to decreased summer turbidity resulting
in higher predation success.
54
,.
e.Decreased spring and summer turbidity would likely limit downstream
migration to the darker hours,thereby extending the downstream
migration periods further than at present since some migration
occurs in the turbid waters during d.ayl ight.There is evidence
suggesting that increased time to migrate increases young
salmon mortality (Geen,1975).
2.Temperature ...Normal temperature regimes will be altered by impoundment.
Various effects may be seen.These include,but are not limited to:
a.Any change in downstream fall temperatures could affect spawning
success of salmon.There is evidence that relatively high tem ..
peratures are associated with poor return;ng runs (Geen,1975).
b.Changes in the incubation period of.salmon eggs and incubation
conditions.
c.Premature fry emergence and seavlard migration due to increased
rate of development could result in increased mortality because
the migration may occur prior to the warming of estuaries.and the
development of estuarine zooplankton populations.
d.Alteration of the normal thermal regime would change the overall
productivity of the river,which could add extreme stress to fry
populations.
e.Summer temperature decrease could affect upstream m:igrational time
for adult salmon.
f.Changes in the aquat;c food cha;n,due to the inabil i ty of some
organisms to adapt to even slight thermal alterations.
55
~-------
56
L
sediment processes from altered water levels,flows and ice
regimes,(Dickson,1975).
c..Changes in substrate composition of spawning areas due to lack of
natural scouring;this would also affect winter survival of eggs.
d.Decreases in water levels during June and July will affect adult
access to spawning areas.
e.Reduced discharge during summer could alter upstream migration of
salmon.
f.Reduction of flow could affect survival of young salmonids moving
to saline water during April-May.Seaward migration is directly
related to river velocity and therefore could extend this period,
(Geen,1975).
g.Reduction of normal spring and summer flows could result in a
decrease of fry rearing habitat and could leave out-migrating
smolts stranded.
RECOMi'IENDATIONS
Before the full effects of this project on fish and wildlife are identi-
fied,considerable studies'are necessary which will be both long term and
costly.Following is a brief resume of biological studies and investigational
goals required prior to final definition ,of impacts resulting from impoundment
of the Susitna River at Devil.Canyon and Watana.
I A thorough hydrologic study is essential.Thi s study will have to be
conducted in close coordination vlith ADF&6,the U.S.Corp of Engineers,
U.S.6.S.,and other appropriate agencies.The fOllowing is a partial
list of necessary information:
-57
,.
1.Current unregulated flows and projected regulated flows.
2.Temperature -regimes.
3.Turbidity and sediment data.
4.Anticipated physical changes to the natural stream course as a
result ()f flow alterations at critical habitat locations,on a
seasonal basis.
II A comprehensive fishery study to address adult and juvenile salmonid
abundance,distribution,migrational patterns,and age,composition by
species for areas both upstream and downstream of the proposed Devil.
Canyon Dam.
,
The Cook Inlet fishery is of mixed stock and presents many problems for
its proper management.Total escapement data by species is not avail-
able for the Susitna River drainage.Until total escapement into the
drainage is determined the value of the salmon stocks in the upper
Susitna River cannot be evaluated.Spawning ground surveys demonstrate
the importance of this area to chum and pink salmon.
Data collected since July 1974 provides baseline information only.
Generalizations may be made,but sufficient information is not avail-
abl e to determi ne fun impacts of dam construction and operation upon
the fishery.Intense investigational projects should be initiated in
the study area to provide pre-construction data to adequately evaluate
possible impacts.
58
/
·.
III A study of affected habitat areas will be conducted in conjunction with
the fisheries program.Productivity and limiting factors c:an be de ...
fined by a thorough limnological study.~hysicaJ,chemical,and
biological conditions of the Susitna River and other affected areas
should be examined.Specific concerns are:
1.Changes in quality and quantity of spawning habitat both upstream
and downstream of the proposed dam sites as a resul t of fa )flow
and releases,(b)innundation of upstream areaS and (c)effects
of periodic pool fill and drawdown.
2.Effects upon the habitat and fisheries resource directly as a
result of construction activities.
3.Effects of increased human use.resulting from improved air and
road access upon both the Susitna River draina.ge and adjacen~
fisheries.
4.Environmental assessment of transmission linesY$t~rnto determine
effects of stream crossings upon resident and anadrornoLls fish
populations and habitat during both construction and subsequent
operational maintenance.
For further informatiOn on biological study proposals refer to the
package presented to.U.S.Fish and Wi 1dlife Service and U.S.ArmY Corps
of Engineers on November 18,1975.
59
Atton,F.M.1975.
Saskatchewan.
32:101-105.·
LITERATURE CITED
.
Impact Analys.is:Hindsight and Foresight in
Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada.
Barrett,B.M.1974.An Assessment Study of the Anadromous Fish Populations
in the Upper Susitna River Watershed Between Devil Canyon and the Chulitna
River.Alaska Department of Fish and Game ..1-56.
Cantlon,J.E.1969.The Stability of Natural Populations and Their
Sensitivity to Technology in Diversity and Stability of Ecological
Systems.Brookhaven Symposia in Biology.22 :197-206.
Dickson,LW.1975.Hydroelectric Development of the Nelson River System
in Northern Manitoba.Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of
Canada.32:106-116.
Duthie,H.C.,andM.L.Ostrofsky.·1975 ..Environmental Impact of the
Churchi 11 Falls (Labrador)Hydroel ectric Project:A Pre1 iminary
Assessment.Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada.
32:117-125.
Friese,N.V.1975.Pre-authorization Assessment of AnadromousFish Popu-
lations of the Upper Susitna River Watershed in the Vicinity of the
Proposed Devil Canyon Hydroelectric Project.Alaska Department of
Fish and Game.1-121.
Geen,G.H.1975.Ecological Consequences of the Proposed Moran Dam on
The Fraser River.Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada.
32:126-135.
Lind,O.T.1974.Common Methods in Limnology.St.Louis,C.V.Mosby Co.,
154p.
McCoy,G.A.1974.Preconstruction Assessment of Biological Quality of
The Chena and Little Chena River in the Vicinity of the Chena Lakes
Flood Control Project Near Fairbanks,Alaska.U.S.Geological Survey
Water Resources Investi gations.29-74:1-84.
Penn,A.F.1975.Development of James Bay:The Role of Environmental
Impact Assessment in Determining the Legal Right to an Interlocutory
Injunction.Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada.
32:136-160.
Ruggles,C.P.,and W.O.Watt.1975.Ecological Changes Due to Hydroelectric
Development on the Saint John River.Journal .of the Fisheries Research
Board of Canada.32:161-170.
Warren,C.L 1971.Biology and l~ater Pollution Control.Philadelphia,
W.O.Saunders Co.434p..
60
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
,,
Welch,P.S.1952.Limnology.New York,McGraw-Hill BooR Co.538 p.
/\'iilhm,J.L.1970.Range of Diversity Index in Benthic ~'acroinvertebrate
Populations.Water Pollution Control Federation Journal,v.42,
No.5,pt.2,P R221-R224.
APPENDIX
The aerial photographs in this appendix show the sample sites (fish,
limnological,and benthos)used in this study.The exact site was located
under the letter which denotes the type of sampl e ••.A,R,B,or L
There is approximately a six-mile stretch of river near the Sherman
area not covered by aerial photographs.With the exception of this stretch,•
the river is completely covered by photographs from Devil Canyon downstream
to the mouth.The scale from Gold Creek downstream is 1 :63.360 and th'e
scale upstream from Gold Creek is 1:30.000.These photographs were taken
in July,1975.
LEGEND
A -Adult fish RS -Red Salmon
R -Rearing fish CS -Chum salmon
B -Benthos sample site PS -Pink salmon
L -Limnological study points RT ..Rainbow trout
W -Winter collection GR ..Grayl ing
S ..Summer collection DV ..Dolly Varden
KS-King salmon BU ..Burbot
SS ..Silver salmon HF -Whitefish
61
•
__.:S1 J1."'5 -;-•II a BUH a 2
•
:-1._--'I.•;
I
I
--~-~~~~~~