HomeMy WebLinkAboutBefore the FERC Application for License for the Green Lake Project (Exhibit W) Environmental Report 1977Before the
FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION
APPLICATION FOR LICENSE
for the
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
EXHIBIT W
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA
SITKA, ALASKA
SEPTEMBER 1977
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GREEN LAKE PROJECT
SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Green Lake Project is a conventional hydroelectric
development which will meet the City of Sitka's growing energy
needs. The Project is located at Green Lake, approximately 10 air
miles southeast of Sitka. It will consist of the following fea-
tures: a reservoir formed by a concrete arch dam at the outlet of
Green Lake; power tunnel, a powerhouse and substation at tidewater
on Silver Bay; access road and transmission line. The Project will
have a rated output of 16.5 megawatts and develop an average gross
head of approximately 369 feet.
2. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION
The proposed Green Lake Project will benefit man's en-
vironment by providing a reliable and economically stable power
source to meet the local energy needs. In addition, the Project
will perform a conservatory function by utilizing a renewable re-
source, which might otherwise be wasted while conserving non-renew-
able fossil fuels for use in other more productive capacities.
Formation of the reservoir will most likely result in
the loss of the present spawning grounds of the resident brook
trout population. Measures to minimize this loss will be consid-
ered following further consultation with the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game. No other permanent or significant adverse effects
on wildlife are anticipated to result from the construction or
operation of the Project.
Air quality will be impaired only during construction
and then only on a temporary and/or intermittent basis. Noise
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levels during construction are expected to increase as well. How-
ever, project operation will have no significant adverse effects
on the existing ambient noise levels in the vicinity.
The major adverse effect on water quality will be the
temporary high turbidity in Silver Bay as a result of the deposi-
tion of excavated material into the bay during construction. No
significant adverse effect on water quality is expected from proj-
ect operation.
Portions of the access road and transmission will be
visible from Silver Bay as will the powerhouse and substation.
The Applicant believes that the construction and opera-
tion of the Green Lake Project will constitute a beneficial use of
the environment and in particular, the land and water resources.
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1.
2.
EXHIBIT W
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
CONTENTS
SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION
1.1 Purpose
1.2 Location
1.3 Land Requirements
1.4 Proposed Facilities
1.4.1 Project Works
1.4.1.1 Green Lake Darn
1.4.1.2 Power Conduit
1.4.1.3 Powerhouse
1.4.1.4 Access Road
1.4.1.5 Transmission Line
1.4.2 Reservoir
1.4.3 Tailwater Features
1.4.4 Transmission Facilities
1.5 Construction Procedures
1.5.1 Land Acquisition
1.5.2 Permits and Authorizations
1.5.3 Land Surveys
1.5.4 Geotechnical Investigation
1.5.5 Environmental Planning
1.5.6 Final Design
1.5.7 Clearing
1.5.8 Diversion Facilities
1.5.9 Borrow Area
1.5.10 Construction Schedule
1.5.11 Construction Work Force
1.6 Operation and Maintenance
1.7 Future Plans
EXISTING ENVIRONMENT
2.1 Land Uses and Features
Page No.
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2.1.1 Land Uses 14
2.1.1.1 Power Generation 14
2.1.1.2 Wood Products Industry 15
2.1.1.3 Mining 15
2.1.1.4 Recreation 16
2.1.2 Topography, Physiography and Geology 17
2.1.3 Soils 17
2.2 Species and Ecosystems 17
2.3 Socio-Economic Conditions
2.3.1 Existing 17
2.3.2 Potential 18
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CONTENTS
(Continued)
Page No.
2. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT (Cont.)
3.
4.
5.
2.4 Air and Water Environment
2 . 4 • 1 C li rna t e
2.4.2 Hydrology and Hydrographs
2.4.2.1 Green Lake
2.4.2.2 Silver Bay
2.5 Unique Features
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED ACTION
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3.1 Construction 24
3.1.1 Land Features and Uses
3.1.1.1 Wood Products Industry 24
3.1.1.2 Mining 25
3.1.1.3 Recreation 25
3.1.1.4 Land, Air and Marine Traffic 25
3.1.2 Species and Ecosystem 26
3.1.3 Socio-Economic Impact of the
Proposed Action 26
3.1.4 Air and Water Quality 28
3.1.5 Waste Disposal 30
3.2 Operation and Maintenance 30
3.2.1 Land Features and Uses 30
3.2.2 Species and Ecosystems 31
3.2.3 Socio-Economic Considerations 31
3.2.4 Air and Water Quality 31
3.2.4.1 Air Quality 31
3.2.4.2 Noise Quality 31
3.2.4.3 Water Quality 31
3.2.5 Solid Wastes 32
3.2.6 Use of Resources 32
3.2.7 Accidents and Catastrophies 32
3.3 Termination and Abandonment 33
MEASURES TO ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT OR TO AVOID
OR MITIGATE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
4.1 Preventative Measures and Monitoring
4.1.1 Air Quality and Noise Levels
4.1.2 Water Quality
4.1. 3 Wildlife
4.2 Environmental Restoration and Enhancement
UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
5.1 Human Resources and Values Impacts
5.2 Biotic Resources
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,
6.
7.
8.
CONTENTS
(Continued)
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT-TERM USES
OF MAN'S ENVIRONMENT AND THE MAINTENANCE
AND ENHANCEMENT OF LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY
IRREVERSIBLE OR IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENTS
OF RESOURCES
7.1 Land Uses and Features
7.2 Biotic Community
7.3 Socio-Economic Considerations
7.4 Resources Lost or Uses Preempted
7.5 Finite Resources
NEED FOR POWER AND ALTERNATIVES TO THE
PROPOSED ACTION
8.1 Need for Power
8.1.1 Load Growth Projection
8.1.2 Present Resources
8.1.3 Future Resource Requirements
8.2 Energy Alternatives
8.3 Consideration of Alternative Hydro Sites
8.3.1 Carbon Lake
8.3.2 Takatz Lake
8.4 Alternative Project Arrangements
8.4.1 General
8.4.2 Power Conduit Alternatives
8.4.2.1 Surface Power Conduit
Alignments
8.4.2.2 Power Tunnel -South Side
of the Vodopad River
8.4.2.3 Power Tunnel -North Side
of the Vodopad River
8.4.2.4 Comparison of Alternative
Alignments
8.4.2.5 Tunnel Lining
8.4.3 Powerhouse Alternatives
8.4.4 Dam Alternatives
8.4.5 Reservoir Alternatives
8.4.6 Transmission Line and Access Road
Alternatives
8.4.6.1 General
8.4.6.2 Overland Transmission Line
in Acceys Road Right-of-
way
8.4.6.3 Overland Transmission Line
with No Access Road
8.4.6.4 Underwater Transmission
Line with No Access Road
8.4.6.5 Evaluation of Alternatives
8.4.7 Access Road Alternative Alignments
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9.
CONTEnTS
(Continued)
PERMITS AND COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER REGULATIONS
AND CODES
9.1 Permits
9.2 Authorities Consulted
10. SOURCES OF INFORMATION
10.1 Public Hearings
10.2 Other Sources
10.2.1 Meetings with Governmental and
Other Entities
10.2.2 Studies Conducted
10.2.3 Consultants
10.2.4 Technical Reports
10.3 Bibliography
10.3.1 Cited References
10.3.2 General References
PaEe No.
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Table
Number
W-l
W-2
W-3 w-4
W-5 w-6
W-7
LIST OF TABLES
Title
Estimated Land Requirements
Population Projections -Sitka Census District
Family Income
Employment by Industry
Climatological Summary
Green Lake Monthly Inflows
Alternative Project Characteristics
Figure
Number
W-l
W-2
W-3
w-4
LIST OF FIGURES
Title
Green Lake Area-Capacity Curve
Baranof Island Precipitation Gauges
Load and Resources
Alternative Hydroelectric Sites
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix
Number Title
W-I Exhibit F -Summary of the Nature and Extent of the
Applicant's Title to or Rights to Occupy or Use the
Private Lands Necessary to Develop, Operate and Main-
tain the Project
W-2 Exhibit H -Statement of the Proposed Operation of
the Project During Periods of Low, Normal, and Flood
Streamflows
W-3
w-4
W-5
w-6
W-7
w-8
W-9
W-IO
W-ll
W-12
Exhibit J -General Project Map
Exhibit K -Detailed Project Map
Exhibit L -General Design Drawings
Exhibit 0 -Design and Construction Schedule
Exhibit R -Project Recreation Plan
Exhibit V -Statement of the Protection, Enhancement
of Natural, Historic and Scenic Features in the
Design, Location, Construction, and Operation of
Project Features
Preliminary Geologic Investigation
Investigation of Biotic Resources
Archaeological Investigation
Consultants' Vitae
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EXHIBIT vi
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
1. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION
The City and Borough of Sitka. Alaska (Applicant) is
seeking to license the proposed Green Lake Project (Project), a
conventional hydroelectric development needed to meet the City of
Sitka's growing power demand. The Project is located at Green
Lake. approximately 10 air miles southeast of the City proper.
The Project consists of the following features: a con-
crete arch dam at the outlet of Green Lake. power tunnel; a power-
house and substation located at the head of Silver Bay; a 69-kV
transmission line extending to the upgraded Blue Lake substation
at Sawmill Cove; and an access road from the project site to the
terminus of Sawmill Creek State Highway at Herring Cove.
The Project will have an installed capacity of l6.500-kW
and is expected to have a dependable capacity at the load center
of l3.500-kW. The Project is expected to deliver 64.900.000-kWh
of energy on an average annual basis and 44.500.000-kWh of firm
annual energy.
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of the Project is to provide electric power
to meet the growing power demands of the City and Borough of Sitka.
The relocation of the Coast Guard Air Wing and Forest Service facil-
ities to Sitka. and the proposed construction of two large hotel
complexes, in addition to normal population growth, have severely
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taxed the Applicant's existing power Generating capability. The
projected demand for power is expected to reach nearly 60 million
kilowatt/hours by late 1981. This additional demand can best be
met by an additional base load hydroelectric facility such as the
proposed Project.
Presently the Applicant's power generating resources con-
sist of the 6,500-kW Blue Lake Hydroelectric Project (FPC Project
No. 2230) plus approximately 3,150-kW of diesel generating capacity.
To meet the projected demand before the Project can be brought on-
line, an additional 5,500-kW of diesel capacity will have to be
installed. Completion of the Project will allow the Applicant to
retire this costly-to-operate diesel capacity to standby status.
The Project, in addition to serving the local power de-
mands of Sitka, performs a conservatory function as well. Instead
of utilizing exhaustible fossil fuel resources, the Project will
develop an energy source that is renewable which is otherwise not
utilized.
1. 2 Location
The Project will be located on the western side of Baran-
of Island, approximately 10 air miles southeast of Sitka, Alaska.
The only access to the Project by land will be the proposed access
road which will run from the present terminus of Sawmill Creek
State Highway to the project site. With the exception of the trans-
mission line and access road, the major project features will be
located on the Vodopad River at the southern tip of Silver Bay. The
Project's 8-mile transmission line will connect the power generating
facility on Silver Bay to the upgraded Blue Lake Project substation.
Location of the Project is shown in Appendix W-4.
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1.3 Land Requirements
Lands required for the Project will total approximately
1,500 acres. The Green Lake Reservoir, at its normal pool eleva-
tion of 390 feet above mean sea level, will have a surface area of
1,000 acres. The area enclosed by the project boundary around the
reservoir will total approximately 1,300 acres. Other uses and af-
fected areas of the various components of the Project are shown in
Table W-l. Exhibit K describing the proposed project boundary is
included as Appendix W-4.
A borrow area for aggregate production is planned to be
established in the alluvial plain at the eastern end of the exist-
ing lake. The exact location and extent of the borrow area will
be determined following further geotechnical investigation. Upon
completion of the Project, this area will be inundated by the pro-
posed reservoir.
Spoil areas will be developed for dry land disposal of
overburden from access road construction. The overburden will be
stripped and used for construction fill where possible. Excess
stripped overburden will be wasted in dry land spoil areas to be
determined following further field investigation of potential
sites. In areas where the overburden cannot be technically or
economically stripped, it will be spoiled into Silver Bay with
excavated rock material.
All temporary construction roads will be located within
the proposed reservoir area so that they will be inundated upon
project completion.
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The Project lies entirely within the Tongass National
Forest. on lands presently owned by the United States and adminis-
tered jointly by the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Power Com-
mission. The site is presently an FPC powersite withdrawal. The
Applicant is currently seeking title. through Section 6(a) of the
Alaska Statehood Act. to 5.693 acres of land. for the purpose of
developing the Project. Upon completion of this action. this Ap-
plication will be amended to reflect the new ownership of the
lands involved.
1.4 Proposed Facilities
1.4.1 Project Works(l)
1.4.1.1 Green Lake Dam
The dam will be a double-curvature. concrete arch struc-
ture located about 80 feet downstream from the outlet of the exist-
ing Green Lake. The dam will have a maximum height of 230 feet
above the estimated bottom of the foundation excavation and a crest
length of 460 feet at El 400.0 (MSL). It will have a crest thick-
ness of 10 feet. bottom thickness of 23 feet. and a centerline ra-
dius at the crest of 240 feet. Plan, elevation and section draw-
ings of the Green Lake Dam are provided in Appendix W-5.
An ungated ogee spillway section 100-feet in length with
a crest at El 390 (MSL) will be centrally located in the dam. The
spillway is designed to flip the flows into the streambed downtream.
Due to the excellent quality of the rock in the streambed. no still-
ing basin will be provided; however, a natural control section in
the river channel just downstream of the dam, will cause a plunge
pool which will assist in dissipating the energy of spills. The
spillway will discharge 11,000 cfs at a reservoir elevation of
399.3 (MSL) for the adopted spillway design flood which has a peak
inflow of 21,150 cfs and a volume of 21,500 acre-feet.
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A power intake will be located on the upstream face of
the dam to the north of the spillway section. The intake invert
will be at El 260 (MSL). Trashracks will protect the power intake
from trash and debris. A 7-foot by 9-foot fixed-wheel gate will
be provided for emergency closure and to permit draining of the
power conduit for inspection and maintenance. For operation and
maintenance a single lane roadway will extend along the crest of
the dam from the north abutment to a point immediately over the
power intake.
A low level outlet works facility containing a 12-inch
Howell-Bunger valve and a 14-inch butterfly guard valve will be lo-
cated at El 250 (MSL) in the dam near the center of the stream chan-
nel.
1.4.1.2 Power Conduit
The power conduit is approximately l,900-feet long from
the power intake to the powerhouse. It will have a maximum hydraulic
capacity of 744 cfs at the normal reservoir elevation of 390 (MSL).
The power conduit will be a circular tunnel at approximately a 15%
grade, partially concrete-lined at the portals and in areas of poor-
er quality rock, and unlined elsewhere. The "A" line diameter of
the unlined section will be 11 feet, and the concrete-lined sections
will have an inside diameter of 8 feet. The tunnel will contain a
horizontal length of steel and concrete-lined tunnel about 50-feet
upstream of the powerhouse. A steel-lined section, beginning about
50-feet upstream of the powerhouse, will bifurcate into a manifold
of two 5.6-foot diameter steel-lined sections each extending to a
generating unit within the powerhouse. A tunnel adit is provided
at the lower end of the power tunnel for construction and mainten-
ance purposes. Profile and section drawings are shown in Appendix
W-5.
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1.4.1.3 Powerhouse
The powerhouse will be an indoor-type surface installa-
tion, located on Silver Bay about 350-feet north of the mouth of
the Vodopad River. It will set into a side-hill excavation and
will be anchored to the rock slope. A rock trap, if required,
will be provided at the top of the cut slope to provide additional
protection of the powerhouse against rockfalls. The structure will
be reinforced concrete, approximately 32-feet wide, 82-feet long,
and 70-feet high. It will contain two unit bays and a service bay.
The unit bays will house two vertical Francis turbines, each with
a best gate output of 11,300 horsepower under a net head of 349
feet (average conditions), resulting in a total installed plant
capacity of 16,500-kW. The discharge through each unit under these
conditions will be 310 cfs.
ating at a speed of 514 rpm.
Generators will be umbrella-type oper-
A 54-inch butterfly valve, capable of
operating under emergency shutdown conditions, will guard each
unit. A small tailwater weir at El -2.3 (MSL) will be provided in
the tailrace to protect the turbines against cavitation.
The substation will be located on a concrete deck over
the tailrace. Single-phase transformers will transform the volt-
age from 13.8-kV to the 69-kV transmission voltage. A spare trans-
former will be provided. Current plans are for the plant to be re-
motely controlled from the Blue Lake Powerhouse. Plans and sections
of the powerhouse are shown in Appendix W-5.
1.4.1.4 Access Road
The 7.4-mile access road will extend from the end of the
existing Sawmill Creek State Highway at Herring Cove to the project
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site. For economic and environmental reasons, the road will le ~n
paved and single-lane construction with turnouts and will L~ con-
structed to standards adequate only for construction ~ccess dnti
for maintenance of the Project. Since the road will not Le Lui~:
to public use standards, public vehicular access to the Project
will not be allowed and a permanent barricade at llerrin~ Cove wiil
be provided to prevent unauthorized vehicular traffic.
The road alignment will generally follow the ~horeline ~s
shown in Exhibits K-l and K-2. The first three miles will vary ue-
tween a half-bench cut and a full embankment section. The remain-
ing portion of the road will require a full-bench cut for nost of
its length. As the road approaches the project area, it will dlviue
with one branch extending to the dam area and the other to the
powerhouse. The roadway width will be 14 feet, maximum ~rade Vlill
be 13% and minimum curve radius will be 100 feet.
1.4.1.5 Transmission Line
The transmission line will be 69-kV generally ~arallel
ing the access road and extending from the powerhouse substation
to its terminus at the Blue Lake Project substation. Structures
will be single-wood poles with a wishbone crossarm configuration.
1.4.2 Reservoir
The normal water surface elevation of the reservoir will
be 390-feet above mean sea level. The area of the reservoir at
this elevation is about 1,000 acres. The normal minimum water sur-
face elevation is 280 feet (MSL) with a corresponding reservoir
area of 390 acres. The active storage capacity at normal reservoir
elevation is 74,000 acre-feet. The area-capacity curve for the re-
servoir is shown in Figure W-l. The anticipated effect of the im-
poundment on area water quality. including thermal stratification
in the reservoir, is provided in Appendix K-2.
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1.4.3 Tailwater Features
Information concerning the tailwater features can te
found in Appendix W-5.
1.4.4 Transmission Facilities
Necessary modifications to the Blue Lake Project to handle
the added capacity of the Green Lake Project are not included as
part of this Application, but are considered a Ilecessary adjunct
thereto. These modifications include:
The upgrading of the existing Blue Lake sUbstation to
handle the added capacity of the Green Lake Project.
The upgrading of the existing 34.5-kV Blue Lake trans-
mission line to 69-kV.
The construction of the new Lot 4 transmission stepdown
and distribution sUbstation.
These modifications will be accomplished through amend-
ment to the Blue Lake Project License.
1.5 Construction Procedures
Activities to be completed prior to or durine construc-
tion of major project features include:
1.5.1 Land Acquisition
The project site is located in the Tongass liational For-
est on lands presently owned by the United States. The State of
Alaska is currently in the process of selecting approximately 5,700
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acres, of which the 1,500-acre project area is a part, under Sec-
tion 6(a) of the Alaska Statehood Act. Details of the selection
process and a legal description of the affected lands are presented
in Appendix W-l.
1.5.2 Permits and Authorizations
All necessary Federal, State, and local permits and
authorization as identified in Section 9 of this exhibit will be
obtained as required. Other pertinent authorizations that may be
required will be identified during the final design phase of develop-
ment.
1.5.3 Land Surveys
Land surveys to be completed prior to and during construc-
tion include: the final access road route survey to determine the
final alignment of the access road; surveys as needed for the clear-
ing and construction of the access road; and project boundary sur-
veys to provide required monumentation of the project boundary and
other key control points.
1.5.4 Geotechnical Investigation
Design level geotechnical investigations will be required
for the final design of the access road, arch darn, powerhouse and
appurtenant structures. These investigations will include addi-
tional geophysical surveys, construction material identification
and evaluation, laboratory testing and seismicity evaluation of
the site.
1.5.5 Environmental Planning
Inventories of the biotic, and archaeologic and historic
resources in the project area were conducted during the surr.rner of
,
1977 to identify potential adverse impacts of construction and
operation. These studies were utilized in the preparation of this
Application and will be further used for environmental planning
during the final design phase of development. These studies are
included in this exhibit as Appendices W-IO and W-ll respectively.
1.5.6 Final Design of the Project
Final design includes final structural and hydraulic de-
sign of the project features, the preparation of bid drawings and
documents and the preparation of construction drawings.
1.5.7 Clearing
Clearing for the access road will begin as soon as prac-
tical after completion of the access road design and award of a con-
tract for construction. Additionally. the reservoir will be cleared
of all trees and brush within the area of normal reservoir fluctua-
tion eEl 390 [MSL] to El 294 [MSL]). All merchantable timber from
both the access road and reservoir will be salvaged and sold.
1.5.8 Diversion Facilities
Schemes currently being considered for the diversion dur-
ing construction include a tunnel through the north dam abutment
and diversion by a flume through the dam site. Construction of
diversion facilities as well as the arch dam below the natural
stream channel will be scheduled to coincide with the historically
low flow periods of the year.
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1.5.9 Borrow Areas
A borrow area for aggregate ~roduction within the reser-
voir area has been tentatively identified in the alluvial plain at
the eastern end of the existing lake. The exact location and ex-
tent of this borrow area will be determined following more detailed
geotechnical investigations.
1.5.10 Construction SChedule
A schedule for the construction of the Project is provided
as Appendix w-6. Severe climatic conditions are not felt to occur
in this maritime climate and no unusual measures have been taken to
include them in the timing of the construction. The on-line date
of September, 1981 is considered to be the earliest possible date
for completion, consistent with safe and proper design and construc-
tion techniques.
1.5.11 Construction Work Force
The number of construction workers will vary by season
and year. The expected maximum would be approximately 150 during
the fall of the third year of construction. By Alaska State law,
95% of the work force will be Alaska residents (if qualified).
Further discussion of the source and make-up of the work force is
provided in Section 3.1.3 of this exhibit.
1.6 Operation and Maintenance Procedures
The Project will be a conventional hydroelectric develop-
ment operated in conjunction with the existing Blue Lake Project
(FPC Project No. 2230). Details of operation are presented in Ap-
pendix W-2.
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Normal maintenance of the Project will involve insl,eclinc
lubricating, cleaning, and overhaulint; the plant eq;;iIJr.letl~ GtI a.
regular basis according to a maintenance schedule.
While the Project is to be remotely operated from Blue
Lake, it is anticipated that a traveling operator vlill inspect the
Project several times a week to insure proper operation of plant
equipment. As a part of this inpsection, all gates, valves, hOists,
and emergency equipment will be periodically checked for proper
operation.
A complete inspection of the project equipment and struc-
tures will be made annually to determine any leakage, seepage,
cracking, deterioration of concrete, or other needed repairs which
may have been overlooked in normal maintenance procedures. During
this inspection the power tunnel, turbines, and draft tubes will be
dewatered and inspected. Trashracks and water passages will be
cleaned as required and turbine runners, guide vanes and steel
draft tube liners will be inspected for cavitation, pitting and
other damage. Annual inspections and needed repairs will te sched-
uled when the units could be shut down without loss of energy to
the system. Any conditions which could affect the safety and per-
manence of the Project will be remedied as soon as possible.
Periodic maintenance of the access road will be required
to clear the road of rockfalls.
1.7 Future Plans
The Applicant has no plans for the future expansion of
the Project beyond the presently proposed construction. A limited
potential does exist for future recreational development. iIowevel',
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,
with the number of more favorable sites available to the Applicant
for expansion of its recreational facilities to meet its needs, ex-
tensive development of the Green Lake site for recreational purposes
seems remote.
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2. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT
2.1 Land Uses and Features
2.1.1 Land Uses
The Project lies in a remote and essentially undeveloped
area of the Tongass National Forest approximately 10 air ~iles
southeast of Sitka. The nearest road, Sawmill Creek State Highway,
terminates shortly beyond the Alaska Lumber and Pulp Company (ALP)
pulpmill in Sawmill Cove approximately 6.5 air miles north of Green
Lake (see Appendix W-3) and a barrier falls at the mouth of the
Vodopad River at Silver Bay makes passage by boat impossible. As a
result, the only access to Green Lake is by air or on foot via a
short (1/2-mile) but steep, hiking trail from Silver Bay. Due to
the very limited access, little commercial development of the area
has occurred. Current land uses include limited mineral extractions
and recreation. The only potential uses currently being considered
include timber production, power generation, recreation, and mineral
extraction.
2.1.1.1 Power Generation
The hydroelectric potential of the Green Lake drainage
has been recognized since 1929 when all land adjacent to the Vodo-
pad River and Green Lake which lie below an altitude of 350 feet (MSL)
were withdrawn and essentially reserved for use as a hydroelectric
powersite and designated Powersite Classification No. 221. By
Section 24 of the Federal Power Act, this classification subordin-
ated all subsequent uses or entries on the land. In 1970, by
Public Land Order 4958, the powersite was expanded to include all
lands below an altitude of 400 feet (NSL). The newly defined power-
site was designated Powersite Classification No. 459 and Fowersite
Classification No. 221 was cancelled.
14
f ,
2.1.1.2 Wood Products Industry
All of Baranof Island is currently in ALP's long-term
timber sale contract with the U.S. Forest Service; however, little
or no logging activity has occurred south of Sitka. To-date it has
been more profitable to harvest lands north of Sitka where the ter-
rain is more suitable to modern logging methods. Due to the limited
access and precipitous terrain, the Green Lake-Vodopad River Drain-
age has never been timbered. Indications of logging sometime in
the past were, however, noticed in the Bear Cove area during the
Applicant's field investigations.
By U.S. Forest Service projections, there probably will
be no timber harvest in the project area within the next 10 years
should the Green Lake Hydroelectric Project development not occur. (2)
2.1.1.3 Mining
Sporadic mining activity has been the only recent com-
mercial use of the lands around Silver Bay south of Herring Cove.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has reviewed 10 groups of min-
ing claims in the Sitka Quadrangle for possible conflicts with the
proposed Green Lake Project. Of these, only three groups as shown
below were identified as requiring further investigation by the
Applicant. The specific location of these claims will be deter-
mined, if possible, during the access road survey and the extent
of conflict reassessed at that time.
Kx 114-11 Bonanza Placer -1953-72 (Gold) -Edgecumbe Exploration
Co. -Glenn A. Morgan -P.O. Box 758, Sitka, Alaska -
approx. 10 mi. SE Town of Sitka; mouth of Bear Creek,
head of Silver Bay, Baranof Island.
15
Kx 114-12 Bonanza Quartz Clms. 1-22 (Gold) -Bear Lode -Climax
Quartz -Seaside Quartz -Queen Quartz -1953-71 -Edge-
cumbe Exploration Co. -Glenn A. Morgan -P.O. Box 758,
Sitka, Alaska -approx. 10 mi. SE Town of Sitka; head
of Silver Bay, Baranof Island.
Kx 114-149 Joseph Gangolia 1970-76 (tungsten) - 2 claims -Bear
Mt. halfway between Herring Cove and Bear Cove, meets
Silver Bay tidewater.
Others, due to either location or inactivity, have been judged by
the BLM as having only remote possibilities for conflict with de-
velopment of the Project. All of the groups studied were found to
be unpatented.
2.1.1.4 Recreation
The Tongass National Forest south of Green Lake is a
relatively lightly developed recreational area. Hiking trails lead
from Silver Bay to Salmon Lake, Lake Redoubt and several alpine
lakes in the area. The only existing overnight facility in the
area is a U.S. Forest Service hiker's cabin near the head of Lake • Redoubt, a m!romictic lake approximately 4 air miles southwest of
the Project. Recreational use of the Green Lake drainage has been
limited due in part to the difficulty of access. "Recreational
fishing is not considered significant by Alaska Department of Fish
and Game personnel stationed in Sitka. It appears from all avail-
able information that hunter use of the area immediately around
Green Lake is low as well.,,(3)
Plans for future development of recreational facilities
of the City and Borough of Sitka including Green Lake are presented
in Appendix W-7.
16
2
2.1.2 Topography. Physiography and Geology
A discussion of this subject is presented in the preli-
minary geological report prepared by the Applicant's Geotechnical
consultant and included in this exhibit as Appendix W-9.
2.1.3 Soils
A discussion of soil types, as classified by the U.S.
Forest Service for Southeast Alaska, and their locations within
the Green Lake drainage is provided in the description of the
forest ecosystem in Appendix W-IO.
2.2 Species and Ecosystems
An investigation of the biotic communities in and around
the project site was conducted during June 1977. A report of that
investigation is included as Appendix W-IO.
2.3 Socio-Economic Conditions
2.3.1 Existing
The public lands of the Tongass National Forest surround
the project Site, consequently little development has occurred.
There is no resident population in or near the project boundary
and no need for the relocation of homes, businesses or industries.
A small group of abandoned mining cabins are located at the head
of Silver Bay approximately 2,000 feet west of the mouth of the
Vodopad River.
The only substantially developed area within the effec-
tive range of the Project is within and immediately adjacent to
17
p
the City of Sitka. By U.S. Census figures, the population of the
City and Borough of Sitka was 6,100 in 1970. A projection of
population growth through 1990 is given in Table W-2. The bulk
of the population is within Sitka City limits or located on Japonski
Island, both shown on Exhibit J in Appendix W-3. Family income infor-
mation for Sitka and the similar Southeast Alaska population centers
of Juneau and Ketchikan, is presented in Table W-3.
The economy of Sitka is fairly typical of Southeast Alaska
communities. The cOffiffiodity-producing industry which includes the
wood products industry, amounts to approximately 34% of the total
economy of Sitka. The distributive industry, which includes trans-
portation, communication, trade, finance and services, amounts to
32% and the government makes up the remaining 34%. Employment by
industry and a further breakdown of the previously mentioned in-
dustries is presented in Table W-4. The overall percentage of
government has increased during the past 2 years with the addition
of the district headquarters of the U.S. Forest Service and will
be substantially increased again by the Coast Guard Air Station
transfer to Sitka from Annette Island. The added responsibility
of patrolling the recently enacted 200-mile fishing limit makes
additional growth of the Coast Guard Station most likely. (4)
2.3.2 Potential
The forest products industry has traditionally been the
mainstay of Sitka's economy and is expected to remain so. Although
short-run difficulties will be encountered, long-term prospects re-
main good.
Sitka lost its marine products base in 1973 when a fire
destroyed the Sitka Cold Storage Company plant. Since that time a
large building project at Sitka Sound Seafoods has brought some
18
q
f ,
of the market back to Sitka. It is felt that the 200-mile fish-
ing limit, coupled with a growing awareness of the feasibility of
harvesting and marketing bottom fish, will further increase the
importance of this industry to Sitka's economy. (4)
Private business growth in Sitka occurred primarily in
the retail sector. The overall growth in the resident population
is seen as one contributing factor to business growth. liowever,
increase in tourism is seen as the greatest potential contributing
factor to future growth.
In late 1968, the State of Alaska commissioned a team of
consultants to review the statewide economic potential of tourism.
In this study, "A Program for Increasing the Contribution of Tour-
ism to the Alaskan Economy", Sitka was chosen as a model of a
community with major historical significance. As a prototype, it
was suggested that major improvements could be made that would sub-
stantially increase Sitka's growth potential. Sitka has since be-
gun to act on those suggestions with the construction of a conven-
tion center, the proposed construction of two major hotel complexes
and a stepped-up public information program. If the development
continues as planned, Sitka has the potential to become one of the
most widely visited areas in Alaska.
"In the past, at present, and most certainly in the future,
Sitka will continue to feel more economic impact from tourism. The
distributive employment section, which includes services, went from
27.65% of the total economy in 1965 to an estimated 32.02% in 1975.
Sitka is extremely suited to this type of growth. As the second
oldest city in Alaska, the oldest in southeast, and the site of the
Russian capital before Seward's purchase, the area contains a vast
amount of historical and cultural lore ideal for tour boat stop-
overs.,,(5)
19
p
The need for additional power generating capability ha~
been well documented. Much, if not all, of the previously mentioned
potential economic growth for Sitka relies upon the development of
an economically stable and reliable power source, such as the Green
Lake Project.
2.4 Air and Water Environment
2.4.1 Climate
The following discussion is based primarily upon climatic
conditions at Sitka. 10 air miles to the northwest. The climate
in the vicinity of the project site is classified as Coastal Mari-
time, characterized by moderate temperatures relatively high pre-
cipitation and little seasonal variation. The local weather pat-
tern is shaped by three main factors; a pressure system that re-
sults in almost year-round southerly flow of air; proximity to the
ocean and consequent exposure to warm. moisture-laden air masses;
and the rugged. mountainous terrain of Baranof Island.
Typically. a low pressure system overlies the Northern
Pacific throughout most of the fall, winter and early spring. The
center of the disturbance is usually in the vicinity of Dutch Har-
bor in the Aleutian chain. The counter-clockwise circulation
around the low results in southeasterly winds at Sitka during this
period. In late spring and summer. as the land begins to warm. a
high pressure area over the ocean further south begins to dominate.
The clockwise circulation around this pressure area results in
northwesterly winds during June, July. and August. Prevailing
monthly wind directions are given in Table W-5, Climatological Sum-
mary.
20
;
2
The temperature pattern is influenced by the warm water
current that flows northward along the eastern side of the Gulf of
Alaska. The proximity of this current. together with the prevail-
ing southerly winds. give the area a moderate and relatively uni-
form temperature structure characteristic of the oceanic environment.
The average annual temperature for Sitka is about 43° F with ex-
tremes of _8° and 87° in January and July respectively. Complete
monthly temperature data is given in Table W-5.
Precipitation is the most highly variable aspect of the
local climate. depending chiefly on location of the site with re-
spect to barrier mountains, prevailing wind direction, and eleva-
tion. Sitka, situated at sea level on the western coast of Bara-
nof Island, receives an average annual precipitation of 96.7 inches.
Precipitation data for Sitka, Port Alexander. Little Port Walter
and Baranof are shown in Table W-5. The effects of location on
the windward side of the barrier mountains can readily be seen in
the substantially increased precipitation experienced at both Lit-
tle Port Walter and Baranof (see F~gure W-2).
Precipitation can also be expected to increase with an
increase in elevation. While little data is available from high
elevation gauges, in Southeast Alaska precipitation calculated from
runoff measurements. has been found to be up to three times that
experienced at sea level stations.
Monthly sea level precipitation data for Sitka is pre-
sented in Table W-5. Average runoff for the project site, calcu-
lated from Vodopad River discharge data, is estimated at 150 in./yr.
21
4
a G
2.4.2 Hydrology and Hydrography
2.4.2.1 Green Lake
The Green Lake drainage area encompasses approximately
28.2 square miles. The basin is glacier formed and almost sur-
rounded by steep, heavily-forested slopes. The surface area of
Green Lake at its natural elevation of about 230 feet (MSL) is ap-
proximately 180 acres. The major tributary is the Vodopad River
with its several branches. A bar divides the lake into east and
west basins with the maximum depth of approximately 85 feet occur-
ring in the center of the east basin. "Vertical profiles of the
two basins are similar except that water in the west basin is warm-
er and exhibits slightly greater temperature stratification, prob-
ably due to the warming of the lake water as it passes over the
shallow bar and to the smaller fetch in the west basin. Stratifi-
cation is so weak in both basins that warming occurs to the bottom
and wind action may mix the lake during periods of open water.,,(6)
The average annual runoff from the basin is approximately
310 cfs or 225,000 acre-feet per year. Runoff data for the Vodopad
River is shown in Table w-6. Only 10 years of streamflow records
(1915-1925) are available for the Vodopad River. Therefore the
table also includes an extension of eXisting record by statistical
means. Fifty-percent of the total annual runoff typically occurs
mostly as snowmelt during the four month period from May through
August. Annual runoff patterns for streams in this area are signi-
ficantly affected by the relative elevation of their drainage basins
and the nature of their tributaries. Streams, such as the Vodopad
River, with basins at lower elevations or which have glacial runoff
contributions tend to have more uniform runoff patterns throughout
the year.
22
2.4.2.2 Silver Bay(7)
Silver Bay is an estuary connected with Sitka Sound by
way of the Eastern Passage. The Bay is 6.5-miles long and varies
in width from 0.4 to 0.9 miles. It is approximately 400-feet deep
at the mouth decreasing to approximately 150-feet near the head.
The Bay has an area of 4.2 square miles and has about 30 miles of
shoreline. Several streams, including the Vodopad, serve as sources
of freshwater to the Bay.
The freshwater input to Silver Bay mixes with saline
waters and forms a very shallow surface layer of brackish water.
Beneath this surface layer, horizontal and vertical salinity gra-
dients are small and salinities are near oceanic levels.
Circulation patterns are determined by the amount of
freshwater runoff, density differences between Silver Bay and
Sitka Sound, wind stresses and to a lesser degree, tidal forces.
Silver Bay is very accessible and except for Sawmill Cove,
where pollution levels are elevated due to discharge from the pulp-
mill located there, is used for recreational fishing and boating
by local residents. Silver Bay also serves as a wintering and
nursery ground for flatfish. Tributaries such as Bear Creek, sup-
port salmon runs and the Bay serves as a nursery area for young
salmon as well.
2.5 Unique Features
No unique or unusual archaeological or historic sites
were found to exist within, or in the immediate vicinity of the
project boundary. (8) Silver Bay, while quite scenic, is typical
of Southeast Alaska and is therefore not considered unique.
23
F
3. ENVIRO!II1ElJTAL HiPAC~ OF 'lEi:. ?RCPG:';L~ "C'::C,:i
3.1 Construction
The construction phase of the freject ~s sched~:~J __
last approximately 3 years durinb which tine uisrl:ljt=--cns 'cu : Ll·
environment are expected to occur. :'::ome of the disl'uptiollS ~I'l:
expected to be only intermittent and/or tenporary, ab~tjnc ~ftel'
the project construction is complete; others will re~resent ler-
manent changes of the environment, lastir;c throughcut the ':'i.:.'e c.f
the Project and beyond. The people of Sitka and the :and, wilu-
life, air and water resources withirl the project area ~ill be ~f
fected both adversely and beneficially. The overall negative i~
pact of the proposed action, however, is not anticipated to be
significant.
3.1.1 Land Features and Uses
The Project upon completion will encompass approximately
1,500 acres. Due to the relative isolation of the site and the
mountainous terrain therein, little or no commercial use i1as been
made of the land.
3.1.1.1 Wood Products Industry
As discussed in Section 2.1.1 the Green Lake-Vodopad rliver
drainage area is currently under lease to ALP for its timber resourc-
es. During construction, all merchantable tinber cleared fer access
road construction or from within the reservoir ~rea (El 390 [MSL] to
El 230 [MSL]) will be salvaged and sold. Beyond this initial re-
covery, however, the 1.500-acre project area will be removed frG~
24
.................................
use for timber production. This removal will represent an esti-
mated future timber loss of between 20 and 40 million board feet
during the next 100-year rotation.
3.1.1.2 Mining
Sporadic mining activity has been the only recent com-
mercial use of lands in the project vicinity. While no in-depth
assessment of the mineral resources of the impacted area has teen
made it is not anticipated that construction or operation of the
Project will significantly impact this industry. Only the reser-
voir area will be removed from mining use and no claims are known
to exist in that area.
3.1.1.3 Recreation
General access to the site will be prohibited during con-
struction to safeguard public health and safety. This restriction
is expected to have little impact on the limited existing recrea-
tional use of Green Lake. Most visitors will be deterred by the
construction activity and increased noise levels. Boat traffic in
the near shore waters of Silver Bay will be monitored during con-
struction of the access road and powerhouse to safeguard public
health and safety, especially while blasting operations are in
progress.
3.1.1.4 Land, Air, and Marine Traffic
The Project will have a limited adverse effect on traffic
patterns on Sawmill Creek State Highway. This road will serve as
the only access from Sitka to both the Project access road and the
ALP pulp mill; therefore some inconvenience to employees of ALP
will occur. Methods to alleviate this impact will be considered
if a problem develops during construction.
25
.2 .. --------------............ -~
Intermittent increased usae;e of air and water transport
systems will occur as personnel, materials and equipment arrive
and depart Sitka during the various stages of construction.
3.1.2 Species and Ecosystems
A discussion of the impacts of the Project on species
and ecosystems is presented in Appendix W-IO.
3.1.3 Socio-Economic Impact of the Proposed Action
Consideration of the socio-economic impacts of the proj-
ect construction will center on the City of Sitka. As the only
developed population and commercial center in the vicinity of the
Project, it will be most directly affected by construction.
The number of construction workers at the Project will
vary by season and year. The expected maximum will be approxi-
mately 150 people during the fall of the third year of construc-
tion. In compliance with Alaska State labor laws, (Section
36.10.010), 95% of the labor force will be Alaska residents (if
qualified) .
Sitka is currently enjoying a period of growth and pros-
perity with very little unemployment. It is difficult to assess
the number of Sitka residents, now employed, who might be attracted
to employment on the Project or what portion of Sitka's resident
construction industry might be directly involved in the construc-
tion. It would be unrealistic to assume either ttat the construc-
tion force would be drawn entirely from Sitka or that it would
consist entirely of nor;-Si tka residents. 110st of the more special-
ized labor will not be available in Sitka and will therefore be
26
drawn from outside sources. ~o rurth~r determine the exact corpo-
sition of the work force would involv~ a number of complex and, at
this time, problematical variables and therefore no concentrated
effort has been made to do so.
The adverse socio-economic im~acts of such a constructior:
force are expected to be slight and short-term. lIousin6 for the
construction workers is the area of chief concern. llolAsir.g in
Sitka is currently at a premium and ~any rental units are reserved
for the community's growing tourist industry. More detailed con-
sideration of accommodation of these iffi~acts will be undertaken Ly
the Applicant during the licensinr process.
The impact of project construction on the local school
system is not anticipated to be significant. Due to the scheduled
and periodic fluctuations in the size of the construction force and
the rather transient nature of employment on many of the construc-
tion activities, it is unlikely that a significant portion of the
work force will choose to relocate their families to Sitka. Assum-
ing that 100% of the construction force will be non-Sitka residents
and that 25% of the married personnel will relocate, a conserva-
tively high estimate, it is estimated that 23 school age children
will arrive in Sitka as a direct result of the project construc-
tion. This represents 1% of the present school enrollment in Sitka
through grade twelve. The estimate was made using 150 people as
the size of the construction force, stateWide averages for ratio
of married to single, number of people per household, and percent
of population between ages 6 and 17.
While the private and public health care facilities in
Sitka are somewhat limited, it is unlikely that an increase of 150
vlOrkers would cause significant hardship. The same can be said
of the demands placed upon fire and police services. However,
27
...................................
problems in providing adequate fire and police protection for the
proposed construction areas could arise due to the relative isola-
tion of the project area. Therefore, the contractor will be re-
sponsible for fire protection measures at the project site and ini-
tial control should a fire occur.
Employment in the local and regional construction indus-
try will increase as a result of the Green Lake Project, and new
workers will contribute to the local economy in both wages spent
and taxes paid. Revenues from the City and Borough's 4% sales tax
will be a direct benefit to Sitka.
3.1.4 Air and Water Quality
During the four-year construction phase, air quality in
the project area will be impaired, and State and local standards
will be intermittently, and/or temporarily violated.
Exhaust gases from combustion engines on construction
vehicles and machinery will increase airborne particulate matter
and gaseous oxides. Smoke from burning of slash will also affect
the air quality to some extent. Surface blasting for the access
road, tunnel portal, and power plant construction will generate
dust as will the subsequent excavation and grading. Aggregate
production, clearing, and normal access road use are further poten-
tial sources of dust generation.
However, the adverse construction-related impact on air
quality is anticipated to be localized and temporary. The fre-
quency of precipitation in the region will tend to "cleanse" the
air and restore air quality to near pre-construction quality.
28
.................................
The operation of construction 0quipment, air com~ressGr~
and vehicles will significantly increase noise levels in ttle area.
surface blasting would intermittently increase noise levels durinG
the early stages of construction. Gnderground blastinG would not
have a significant effect on the noise levels on the surf~ce.
Without adequate erosion control during construction of
permanent and temporary facilities, runoff from these areas CGuld
carry sediments into the surface waters.
Excavated material froffi the power tunnel, powerhouse site,
and access road is to be placed into Silver Bay. This action will
result in temporary high turbidity levels in the Bay. Further dis-
cussion of this action and its effect on the aquatic life of Silver
Bay is presented in Appendix W-IO.
Without proper treatment, effluent from the aggregate
plant and concrete batch plant could cause a degradation of water
quality if allowed to directly enter Green Lake. Accidental fuel
spills and improper disposal of Oils, grease and chemicals used
during the construction would have a severe impact on aquatic life
should they reach water bodies in the project area.
Creation of the reservoir will inundate approximately
820 acres of cleared forest. Flooding organiC materials on this
land will increase biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in the overly-
ing waters and leaching of nutrients and other inorganic substances
could occur. Biotic production will greatly increase initially in
response to this readily available nutrient supply but would even-
tually decline and stabilize as these nutrients are consumed.
29
2 q
3.1.5 Waste Disposal
Waste material generated by construction activities will
consist essentially of solid wastes such as timber and brush from
reservoir clearing, scrap and forming lumber, paper containers,
cans and scrap steel, and plastics. Combustible wastes will be
burned in compliance with all pertinent local and State air pol-
lution control regulations. All material left after burning will
be buried. Non-combustible waste disposal sites have not as yet
been identified. Waste disposal sites, both combustible and non-
combustible, will be selected to meet State and local standards.
3.2 Operation and Maintenance
3.2.1 Land Features and Uses
The land occupied by the Project will be used primarily
for the generation and transmission of power to the Applicant's
service area.
Upon completion of the Project the only restrictions
placed upon public access to the site will be those necessary to
protect both public health and safety and the security of the proj-
ect facilities. Log booms will restrict access to such potentially
hazardous areas as the dam, spillway and intake structure in Green
Lake and the tailrace area on Silver Bay. Unauthorized vehicular
traffic on the access road will be prohibited for reasons discussed
in Section 1.4.1.4.
Future secondary uses of the project lands that do not
endanger the security or integrity of the Project will be consid-
ered by the Applicant as they arise.
30
3.2.2 Species and Ecosystems
It is expected that the ~ajor impact of the Project on
the plant and animal life in the area will occur during the con-
struction phase and when operations corr~ence, conditions will grad-
ually return to near pre-construction status (see Appendix W-10).
3.2.3 Socio-Economic Considerations
The most direct result of project operation would be to
provide the City and Borough of Sitka with an economically stable
and reliable power source with which to encourage and facilitate
future growth.
3.2.4 Air and Water Environment
3.2.4.1 Air Quality
Project operation and maintenance should have little or
no effect on air quality in the project area.
3.2.4.2 Noise Quality
Actions which would create noise during operation of the
Project include: (1) operation of equipment of the power plant;
(2) outflow of water to Silver Bay during generation; and (3) trans-
mission line related noise. These activities should contribute no
significant adverse effects on the existing ambient sound conditions
in the vicinity of the Project.
3.2.4.3 Water Quality
The effect of project operation on the water quality of
Green Lake and Silver Bay is presented in Section 7 of Exhibit H
included in this exhibit as Appendix W-2.
31
3.2.5 Solid Wastes
The project operation, as proposed, will produce little
solid waste. Oil used in the power generating equipment in tne
powerhouse will require disposal outside the project area. The
waste oil will be trucked to Sitka for disposal or reclamation.
Wastes from naintenance procedures such as debris from
the trashracks will be disposed of in accordance with all perti-
nent State and Federal regulations. Accumulation of vegetation
from the maintenance of the transmission line right-of-way is ex-
pected to be negligible.
3.2.6 Use of Resources
The Project, including transmission facilities, will oc-
cupy approximately 1,500 acres of land. Virtually the entire natural
runoff from the drainage basin above the dam will be utilized for the
purpose of power generation. As a conventional hydroelectric develop-
ment, project operation will require no power from outside sources.
The Project will require the use of a relatively small
amount of material during operation such as lubricants for the
machinery and replacement parts. The impacts on the environment
of consuming the small amounts of lubricants and materials needed
to manufacture replacement parts will be insignificant.
3.2.7 Accidents and Catastrophes
The Project is located in an area of moderate to high
seismic activity. Project facilities, with special emphasis on
the dam, will be designed to resist seismic forces using dynamic
analysis procedures.
32
The spillway will be designed to pass a flood with peak
inflow of 21,150 cfs and with volume of 21,500 acre-feet. This
flood is equivalent to half tte Probable I1aximum Flood (PMF) and
has a return frequency of approximately 5,000 years.
The PMF, when routed through the reservoir, results in a
reservoir elevation of 405 feet (MSL), with the non-overflow sec-
tions of the dam being overtopped for ~bout 15 hours. Because of
the infrequency of occurrence of the PMF, it is considered that
this nominal overtopping can be tolerated and the dam will be de-
signed to accommodate it.
The transmission line will be vulnerable to major natural
catastrophes, such as severe wind, fire, ice, landslides, and earth-
quakes, and to such man-caused vagaries as aircraft impacts. Fail-
ures resulting from catastrophes can be repaired in a relatively
reasonable short time.
3.3 Termination and Abandonment
Should it become necessary or desirable to retire the
Project, it is not anticipated that si 6 nificant long-term impacts
would result. If all project facilities were removed and topo-
graphy restored when terminated, the area would eventually return
to its natural state. Revegetation of the previously inundated
portion of the reservoir would, however, take 50-100 years.
33
wr .... ------------.............. ·~
4. MEASURES TO ENHANCE THE ENVIRONMENT OR TO AVOID
OR MITIGATE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
4.1 Preventative Measures and Monitoring
4.1.1 Air Quality and Noise Levels
Some deterioration in air quality will be an unavoidable
consequence of construction of the Project. The Applicant will re-
quire compliance with all EPA and OSHA criteria for air quality.
During final design of the Project, specifications will be developed
to safeguard against any undue degradation of air quality during con-
struction. Due to frequent precipitation in the area which will
tend to "cleanse" the air, no air quality monitoring is proposed.
Noise levels can be expected to increase substantially
during the construction period. Due to the relative isolation of
the construction sites the only noise level control measures employed
will be those necessary to meet OSHA standards. No measures to moni-
tor noise levels are felt to be necessary.
4.1.2 Water Quality
The most significant impact to local water quality would
be the temporary higher turbidity levels in Silver Bay as a result
of the disposal of excavated material froD access road, power tun-
nel, and powerhouse construction.
Project roads will be designed and constructed so that
runoff and natural drainage patterns will not be adversely affect-
ed. Watershed protection techniques such as contour ditching,
34
water check and culverts will be used to llelp minimize the effects
on water quality from the access road during construction and opera-
tion of the Project.
Specifications will be developed during final design to
prohibit the introduction of any toxic substances such as grease,
oils, fuels and chemicals into either Green Lake or Silver Bay.
Specific procedures to be followed will be the responsibility of
the Contractor.
4.1.3 Wildlife
The major impact on wildlife is expected to occur during
the construction phase of the Project. Proper scheduling of vari-
ous construction activities could substantially reduce potential
adverse impacts.
All statutes concerning construction in the vicinity of
eagle trees and recommendations from the U.S. Department of Fish
and Wildlife will be observed. Insulators on power transmission
poles will be spaced so as to prevent electrocution of eagles and
other large birds that might use the poles as perching sites.
The only critical habitat that occurs in the project area
is Bear Creek which supports annual salmon migration. The creek
will be bridged, as requested by Alaska Department of Fish and Game,
so as not to inhibit the passage of anadromous fish and construc-
tion will be accomplished in coordination with the Department.
4.2 Environmental Restoration and Enhancement
As both an erosion control and restoration measure, those
lands disturbed during construction and not subject to rapid natural
revegetation, will be reseeded. Overburden will be stripped from
35
the contractor's work area and stockpiled for later use during
restoration. Exposed soil cut slopes will be reseeded as soon as
possible to lessen erosion potential. Upon completion of construc-
tion, the contractor's work area will be re-graded, recovered with
stockpiled topsoil and re-seeded. A comprehensive erosion control
plan, conforming with local standards, will be required of the
contractor for all phases of construction.
In view of the large overall recreational resources
available in the greater Sitka area, the Project is not considered
to be a major recreational resource. However, the increased nutri-
ent source made available by the raising of the lake level will
provide an increased food source for the existing brook trout popu-
lation. During the early years of project operation, trout fishing
should be better than presently exists but is expected to diminish
with time as the nutrient source diminishes. Lake stocking by the
Alaska Department of Fish and Game will be considered should an in-
creased recreational use of the lake warrant it. To facilitate ac-
cess to this resource a small boat mooring buoy will be placed in
Silver Bay north of the powerhouse. Hiking access to the reservoir
from tidewater will be available along the access road and the exist-
ing trail.
The Applicant's plans for the recreational use of the
Project are detailed in Exhibit R, included in this exhibit as Ap-
pendix W-7.
Plans for the restoration or mitigation of the aesthetic
impacts of the Project are presented in Exhibit V, included in this
exhibit as Appendix W-S.
36
5. UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE ENVIHOlWEI:TAL EFFECT;:)
5.1 Human Resources and Values Impacted
No people, businesses or industries will te disrlac~d by
any phase of the construction or operation of the Proj~ct. ~he
needs of the labor force over the three-year construction ~eriod
will, in fact, necessitate the development of additional housinr"
in Sitka which might later benefit the community's IO~E-term rrowth
needs.
Safety considerations will limit recreational use of the
lake and near shore waters of Silver Bay during construction. The
construction activity and increased noise levels will deter some
recreationists from use of Silver Bay during construction but other
similar recreational areas are available in the vicinity of ;:)itka.
The project area is not part of any designated wilderness
area; however, it does lie in an inventoried roadless area of the
Tongass National Forest. The aesthetic impact of the access road
may well be the most significant adverse impact of the Project.
While environmental and aesthetic considerations may influence
route selection, topography and fish and wildlife considerations
will, in the end, dictate the final alignment. As a result, large
portions of the access road will be visible from Silver Bay.
5.2 Biotic Resources
A discussion of the unavoidable adverse effects on the
biotic community is presented in Appendix W-IO.
37
-'"
6. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT-TERM USES OF
fl1AH'S ENVIROlJI1ENT AlJD THE IvJAIUTEIJAIJCE AIID EjJ-
HANCEMENT OF LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY
The Project will make a major contribution to meeting
the electrical power needs of the City and Borough of Sitka thereby
satisfying basic needs of the cOmIT.unity and enhancing the long-term
productivity of the region served. In addition to the production
of power, the Project will provide an efficient use of the water re-
sources in the area and allow non-renewable fossil fuels to be used
in other more productive capacities.
The short-term use of man's environment will involve sev-
eral changes in the site area. The major changes will be the con-
struction of roads, excavation for powerhouse and power conduit and
normal reservoir fluctuation during operation. These changes and
their effect on the biotic community in the vicinity of the Project
are discussed in Appendix W-10.
The Project, with replacements and repairs as needed, is
expected to remain in operation for many years, serving recognized
needs by utilizing small land areas and renewable natural resources
without adversely affecting long-term productivity of the region.
~ .... ----------................ ~(
7. IRREVERSIBLE OR IRRETRh':il:I i··(~;·}I'j'r·:E];TS OF RE=or·H'E.~
7.1 Land Use and Features
The major irreversiblE:: ir~jriJ':; ;·:ould te ~ht, rrc=~:er.cE' c:
the access road in a previously u~roaded area. Due to ~he Greeir i-
tous and rocky terrain, bla::;tilw vlill t e requirec for rOctU com:tr'uc-
tion. The effects of blastirw Clr:u the pr'esence of thE:: r'J2Q i tse:lf
will permanently alter the visual quo.J ity of the shorelire alollf~
Sil ver Bay.
7.2 Biotic Community
The irreversible comr..itment of biotic resource::; is dis-
cussed in Appendix W-IO.
7·3 Socio-economic Considerations
A firm, reliable and economically stable power source
such as the Project will facilitate and encoura~e growth in the
City and Borough of Sitka. This unassessed growth may result in
the commitment of an indeterminable amount of other resources.
7.4 Resources Lost or Uses Preempted
Few irreversible and irretrievable commitments of re-
sources would occur as a result of the proposed action.
The placement of spoil material in Silver Bay would re-
sult in an irrevocable commitment of resources. Lands occupied
by the reservoir, access road and project facilities would be com-
mitted to use for power generation and as such would be lost to
use as wildlife habitat or timber resources.
No economically significant minerals are known to under-
lie the site.
7.5 Finite Resources
Construction materials needed to construct the dam, power
conduit, powerhouse and transmission line would be irretrievably
committed. Most of the electric and mechanical equipment would
have salvage values. Construction of the Project would require
excavation of approximately 135,000 cubic yards of material and
the placement of approximately 40,000 cubic yards of concrete.
40
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8. NEED FOR POWER AND ALTERNATIVES
TO THE PROPOSED ACTION
8.1 Need for Power
Sitka is one of the fastest growing communities cf its
size in Alaska today. Its current population is approximately
6,000 and increasing rapidly. An expanding tourist industry, the
recent transfer of the U.S. Coast Guard hir Wing from Annette Is-
land to Sitka, and normal population increases are expected to
consume the existing power resources.
8.1.1 Load Growth Projection
Power projections in the Alaska Power Survey of 1969(11)
predict an average growth rate in Southeast Alaska of about 13%
up to the 1980's and about 7% from the 1980's to year 2000. Short-
term projections of load growth made by the Sitka Electric Depart-
ment averaged about 10% in capacity and energy growth. These pro-
jections included 2,500-kW of demand which will be required before
1978 by the new Coast Guard facility and by various other planned
major business developments.
sonable long-term growth rate
utilized by the Applicant.
Considering historic growth, a rea-
projection of 6% from 1978 on was
8.1.2 Present Resources
Sitka's existing generating capacity consists of 6,500-
kW of generation delivered from the Blue Lake Project and 3,150-kW
of diesel capacity. The City also has a 2,500-kVA tie with ALP
but the amounts of capacity and energy available from ALP are dimin-
ishing rapidly as it expands toward full capacity and this resource
is no longer considered dependable.
41
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8.1.3 Future Resource Requirements
Historical and projected peak and energy loads are shown
in Fig. W-3. Required capacity reserves nave been set to be equal
to the largest single generating unit in the system. As can be
seen, presently Sitka has very limited peaking reserves and without
additional generating capacity would not be able to meet load de-
mands by the end of 1978. It is therefore planned to install two
2,500-kW diesel units (2,750-kW peak capacity) to be on-line oy
late 1978. These new units will meet the demand until the Project
can be placed in service, scheduled for the latter part of 1981.
However, up until the time the Project is on-line, reserve capa-
city will continue to be marginal. When the Project comes into
service, the diesels will be used as standby reserve and to firm
up hydroelectric secondary energy generation when required. Based
on the projected power needs, it is expected that the Project will
satisfy the system load requirements, with little diesel generation,
until about 1994.
During the early years of operation, the output of the
Project will exceed Sitka's load requirements. During this period
it is planned to sell the excess power to ALP on a retractable
sales basis. ALP has recently expressed its intention in principle
to purchase the excess power and is proceeding with expansion of
the intertie capacity with Sitka to permit delivery.
8.2 Energy Alternatives
There are other potential energy sources which need to be
recognized even though some cannet, at this time, be considered
as fea-sible alternatives to the Project. r.:.'hese include additional
diesel-electric units, fossil fuel fired steam plants, and rluclear
energy.
42
8.3 Consideration of Alternative Hydro Sites
It is important to note that the alternative selected
to proceed with, should first provide a significant amount of
energy and capacity in view of Sitka's load growth situation, and
second, should be economically, technically, and environmentally
feasible in light of that load growth. By mid-1981, when the
Project is brought on-line, the demand for energy will have reached
nearly 60,000 Megawatt-hours, based on the 6% growth rate plus ad-
ditional block loads. Hence, the next hydro project should, in com-
bination with existing resources, be capable of accommodating this
growth plus some reasonable period beyond.
The following is a discussion of the characteristics of
each alternative site considered and the scheme of development pro-
posed for it. Project data is summarized in Table W-7. The energy
quoted as being available from each project is estimated average
annual energy.
8.3.1 Carbon Lake
Carbon Lake is located on the east side of Baranof Island
(see Figure W-4) almost due east of Sitka where it empties via a
short length of falls directly into Cascade Bay. To date, Carbon
Lake has not received a great deal of consideration as a powersite;
the only significant mention being in Water Powers of Southeast
Alaska. The elevation of Carbon Basin is the lowest of those con-
sidered herein and the basin is glacier-fed which tends to stabil-
ize the flow. Water Powers of Southeast Alaska estimates that
53,000 acre-feet of storage would firm-up approximately 270 cfs of
the estimated annual average 444 cfs of runoff available. On this
basis it is estimated that an average annual flow of 333 cfs, or
75% of the long-term average, could be regulated by the 53,000
acre-feet of storage. Development of this stcrage would require
44
,. ...................................... ~4
the construction of four dams rangin£ in ~EiGht from 10 feet to
65 feet. A 4,800-foot power conduit would include 2,OOO-feet of
tunnel and the remainder in penstock. Tile powerhouse would be
located at tidewater developing an average gross lie ad of 230 feet.
This arrangement would permit the installation of 13,)OU
kW of capacity at a 40% annual plant factor. Allowing for losses
over a 31.4-mile transmission line to Sitka, 12,150-kW of capacity
and 43,674,OOO-kWh of energy would be delivered to the load center.
The line would extend through a 2,800-foot high pass near the cen-
ter of the island considerably complicating construction, mainten-
ance and reliability. Development of a port facility and short ac-
cess road from tidewater to the Project would be required.
The estimated capital investment required for development
of Carbon Lake was based on comparison with development C00ts for
Green Lake, and those developed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
for the Swan Lake Project near Ketchikan. Carbon Lake will have a
complex arrangement with four dams and a port facility. Based on
these considerations, the per kilowatt capital investment for Car-
bon Lake was estimated at $3,175/kW, which amounts to a total capi-
tal investment of $42,863,000.
The available power at Carbon Lake is not sufficient for
the Applicant's needs and was the primary reason for its rejection.
Secondly the length, elevation and relative inaccessibility of the
transmission line from Carbon Lake to Sitka would have compromised
its reliability and intensified the ecological impact of the Proj-
ect.
8.3.2 Takatz Lake
Takatz Lake is located on the east ~ide of Baranof Island,
approximately 20 air miles east of Sitka. It is situated approxi-
mately 4,000 feet upstream of the mouth of Takatz CreeK whicn flows
45
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into Chatham Straight by way of Takatz Bay. Takatz Lake was co~
sidered the most favorable alternative to Green Lake and as such
was the most intensely studied alternative.
The Alaska Power Ad~inistration (APA) i~vestlgated the
geology at the site and concluded that conditions were adequate
for construction of a concrete arch dam. The topograpllY aj:,pears
to have been greatly influenced by glaciation, probably during
Pleistocene Time. Slopes are precipitous and covered oy a thin
mantle of soil with heavy growths of underbrush.
The bedrock formation at the dam site is a massive quartz
diorite which is dense and indurated. The rock is medium-to-coarse
grained and is equigranular. This is typical of rocks associated
with the Coastal Range Batholith which Eenerally is located along
the coast of the mainland of Southeast Alaska. The Coastal Range
rocks are considered to be competent foundation materials and if
the geology at the site is indeed of that for~ation, the foundation
conditions should be entirely adequate. Further investigations
would be required to verify the site conditions.
The drainage basin of Takatz Lake has an area of about
10.6 square miles. Streamflow records for 15 co~plete water years
are available at a point on Takatz Creek downstream of the dam site
with a drainage area of 17.5 square miles. The average annual run-
off at the gage was 199,800 acre-feet or an aver"age of 11,417 acre-
feet per square mile which is significantly higher than Green Lake.
The annual average precipitation at Baranof Warm Springs, however,
is approximately 143 inches which is about 154% of the long-term
average at Sitka. The average annual inflow into Takatz Lake is
estimated to be about 121,000 acre-feet which would produce an aver-
age annual discharge of about 166 cfs.
46
~"""""----"""""""""""'4
It is estimated that ~n average Get head of approximately
950 feet can be developed at the site which would produce an avera~e
output of about 11,080 kW which would deliver approximately 91,200,000
kWh of firm energy to the load center. At 40% plant factor, the peak
output would be 27,700 kW, which would deljver 25,000 kW of dependable
peak capacity to the load center.
It is anticipated that raising the lake level to El 1040
(MSL) by construction of a dam at the existing outlet of the lake
will provide sufficient storage for regulation of inflow and ade-
quate head to develop the potential of the Project.
A concrete arch dam approximately 200-feet high will be
required to control the reservoir and to provide regulation of the
annual runoff. A dam of this size would provide a normal maximum
reservoir level at El 1040 (MSL), and contain an active storage
volume of 82,400 acre-feet. The power conduit is tentatively pro-
posed as a 6.5-foot by 7.0-foot modified horseshoe tunnel approxi-
mately 2,800-feet long "ith a downstream portal approximately 1,000
feet from the powerhouse. A 72-inch steel penstock would connect
the portal to the powerhouse. A surface powerhouse would be con-
structed at ground level near Takatz Bay. It is anticipated that
two Francis turbines would be installed, each delivering about
18,600 horsepower at best gate, under average net head, and con-
nected to a generator rated at 15,400 kVA, with a 90% power factor
(13,850 kW).
With an installed plant capacity of 27,700 kW at 41% plant
factor, approximately 25,000-kW of capacity and 93,330,000-kWh of
average annual energy would be delivered to Sitka after allowing
for station service and losses over approximately 31.2 miles of
69-kV transmission line. The transmission line route would be
generally the same as that for the Carbon Lake alternative ~nd a
similar port facility and access road would be required.
47
The per kilowatt capital investment for Takatz Lake was
estimated to be $2,433/kW which amounts to a total capital invest-
ment of $67,400,000.
The Takatz Lake Project shows great promise as a poten-
tial source of electrical generation to meet future long-range City
and Borough of Sitka needs, if the transmission line difficulties
can be resolved. However, the load forecasts for the Applicant's
service area do not warrant the construction of a project of this
magnitude at this time.
8.4 Alternative Project Arrangements(2)
8.4.1 General
A number of alternative project arrangements have been
considered resulting in the selected project arrangement. Speci-
fically the following alternatives were considered: power conduit
alignment and type; powerhouse configuration; dam type; reservoir
size; transmission line type; and access road alignment.
8.4.2 Power Conduit Alternatives
8.4.2.1 Surface Power Conduit Alignments
Two alternative surface power conduit alignments were
considered, one leading to a powerhouse site located about 400
feet north of the Vodopad River outlet to Silver Bay and one about
500 feet to the south of the river outlet. Both arrangements would
be very similar. Typically, from the power intake at the dam a
saddle-supported 8-foot diameter steel penstock would be located
in a 650-foot long unlined rock tunnel, and upon reaching more
48
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r
suitable terrain, the penstock would emerge into an open cut ex-
cavation with a single-lane access road alongside. Because of the
topography immediately above the powerhouse, the penstock would
terminate in a vertical concrete-lined shaft extending to a mani-
fold of two horizontal steel-lined penstocks to the powerhouse.
A field reconnaissance of the proposed conduit alignments
revealed that this concept is not practical because the rugged
topography posed unacceptable construction and maintenance problems
for the exposed penstock and may inhibit wildlife movement in the
area. These two schemes were therefore eliminated from further
consideration and all power conduit schemes considered involved
tunnels.
8.4.2.2 Power Tunnel -South Side
of the Vodopad River
The alignment on the south side of Vodopad River (Alter-
native 1) would consist of a tunnel which begins at a power intake
in the south abutment of the dam and terminates at a powerhouse
situated about 500 feet south of the mouth of the Vodopad River.
The tunnel would be concrete-lined for its entire length except for
the short steel-lined penstock section immediately ahead of the
powerhouse. The powerhouse would be a concrete structure set in a
side-hill cut. Since the powerhouse site is south of the river,
this scheme would require an extended access road and bridge across
the river to provide access to the plant. This alternative would
also require a bridge across the spillway section of the dam for
access to the power intake. The powerhouse site is feasible from
a geologic standpoint; however, site development would require re-
moval of the talus and landslide debris on the north side of the
site. Advantages of this alternative are two-fold: (1) powerhouse
excavation costs are less because of flatter topography and (2) the
power conduit is slightly shorter than the other alternatives to
the north of the river.
49
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8.4.2.3 Power Tunnels -North Side
of the Vodopad River
To the north of the Vodopad River, two power tunnel and
powerhouse locations were investigated. One powerhouse site would
be located about 800 feet north of the mouth of the river. This
site has the advantage of a shorter access road but the disadvan-
tage of a longer power conduit. The power tunnel (Alternative 2)
would originate at a power intake located in the north abutment of
the dam and extend approximately 2,050 feet to the powerhouse.
However, geotechnical investigations have shown this site to be
situated in a landslide debris area. Because construction and
stabilization measures would be costly and there would be no as-
surance that future sliding would not occur, this scheme was eli-
minated from further consideration.
Alternative 3 would begin at the same power intake loca-
tion at the dam as Alternative 2, but would terminate at a power-
house site located about 350-feet north of the mouth of the Vodo-
pad River. The resulting power tunnel would be approximately
1,900-feet in length. From a geologic standpoint, this powerhouse
location is the most favorable of all the sites investigated. The
power tunnel would be slightly longer than Alternative 1 but would
require less reinforcement because of greater rock cover. The ac-
cess road would be shorter and it would not require a bridge across
the river or the spillway as would be necessary for Alternative 1.
However, powerhouse excavation costs are greater because of the
steeper topography.
8.4.2.4 Comparison of Alternative Alignments
There is no significant difference in cost between the
scheme with the power tunnel alignment on the south side (Alterna-
tive 1) and the alignment on the north side with the powerhouse
50
,.. .......... --...................... ~q
situated 350-feet north of the moutl. of Vcdopad River (Alternative
3). Because of the more favorable ceolcgic conditions and the
elimination of a bridge across the Vodopad River and the spillway
section of the dam, Alternative 3 was selected.
8.4.2.5 Tunnel Lining
A cost comparison was ~ade for Alternative 3 between a
totally concrete-lined tunnel and a partially lined tunnel. The
tunnel would be unlined where it is considered there would be ade-
quate cover of sound rock. The cost savings with partial lining
was $800,000 in direct construction cost based on January 1977
bid price level. The partially lined tunnel will of course re-
sult in a slight reduction in output due to greater friction
losses in the power conduit, but this is insignificant and the
tunnel arrangement adopted contemplates partial lining only.
8.4.3 Powerhouse Alternatives
Having determined that Alternative 3 would be the most
favorable power conduit alignment, a comparison was made between
a surface and an underground powerhouse.
The surface powerhouse would be set in a side-hill ex-
cavation. It would be reinforced concrete and would be approxi-
mately 32-feet wide and 80-feet long with two unit bays and one
service bay. It would be protected against rockfalls by a sloping
concrete roof. The switchyard would be located on a concrete deck
over the tailrace.
The underground powerhouse would be in a rock cavern
set inside the hillside and be similar in size to the surface
powerhouse. Access to the powerhouse would be through a tunnel
Sl
~""""""""""""""""" .. q
l5-feet wide and approximately l60-feet long. The equipment ar-
rangement would be similar to the surface installation except that
the switchyard would be located in open cut excavation adjacent to
the access tunnel entrance. The draft tubes in the powerhouse would
merge to a common concrete-lined tailrace tunnel approximately
l50-feet long. A ventilation tunnel 5 feet by 7 feet which would
also serve as emergency exit would connect from the powerhouse to
a portal on the surface above the tailrace tunnel portal.
The surface powerhouse is less expensive by about
$600,000 in direct construction cost based on 1977 bid prices. Be-
cause of this, and since the surface powerhouse can be designed to
provide the protection inherent in the underground arrangement, it
was selected.
8.4.4 Dam Alternatives
Two types of dams were considered, a rockfill dam with
an upstream concrete face, and a concrete arch dam.
The rockfill dam would consist of a compacted rockfill
main embankment with a selected zone of compacted rockfill on the
upstream side beneath the concrete face. The slopes would be
1.4:1. The upstream slope would be faced with reinforced concrete
with thicknesses varying from 12 inches at the top to 20 inches
at the bottom. A gated spillway 32-feet high by 45-feet wide
would be provided in the left abutment. For the reservoir El 420
(MSL) alternative, it was estimated that the direct construction
cost for the rockfill dam alternative would exceed that of a double
curvature thin concrete arch by approximately 1.1 million dollars
for a January 1977 bid price level. Because of its high cost this
alternative was eliminated in favor of the concrete arch structure.
52
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8.4.5 Reservoir Alternatives
Following the selection of the power conduit alignment,
powerhouse and dam arrangements, four alternative reservoir sizes
were considered to determine the most economic project size. Lay-
outs were made for normal reservoir elevations of 370, 390, 420 and
440 (MSL) , and complete cost estimates were developed for each.
The analysis shows that the project with an installed
capacity of 16.5 MW (reservoir El 390 [MSL]) would be the most eco-
nomic installation. Thus, the selected project arrangement consists
of a concrete arch dam with normal reservoir elevation at 390 (MSL),
a partially lined power tunnel alignment on the north side of the
river, and a surface powerhouse containing two units with a combined
installed capacity of 16.5 MW.
8.4.6 Transmission Line and
Access Road Alternatives
8.4.6.1 General
Several basic alternatives were considered for the ac-
cess road and transmission line. Since these two features are de-
pendent upon each other in regard to initial construction cost,
maintenance and project reliability, they were considered concur-
rently. The alternatives which were evaluated are as follows:
access road with transmission line built along its right-of-way
(selected arrangement); overland transmission line with no access
road; and underwater transmission line with no access road.
53
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8.4.6.2 Overland Transmission Line in
Access Road Right-of-Way
This alternative would consist of an access road which
would start at the end of the existing State Highway at Herring
Cove and extend south, generally remaining as close to tidewater
as possible, to the Green Lake powerhouse site. A short branch
would extend from the main alignment to the dam. The G9-kV trans-
mission line would be located along the road alignment closely
paralleling the road as much as possible to reduce required clear-
ing and provide quick direct access for repair and maintenance,
and terminate at the switchyard at the Blue Lake Project power-
house. The access road will be of minimum construction and will
have a l4-foot width, no pavement and no guard rail. The primary
functions of the road will be to provide access for construction,
operation and maintenance of the major project features, and for
construction and maintenance of the transmission line. For safety
and liability reasons, public vehicular access on the road would be
prohibited for its entire length by a barricade installed at Herr-
ing Cove. The transmission line would be a conventional single-
circuit line with single wood pole construction and a wishbone
crossarm configuration.
This alternative would provide an overall system reli-
ability equivalent to that which now exists, as access to the dam,
power plant and transmission line would be by normal vehicular
means, not dependent on clear weather conditions. Outages at the
power plant, because of malfunction of equipment and transmission
line outages which normally occur during severe inclement weather
situations, would be held to a minimum because of the direct posi-
tive access for quick repair and maintenance provided by this al-
ternative.
54
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8.4.6.3 Overland Transmission Line
With No Access Road
This alternative, without an access road, would involve
an alignment somewhat different than that described above. The
alignment followed would range from tidewater elevation to several
hundred feet higher in areas where the lower elevation land near
tidewater is too precipitous. The transmission line construction
would be similar to that described above. The right-of-way would
be selectively cleared of trees and brush for a width of at least
80-feet to provide adequate clearance for sagging conductors and
"danger trees" that could fallon the conductors. In addition,
a small 20-foot width would be clearcut at the center of the right-
of-way to facilitate stringing the conductors. All access for
construction and maintenance would of necessity be by water and
air.
Elimination of the access road has a very significant
effect on construction of the major project features. All con-
struction access would have to be by water and a port facility
would have to be developed to facilitate unloading equipment, ma-
terials and personnel. In addition, a construction camp would have
to be provided at the project site to house construction workers
and project personnel. The use of a construction camp at the site
was found to be less expensive than ferrying in personnel daily by
boat. Transport of materials and equipment to the site by water
would also cause an increase in overall costs.
In terms of access for maintenance, this would be the
second best alternative, but normal access would be much less con-
venient and emergency access would not be possible during stormy
weather. The Applicant's total system reliability would be reduced
by this alternative.
55
,.. <
8.4.6.4 Underwater Transmission Line
With No Access Road
This alternative would involve an underwater transmis-
sion line laid on the bottom of Silver Bay. The transmission
line would become an overland line just north of Herring Cove to
connect with the switchyard at the Blue Lake Project powerhouse.
The alternative of continuing the underwater line on into Sitka
was ruled out because it would cross the shipping lane to the ALP
mill which would expose it to the additional hazard of ship and
barge anchors. For reliability it would be necessary for the un-
derwater transmission line to have two separate circuits each con-
sisting of a three-conductor armoured copper cable laid in paral-
lel, directly on the bottom an average distance of 250-feet apart
with a minimum of 50-feet apart where necessary. Elimination of
the access road has the same effect on the cost of construction of
the major project features of this alternative as the previous al-
ternative.
This alternative has the same disadvantage for maintenance
of the dam and power plant in the event of an outage as does the
previous alternative. In addition, this alternative has a greater
disadvantage in that maintenance of underwater transmission lines
is very expensive and requires a long period to accomplish repair
work. It is estimated that at mid-1977 cost level, a single re-
pair of one of the cables would cost $250,000 and would take ap-
proximately 30 days to complete under the best conditions of avail-
ability of equipment and labor. A specialized cable laying boat
and equipment is required which must be brought in and difficulties
are frequently encountered in locating the cable on the bottom and
hauling it to the surface for repair. As with the previous alter-
native, the Applicant's total system reliability would also be re-
duced by this alternative.
56
8.4.6.5 Evaluation of Alternatives
On a capital investment basis. the underwater alterna-
tive would be an estimated $8,900,000 more expensive than the pro-
posed selected project arrangement. The overland alternative is
estimated to be $4.851.000 more expensive than the selected ar-
rangement.
On the basis of the significantly lower first costs
overall superior system reliability. and ease and lower cost of
operation and maintenance, the alternative involving an access
road with the adjacent overland transmission line was selected.
8.4.7 Access Road Alternative Alignments
The access road alignment from the end of the existing
highway at Herring Cove to Bear Cove would generally follow the
shoreline near tidewater level. However, from Bear Cove to the
dam and powerhouse locations. two basic alternative alignments were
considered. One alignment would generally follow contour El 500 (MSL)
and for the most part be in a full-bench cut because of the steep
side-hill topography. The other alignment would generally be near
tidewater level. About 1.000 feet of this latter alignment near
Bear Cove would vary between a cut and fill section and a full em-
bankment section. The remainder of the alignment to the dam and
powerhouse locations would generally be a full-bench cut. Because
of cost advantages, the tidewater alignment was tentatively chosen.
Final alignment for construction will be subject to the results of
continuing field investigations and final alignment surveys.
57
9. PERMITS AND COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER REGULATIONS AND CODES
9.1 Permits
The following 1s a list of permits knO\w t o be required
before the proposed action can be completed :
Required Permits and Authorization
Permit
State Tidelands Permit
Title 16 Permit
Access to Navigable or
Public Waters
Wat er Rights Application
Sect i on 401 Permit
Permit
Sect i on 10 Pe r mit
STATE
Controlling
Statute
AS -38.05 .20
AS -16.05.870
AS -3B.05 .135
AS -46.15.040
PL 92 -500
FEDERAL
Controlling
Statute
30 STAT. 1151;
33 USC 403
58
Governmental
Regulation
11 AAC 62 .810
(Regulation Under
Preparation)
11 AAC 72 .050
33 CFR 209.120
Governmental
Regulation
33 CFR 209.120
,. .... ------------.............. .
Section 404 Permit
National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System Permit
U.S. Forest Service Special
Use Permit
Federal Water Pollu-40 CFR 209.120
tion Control Act
(FWPCA)
PL 92-500
FWPCA PL 92-500
86 STAT. 816
33 USC 1251
34 STAT. 225;
16 USC 431, 432
40 CFH 125
36 CFR 251
The Water Rights Application has been submitted. The
remainder of the above and any other permits or licenses as may
be required will be prepared and submitted during the licensing
process. The Commission will be informed as approval of the per-
mits are granted.
9.2 Authorities Consulted
(1) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CaE), Alaska District
Date/Time: March 8, 1977/10:00 a.m.
Location: CaE Offices, Elmendorf Air Force Base,
Anchorage, Alaska
Participants: R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc. (RWB) representing
the City and Borough of Sitka.
Permits
discussed:
Steen & Matlock, Inc. (S&M), Access Road Consultants
Section 10 of River and Harbor Act of 1899
Section 404 of Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(FWPCA)
Section 401 of FWPCA
59
,. ...... --------.................. ~l
* * * * * *
Date: April 14, 1977
Location: COE Offices, Elmendorf Air Force Base,
Anchorage, Alaska
Participants: RWB representing City and Borough of Sitka
S & M
Permits
discussed: Section 10 of River and Harbor Acts
Section 404 of FWPCA
Section 401 of FWPCA
* * * * * *
(2) Alaska Division of Lands and Water Management (ADL)
Date: March 9, 1977
Location: State Office, 323 E. 4th St., Anchorage, Alaska
Participants: RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka
Permits
discussed:
S & M
Water Rights Application
State Tidelands Permit
Access to Navigable or Public Waters
Section 401 of FWPCA
* * * * * *
(3) Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Date: March 18, 1977
Location: Telephone Conference
Participants: RWB representing City and Borough of Sitka
60
Permit
discussed:
(4 )
Date:
Location:
Participants:
Permit
discussed:
Title 16 permit
* * * * * *
Environmental Protection Agency, Region X, Alaska
Operations Office (EPA)
April 14, 1977
EPA Offices, 605 W. Fourth Ave., Anchorage, Alaska
RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka
S & M
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES)
* * * * * *
9.3 Compliance with Other Regulations
Regulations and Codes dealing with health, safety and
general construction techniques and procedures will be identified
and submitted to the Commission during the final design phase of
the Project.
61
(
..,.. ,
10. SOURCES OF INFORMATION
10.1 Public Hearings
(1 )
Date/Time:
Location:
Participants:
Summary:
(2 )
Date/Time:
Location:
Participants:
Sitka Conservation Society
July 6, 1977/1:00 p.m.
Sitka, Alaska
Fermin Gutierrez, Administrator -City and Borough
of Sitka
R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc.
David T. Hoopes -Environmental Consultant
Steen and Matlock, Inc. -Access Road Consultant
After a thorough presentation on the Green Lake
Project and the various environmental and archaeo-
logical studies, the discussion centered around the
access road and the alternatives to the road. The
Society seemed to generally accept the Applicant's
project arrangement.
General Public
July 6, 1977/7:30 p.m.
Sitka, Alaska
Fermin Gutierrez, Administrator -City and Borough
of Sitka
R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc.
David T. Hoopes
Steen and Matlock, Inc.
Members of the Sitka Assembly
62
,.. ..................................... q
Summary: A thorough explanation of the Green Lake Project
and its alternatives was given, followed by a dis-
cussion of the access road and project capacity
studies. There were no adverse comments on the
project arrangement.
10.2 Other Sources
10.2.1 Meetings With Governmental and Other Entities
The following is a list of meetings with Federal and
State agencies in the preparation of this exhibit:
(1) Alaska Division of Lands and Water Management
Date: March 9, 1977
Location: State Offices, 323 E. 4th St., Anchorage, Alaska
Participants: R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc. (RWB), representing
Topic:
Conclusion:
the City and Borough of Sitka
Steen & Matlock, Inc. (S&M) -Access Road Consultants
Environmental effects of construction on State
tidelands.
Project construction should have minimal adverse
impact on State tidelands.
* * * * * * *
(2) Alaska Division of Parks
Date: March 9, 1977
Location: State Office, 617 Warehouse Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska
Participants: RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka
S & M
,.. .... --------................ ~,
Subject:
Conclusion:
Subject:
Preliminary
Conclusion:
Archaeological and Historic Effect of Project
No known items of archaeological or nistoric signi-
ficance within area affected by Project. However,
initial archaeological investigations should be
undertaken prior to construction to verify.
Project Recreational Development
Recreational development should be consistent with
Borough and State plans.
* * * * * * *
(3) Alaska Division of Highways, S.E. District
Date: March 10, 1977
Location: State Highway Offices, Juneau
Participants: RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka
S & M
Subject: Possible Effects of Federal Eagle Protection Laws
on Project Development
* * * * * * *
(4) Alaska Division of Lands and Water Management -
Southeastern Land District
Date: March 10, 1977
Location: State Office Building, Juneau, Alaska
Participants: RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka
Subject:
S & M
Unpatented Mining Claims in Project Area
Land Selection Process
Water Rights
Potential for State Involvement if an FPC License
Application was not filed.
64
Conclusions: This meeting was of an information gathering nature
and no conclusions were sought or advanced.
* * * * * * * *
(5) National Marine Fisheries Service (IIMFS)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (F&G)
Habitat Protection Service (HP)
Fisheries Rehabilitation Enhancement and
Development (FRED)
Division of Sport Fisheries (DSF)
Date: March 10, 1977
Location: Subport Building, Juneau, Alaska
Participants: RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka
S & M
Subject: The effect of the proposed project on fish and wild-
life resources in the Green Lake and Silver Bay vicin-
ity.
Conclusions: Effect of Project Development on Green Lake
The enlargement of Green Lake and construction activities
should increase nutrient sources temporarily in the lake and with
stocking should cause significant improvements in trout fishing
for 8 to 10 years after Project completion.
Effect of Project Development on Silver Bay
Because topography along the east side of the bay is
largely very steep, it does not support a major fish population.
Thus, disposal of excavated material, largely from access road
excavation, will probably not have significant harmful effects on
marine life. In the areas near Bear Cove where the bottom is flat-
ter and muddy, rock excavation from access road construction could
well improve marine habitat.
65
,
.,.. q
(6) Alaska Power Administration
Date: March II, 1977
Location: Federal Building, Juneau, Alaska
Participants: RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka
S & M
Subject: General project briefing
The following governmental agencies and personnel provided
assistance and advice throughout the preparation of this exhibit.
As their aid was sought on almost a day by day basis, no attempt is
made here to provide dates of contact.
Federal
Bureau of Land Management
Environmental Protection Agency
National Marine Fisheries Service
U.S. Corps of Engineers
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Geological Survey
Alaska Power Administration
Federal Power Commission
State
Department of Commerce
Department of Environmental Conservation
Department of Fish and Game
66
,. .... ------------.............. .
Fisheries Rehabilitation, Enhancement and Development
Habitat Protection Service
Division of Sport Fisheries
Department of Natural Resources
Office of History and Archaeology
Division of Lands and Water Management
Local
City and Borough of Sitka
10.2.2 Studies Conducted
(1) Analysis of Electric System Requirements, Electric Utility
System, City and Borough of Sitka, Prepared by R. W. Beck
and Associates, Inc., April 1974.
(2) "Preliminary Geologic Investigation. Proposed Green
Lake Hydroelectric Project" by Converse Davis Dixon
Associates, Inc. November 19, 1974.
(3) Re-evaluation of Alternatives for Electric Generation
Program, City and Borough of Sitka, Prepared by R. W.
Beck and Associates, Inc., September, 1976.
(4) "Phase II Geotechnical Investigation, Green Lake
Hydroelectric Project, Sitka, Alaska", by Converse
Davis Dixon Associates, Inc., February 1, 1977.
(5) Green Lake Project -Evaluation Report, City and Borough
of Sitka, Prepared by R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc.,
June, 1977.
67
,. .. ------------------.....
..
10.2.3 Consultants
Engineer and Primary Consultant -R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc.
200 Tower Building
Geotechnical Investigation
Fish and Wildlife Studies
Archaeological Investigations
Access Road Investigations
Seattle, Washington 98101
Converse Davis Dixon Associates, Inc.
126 W. Del Mar Boulevard
Box 2268D
Pasadena, California 91105
David Townsend Hoopes, Ph.D.
Post Office Box 373
Clark Fork, Idaho 83811
Robert E. Ackerman, Ph.D.
Laboratory of AnthropolobY
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington 99164
Steen & Matlock, Inc.
1549 E. Tudor Road
Post Office Box 4-2666
Anchorage, Alaska 99509
The professional vitae of the above consultants are provided in
Appendix W-12.
10.2.4 Technical Reports
(1) "An Investigation of the Biotic Communities in the
Vicinity of Green Lake, Baranof Island, Alaska." by
David T. Hoopes, July 15, 1977.
(2) "Silver Bay -Green Lake Archaeological Survey" by
Robert E. Ackerman, July, 1977.
68
~""""""""""""""""""4
Both of these studies have been included in the Exhibit
as appendices.
10.3 Bibliography
10.3.1 Cited References
(1) City and Borough of Sitka, Green Lake Project Evaluation
Report, Prepared by R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc., June,
1977 .
(2) Letter from Alan J. Aitken, Acting Timber Manager, Chatham
Area -Tongass National Forest to Donald R. Melnick, Proj-
ect Engineer, R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc., March 11,
1976.
(3) An Investigation of the Biotic Communities in the Vicinity
of Green Lake, Baranof Island, Alaska, Prepared for R. W.
Beck and Associates, Inc., by David T. Hoopes, July 15,
1977.
(4) City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska, Comprehensive Plan,
Prepared by the Planning Department, City and Borough of
Sitka, November, 1976.
(5) "A Program for Increasing the Contribution of Tourism to
the Alaskan Economy", Cresap, Harris, Spencer, co-consultant,
December, 1968.
69
(6) \'Jater Resources in Alaska, "Limnological Investigation of
Six Lakes in Southeast Alaska", HRI 76-122, prepared by
the U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in
cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
(7) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Water Quality Data
During September 16-19, 1974 at Silver Bay, Sawmill Cove
and Eastern Channel, Sitka, Alaska", Working Paper No.
EPA-910-8-76-096, May, 1975.
(8) "Archaeological Survey of Proposed Access Road and ram
Impoundment Area: Silver Bay -Green Lake Region, Baranof
Island, Alaska", prepared for R. W. Beck and Associates,
Inc. by Robert E. Ackerrr.an.
(9) Alaska Power Survey, A Report of the Technical Advisory
Committee on Economic Analysis and Load Projections for
the Alaska Power Survey and the Federal Power Conmission,
in four volumes, 1974.
(10) University of Alaska, Arctic Environmental Information
and Data Center, Alaska Regional Profiles -Southeast
Region, Lidia L. Selkregg, ed.
10.3.2 General References
Beck, R. W. and Associates, Inc., Electric Utility System, Sitka, Alaska,
Analysis of Electric System Requirements, City and Borough of
Sitka, Alaska, April, 1974.
State of Alaska, Legislative Affairs Agency, D1 rectory of State
OffiCials, August, 1977.
7C
state of Alaska, Department of natural Resources, Division of' Parks,
Alaska's Heritage Resources, Volume II Inventory, 1973-1983.
State of Alaska, Department cf h:"atural Resources, Divisior, of Parks,
Alaska's Heritage Resource Survey, Index.
state of Washington, Department of Ecology, Robert T. r·~iJ.hous, Low
Flow Aspects of Water Resources Manage~ent Planning, December,
1974.
Unjversity of Alaska, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Tech. Bull.
No.2 CliMate Characteristics of ~elected Alaskan Locations,
August, 1971.
University of Washington, John J. Wheatley and Guy G. Gordon, Economic
and Transport Developments in Alaska's Future, 1969.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Jeffery J. Soussel,
et aI, Environmental Analysis Report, Blind Slough Hydroelec-
tric Project, June, 1976 (Approved).
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Tongass National
Forest, Land Use Plan.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Tongass National
Forest Guide.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Tongass National
Forest, Timber Inventory Maps, Fort Alexander D-4-UE, Port
Alexander D-3-NW, 1955.
71
4
u.s. Department of Agriculture, Fcrest Service, U~DA Forest Service
General Technical Report FIN-12, The Forest Ecosystem of Scuth-
east Alaska, Volur.1es 1-9:
1. The Setting
2. Forest Insects
3. Fish Habitats
4. Wildlife Habitats
J. Soil Mass ~ovement
6. Forest Diseases
7. Forest Ecology and Timber Manage~ent
8. Water
9. Timber Inventcry, Harvesting, Farketing, ar.d Trends
u.s. Department of the Army, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Pre-
paration and Coordination of Environmental Statements, April,
1974.
u.s. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adninis-
tration, National Ocean Survey, Tide and Current Glossary, 1975.
u.S. Department of Commerce, Social and Economic Statistics Adminis-
tration, Bureau of Census, Vol. 1 Characteristics of the Popula-
tion, Part 3 Alaska, 1970 Census of Population, January 1973.
c.s. Department of Commerce, Vleatt.er Eureau, Technical Paper No. 47.
Probable Maxirr.ur.'. Prec:ipltation and Rainfall, Frequency Data fer
Alaska, 1963.
U.S. Environmental I'rotection P.ger;cy, Er:vironr,ental Imr'Bct, State-
ment Guidelines, June, 1971.
72
,. ...... --------.................. ,
U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Outdoor Recreation,
Focal Point for Outdoor America.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau
of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife; Threatened Species of the
United States, 1973 Edition.
University of Washington, Department of Oceanography, Special Re-
port No. 24, Oceanography of Silver Bay, Preliminary Report,
September 1956.
University of Washington, Department of Oceanography, Technical
Report No. 62, The Dynamics of a Fiord Estuary: Silver Bay
Alaska, McAlister, Rottray & Barnes, November, 1959.
National Marine Fisheries Service, "Data Collected on Bottom Drags
in 1950 and 1952."
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, West Chichagof-Yakobi
Island, Draft Environmental Statement, July 3, 1975.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Special
Scientific Report -Fisheries #321 -Herring Spawning Surveys
in Southeastern Alaska, December, 1959.
State of Alaska, Department of Commerce and Economic Development,
The Alaskan Economy, Year End Performance Report, 1976.
City and Borough of Sitka, Sitka, an Alaskan Community Profile,
November, 1975.
State of Alaska, Department of Commerce and Economic Development,
Timber and Fishing in South Alaska, April, 1976.
73
u.s. Environmental Protection Agency, Impacts of Construction hc-
tivities in Wetlands of the United States, April, 197(.
U.s. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, ?red Robards,
Bald Eagles in Alaska, undated.
u.s. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Robal'ds &
Hodges, Observations From 2,760 Bald Eagle IJests in Southeast
Alaska, Progress Report 1969-1976.
74
Feature
Power Tunnel
Powerhouse
Access Road/
Transmission Line
Reservoir
TOTAL PROJECT AREA
TABLE \-/-1
GREEl! LAKE PROJECC:'
ESTIr-'iATED LAlJD PEQUIREr·1E!JT~
Length Width
1,910 ft. 200 ft.
200 ft. 200 ft.
8.0 mi. 200 ft.
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
8.8 acres
1.0 acre
194 acres
1,280 acres
1,480 acres
Note: (1) Area within project boundary.
C 1 e ar-ed lIre"
o
0.5 acre
54 acres
830 acres
885 acres
:3eptpr::ber 1977
?AbLE .,.:-;;..
GREEn LA}:E PROJECT
POPULATION PROJECTIONS -SITKA CENSUS DIS7RICT
BASE YEAR 1970-6109 (U.S. Census)
POPULATION POPULATIOli
YEAR
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
Notes:
LOW
5977(1)
6069
6159(2)
6279(3)
6532(4)
6785(4)
7000(5)
7120(6)
6950 (7)
7050(8)
HIGH
623200 )
6355
6478
6775(11)
6940(2)
7100(13)
7375 (14)
7650(14)
7773(10)
7896
(1) State of Alaska, Department of Labor
YEAR LOW HIGh
1981 7170(9) b050(l:.!}
1982 7290 0200
1983 7410 b350
1984 7530 0500
1985 7650 bG50
1986 7770 0800
1987 7890 b950
1988 (;010 9100
1989 0130 92':;0
1990 8250 ~400
(2) Estimate 140 Forest Service less 50 from Cold Storage loss, ALP
(3) Estimate 120 for natural growth
(4) Beginning of Coast Guard, 153 ~er year for two years
(5) 100 increased Coast Guard 115 miscellaneous growth
(6) 120 natural growth
(7) Some loss predicted by ALP in less wood preparation
(8) 100 increase and re-stabilization at ALP
(9) Straight line 120 per year-long term average 1960-1970
(10) Natural increase
(11) 198 estimated for Forest Service move to Sitka
(12) Estimated 42 additional from review of utility hookups
(13) The Coast Guard move to Sitka begins
(14) 152 Coast Guard and 123 additional growth avera€e
(15) Additional births of greater size population brings average yearly
growth to 150 per year
Source: City and Eorough of Sitka, Comprehensive Plew, Hovember 1976.
S e pte rr. L e r, 1 97 7
~ ........ ----................ ..
TABLE \-.'-3
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
FAMILY INCOME
Sitka Juneau I\etchikan --
Income: Amount % Ar.1Ount cr t,mount r
/' 10
Less than $1000 16 1.10 44 1. 2:; ::,8 ;;:.48
$1000 -1999 14 .96 15 .46 56 2.39
2000 -2999 6 .41 38 1.16 57 2.60
3000 -3999 36 2.47 50 1. 53 61 2.60
4000 -4999 38 2.61 h l 1. 57 74 3.16 -,-'-
5000 -5999 27 1. 85 92 2.82 75 3.20
6000 -6999 26 1. 78 99 3.03 100 4.27
7000 -7999 53 3.63 88 2.70 82 3.50
8000 -8999 50 3.43 97 2.97 97 4.14
9000 -9999 77 5.28 116 3.55 89 3.bO
10,000 -11,999 172 11. 80 288 8.82 294 12.56
12,000 -14,999 307 21. 06 527 16.15 47b 20.23
15,000 -24,999 524 37.17 1253 38.39 661 ~ti.23
25,000 -49,999 94 6.45 506 15.50 160 6.83
Sitka Juneau Ketchikan
Median Income $14,091 $ 16,073 $ 12,816
Mean Income 14,399 18,093 13,333
Per Capita Income 3,899 5,053 3,720
Total Families 1458 (lao. 00) 3264 (100.00) 2342 (l00.00)
Source: City and Borough of Sitka, Comrrehensive Plan,
November 1976.
September, 1977
'''. ., ... : .... ~~~ .'j-....,
GREE:; LAy:;:: 1 bJJ LC'i
Ej'IPLOYhE;JT BY LJiJlJSTEY
197Ll 1 'j,' 0
l. Commodity Producin~ 32.0U; C L' G j~.l~~: LyG
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing 7Ll )....:
Mining ::; v
Construction 77 L:u
Manufacturing 07r. cd
Durable Goods 197 c'Gl
Non-durable Goods 479 'jj':J
II. Distributive 34.G6;~ '075 3<'. 02/~ 'J'i'J
Transportation ~ ,
/L lei4
Communication, Utilities u7 76
Wholesale Trade 14 c'l
Retail Trade 3dl '-lu7
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate jC 70
Services 203 2')7
Business & Repair 41 ~.i
Personal 127 132
Private [Vledical 23 36
Private Educational 72 70
III. Government 32.')3% o~l 33.83/~ 1(;30
fvledical & Health 306 3L
Educational 214 240
Other Professional ';;7 l()ti
Public Administration 244 3b9
Federal 396 496
Stage 140 176
Local 205 35d
TOTALS 2,5~4 3,04)
Source: City and Borough of Sitka, ,iOVc:Inl c:r
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
CLIMATOLOGICAL SUMMARy(l)
Jan. Feb. Mar. ~ ~ June ~ ~ ~ ~ Nov. Dec. Annual Years
Mean Prec ieitation I Inches
Baranof .................. 14.25 11. 37 13.09 11.12 7.34 4.09 4.05 6.28 12.80 2j.du 21.9b 20.05 152.20 23 Little Port Walter ....... 20.36 15.54 16.29 13.53 11. 61 7.56 9.37 13.83 22.26 35.13 29.18 25.17 219.83 24 Port Alexander ........... 15.56 14.55 13.74 10.13 9.22 6.71 7.74 13.06 15.70 23.03 20.14 19.52 169.10 10 Sitka (Magnet ic) ......... 7.77 6.38 6.95 5.35 4.66 3.46 5.20 7.86 11.49 15.27 12.01 1ll.17 ~6.57 99
Mean Tem,eerature! OF
Baranof .................. 28.6 29.7 33.7 38.5 44.5 51. 2 54.3 54.3 50.2 43.0 36.2 31.5 41. 3 21 Li t t Ie Port Walter ....... 32.6 33.1 35.6 39.7 45.5 51. 2 54.9 54.8 50.9 44.9 38.7 34.b 43.0 24 Port Alexander ........... 31.9 34.5 35.9 41. 4 47.1 52.2 56.0 55.2 51.0 44.6 40.0 35.8 43.8 10 Sitka (Magnetic) ......... 32.3 33.3 35.8 40.8 46.4 51.4 54.8 55.5 51. 9 45.2 38.6 33.6 43.3 74
Normal Maximum TemEerature, OF
Baranof .................. 33.2 34.9 39.8 45.3 52.4 58.8 61.0 60.4 55.5 47.7 40.3 35.5 47.1 20 Li t tIe Port Walter ....... 36.3 37.0 40.0 45.0 51. 7 57.6 60.8 60.5 55.8 43.9 42.4 38.3 47.9 24 Port Alexander ........... 35.4 38.1 40.4 47.1 53.7 59.8 64.2 62.2 56.9 43.9 43.6 39.2 49.1 9 Sitka (Magnet ic) ......... 37.7 40.2 43.0 48.0 54.0 58.7 61.1 62.1 58.8 51. 8 44.3 39.6 49.9 63
Normal Minimum TemEerature! OF
Baranof .................. 24.0 24.5 27.6 31. 5 36.5 43.6 47.8 48.1 44.8 33.3 32.0 27 .6 35.5 20 Little Port lIalter ....... 28.9 29.2 31.1 34.3 39.3 44.7 48.9 49.0 46.0 40.8 35.0 31.0 38.2 24 Port Alexander ........... 28.3 30.7 31. 4 35.6 40.4 44.6 47.9 48.2 45.0 4J.4 3b.3 32.4 J8.b 9 Sitka (Magnetic) ......... 26.4 28.0 29.4 33.4 38.8 44.3 48.1 48.9 44.9 3}.3 32.8 29.4 37.0 63
Mean Snowfall, Inches
Baranof •• 0 ••••••••••••••• 51. 3 46.0 39.2 7.1 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 v.7 19.5 ,,0.0 214.3 1'> Little Port Walter ....... 30.4 32.7 23.1 5.2 0.1 T 0.0 0.0 T 0.5 0.8 25.7 12'>.7 24 Port Alexander ........... 22.0 21. a 17.5 2.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 T r l.b 14.2 78.7 8 Sitka (Magnet ic) ......... 11. 1 9.4 9.5 3.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ).1 J.l 10.9 47.4 52
).
Prevailing Wind Direction to·
t·
Sitka (FAA) .............. ESE SE SE SE SE NW
,.
~ NW SE 3E ESE ESE SE N/A
(1) -See General References.
September. 1977
GR.t:..tJ~ LAKE MOiJTHLY I1JFLOWS
(cfs)
YEAR JULY AUG 5EP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAlI APR MAY JUNE AVERAGE ...•..•...
1915-16" 452 510 57] 487 188 117 2] 7] 41 116 211 568 2 .. 1916-17" 445 499 564 471 210 97 82 120 50 74 lIO 475 211 1917-11" 491 526 620 652 616 78 127 40 18 75 296 582 345 . 1911-19" 600 489 492 420 ]78 190 211 ]8 15 126 255 ]51 299 1919-20" 488 .52 500 )92 181 128 217 Bl 27 4t 172 479 26J
1920-21" .. 5 417 HO 28. 254 74 6. II. 58 69 a5 542 246 1921-22" ]87 ]09 416 571 160 29] 91 ]6 27 8] )52 466 261 1922-2]1 462 500 551 246 .00 82 11 110 117 219 )41 510 297 192]-24" ]90 250 648 292 484 112 98 119 90 U9 479 688 )2) 1924.25 1 674 5]9 698 4]7 285 162 14 25 50 16 474 520 )]2
1925·26 560 195 )40 434 299 184 155 78 .9 124 296 492 214 1926·27 48. 441 547 400 276 169 141 72 46 114 271 454 215 1927·21 .. 6 407 50 • 460 117 195 165 8] 52 III 114 522 ]00 1921·29 512 46B 580 458 ]16 194 16. 82 52 III ]I] 520 )16 1929·)0 510 466 577 449 529 118 106 74 47 110 ]58 590 )21
19)0·) 1 590 480 55] 484 570 127 115 80 51 118 ]86 6]6 349 19]1-]2 6]7 SIB 597 470 ]24 199 168 85 54 114 ]21 5]] )]7 1932·)) 524 47B 592 ]98 215 90 5] 100 47 8] 2B6 517 212 19))·)4 429 429 514 456 )14 19] 16] 82 52 1]0 ]11 517 299 19)4·)5 508 464 575 52] 616 138 124 86 55 128 417 687 )60
19]5·]6 688 560 645 612 721 161 145 101 64 150 48& 804 HI 19]6·)7 805 655 754 614 72] 162 145 101 65 150 490 107 456 . 19]7·)1 808 657 757 468 ]22 19B 167 84 5] 114 ]20 511 )75 19)1·]9 521 476 590 502 592 1]2 119 8] 5] 12] .01 660 )54 19]9-40 661 538 619 446 ]07 189 160 80 51 127 ]05 506 3]2
1940·41 497 45] 562 ]19 172 72 42 RO ]7 67 229 414 245 1941-.2 ]4] ]4] 411 .58 116 194 164 82 52 I] 1 ]1] 520 277 1942·.] 510 466 577 .]. 291 18] 155 H 49 12] 295 490 )05 194]·" 481 4]9 545 414 285 175 148 75 47 118 28) 470 290 19 .. ·.5 461 421 522 449 529 118 106 74 47 110 ]58 590 115
1945·46 590 480 55] 400 276 169 14] 72 46 114 27) 454 291 1946·47 .. 6 407 50 • 517 610 Ilb 12] 85 5. 127 413 610 )42 1947." 681 554 6]1 480 566 126 114 79 51 118 ]8] 611 HI 1941·49 6]2 514 592 497 586 1] I 118 12 52 122 ]97 653 ]65 1949·50 654 5]2 61) .,2 22] 9] 55 10] 41 17 296 516 ]04 >-1
~
1950·51 444 444 5]2 .77 0 150 63 ]7 69 ]2 58 199 ]6'0 222
t;~
t < 1951·5. 299 299 151 406 220 92 54 102 48 15 292 528 212 [.; 1952·5] 4]8 4]8 524 478 )29 202 17\ 16 54 1]7 ]27 542 111 195J·54 5]] 486 60) 40. 278 171 145 7] 46 115 276 458 299 -~ 1954·55 450 411 509 442 )05 117 151 80 50 126 )02 501 2U
1955·56 492 449 557 ]60 195 12 48 90 42 76 259 468 260 1956·57 )88 J88 465 404 278 171 145 7] 46 115 276 458 267 .....•..••
AVERAGE 520 .64 552 442 ]6] 148 119 81 50 III )2' 541 310
* ~ . ~:ow~, . Al: c t f:C l'S synthesi::ec. 1977 .-,C cC:"-";'C C1 a:'e September,
TABLE W-7
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
ALTERNATIVE PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS
Takatz
Lake
Drainage Area (mi2) ........... . 10.6
Ave. Drainage Area El (MSL) ... . 2,480
Ave. Annual Runoff (cfs) 166
Active Reservoir Storage (AF) ... 82,400
Ave. Annual Regulated Discharge
(c fs) ...........•............. 162
Carbon
Lake
26.6
2,000
444
53,000
333
Green
Lake
28.2
2,150
310
74,000
Average Head (ft.) ............ . 950(Net) 230(Gross)
294
349(Net)
Installed Generating Capacity
(kW) .......................... 27,700
Capacity Delivered at Load
Center (kW) .................. 25,000
Average Annual Generation
( kWh) .................•.. 99 , 864 , 000
Ave. Annual Energy Delivered
at Load Center (kWh) . ... 93,330,000
Annual Plant Factor (at Plant) 0.41
13,500
12,150
46,962,000
43,674,000
0.40
16,500
15,770
65,866,000
61~, 900,000
0.45
September ]977
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
RESERVOIR AREA -CAPACITY CURVE
SURFACE AREA,ACRES
1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200
500
f-
"-,
450 u
<t '~! -----0 k: 0
0 ------0
'" 400 f----Normal Reservo ir EI. 390 """ " ........
f-
W
W
"-
z 350
X V"""
./
0
f-<t >
W
...J
W
300 /
V ~ ~
/
250 /
II
200
o 20
NOTES :
I. Based on topography prepared by
H. G. Chicke ring I Jr .• Ja nuary 1975.
Vertical and horizontal control
based on U S.G.S . Ouadrangle control.
2 . Elevations based on Mean Seo Level
(MSL) datum .
Minimum Reservoir EI. 280,
40 60 80 100
CAPACITY,IOOO ACRE -FEET
~Ar.a
~
~
"' I'-
120 140
a
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
160
Figure W-I
September ,1977
~ .. --------------.......... .
6
I
Figure W - 2
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
BARANOF ISLAND WEATHER STATIONS
--. C')
o 6 12 18 Miles
I I I I
GREEN
~J LAKE
Baranot
PROJECT ~
Q -":3-
Q
~
-""\
Q -. -
Little Port
Walter
Port Alexander
September, 1977
30
28
26
24
~ 22
~
0 20
0
0
18
~ 16 I-
0 ..
Q. 14 ..
0
12
" ..
'" 10 Q.
8
6
4
2
Peak Load plus R.aerylS ~
-
.... /
New Diesel, 5,500 kW-~
",./ V
Existing Diesels 3,100 kW r-
..)
~ ...
Blue Lake 6,500 kW
Diese ls
~
/
GREEN
LOADS
8,600 k//
/
,/
Gr •• n Lake / 13,500 kW
/
/
/
~
'-Plak Lood
LAKE PROJECT
AND RESOURCES
120
110
100
90
~
~ 80 ~ ..
0
70 .
~
'" '" ... 60 z ...
..J 50
c(
:::> z z 40 ..
30
20
Ir r--
10
...".
:I ~ "!I ":I'!I "!I P -1 1'I 1 ""1 ~1 1I"I w l r--'!D I qo :1 ~I ~I .I II') IoC!:1 f'o::I GI?I CIl 0 ...... , N ~ .. .. .. CD til at lID I!' <f' :<,'" i/.I ":;Ia:! I~ I P
POWER YEAR
PEAK LOADS
AT LOAD CENTER
;iiJ:r;::
NOTES '
I. Hydroelectr ic plont InerQy Is overao. annua l
delivered at lood center .
2... Plant capaciti es or. dependable dellvered _
3. Power yeors Ixtend from July I through June 30 .
4. Q Indicote. actual value .
5. Growth rate 6% for pro j ected peak lood,
and energy requirement •.
FiQure W -3
/
/
/
/
Eneroy-/
;> Gr .. n Lak,
/ 64,900POO kWh
t' Oi .. "
/
V
..,.tI
rr ~
Blue Loke 44,000,000 kWh
"':'"I~I """'I !" ~I~'I"I ~I ~ ; I II!"'! I ' t I ! 'I' II , g ..
POWER YEAR
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS
AT LOAD CENTER
~1 r::1:!I~I~
S.pt.mbfl,1977
Baranof Island
G)
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
ALTERNATIVE HYDROELECTRIC SITES
...
,',' ..... .
LAKE PROJECT
'TnA·nfr Loke
f.a.rnr.'n Loke
September. 1977
Append ix W - 1
Exhibit F
r
EXHIBIT F
SUMMARY OF THE ilATURE AND E;XTElJT OF THE
APPLICANT'S TITLE TO OR RIGHTS TO
OCCUPY OR USE THE PRIVATE LANDS lJECESSARY
TO DEVELOP, OPERATE AND j·1AINTAIN THE
PROJEC'l'
The Applicant is acquiring title to approximately 5,700
acres of Tongass National Forest land upon which to develop the
Project. The acquisition is authorized under Section 6(a) of the
Alaska Statehood Act (PL 85-508), which allows for selection of
national forest lands for economic development purposes. A full
description of the lands being selected and the extent to which
the Project will occupy those lands, is provided in Table F-l.
Upon completion of the selection and transfer of title
to the Applicant, the Project will be located wholly on private
lands owned by the Applicant. Full details of the selection will
be submitted to the Commission in accordance with Commission regu-
lations.
It
TABLE F-l
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED AdD PROJECT LAUDS
Unsurveyed Lands
T.56s., R.64E, Copper River 11eridian ( C PJ() Protracted.
Selected Project Section Alig,uot Parts Acres Acres Exhibit
2 W-l/2 E-l/2, W-l/2 390 24 i':-1
3 E-l/2, E-l/2 !I.'W-l/2 190 0 ) 36(2) K-l
11 E-l/2, NW-l/4 180 26 K-l
12 S-1/2 NW-l/4, SW-l/4
NW-l/4 SE-l/4, S-1/2 SE-l/4 325 13 K-l
13 E-l/2, N-l/2 NW-l/4 186 38 1\-1, K-2
24 NE-l/4 40 12 K-2
T.56S., R.65E. CRM (Protrac t ed) .
18 N-l/2, SW-l/4, 11\-1-1/4 SE-l/4 503 17 K-2
19 SW-l/2 NE-l/4, W-1/2, SE-1/4 390 23 K-2
20 S-1/2 S-1/2 160 0 K-3
21 S-1/2 SW-1/4 80 4 K-3
26 NW-l/4 SW-1/4, S-1/2 SW-l/4,
Svl-1/4 SE-1/4 160 6 K-4
27 NW-1/4 NW-1/4, S-1/2 NW-1/4,
S-1/2 440 233 K-3, K-4
28 All 560 325 K-3
29 All 609 142 K-3
30 N-1/2 NE-l/4
N-1/2 S-1/2 NE-1/4 40 16 K-2
33 NE-l/4 NE-l/4 40 2 ]-;-3
34 NE-1/4, N-1/2 NW-1/4,
SE-1/4 HW-1/4, NE-1/4 SE-l/4 320 151 K-3, K-4
35 N-l/2, N-l/2 SW-l/4,
SE-1/4 SW-l/4, SE-l/4 600 366 1:-4
36 W-1/2 NW-1/4, SW-l/4,
W-1/2 SE-1/4 320 50 K-4
,
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED AND PROJECT LANDS
Selected
TABLE F-l
Page 2
Project
Section Alig,uot Parts Acres Acres Exhibit
T.57S., R. 66E. , CRM (Protracted) .
3 NW-l/4 NW-l/4,
\11-1/2 NE-l/4 NW-l/4 60 0 K-4
4 N-l/2 NE-l/4,
E-l/2 NE-l/4 NW-l/4 100 1 K-4
NOTES:
(1) Excluding U.S. Surveys 3551 and 3665.
(2) Including right-of-way through U.S. Surveys 3551 and 3665.
(3) All lands are unpatented, including U.S. Surveys, U.S.
Mineral Surveys, islands, pinnacles and rocks, except as
excluded above.
(4) Selected lands to contain 5,693 acres more or less.
(5) Elevations based on Mean Sea Level (MSL) datum.
q
r---------------~
Appendix W - 2
Exhibit H
1. GENERAL
EXHIBIT H
STATEMENT OF THE FROPOSED OPERATION
OF THE PROJECT DURING PERIODS OF LOW,
NORMAL AND FLOOD STREAI1FLOWS
The proposed Green Lake Project is located near the out-
let of the Green Lake-Vodopad River drainage, approximately 10 air
miles southeast of Sitka, Alaska. The basin is elongated in shape,
approximately 9.5 miles long by 4.5 miles wide and drains an area
of 28.2 square miles. The mean basin elevation is about 2,150 feet
(MSL) w.ith extremes ranging from 230 feet (MSL) to over 4,000 feet
(MSL) and slopes are typically fairly steep. Permanent snow or gla-
cier cover only extends over an insignificant portion of the watershed.
The Vodopad River is the main watercourse in the basin
and extends its full length. The gradient of the river is about
36% in the upper 1.9 miles and flattens to 3% in the lower 4.7
miles to Green Lake. From the lake, the river discharges into Sil-
ver Bay through a series of falls and rapids in a narrow canyon.
The average annual streamflow was determined to be 310 cfs.
The basin shape, relatively steep and narrow, makes it
especially responsive to runoff events. High runoff periods nor-
mally occur during the rainy fall months while low flow periods
occur during winter and early spring months. Only a minor portion
of the total runoff comes from glacier contribution.
1
., ............ --.................... ~
A concrete arch dam in the narrow canyon at the mouth of
Green Lake with the spillway crest at El 390 (MSL) will increase the
surface area of the lake from its present size of 173 acres to the
proposed 1,000 acres. This will provide an active storage capacity
of 74,000 acre-feet which will allow about 95% regulation of the
watershed runoff.
2. STREAMFLOW
Ten years of streamflow records from 1915 to 1925 are
available for the Vodopad River. The average runoff from the his-
toric records is 215,000 acre-feet per year and recorded daily
flows range from a minimum of 10 cfs to a maximum of 3,300 cfs.
Since the existing Vodopad River flow data form an insufficient
period of record to conduct meaningful long-term operation studies,
it was necessary to extend the available data by statistical means.
The available data were extended to provide 42 years of streamflow
by correlating flows at Green Lake Basin with those at nearby Blue
Lake Basin as well as with long-term precipitation data at Sitka.
A summary of the historical as well as synthesized flows is shown
in Table H-l.
3. PROJECT OPERATION
The Project will be operated as a conventional hydroelec-
tric plant. It will be operated in conjunction with the Blue Lake
Project with Blue Lake being operated as a base load unit and Green
Lake supplying the remainder of system requirements. The reservoir
operation will be such that water will only be drawn from storage
to deliver firm energy (see Table H-2) and secondary energy will be
generated only at times when the reservoir is full and there is ex-
cess flow available. During years of high runoff little water will
be drawn from storage and the reservoir will be at higher levels.
2
,
I
During low runoff years, the reservoir will be drawn down as re-
quired to deliver firm energy so that maximum reservoir drawdowns
will occur during these adverse hydrological periods. The result-
ing pattern of reservoir fluctuation is illustrated graphically in
Exhibit H-l which shows envelopes of extremes of reservoir levels
and the average reservoir levels, by month, for the flow data per-
iod studied.
4. FLOOD CONTROL
The reservoir will not be operated for flood control pur-
poses. Accordingly, none of the active reservoir storage volume
has been reserved for flood storage and the Project has been de-
signed to safely pass all floods, up to and including the Probable
Maximum Flood (PMF).
A flood with one-half the peak inflow and volume of the
PMF, the Spillway Design Flood (SDF), will be contained within the
ungated overflow spillway located in the dam crest. Larger floods
will overtop the dam crest.
The PMF was developed using a synthesized unitgraph de-
rived by Clark's method and applying the unitgraph to the Probable
Maximum Precipitation (PMP) in combination with snowmelt for the
area. Since the regional drainage characteristics have not been
developed for the Green Lake Basin, an area near the Siskiyou Moun-
tains in California, with basin characteristics similar to the
Green Lake Basin, was used in the unitgraph derivation. Several
methods were used to arrive at a time of concentration which was
ultimately fixed at 2.5 hours. The unitgraph derived has a peak
inflow of 3,060 cfs and a duration of 30 minutes.
The PMP was developed from information contained in Tech-
nical Paper No. 47. (1) The PMP included a compensating adjustment
0) U.S. Department of Commerce, Technical Paper Ho. 47, "Probable
Maximum Precipitation and Rainfall -Frequency Data for Alaska,
for Areas to 400 Square Miles, Durations to 24-Hours, and Return
Periods from 1 -100 Years" 1963.
3
,
for drainage area size and resulted in a total rainfall of 29.2 inches
over the 24-hour PMP storm period. Snowmelt contribution was derived
from criteria developed by the Corps of Engineers(2) (Manual JJo. EM-
1110-2-1406) and was calculated to be 5 inches during the 24-hour
PMP storm period.
Runoff losses were assumed initially to be approximately
equal to precipitation plus snowmelt contribution until the cumu-
lative loss totaled 10% of the rainfall portion; thereafter a con-
stant loss rate of 0.1 inches per hour was used for the remainder
of the storm period. By this method the net excess precipitation
was determined to be 28.73 inches.
The PMF has a peak inflow of 42,300 cfs and a volume of
43,000 acre-feet. Because of the infrequency of occurrence of the
PMF, it was determined that a portion of this flood could be allow-
ed to pass over the non-overflow portion of the dam crest and that
the dam crest spillway section would be designed to pass a smaller
more frequently occurring flood. With the reservoir at El 390 (MSL),
the PMF flood inflow resulted in a peak routed discharge of 32,600
cfs and maximum reservoir surface of El 404.9 (MSL). This resulted
in the non-overflow section of the dam being overtopped for about 15
hours. Because of the type of dam structure being used and the
quality of the foundation rock, it was determined that nominal over-
topping under these conditions could be tolerated without danger to
the structure.
The Spillway Design Flood, one-half of the PMF, has a
peak inflow of 21,150 cfs and a volume of 21,500 acre-feet. The
flood would have an estimated return frequency of about once in
(2) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Division of Engineering and Design,
Manual No. 1110-2-1406, "Runoff from Snowmelt", January 5, 1960.
4
Q
5,000 years and when routed, resulted in a peak discharge of 11,000
cfs at reservoir El 399.3 (MSL). The hydrographs for the PMF and
Spillway Design Flood are shown in Exhibit H-2.
5. IRRIGATION. MUNICIPAL AND DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY
No use of the project waters is anticipated for irriba-
tion or water supply.
6. NAVIGATION
The Project will have no effect on commercial naVigation
since there is none on the Vodopad River or Green Lake. The Vodo-
pad River is not classified as navigable by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. The magnitude of the discharge velocity, which will be
a maximum of approximately 7 fps during project operation, will
not be of an order great enough to present a hazard to naVigation
in Silver Bay. Resulting turbulence is expected to be minimal.
7. WATER QUALITY
a. Introduction
This section of the Exhibit will discuss the probable
effects of the Green Lake Project operation on the water quality
of Green Lake and Silver Bay. Construction related impacts on
water quality are specifically discussed in Exhibit W, Sections 3
and 4.
While specific effects on water quality as a result of
the impoundment are difficult to predict, some conclusions con-
cerning potential and probable effects can be drawn by using the
Blue Lake Project (FPC Project No. 2230) as a model.
5
l
b. Blue Lake Project
The Blue Lake Project, a conventional hydroelectric de-
velopment similar in scope to the Green Lake Project and located
about eight miles north of Green Lake, was completed and operational
in 1961. A chemical similarity between the two lakes was shown in a
1974 limnological study by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (3)
Table H-3 illustrates the physical similarity between Blue Lake and
the proposed Green Lake Reservoir. A geological and hydrological
similarity may be inferred from the relative proximity of the two
lakes and similar mean basin elevations. For these reasons Blue
Lake is felt to provide an excellent model of the effects on water
quality by the Green Lake Reservoir.
c. Effects of Impoundment
The following effects are considered probable either by
reason of simple physical effects of the impoundment or by use of
the Blue Lake model.
The degree of thermal stratification in the Green Lake
Reservoir can be expected to increase with an attendant drop in
atmospheric reaeration as a result of increased depth and reduced
velocities in the reservoir. The limnological study indicates a
marked thermal stratification in Blue Lake was apparent by late
August after being isothermal in May.
A shallow bar (1 to 3 feet below the present surface of
Green Lake) separates the lake into east and west basins. Circu-
lation within the lake should greatly improve as a result of the
"elimination" of the two-basin effect.
(3) Water Resources in Alaska, "Limnological Investigations of Six
Lakes in Southeast Alaska", WRI 76-122, prepared by the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in Cooperation
with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
6
,
Although the limnological study of Green Lake indicates
low turbidity, natural levels increase markedly under certain con-
ditions. Specific sightings by Artwin Schmidt (Sept. 14-15, 1975)
and R. W. Beck personnel (Oct., 1976) have shown pronounced tur-
bidity in Silver Bay and Green Lake after periods of heavy rains.
This turbidity is felt to be caused by silt from strea~ scourin~
in the Vodopad River Valley during periods of high runoff. This
turbidity during these periods is felt to be short-term, up to
several days, due to the low retention time in Green Lake and flush-
ing action of the tidal flow in Silver Bay.
A beneficial effect on water quality as a result of im-
poundment will be a reduction of this turbidity due to the inunda-
tion of much of the silt producing areas along the Vodopad River
Valley. Sediments flowing into the Green Lake Reservoir will most
likely settle there due to the lower velocities and longer deten-
tion time in the reservoir. However, the volume of silt flowing
into the proposed reservoir is expected to be small and will not
have any adverse effect on project operation.
"The relative productivity of Green Lake is expected to
increase temporarily as decomposing organic material creates addi-
tional nutrients to serve as a food source for the resident brook
trout population. Blue Lake showed an increased productivity for
a period of about 10 years before stabilizing at a comparatively
low nutrient level. A similar evolution in productive capacity
can be anticipated for the proposed Green Lake Reservoir.,,(4)
(4) Investigation of the Biotic Communities in the Vicinity of
Green Lake, Baranof Island, Alaska, Prepared for R. vi. Beck and
Associates, Inc., by Dr. David T. Hoopes, July 15, 1977.
7
,
•
d. Silver Bay
Turbidity during construction is expected to be the major
project-related effect on the water quality in Silver Bay. Turbid-
ity will exceed State limits for short periods of time during con-
struction. The Applicant is aware of the effects of excessive tur-
bidity on sight-feeding aquatic life and birds and measures will be
taken to lessen the impact of turbidity (see Exhibit W, Sections 3
and 4). However, no permanent damage to either population is ex-
pected.
Project operation is expected to have little or no effect
on the water quality or thermal regime of Silver Bay.
e. Conclusion
No significant adverse effect on the water quality of
either Green Lake or Silver Bay is expected to result from the
operation of the Green Lake Project. The continued operation of
the Blue Lake Project with no deterioration of water quality is
considered to provide adequate evidence of that conclusion and no
further water quality monitoring is considered necessary or justi-
fied.
8. RECREATION
The effects of project operation on recreation in the
area are described in Exhibits Rand W.
9. FISH AND WILDLIFE
The effects of project construction and operation on the
fish and wildlife resources in the area are described in Exhibit W.
8
II
10. CONSULTATION WITH FEDERAL, STATE AiJD LOCAL AGENCIES
HAVING RESPONSIBILITY FOR WATER QUALITY CONTROL
The following consultations with Federal, State and local
agencies were conducted with regard to water for the Project:
(1) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), Alas~a District
Date/Time: March 8, 1977/10:00 a.m.
Type: Meeting
Participants: R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc. (RWB) representing
the City and Borough of Sitka.
Subjects
discussed:
Steen and Matlock, Inc., Access Road Consultants
Section 10 of River and Harbor Act of 1899
Section 404 of Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(FWPCA)
Section 401 of FWPCA
Date: April 14, 1977
Type: Meeting
Participants: RWB representing City and Borough of Sitka
Steen & Matlock, Inc.
Subjects
discussed: Section 10 of River and Harbor Acts
Section 404 of FWPCA
Section 401 of FWPCA
(2) Environmental Protection Agency, Region X, Alaska
Operations Office (EPA)
Date: April 14, 1977
Type: Meeting
9
,
Participants: RWB representing the City and Borough of Sit%a
Steen & Matlock, Inc.
subjects
discussed: National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES)
Date: April 15, 1977
Type: Telephone Conference
Participants: RWB representing the City and Eorough of Sitka
Subjects
discussed: Effects of construction on water quality in the
project area.
(3) Alaska Division of Lands and Water Management (ADL)
Date: March 9, 1977
Type: Meeting
PartiCipants: RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka,
Steen & Matlock, Inc.
Subjects
discussed: Water Rights Application
State Tidelands Permit
Access to Navigable or Public Waters
Section 401 of FWPCA
(4) Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Date: April 14, 1977
Type: Telephone Conference
PartiCipants: RWB representing the City and borough of Sitka
Subjects
discussed: Current water quality studies and the effects of
construction o~ the project area waters.
10
f
(5) Alaska Department o~ Fis~ and Game
Date: December 16, 1976
Type: Telephone Conference
Participants: RWB representing the Cit:i and Borougl, of 2itr:a
Subj ects
discussed: Limnological data availatlc for Green La%~
Date: March 18, 1977
Type: Telephone Conference
Participants: RWB representing City and Borough of SitKa
Subject
discussed: Title 16 Permit
11. UTILIZATION OF THE RESOURCE
The Project as described herein, will fully develop and
utilize the water resource in the best public interest for po~er,
recreation and fish and wildlife pur~oses. Exhibit I describes tne
power development; Exhibits Rand S describe the recreational and
fish and wildlife plans respectively, associated with this project
development. The fullest practicable utilization of the streamflow
and head available will be accomplished by this Project.
GREEN LAKE rllON7HLY INFLOWS
(cfs)
YEAR JULY AUG SEP OCT NOV OEt: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE AVtRAGE ...•......
1915-16' 452 510 573 487 188 117 23 13 41 116 283 568 28&
1916-17' 445 499 564 471 210 97 82 120 50 74 ltO 475 2 III
1917-19' 491 526 620 652 636 78 127 40 1B 75 296 582 3B
1918-19" baa 489 492 420 378 190 231 18 15 126 255 358 299
1919-20' 488 452 500 )92 I B 1 128 217 83 27 41 172 479 ,63
1920-21' 445 437 330 282 254 74 64 112 58 69 285 5~2 246
1921-22' 387 309 416 571 160 293 91 36 27 83 352 466 266
1922-23' 462 500 551 246 400 B2 31 110 117 219 341 510 297
1923-24' 390 250 64B 292 484 1 B 2 9B 119 90 159 479 t88 323
1924-25' 674 539 698 431 285 162 34 25 50 86 474 520 332
1925-26 560 395 340 434 299 1B4 155 78 49 124 296 492 284
1926-27 484 441 547 400 276 169 143 72 46 114 273 454 2B5
1 9 27-2B 446 407 504 460 317 195 165 83 52 131 314 522 300
1928-29 512 46B 580 458 316 19~ 164 82 52 131 313 520 316
1929-30 510 466 577 449 529 118 106 74 47 110 35B 590 3:lS
1930-31 590 480 553 4B4 570 127 115 80 51 11 B 386 63& )49
1931-32 637 51B 597 470 324 199 168 85 54 134 321 533 337
1932-)] 524 478 592 398 215 9C 53 100 47 83 2B6 517 252
19))-34 429 429 514 456 114 193 163 82 52 130 311 517 299
1934-35 508 464 575 523 616 138 124 B6 55 12B 417 687 HO
19)5-)6 68B 560 645 612 721 161 145 101 64 150 48B e04 428 193,-37 805 655 754 614 723 162 145 101 65 150 490 B07 456 "
19)7-)8 808 657 757 468 322 19B 167 84 53 134 320 531 315
1938-39 521 476 590 502 592 132 119 83 53 123 401 660 354
1939-40 661 538 619 446 307 189 160 Bo 51 127 305 506 332
1940-4\ 497 453 562 319 172 72 42 80 37 67 229 414 245 1941-42 )4) 343 411 4S. 316 194 164 82 5. 1) 1 313 520 277 1942-4) 510 466 577 432 298 183 ISS 78 49 123 295 490 305 1943-44 481 439 545 414 2B5 175 14B B 47 11 B 283 470 290
1944-45 461 421 522 449 5.9 118 106 74 47 110 358 590 )15
1945-46 590 4BO 553 400 276 169 143 72 46 114 271 454 296
C~ 194&-47 446 407 5u4 517 610 13b 123 85 54 127 0113 6ao H~
rt 1947-41 6Bl 554 6)0 480 566 126 114 79 51 119 393 631 369
-:::< 1943-49 632 514 592 497 586 131 118 82 52 122 397 653 365 rt 1949-50 654 532 613 412 223 93 55 10) 48 87 296 5)6 3C4 f--:"
,D :>
;3 1950-51 444 444 5)2 277 150 63 )7 69 32 58 199 36"0 222
c:;
IT L'
(') 1951-52 299 299 358 406 220 92 54 102 48 85 292 528 232 ,-.
'~ 1~52-53 43B 4]8 524 47B 329 202 171 86 54 137 127 542 311 ...... 195)-54 5]) 486 60] 404 278 PI 145 7J H 115 276 458 299 I f--' 1954-55 450 411 509 442 305 1&7 15B 80 50 126 302 501 2i3 f--' \0
-~ 1955-56 492 449 557 360 195 82 4B 90 42 76 259 46S 260 -J 1956 -51 388 )98 465 404 27a 171 145 73 46 ! 15 276 45B :~7 ..........
AV£IIAGE 520 464 552 442 361 148 119 81 50 113 116 541 310
* Reco::,de~ floilTS. P.ll others are synL:csi::ed.
,
GREEIJ L.i',Y.E PROJ;.I'T
FIRlfJ I:iJERGY i)[LI'lli:i:u i.:.Y ;·('.;Th
FirrrL ~r.c:rbJ
Month Delivereu, ICv/h
July 2,922,000
August 3,065,000
September 3,1£2,000
October 3,~£6,Coo
lIovember 3,609,000
December 4,039,000
January 4,090,000
February 3,2c3,OLO
March 3,783,200
April 3,365,OUO
May 3,305,000
June 2,926,000
l!OTE: Firm energy based on pOVler studies usinf~ historic and
synthetic strear.,floVl (TabJe Ii-I) and havinE a 1 ir, 42-
year frequency.
:ertcrrlc[' 10~7
Feature
Maximum depth
Average depth
Drainage area
Surface area
Volume
Altitude
TABLE H-3
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
RESERVOIR PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Blue Lake Reservoir Green Lake Reservoir
463 feet 246 feet
171 feet 200 feet
37 square miles 28.2 square miles
1,334 acres 1,000 acres
227,800 acre-feet 97,000 acre-feet
350 feet (MSL) 390 feet (MSL)
NOTE: All data based on normal reservoir elevations of 350 feet
(MSL) for Blue Lake and 390 feet (MSL) for Green Lake.
September, 1977
400
Normal "H~orr 400
EI. 390
----~ /" --------, 1-, .----380 '---~ """OV' ""''10 1, .r .... ollon
380
t<~ ..... f m .. ,m,/ ''---1', '~=." ., ....... / I;j ~ '---/ /' ~
360 , "-, '60
~ / V z V -" ./
z ----r-------0 ./ I-340 340
~ ~ V / NOTES : W
...J ~ W I . <Aln .. Mow , .. ull. 01 ' .... .,oIr op .ratlon
.Iudl .. bo"d on hl.t otleol lood dolo 10f"
0: 320 \ t 320 Silkl;! and r.corded and '),flll'I .. lud ,Ir,amtlow
0 ~~n"'IO P' .f mlnlmllm data tor Ih. Vo dopod Rlv,r , Stud)' ~Iod > 0: ""''101, II,voUon. from 1916 -19!17 .
W
In 2 . R,torded ,lfltClmflo_ data fram U5.G.S. Wal.r W \ Supply Paper VoIum.1372.GoQ' 37 -Gr •• n Loki 0: 300
\ /
300 Outlet ntar Sitko· '1101., )'ton 1916 -1 92',
W ,. Synthfllrtcl .I,tomf low. d.ulop.d from 101 '" :5 pr,e1pllotlon dolo 01 Sitko from Cllm ollc:
/ &.Immof)' 01 1M Unit.d Sial ... Alo.ko ; Bull.lln
280 Minimum Dell", ItOtO,' £1.280 280 W,oncI 8ull.lIn W Sup ple min'. for 1931-19'2
Z and 1951-1960 ,U.S. Wuth.r 811tl01l • 'Ind fb)
W .Irlomllow dolo on Sowmlll er .. " from u.s.as. W
0: Wot.r Suppl, PO P'1lI ~Ium .. 1372 and 17~O.
C) Goq. 36 and BBO "50wmlll Cr •• k n tor Si tko ·
wot,r ~'Olll 1920 -1922 .1 928-19~2 and
260 260 19~6 -1957.
<. Ele",ollon. baud on M.on Sao L ..... I (MSLI dat um .
2 40 HO
No .... mb.r D,c,mb,r Jonuarr F,bruory Marth April .. , Jun, July AuQu.t Septlmber October ",,""-" .... , ..... ~-'''' ..-0' -.co' ... _ , ....... ~_ • .ooro •• _ ..... "'"
MONTHS OF THE YEAR
.. _ ... __ ........... .u .. ~ ... 'O • .. ,_ .... ...Il!!....t!-~ _.0 ..... ~
.,a....~ 0 ... , .. ' .... "n
'I ""~,,,, ., __ ,., "0 '~-l
GREEN LAICE PROJECT <"" ... BOROUGH OF SITK A, AlAS KA
EXHIBIT H-I
GREEN lAICE RESERVOIR
OPER ATI ON STUDY RESI.l.TS
2818 -
I !
3500 ,---,-,-,--,-,-,-,
JOOO PItOk In flow 3060 cl1
j
I ~
30-mlrllll, t.IIIit h~ph , 1: 1000
oool-.-J_--':'-l
o ~0---!0----'.;;--!;12:=::""'~,...L-:!20
TIME, HOURS
ONE-HALF HOUR UNIT HYDROGRAPH
..
P.ok Inflow 21,1 !Xl m
20 ; ~
~ Inflow lIydroOtoph ~ u " j
0 ,
~ Pec* Mllow
~ 10
~
• ]-c' ;-
0 0 4 • 12 ffi 20 2. 2.
~ 4 10
TIME, HOURS
~ 40~ ~
•
T
II ,I.
Iflow hJdro9r'opll
i
.2 " 40
~400 ·'Com er .. , El.400 MaJ.imum raenoir El .399.3 a 395 I ~pitwoy cr .. ' ,
EI. 390 j i~~o ;
0 • 12 ~ '0 24 2. " 36 40
TlME,HOURS c
SPILLWAY DESIGN FLOOD
00 4 • 12
~ ~i, ~~ (~ u, ~:a2 ~2
Runo~t Iot".~
3
o.
00 + 1
35
30
~ u
0 ..
0
Q
~ '0
~
~
"
10
•
00 4 •
0
l-• I ,I ~~.o)' cruV EI .390 r
0
• • • 12
TIM£,HOURS
16 :!:O 24 2.
t
PItOIt inflow 42 00 eft
Inflow hfdrGQJUph r
1 1 '
lPI a .. outflow 32,600 cl.
I I
Wow h)'drovroph
16 20 2 4 ,. " TIMf, HOURS
3.
r
3.
I MaUnum reNnOlr El 404.9
j Darn cr.,. EI .400
t
r ,1
16 20 24 2. 32
TIME,HOURS
PROBABLE MAXIMUM FLOOD
40
40
0 0
NOTES :
I. Probabll mOl imum flood wot d.,I".d wino
ptobobll mOllmum prt clpltollon ftom u.s.
Wtolhtr Bur.ou T.chnlcal Po,., 47 and
11'1 , Corp. 0 1 E";inter' .nowmtll formula
from Mon\lol No . EM 1110 -2 -1406 ,
2. SpUhro)' Oulg" Flood Inflow I, on. holf
pro bob" modmllm flood .
3. ElrtotIon. boNd Of! "'-' Sea ~II"SLI d!rtwn .
-... _ .......... .. ... ....,-....... .
-";.'00 ... <I" .... ~_ ...... '-''-' .......... _._ ... ...
_ .... _.. • '1!.L-
.. <2-_
~ .... ,
0"'''\.1 , __ _ -..... .
::!... .... -,.i-3!!r-
GREEN LAkE PROJECT
CITY AtlO BOROUGH Of SITkA , ALASkA
EXHIBIT H-2
FLOOO HYOROGRAPH S
2818 -2
Appendix W - 3
Exhibit J
'0
Silka Sound
Locotlon or old
So.mlll Cr .. k
14
"
"
•
" "
,
TRUE MAGNETI C
NORTH NORTH , ..
•
26
2 •
LEGEND
Eal,tlno Propolld
ROOd., Pow l d
---Unclo .. iflld
Proj.cl
EI.cltle
Tr 01l8m iniof,
Lin •• ,
8oundorl .. ,
TOfIO'"
Notlono l For .. 1
UnlUr .... y.d
Lond Line.
= Ci ty .1 Sit ko
Mo pp lno R.ler.nce -U.S.G.S. QuodronVI .. ,
Sitko tA-4 1, Alosko 195 1 minor ,.vi,lo n, 1965
Po rI Aluond" 10-41. Alolko 1951 mInor "wllion. 1965
Lond ti n .. tepr."nt IInl ll rwty.d ond IInmorhd loco lionl f r om
compul otlon, by lilt Sto l. of Alolk o . Olvi lion of Londl, Copp.t
River ,..,Id lo n.
EIIVOIIoIII bo"d on M.on S.O L ..... II MSLI do tu m .
no" .... , .. '" • _01' ." not <_n ..... ' ..... ••• "" • 'no<o."".",.
GRE EN L AK E PR OJE CT
eln AND e OROUG H OF S ITKA . ALA SKA
E XHIBIT J
, GENERAL PROJECT IIIAP , .
2818 -4
Appendix W - 4
Exhibit K
I La'" Projul Boundar,
IF-P-C . Pro;'tf No. 22301 §.
34 ~
.... t--U.S.Sun·.'No.3665 (\I
•
\
)
S.G.S. Triangulation
Sialion Bucko
1,904,500
COURSE BEARING NO. , N o-oo'O<f
2 S 64-36' 30· E
~ 5:!W IB'3O"E
• 574"51'E
• S 2·21'E
~ f-; 62"56' E
_7 554-36' E
• ~O4';-
~ S 78·44'£
~~31 'E
" S 43-22'E -N !)6"38 '~ 1--4-13 N 23"21 'W
f--'c4 N 49"'1!5'£
I> 5 GrOI 'E ,. NWOI'E
17 S 64"48' E ,. N 6rl9' E ,. 5""09'E
20 538-30'£
~ S "'24'oo"E
22 538·04'12-E
23 516"1,'36"W
2. 501"40'48"E
w
\.
LENGTH CO~SE
130 .00' _ 20
315 .00' 2.
611 .80' 27
131.03' 2.
844,36' 2.
'40.00'
362.40' -~
44"50' 32
390.30' " 489.86' ,. ---340.50'
400.60' ~ " 885.30' 37
567.-00'-
307.10' 319 .1~'-
3~_
r-~. .0
322.01 ' .,
297.88'
441.90' ~ .,
150.00' ..
17!5 .91'
381 .08' _ ~ •• H'.~~
170.07'
.7 ••
BEARING
S 36"20'24"'11'
5 !II" 15'00"'11'
S IS"MI' 48" £
543"34'12"E
S 1 2"39'oo"E
5 ,,"58'12"E
583"!59'24"E
562."1 2.' 36"£
S 21"2.2' 12" £
546·38'24"E rs 33"41' 24·E
5'1"0"02" £
N 81"42'35"E
542"42'33"£
524"26'38"E
556"43'IO"E
S 14"56'''" £
528"36' 18"E
tSfO·59'''" £
533"41 '05"£
564"01"3"E
NU"2.4'3V"E
S 11"4&'43"E
543"24' 13"E
LENGTH
540.02'
481 .26'
526 .71'
565 .86 '
2!11 .10'
204 .~:_
19 1.06'
836 .48: _
478 .57'
_ 61B .91 '
5SB .06'
9 ru6 '
'00.40 '
884.'9'
241 .66'
382 .7"
200.24'
250.60'
366.14'
432 .61~
433 .82'
453.98'
556 .60'
101 8 .63'
of •• I,Uno Sawmill C,nlt HIVh.oy oncl
I torl 01 Gr .. n Loh Actlu Rood
2
"
100 It ,,,,,<,,._./ i:~S:2S~
200 II ""<0'._'/
' ......... ' _ '-0 __ .... PO ................... U"M'" ... , ... ..:u: .. __ u __ ...... ...-0" _ ..... __ ..... -..................... _ ........ _._ ..... , , ...
f· ... _. ____ .. ' .... __ II ....... ",_00_
_c .......... , ....... _ ........... _·.·._._. ............ " .. ".-. .. ~.-.. .... _. '.-"' .... _ .. _ ... "" ................. ..
I
N
TRU£ MAGNETIC
~7~·~
LEGEND
'2
KEY MAP
o I Milt , '
Acct .. road bo .. lin.
ProJecI boundar,
U.S .• u",e, boundari ..
Vn.u .... '.d loncl lin ..
S.ellon numb.r
5hor,Un.
Lin.
N 1,902,000 ~ I '. Lan d lin .. r'pr ... nI unlurveyed and unmart,d
!ocollan. from compulQ1lone b, tIM 5tol. at
'2
N 1,899,500 -i
"
Molel!
AIa,ko ,Dlv illan of Land., Co ppe r Rlv.r Mer id ian
lak.n from U.S.G.S. 1:63,360 lopoqroptllc "rI ...
2. Grid baud on Alaska coordinot. "",m ,lone I.
3. 5t1M.lin. 'rom tapooraptty pr.partd b, H.G.
Ch lc"'rinO ,.lt ,.lanuor, 1915. Hori.ton lo l and
1'Irlico' conl,ol baud on U.S.G.s. Quodranol. co ntrol .
4 . El4I"o'CII0III balld on M.on 5.0 Lev.I{M5L) dotum . ... "._ ......... ...
~ ..... ,.,.. '''''' ... u. .. 'oe "'" __ .... ".0.0 .. ·:·r-:~··" "', __ ,u(
--.-........... .......
... nce
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
CITY ANO BOROUGH OF SITKA, ALASKA
£XHI BIT 1<-1
PROJECT BOUNDAR'!'
2818 -5
I~
• ••
••
BEARING
' .. 05 I
' .. "
, 77"28' I 4'
80 I S
LENGTH
.~I L~I'W ~
.. 1 ~~'4'~-*~"~7<~
-
•• I N~ ·w
• 9
70
~
••••
...
,' ..
-C-~ 't~
80 I S42"1
8 1 IS
-1i-
8.
-
Is -;-.-If.
93 I s
9 4 I S
9. L~ ~
9 7 I S,*" ~
98 I S
I
374.8.
1-~l o 0 -p.1 ~~~ 367 ,91
101 '''·'.il ~
'0 3
104 I ~
'~
TRUE ..... GNETIC
NORTH NORTH
2 .. 30'1
I
18
~
19
20
29
-NI ,681,OOO
N
-N I.844.~ r
KEY MAP
, 0 I Mi lt
, I , • • S~oI.
LEGEND
Acce" rood bo .. lint
Prol4e l boundary
Unlurny.d lond li ntl
19 Section number
Shor.lln.
l!Q!Y..:.
I. LOfId lin .. raPf'*_t un~rwyed and I.!nmorked
location. from computotion' by 1M 5101. of
Alotko ,Dhllion of land.,Coppl( RI'I.r Meridian
lokln from U.S .G.S.I:63,360 topoorophlc "ri ...
Z . Grid bOl.cl on AIo,ko ,coordlnatl .yl'tm , zan, I.
3 . Shor,lln , Irom lopo4IfOphy pr epared by H. G.
a.icllltlfl\l , Jr,. JOl'lllOry 197', Horlronlol and
_tk:41 control boIed on u.s.G.s.~.I:O!IfroI.
... EIe'IOt Iofl . bol" on w.an S.u Ln.' IMSLI dillum ,
nod _., ........ , o. '''' ."""" ...... -............ . .. , .......... _ ....... ... .. '::~~ ~
GREEN LAKE PROJECT
crr, ANO B OROUGH OF" SITKA. ALASKA
EXHIBIT K -2
~oo' 0 , .. " ,
PROJECT BOUNDARY
Il0(l' 1000' ~ , , ,
,tAu: ,'.~'
2818 - 6
",,'" ,
~ a ~ G • • " '" N N
W W
20
N 1,884,500
DESCRIPTION OF RESERVOIR, DAM, AND
POWERHOUSE PROJECT BOUNDAR Y
A Irocl 01 land bounded by II lin. b.~ln n l n!l 01 poinT A
locol,d 01 th' Inllrllcllon of Ihl dam octtn rood north
boundo" ond the conlOl,l1 ell vol Ion 450 In th' 'flcln ll)'
of Ihl dom j th'fI(;l olano th, con lour "Iyollon 450
II'ICIOllno Ihl r ... nolr InlO ond udinO 01 0 polnl louin
of Itle "tt abutmenl of ,he dom.p oinl 8; IlIenct north
63-07' .... , a dl"Oliet 0' 61 0 f •• ,IO polnl C o tIIlllce
t.O\Ilh 83-00' .. tit 1,3 '0 , .. , 10 mlon high WOllt hnl,
point D; thlnCI no,Ih ... t 010110 HII mlon 11 1",11 wollr
lInt of SIIYlr Bo)' oppro.lmoilly 220 f .. 1 10 pokll E
loeotld on thl IfId of th, oce, .. rood 10 th, powlfhousl
boI.tndor)'; lhen(:l north 83·00' .... , 1,540 fill to potnl
F ; IIItncl north 2·10' lOll 290 f .. 1 to IItl polnl of
Ir" blQinninQ, b,k'IQ poln l A .
"'" • 600
'600 ti 500
~
!
N
W
AREA ,ACRES
1200 800 .00
No""" --'---t--(W.S,EI ,390 "I I Splllwoy crill )
M~, -t-'>I;o1:J;.-"t
eooL"
o
""'8
~
Z
.00 2
~ a
0:: N inlmuIIIW.S. !Ii ~ 300 EI. 280 500 ~
~ 200 200 ~
o 40 80 120 160
RESER\'OIR CAP/lC.rTY, ACRE..fl:ET X 1000
AREA -CApjlCITY CURVE
a
~
0 <:
N
W
2'
~
~ MAGNETIC ~ NORTH N
W
,., ..... c. _, ... '" ' ...... _ ..... .-on .... .. . ., .... ..-.. _ ........... _ ... ...-......... . _ ..... _ ,.«:ba _', _ •••• _ , .... __ ... ,_
.. ,_...-. ~_ .oo _ ......... -_"'\I ._' ' .... ' ... u.'.,. _ ..... -=-.. ' .... __ ..... ' .... ___
_ ".'''ao ..... " .... c_ ... , ... u-.n ..... _co .....
000 ... _ac' ... "-., •• _.own. _", ...... , .f 'oo
..... _ DO. ~._ ........ _.
• ,
•
~
'" ~
• C ::;
~ •
LEGEND
, ...
Rood
KEY MAP
9 . !,"Ile
Snl,
~ Cou, .. numHr
"" Ace ... rood bon lin.
ProJlct boundory
• 8 Mlond'r po lnl
S,cl;on numbu
NOTES ;
1
I. Lond lin .. r'!If"'1'I1 utllUrw),ld ond
IIIIrnOfited Iocolloll' 'n:lm compu tation s
II)' tile Statl of Alolka ,Of'f'lllo" of L.onch ,
COPPlr Riwer Mlr idiGn oncilollln from
U.S.G.S.1:63,360 lopOQlopll lc "rI ...
:::E 2. Grid botld on Alo,ko ooordinoll 1~I.m,
zoni I.
3. ToPCHIroph), pllporld b), K.G-ChlcklftnQ ,
Jr"Jllnuory 1975 . Horilontol oncl\'ll1icOI
contnM boNd on u.s.as. Quodrol'Wjlll
contn:tl .
4 . Ellwotlonl boNd on Mlon Slo lUll
I MSl) dotllln .
GREE N LAKE PROJECT
CITY MlO BOROUGH OF SIT KA , ALASKA
, ' • . I
EXHIBIT 1<-3
PROJECT BOUNOARY
40d tJDd 1200'
I SCAL E 1,'.;(IOl'
2BI8 -1
-' , ",. ,
0
0
"-~
0 ·0 N
w
27 --". -
N 1,882.000 "
oelM .'OJ. Minimum EI. 280
N 1,87'1,500 ••
A' t boundary For pr",te: • f .. II'blt dttcrlpllon-•• K·'
g
no
2 ·0 N
W
2.
•
TRUE
.... TH
,
• ';,
""GHfTIC
HORTH
,.
,
L---l
~:A", ... Roa.
u ..
KEY MAP
LEGEND
, .
NOTES : •• , •• ond
_I tin ... , kIN
Lond II" .. "p". • 'rOM COfllptllot
I. "nlllO,II,. Ioc:ofioft .. Di".ion 01 l,.ondl, ,. of Ala, •
bJ' It" Sio I tollen 'rom
,.-, Riv" M.,kI an ,!jc: •• ri,. -,..... 360 ICIpOffO llS.G.5.I :63,
II coordlnol, Grid ba.,d on Ala 0
2 . tm~on.l .
• ,.. , H G ChldllrlnQ.
T(IpOf roph1 P"~~!~nl~1 ~nd Yltrllcol
3, Jr.,,jon ua ry 19: U.S .G.!. Quodronolt. conlrol bo.Ied
eMlra!.
2:818 - 8
Appendix W - 5
Exhibit L
Conlrotlo/. work areo
-EI. 4"00
"'N"m,' re.enolr flo 390
DAMS ITE -PLAN
50' 0 '0' tOO' ,~' 200' 2~' "." .. ", , , , , I
Sta!.; ,'.~'
Normo l (fltfYoi r
fl,390
Minimum r .. enolr 0 1,1111. worb
El , Z BO •
< -
EI. 2!1£..
r
I
Grou. cur la in
DAM -MAXIMUM SECTION
00' 0 50' 100' ISO ' 200'
I,", ,".I I !
Seole : ,".50'
250'
50' 0
I.' , , , '
\
\
\ , ,
\\M '~
\ ,
, I
'-----"
DAM -ELEVATION
50' 100' 150' 200' 250' , I! ,
S eol,; I"· 50'
~4 06r-------------~
~404
z402 2
!c 400 > ~398 • a: 396
g: 39 4 •
Oom eru. r __ LJEl "'00
~392
a:3900~--~~o-~",~--~>o~--7.40
DISCHARGE, 1000 CFS
SPILLWAY RATING CURVE
OrlQll'\ol Qtound -------
NOTES ;
I. Topovrapll, pupored by H.G Cllitkerinv,Jr.
Januor, 1975. Horitonioi ond w'rll~ol eonlrol
baud on U,S ,6 .S . Ol,lodronv', ~onlrol.
... ...... , ....... .. ,." _., •• I ••• _ .. , ..
......... "011 ."" .""." "" •• • .UDI .... ......, ... 'K •• '~lc'" .... __ .. "" •• • .. nu .......... ,ooo
"" .~ ...... '...!If!...!!d.!!l...-
.~ ._.~ t· f_~6!s..w. ~ ~ ..... ~,' ... .... , ... ~ .. r·.·.
GREEH LAKE PROJECT
CITY AHD BOR OUGH Of" SITKA. ALASKA
''"' r
EXHIBIT L ·I
PL,l"',ELEVAT IOH AHD
r ," , , ,
Son I "
2818 -9
SECTIO N ," , , ,
400
. Hill Oom ~ I I
'UtI
I
300 l-, I -"-
TrOlhroth /I, '
, -j COfInl" Iln.d 'un",.1
Ij " +-l C-200 ---+-
'00 t-+ ~ I I r I
I 0
,0+00 '5+00
4 oor--------------r-------r------~------r-----_,
300 300
~ ~ w w w w
~ ~,
z z
0 " ~ ~
200 200~ > w w j j w w
'rap
'00
I Caner.'.
IIn.d IU"''''11
8'1
o
25+00
51,,1 lln.d ", .. ",.,
POWER TUNNEL
50' ° 50' 100' 150'
"" ". , Seal.: '1".50"
~
1
PROFILE
200' 250' , .
~ ~
Ground lurfott
1 I -+ +
1 l • • o ----r +
I ~ • • iJU",lin,d lunnel ~
r I , 00
20+00 o
·a"lIn.---
0'-6"----, UNLINED TUNNEL
"-0" mi",lmulT! .A"l1n.--_"",,~
U;
CONCIIET<
LINED TUNNEL
POWER TUNNEL
f, " .. 2 '0' ,
STEEL
LINED PENSTOCK
,,' ,
SECTIONS
20' 25' , ,
'mInImum
",.," II",.
51"1 lI""r , r Il'IIck
Scol.: I"· 5'
.!Q!L
EI."otion. boNd 011 »ton 5.0 u",IIMSLI dohllT!.
--'-......... .......... _ ... -
... m..
GREEN LA KE PROJECT
CITY AHD BOR OU GH Of S ITK A , A L ASKA
EXHIBIT L-2
POWER TUNNEL PRO Fl L.E AN D SE CTION S
2818 -10
100
Acea .. rood
to SiTko
MAGNETIC
H
.l32
'ltO
$11"" BIIY
_____ ~,o
S",b.tollon
PO WE RHOUSE AREA PLAN
20' 0 20' 40' 60' 80' 100' ",,_"""--,l'---C"'S"'~""'"I ~""'"200~.'"---~' __ -'i
\
Bu. .truetura
1040n oroll cront for
droit tub, vot ..
J~\Jl1~~!IT~===tI\~E~I.~I'
~I--_____ tli-I:-'Orofl lubl va l ..
\
\El.5 \ --
Control w* cre,l ~,
EI.-"
11 ,'00 HP
lurblnt ----
TRANSVERSE SECTION
THROUGH CENTERLINE OF UNIT
10' 0 10' ZO' 30' 40' 50' "'''"." .. __ ,,"' ____ .' __ -;L'~~"'~,_"'"---~' Scot.: 1·.,0'
EI .32
.
,
SlotoV-
'~m
[_eltotion "",mm '/
Roll up door
EI .19
Circuli breaker
El -4
SECT ION A L PL AN EI, 35
10' 0 10' 20' 30' .0' '0'
111111 ,I , , ,
Scola : '--10'
PrteOiI conereta T-beorTl$
I-" U-U U--U .u
~
Ertellon boy EI. 32 fI fI
Elteirlc oilloor EI .19 r I
i
" . . . . .
Meehonkd l loor a, .. .. . t. EI. I .~ ) /\ .
.'
I \ ! Oratt lubt inYtrt
El-13 .. .. •
LONGITUDINAL SECTION
THROUGH CENTERLINE OF UNITS
,"~.: ,",,""" .. "~ ____ "'P' __ -;22,:0:' ::-;C3~OO' ;0_'.," __ ---,'. rt ~ola : ,-~ '0'
Toll WG'ar control .. i,
EI . -4
SECTI ONAL PL A N -EI.
10' 0 10' 20' 30' .0' '0'
III ,'II" I , , , ,
Sea'a: r· 10'
NOTES :
'-TopoOropl'l, praporad by H.G. Cl'lkkerklv.Jr .
January 1975 . Horizonto' ond varllc:Gt control
boNd on USGS. Quadronv" control.
2. Elevollonl boNd OIl Maon Sta La.,.1 (Io4SlI dotum .
GREEN LAICE PRO~EC T
CITY AND BOROUG H Of SITIC A . ALA SU
EXHI81T L-3
~ER~.E '"' '","'<T IDN '.DI .. SE'm~~
2818 -II
Append ix W -6
Exhibit 0
1
EXHIBIT 0
STATEMENT OF THE ESTIMATED TIME
REQUIRED TO COMPLETE PROJECT WORKS
EXHIBIT 0
, -~T -t , . ., ;'" f ---, PHASE . . -· ................. ~ , -~-. -,. . . • I ~ : ~i -. --· , , . . . --. -~-j '-r -' --. t • : · . · . -. . -. .
I APPRAISAL REPORT I "nwo, .,.on _'"" ! I · . LEGEND , I -. ,
COMPL .ET 0 ; -. -
II EVALUATION REPORT MAJOR EFFORT --
~ .......... t. CONTINUING EFFORT ·
m FPC LICENSE l APPL FOR LICENSE I . ·
A. APPLICATION PREPARATION
, -I., . .
B. APPLICATION PROCESSING I • ,~ -
· • • ~
TIl' DESIGN AND CONTRACT DOCUMENTS 1 t . •
A . FIELD INVESTIGATIONS 1 -11slD I I I ~ --
B. ACCESS ROAD '.n I ,
C. MAJOR PROJECT FEATURES I, , ,
.nitfllln',.nn · U'._f_f'"
-+ --'+---• -• 1
Y CONSTRUCTION AWA~D CONTR cr ; rei -
A . ACCESS ROAD ~fU I • t I ~ •
B. MAJOR PROJECT FEATURES ~+-+--l-~WAR DJ C.O_HIRA.C I • c'. t-
MOBILIZATION AND DEMOBILIZATION I i .... I -,..' -.,... .. , -
RESERVOIR CLEARING , ,
DIVERSION FACILITiES ' . j -~ j . t .~ .
POWERHOUSE EXCAVATION I , -t I · -,
POWER TUNNEL EXCAVATION , ~ H T t t -.
DAII EXCAVATION AND GROUTING I , .
• •
DAM CONCRETE -..,...T ........ . -:--~ ; -. --· -I
DAM JOINT GROUTING • I • · , • '" ·~L -. --
OUTLET WORKS ; I . .,. • · ; ~£pnlll -
POWER TUNNEL CONCRETE t ~. + ~-~-• • --+---I-
POWERHOUSE CONCRETE r . ...
MECHANICAL • , ~ + t
ELECTRICAL j j ,
•
START -UP ~ I . . 1 • • . -.
DIVERSION CLOSURE
, -
RESERVOIR FILLING ) t · -·
• ,
TRANSMISSION LINE
· ·
iHUluhl HHIHH.I ~HHlulid . i!JHhUH ~HHhUH
1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
Append ix W - 7
Exhibit R
r~. -----------------~
EXHIBIT R
RECREATION PLAN
1. GENERAL
The Green Lake Project site is located on Baranof Island
southeast of Sitka near the head of Silver Bay. The Project will
consist of a dam and reservoir on Green Lake, with the powerhouse,
access road and transmission line located along the shoreline of
Silver Bay. The topography of both Green Lake and Silver Bay is
typical of Southeast Alaska with precipitous side slopes rising
from the waterline. The vegetation of the area extends from shore-
line to timberline (2,250 ft.) and consists of heavy stands of
Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock with undergrowth shrubs and young
conifers. The open, less preCipitous slopes support scrub coni-
fers, muskeg and moss-type vegetation. Wildlife of the area is
again typical of the region with the larger mammals being Alaska
Brown Bear, Sitka Deer, and Mountain Goats at the higher elevations.
The project area, while in a rugged and scenic setting, is
not unique in comparison to other local areas and in fact is some-
what limited in its recreational potential because of the rugged-
ness of these features. The reservoir will provide a good trout
fishing area but Green Lake Valley will be of little value from a
hiking and camping standpoint due to the steep terrain. The por-
tion of the project area along the access road alignment has simi-
lar terrain restraints on its recreational potential. Since pub-
lic vehicular access must be prohibited on the access road it will
serve, from a recreational standpoint, only as a hiking trail.
The Applicant fully realizes the limitations of the proj-
ect area from a recreational standpoint and will demonstrate in this
exhibit that there are other areas in the Sitka vicinity which
1
will more satisfactorily fulfill the recreational needs. The fol-
lowing discussion explains the regional recreational needs and the
Applicant's plans to meet those needs.
2. SOUTHEAST ALASKA RECREATION
The State of Alaska, in its current outdoor recreation
plan, has defined the supplies and demands for recreation facili-
ties for the major geographical regions of the State.
To define the type of demand placed upon outdoor recrea-
tion, the State conducted a variety of resident and non-resident
recreation surveys from 1966 through 1969. The analysis of this
data established the levels of participation in outdoor recreation
activities on a State and regional basis. The results indicate
that trail related activities lead in participation on both a State
and regional level. These were followed by activities such as
sightseeing, driving for pleasure. picnicking, fishing, boating.
camping. swimming, and hunting. The Alaska Outdoor Recreation
Plan further indicates that the greatest majority of resident par-
ticipation is "activities carried out near the participant's home
when he has only a few hours available for outdoor recreation."
For the Southeast Alaska Region. the State plan has iden-
tified 2.811,225 acres of available land already dedicated to rec-
reation and recreation facilities as of July 1973. But, some
2,810,640 acres, (approximately 99.97%) of this land are under
State and Federal jurisdiction and are categorized as "extended
trip acreage", where the term "extended trip" relates to facilities
which are further than one hour travel time from most users.
In carrying out its study the State has used the supply
and demand information to define the recreation needs of the vari-
ous regions. In defining the needs for the future recreation fa-
cilities for Southeastern Alaska, the State plan established that
2
facilities and acreage available in 1975 will supl--'ly :.hirt:,'-uIlt;
percent (31%) of the total outdoor recreation needs. For :.he
southeast region the largest deficit in availatle wilderness-ty~c
facilities has been identified as the need for trail syster.,s. '.i.r,c
plan shows that the 1975 trail facilities available will supply
only 14% of the 1975 need, leaving an 86% deficit. This is fol-
lowed by deficits of 78% for picnic units, 60% for outdoor £~me
areas and 35% for camp units.
3. CITY AND BOROUGH RECREATION
To further refine the State's outdoor recreation plan on
a local level, the City and Borough of Sitka (Applicant) prepared
a comprehensive recreation plan designed to identify the specific
needs of and the resources available to the residents of the ~itka
area. The plan is currently in a draft stage. but is the best
information available to define local needs.
Sitka, as a highly mobile water-oriented community. could
not afford to restrict its study to the Sitka Exclusion Area but
was obliged to review existing and potential resources within the
much larger physical area considered accessible to the majority
of the community. Like most Southeast Alaska corr~unities, Sitka
is completely surrounded by the Tongass National Forest. As a re-
sult, most of the existing and potential recreational facilities
are located on lands owned by the United States and administerea
by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Therefore the City and borough
of Sitka has relied heavily on the usage and expansion of existinE
USFS facilities in the Study Area.
Drawing Exhibit R identifies the existin£ and proposeJ
regional trail system, cabins and alpine shelters, major anchor-
ages, green belt/protected areas dnd i~roposed/fJotential cer,eral
recreation sites contained within the :":itka ~tudy Area. ':'he I"eC-
reational facilities shown in that exhibit were 2hose~ to ~ruviJe
the community with a full rarlbe uf activit.ies in the..iut-d'-o0urs.
3
~--------------............ ~
A regional trail system, identified by the State as the
one recreational facility needing the most development, appears very
feasible in the Sitka area, due to the amount and wide variety of
existing logging roads. A variety of existing and proposed trails
are shown in Drawing Exhibit R that would provide a trail system
ranging in type from low or cross-country to alpine. This system
would provide access to and interconnect many of the unique and
popular recreation areas, such as the Mount Edgecumbe/Fumerole
Camp Area on Kruzof Island and the glacier area east of Sitka on
Baranof Island.
4. SILVER BAY RECREATION
The Salmon Lake/Lake Redoubt recreation area is located
at the head of Silver Bay, just west of the Green Lake Project.
The existing trail leads from Silver Bay, along Salmon Creek past
Salmon Lake and ends at the USFS hiker's cabin at the head of Lake
Redoubt.
The Salmon Creek/Salmon Lake segment is popular for its
hiking and fishing resources. Salmon Creek is an anadromous stream,
supporting annual salmon migrations, and Salmon Lake is a popular
freshwater fishing lake.
Redoubt Lake lies in a steep-walled, scenic glacial basin.
The lake is a miromictic lake with a distinctive tidewater outfall
between Redoubt Bay and Redoubt Lake. It is an excellent sport
fishery and is being proposed as a wilderness study area. The Ap-
plicant has proposed that the existing cabin at the tidewater out-
fall be rebuilt and the trail system extended from the existing
cabin near the head of the lake. This proposal would, however,
rely on U.S. Forest Service implementation.
4
~, .... ----------................. ~
5. PROJECT RECREATION
In view of the eXisting and proposed recreational facili-
ties available in the greater Sitka area, the Green Lake Project is
not considered to be a major recreational resource. There are no
unique scenic, archaeologic, or geologic features within the proj-
ect area and the topography of the site severely limits the range
of recreational uses which can feasibly be developed.
Discussions with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of
Outdoor Recreation, Alaska Division of Parks and the National Park
Service have established that there have been no recreational use
studies conducted in the project area. Thus, there are no official
agency estimates of present or projected recreational use. Based
on its own knowledge, the Applicant estimates that the project area
presently receives approximately 15 visitors annually with the pre-
dominent use of the area being trout fishing. It is expected that
this use pattern will continue in the future and the Applicant be-
lieves that the future recreational usage will be closely asso-
ciated with level of fish population in Green Lake. The proposed
reservoir will increase the nutrient levels in the lake, due to
the decomposition of flooded organic materials, which will provide
an increased food source for the existing brook trout population.
The increase in nutrient level is expected to peak within 1 to 3
years after the inundation of the reservoir and return to present
nutrient levels in about 15 years. The vitality of the resident
fish population and hence recreational fishing use, is expected to
follow a similar cycle. The Applicant estimates that during the 1
to 3-year period, recreational use will double to approximately 30
visitors annually. From that time visitor use is expected to de-
crease, as fish population decreases, until use returns to approxi-
mately the same levele occurring presently. The above is predicated
on the maintenance of the fish population upon filling of the reser-
voir. It is recognized, however, that raising the lake level may
5
~,------------------............. ~
also result in the loss of the trout spawning grounds at the head
of the existing lake. The proposed institution of an appropriate
trout stocking program through the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game would mitigate the loss of the spawning grounds and provide
a good freshwater trout lake. More complete plans for this pro-
gram will be submitted to the Commission upon culmination of for-
mal agreement between the Applicant and the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game.
While the above estimates indicate the expected low
recreational usage of the project area, it is felt that some en-
hancement of access to Green Lake would be provided. Public vehi-
cular access via the single lane access road will be prohibited
for safety reasons and the costs involved in bringing the access
road up to public use standards would seriously compromise the
financial integrity of the Project. Additionally, public vehicu-
lar traffic in such proximity to the several eXisting eagle nests
identified along Silver Bay could disrupt nesting activities to
the pOint where abandonment of the nests would occur and realign-
ment of the road would not be economically feasible.
To facilitate access to the Green Lake Reservoir from
Silver Bay, a mooring buoy will be installed near the powerhouse to
provide anchorage for up to two (2) moderate sized pleasure craft.
Due to the low expected visitor usage of the project area, the Ap-
plicant believes that a dock structure is unwarranted. Access to
shore will be via a small dingy commonly carried aboard such craft
locally. Usually, the dingy is drawn up on shore and tied to a near-
by tree or rock. The eXisting hiking trail, shown in Detail Z of
Drawing Exhibit R, and the portion of the access road from the power-
house to the dam will provide alternative hiking accesses to Green
Lake Reservoir from the tidewater. The hiking trail will require
rehabilitation and upgrading. In addition the project access road
will provide hiking access from Herring Cove to the project site.
6
I
j
Should usage resulting from the enhanced access increase beyond
that expected, the Applicant will consider providing skiffs at
the lake or other appropriate measures at that time.
It is expected that the on-site (project-related) recrea-
tional development cost for the Project will be $12,000, itemized
as follows:
Mooring buoy
Trail rehabilitation
$ 2,000
$10,000
The cost of the access road even though it can be used for hiking
has not been allocated to recreation.
Due to the above constraints on the already limited re-
creational potential of the Project and the existence of the near-
by Salmon Lake/Lake Redoubt recreational area, Green Lake will be
retained in much the same recreational capacity as it has served
prior to the project development, that is, as a trout fishing lake.
6. CONSULTATIONS WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES
HAVING RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECREATION
The following consultation with Federal, State and local
agencies were conducted with regard to recreation for the Project.
a. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
Date: August 18, 1977
Type: Meeting
Participants: R. W. Beck and Associates (RWB) representing the
City and Borough of Sitka
Subjects: Review of Draft Exhibit R for BOR comments.
7
J
~" .. --------------....................... ~
b. U.S. Forest Service
Date:
Type:
Participants:
Subjects:
June 7, 1977
Telephone Conversation
RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka
Forest Service Recreational Plans for the Green
Lake Area.
c. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
Date: May 2. 1977
Type: Telephone Conversation
Participants: RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka
Subjects: Criteria and Guidelines for Planning for Recrea-
tional Facilities in Southeast Alaska.
d. Alaska Division of Parks
Date:
Type:
Participants:
Subjects:
May 2, 1977
Telephone Conversation
RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka
State Recreation Plans for the Green Lake Area
and State Guidelines or Criteria for Recreation
Planning.
Date: March 9, 1977
Type: Meeting
Participants: RWB representing the City and Borough of Sitka
Subject: Project Recreation Planning
8
e. City and Borough of Sitka
Date:
Type:
Participants:
subject:
Various Dates
Meetings and Telephone Conversations
RWB
City and Borough Recreation Planning for the
Green Lake Area.
9
TRUE "'''GNETIC
NORTH NORTH
1
DETAIL Z
GREEN LAKE PROJECT SITE
400' 0 400' 800' 1200' 1600' 2000'
I , , ! t I I I ! I
---.f'5S
T .. S
GREEN LAKE
I",,'"
,
«> BONlnot Itlond
J
J-""'o,oMd~"
8a~ A.aa
"-
'0 <>
SITKA AREA RECREATION
Seolt
PTtJ<I ct boIiltdGt r
(,.. [aIIlWt ... , oM K-41
w'" ~11 -I'"
PROJECT RECREATION MAP
o
I
Scolt
2. Mil ..
I
MAP
20 Mil ..
~
-
SI","
.. ~., ..
LEGEND
£,"'In, PropOMd Potential
&.oat Q"C.tIo~. '" los, • 0
r,.11
Co bin • 0
Shllter ~ "-
Fruh wot" I'It.NnO " p", CJ
C, .. II "It 0
"lc,lotion .. 0
NOTE
DtYOtioM baud on .... 'eo L •• ,I (MSU Ullin
MAPPING REFERENCES
S~lko At" Rlc(totion Mop
US.G.S. Q1l04101191",1 2SO.000
Situ. Alotko 1951
Poll A'uoMe ,. Aloth 19"
Gr .. n Lok. ProjlC:1 R.trlOllon Arlo
U.s.G.S. Quodron'll,. ,1.8',360
Sh~o (10-41, "huka 1951
Pori Aluond." 0-4 1."101110 1951
e, .. " Lak, Prollel S,'t
TOfIOeroph, p('p'rld by H G Chlckerln,.
Jr Jonyor, 191' Horilolllol ond .. rUtol
COftuo! baud on US G S , Qvadlo"9" ""lr04 ... _ ... --. .. .. ,.,.,_. ~ .. -,",. -.",.' .. -.-.;11' ....
.. ..... _.
-"""~'I#-.-
_· ... ·""'1 ~ .. --..... ,
.... ",··'l
GA[Oj LAIC[ P~JEt'
em 1.140 90AOUGtt Of srttl. ALt.5KA
EXHIBIT R
~JtOJ[CT flECRCATtOH ",-Ji N
• ~ r r .' " r ....... .a.. '-~
cot. ",
2.818 -12
·r' .. ------------.............. ~
Appendix W -8
Exhibit V
1
EXHIBIT V
STATEMENT OF THE PROTECTION, ENHANCElvlENT OF
NATURAL, HISTORIC AND SCENIC FEATURES IN THE
DESIGN, LOCATION, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION
OF PROJECT FEATURES
1. INTRODUCTION
In southeastern Alaska the mountainous forest setting
predominates the scenery. While the Green Lake Project is located
in the midst of this setting, it does not encompass any unique or
exceptional historic, natural or scenic values. The Applicant's
development of the Green Lake Project includes facility design and
location considerations balanced by engineering requirements and
reliability for visual acceptability. These considerations can
assure preservation of the natural features in the project area
consistent with construction and operation requirements. In dis-
cussing the required subject matter, this exhibit develops criteria
for the construction and operation of the Project including tem-
porary facilities (such as construction roads, borrow areas and cof-
fer dams) and reservoir clearing. Each element of the Project is
discussed in as much detail as present information permits.
The Applicant's planning included meetings with State and
Federal agencies along with representatives of local civic and con-
servation groups to determine their concerns.
2. PROJECT WORKS
The following measures will be taken during construction
and operation of the Project to minimize the impact to the environ-
ment and preserve scenic values.
1
·f .... ----------................ ·~
a. Reservoir Area
At normal reservoir elevation, the proposed reservoir will
~nundate approximately 1,000 acres of the Green Lake, Vodopad River
'Valley.
The primary concerns for the reservoir area are to mini-
mize the effects of reservoir clearing, aggregate borrow areas and
construction access roads. The reservoir will be cleared of all
trees and brush within the area of normal reservoir fluctuation
(El 390 to El 294). Further, it is planned that all marketable tim-
ber below El 294 will be cleared from the reservoir area. To mini-
mize conflict with scenic values and minimize environmental damage,
the debris and non-marketable material from the clearing operation
will be disposed of primarily by controlled burning conforming to
current air pollution regulations. All floating debris will be re-
moved from the reservoir as the water rises. There do not appear
to be any potentially unstable slopes which would result in land-
slides in the reservoir area, but care will be taken to minimize any
erosion in the cleared zone before the reservoir is filled.
Within the reservoir area will be located the proposed bor-
row areas for the aggregates to be used in concrete batching, the
coffer dams utilized during construction of the arch dam and the
general construction roads that will be required for the Project.
These above mentioned items, except for one portion of construction
road, will all be inundated upon filling of the reservoir and will
not create any visual impact in the project area. A portion of the
construction road that leads from the contractor's work area to the
upstream toe of the dam will be visible due to normal reservoir fluc-
tuations.
2
~f"--------------""""""""·~ ,
b. Dam
The dam will be a double-curvature, concrete arch struc-
ture located about 80 feet downstream from the mouth of the existing
Green Lake. The dam will have a maximum height of 230-feet above
the estimated bottom of the foundation excavation and a crest length
of 460 feet at EI 400.0. In the vicinity of the dam there are several
project features which will have a visual impact upon the area. The
dam itself will be a permanent feature of the landscape but due to
its location it should not create an adverse visual impact. The
type of structure will offer a low profile when viewed from the reser-
voir side and the difficult terrain and topography will generally
preclude any viewing from the downstream side.
The contractor's work area, to be located on the north abut-
ment, will be utilized heavily during construction. This area, ex-
cept that required for project operation, will be regraded, contoured,
and seeded upon completion of construction.
c. Power Conduit
The power conduit will be a l,gOO-foot long, entirely un-
derground structure and will have no adverse visual effect on the
area. This mitigating effect is a consequence of normal engineer-
ing consideration and will require no additional funds for aesthe-
tics.
d. Powerhouse
The powerhouse will be an indoor-type surface installa-
tion, located on Silver Bay about 350-feet north of the mouth of
the Vodopad River. Due to its location and size, the powerhouse
3
p~;------------------............. ~
rill be visible to boat traffic in the southern end of Silver Bay.
~he most apparent view of the structure will be the front elevation
)ehind which the substation will be housed. This elevation will be
~reated architecturally in a manner so as to blend with, to the ex-
~ent possible, the surrounding environment. The forest cover will
)e maintained as close to the powerhouse as possible from an opera-
;ion and maintenance standpoint and still provide masking to the
3tructure.
e. Access Road
The access road will be a single-lane, minimum standard
~oad of 7.4 miles in length and will extend along the northeast
shore of Silver Bay from Herring Cove to the project site. The
~oad will consist of both half and full bench cut sections. Due
to the required location and steep topography along Silver Bay,
portions of the access road and the uphill cut slopes will be vis-
ible to boat traffic. The natural masking of the forest cover will
be maintained as much as possible and where necessary and practi-
cal, re-seeding of low growth forest cover will take place. On
the full bench cut sections, most of the rock material will be
wasted into Silver Bay where it will create no visual impact and
be readily assimilated into the environment (see Exhibit W, Section
3). In order to maintain natural scenic and environmental aspects
along the road alignment, all natural drainages will be maintained
either by culverts or bridges as appropriate. Bridges will be util-
ized over anadromous fish streams (Bear Cove drainage) and will be
of log stringer type construction. This type of bridge will serve
two purposes. It will be more economical to construct and it will
provide a bridge more naturally pleasing to the forest scene.
In general the access road will be maintained as required
to allow for access for operation and maintenance of the dam,
powerhouse and transmission line while unauthorized vehicular traffic
will not be permitted.
4
,
f. Transmission Line
The transmission line utilized will be 69-kV on single
wood poles with a wishbone crossarm configuration. The selected
line arrangement (see Exhibit J) will closely parallel the access
road alignment and portions of the existing Sawmill Creek riighway
to a terminus at the substation of the Blue Lake Project. While
the single pole arrangement is typical for this voltage, it will
have the added benefit of blending more readily into the forest
scenery. The Commission's "Guidelines for the Protection of datural,
Historic, Scenic, and Recreational Values in the Design and Loca-
tion of Rights-of-Way and Transmission Facilities" have been util-
ized where they are applicable to the project environment. The
use of transmission line and access road on the same right-of-way
will minimize excess clearing and maintain as much of the existing
tree cover as practical. Clearing for the transmission line will
be carried out in a similar manner as was done for the access road,
with the marketable timber being sold and the slash being disposed
of in an environmentally acceptable manner. Operation of the Proj-
ect will require periodic maintenance of the transmission line in
the removal of what is termed "danger trees". Since the transmis-
sion line will generally be located on the downhill side of the
access road alignment, this type of maintenance is expected to be
minimal. The paralleling alignments of the transmission line and
access road will provide dual primary use of the single right-of-
way. The use of the access road as a hiking trail will be the
only secondary usage of the right-of-way.
Since there are no existing transmission line right-of-
ways in the project area it was required that route selection be
based on economic, reliability and environmental considerations.
The selected line route utilizing the transmission line and access
5
.. ------------------..... ~
road along the same right-of-way has been described above. This
arrangement was chosen because it offers highest reliability at a
lower capital cost. It is expected that this arrangement will have
some visual impact along Silver Bay. These impacts will be miti-
gated as much as possible by natural or re-seeded forest cover. The
selected transmission alternative will tie into the existing Blue
Lake transmission line at the substation near the Blue Lake Power-
house. This existing Blue Lake transmission line will be upgraded
from this point into Sitka but is not considered part of this Appli-
cation.
The second transmission line arrangement considered was
an overland transmission line with no access road. This arrange-
ment, while in the same general area as the previous one, would in-
volve some line locations at higher elevations along Silver Bay.
This scheme was ruled out from a reliability and economic stand-
point. The reliability suffers from the difficulty of access dur-
ing severe weather (most outages would occur during these periods).
Elimination of the access road has a very significant effect on
construction of the major project features. All construction ac-
cess would have to be by water and a port facility would have to
be developed to facilitate unloading equipment, materials and
labor.
Although the costs of access road construction would be
saved, ultimately higher project costs are accrued due to the more
expensive construction camp or ferrying system that must be used
to bring material and personnel to the project site. The trans-
mission line for this alternative would be more visible than the
selected arrangement because of the higher location along the
mountain side.
6
•
~" .. --------------.................... ~
The third alternative considered would utilize an under-
water transmission cable laid on the bottom of Silver Bay. The al-
ternative of continuing the underwater line on into Sitka was ruled
out because it would cross the shipping lane to the ALP mill which
would expose it to the additional hazard of ship and barge anchors.
For reliability, it would be necessary for the underwater transmis-
sion line to have two separate Circuits, each conSisting of a three-
conductor armoured copper cable laid in parallel, directly on the
bottom an average distance of 250-feet apart with a minimum of 50-
feet apart where necessary. Elimination of the access road has the
same effect on the cost of construction of the major project fea-
tures of this alternative as the previous alternative.
This alternative has the same disadvantage for maintenance
of the dam and power plant in the event of an outage as does the
previous alternative. In addition, this alternative has a greater
disadvantage in that maintenance of underwater transmission lines
is very expensive and requires a long period to accomplish repair
work. It is estimated that at mid-1977 cost level, a single re-
pair of one of the cables would cost $250,000 and would take ap-
proximately 30 days to complete under the best conditions of
availability of equipment and labor. A specialized cable laying
boat and equipment are required which must be brought in and dif-
ficulties are frequently encountered in locating the cable on the
bottom and hauling it to the surface for repair.
Although the visual impact of this alternative would be
less along Silver Bay, this alternative was judged unfeasible for
the above-stated reasons.
7
3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY
An archaeological study has been completed for the proj-
ect area by Dr. Robert E. Ackerman, of the Arctic Research Section,
Laboratory of Anthropology, Washington State University. Tnis re-
port can be found in Appendix W-ll. The study concludes that tnere
is no evidence of any significant archaeological sites found in the
area. Further, there are no listed natural or historic sites located
in the project area that would be affected by tne proposed hydroelec-
tric development.
In the event that any previously unidentified archaeologi-
cal sites are encountered during construction, the appropriate author-
ities will be notified and their guidance sought concerning the sig-
nificance of the site and the removal of data.
rr --------------........... . , ,
Appendix W - 9
Preliminary Geologic Investigation
by
Converse Davis Dixon Associates, Inc.
PRELIMINARY GEOLOGIC INVESTIGATION
PROPOSED
GREEN LAKE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
SITKA, ALASKA
Conducted For
R. W. BECK AND ASSOCIATES
Analytical and Consulting Engineers
200 Tower Building
Seattle, Washington 98101
In Cooperation With The
CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA, ALASKA
Our Project No. W -74-315-AH
NoveITlber 19, 1974
~,------------------.......... ~
November 19, 1974
R. W. Beck and Associates
ZOO Tower Building
Seattle, Washington 98101
Attention:
Gentlemen:
Mr. James V. Williamson
Supervising Executive Engineer
Enclosed is our Preliminary Geologic Investigation report of the Pro-
posed Green Lake Hydroelectric Project, near Sitka, Alaska (Your
Project No. WW-l5Zl-HGZ-MX).
The data presented herein was obtained by geologic mapping from
October 30 through November 3, 1974, supplemented by photogeologic
interpretations and literature research. Based on this investigation,
the site appears suitable for the proposed darn and appurtenant works;
no major geologic defects were observed. Subsurface exploration and
testing will be required to develop design criteria.
We will be happy to discuss the enclosed report with you at your con-
venience.
Very truly yours,
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
By __ /.:....(,l.:::-~=--i/,...:7<_~_u--'-f..Lq_?_~L'/09-~"""'-0"---t;_/_1-P'_ ... :~. ?~""/~ ___ _
Howard A.spellman, J?:
HAS:ttn
Encl:
Principal Geologist
~, .. --------------................... ~
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
INTRODUCTION 2
GEOGRAPHY 5
REGIONAL GEOLOG Y 6
DAMSITE GEOLOGY 7
POWERHOUSE GEOLOGY 10
POWER CONDUIT GEOLOGY 12
GREEN LAKE RESERVOIR GEOLOGY 13
ACCESS ROAD GEOLOGY 14
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS 15
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS 16
EARTHQUAKE HISTORY 16
SEISMICITY 20
RECOMMENDED EXPLORATION PROGRAM 29
REFERENCES 35
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC
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Figure 1,
Figure 2,
Figure 3,
Figure 4,
Figure 5,
Figure 6,
Figure 7,
Figure 8,
TABLE OF CONTENTS, Continued
FIGURES
Location Map
Geologic Section -Dam Axis
Major Gulf of Alaska Faults
Major Faults Near Sitka
Earthquake Epicenter Map Near Sitka
Seismic Probability, Corps of Engineers 1965
Seismic Zone Map, U. B. C., 1970
100-Year Probability Acceleration Map
TABLES
Table 1, Available Vertical Aerial Photos
Table 2, Felt Earthquakes 1832-1973 Near Sitka
PLATES
Plate 1, Regional Geologic Map (1" = 2000')
Plate 2, Powersite Geologic Map (1" = 400')
Plate 3, Damsite Geologic Map (1" = 50' )
Plate 4, Silver Bay Shore Soundings (1" = 400')
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
3
9
17
18
21
25
27
28
4
23
,-. ------------------........... ~
-1-
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The Green Lake Hydroelectric site is underlain by very hard, mas-
sive, fresh, graywacke bedrock. Through-going lineaments trending
northwest and northeast, at very steep angles, are present at the site.
No faults, shears or crushed zones were observed. No clay was detected
on fracture surfaces. Surficial materials are not very thick at the damsite.
The topography is rugged and more detailed contours will be required to
show the vertical step-like bluffs which are not reflected in presently avail-
able maps. The site of the arch dam is an excellent choice and no major
geologic defects were observed.
A powerhouse and power conduit can be constructed in either bank
of the Vodopad River, but the right (north) side appears superior with a
tunnel arrangement. The rock is adequate for an unlined tunnel if this
type proves to be economic and desirable. A cofferdam may be required
at the powerhouse site.
The reservoir does not appear to pose leakage problems, but per-
ipheral slope stability must be studied further. Aggregate materials may
have to be transported from other source areas or manufactured if further
studies of alluvial sources reveal unsuitable quantity or quality.
The site is in an active tectonic area. Earthquakes of M7. 6, at
Sitka, with attendant peak accelerations to 50 to 100 percent gravity, might
be expectable in any 100-year period. Access for the recommended explora-
tion program will be by boat and air if a pionee r road is not constructed.
Costs of exploration will be commensurate with accessibility and avail-
ability of supplies.
CONVERSE. DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES. INC.
t_
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INTRODUCTION
This report presents the results of our preliminary geologic investi_
gation of the proposed Green Lake Hydroelectric Project near Sitka,
Alaska shown on the following page (Figure 1). The purpose of this in-
vestigation was to evaluate the geologic feasibility of constructing a 215_
foot high concrete arch dam, power conduit, surface powerhouse, and
other appurtenant works at the site. The tentative power scheme is pre-
sented on Plates 2 and 3. The scope of work included ten days of field
work and eleven days of office work which included literature research,
photogeologic interpretation, map compilation and report writing.
Mr. James V. Williamson, Supervising Executive Engineer, of
R. W. Beck and Associates directed the study and Mr. Jon Delony of the
same office assisted in the field work. Guidance and logistic support was
provided by Messrs. Rocky Guitterez, Jim Dwyer, Larry Stratton and John
Nelson of the City and Borough of Sitka.
A 30-foot power boat, with radio communcation and sleeping quarters,
was rented and anchored at the head of Silver Bay for use as a "base camp".
Mr. Dorman McGraw's I2-foot outboard motor boat provided transportation
from "base camp" to shore and was also utilized for off-shore soundings
and shoreline geology. Broad-scale geologic mapping of lineaments, land-
slides, talus, allUvium and bedrock outcrops was performed by helicopter
and ground observations.
Various scaled contour maps were used for geologic mapping, i. e. ,
1" = 2000', I" = 400' and 1" = 50' (USGS Planetable, 1967). H. G.
Chickering's aerial photographs, flown for Alaska Lumber and Pulp, May
1957 (scale I" = 1000') were stereoscopically examined for geologic input.
Potential sources of other aerial photographs near Sitka are listed on page
4 (Table 1).
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
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1 •• ; ...................................... ~
I
r;:?
BARANOF ISLAND -~...,.,
PROPOSED GREEN
LAKE PROJECT
VOOOPAO
RIVER
LOCATION MAP
GREEN LAKE HYDROELECTRIC, PROJECT
SITKA,ALASKA
for
R.W. BECK AND ASSOCIA TES
-""i
FIGURE
1
DATE; NOY.19, 1974 SCALE: (=5 MI ~~~~~~~W-74-315-AH
_________________________ ~C~O~N~V~E~R~S~E~D~A~V~I~S~A~N~D~A~S~S~O~C~I~A~T~ES~I~~·C~,.~~
i
, .------------------............ ~
-4-
TABLE 1
POTENTIAL SOURCES OF VERTICAL AIRPHOTOS
OF THE SITKA AREA FROM YEHLE (974)
Organizations Areal Date Designation Responsible For Coverage Scale Flown of Photos PhotograEhy
Entire area 1 :40,000 Aug. 1948 SEA 124, U.S. Navy and U. S.
SEA 128, Geological Survey,
SEA 140. Washington, D. C.
Do 1:11,000 May 1957 ALP 7 H. G. Chicke ring and
Alaska Lumber and
Pulp Co., Sitka,
Alaska
City of Sitka and 1:4,800 Aug. 1959 1-2 Sitka, Photronix Inc., and
part of Japonski Alaska U.S. Army Co rps
Island Harbor Engineers,
Lines. Anchorage, Alaska
Do 1: 12,000 July 1965 Sitka 196 5 U.S. Bureau of Land
Management
Anchorage, Alaska
Unknown 1:30,000 May 1967 67L U.S. National Ocean
Survey
Do 1:30,000 June 1971 71E U.S. National Ocean
Survey
Do 1:10,000 July 1972 72E(C) U.S. National Ocean
Survey
Do 1:9,600 May 1968 Sitka Alaska Department
of Highways
Do 1:7,200 1971 Sitka Alaska Department
of Highways
Sitka & N. 1: 15,840 1969 EMC 13 U. S. Dept. of Agri-
Portion EMC 14 culture, Forest
Silver Bay Service
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC
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No known site geologic investigation has been made prior to this one.
Some broad-scale geology, performed by the U. S. Geological Survey, pro-
vided regional background information; especially Loney, 1964 (I8):' and
Yehle, 1974(40). Other pertinent geologic literature for Sitka and vicinity,
is presented in the attached Reference list.
GEOGRAPHY
The Green Lake Hydroelectric Project is on the west side of Baranof
Island in southeastern Alaska. The site is 12 miles east of Sitka at the head
of Silver Bay. The topography is precipitous, rising approximately 4,000
feet within 1-1/2 miles of the shoreline. The steep-walled fiord at Silver
Bay cuts sharply into Baranof Island. Several valley glaciers and small
icefields have streams draining into Silver Bay and Green Lake. Silver
Bay is cut as much as 600 feet below the general level of the floor of Sitka
Sound(34, 35, 36)
Sitka's mean temperature in January, the coldest month, is 32. 3 0 F
and the mean temperature in August, the warmest month, is 55. 5 0 F.
Annual precipitation a~ages 96.57 inches(37). Unofficial information indi-
cates nearly 28 inches of rain fell in Sitka in October 1974, breaking all
previous October rainfall records (October mean is about 11 inches). Snow
cover is generally gone by June at lower elevations and by August at higher
elevations.
Vegetation from shoreline to timberline (2,250 feet) consists of
thick stands of coniferous pine trees and dense shrubs. Gentler slopes,
saddles and valleys support spongy muskeg and moss.
Daily tidal range near Sitka averages 9.9 feet. U. S. Coast and
Geodetic tidal records, tabulated on the following page, are relative to
mean lower low water:
':'Numbers in parenthesis (18) correspond to those in the attached
Reference list.
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC
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-6-
Highest tide obse rved (Novembe r 2., 1948)
Mean higher high water
Mean high water
Half tide level
Mean low wate r
Lowest tide observed (January 16, 1957)
Feet
14. ()
9.9
9. 1
5. 3
1.4
-3. 8
The population of Sitka and vicinity is about 7, 000(39). A paved road
has been constructed up Silver Bay to the Alaska Lumber and Pulp mill at
Sawmill Creek (See Plate I). This IS approximately 8 miles short of the
Green Lake Hydroelectric Project. Present access to the site is by boat.
air or foot.
REGIONAL GEOLOGY
Sitka probably was covered by glacier ice several times in the
Pleistocene Epoch. The last interval may have been 2.,750 feet thick, and
most ice probably disappeared before la, 000 years ago. Landforms left
after retreat of the last ice, includes elevated terrace deposits, rounded
knobs of bedrock, U-shaped valleys (Green Lake) and steep-walled fiords
(Silver Bay); the latter has been eroded hundreds of feet deeper than
accompanying water surfaces.
The core of Baranof Island consists largely of Jurassic and Cre-
taceous granitic rocks, chiefly quartz diorite, intruded parallel to the
metamorphosed stratified rocks on the east and west sides of the Island.
The northeast and southeast sides of Baranof Island are bounded by two
great northwest-trending lineaments that are major faults. These are the
Chatham Strait and Peril Strait lineaments; developed along zones of in-
tense crushing that are as much as one mile wide(39). The Chatham Strait
lineament is an extension of the "Denali lineament, a great arcuate fault
that extends for 1,600 miles from Lynn Canal to Bristol Bav,,(2.9).
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES. 1""(
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-7-
Regional geologic conditions from Sawmill Creek easterly to the
Vodopad River are presented on Plate 1. Bedrock consists chiefly of gray
to dark gray graywacke of fine-to medimn-grain. It is interbedded with
subordinate amounts of very fine-grained phyllite and argillite. Foliation
strikes northwest and is nearly vertical. Through_ going joints trend north-
east and are also nearly vertical.
The Chichagof-Sitka fault trends northwest, up Silver Bay, passing
3,000 feet northeast of the proposed damsite. An unnamed subordinate
fault splays southeast from the Chichagof-Sitka fault near Bear Cove and
its trace passes 3,000 feet southwest of the damsite. Neither fault was ob-
served on the ground in the field due, in part, to the limited nature of the
reconnaissance and, in part, to concealment beneath muskeg deposits. How-
ever, photogeologic interpretation, combined with a helicopter overview,
strongly suggest these lineaments are fault-related. The integrity and
soundness of the damsite bedrock, lying between these two faults, has not
been impaired by these faults.
Plate I also delineates major surficial deposits. These include
alluvimn, which may be a potential source of construction materials; land-
slide and talus deposits are shown for consideration in the proposed power
project and proposed access road alignment to the project site.
Bedrock and surficial deposits between Bear Cove and Green Lake
are shown on Plate 2, in greater detail than Plate I, for use in evaluating
the darn and appurtenant works; e. g., powerhouse, power conduit, reser-
voir and road construction.
DAMSITE GEOLOGY
The proposed damsite is at the outlet of Green Lake. The lake, fed
by the Vodopad River, is at approximately elevation 230 feet. From the
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
~--------------------~
-8-
lake outlet, water cascades through a narrow steep-walled canyon to tidal
waters at the head of Silver Bay; a drop of 230 feet in a distance of about
1,500 feet. The average width of the c reek bed is 40 feet and vertical drops
of 20 to 30 feet are corrunonplace. Although riverbed conditions in the water
cascades are not known, the swiftness of the water strongly suggests sur-
ficial material (gravels and weathered bedrocks) have been swept clean.
This must be confirmed by boring in the riverbed. Several small, 50 to
100 foot high, "hanging" tributaries were observed in bluffs between the
Green Lake outlet and the head of Silver Bay.
The damsite (Plate 3) is underlain by very hard, competent gray-
wacke bedrock interbedded with subordinate phyllite and argillite. The
graywacke is massive and breaks with a hackly fracture. The foliation
is ill-preserved, but where observed it consists chiefly of hard, brittle,
tight northwest trending phyllite -argillite plates, spaced 3 inches to 50
feet apart, averaging perhaps 20 feet apart. The northeast trending joints
are also tight at the surface and are spaced 3 inches to 40 feet apart aver-
aging 4 feet or more apart. Although the foliation and joint surfaces are
tight, they are less resistant to erosion than the graywacke, consequently
the northwest and northeast trending lineaments are pronounced. Explora-
tion will be required to provide information needed to evaluate rock
quality and the tightnes s of lineaments at depth. The location of proposed
diamond drill holes are shown on Plate 3, and, in the Geologic Section at
the dam axis on the following page (Figure 2).
No evidence of gouge or shear movement was observed on foliation
or joint surfaces. The graywacke is not schistose and all lineaments appear
to be very tight. The da:msite bedrock is classified as fresh. Weathering
is limited to :minor iron stains, perhaps extending 5 to 10 feet vertically
into the rock due to tree root growth and freeze-thaw effects near the
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC
.-
450
/ .z=!. ~ 450
PROPOSED DAM CREST EI. 420 .......... ...... " .
£ i\ ",
400
\ v:7'
, 400
I
\
\ 350 350
\ \\ \ .... ~ \
RIGHT ABUTMENT '" LEFT ABUTMENT \ '" _DH-2 ...
300 z 30 1\ V/ -
z \\oH :~ 0 GRAYWACKE ~ GRAYWACKE -....
" ! >
'" 250 ~EI.~;I)</ 250 ..j \ '" 600
\ I'~~' 1'°.' ISO' LEGEND
400 Y V \~jl .\1 \ \ DH-2 I Proposed drill hole and
200 1/ \~ !:~' "-150' .1 depth to be drilled -Phose I
Power I -Fal io lion --
/ /"" Joint
15 NOTE :
150' ~DH-3 i~o' I. OH-Orilled to determine if the
potential condition shown uists
and to determine t he extent ot thE:
co ndition if it should exist .
I .~ 50' 0 50'
1111111 II II I
Scale
15'0' R.W.BECKandASSOC I ATES
Analyllcol ond Con.ullln!! En!lln .. "
Sullle,WolhlnOlon Oen'ler,Colorodo
/C :0 200 300 400 500 CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA
ALASKA
DISTANCE IN FEET
Elevations based on Mean Seo Level (MSL) datum . GREEN LAKE HYDROELECTRIC
PROJECT
SECTION A-A Prepared By iGEOLOGIC SECTION -DAM AXIS CONVERSE, DAVIS and ASSOCIATES (SEE PLATE3) DATI:: ,ID"A"'";J"P""ovf~:l m.: 2 Consulting Engineers and Geologists NOV 1'374 G. LF. H.A.5.
I
L
------------.......... .
-10-
surface. Weathering does not detract from the integrity of the damsite
foundation, except on steep bedrock slopes which exhibit some surficial
evidence of creep (tilted and bent tree trunks) due to frost heave. For pre-
liminary cost purposes for the proposed arch dam, foundation excavation
should not exceed 20 feet, measured normal to the slope.
The existing contour maps at the damsite do not reflect the step-like
vertical faces which rise 40 to 50 feet on both abutments. The abutments
appear to be free of landslides and thick talus accumulations. Surficial
deposits consist of soil-muskeg mixtures which support a dense stand of
pine trees. The depth of surficial material is unknown, but could range
from 0 feet on l:are rock faces to more than 15 feet on the muskeg covered
bench-like feature at elevation 350 to 450 feet on the right (north) abutment.
A spillway can be located over the center of the dam or in the abut-
ment. Bedrock conditions at either location must be evaluated in more
detail for stability and erosional tendencies.
Partial "clearings" on the right abutment (see Plate 3) afford the best
site for a helicopter landing or campsite and would require falling the least
number of trees to prepare the ground.
In surrunary, the bedrock conditions indicate this is an excellent
site for a concrete arch dam.
POWERHOUSE GEOLOGY
A powerhouse could be built on either the north or south side of the
Vodopad River waterfalls at the head of Silver Bay (see Plate 2). From a
geologic standpoint, the bedrock on the north side is slightly less fractured
and there are no rock slides near the site. From an access standpoint,
assuming the construction road is on the north shore of Silver Bay, the
north side would also be favored. Both sites pose some design and
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC
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-11-
construction problems due to:
1. ll-foot tides,
2. Near vertical rock bluffs at tide line,
3. Steep 1/2:1 to 1:1 drop-offs below tide line, e. g., as
much as 66 feet only 15 feet from the shoreline (see
Plate 4),
4. Lack of "level" construction space on the slopes above
the shoreline, and
5. Possibly some talus accumulations at scattered points
above the sites.
Excellent bedrock exposures at tide line indicate the shoreline is
underlain by sound graywacke. No faults, shears, or crushed zones were
observed. Near vertical joint and foliation surfaces are spaced 1 to 5
feet apart on the north side and 1/2 to 4 feet on the south side.
A small rock slide, with an attendant underwater toe, is present
approximately 250 feet south of the mouth of the Vodopad River (see Plate
2). The depth of water at the toe (at low tide) is 4.5 to 15 feet. Another
rock slide was observed approximately 700 feet north of the mouth of the
Vodopad River. The depth of water at the toe (at low tide) is 13 feet (see
Plate 4). Both slides occur on slopes steeper than 1: I and are apparently
related to intersecting fractures. The slides could have been triggered by
freeze-thaw or ground shaking events.
About 73 earthquakes have been felt in the Sitka area(40) suggesting
powerhouse construction should consider seismic and seiche wave design,
and, the site should not be located below slides or steep talus depo sits.
Should it be impractical to construct a cofferdam around the power-
house excavation in the tide zone, a rock wall between tide zone and the
powerhouse excavation could be considered. This simply means setting
back from the shoreline the thickness of the rock wall (possibly 25 feet)
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC
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-12-
and starting the excavation. Upon completion of work, below the tide_
effected area, the rock wall can be removed, or, outlets mined through the
rock wall.
POWER CONDUIT GEOLOGY
The power conduit could be a pressure tunnel or tunnel above ground
steel penstock combination in either abutment. Due to some very rugged
(vertical) bluffs and steep V-shaped reentrants along possible conduit align_
ments, on either abutment, it appears a route entirely in tunnel is most
preferable; especially so in the right abutment when conSidering access to
construction of the powerhouse.
The tunnel route in either abutment would be driven through rocks
similar to that described at the damsite. The major lineaments are nearly
vertical joints and foliation planes, e. g., joints that strike N20o_40oE, and,
foliation which strikes N60 0
-80o W. These will intersect at approximately
right angles along tunnel alignments. Overbreak could develop at these
intersections, or, where the tunnel line is driven parallel to closely spaced
fractures. If it is economic and desirable, it appears that the tunnel need
not be lined, except perhaps at intersections of closely spaced fractures.
The joints and foliation surfaces should be tight but could leak where the
side cover of the tunnel is minimal, such as at V-shaped reentrant gullies.
T?e tunnel should be driven upslope (eastward). A few borings, with water-
pressure tests, along the selected route (see Plate 2) should provide
definitive answers to tunnel rock and ground water conditions. Cursory
observations indicate tunnel portals can be started in sound bedrock, at
both ends.
A diversion tunnel could be driven from the power tunnel to by-pass
water around the dam during construction (see Plate 3). An impervious
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rockfill cofferdaIl1, constructed at the Il10uth of Green Lake, would direct
the Green Lake water into the diversion tunnel, allowing construction of the
daIl1 foundation "in the dry". Foundation conditions beneath the cofferdaIl1
site are not presently known and should be investigated.
GREEN LAKE RESERVOIR GEOLOGY
Most of the reservoir was not exaIl1ined in the field, and, available
aerial photography did not cover Il1uch of the area. However. SOIl1e impres-
sions obtained froIl1 a helicopter flight, literature review, and limited
aerial photo exaIl1ination are worth noting. The east end of Green Lake is
known to be at least 89 feet deep and the \\-est end 54 feet deep. SOIl1e
"shallows" (about 4 feet deep) occur 2,000 feet east of the daIl1site (see
Plate 1). This "shallow" could represent a source of fine-grained aggregate
and should be explored further, if practical.
The reservoir is underlain by graywacke which rises abruptly from
the shoreline. Because of the rugged terrain about the lake, landslides
and talus deposits occur at the base of steep slopes, including a few ava-
lanche chutes along well-defined joints and foliations. The nearest known
large talus deposit is approxiIl1ately 1,000 feet upstreaIl1 (east) of the daIl1-
site on the left (south) bank of Green Lake (see Plates 1 and 2). Stability
of this, and other deposits around the reservoir periIl1eter, could be
effected by rapid water level fluctuations and/or earthquake events and
deserve Il10re cOIl1prehensive evaluation.
The joint and foliation systeIl1 appears to be tight, similar to the
damsite rocks, thereby Il1iniIl1izing any concern for reservoir leakage.
The rate of siltation should be negligible for the life of the reservoir since
minor quantities of organic silt and rock flour are the only known sedi-
ments being contributed by tributary glaciers and streams. A dense
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stand of timber in the reservoir bottom land, as well as on the banks, will
require thorough clearing and grubbing up to maximum water line to keep
debris from collecting at trash racks, inlets and spillways. The south-
eastern trace of the Chichagof-Sitka fault trends through the center of the
Green Lake reservoir (see Plate 1) but should not be a source of leakage,
and, "the possibility of movements causing large earthquakes is concluded
to be very slight. ,,(40)
A boring should be drilled at the mouth of Green Lake, just upstream
of the dam axis, to determine the depth of sediments, bedrock profile and
establish the foundation conditions for the cofferdam (see Plate 3).
ACCESS ROAD GEOLOGY
The anticipated access road alignment along Silver Bay shoreline,
from Herring Cove to the Green Lake Hydroelectric Project will be gen-
erally close to the shoreline. The salient geologic features noted below
are based on a helicopter flight, photogeologic interpretations and shore-
line observations from a boat (see Plates I and 4):
1. Herring Cove to Bear Cove -Several landslides, potential
landslides and avalanche chutes are present and periodic
maintenance should be anticipated. Based on soundings,
it is quite possible that the landslide on the north side of
Bear Cove can be circumvented by placing fill in the tide
zone. This may be the solution at other landslides noted
along the route.
2. Bear Cove Ridge at Point Ranus -Soundings around the
periphery of this rock nose strongly suggest that under-
water slopes are steeper than 1: 1 and that there is no
"shelf" to place a rockfill road at tide line. The alterna-
tives are: (1) bench the road into near vertical cliffs;
(2) go up-and-over the nose, or (3) tunnel through 1/2
mile of the nose.
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3. Bear Cove to Head of Silver Bay - A one mile section,
inunediately south of Point Ranus, has 40 to 50-foot
vertical rock bluffs rising from the tide line; the sec-
tion southerly of this is less steep and a road can be
constructed relatively easily. No significant landslides
or unstable talus deposits were observed on this section
of road.
4. Head of Silver Bay to Powerhouse and Damsite _ The
powerhouse section will require drilling and blasting
a bench approximately 50 feet above tide line and the
road will cross gullies and one landslide. The dam-
site section will require several switchbacks and must
cross a moderately large landslide.
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
The graywacke is suitable for the quarrying and manufacture of
coarse aggregate for concrete, rock fill and riprap(40). In decreasing
order of abundance, quartz, quartzite, plagioclase, chert and rock frag-
ments are present in the graywacke. Bedrock in the damsite area
appears to be siliceous and should break into angular fragments. Coarse
aggregate is also available from talus deposits and dredging large subround
to subangular cobbles in alluvial deposits.
Local sources of fine aggregate for cone rete, requiring further
investigation, could be alluvial cobbles, gravel and possibly sand deposits
at the following locations:
1. At the mouth of an unnamed stream approximately
mile west of the damsite in Silver Bay (see Plates I and 2),
2. At the head of Bear Cove approximately 2. 5 miles north
of the damsite (see Plate I),
3. At the head of Green Lake approximately 2 miles east
of the damsite (see Plate 1), and
4. Possibly the "shallows" about 2,000 feet east of the
damsite (see Plate 1).
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These potential sources should be investigated as thoroughly as possible,
for if suitable, could provide substantial economy.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
Listed below are physical properties of graywacke at Sitka, as
determined by the Alaska Department of Highways, from samples obtained
from the quarry about 600 feet east of Indian River and from preconstruction
core drilling for the bridge from Sitka to Japonski Island (40):
1. "':.Jard and durable.
2. Good resistance to chemical and physical weathering.
3. Specific gravity 2.74.
4. Unconfined compressive strength averages 11,600
pounds per square inch (psi) ranging from 7,745 to
18,825 psi based on cores from the Sitka bridge.
5. Has good drilling and blasting properties(9).
6. Used as riprap for the Crescent Bay small-boat
harbor breakwater and the Sitka Airport runway.
Physical properties of muskeg (peat) as reported by Yehle are:
1. In-place shear strength values at depth 6 feet = 100
to 400 pounds per square foot.
2. Estimated average shear wave velocity = 130 feet
per second.
3. Moisture contents range
weight of solid matter.
120 to 860 percent of dry
4. Highly compressible.
EARTHQUAKE HISTORy(40)
Southeastern Alaska is part of an active tectonic belt that rims the
Pacific Ocean. Some of the major active faults are shown on the following
pages (Figures 3 and 4). Movement along faults in the Fairweather-Queen
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
,-------------.......... .
-17-
-----------
F~ul:'
De ched '·'here in:'e"red
Den~li ~~~lt ~y~te~
Tot~chu~da f~ult "~=te~
C}-:'..l;-;~c:-'_ ".:t. ::lia:-f~ul t
Fair'e3.':.her f~ult
~ueer. C'," rIot te I ~ lend s
fault
® Ecicer.ter of ~,in ~~ocz,
1964 Ale-ka e1.rt\...~u'::e
G v L F 0 F' AL ASKA
'PACIFIt! CCEAN
O .. t_ ... · .... er ....... ...;!I.,..,.OO ,.., I L£S
• '.0 •••• ~ KM
Figure E.--Lljor elernento of the Jemli ar>d P'"ir eat~er-::>Ueen Chnrlottc I~hnd, :'ault ,y~tc~" Ab-k:J. and adj,:cent C:o.n3.d:o.. ~:cdi:'ied !'roo :'!"~r.tc
(10(6\, ':'ob'n :!!1d :-",~:cs US:'-E), ?lo[",:er (lee9; 1971), ::ic:-:':.er ar.d :::J.t,on
(1971', :Oer:-, JO!1c:o, 'Jnd ":ci1ter (1972;, ?'cr:-end ?laf".<:er (lCJ:\, 3.r.d Pa~e and :Ja"thro? (leT \.
REFERENCE: USGS Open-File Report 74-53 (1974)
FIGURE 3
------------....... ,,,,0
-18-
"O-__ -L. _____ ..,\,~~~~~~
o '0 '00 L I I
o '0 '00 L , I
EXPLANATION
Well-defined -----
Inferred
Fault or other lineament
..... • •• .6. ....... ?-'-
Thrust fault
Dashed where inferred;
sawteeth on upper plate
CD Queen Charlotte Islands
® Fairweather fault
@ Chilkoot Inlet faul t
@) Chilkat River fault
® Shakwak Valley fault
@ Chatham Strait fault
(!). Lynn Canal f aul t
@ Totschunda fault system
® Chugach-St. Elias fault ~ Chichagof-Sitka fault ~ Peril Strait fpult
fault
Figure 9. --Map of southeas tf:' rn Al aska and adj acent Canada shok'i ng maj or faul t s
and selectf:'d other linf:'am€'nts interprf:'t('~ to be probablf:' or po;;slhle fault~,
shear zones, or jOints. Ta~en from St. Amand (1957), Twenhofel and Sainsbury
(1958), Gabriels e and Whe(']er (1%1). Rrew, Loney, and Muffler (1966), Tobin
and SY~es (1%8). Canada beological Survey (1969a, bJ, King (1%9), Plafker
(1969,19711, Souther (1970), Richter and Matson (1971), and Berg, Jone;;, and
Richter (197:'), I>ith additions and modifications by the writer.
FIGURE 4
Rt--------------------.......... ·~
11'-
-19-
Charlotte Islands fault system is thought to be similar to movement along
the San Andreas fault system in California and is part of the Pacific plate.
Theoretical calculations indicate that motion may average 2-1/4 inches per
year. The total relative right-lateral horizontal slip along the Fairweather
fault may be as much as 150 miles. After the M8. 0 earthquake of July 10,
1958, 21. 5 feet of right-lateral movement was measured at one place along
the onland segment of the fault(32). An area of active thrust faulting at
depth is indicated by the M6. 7 July 1, 1973 earthquake about 35 miles off-
shore from the northwestern part of Chichagof Island (10) This fault pro-
bably merges with the Fairweather fault.
Several major faults cross Chichagof and Baranof Islands in a
northwest direction following linear valleys and fiords (Figure 4). No
historic movement along any of the faults on Chichagof and Baranof Islands
has been reported. Among the major faults are the Peril Strait and
Chichagof-Sitka faults.
Peril Strait Fault
The right-lateral Peril Strait fault is a concealed feature about 110
miles long which appears to join the Fairweather fault with the Chatham
Strait fault. Movement has been dominantly right-lateral in direction(4).
Major movements probably took place sometime after the Miocene; minor
movements may have continued into the Holocene time.
Chichagof_ Sitka Fault
The Chichagof-Sitka fault zone traverses Silver I3ay and Green Lake.
About 3 miles of right-lateral offset is evident near its southeast end. The
exposed part of the fault zone forms a conspicuous linear depression of
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n.--------------------............ ~
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sheared bedrock that may be as much as 1/2 mile wide. The possibility
of movements causing large earthquakes along the Chichagof-Sitka fault
is concluded to be very slight according to Yehle(40). More detailed studies
for the Green Lake Project will be required to confirm this opinion.
Unnamed Fault
A fault about 10 miles long trends northeastward in a valley whose
mouth is at Bear Cove in Silver Bay (see Plate 1). The valley is along the
route of a proposed highway from Sitka to Chatham Strait( 1). This fault
is the only one reported near the Green Lake Project for which estimates
of a substantial offset have been determined. Movement along the fault
caused a left-lateral offset of about 0.6 mile and probably occurred in
post-Eocene and pre-Miocene time. This fault is about 2-1/2 miles north
of the proposed damsite and should not have any significant influence on the
project.
SEISMICITy(40)
The earthquakes that have been instrumentally recorded and located
by permanent stations during the period 1899 to 1972 are shown on Figure 5.
Except in rare cases, these events are shallow (less than 18 miles).
Figure 5 indicates nine earthquakes, of M7. 0 or greater, have occurred
near the coastline of southeastern Alaska. It also shows that within 100
miles of Sitka there have been three M7+, two M6+ and six M5+ events in
historic time. Table 2 lists 73 earthquakes felt at Sitka from 1832
through 1973.
The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers seismic probability map, which
relates possible damage to earthquake magnitudes in the Sitka area, is
shown on Figure 6. The Uniform Building Code map, 1970 Edition, relating
CONVERSE, DAVIS AI\D ASsOCI ATES, INC
------------------------~ , -21-
5.·
x
x
5 •• X X X
0 50 100 150 MILES I I I
0 50 100 150 KI LOMETERS
EXPLANATI~N
• ~agni tude ~8
, Magni tude i;7 and <8
• Magni tude i;6 and < 7
• Magnitude i;5 and <6
X Magni tude <5 or not
X
X
X
~ computed; manv small
earthquakes and all
microearthquakes are
not included because
of the lack of detec-
tion
114
0
1---____ -G-----r
Location acc~racy
Optimum -10 to 15 miles
Minimum -about 70 miles
Figure 11.--(5e(' facing page for caption.)
ISLAN~S
X
REFERENCE: USGS Open-File Report
74-53 (1974)
FIGURE 5
(See next page for captiOI
~----------------------~ "
Desi til:; t ion
on J;1:ljl
A
B
C
o
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
l.f
N
o
p
Q
R
-22-
Date
(universal time)
Scptcll:bcrl, 1309
Sept c:,lbcr 1 (1, 1899
ScptcT:lber ] 0, 1 S~)9
October 9, lC):JO
~by 15, 1908
July 7, 1920
April 10, 1921
October 24, ]927
February 3, 19~4
August 3, 19~5
February 28, 1948
August 22, 1949
October 31, 1949
1·larch 9, 1952
November 17, 1956
July 10, 1958
July 30, 1972
July 1, 1973
~lagni tlld~'
8.2-8.3
7.8
8.5-8.6
8.3
7
6
6.5
7.1
6 1/2
6 1/4
6 1/2
8.1
6 1/4
6
6 1/2
7.9-8.0
7.1-7.6
6.7
Figure 11.--Nap shohi~~ locations of epicenters and approximate
magnitude of earth8.:1~1:es in southeastern Alaska and adjacent areas,
1899-1972, and July 1, 1973. Data from Canada Dept. Energy, ~lines
and Resources, Seis~Jlogical Service (1953, 1955, 1956, 1961-1963,
1966, 1969-1973), l:;;':is and Echols (1962), Internat. Seisr.101ogical
Centre (1967-197:2), Qilnc (1963), Tobin and Sykes (1968), U.S,
Coast and Geodetic S~rvey (1930-1970, 1964-1970, 1969), ~ooJ (1966),
U.S. Natl. Oceanic ::-,J Atmospheric Adm. (1971, 1972, 1973a, b),
Lander (1973), and Llge and Gawthrop (1973; written commun., 1973).
REFERENCE: USGS Open-File Report 74-53 (1974)
FIGURE 5 -CAPTION
r-------------......... . -23_
TABLE 2
l'arri'!.l~i.2!..~~'!:!I"l,':'h:·~E~".'-<..i'_I)'~·~'~,'.I,~~.
~L!..!~r~).!.!li!~}_'I~:~.:llIl) I, 1~"'3
Oate l
Dec. 1832
Dec. IS, 18H
Dec. 16, 1843
Apr. 6, 1847
Apr. 21, 1861
Oct. 26, 1880
Oct. 27. 1880
Oct. 29, 1880
Nov. 13, 1880
Nov. 14, 1880
Sept. 4, 1899
Sep" 10, 1899
Sept. 23, 1899
Oct. 9, 1900
Connent 2
Quite.: stl"Orlg----___________ _
T\~o light .hocks----_______ _
Strong ShuCk. ~ sec. lung.
and a (c<,,"le shol:k.
Very severe; sevcn shocks;
ground crack.. "Lincoln St."
ShJ 1..1 I":l! - - - -________________ _
Severe shock IS sec .• ground-
5urfa..:c waves. three later
Slight shocks (sec descrip-
tion, table f.).
Five slight to sharp shocks-
Five shocks----____________ _
Shock---___________________ _
Two shocks, first 6 sec.
long.
Fel t?-----_________________ _
Vcry slight shock---_______ _
Felt? (Posslbly felt,
according to Tarr and
Il.>rtin, 1912.) Felt 1----_________________ _
S~pt. 24, .19'" Very pronounced shock---___ _ Oct. S. 1907 Felt?---___________________ _
Nay IS, 1908
Feb. 16, 1909
July 11, 19Q9
Nar. 14, 1910
July 7, 19Ia
Nov. 21, 1912
Dec. IS, 1917
Nar. 18, 1919
Dec. IS, 1919
Nay 8, 1920
Apr. 25, 1923
June 22, 1923
Oct. 25, 1925
Oct. 24, 1927
Nov. 13, 1927
Nov. 21, 1927
Dec. 31, 1927
Mar. 3, 1929
Sept. I, 1929
Dec. 10, 1932
Noy 4, 1934
Nay 29, 1936
Sept. 28, 19.17
Oct. IS, 1915
Nov. 16. l~lS
Apr. 3D, 19-17
Nov. 30, 1948
Aug. 22, 1949
Oct. 31, 1949
Slight shock---____________ _
----do-----________________ _
Distinct Shock, IIf------__ _ Fe 1 t -----__________________ _
----do-----________________ _
Moderate shock-____________ _
HeaVIeSt shock in years-----Fe 1 t ?----__________________ _
Fl!l t ----- -_________________ _
Fe 1 t?-----_________________ _
----do-- - -_________________ _
----do-----________________ _
-. --do------_______________ _
Felt; cracks in Some
buildings.
Generally felt-----________ _ rei ,---____________________ _
- - --do---- -________________ _
Two shClcks---______________ _
Fel t - - - - -__________________ _
~clt bv a few----__________ _
Fe I ,--~ -___________________ _
----do----________________ .. _
Fel t;----__________________ _
Fe 1 t - - -____________________ _
- -.. -do----_________________ _
- - --do-----________________ _
Pe 1 t?---__ .. ________________ _
Fel,· _______________________
Felt and fel t?-- --__________
Rt"fer-
cnee 3
2,
6
6
7
7
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
8
9
8
8
3
10
10
Olst.tnr:c.
mile.;;
(and !...rl).
anJ Jj rcc-
tian to
epicenter
sho"'n on
fig. II
320 (510) NW
270 (430) NW
?
320 (510) N'II
250 (400) NW
?
?
80 (130) 5W
?
80 (130) 5W
170 (270) NW
75 (120) 5W
75 (120) 51;
55 (90) NW
75 (120) 5W
75 (120) 5111
75 (120) sw
?
210 (335) NW
75 (120) .\111
195 (310) NW
?
250 (400) SSI
75 (120) sw
REFERENCE: USGS Open-File Report 74-53 (1974)
Magni-
tuJe
'1.8.3
'\08.6
8.3
5,75
7.1
Poss ihlc
radll1s of
perc< pt i -
bi tHy.
nlllc~ (.JnJ
km) (Cut('n-
bcr~ and
Richter.
I ~5")
Dlst .. In...:C.
.i leo; (.1110
km). J Ire', _
tlOn, anJ
Pl:il'C
"c,aTeSt
Sitka at
which felt
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
----------------------------------
-----------------
-----------------
---------------------------------------------
>360 (>575) 95 (150; :'[
Juneau. >360 (>575) ________________ _
----------------------------
>360 (>575) 170 (270) .~
----------------------------
-----------35 (55) SE
near Ansoen. 240 (380) ________________ _
----------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------
-----~------._--------------
----------------------------
125 (200) 95 (150) .~E
260 (415)
120 (190)
Junca:J .
7:. (lIS) ,\j IJoondh.
55 (90) ssw
little ~'ort
W.1.1 [cr.
8.1 >360 ('575 )
6.5 IRQ ( .? ~)( ) ) ,
.nJ .nJ 132
"-6. (lIO) .
~--------------------........ -~ r -24-
TABLE 2 (Cont'd. )
";lrtl.ll II-..t of l·.,rth'L!!~I~~o",,~~,t ~itbr Ala~I13.
~~l: rhl"'f'II·:h 1f"J:':' •. IO,j .Jllll~~--i.\'"tinued
Oist.1nce, Possible
lillie, rOJdlus of I)) st:'1n..:e.
rerc.:cpt i-mlle5 (,Jnd (.Jnt.! ~1D1. klDl. III ree-
Date 1 COlBlcnt 1 Refer-anJ, dire-c-Magnl-t>lllty.
.1nd cnce l lilIes (.Jnd t Ion. tlon to tude pLlce >111 (Guren-eplcenter
ber,:: ,JOd nC.lrcst shown on Si tlla Richter, at fig. 11 IIIIhll..:h f.l t 1956)
MJr. 9. 1952 Fel t------------------------6 175 (2ROI .~~w 132 (210) -----------------Sept. 28. 1952 - - --do-- - - ------- - - ---------6 170 (270) ~w ----------------------------Oct. 28. 1955 ----do----------------------6 145 (230) NW ----------------------------Apr. 27. 1956 Fel t 1-----------------------6 . -----------50 (80) ~w
17. 1956 - ---do---- ----------------- -190 (300) SSE
ChichaKof. Nov. 6.5 180 (290) 95 ( 150) I,SE
June 1. 1957 ----do----------------------10 100 (160) W
PctcnhuTg. ----------------------------,Julie 5. 1957 ----do----------------------80 (130) N\'W ------------------------Junt 23. 1957 Fel t ------------------------6 115 (185 ) ~w '\.5.6 120 (190) -----------------Apr. 9. 1958 ----do--------- --- - - --------6 165 (265) SW --------------------.-------~lay 5. 1958 V. felt by nearly all. 6 60 (95) ~ ----------------------------numerous alarmed.
July 10. 1958 VI. V 11---------------------11. 6 100 (160) .\~IW '1.6 360 (575 ) -----------------JIlly 13. 1958 Fe 1 t ------------------------85 (135) ~w '\.5.6 120 (190) -----------------July 17. 1958 ----do----------------------6 80 (130) ~w ----------------------------July 8. 1963 - - --do---- - - - - --------------6 30 (SO) E 3.7 35 (55) -----------------~Lu. 28. 1964 11. not fel t Japonski 6 525 (840) ~'W 8.4 >360 (>575) -----------------Island.
Mar. 29. 1964 Felt. at Japonski Island----6 ----------------------------Mar. 25. 1966 Fel t------------------------6 37 (60) sw '1.4.7 80 (130) -----------------Apr. 16. 1966 Fel t?-------------- ------___ 37 (60) SW 4.1 52 (85 ) -----------------Oct. 10. 1966 ----do----------------------30 (SO) W~ ... 4.8 85 ( 135) -----------------";:>r. 12, 1967 Fe 1 t -------------------_____ 65 (105) SSW 4.4 68 (110) -------- ---------July IS. 1971 ----do-----------------__ -__ 6 210 (335) SSE 5.2 100 (160) -----------------July 30. 1972 VI-, strong; felt for 6. 12 30 (48) SW 7.1-'\.280 ('1.450) -----------------prob:lbly 40 sec. ; many 7.6
aftershocir..::;o felt.
Aug. '. 1972 11-- ---------------_________ 6. 1: 65 (105) Sl'i 5 90 (115) -----------------Aug. 4. 1972 V. prob3bly several 6. 12 60 (95) 5 5.8 125 (200) -----------------
aftershocks fel t.
Aug. 15. 1972 111--~----------------------6. 1: 5S (90) ssw 5.0T 90 (145) ---------. -------:--lov. 17. 1972 Fe 1 t -------------------_____ 6 75 (120) 5 5.0 90 ( 14S) -----------------DC'c. 8. 1972 Fe 1 t?-------------------____ 6 57 (90) 511 4.2 58 (95 ) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July I, 1973 Fe!!". ~finor damage----------6 90 (145) NW 6.7 :00 (320)
lOnes are u.t. (univer531 tlre) e"'(..:-:-pt first 10 entrIes; among these, only ('ntnes of IS3.2. 18.13, ISl8. and
le( 1 might be Jul ian C3iend.::.r (1:: Jays after Grebonan CalenJ..lr In 19th century); all other entTles usc r.regorl:ln
(pre::iC'nt-Jay) (.11end..lr.
2Felt, PublishcJ Teport of single or multiple earthquake shocks of unknown lntcn~lty .:It Sltk.l.
Felt?, Earthqll:lke po...;qhly fclt .IT :-)ltka bllt as far as c,m he Jctermlncd there IS no r('.lJtl~ .1V.lII.101e
ptlbllshcJ report of the e\'cnt's DCln~ fC'it :It Sitka. However,..ln c.lrth"iu..JJ..e did 0":":11[". "nol<on tl..'..:.IUse uf (1 \ 3
pUflilsherJ report of Jt:; heln).! f"'lt I.';::ichh~rc In tlte region, .JnJ (or) (:1 .lfi In..,tnlm('nLJl TI..'..:orJ :InJ cpl..:enter
plClt (fiJ:. 11) of tltl.' l'.lrt!ll!'I',t-t· ')~ ::'L'l:--~llln~l...;ts. (T.lbul.ltlllil b.lseJ ("tn (1) l".lI..i''.Js .)t" .l\·cr.ICL' Jlst..)n...:c rl'TI.;"pU-
OI:lt} of C;Jrth4uJ.kC'.:. .::IS J('~Lr~t-t',i h. Cutcnber\! (1~150. j1. l..!l) It epIcenter and fTl.lo:nlbdl.' :Ire J..no ... n, .lnd. (:) ~l'n
cr.1I naill.Hion of rl' .... llln:ll ;'::l·OIO.<:IC structure.) ,\;c ... ~papers publlshcd .It Slt~a "'ere not eXJmtned; these rrobably
Iojould provllic m.:my aJJltlUll.Il :I":I,..,.H:ntS llf carthqu31..cS.
JII. rublished report of e.lrth4u.l.l..e IntenSlty. ~1odificJ Hcrc.111i lntcnsity· scale (sec table S).
kr.1USC (I SSS) .
Tarr .md ~hrtln (1912).
1~71) .
L. l, lhl",!J..e {SitJ..:1 lIi..;toTlC.ll Soc., oral commun .• 19h5l; M. Rt'IJ (SltLl D ... 'rou;,:h Office. or.l1 COlftlDun.,
~Itlnthly W,-·.Itlll'r Rl'VII,.'W, U.S. !\.ir IIl'i.lrtm(,llt \U~Rll.
1\~i"'rL',1 III !I,~ F.111I:'Jtl.c: [All"~'J ~J,ly Nt· ....... (,Ir "('I'tcmh'r 14. l'ln7.
b U.I.\. CO.I't .11l~~ (,t;;,',ldll' ":11"\('\ ;I'l;!'-!'I'h·q; Ill'(~ \I"~":); Ippil·. (I~'(,S); lIiooJ {lflhhL U.S. '.;luona1
On·.llltl.: .lnJ fH'lI,I"';I'hl·I:\,. \d'olllll'tr.ltl'lll \1'.1").1, hi, or Linder (1~7.l).
": ~Itln\~ (19:>1' ,lr 1~1")1.
S U.S. '\I·,lfhl')· l'dl"t!~11 (1:/I"-l:I!"'>S).
~) 11.1\1 I .... 11101 I l hq 1.., I I 'l(i,! 1
10 Itlhlll .11101 ""Io.~ ... (1'l('~I; ..... \~l' ... (1~7Jl.
II 11.1\"'" .111.1 .... 11I.I.·r~ \ 1 '1(.11:
1.2 I'.l~l· ,111.1 1 .• \0.111""1' \1'17;'. "'ltt,11 .. C'·~~I"It .• 1'1 4
,).
REFERENCE: USGS Open-File Report 74-53 (1974)
I
I
I
I~O 20:;
0 ,~ 0 c )
I
USGS 0 7 4-53 (1~~~)F i I e Report
['c . .] V.S. A~y
I
I
I
I
N
U1
I
~,--------------------......... .
i-
-26-
possible damage to Modified Mercalli intensities of earthquakes in the Sitka
area, is shown on Figure 7.
A map showing probable peak accelerations (23) in the Sitka area is
presented on Figure 8. The map indicates that a peak acceleration of about
50 to 100 percent gravity (M7. 2. to 7. 6) might be expected wit hin any 100-
year period. Additional seismic and ground response information must be
compiled and evaluated for use in design of the Green Lake dam and
appurtenant works.
In the Sitka area, small landslides, including numerous rockfalls,
occurred on steep slopes during the earthquake of July 30, 1972(lf,). At
Sitka, at least 14 tsunamis and other earthquake-induced waves have been
experienced. The maximum wave, crest to trough, was 14.3 feet high,
and arrived March 27, 1964, as one of the group resulting from the
March 27, 1964 Anchorage earthquake. At Sitka, the seismic seiche
developed about 4 minutes after the initial March 27, 1964 Anchorage
earthquake, and was 1. 0 foot high; it had a duration of 3.5 minutes(20).
Probably the world's record height of wa-.re runup was 1,740 feet, triggered
by a landslide in Lituya Bay, 135 miles northeast of Sitka during the
july 10, 1958 earthquake(2l).
In the fiords near Sitka, neither distant nor nearby earthquakes in
historic time are recorded to have formed waves clearly attributable to
subaerial or subaqueous landsliding. However, waves occurred in Redoubt
(38) Lake, 12 miles southeast of Sitka during the October 26, 1880 event ,
and, in Blue Lake during the August 22, 1949 earthquake (per Mr. M. Reid,
Sitka Borough Office).
CONVERSE, DAV" AI\:D "'''OCIATES, II\:C
I ,
EXPLANATION
Zone Damage Comment
1
2
3
~Iinor
Moder-
ate
Major
Distant e:lrthquakes m:ly cause
damage to structures ~ith
fundamental periods gre:lter
than 1.0 sec; corresponds to
intensities V and VI of H\11
sc:.11 e.
Corresponds to intensity VII
of :-1.\1 1 scale.
Corresponds to intensity VIII
and higher of H\ll scale.
IModified Mercalli intensity scale (table 5).
REFERENCE: USGS Open-File
Report 74-53 (1974)
o 100 "lo00 ~ •• ""1 ... 5 h--,-.-.L-, ., " , ~T-.J
'1.00 ')uo .... " f(M
1
F~ W I~ A N 0 t= L L.
GJ V4. E " C H , K A tJ
H, ME.Tl-.AKATLA
Figure 13.--Seisn'ic zone map of Alaska. ~loJified from the 1970 cJition of the
Uniform Building Code (Internat. Conf. Building Officials, 1970).
,
N
-.J ,
.-
------------.......
~o·
o
I o
'00 :loo
"
'00
-28-
30113 MILfS
, '
EXPLAXATIO:;
--10 --
(;0·
Contour, showing peak earthquake acceleration as a percent
of gravity. See table 5 for approximate relations between
earthquake acceleration, magnitude, energy, and intensity.
A Skagl.;ay
B Haines
C Hoonah
D Si tka
E Petersburg
F II/rangell
G Ketchikan
H ~letlakat1a
Map is based upon the amount of eneigy released by the larg-
est e:lrt hquake (above magn it udc 2.5) tIl;) t occurred each year
in a unit area of 3,860 mi 2 (10,000 km 2 ) during the period
from 1898 through 1960, projected to a lOa-year interval.
Figure l<4.--0ne-hlilldl'eJ-year jlro[nbility r:1jl shOldng distribution
of peak earthqll:ILc acccler:lt ions as percents of gr;l\'j ty for
sOlltlic:lstcrn :\l:J:;~"l :lllJ p:ll't of adjacent Canada. ModifieJ from
mIne and VJ.vcnl'0rt (1%9).
REFERENCE: USGS Open-File Report 74-53 (1974)
FIGURE 8
..-
r~: ------------------------.......... .
-29-
RECOMMENDED EXPLORATION PROGRAM
A subsurface investigation, supplemented by detailed geologic map-
ping, should be implemented in order to confirm, or nlOdify, the conclusions
of this preliminary geologic study. Since the subsurface and surface map-
ping compliment each other, they should be done concurrently. The
investigation should be performed in two phases:
Phase I
Phase II
Preliminary Design Information; during the
feasibility investigations, before the Silver
Bay access road is constructed.
Final Design Information; preferably after the
Silver Bay access road is constructed.
The purpose of this approach is to reduce investigative costs.
Phase I should consist of a "minimal" subsurface exploration program, to
develop preliminary design data essential to determining feasibility of the
project, at a time when access to the site is difficult. Phase II would
be an "expanded" subsurface investigation, adequate to provide final
design parameters, at a time access is improved and logistical problems
are more favorable. From a weather standpoint, July to November,
1975 appears best for exploration.
The scope of work for developing Phase I preliminary design infor-
mation should include (1) core borings at the damsite, (2) exploratory
trenches or borings for construction materials (col,crete aggregate), (3)
geophysical surveys, (4) additional geologic mappil g and (5) additional
research on faults and earthquakes. These items are described in more
detail on the following page s.
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSOGATFS. INC
..-
~----------------------......... ,
-30-
1. NX-Sized Core Borings at the Damsite -fur visual classification,
seismic refraction and laboratory tests of the dam and appurten-
ant structures as tabulated below:
Drill Hole
No.
DH-l
DH-2
DH-3
DH-4
(angle 400 )
DH-5
DH-6
Total
Depth
l!!.:..L
150
150
150
150
150
100
Footage 850
Approx.
Location
R. Abut.
R. Abut. &
Tunnel
Vodopad
River
L. Abut.
Mouth Green
Lake
Powerhouse &
Tunnel
Approx.
Elevation
(ft. )
370
290
230
250
230
80
Purpose of Hole
Dam foundation & seis-
mic refraction
Dam foundation, tunnel
conditions &: seismic
refraction
Riverbed conditions 8;
seismic refraction
Dam foundation conditions
Coffe rdam foundation
conditions
Excavation conditions
& seismic refraction
CONVERSE, DAVIS Al\:[) A5,OClATES, INC
, ----------........
-3 1-
2. Ex loratory Trenches or Borin s for Construction :"!aterials
(concrete aggregate) -At potential borro\v sites shown on Plate
and 2 should be excavated by locally rented equipment or drilled
by a jeep-mounted pOwer auger and/or barge mounted core drill
with special adaptors for possible drive sampling and casing of
holes. Representative samples should be obtained for sieve ana_
lysis, laboratory tests, chemical composition and visual classifi_
cation. The exploratory equipment; e. g., backhoe, bulldozer.
drill rigs, should be barged to each site.
-,-
Trench No.
T-l
T-2
T-3
T-4
T-5
T-6
T-7
Depth
Jf!.:..L
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Location
Plate 2
"
"
Plate
"
"
Plate 1
Plate
"
"
Approx .
Elevation
(ft. )
20
20
20
20
20
20
250
250
250
250
Purpose &-Location
Concrete aggregate;
"Cabin" alluvials
Also fault
Cone rete agg regate;
Bear Cove alluvials
Also fault
Concrete aggregate /-,;
impe rvious c offe rdam
materials; in the "shallows"
Green Lake alluvials
Green Lake delta alluvials
Also fault
Also fault
Exploratory trench locatIOns a ave , th t h encouraging signs of sand
and gravel, more than likely will require drilling to define quantity
and quality of concrete aggregate.
CONVERSE, DAVIS At-.'D ASSOCIATE~, It-.'(
----------.........
-32-
3. Geophysical Surveys -Utilizing bedrock core borings for down-hole,
or up-hole, compressional and shear wave velocities in order to
develop dynamic moduli data in selected holes. This includes
Young's modulus of elasticity and Poisson's ratio. The data is
inputed into a computer program to obtain the dynamic moduli values.
The compressional wave velocities will also be used to evaluate
rock defects (fractures) and depth of weathering. A two-man team
would require approximately two field days per core hole to develop
this data. The equipment can be hand-carried from hole to hole.
Exploratory adits for performing in-situ rock tests, are not deemed
necessary, unless the bedrock quality determined from core borings,
is much poorer than anticipated. Laboratory tests and geophysical
surveys should provide adequate information for darn design.
4. Additional Geologic Mapping -Should be performed, at the same
time the subsurface exploration is in progress, to refine information
on:
a. Surficial deposits -talus, landslides, borrow materials.
b. Quarry rock -suitable location, site preparation, acces-
sibility.
c. Spillway conditions -stability, potential for erosion.
d. Geologic conditions along the Silver Bay access road _
rippability, blasting, topographic benches.
e. Faults -activity and rock conditions adjoining the faults.
5. Perform Additional Research on Faults and Earthquakes _ develop
seismic and earthquake engineering information for darn design
criteria.
6. Access for Exploration -Will be by boat and air, since the road to
the site will not be constructed before starting the Phase I explora-
tion program. Some "clearings" on the right (north) abutment,
near elevation 350-450 feet (see Plate 3) appear to be suitable for
an exploration campsite (if required), supply center and helicopter
landing area provided a few trees are removed in advance. It IS
estimated that daylight will be available from about 5:00 a. m .. to
8:00 p. m. The following exploration procedures and alternatIves
are suggested:
CONVERSE, DAVIS AND ASSO(,IATES, INC
~----------------------...... f
-33-
a. Scout the best campsite. supply center, helicopter lanrling
site and clear the area.
b. Rent a small bulldozer, with operator, to blaze access
"roads" from the head of Silver Bay to drill sites, pOwpr_
house; clear helicopter landing area and develop level
landing and loading area on the shore of Green Lake.
c. Assemble all required drilling equipment, bulldozer, living
trailers, generators, supplies, and two-way radio Comnllmi_
cation system on a barge in Sitka. Rent an outboard nlOtor
boat for barge to shore use, and for geologic mapping.
d. Pull the barge to the head of Silver Bay and anchor.
e. An alternative would be to rent a helicopter, as needed, and
lift equipment to the damsite clearing. A Hughes 500 is
capable of lifting 1,400 pounds dead weight, which is ample
for most disassembled Chicago Pneumatic or Joy-type NX
skid rigs. (The Hughes 500 can carry 4 passengers, plus
pilot).
f. Either (1) retain the barge for living quarters, (2) set up
camp on top of the right abutment (the weather may not
permit flights or boat trips from Sitka to the site, therefore,
regular schedules may not be dependable), or (3) plan to fly
(or boat) the exploration crews in and out on a daily basis.
Establish radio communication systems from the damsite
to Sitka and from the damsite to drill holes (walkie-talkies
may be adequate).
g. First, drill the highest hole (DH_ I) on the right abutment,
and, skid the rig downslope to DH-Z. Cut several tall trees
in such a manner that they fall across the Vodopad River;
trim, tie together and use as the platform to drill the river-
bed (DH-3). Skid rig to DH-4 on the left abutment. 1\lake a
barge from on-site materials, or air lift pa.rts, and (lrill
the cofferdam hole (DI-I-5).
Fresh water for drilling is available from creeks high on the
right and left abutments so it may not be necessarv to pump
and lift all the water from Green Lake. Fresh water for the
CONVERSE, DAVI, Af\:D AS,OllATE'. 11\:(
------------------------...... IS
!
-34-
powerhouse site can be obtained from the Vodopad River,
with the aid of a bulldozed trail. Fresh water for the con-
struction materials (concrete aggregate) borings should be
available from nearby creeks.
h. Lastly, drill the powerhouse site (DB-6).
1. Drill two 10-hour shifts per day (this allows 4 hours per
day for equipment maintenance). The drill crews, geologists
and engineers could work six days on and one day off per
week or 10 days on and 4 days off. The drilling schedule
should be made by the company selected.
j. An alternative for drilling the cofferdam hole and concrete
aggregate holes would be to airlift parts for a barge to the
shore of Green Lake. Assemble and drill cofferdam (DH_5)
and construction material (concrete aggregate) holes from
barge. Anchor barge by long stout cables (from all four
corners) because the current at the cofferdam location is
swift and dangerous. If results of the cofferdam hole are
conclusive as to bedrock overburden, underwater bedrock
profile and bedrock quality, it may not be necessary to drill
riverbed hole (DH-3) at the darn axis.
k. Boxes of core can be stored at the site until they are shipped
or air-lifted to Sitka for permanent storage.
1. Drilling equipment more than likely will originate from
Juneau, Seattle, or California and be shipped to Sitka for
assembling. Backhoe and/or bulldozer should be available
for rental in Sitka.
8. Phase 1, Estimated Time -The estimated time for the recommended
exploration program is as follows:
Item No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Dam core borings
Construction material (trenches)
Construction material (boring)
Geophysical
Additional geologic mapping
Seismic and earthquake engineering
Time (Work Days)
60 10-hour days
10 10-hour days
25 10-hour days
6 10-hour -!ays
20 10-hour days
(concurrent with " 1)
To be dete rmined.
9. The above exploration should be based on a new topographic map that
reflects actual field conditions.
CONV[RSE, DAVI, A:\:O AS'l)lIATES, 11'o:C
-
------------.......... -3 5_
REFERENCES
1. Alaska State Housing Authority Planning Department, 1966, Greater
Sitka Borough, comprehensive development plan: Anchorage,
Alaska State Housing Authority, 140 p.
2. Berg, H. C., and Hinckley, D. W., 1963, Reconnaissance geology of
northern Baranof Island, Alaska: U. S. Geol. Survey Bull.
1140-0, 24 p.
3. Berg, H. C., Jones, D. L., and Richter, D. H., 1972, Gravina_ Nutzotin
belt --Tectonic significance of an upper Mesozoic serlimentary
and volcanic sequence in southern and southeastern Alaska in
Geological Survey research 1972: U. S. Geol. Survey Pro/-
Paper 800-D, p. DI-D24.
4. Brew, D.A., Loney, R.A., and Muffler, L.J.P., 1966, Tectonic
history of southeastern Alaska, in A symposium on the tectonic
history and mineral deposits of the western Cordillera;
Canadian Inst. Mining and Metallurgy Spec. Vol. 8, p. 149-
170.
5. Brew, D. A. Loney, R. A. , Pomeroy, J. S., and Muffler, L. J. p.,
1963, Structural influence on development of linear topographic
features, southern Baranof Island, southeastern Alaska: U. S.
GeoI. Survey Prof. Paper 475-B, p. BllO-BI13.
6. Cobb, E. H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Sitka
Quadrangle, Alaska: USBS Misc. Fielrl Studies, Map MF-467.
7. Coulter, H.W., Hopkins, D.M. Karlstrom, T.N.V., Pewe, LL.,
Wahrhaftig, Clyde, and Williams, J. R., 1965, Map showing
extent of glaciations in Alaska: U.S. GeoI. Survey Misc.
GeoI. Inv. Map 1-415.
8. Dixon, S. J., and Burke, J. W., 1973, A liquefaction case history,
ASCE National Structural Engineering Meeting, San Francisco,
April 9 -13, 1973 (preprint)
9. Franklet, G. A., 1965, Centerline soils and materials sites investiga-
tion, Sitka urban, F-099-3(3) and 5-0933(5): Alaska Dept.
Highways Materials Sec., 28 p.
----------......... - 3 (,_
10. Gawthrop, W. H., Page. R. A., Reichle, i\1ichael, and J()nt's, :\lan,
1973, The Southeast Alaska earthquakes of July 1",3 faLs.l:
Eos (Am. Geophys. Union Trans.), v. '04, no. II, p. II)!,.
11. Grantz, Arthur, 1966, Strike-slip faults in Alaska: (',S. C
t
,,,!.
Survey open-file report, 82 p.; also, Standford {'niy. Ph. D. dissert.
12. Hoffman, p. R., 1974, Optimal development of multipurposp hyd r()
projects, ASCE National Meeting on Water R('sour({,S
Engineering, Los Angeles, January 21 _ 25, 1')74 Ipn'print I
13. Hudson, D. E., and Cloud, W. K., 1973, Seismological background
for engineering studies of the earthquake, in The Great Alaska
Earthquake of 1964, Engineering, p. 18-4~
14. Johnson, Arthur, 1963, Waterpower investigations of lak(.s in Alaska,
Article 48 in USGS Prof. Paper 475-13, p. 13116 _ nI'H.
IS. Kelleher, J. A., and Savino, J. M., 1973, Seismic pTf'conditions of
the 1972 Sitka earthquake and several other large (,arthguakes
[abs. J: Eos (Am. Geophys. Union Trans.), v. 54, no. 4,
p. 370.
16. Lander, J. F., 1973, Seismological notes-_ July-August 1972: S('ismol.
Soc. America Bull., v. 63, no. 2, p. 745-749.
17. Loney, R.A., Berg, H.C., Pomeroy, J.S., and Brew, D.A" 1963,
Reconnaissance geologic map of Chichagof Island and north-
western Baranof Island, Alaska: U. S. GeoI. Survey Misc.
Geol. Inv. Map I-388.
18. Loney, R.A., Pomeroy, J. S., Brew, D.A., and Muffler, L. J. P.,
1964, Reconnaissance geologic map of Baranof and Kruzof
Islands, Alaska: U. S. Geol. Survey Misc. Geo!. Inv.
Map 1-411.
19. MacFarlane, 1. C., ed., 1969, Muskeg engineering handbook: Turunto,
Ontario, Tarant') Univ. Press, 297 p.
20.
1972, Seismic seiches in bays, channels, and estuaries, ~
----The great Alaska earthquake of 1964, Oceanography and
coastal engineering: Washington, D. C., :'-iatl. A, ad. SCI.,
p. 25-28.
I-I ----------......
21. Miller, D. J., 1960, Giant waves in Lituya Bay, Alaska: C. S. Geol.
Survey Prof. Paper 354-C, p. 51-86.
22. Miller, R. D., 1972, Surficial geology of Juneau urban area and
vicinity, Alaska, with emphasis on earthquake and other
geologic hazards: U. S. Geol. Survey open-file report, 108 p.
23. Milne, W. G., and Davenport, A. G., 1969, Distribution of earthquake
risk in Canada: Seismol. Soc. America Bull., v. 59, no. 2,
p. 729-754.
24.
25.
____ 1973, The Sitka, Alaska, earthquake of 197Z--an expected visitor:
U. S. Geol. Survey Earthquake Inf. Bull., v.5, no. 5, p. 4-9.
____ 1974, 1973 earthquake acitivity summary, USGS Earthquake
Information Bull, v.6, no. 1
26. Page, R. A., Boo re , D. M., Joyner, W. B., and Coulter, H. W.,
1972, Ground motion values for use in the seismic design of
the trans-Alaska pipeline system: U. S. GeoI. Survey Circ.
672, 23 p.
27. Person, W. J., 1974, Seismological notes July-August 1973, Seismol.
Soc. Amer. Bull. v.64, no. 2, p. 501
28. 1972, New data on Cenozoic displacements along the Fair-
weather fault system, Alaska, in Faults, fractures, lineaments,
and related mineralization in the Canadian Cordillera: Geol.
Assoc. Canada Cordilleran Sec. Programme Abs., p. 30-31.
29. St. Amand, Pierre, 1957, Geological and geophysical synthesis of
the tectonics of portions of British Columbia, the Yukon
Territory, and Alaska: GeoI. Soc. America Bull., v. 68,
no. 10, p. 1343-1370
30. Seed, H. B., and Idriss, I. M., 1970, Analyses of ground motions at
Union Bay, Seattle, during earthquakes and distant n'lclear
blasts: Seismol. Soc. America Bull., v. 60, no. I, p. 125-136
31. Soward, K. S., 1961, Geologic inve stigations of proposed power sites
at Baranof and Carbon Lakes, Baranof Island, Alaska, USGS
Bull. 1031-B
~r·--------------------------""""."
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
- 3 8-
Tocher, Don, 1960, The Alaska earthquake of July 10, 1958--
Movement on the Fairweather fault and field investigation of
southern epicentral region: Seismol. Soc. America Bull.,
v. 50, no. 2, p. 267-292.
u.s.
u.s.
Bureau of Reclamation, 1954, Blue Lake Project Alaska
Report of District Manager and substantiating ~aterials';
Juneau, 103 p.
National Ocean Survey, 1971, Sitka Sound to Salisbury Sound,
Inside Passage, Chart 8281 r9th ed.J: Washington, D. C.,
U. S. Dept. Commerce, scale 1:40,000
----1972, Crawfish Inlet to Sitka, Chart 8255 [8th ed.J: Washington,
D. C., U. S. Dept. Commerce, scale 1:40,000.
1973a, Coronation Island to Lisianski Strait, Chart 8252 ----;
[6th ed.]: Washington, D. C., U. S. Dept. Commerce, scale
1:217,828
37. U. S. National Weather Service, 1969, Climatological summary,
Sitka magnetic, Alaska, in Climatography of the United
States: Washington, D. C., U. S. Dept. Commerce, no. 20-49,
2 p.
38. U. S. War Department, 1881, Monthly weather review, January:
U. S. War Dept., Office Chief Signal Officer, Div. Telegrams
Repts., p. 17-18.
39. Wanek, A. A. and Callahan, J. E., 1969, Geology of proposed power-
sites at Deer Lake and Kasnyku Lake, Baranof Island, Alaska,
USGS Bull. 1211-C
40. Yehle, Lynn A., 1974, Reconnaissance engineering geology of Sitka,
and Vicinity, Alaska, with emphasis on evaluation of earth-
quake and other geologic hazards, US Dept. of Interior,
Geological Survey, Open-file report 74-53.
., -
"'"
.\) ... 6 .9t1
Topooraphy from quadranol., Ical.-1:63,360
Sitko (A-3,,l-<4>, Port AII.ander (0-3,0-4>, Ala,ka
LEGEND
Oal
~
E
Alluvium . Includea Modem beach and
delto dePosit', Holocene ollU"llol and
'-rroce depoti,.
• Oto "0 Tolu" IOf'Qt angulor blocks at onol •
of repose ,
o
Qls Land.lIde, rock slides on slopes steepff
thon 1;1
KJIg S itka Groywocke ,9ray to dork oro)"
mOISI .... , very hard metamorphosed
'iltstont and sandstone
KJsp/o Sitka Phyllitr 6 Argillite;dork oray to
black, ploty. very hard metomophosed
shole ,. -H Kt Intrusive Igneous Rock'ioroy,medium
grained oranitic roeit's . " a a ,-, . ,.:;
=.i~
JTRps Schl" a Gn.iu, biotite, tine -grained
JTRpa Amphibolite a Greenschlst1metamorphic
orade related to intrusives
JTRQ Greenstone, chaotically interloyered
ond metamorphosed
TRPp Phyllite;dork oro)' with fine -Qroined
quartzite
SYMBOLS
___ .... ?? Geolooic Contoct\QPplUimotely located.
. . dotted wMr. eoncealed,q~ried where
location Inferred
---_ ...
--So ---
Foultj approximately located, datfed
whlre concealed
Strike and dip at joint
Strike of vertical joint
Strike and dip of foUation(relic bed) ""'"'iio -T-I =
NOTE
Strike ot vertical foliation
propoted uplorotion trench
Source of OeolOCJic data derived, In port, from USGS
GeoloGic Investiootlons Map 1-4I1(1964),USGS Open
Report No. 74-53(1974)and,1n port from photoOeolOQic
Interpretaftons,f.ed reconnOissooce ood offshore
soundings Oct.-Noy, 1974
5,000 0 5~OF .. t
Scale
• I
000'
•
•
•
Concealed fault •
(USGS MopJ-411
and open file report •
74 -53) --____ ...,.
Orion .r ......
(U S G S
•
•
•
•
•
•
~o ARGUELLO
ISLAND
KJs !5
?"
SALMON
CReeK
..
•
•
Or .. " (U S G S )
Doshed tapooraphy from US G S q uodranole
Por' Alexander (0-4), Alaska
Sc ol e-1:63,360
LEGEND
Qol
QI.
Alluylum; Includes Modern beach a
delta deposits, Holo<;ene olluylal 8
'errace deposits, contains subangulor to
~broood Ql'OYeI, cobble and boulders
Talus; laroe onoular blow at af19~ of ,.-
Landside, rock slides on stopes sleeper
thon I: I
I<JsQ Sitka GraywockejQray to dark oroy,
masslYe, very hord metamorphosed
siltstone and sondstone
KJspAl SitXo Phyllite 8 Aroillite ; darkQroy to
block , platy. very hard metamorphosed
shale
SYMBOLS
-_ ... -?? GeoJoolc Contoct l opproxlmote~ located,
dotted where coneealed,queried where
!ocoUan inferred
_____ ••• FClJltiopproxlmotely located, dotted
where concealed; [o<;olion based solely
on USGS MapI-411
---85
Strike and dip of joint\dOshed where itferrN --Strike of vertIcal joint
~o Strike ood dip of foliation (relic bed)
-+-Strike of yertlcol folio l i on
T -I c::=! Proposed exploratory trenche s
• Bulldl nQ
NOTE :
Ele Yot i ons based o n Mean S ea L evel
I MSL) datum .
400 o 400 BOOF .. t
I E3 F3
Scale
Contour Int.rval : 'Iolld) -20'
Contour Interval : (dashed)-IOO'
2
, , ---'\ --~ ,
,.
~,
Qm
, ,
" '--"----.. -
----....., __ , TIi'4/( " ---, , , --
'" ,
'" ... -.....
"
Qm
•
70 ........ _
'-,
• ,
• , , ,
4 30'" , ,
""' --75 -..... ---__
~ /-:r----_ -........ ---------... , _____ --J KJIlI
/ -,
•
\
\
\
I
" , , , , , , , , -----, , , ,
(-........... . " . '
\ ' ..... . -, , ,
'\ Om ' ... " .......
KJIC)
, ,
-'" 8;)
, '-, -,
........ --.... " ---, . " . , , , ,
'j
KJIC) ",
Om ' ..
, , -,
,
........ }
• •
-.. --_ .. --.... -,
I
• 010 I
,
--
, , , ,
---
GREENLAKE
--------
ws 23 1
'50 JU..------=-:::::::::---
449
(
.-
l , A
1 ( Topotrophy from USGS
By plon.tabl. m.thod (1967)
Scal.· I: 4 .800
LEGEND
Qm
QI.
MU1kevi .It, oroonic.bOW1 peot depos its
In varlou. stoO" of decoy
Talu'i 10rOI anQu lar blocks at ono~ of
repo ..
Land.llde, rock ,lIdtl on .Iopes .t •• per
thon 1:1
KJaO Si tko Graywcell'l ora)' to dork oroy,
moui ..... V'ef)' hard metomorpholtd
s il tstone and tond.toM
KJl p /o Sitko Phyllite a Argillite ; dork oroy to
block, ploty. vlry hard metamorphosed ... ,.
SYMBOLS
-_ ..... ??
-So -
A A
4 I
OH-I O
so·
OH·6e--
NOTES :
GeobQ lc Contoet, approltlmate'y loeoted,
dotted wher. tonceoltd,qulrled where.
location Inf.rred
Stri ke and dip of joint, dashed wh.,.
Inftrrld
Strike of 'ttf'tlcol joi nt
-Strike Md dip 0' follol!on(relic bed)
Strike of vert ic al tollation
Location of Qeologic Mction
Propoud diamond dril l hole
Propoled onqle hole ; lhowlnQ direction
and angle fram horizontal
I. Dam, Cofferdam, Power Tunnel and Div ers io n Tunnel
ore approximotely located,and are not Intended for
des i gn purposes .
2 . Elevat ions based on Mea n Sea Level
(MSLI datum .
~o 0 50 100FH'
A HA
Sca"
Contour Int.rvol • 10'
•••
3
BEAR COVE SOUN~NGS
SALMON
CREEK
o
Seale
I
Orlan .r''-
(U S G S
Green
(U SG S)
~
C"/"o' ARGUELLO ~ ~ ISLAND ~ ----
E"lmalod ~
low tide line
---200 -::;:~~". --, ,,~ \, .... \ ,
."~'.,.' line , , /G.~Et·N LAKE ..... /:)
'X 177 ,"','
Solid to~raphy from USGS
By plo .... toble method (967)
Scal,· I : 4 .800
W.$ 231 \ I , .
-~ -• I -, -.-
Dashed topOQrophy trom USGS quadrangle
Port Alexander (O -41 .Alolka
Scale · 1:63,360
SYMBOLS
@
\!§I
•
NOTE :
Depth of water
Distonce 'rom shore Une
Bu il dino
El evct lons based on Mean Seo Leyel
( MSL ) do l um .
400 0 400 BOO F"'
, F3 F3
Scole
Contour Interval: (aolld) • 20'
Contour Interval ; (datMd) -100'
4
--------
Append ix W -10
Investigation of Biotic Resources
by
David Townsend Hoopes, Ph. D.
----------........
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE RIOTIC
COM~NITIES IN THE VICINITY
OF GREEN LAKE, BARANOF ISLAND, ALASKA
Prepared for
R.W. Beck and Associates, Inc.
by
David T. Hoopes
July 15, 1977
WW-1521-Hr.2-MC
Green Lake FPC License 3711
lJ:\ "ID TOWNSE~D HOOPES, I'h.O.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING
POBOX 373
CLARK FORK
IDAHO 83811
USA
July 15, 1977
:1r. Donald E. Bowes
Executive Enqineer
R.il. Beck and Associates
21111 Tower Bui1 jina
Sea ttl e, Washi ngton 98101
Dear Don:
----------.......
Here~lith is transmitted one (1) final copy of my report of investillations coverinG
the ecosystems involved in the Green Lake hydroelectric project, lists of t~e flora
and fauna associated with t~ese systems and an evaluation of the impact this oroject
will have on these systems and their associated snecies.
Mease contact me if you have any auestions regardinq this report.
Enel:
--------------......... ..
TABLE f)F CONTE~ITS
paqe
Introduction ......................................................... 1
The Existinq Environment
Topography ...................................................... 2
Forest ecosystems ............................................... 3
Green lake ecosystem ........................................... 10
Silver Bay ecosystem ........................................... 13
Fauna 1 resources ............................................... 20
Rare or endangered sDecies ..................................... 25
Critical habitat ............................................... 25
Environmental Impact of the Project
Physical impacts ............................................... 26 Rio1oqica1 impacts
Impacts upon flora ........................................ 28
Imoacts upon fauna in the Green lake drainaqe ............. 2q
Impacts upon fauna of Silver Bay .......... : ............... 30
Impacts upon recreation ................................... 32
Measures to Enhance or Avoid Adverse Effects to the Environment ..... 33
Unavoidable Adverse Environmental Effects ........................... 35
Relationship Retween local Short-Term Uses of Man's
Environment and the Maintenance and Enhancement
of lonq-Term Productivity ......................................... 38
Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources ............. 39
Bih1iograpfty ........................................................ 41
list of Common and Scientific Names ........................ ~DDendix I
limno1ogica1 Data for Green lake ............................ ~ppendix II
Nationa 1 Marine Fi sheri es Servi ce.
1977 Diving Survev of Silver Rav ......................... Appenrlix rrr
------------------------........ fa ,
This report rlescribes the fJiotic communities adjacent to Green La~e,
Baranof Island, Alaska, the site of a proposed hydro~lectric power oroject
for the City and BorouQh of Sitka, Alaska. The report inc1udp.s an evaluation
of the environmental impact of constructin~ and operating a facility
consisting of a 405-hectare impoundment with a normal maximum water surface
at an elevation of 119 metp.rs to he formed hy a 70-meter hiqh concrete
arch dam located at the present outlet to hreen lake. Water from the
reservoir will be diverted through a S80-meter tunnel to a powerhouse
located at the outlet of the Vodooad River into Silver Bay. A sinq1e
lane acce~s road will connect the existinq road at Herring Cove to the dam
site and powerhouse. The oroposed road alignment will follow the north-
east shore of Silver Bay and will be generally paralleled bV a 12.8
kilometer 69-kV transmission line to connect with an existing transmission
system at Sawmill Cove, site of the City's present hvdroe1ectric power
facility.
This study has been divided into three segments. First, the author
reviewed the available literature to collect all existing information on
the flora and fauna of the area, including special studies made of the
limnology of Green lake and the oceanoqraohy of Silver Bay. Next, two
separate field invp.stiqations were conducted in late ~ay, 1977, to
determine existing conditions and gather data on the plant and animal
communities now orp.sp.nt in the nroject area. Finallv. personnel of
concerned State and Fp.dpra1 aGencies were aoorized of project details
and potential impacts. Personal contacts m~de hy the author with memhers
----------...... 2
of the ~las~a Oepartm~nt of Fish and Game, ~ational Marine Fisheri~s
Service, U.S. Fish and t.Jildlife Service an1 II.S. Forest Service durinq
May and ,June, 1977, resulted in ohtaining recent field data collected
by these agencies and their current evaluations of the possihlp impact
the proposed project would have on the flora and fauna in the areas
affected by oroject construction and operation.
THE EXISTING ENVIR~N~E~T
Topography:
The landscape of the area has been shaped largely bv glacial action.
Green lake and the Vodopad River lie at the head of Silver Bay, some 16
or so kilometers southeast of Sitka. The Vodooad River valley tends
generally eastward for approximately 14.5 kilometers from the outlet of
the river into Silv~r Bav. Tl'te (J-shaped vallev averages less than a
kilomet~r in ",idth for the first 6-1/2 kilometers tl'ten narrows abruptly
to little more than the width of the river until it terminates at a
qlacier-topped headwall towerinq gnn meters ahove the valley floor.
Surrounding slopes, exceeding 75 percent grade, extend steeply UPward
to a rim of peaks 1,200 to 1 ,50n meters hioh.
Green lake is a relatively shal101'i, olicJOtroohic body of water lyinq
at the lower end of the valley less than one kilometer from Silver Bay.
Green lake is subrectanqular, being anproximat~lv 2 kilOMeters long and
averaging a little over 300 meters in width. A shallow bar (1/2-1 meter
below the present lake surface) separates the lake into east and west
basins. The maior trihutarv, the V010parl River, flows into the east ~nd
of the lake. The outlet lies at tl'te extreme ~/est end. The lake is
----------....... 3
relativ~ly shallow, havinq an average d~pth of 12 met~rs and a maximum
depth of only 26 meters.
Silver Bay is a narrON (averarre 0.8 kilometers) fiord running
approximately 7.2 kilomet~rs southeast from its entrance into Eastern
Channel just south of Sitka. Depths average from slightly over 73 meters
at the mouth to about 36 meters at thp head of the bay. ~horelines drop
off sharply helow the water and ris~ ahruptly to a series of ridges and
peaks 460 meters or so high along the southwest shore to 1,200 meters
on the northeast shore.
Forest Ecosystems:
The coastal forests of southeast Alaska are an extension of the
rainbelt forests of the Pacific Northwest. Timber stands in the vicinity
of Green lake and Silver Bay are composed primarily of old-growth western
hemlock and Sitka spruce. A few hardwoods, mostly red alder and an
occasional cottonwood, Occur along the Vodopad River and on slide areas.
lodgepole pine, qrowing mostly as a scrub tree, is found on poorer sites,
on and adjacent to muskegs. The best stands of timber qenerallv are
found near tidewater and along the valley floor. Timberline occurs at an
elevation of about 610 meters.
Varied landforms below ahout 305 meters Support well stocked stands
of Sitka spruce and western hemlock. On deep, well drained sites spruce
volumes reach approximately 16 million hoard feet per hectare. Poorly
drained soils have a predominentlv hemlock overstory with volumes running
about 18 million hoard feet per hectar~. Understo~y vegetation is
generally composed of blueberry, red huckleherrv, bunchberry, rusty
--
---.. --------------............. &
4
menziesia and devils club with a moss qround cover. Less productive
forest slopes support mostly west~rn hemlock with an understory
containing generally more skunk cabbaqe and dpvi1s c1uh than on the
better drained locations. Several large stands of alder grow on the
valley floor and alder appears along the main river banks and the
braided overflow channels where soils are shallow and composed of
extensive alluvial deposits.
Muskegs occur on gently rolling to fairly steeo slopes and benches
in the vicinity of the dam site at the outlet of Green Lake. These open,
boggy areas support a scattered, poor open stand of lodgepole pine,
Alaska cedar and mountain hemlock. The understory is dominated by sedoes
with lesser amounts of sphagnum, skunk cabbage, braken fern, grasses and
other forbs. Common shrubs are Labrador tea, boo rosemary, swamp laurel
and crowberry.
Soil tyoe governs plant distr;hution to a large extent and influences
the type and method of construction reouired during development of roads
and other physical alterations. The soil tyoes found in the vicinity of
r,reen Lake and the lower Vodopad River vallev are representative of soil
conditions found throughout much of southeast Alaska. The fo11owinq
description of soil types present in the project area is based upon the
U.S. Forest Service soil classification system developed for soil typinq
in southeast Alaska.
Unconsolidated soil materials include olacial till, volcanic debris,
alluvium, colluvium, residuum and orqanics. Indications of soil mass
movement are common throughout the area. Soil mass movement is the
--
,a ------------........ 5
dominant process of natural erosion in southeast Alaska. ~any landslides
occur during or immediately after periods of heavy rainfall when soils
are saturated. Particularly hazardous ~reas include steep slopes
characterized by compact qlacial till or hedrock sloping parallel to the
surface. When subjected to heavy rainfall, these areas have a high
propensity for mass movement, especially if disturbed by blastino durino
periods of soil saturation, side castinq or excavating borrow. A study
of distribution patterns of natural debris avalanChes and flows in
southeast Alaska by the U.S. Forest Service has shown the west coast of
Baranof Island to lie within one of two reQions identified as areas of
high landslide occurrence.
Moderately well to well drained soils (Fl) occur throughout much of the
area on footslopes, lower slopes, benches and elevated alluvial terraces.
These soils are comprised mainly of silt loams with much gravel and cobhles
overlain by an often prominent gray A2 horizon. More complex soils (F2)
occur on many side slopes over a highly fractured graywacke bedrock.
These soils are freely drained and comparatively shallow. Both Fl and F2
soils support good stands of Sitka spruce and western hemlock. Stands on
F2 soils are predominantly western hemlock with lesser amounts of Sitka
spruce.
Imperfectly drained soils (F4) occur at somp. locations associated
with less oroductive forest slooes w~ere the overs tory veQetation is
dominated by western hemlock. These soils are black, mucky and may he
highly thixotropic.
--------------------------6
Some poorly drained sites near the outlet of Green Lake on gentle
side slopes or benches are comprised of hrown to h1ack, greasv, woodv
mucky peat (F5). They often occur as transitional zones between muskeo
and timber and supoort scrubby, somewhat open stands of western and
mountain hemlock, Alaska cedar and a scatterino of Sitka spruce.
Soils in the vicinity of the proposed contractor work area at the
dam site are predominently Kina sedge peats U12). These very poorly
drained soils have a water table at or within 30 centimeters of the
surface. Kina soils commonly have 1 to 1-1/2 meters of dark reddish
brown, partially decomposed, firm woody sedge peat over a meter or so
of compact till. They support a scattered, poor open stand of lodgepole
pine, Alaska cedar and mountain hemlock. Use of these so11s is severely
limited by wetness and low bearing strength, requirinq a thick base and
added drainage for good roads.
The alluvial soils of the flood terraces (F1t) and flood plains (flt)
along the Vodopad ~iver are thin and underlain by Qrave1 and cobbles.
The better drained sites support good stands of Sitka spruce while in
the more poor1v drained sites western hemlock dominates the overstory.
Red alder occurs in thin strips along the stream courses or, occasionally,
as almost solid stands at certain locations along the valley floor.
The following ~y identifies soil tyoes and other soil features on
the accompanying aerial photographs of Green Lake and the lower Vodopad
River valley in the vicinity of the proposed impoundment (Figure 1 '"
Figure 2).
------------........ 7
Fl -Deep, well-drained mineral soils. 1/2 to 1-1/2 meters deep
F2 -Shallow, well-drained mineral soils. 12 to 50 centimeters deep
F4 -Imperfectly drained mineral soils. 25 to 120 centimeters deep
FS -Poorly drained forest organic soils
F12 - A complex of Fl and F2 soils containing approximately half of each
F14 - A complex of Fl and F4 soils containing approximately half of each
Fld -Deep Fl, 1-1/2 meters plus
Flt -Flood terrace alluvial soils
flt -Flood plain alluvial soils that flood annually
M2 -Kina sedge peats
MFS - A complex of FS soils interspersed with about SO percent sedge
muskeg soil s
B -Snow avalanche track
v -V-notch drainage
A single line under the soil type designation denotes slopes of 35 to 7S percent
A double line under the soil type designation denotes slopes qreater
than 7S percent, or severe landslide hazard
Sight Index -Height in feet of the average dominant Sitka spruce
Soil types Fl, F2, Flt, Fld and flt have site indices of lS"
Soil type F4 has a site index of 120
Soil type F5 has a site index of 80
.. .
Figure 1. Lower Vodopad River valley soil types as
determined from aerial photoqraphic reconnaissance hy
Mr. Richard F. Billings, Soils Scientist, U.S. Forest
Service, Sitka, Alaska on May 11,1977 (personal commun-
ication).
-.
----------........ q
Figure 2. Green lake soil types as determined from aerial
photographic reconnaissance by ~. Richard F. Billings. Soils
SCientist, U.S. Forest Service, Sitka, Alaska on May 31, 1977
(personal communication).
,a --------------.......... 10
Green lake Ecosystem:
Green lake has a surface area of 0.70 km 2 ,a maximum depth of 26.2
m. ,an average depth of 12.3 m. and a volum~ of 8.62 hm 3 (Table 1).
Approximately 74.6 sq. km. of watershed supply the Vodopad River and Green
Lake, mostly in the form of meltwater from the winter snow pack.
The lake is divided into two basins whose limnological characteristics
are similar except that water in the west basin is warmer and exhibits
slightly greater temperature stratification. probably because of the
warming of the lake water as it passes over the shallow bar and the
shorter fetch in the west basin. Stratification is so weak in both basins
that warming occurs to the bottom and wind action may mix the lake
periodically during that part of the year the lake is unfrozen.
limnological data have been collected for Green lake by the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) on May 18 and August 24, 1974. These
data have been evaluated by ADF&G Fishery Biologists Artwin Schmidt and
F. Stuart Robards to arrive at a morphoedaphic index for 12 lakes in
southeast Alaska. Of the 12 lakes studied. Green lake ranked third with
a rating of 1.79 (Table 2). Detailed limnological data are presented
in Appendix II. Plankton composition and density for Green lake were
also determined during the summer of 1974 (Appendix II).
Althouqh limnological studies indicate low turbidity, natural levels
may increase markedly under certain conditions. Photos taken by Schmidt
36 hours after heavy rains on the night of September 14-15, 1976, show
a pronounced discoloration in Silver Bay as a result of silt from stream
scouring in the Vodopad River valley. Much of the silt undoubtedly had
--.... ----------------.......... . 11
already been flushed from Silver Bay by tidal action by the time the
pictures were taken. Similar conditions in Green Lake must have accompanied
the significant increase in turbidity noted in Silver Bay at this time.
Table 1. Morphometry of Green Lake
Parameter Measured
water Area
Hectares
Acres
Percent of Depth
Zone Areas o -5 m.
5 -10m.
1') -15 m.
15 -20 m.
20 -25 m.
25+ m.
Wa ter Vo 1 ume
Cubic meters x 106
Acre feet x 103
Percent Volume
of Depth Strata
o -5 m.
5 -10 m.
la-15m.
15 -20 m.
20 -25 m.
25+ m.
Maximum Depth
Mean Depth
Shoreline Development
Volume Development
Shoreline Length
Value
70.2
173.4
31. 3
11.3
6.3
33.3
11. 7
6.1
8.62
6.99
34.1
25.6
22.1
13.4
4.7
0.1
26.2 m.
12.3 m.
1).5
1.41
5,1)]4 m.
--
, ----------....... 12
Table 2. Morphoedaphic Index of Green Lake
Parameter ~easured
Specific Conductance
( JJ mho )
Residue Dissolved
Calculated Sum
( mg/l )
Surface Area
( ha )
'1ean Depth
( m )
MEl 11
Potential Yield
( kg/ha )
Value
39
22
70
12.3
1. 79
1. 29
]j ~El:: ~1orphoedaphic Index:: Total Dissolved Solids/Mean Depth
.... ------------............... .
13
Silver Bay Ecosystem:
Oceanographic and biological data have been collected from 5ilver
Bay at several different times durinq recent years. Oata are availahle
from work done by the University of Washinqton in 1956 and 1057. the
National Marine Fisheries Service in 1167, 1971, 1976 and 1977 and by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1976. The following description relies
heavily upon these sources as well as field investiqations conducted hy
the author on '1ay 28, 29 and 30, 1977.
The physical oceanography of Silver Bay is dominated by a tyoical
fiord surface circulation where the effects of runoff predominate over
those due to tidal mixing. From autumn through winter to early spring
prevailing southeast winds tend to speed up circulation in Silver Bay,
driving the surface waters outward. Conversely, the predominant north-
west to southwest winds of late spring and summer tend to retard surface
outflow.
Most of the water below 6-9 meters has salinitv values comparable
to those in coastal ocean waters. Freshwater entering Silver Bay over-
rides a lower layer of relatively dense salt water. As it proceeds sea-
ward, this upper layer of freshwater entrains salt water from below and
gradually becomes more saline until, in the region off the mouth of the
inlet, surface salinities correspond to typical coastal salinities
(Table 3, Figure 3).
Currents in the bay are oscillatory, following the tides, hut a net
nontidal circulation results from the addition of larqe volumes of fresh-
water from the Vodopad River at the head and smaller tributaries along
the inlet. This loss of s~line water due to entrainment is compensated
----------....... 14
Figure 3. ~ap of Silver Bay showing sampling locations
and other features identified durinq studips of this area
by the author and various Federal and Drivate organizations.
........ --------................... .
13
13
18
18
21
12
",
I'
\
1 8; 91
\ '" 1 ;:'
8, 1
bl
1
8, \-I
\
14 ,
t'
22
23 SAWM
Sea
------~----------------...... is
15
Tal:>le 3. Salinity nrofiles (SO/oo) at four stations in 5ilv~r fJa v ,
. ,~l aska, made on Ju 1 y 24 and July 27. 1 Q6 q, h,y OCF'anOCl raof]prs from-the University of Was1i~~ton.
Station Date
.July 24 July 27
H 19
Depth (m)
0 13.81 15.52 2 23.23 27.51 5 30.83 29.92 10 31.00 3n.47 20 31.22 31.26 30 31.33 31.36 40 31.41 31.45
H 20
16.65 'J 17.62
2 29.29 28.79 5 30.97 29.64 10 31.12 3f'l.6(')
20 31.24 31.31
30 31.32 31. 33 40 31.4fi 31.3'?
H 27
0 17.9') 22.78
2 3Q.13 29.94
5 30.90 3'). rn
10 31.13 3".64
2'1 31.26 31.32
30 31.4rJ 31 .45
40 31.51 31.54
fl 21
0 22.05 22.03
2 30.52 2Q.57
5 30.56 29.fi5
11') 31.21 3n.99
2rJ 31.32 31.37
31) 31. 41 31.53
40 31.52 31.66
fa --------------.........
Washington oceanographers in Ju1v, 1QSI;, i'1rjicat" t~~t this 11J
P
r "f
f10winq wiltpr is concentratpri i"",r>rjiat"l" "r>nnat~ t~ ... (Jutf1o'oJi'10 l1Jnr.
The surface layer is from 1-1/2 to F mptr>rs dprn ilnd t~" in f 10 wi'10 l~v~r
extends to approximately 50 mpters. Therp is 1itt1p npt flow ~n1ow ?1
meters. If surface runoff is laroe, tidal vp10city may not ~n Suffir1p~t
to do more than cancel the opoosinq velocities from t~e oressurr finld.
When a short flood follows a stronq e~h. thp surface e~h mav carrv Ovpr
into, and perhaps completely obscure, the flood.
Durinq a period of low runoff from /'arch ?7 to 31. 1057, runoff w~s
4.25 m3s-1 . Outflows during this Deriod occurred in an un per l~vpr
extending to almost one-third of the total depth of the in1pt with inflow
taking place below this level. A 1arqe ve10citv shear was found to pxist
in the upper few meters of the water co lt~n. Hi qh runoff c i rcu 1 il t i on !~il s
studied between July 4 and 11, lQ56, when runoff reached 40 m3s-1. 'Inrjpr
these conditions the surface outflow was restricted to the uDper F ~eters.
a stronq inflow occurred hetween hand 37 meters while the hottom laver
exhibited a small outward velocity.
The total freshwater discharge into ~i1ver Rav was estimated at J 2~
cubic meters per second (m\-l) for the low flow PErlod In ~larln d';':-!
for the Ju1v hiQh flow. '~hen thp freshwiltpr from streams or ot~er surfilcr>
sources flows over the more saline bay water, a oressurr ~pad is crPdtnri
and the freshwater runs "downhill" toward the hay entrancp. '5 it flows
out it accelerates and thp entrainprj salt water from thr undnrlvino
saline laver makes it hrackish.
III
11'---
--------------......... .. 17
The effects of entrainment and acce1p.ration ~a1ance to maintain a
nearly uniform thickness of the surface layer along the channel. ~;nce
more water leaves the estuary as I)rackish \'1ater in this outf1o~linq layer
than enters the estuary as freshwater inf1ol'l, saline water must enter at
a deoth to maintain the volume of water in the bay. In July, 1968, more
water was entering the I)ay in this inf10winq layer than was transported
out at the surface, hence there existed a small but positive inward
transport near the bottom during this, and probab1v all, period of high
freshwater runoff.
Bottom sediments predominate at the head of the bay, in Bear Cove, and
at the base of steep slopes a10nq the shoreline. These sediments are
composed primarily of coarse to fi"e sand. In general, sediments from
all areas-except the ~edvetcha delta exhi~it a strong odor of hydrogen
sulfide, indicating anaerobic conditions i" the bottom of the bay.
Core samples taken from the area near the head of Silyer Bay (see Figure 3
for sample locations) were composed of very fine sandy silt containing
Formanifera, shell fragments and organic detritus. The color of these
sediments was grayish olive qreen.
Concentrations of henthic marine life in Silver Bav occur in the
intertidal and suhtida1 areas. The population density of hottom-
dwelling animals decreases very rapidly with increasing depth below t~e
lowest tidal levels. The intertidal arpa and hottom extendinQ downward
to about 30 meters hp10w low tide supports an estimated 85 to 90 percent
of the sedentary life in the arpa. The hottom deeppr than 4~ metprs
SUpports only a small faunal population.
-----------l--8-----------1
The henthic fauna of Silver Ray and vicinity consists almost
exclusively of ~ottom-dwellinq invertebrates. There appear to be no
significant differences in the type and density of animals from area
to area. The amount of life at depths greater than 40 meters is very small
and it appears that orqanisms are sparse below about ~O meters.
Bottom invertebrates found \~ithin Silver Bay proper consist mainly
of the shellfishes Compsomya su~diapinana and Macoma calcarea and the
scaphopod, Denta11um pretiosum. These forms and ophuroids (brittle stars),
tentative1~ identified as the genus Amphiodia, comprise the dominant life
throughout the bottom of the bay. The worms are mainly represented by
ma1danids be1onoino to the qenus .Asychis. A few large nemerteans and
the nearly transparent holothurians, Leptosynapta sp., are abundant at
a few locations. Typical non-burrowing fauna consist of numerous small
gastropods, small urchins, chitons (Tonicella sp.), sea stars and an
abundance of b1ennies.
The characteristic flora of the intertidal zone is a dense growth
of the a1qae, Fucus. Fucus exists from the high tide line to the region
of the low water line where it intermixes with the green a1Qae, Ulva.
Diver-biologists of the National Marine Fisheries Service made an
exploratory dive in the vicinity of the outlet to the Vodopad River on
November 5, 1976 (Figure 3). They found a poorly defined intertidal
zone consistinq of a cobble/bedrock/mud substrate with hiQhly scattered
patches of Fucus, Desmarestia, and Zostera. Below the intertidal zone,
the primary plant form was the brol-In aloae, Il.garum, scattered in patches
varying in concentration from ahout two olants ner 20 cm. 2 to one plant
o
6
..., 12 <lJ
<lJ
l..L..
c:
.~
or ...,
Cl. 18 <lJ
Cl
24
30 I I I 0 6 12 18
Figure 4. Life zone profile in Silver Bay,
I
24
Distance from
near the mouth
Study method: Scuba transect
Observers: Petersen, Dennison, Beaulac
Date/time: 11-5-76/ 1110 to 1145
Transect bearing: 194°S
-.
I I I r--,---,--30 36 42 48 54 shore (m)
of Vodopad River.
---.. --------------------...... 4
20
2 2 L .. 1 per m. amlnarla was a so observed periodically during the dive.
The principal animal observed in the su~tida1 area was a nudihranch.
Hermissenda crassicornis, in concentrations of about four organisms per
20 cm.2 Other organisms were very sparsly represented. ~ life zone
profile of the dive transect I'/as prepared by the participating divers to
depict conditions at the site (Figure 4).
Faunal Resources:
Three species of biQ game inhabit the Green Lake drainage during all
or part of the year. Thev include brown bear, mountain goats and Sitka
black-tailed deer. Of these, the brown bear probably frequents the area
the least. Three sets of tracks were observed in the snow fields at high
elevations and one set on a river bar during a biQ game survey flown lJy
helicopter on May 28, 1977. While the area above timberline may be used
for denninQ and feeding during the time berries are ripening, the absence
of grass flats and anadromous fish runs precludes extensive use of the
valley by bears. ~o bears have been reported killed in the area and the
halJitat is not considered important by the local AOF~G hig game biologist,
Loyal J. Johnson (personal communication; ~ay 31, 1~77).
A small population of mountain goats frequents the steep cliffs and
mountain sides at the head of the Vodopad River valley. Some goats are
known to winter below timberline ahove the north shore of Green Lake.
Goats were introrluced on Baranof Island in lq23 and populations have been
relatively stable until the early 10 70's when ,severe winters caused area-
wide declines. A big game survey of the Vodopad River drainage in 10 73
----------....... 21
accounted fnr five Clnirnals. Th~ lrJn survev flo'",'1 hv the authnr
resulted in the same number b~inQ observed. ~ small h~rvest of Goats
has been mClde by hunter~ ~urinG recent years from the vici'1itv of this
drainage. In lQ7~ seven hU'1ters snent l~ days hU'1ti'1q. saw 2R qoats
(this number nro~ahly includAs SomA dunlicate siohtinos of the same
animals) an1 killed t"Jree goats. Five hunters accounted for a kill of
three qoats in lQ75. Drior to that time '10 record of huntinq in the area
''ias kept.
Three deer were observed at the UDper end of Green lake on Mav ?R,
1077. Fresh tracks were also seen alonq sa'1~bars and side channels
during the field study. ~n estimated 60 or so deer probably inhabit the
drainage. The shoreline of Silver Bav nrovides good to excellent deer
winter range and deer would probably winter in the area of Green lake
during mild winters; "JOI.,ever, the area is not classified as critical
winter habitat by the ADF~G. Deer harvest reports are available for
1975 for a reportinq area that includes Silver Ray, Herrinq Cove and
r;reen lake. Durinq the lQ75 huntinG season 41 hunters reported spendino
56 days "Juntinq in this area and killed 13 deer. ~o deer were renorted
taken from the r;reen lake \'iatershed but a Sitka resirjent, 'k. Vern
Eliason, reported that he and one other hunter killed four deer at r,reen
lake in 1071'1 (nersonal communicatinn, "av ?R, lon). It anoears from
all available information that hunter us~ of the arAa immediately arnund
Green lake is lnw. This ar~a is '1nt considered an important deer
hU'1 tin0 localitv bv "~F~r, personnel.
Furbearer species nresent in the ~reen La~e drainaqe include the
short tailed ~pasel. mink. marten and riv"r otter. "10 records of fur
----------........ 22
harvest are avai1ah1e ~ut t~e ahsn~cp of ~narlromous fishes ~nd t1P low
resident hrook trout population in ~re~n Lake would serve to limit hoth
mink and river otter in the area. "arten fe"d primarily on red Sfjuirre1s
and both species are present, a1thou~h data on population numhers are
lacking.
Willow pta nni qan (Lagopus 1 ago~~) may frequent tho a 1 ni ne zone in
the vicinity of Green Lake and blue qrou~e (Dendragaous obscurus) are
present on Baranof Island. The area was visited at a time when h1ue
grouse matin~ call 5 were heard elsewhere hut none were heard ~Ii thin the
Green Lake drainaqe and the presence of h1ue qrouse in the area is doubtful.
Several waterfowl species prohab1y utilize Green Lake to some extent
during the ice-free period. At least two pairs of Vancouver Canada
geese were nestin~ in the area a10no the lake shore at the time of the
May 28, 1077 survey. ADF'G hio1ogists report that loons, mallards, qreen-
winged teal, mergansers, scoters, qo1den-eve and bufflehead ducks may he
present and some Canada geese reportedly use the lake for restinq in the
fall. One golden-eve and two mergansers were seen on the lake ~ay 28,
10 77. The lake appears well suited for osprey nesting but the lack of a
good resident fish supply prohab1y renders the area unattractive since
there have been no recorded siqhtinqs of this bird.
Sea hirds are year-round residents of Silver Rav and include murres,
Murre1ets, quil1emots, grebes, cormorants and loons. Scoters, nolden-eve,
harlequin, mallard, 01d ~nuaw and ~uff1ehead ducks are also oresont in
Silver Bav on a seasonal hasis. ~n nODulation estimates are availahle for
these soecies ~ut their use of t,e area is not considered to he heavy,
orimari1y due to t~p steeD shorelinn a()~ lack of feerlinn arpas.
------------........ 23
r,reen Lake Supoorts a sMall 1J0nulation I)f Eastprn fJrook trout but
present anoler usage is low accordino to Artwifl F. Schmidt, ADnr, Sl'lort
fish hiologist for the area (pers. comm., 'lay 11. 1"77). 'lin~ fish
samnl~d by oi11 net on ·Iov~mh~r 11. 10 74, averaQerJ "1 CfTl. in lenQth.
Thirty-seven fish sarnnled the same '~ay in ,Julv, 10 68, ilverag~d?:? cm.
in lenqth. The largest fish sampled was 36.5 cm long and weighed 1.1 kg.
Green Lake ~rook trout feed mainly on larvae of the chironomirl oenus
Pseudodiamesa. This oenuc; inhabit.s soft oro~nic ~~diMents present on the
lake bottom at wab>r df'oths of from 5 to ?I) fTleters. l!sually there is but
one generation a year, adult emergence taking place in late fall or in the
spring, dependinq upon the species.
Rear r:reek and \1edvejie Lake currently Suoport a f')olly Varden char
sport fishery for which no creel census data are available. :10 creel census
has been taken of r,reen Lake anglers either hecause of its minor importance
as a snort fishery.
Silver Bay is not a siqnificant producer of commercial marine fishes
but may serve as a rearing area for several species of flatfishes. In the
past herrino used the bay for spawninq, hut no spawninq has occurred in
recent years. The "Iational 'lad"" Fisheries cervicp has conducted two
trawl surveys in Silver Bay. The first, on "ctoher 1, 1967, included two
20-minute hauls at the head of th~ hav in about 55 meters and one at the
entrance to the hav begininQ at 55 meters and efldinQ at 110 meters. Juvenile
flatfiSh, mostly Eflq1ish sole, flathead sole and 1rmon solp, made up the
hulk of tht> catch at the h~i!d of the hay \~l:i1e flathead 501e, rex 5011" and
rockfishes cOfTInrised the hetter nart of t~e ~au1 marlp at the hav Mouth.
0,11 flatfishes taken "Iere iuvenilec;. indicatinn tll~t <:; lver Pay may sprv~
as a rearino area for thes n sneci~s. ~rlu1t rockfishes wrre found m0st1v
------------....... 24
at the bay mouth where habitat and ~iqher salinities Drovide a more suit~ble
environment for these species.
In ~ay 1971 the ~ational Marine Fishpries Service made thrpe ~ore
trawl hauls in Silver Ray. ~ sinqle trawl ~aul at the entrance to t~e
bay yielded a catch comprised mostlv of rockfish as before with small
amounts of flatfish and invertebrates (Tahle 4). Two hauls in the center
of the bay contained mostly flatfish with very small amounts of qadids,
rockfish and invertebrates (Table 5).
Table 4. Composition of fish catches taken bv trawl at the entrance to Silver Bay, May 1971
Depth Bottom Catch Weight of Orqanisms Range Time
(m) (min) (lbs) Flatfish Gadids qockfish Other Invertehrates
55-11 0 1n 80.'1 8.'1 64.'1 8.0
Table 5. Composition of fish catches taken by trawl in the center of Silver Bay, "av 1971
Depth Rottom Catch Weiqht of Organisms
Range Time
(m) (min) (lbs) Flatfish Sadids Rockfish nther Invertebrates
64-91 47 21. 5 '1.7 0.7 tr '1.7
On ~av 30, 1977 large numbers of small herrinq were observed schooling
in the vicinity of log rafts stored alona thn northeast shore of ~ilver Bay.
One hair seal '"las spotted near I~errinq Cove and two active eaale nests were
located and Marked (Figure 3). Humpback whales are rno\·," to freouent Silver
Ray at cprtain times of the Year, especiallv in the fall.
------------........ 25
Rare or Endangered Species
No resident or rare endangered species are known to inhabit or use any area
adjacent to Green Lake or Silver Bay. It is recognized that the humpback whale
is an endangered species and has received international protection since 1966.
Bald Eagles are protected by the National Bald Eagle Act of June 8, 1940 (as
amended).
Critical Habitat:
The onlv habitat area of any concern to OnF&G hiologists is t~e
outlet of Bear Creek into Silver Bay along the aliqnment of the proDosed
access road. T~is stream is considered important as a soort fishi.,q and
anadromous fish stream and, at the State's reauest, ~ridqes, rather than
culverts, will be used for croSSing Bear Creek.
--.. --------------............. . 2fi
PNIR()N~1E'ITAL mpllr:T nF F1F PR0JECT
Physical Imoacts:
The proposed normal maximum pool elevation of 111) meters 'Nill increase
the area of Green Lake from its Dre~ent si!e of 70.2 ~ectares to approximatelv
4')5 hectares. Thi s imooundment \'Iill extend 4.8 k il omeV'rs up t~e Vodopad
River valley from the oresent unper, or eastern, end of the lake. The result
will be an artificial lake approximatelv F.4 kilometers lonq hv n.8
kilometers wide. The 335 hectares of land to ~e inundated contains ahout 240
to 285 hectares of mixed spruce-hemlock old-qrovlth forest with the remainder
a mixture of stands of red alder, small patches of qrass meadow and un-
vegetated overflow channels and gravel bars.
The normal maximum lake depth will increase from the existing 26 meters
to aoproximately 75 meters at normal maximum reservoir. The minimum
reservoir elevation above mean higher hiqh water is proposed to he at 85
meters, the-normal maximum pool at 119 meters. r,iven the most extreme
situation, a drawdown of 33 meters mioht occur. The frequency of a maximum
drawdown is estimated at once in every 4Q vears. At normal pool elevation,
the shoreline l"il1 increase from 5,Q74 mf'ters to aporoximate1v 15,700 meters.
Construction of the required access roads. contractor's staQinq area.
dam site. power house and transmission line will result in an alteration of
34.2 hectares of land. 0f t~is total, 16.8 will he cleared onl". the remain-
ing 17.4 hectares will he oermanently ~ltered hy construction, orimarily as
a result of buildinq the access roads (1f1+ hectares).
Road, power tunnel and site nrep~ration ~ill result in the ~astinq of
an estimated 92,880 cubic meters of ~ateri~l as follows: 64,220 cubic
meters during access road construction south of Bear Cove, 6,970 cubic
,-------------......... 27
meters during Dower tunnel construction, 19,400 cubic meters fro~ power
house site preparation and 2,290 cubic meters as a result of coffer dam
construction (Table 6). IIlmost all of this surnlus mat"riill will 1'1"
wasted into Silver Bay. resultinq in a major Source of turhidity at
certain times during construction. The major rock tyoe to be excavated.
graywacke. is verv hard and geoloqists have estimated that onlv about five
percent of the excavated volume will he fine "nouqh to pass a 2~0-me~h
sieve. Based on this estimate. the expected fraction of excavat~d and
wasted material that will result in significant tur~iditv is about
4,650 cubic meters. This volume of wasted material equals about 0.026
percent of the total water mass of Silver Ray and the estimated fraction
composed of fines about 0.001 percent of t~e total volume of the hay. if
we were to assume homogeneous mixing. Under natural conditions, however,
most of this material is expected to be carried out of the bay and
dispersed by the upper, less saline, layer of water.
The time of year and duration of activities resulting in turbidity
are important factors in determining the imoact of additions of fines to
the waters of Silver Bay. The most recent construction schedule available
(Douglas Brawley, R\~B, ners. comm., June 27, l Q77) indicates that the
wasting ooerations south of Bear Cove will commence about August 1, 1978,
and ~e completed by a~out ~ovemher 30, 1078. This is t~e time period
duri nQ access road cons tructi on when fi nes wi 11 he ~/as ted into the bay
south of Bear Cove. ~lMost all fines resultinq from road construction are
exnected to come from this seqment of the road dup to the ext~nsive amount
of full hench excavation reouired.
----------.........
In addition to wastinll material into ~ilver Bay, all construction
will require blasting. Coffer d~m co st t' '11 n ruc lon ~l he done durinll ~~rch.
1979, power house site excavation durl'n n M,av, l07 n , and h
'I 1 t e POl~er tunnel
will be excavated from June throuqh Septemher. 1979.
T?ble 6. ~stimated time, ?uration, amount of material, an~ ~mount of fln~s oasslnq a ?nn-mesh Sleve that will he wasted into ~ilver Rav
durlnq constructlon of the ~reen Lake hvdroelectric project
------------------
Activity Time Period
Access ~oad Auq.-Nov. 30
Construction 1978
South of Bear
Cove
Coffer Oams ~arch 1979
Power Tunnel June-Sept. 1979
Biological Imoacts:
---------------
Amount of 'lateri a 1
to he Yasted (m3)
64,220
2,290
19,400
6,970
Amount of Fines
(m 3 )
3,210
115
970
350
Biological impacts resultinq from the construction and operation of
the Sreen Lake hydroelectric Dower project will occur as a result of
imDoundment and construction and will affect hoth the flora and the fauna
of the immediate project area, Green Lake. the Vodopad River valley and
Silver Bay.
J~Dacts uoon flora; There will he a direct loss of vegetative oroduction
from rouqhlv 335 hectares of forested lands, some 24n to 285 hectares of
which supports stands of commercial timber averaqinq anywhere from R,l'Il'In
to 18.000 board feet per hectare. Initiallv all commercial timber will be
~------.
removed from the impoundment area and sold. Thus, the old-growth timber
that ,,,ould be inundated as the reservoir fills will be salvaQed. The area
will, however, be taken out of future timher production. This removal will
represent an estimated future timber loss of betl'leen 20 and 40 mill ion
board feet durinq the next 100 year rotation. Road construction will
result in the loss of anout 24 hectares of old-growth ti~ber ~nd a
corresponding amount of winter deer range along the northeast shore of
Silver Bay in addition to the undetermined amount of range lost throuoh
impounanent.
Imoacts upon fauna in the Green Lake drainage; FlOoding the lower
4.8 kilometers of the Vodopad River will Virtually eliminate the majority
of brook trout spawning grounds. It is difficult to determine at this
time I"lhether or not suitable soawnino areas will still be availal11e
once t~e reservoir reaches the olanned elevation of 119 meters. At
present, however, it appears that the natural reproductive capabil lty of
the resident trout population will be lost as a result of habitat
alteration. The 10l'ier Vodopad River betl'leen the outlet of Green Lake
and Silver Bay flows through a steep gorge. This segment of the river
is blOCked to anadromous fishes by an imoassahle falls at the river mouth.
The entire gorge is insignificant as wildlife habitat.
Something less than 335 hectares of potential deer habitat will he
lost through impoundment. The amount of actual hahitat loss is difficult
to ascertain without intensive investiqation hut not all the land to be
flooded represents usable hahitat. Disolaced deer may not find adjacent
areas below carrying capacity, however, and any adjustment in deer
nopulations in the vicinity of r.re~~ Lake as ~ result of this project
,s
L
--------------........ 3')
must be expected to include Some loss of animals that otherwise would not
have occurred. The same may be said for furhearers, other small mammals
and birds that presently rely on ha~itat that will he flooded. ~ountain
goat oODulations, on the other hand, ~ill proha~ly not be qreatly affected
directly hy the project, although il'loroved access to the area may result
in future increases in hunting pressure. Bear oopulations will he little
affected by the project.
Birds, especially waterfowl, currently nesting, restinq or feedinQ
at Green lake will also suffer a loss of habitat. Although the shoreline
will be increased almost three times, this increase does not reoresent a
gain in shoreline habitat due to drawdown effects and loss of shallow
water areas important for food production. The lake will still serve as
a restinq area for migrating birds.
Impacts upon the fauna of Silver Bay; Two factors of major importance
will exert an influence uoon the biotic communitv of Silver Bay as a result
of project construction. First, the spoilinq of materials into the bay
along the access road and at the power station site will disturb the
littoral habitat and result in an initial loss of invertebrates and marine
macrophytes. This effect will be transitory in nature because materials
spoiled do not differ siqnificantly from the existinq substrate. As
recolonization occurs there exists a very strong possihilitv of additional
production due to the presence of more interstices in the deposited
materials than are now present in the natural state. At any rate,
recolonization will occur within a period of two to three years with an
expected increase in some species, particularly some shri~ps and juvenile
-
,D ------------........ 31
rockfishes, and possible declines in other forms more dependant on a
soft substrate. The assumption that recolonization will OCcur in
approximately the manner described is based UPon th~ author's 12 years
of experience observing Similar situations as a diver-biologist in
southeast Alaska.
Second, the addition of fine sediments during certain periods of
construction will create abnormal turbiditv levels. Tur~idity will
directly affect some forms by its physical presence. For example, siqht
feeding birds and fishes will have reduced visibility. Turbidity also
decreases the ability of liqht to penetrate the ''1ater column and thereby
reduces photosynthetic activity of the p"vtoplankton and marine macro-
phytes. Reduced plankton and a1qal production, in turn, lowers the food
web base and all other aquatic production as well.
Two factors have considerable bearinq on the impact of excessive
turbidity upon the marine ecosystem of Silver Bay. First, the timing
and duration of sediment introduction influences the effect of increased
turhidity. Second, the natural circulation of \'Iatp.r in Silver ~av governs,
to a large extent, the dissipation of introduced sediments. These two
factors a~ dependent to 11 great degree upon each other hecause of the
typical fiord-type circulation pattern rlescri~ed in an earlip.r section.
Should addition of sediments be timed to coincide with expected periods
of high runoff, adverse impacts may be expected to be less than if
introduction of sedimp.nts occurs durinq oeriods of low runoff. Thp.
reason for this is that the outward movement of the laver of freshwater
on top of tfJe bay \'Ii11 serve to carry out and disperse introduced sp.diment
more readily during high runoff periods. Heavv sediment introductions
-
----------...... 32
resulting in marked increases in turbidity are known to OCcur naturally
in Silver Bay. While such natural introductions are ohviouslv of shorter
duration, the amount of materials introducpd, t~eir impact on the existing
environment and the pattern of their dissipation has not been stUdied.
Blasting and heavy equipment operation during road construction and
excavation of the pm1er house site will create a noise disturbance that
will affect the use of the hay by marin~ birds and other animals. The
actual effect of such disturbances cannot he measured easily hut is
assumed to be an adverse, though temporary, impact of the rroject.
These same disturbances will have an adverse impact on the use of the
two active eagle nests situated along the shore between Herring Cove and
Bear Cove close to the proposed road alignment. Scheduling of road
construction may reduce this impact considerahly if construction near
these sites is completed prior to nestinQ or curtailed until after the
young eagles have fledged. Nest building commences in early April and
most eaglets are fully feathered and ready to fly hy the end of July.
Impacts upon recreation; During field investigations of the r,reen
lake dam site on ~ay 30, 1977, the study team met a party of two hiking
into Green lake with a rubber raft. On ~ay 28, four pleasure craft were
observed at the upper end of Silver Bay. Recreational anglinQ in Green
lake is not considered significant by ADF~G personnel stationed at Sitka.
Nonetheless, some residents do make use of the recreational opportunities
and scenic values afforded by Green lake. The access trail, though
relatively short (about 1 kilometer), is arduous and lake use is limited
by the ruggedness of the intervening terrain and the difficulty of fishing
the lake without a hoat.
--------......... 33
The impact of the project on recreational use of the area will be
two-fold. Durinq construction the access road and construction areas
will be closed to the public for safety reasons. After construction is
completed, however, the road will provide much easier foot access to
Green Lake and, in conjunction with a fish stockinq proqram by the
ADF&G, can afford increased angling opportunities. ~ boat mooring bouy
proposed for installation in Silver Bav in the vicinity of the power
house will enhance access to Green Lake. Anv ADF&G stocking program
for Green Lake will depend upon the Citv's granting public access to
the lake shore.
MEASURES TO ENHANCE OR AVOID ADVERSE EFFECTS
TO THE E~VIRONMENT
The possibility of usinq tail race water from the power house as a
water Source for a State operated salmon hatchery has been under
consideration for some time by ADF&G biologists. No deciSion has been
reached to date because of certain unanswered water quality questions.
Namely, periodic natural high levels of turhidity would render the
water supply unsuitable for hatchery use. f~atural discharges of
sediment from the r,reen Lake watershed have created excessive turbidity
in Silver Bay on past occasions. Th~ AOF\r, will not commit itself to
such a project until certain that appropriate qualitv water is available
at all times according to Kenneth Leon, F.R.E.D. Oivision, A~F&G,
Juneau, Alaska (pers. comm., ~ay 26, lQ77).
----------....... 34
Water temperatures taken twice daily (f17f)0 and 1900 hrs.) at the
Blue lake power house between r~ay 25, 1977, and June 6, 1977, show that
the temperature of the tailrace water averages anout lOCo lower than
that of water entering the plant from Slue lake. The proposed Green
lake project is similar enough to the ~lue lake facility to infer that
some slight drop in temperature might be expected at the Green lake
tailrace as well. For the purpose of rearing salmon, water temperatures
slightly colder than normal may have the advantage of reducinq the
incidence of early emergence from the incubators should that factor be
a problem.
The State will consider stocking the resulting impoundment with
either brook trout or rainbow trout if public access to the lake is
assured by the City and Borough of Sitka. Blue lake was stocked after
impoundment and became relatively productive for a period of about 10
years or so as decompOSing organic debris added nutripnts to the reservoir
waters. Blue lake productiVity has now stabilized at a comparatively
low level. ranking 11th among 13 lakes studied by the ADF&G with a
morphoedaphic index of only 0.42. A similar evolution in productive
capacity can be anticipated for the proposed Green lake reservoir.
With the advent of easier foot access and installation of a mooring
bouy, coupled with a stocking program, the ~reen lake impoundment will
provide increased angling opportunities to Sitka area residents. In
addition, access road passage over the two main channels of Bear Creek
in Bear Cove will be accomplished by bridging to prevent any impediment
to fish movement (Figure 5).
----------......... 35
Other measures that can be taken to mitigate adverse impacts include
the scheduling of blasting to coincide with periods of low waterfowl use
in the vicinity of Silver Bay. The fall migration period is perhaps the
most critical. To provide protection for humpback whales it is recommended
that blasting operation be delayed should humpback whales appear within
one (1) nautical mile of the blasting site. This should provide adequate
protection for this species since no underwater blasting will be taking
place. Impacts of wasting materials that will result in increased turbi-
dity can be reduced by scheduling wasting to coincide with periods of an-
ticipated high runoff whenever possible. The time of the spring melt and
fall rains would encompass two such periods. Road construction activities
in the vicinity of the two active eagle trees should be completed prior
to nesting or delayed until after the young eagles have left the nests.
Insulators on power transmission poles should be spaced so as to prevent
the electrocution of large birds such as eagles that might use power
transmission poles as perching sites.
UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
No agency has identified any critical wildlife habitat within the
proposed project area. There will be a loss of approximately 23 hectares
of good deer winter range along the northeast shore of Silver Bay due to
construction of the 10.5 kilometer access road.
Inundation will preempt the use of the area around Green Lake and
the Vodopad River valley for future timber production. Portions of the
approximately 405 hectares to be flooded will be lost as habitat for
deer, furbearers, small mammals and terrestrial feeding and nesting birds.
Waterfowl use of Green Lake will be reduced, except as a resting area for
migrating birds and this use may also decline as well since shallow areas
now producing some feed will be removed from production as the lake level
rises. Spawning areas in the Vodopad River now available to the resident
brook trout population will be greatly reduced or lost. This loss may be
,s ----------------......... 31i
Figure 5. Bear Creek. flowinq from ~edvejie Lake into
Bear Cove, is an anadromous fish stream and ·-till he
bridged to insure access by fish at all water stages.
,pi ------------......
----------....... 37
offset in the event the AOF&G decides to stock the lake with the same
or another species of Sport fish.
Diver-biologists of the National ~arine Fisheries Service have
concluded that rock debris wasted into Silver Bay will smother any
attached life forms (Appendix 3). They note in their report, however,
that the rock introduced to top of the natural rock habitat already
present should be repopulated by the same attached life forms that
presently Occur in the area. Infauna on soft hottoms, however, may not
recolonize if these areas are smothered by rock debris. Hence. a
change in the local exosystem may OCcur in areas having soft bottoms
due to the change in habitat brought on by alterations in the composition
of the substrate.
Turhidity resultinq from wasting materials into Silver Ray may
temporarily reduce the numbers of sight-feeding fishes and ~irds.
Estimates of the amount of fines (Table 6) have been set conservatively
high and the impact of their introduction into the marine ecosystem will
probably be, if anything, less than anticipated. This reduction of
sight-feeding forms will only last for the construction period and
populations of such fishes and hirds should reach ore-oroject levels
soon after turbidity reaches normal concentrations in the affected areas.
The AOF&G has 10n9 recogni zed that any hydroe lectri c project proposed
for Green lake will, in their estimation, have little or no major imoact
on fish and wildlife resources in the project area. In an April 17, lQ69,
memo from larry J. Heckart, Fishery Biologist, Sport Fish Division, Sitka.
to Tom Richardson, Area Management Biologist, Commercial Fish Division,
----------....... 38
Juneau, Heckart cited no objections to such a proPosed prOject. Several
years later in a memo dated July 15, 1975, to Raymond Estess, State-
Federal Coordinator, Division of Policy and Planning, Office of the
Governor, James W. Brooks, Commissioner of Fish and Game, stated that
no major impact was forseeahlp. to fish and wilrllife from such a proposed
project. The Department has not chanQed its viewpoint over the inter-
vening years according to Richard D. Rep.d, Rp.Qional Habitat Coordinator
(pers. co""'., Mav 26, 1977) and Dr. Ronald I). Skoog, Director of the
Department's Habitat Division (pers. comm., May 26,1977).
RElATIONSHIP BETWEEN U)CAL SHOqT -TERri USES
OF MAN'S ENVIRONMENT AND THE ~AINTENANCE
AND ENHANCEME~T OF LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY
The local short-term use of Green Lake as a reservoir for hydro-
electric generation will alter the impacted ecosystem for the Green Lake
area for the life of the project as a result of the installation of the
dam and power house facility and the construction of access roads to the
power house and dam site. The ecosystems of aoproximately 405 hectares
of forest land and the existing lentic and lotic freshwater environments
will be transformed from their present state to one common to cold water
impoundments. The use of the area by terrestrial and aquatic species
currently present will not bp. restored in less than 100 years after
termination of the project, which has a conservative life span of 50
years. Thus, for a period of approximately 150 to 2no yp.ars the
productivity of the project area will be tIJat associated with an i",pound-
ment Situation, undoubtedly resulting in a marked lowerino of the biomass
on a per hectare basis.
--------3Q
The short-term effects of spoiling materials into Silver Bay as a
result of construction will impact the marine ecosystem for a much briefer
period of time. While some permanent shifts in aquatic associations may
take place in areas where soft substrate is overlain with wasted rock,
these areas will become productive as altered ecosystems within a
relatively short period (approximately 2 to 5 years). 0f the six sites
investigated during the most recent National ~arine Fis,eries Service
diving survey (Appendix 3), h~o had soft bottoms. Assuming one third
of the shoreline is thus represented, approximatelv three kilometers
of littoral zone may be so affected. Productivity in these areas will
not be lost, however, only altered to accommodate other speCies of flora
and fauna.
IRREVERSIBLE liND IRRETRIEVABLE CI)~IT""ENTS 'IF PESOURCES
Permanent changes in habitilt within the project area will Occur
within the impoundment area (approximately 405 hectares) and on an
additional 34.5 hectares involved i~ construction of access roads,
facilities and power line riqhts of way. In addition, the littoral
and sublittoral zone of approximately three ~ilometers of Silver Bay
shoreline will underQo some alteration in ecosystem type due to the
wasting of materials during road, Dower house and pO~/er tunnel
construction. These changes will be accomnanied bv a concomitant loss
of species and individuals ilssociated with these hanitats.
Permanent chanqes in present ,>pec i es comoos iti on and numbers l'Ii 11
be most marked within th~ iMpoundment area. Terrestrial species of
--------........ 40
flora and fauna within the area to he inundatpd will, for the most
part, be lost unless adjacent arpas are below the carrying capacity
for the species involved. 0uantification of these losses is extrem~ly
difficult without exhaustive Dooulatfon studies of all forms present.
The area is, however, not considered a critical one for any of the
species involved and their loss must Simply be accepted as a trade-
off should the project be authorized and constructed as planned.
,-------------........ 41
R I RLI ()GRAPHY
,1\non.
1976. Federal Threatened and Endanqered S~ecies: As ouh1ished in the
Federal ~egister. Most recently: Fed. Reg. Vol. 41, ~lo. 2()8. Oct. 1976
Anon.
1977. Alaska Wnd1ife "1anaqement Plans, Southeastern Alaska.
Alaska Dept. Fish and Game, Juneau, Alaska. 156 pp. (draft)
Anon.
1Q77. Green Lake Project Evaluation Report.
R.W. Reck and Associates. 2,.,,' Tower Bldg., Seattle, I~n. 9B101 (no pagination)
Barnes. C.A., et. al.
1956. OceanographY-of Silver Bay.
Univ. of Wash., Dept. Oceanography, Special Rpt. ~o. 24, Sec.
II & III. 145 pp.
Barr, Louis
1970. Alaska's Fishery Resources, the shrimps.
National Marine Fisheries Service, Auke Bay, Alaska. 10 pp.
Harris, Arland S., et. al.
1974. The forest ecosystem of southeast Alaska, 1. the setting.
U.S. Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rpt. PNW 12, Porta1nd, Or. 40 pp.
Hodge. Robert Parker
1976. Amphibians and reptiles in Alaska, the Yukon and ~orthwest
Territories. Alaska Northwest Publishing Co .• Anchorage, Alaska.
89 pp. i 11 us .
Hoopes, David T. (ed.)
1977. Southeast Alaska Area Guide.
U.S. Forest Service, Juneau, Alaska. 280 pp.
Hutchison, O. Keith
1968. Alaska's forest resource.
U.S. Forest Service Res. Ru11. P~W 19. Juneau. Alaska. 74 p~.
Jones, Carter and Genoways
1975. The revised checklist of North American malll'lals north of Mexico.
Occasional Paper No. 28. Texas Tech. Univ., Lubhock, Texas
McAlister, William Rruce, Maurice Rattray, Jr. and Clifford A. Barnes
1959. The dynamics of a fiord estuary: Silver Bay, Alaska.
Univ. Wash., Dept. Oceanography, Tech. qpt. ~o. 62. ~() pp.
,-------------........ 42
McCoy, George A., William W. ~/iggins and Artwin E. Schmidt
1977. limnological investigations of six lakes in southeast Alaska.
U.S. Geological Survey, Juneau, Alaska. 1 pg. (maps)
~cGuire, John R.
1976. Alaska lumber and Pulp Company Timber Sale 1976-1981 noerating Period.
Final Environmental Impact Statement. U.S. Forest Service, Juneau, Alaska. 500 pp.
Meehan, William R.
1974. The forest ecosystem of southeast Alaska, 4. wildlife habitats.
U.S. Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rpt. PNW 16, Portland, Or. 32 pp.
Montgomery, Donald T. and Ronald J. BerQ
1977. Southeast Alaska pre-project investigations.
U.S. Fish and Wildl. Ser., Juneau, Alaska. 329 PP.
Schmidt, Artwin and F. Stuart Robards
1975. Federall\id in Fish Restoration Sport Fish Division Vol. 16,
Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Juneau, Alaska. 111 PP.
Schultz, Robert D. and Ronald J. Berg
1976. Some effects of log dumping on estuaries. ~at. ~arine Fish. Ser., Juneau, Alaska. 64 Pp. (processed)
Se1kregg, Lidia l. (ed.)
undated. Alaska Regional Profiles, Southeast Region.
Univ. Alaska, Arctic Environ. Info. and Data Center. 233 pp.
Swanston, D. N.
1972. landslide analysis and control.
Talk given before Forest Service geoloqist conference, Missoula, Montana. 31 pD. (processed)
1974. The forest ecosystem of southeast Alaska, 5. soils mass movement.
U.S. Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rpt. PN'" 17, Portalnd, Or. 22 pp.
Viereck, leslie A. and Elbert l. little, Jr.
1974. Guide to Alaska Trees.
U.S. Forest Service, Washinqton, D.C. 98 pp.
Wi 1 son, Ri chard ri.
1977. Aquaculture facilities located at Hidden Falls lake and Sandy Bav,
Final Environmental Impact Statement, Specialist Reports.
U.S. Forest Service, Sitka, Alaska. (no pagination)
Yates, C.A. t 1
1975. West Chichagof-Yakohi Island Draft Environmen a Statement.
U.S. Forest Service, Juneau, Alaska. 109 op.
----------...... 43
Rattray, Maurice, Jr.
1967. Some aspects of the dynamics of circulation in fjords. (in)
Estuaries, Amer. Assoc. Advancement Sci. :52-62.
• . 1
J
;.'
!
----------...... PAVID TOWNSEND HOOPES, Ph.D.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING
P.o. BOX 373
CLARK FORK
IDAHO 83811
U.S.A.
July 15, 1977
To:
From:
Subject:
June 3:
June 6:
Dona 1 dE. BOI,tes
David T. Hoopes
City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska
Green lake Project
FollOl'l-u on Consultations with Concerned Federal and State Aqencies
Visited aboard R/V Curle"/, F!o/S research vessel, in Sitka to discuss
further the F!-1S survey of Green lake and Sil ver Ray. Gave party 1 eader,
Donald T. ~bntgomery, data on eaqle nest locations and reiterated a request for the results of their survey.
'1et with /fiFS Regional Director, Harry l. Rietze, and Supervisor of
NMFS' Division of Environmental Assessment, Fred Thorsteinson, and
received additional assurance that results of the W1FS divinq survey in
Silver Bay I-lOuld be made available in a timely manner (they were).
Obtained soecies lists of flora and fauna common to southeast Alaska
for inclusion in report from Dr. William l. Sheridan, Fisheries and
Wildlife ~anagement Coordinator, U.S. Forest Service, p.n. Box 1628, Juneau, Alaska 99802.
Obtained list of aquatic insects from Mr. Steven T. Elliott, Sport
Fish Division, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, ~laska .
'I'NJID ON 100% RECYCLED F'APCFi:
------------........
APPENDIX I
r ----------......
TABLE 1. Terrestria! flora common to the Green Lake watershed and the
northeast shore of Sllver Bay. Baranof Island, AlaSka.
COlllllon ~ame
Lodqepole nine
Sitka spruce
Westem hemlock
Mountain hemlock
Alaska-cedar
B 1 ad cot tonwood
Scouler willow
Si tka wi 11 ow
Red alder
Sitka alder
Sitka mountain-ash
Douglas maple
Alaska blueberry
Beach ryegrass
Bog blueberry
Bog rosemary
Bracken fem
Buckbean
Bunchberry
Buttercup
Chocolate 1 i ly
Cloudberry
Clubmoss
Conmon hai r moss
Conmon juniper
Copperbush
Cow parsnip
Crowberry
Deerberry
Deer cabbage
Deerfem
Devilsclub
Dwa rf b 1 uebe rry
Early blueberry
Feather moss
Fireweed
Five-leaved bramble
Foamflower
tloatsbeard
Juniper-leaved hair moss
Laborador tea
Scienti fie Name
Pi nus contorta
Picea sitchensis
Tsuqa heterophylla
Tsuqa mertensiana
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis
Populus trichocarpa
Salix scouleriana
Salix sitchensis
Alnus rubra
Alnus STri'liata
sorbUs sitchensfs
Acer glabrum·
Vaccinium alaskensis ~ Il1011 is
Vaccinium uliginosum
Anadromeda polifolia
Pteridfum aquilinum ssp. langinosum
Menyanthes trifoliata
Comus canadensis
Ranunculus spp.
Fritillaria camschatcensis
Rubus chamaemorus
GCOji"odilll1 sop.
Polytrichum commune
Juniperus conmunis
Cladothamnus pyrolaeflorus
Heracleum lanatum
Empetrlll1 nigrum
Mafanthemum dilatatum
Veratrum vi ride
Blechnum spTCant
~plopanax horridus
Vaccinium caespitosum
Vaccinium ovalifolium
Rhytidiadelphus loreus
Epilobium angustifolium
Rubus redatus
ffarel a trifoliata
Aruncus sylvester
Polytrichum juniperinum
Ledu~ groenlandicum
------------.......
TABLE 1. (cont.)
Lowbush cranberry
Lupine
Marsh marigold
"!arsh violet
Nagoon berry
Northern geranium
Oak fern
Qregon crabapple
Ostrich-plumed feather moss
Pacific red elder
Rattlesnake root
Red huckleberry
Rusty menziesia
Salmonberry
Sedge
Shooting star
Silverweed cinquefoil
Single delight
Skunk cabbage
Sphagnum moss
Spreading wood fern
Star flower
Sti nk currant
Swamp laurel
Swedish dwarf cornel
Thimbleberry
Thread moss
Trailing black currant
Twisted stalk
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Lupinus nootkafensrs-
Ca 1 tha h ifl ora
Viola palustris
Rubus arcticus
r,eranium erianthum
Gvmnocarpium drfopteris
~alus diversifo ia
Pflflum crista-castrensis
-Sambucus ---canTcarpa
Prenanthes alata
Vaccinium parvTfolium
Menziesia ferruginea
Rubus spectahilis
Carex spp.
OOdeCatheon spp.
Potentilla aoserina
Moneses uniflora
Lys;ch;ton americanum
SphagnlJll spp.
Dryopteris dilatata
Trientalis europaea
Ribes bracteosum
Kalmia polifolia
Cornus suecica
Rubus parviflorus
'~ium glabrescens
Ribes laxiflorum
streptopus amplexifolius
11
----------......
TABLE 2. Invertebrates collected from 'ireen Lake during September, 1976.
Specimens were obtained from brook trout (Sa1ve1inus fontina1is) stomach
samples and should be representative of their feeding habits [data from
ADF&G Fishery Biologist Steven T. Elliott, Juneau, Alaska, June 6, 1Q77. (personal communication)
Scienti fi c l'lame
Sphaeridae
Gantnarus sP.
Hydracarina
Ephemeroptera
Ameletus sp.
Plecoptera
Nemoura (Zapada) sp.
Capnia sp.
Alloperla sp.
Kathroperl asp.
Tri choptera
Rhyacoph 11 asp.
Linmephilidae
Coleoptera
Agabus sp.
Hydroporus sp.
Ilybius sp.
Diptera
Dicranota sp.
Tipul asp.
Pseudodiamesa spp. 11
Micropsectra spp.
Atherix sp.
Dolichopodidae
Dominant fish food species
Collection Locality
Inlet Lake
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x
x
----------.......
TABLE 3. Checklist of amphibians that may OCcur in the Green lake watershed.
Corrmon Name
Order Caudata
Rough-skinned newt
I)rder Anura
Western toad
Scientific Name
Taricha granulosa
.. ----------------------.~
TABLE 4. Corrmon species of birds either present or believed to occur
in the Green Lake watershed and Silver Rav area of Baranof Islanj, Alaska.
COlTl11on ~ame
Order Gaviiformes
Corrmon loon
Arctic loon
Red-throated loon
Order Podicipediformes
Western grebe
Order Proce11ariiformes
Northern fu1 mar
Sooty shearwater
Fork-tailed storm petrel
Leach's storm petrel
Order Pe1ecaniformes
Double-crested cormorant
Pelagic cormorant
Order Ciconiiformes
t;reat blue heron
Order Anseriformes
Vancouver Canada goose
~'a 11 ard
Pintail
Green-winged teal
Blue-winged teal
Ameri can wi geon
Northern shoveler
t;reater scaup
Lesser scaup
COlTl11on goldeneye
Barrow's goldeneye
Bufflehead
(')1 dsquaw
Harlequin duck
White-winged scoter
Surf scoter
Corrmon merganser
Red-breasted merganser
Sci entifi c ~ame
r,avi 11 immer
r,avi a arctTca
r,avia stell ata
Aechmophorus occidentalis
Fu1maris glacialis
Puffinus griseus
~ceanodroma furcata
Oceanodroma 1eucorhoa
Pha1acrocorax auritus
Pha1acrocorax pe1agicus
Ardea herodias
Branta canadensis fu1va
Anas platyrhynchos--
Anas acuta
/'m as crecca
An a s dfS'C"Or"s
Anas americana
Anas clypeata
Aythya marila
Aythya affi ni s
Bucepha1a c1angu1a
Bucephala is1andica
Bucepha1a a1beo1a
Clangu1a hyema1is
Histrionicus histrionicus
'1e1anitta deqlandi
~elanitta perspicil1ata
Mergus merganser
"lergus serrator
TABLE 4. (cont.)
Order Falconiformes
Goshawk
Sharp-shinned hawk
Bald eagle
Marsh hal1k
Order Charadri Hormes
Black oystercatcher
Semi palma ted plover
Black turnstone
Conmon snipe
!~himbrel
Spotted sandpiper
Greater yellowlegs
Lesser yellowlegs
Wandering tattler
Least sandpiper
Dunlin
Western sandpiper
Sanderl ing
Red phalarope
~orthern phalarope
Parasitic jaeqer
'il aucous gull
Glaucous-winged Qull
HerrinQ Qull
Mew gull-
Bonaparte's gull
Black-legged kittiwake
/lrctic tern
CORmOn murre
Pigeon quillemot
"'arbled murrelet
Ancient murrelet
Cassin's aUklet
Rhinoceros aUklet
Horned puffin
Tufted puffin
0rder Strigiformes
Boreal owl
Order Apodiformes
Rufous hunmingbird
Order Coraciformes
Belted kingfisher
----------........
ACCipiter ~entilis
ACCipiter striatus
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Circus ganeus
Haematopus hachmani
Charadrius semipalmatus
Arenaria melanocephala
Capella gallinage
Nume~ius D~aeopus
Actitis macularia
Tringa melanoleuca
Trinqa flavipes
Heteroscelus incanus
Calidris minutilla
Calidris alpina
Calidris mauri
Calidris alba
Phalaropus-fUlicarius
Lobipes Iobatus
Stercorarius parasiticus
Larus hyperboreus
Larus glaucescens
Larus argentatus
Larus canus
Larus iJfiTfadelohia
Rissa tridactyla
~terna paradisaea
Uria aalge
Cepphus columba
Rrachyramphus marmoratus
Synthliboramphus antiguus
Ptychoramphus aleuticus
Cerorhinca monocerata
Fratp.rcula corniculata
Lunda ci rrha ta
Aegolius funereus
Selasphorus rufus
~egaceryle alcyon
----------.........
TABLE 4. (cont.)
Order Piciformes
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
Hairy woodpecker
Downy woodpecker
Order Passeriformes
Western flycatcher
Violet-green swallow
Tree swallow
Ban k swa 11 ow
Barn swallow
Steller's jay
COIIIIIOn raven
Northwestern crow
Chestnut-backed chickadee
Dipper
Winter wren
American robin
Varied thrush
Hermit thrush
Swainson's thrush
Golden-crowned kinglet
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Water pipit
Northern shrike
Orange-crowned warbler
Yellow warbler
Townsend's warbler
Wi] son's warb 1 er
Pine grosbeak
Gray-crowned rosy finch
Pine siskin
Red crossbi 11
Savannah sparrow
Dark-eyed junco
Oreqon junco
Hhite-crowned sparrow
Fox sparrow
Lincoln's sparrow
Song sparrow
Sphyrapicus varfus
Picoides vil~
Picoides Qubescens
Empidonax difficilis
Tachycineta thalassina
Iridoprocne bicolor
Riparia riparfa
Hirundo rustica
Cyanocitta stelleri
Corvus corax
Corvus cat.i'rTnus
Parus rufescens
ClnCfus mexicanus
Troglodytes troglodytes
Turdus mfgratorius
Ixoreus naevius
Catharus guttatus
Catharus ustulatus
Regulus satrapa
Regulus calendula
I\nthus spinoletta
Lanius excubHor
vermtVora celata
Dendroica ~ia
Dendroica townsendi
Wilsonia pusilla
Pinicola enucleator
Leucosticte tephrocotis
Carduelis pinus
Loxia curvirostra
PaSSerculus sandwichensfs
Junco hyemalis
Junco oreganus
zonotr;chia leucophrys
Passerella iliaca
~elospfza l~ii
~elospiza melodia
------------......
TABLE 5. Checklist of mammals k~own or believed to OCCur in the Green
lake watershed and Silver Bay, elther as resident or transient species, both terrestrial and marine.
Co""'on ~ame
Order Insectivora
r1asked shrew
Dusky shrew
Northern water shrew
Pygmy shrew
Order Chi roptera
Keen I s bat
li ttl e brown bat
Order lagomorpha
Pika
Order Rodentia
Deer mouse
Northern bog lellJlling
Brown 1 e"", i n g
Northern red-backed vole
~leadow vole
long-tailed vole
Tundra vole
11eadow jumping mouse
Red squirrel
Order Carnivora
Brown (grizzly) bear
Pine marten
Ermine
Mink
Order Pinnipedia
~orthern sea lion
Harbor seal
Order Cetacea
"1inke Whale
Humpback whale
Killer whale
Harbor porpoi se
Dall porpoise
Order Artiodactyla
Sitka black-tailed deer
"1ountain goat
Scientific ~Iame
Sorex cinereus
Sorex obscurus
Sorex palustris
Microsorex hoyi
Myotfs keeni
"1yotfs lucifuqus
Ochotona collaris
Peromyscus maniculatus
Synaptomys borealis
lemmus sibiricus
C1ethrionomys rutilus
~icrotus pennsylvanicus
~icrotus lonqicaudus
Microtus oeconomus
Zapus hudsonius
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Ursus arctos
Martes americana
Mustela enninea
~fa vison
Eumetopfas jubata
Phoca vitul ina
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
'leqaptera nodosa
Grampus rectipinna
Phocoena phocoena
P~ocoenofdes dalli
Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis
Qreamnos americanus
----------.......
TABLE 6. Common marine plants known to OCcur in Silver Bay and the surrounding waters, Baranof Island, Alaska.
Scientific ~ame
Phylum Chlorophyta
Ulva sp.
Phylum Phaeophyta
Agarum cri brosum
Fucus distichus
Laiiiinaria sp.
Desmarestia intermedia
Phylum Rhodophyta
Cora 11 ina sp.
Lithothamnion sp.
Rhodymenia pertusa
Marine Phanerogams
Zostera marina
C 01llllO n N a me
Sea lettuce
Pop kelp
"ugarwrack
Cora 11 i ne algae
Red rock crust
Red eyelet s11 k
Eelgrass
------------......
TABl~ 7. Common mar~ne invertebrates known to Occur or believed present
in S11ver Bay and adJacent waters, Baranof Island, AlaSka.
SCientific "lame
Phylum Chordata
Class Ascidiacea
Cnemidocarpa joannae
Corella willmeriana
Halocynthia aurantium
Halocynthia sp.
Phylum Cnidaria
Cl ass Hydrozoa
Aurelia labriata
Cyanea capi 11 a ta
Phylum Brachipoda
Class Articulata
Terebratalia transversa
Phylum ~nnelida
Class Polvchaeta
Ilere"is vexillosa
Serpula vermicularis
Phylum Echiurida
Echiurus echiurus alaskensis
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Crustacea
Balanus glandula
Tylos sp.
Elassochirus tenuimanus
Pagurus hirsutiuculus
Hemigrapsis nudus
Hemigrapsis oregonensis
Oregonia gracilis
Chionoecetes bairdi
Paralithodes camtschatica
Pandalus horealis
Pandalopsis dispar
Phylum -1ollusca
Class Amphineura
Tonicella lineata
Common Name
Tunicates
Broad base sea squirt
Sea peach
Sea squirt
~loon je llyfi sh
Sea blub~er
Lamp shell
Clam worm
Calcareous tube worm
Echiuroid worm
Rarnacle
Isopor!
Thin handed hermit crab
~airy hermit crab
Purple shore cra~
Common mud flat crab
Decorator crab
Tanner crab
King crab
Pink shrimp
Sidestripe shrimp
Lined chiton
, ----------.......
TABLE 7. (cont.)
Class Pelecypoda
Chlamys hastata hericia
Chlamys rebida
MytH us eduH s
Pododesmus macrochisma
Saxidomus giganteus
Protothaca staminea
Clinocardium nuttallii
Class Gastropoda
Acmaea sp.
Calliostoma ligatum
Hermissenda crassicornis
Littorina so.
Archidoris montereyensis
Archidoris odhneri
Melibe leonina
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Asteroidea
Dermasterias imbricata
Mediaster aegualis
Pycnopodia helianthoides
Pisaster ochraceus
Class Ophiuroidea
Ophiopholis sp.
Class Holothuroidea
Parastichopus californicus
Leptosynapta clarki
Class Echinoidea
Strongylocentrotus
droebachiensis
Strongylocentrotus
franciscanus
Pink scallop
Hi nd I s sca 11 op
Purple mussel
Jingle shell
Rutter c1 am
Pacific littleneck clam
Cockle
limpet
Blue top snail
Opalescent nudi~ranch
Periwinkle
~udibranch
Nudibranch
Hooded nudibranch
Leather star
Vermi 11 i on star
Sunflower star
Ochre star
Brittle star
Red sea cucumber
Burrowing sea cucumber
Green sea urchin
Giant red urchin
L
------------......
TARLE~. Fishes known to OCCur in the ~reen Lake drainage 1 ~ilvpr
Bay and adjacent I"laters, Baranof Island, Alaska.· j,
COl1ll1On Name
Family Salmonidae
Pink salmon
Chum salroon
Coho salmon
Cutthroat trout
Rainbow trout
Brook trout
Dolly Varden
Family Osmeridae
Eulachon
Family Gadidae
Pacific cod
Pacific tomcod
Halleye pollock
Family Scorpaenidae
Rougheye rockfish
Pacific ocean perch
Brown rockfish
Yellowtail rockfish
Ouillback rockfish
Black rockfish
Yelloweye rockfish
Bocaccio
Family Hexagrammidae
Whitespotted greenling
Family Cottidae
Padded sculpin
Pacific staghorn sculpin
Great sculpin
Family Bathymasteridae
Sea rcher
Family Stichaeidae
Pacific snakeblenny
Family Pholididae
Saddleback ~unnel
Scientific "lame
0ncorhynchus gorhuscha
0ncorhy~chus keta -
'lncori,y-nc-"us kfSUtch
Salmo clarki
Salmo gaTrdneri
Salvelinus fontinalis
Salve11nus malma
Thaleichthys pacif1cus
Gadus macrocephalus
~1crogadus proximus
Theragra chalcogramma
Sebastes aleutianus
Sebastes alutus
Sebastes aur1CUlatus
Sebastes flavidus
Sebastes maliger
Sebastes melanops
Sebastes ruberrimus
Sebastes paucispinus
Hexagrammos stelleri
Artedius fenestralis
Leptocottus armatus
'lyoxocepha 1 us
polycanthocephalus
~athymaster signatus
Lumpenus sagitta
Pholis ornata
L
--------------....... ~
TABLE 8. (cont.)
Family Pleuronectidae
Arrowtooth flounder
Rex sole
Fl athead sole
Rock sole
Yellowfin sole
Slender sole
Arctic flounder
Dover sole
English sole
Atheresthes stomias
Glyptocephalus zachirus
Hippoglossoides elassodon
Lepidopsetta bilineata
Limanda aspera
Lyopsetta exilis
Liopsetta glacialis
~icrostomus pacificus
Parophrys vetulus
l! Green Lake and the Vodopad River contain no natural resirlent or
anadromous fish populations due to the presence of an impassable
falls on the Vodopad River at tidewater. An introduced population
of brook trout has been established in Green Lake by stockinq.
, ----------.......
APPENDIX II
----------........
Table 1. Hydrogen Ion Concentration, pH, of Green Lake, 1974 l!
~Iest Basin East Basin
De~th (m) 5/18 8/22 5/18 8/22
7.rJ 6.9 6.7
3 7.0 6.7 6.9 6.6
5 7.0 6.7 6.9 6.7
10 7.0 6.7 6.9 6.7
14 6.9 6.7 6.9 6.7
16 6.9 6.7 6.9 6.9
l! Data provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game
, ----------......
Table 2. Water quality and nutrient analysis of Green Lake, 1974 y
Parameter Measured
Oate May 18, 1974 August 22, 1974
Depth (m) 0.5 0.3 7.9 4.9
Diss. Oxygen (mg/l) 12.4 12.0 12.6 12.1
pH
6.9 6.5 6.9 6.7
Phosphate (mg/l) a.Ol 0.01) 0.1)1 0.00
Diss. Potassium (mg/l) 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.4
Diss. Calcium (mg/l) 28 lfi 28 17
Diss. Silica (mg/l) 2.6 1.5 2.5 1.5
Diss. Sodium (mg/l) 19 26 lq 14
Diss. Sul fate (mg/l) 3.9 2.6
4.8 2.8
Turbidity (JTU) 0 f)
I) 0
Vanadi um (p~/l) 5.9 r-m 1I 5.2 NO
TP.lTlp. (OC.) Ii.n 8.0
5.0 7.n
Zinc (pg/l) 230 NO
'10 NO
Alkalinity (CaC~3)
(mg/1) 14 rIO
14 '10
1I1uminum (pq!l) l'lO NO
11)0 NO
----------.......
Table 2. (cont. )
Bicarbonate (HC0 3)
(mg/l) 13 10 16 10
Boron ("g/l) no 3 120 4
Diss. Calcium (mg/l) 5.q 3.5 5.7 3.6
CO 2 (mg!1) 3.4 ~o 3.4 ND
Total nrganic Carbon
(mg!1 ) 1.6 ND 2.0 ~D
Diss. Chloride (mg!1 ) 3.0 1.7 3.4 loS
Cobalt (mq!1 ) 5f') "ID
50 ~ID
Color 7 2
8 2
Conducti vity (micro-ohms) 49 31
47 29
Copper (PQ/1) lfJ 10
100 11)
Fluorirle (moll) f') ')
I') 0
Total Hardness (mq/l) 17 Q
16 11
~on-Carhonate Hardness 3
2
Diss. Iron (Jloll) 80 ?l
80 41)
Oiss. M~onesium (m!)/l) I).'i 1').1)
0.t; 0.4
----------.......
Table 2. (cont.)
Oiss. ~anqanese (mq/l) 1') (')
'I ()
~lybdenum (pq/l) 1 "10 a NO
~HtroQen. ~H4 (mq/1 ) 0.02 0.02 n.aFi 0.02
as i~ 0.20 f).'l? 0.24 0.(')')
as :-10 3 0.89 (').31 1. 1 () 0.40
Total OrQanic N 'I.n2 0.02 n.O'l 0.00
N0 2+N0 3 0.16 0.03 0.18 O.O?
!! ~D = Not determined
£I Data provided by the Alaska Deoartment of Fish and Game
Table 3. Plankton composition, density (orqanisms per square mete
of surface area) and weight (milligrams per square meter) Green l~ke May 15 -Deptember 17, 1974 lJ "
Date 5/15 5/29 6/12 7/5 7/17 7!30 8/19 gil 7 Depth of tow (m) 15 13 13 13 13 13 13 13
Rotatori a
lGeratell a 1528 50q 152R 21)17 21)37 5484 r) 13r)888 Kel1fcottfa 2037 I) 1528 509 1018 3056 16806 1528 Po1~arthra 0 n n n 0 1018 0 162q7 Conochilus 0 0 n 0 " n 0 1 n18 Fl1inia 0 0 0 'l n 0 0 3565
Cladocera
Bosmina 1018 0 1018 0 0 'l 1018 5n9 Holo~edium 0 0 0 0 0 0 11)18 0
Copepoda
Cyclopoida 0 0 0 0 n 50g 509 0 Calanoida 1018 2546 509 0 I'} 0 n 0 Nauplii I) 509 1018 I) 0 509 1508 0
Miscellaneous
Coelos~herium 509 0 15788 n 0 50q 0 1018 Tabellaria 3565 I) 0 0 'l 0 0 0 Fragell aria 0 0 1018 1528 2546 'l 1528 2037
Dry Weight 8/).5 56.5 22.4 1 f). 2 11.2 28.0 19.4 36.7
0rqanic Weight 66.2 48.9 14.3 8.6 5.1 19.4 15.3 26.5
Ash 14eight 14.3 7.6 8.1 1.5 6.1 8.6 4.1 10.2
lJ Data provided by the ~laska O~nartment of Fish and Game
III
~
GJ ...
GJ
5
:r 10
c --.s::. ...
0-
GJ o
15
20
Temperature, 0C.
1
1
2
1 "lay 15
2 "'ay 18
3 May 28
4 July 5
2
Figure 1. Thermal profile, Green Lake, '~ay 15 -l\uQust 22,1974
from data orovirl~d ~y the ~l~ska D?o~rtment of Fis~ and ~ame
IF ------------..........
!'.lATE
2
4
III 6 L-ev
+' ev
::£:
c: 8 ....
.&;
+' g-10
c
12
Figure 2. Secch1 disc visibil ity, Green Lake, 1974, from data
provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and r,ame
L
----------......
APPENOIX III
Introduction
----------.......
u.s. Department of Commerce
National O~eanic an~ Atmospheric Administration
Natlonal Marlne Fisheries Service
Environmental Assessment Division
Juneau, Alaska
Estuarine Investigations in Silver Bay
Baranof Island, Alaska
June 8 and 9, 1977
To meet future energy needs of Sitka, Alaska, a hydroelec+ric project is
planned at Green Lake on the Vodopad River near its confluence with
Silver Bay. The project site is ten miles southeast of Sitka (Fig. 1).
An access road from an existing highway at Herring Cove will be built
along Silver Bay. Some excess spoil material will be pushed into Silver Bay during road construction.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the types of estuarine
habitat in Silver Bay adjacent to the proposed access road. Relative
habitat types were assessed to estimate the relative impacts that
deposited spoil material would have on the local ecology of the area.
Materials and Methods
Biologist-divers, using SCUBA, investigated estuarine habitat at six
sites in Silver Bay from Bear Cove to the mouth of the Vodopad River
(Fig. 2). The u.S. Forest Service, Chatham Area, provided a Boston whaler for transportation.
At each site, a transect line marked in 5-m (meter) intervals was placed
perpendicular to shore. Because of excessive depths, some transects
were shorter than others, allowing the biologist-divers to avoid decom-
pression dives. Bottom types and plant and animal species were noted
along the transect. Bottom slopes were measured with a protractor and
leveling device. All information was recorded on underwater paper.
Results
Bottom profiles (Appendices 1-4) of each site de~ict s~ope, substrate,
and life zones. At all sites the mid and upper lntertldal zones are
, ----------........
Sitka ~ ~
[f]
~ A 0
~o -1 in : 1 mi
It
Fi9,ure 1. General location map of Green Lake hydroelectric project site.
-2-
--
~,p~----------------------.............. ..
Figure 2. Locations of sites in Silver Bay investi~ated with SCUBA in
conjunction with the proposed Green Lake Hydroelectric Project access
road.
-3-
rocky, nearly.vertica1, and relatively unproductive except for some
atta~hed spec~es, e.g., barn~cles (Balanus sp.) and mussels (M tilis
edul1s). Varl0Us algal specles and assorted anl"mals ar y" h ~. t t'd 1 d" e numerous 1n t e lower ln er 1 a an upper subt1dal zones" Various rockf" h ( 11 '1 S b t fl"d bl 1S es ye ow-tal, e as es aVl us; ack, S. melanops· and quillba k S 1" )
th h (B th t . -) , c, "rna 1ger , e searc er a ymas er slgnatus and the kelp greenl1"ng (-H
d ) . h bOt 11 " " exagrammos ~ca9rammu~ ln ~ 1 a ~ltes. Plant and an1mal species noted at ea h slte are 11sted ln Append1x 5. c
Site 1; 6/8/77, 1426-1449 hours -The bottom drops along slopes as steep
as 49 degrees to a depth of 28 m \~here slopes are more moderate.
Bedrock composes the substrate from high tide line to a depth of about
28 m, but changes to silt and crushed shells at greater depths at a
horizontal distance of 20 m from shore.
A dense 15-m wide band of brown algae (1garum cribrosum) began about
10 m from shore. Scallops (Chlamys sp. are numerous at all depths.
Site 2; 6/8/77, 1528-1556 hours -The bottom drops moderately from shore
along an initial slope of 30 degrees and then levels off into a flat
trough before rising sharply to form an underwater reef about 20 m from
shore. Beyond the reef, the bottom continues to drop along slopes of
31-38 degrees into deeper water. The top of the reef was 4 m deep at
the time of the survey (low tide was +0.2 m at 1359 hours.). The bottom
is bedrock from shore to a distance of 10 m, changing to silt and crushed
shells up to where the reef starts, which again is bedrock. Beyond the
"reef the bottom is silt and crushed shells. A dense 5-m wide band of A.
cribrosum began 5 m from shore. This alga also occurs on the reef.
Scallops were noted along the entire transect.
Site 3; 6/9/77, 1041-1110 hours -The bottom drops uniformly along a
slope of about 31 degrees along the transect. For the first 10 m from
shore the bottom is composed of large rocks. Further out, the bottom is
composed of silt, gravel, crushed shells, and some bark, except for some
large cobbles about 20 m from shore. A sparse 20-m wide band of ~.
cribrosum and Laminaria sp. began about 8 m from shore.
Site 4; 6/9/77, 1145-1202 hours -The bottom drops sharply along an 80
degree slope to a depth of about 18 m, which occurs about 7 m f~om shore
and then drops along a slope of about 40 degree~ along the remalnder of
the transect. Associated with the steep slope lS a bottom of bedrock,
which changes abruptly into silt, large rock, crushed shells, and some
bark. ~. cribrosum began in a 5-m wide band about 5 m from shore.
Site 5; 6/9/77, 1248-1300 hours -The bottom drops sharply along slopes
up to 80 degrees to a depth of 10 m, about 5 m from shore. The bottom
then drops along slopes of 25-32 degrees for a distance of 10 m. About
16 m from shore the bottom drops very steeply into deep water. A dense
20-m wide band of A. cribrosum and Laminaria sp. occurs along the rock
wall.
-4-
c
----------......
Site 6; 6/9/77, 1320-1328 hour~ -The bottom drops gently along slopes
of 18-26 degrees along the ent1re transect. The bottom is composed of
large rocks to a distance of 10 OJ from shore and then changes abrUPtly
to silt and.crushed shel~s to a distance of 35 m and beyond. A. cribrosum
and Laminar1a sp. Occur 1n a dense 15-m wide band to a distance of about 20 m from shore.
Discussion
Except for sites 3 and 6, all sites have a bedrock bottom near shore.
Sites 3 and 6 have large rocks near shore and, hence, all sites have
solid substrate to provide firm stable habitat for attached plant and
animal species. Sites 2, 4, and 5 drop steeply from shore, which I-:Quld
cause introduced material to settle in deeper I-Iaters offshore. The
submerged ridge that forms a trough at site 2 is not usually found in
sheltered bays in southeast Alaska. Excess spoil material deposited here will remain in the trough.
It can be expected that introduced rock debris will smother any attached
life forms. Introduced rock on top of natural rock habitat should be
repopulated by the same attached life forms that presently populate the
area. Infauna on soft bottoms, however, may not come back if smothered
by rock debris. Hence, a change in the local ecosystem may Occur at
soft bottom sites due to the change in habitat.
Habitat in deep water was not investigated and effects of rock debris
settling there are not estimated in this report.
Acknowledgments
Rick Reed, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, was a principal investigator during the subtidal surveys.
Submitted by: Approved by:
?7 rZ(UV' !lt~ ~/h/7}
Duane L. Petersen Date
Field Supervisor
-5-
~------..
Appendix 1. Habitat zones at Site 1 in Silver 8ay.
~/ater depth
(meters) .
o
1
5
20
25
30~------'-------~-----'r------r ______ 1
25 5 10 15 20 o
Distance from shore (meters)
F
L
-------111
Appendlx . " 2 Habitat zones a o 3 l"n Silver 8ay" t Sites 2 c<
~!ater depth
(meters)
o
5
10
15
20
SlIt/crushed shells
o -----;.--10
5 15
(meters) from shore Distqnce
2
35
20 25 30 3S
~'F------------------------""""""" __
Appendix 3. Habitat zones at Sites 3 & 4 in Silver Bay.
Water depth 0
(meters)
5
10
15
5
20J------r----~----~----~----~ o 5
Distance from ·shore (meters)
j
Appendix 4. Habitat zones at Site 6 in Silver Bay.
5
10
I~ater depth
(meters)
15
204-------r-----~------._----~------r_----~----__,
o 5 10 15
Distance from shore (meters)
" ----------........
Appendix 5 -Plant and animal species observed at the study sites.
Sites PLANTS 2 3 4 5 6 Fucus distichus
x x x x x Agarum cribrosum x x x x x x x Laminaria sp.
x x x x x x Rhodymenia palmata
x x x Ralfsia sp.
x x x Corallinaceae
x x Li thothamni on sp.
x x x x x x Callophlllis pinnata
x Constantinea rosa-marina
x x x Melilbranoptera sp.
ANIMALS x
Porifera (sponges) x x x x x x Cnidaria (Anaoones)
Metridium senile, White plumed anemone x x x x x x Hydrozoans
x Entoprocta .
Membranipora serilanella, Encrusting bryozoan x x x x x x Bryozoa, Moss animals
Microporina borealis
x Echinodermata (starfish, sea urchins) Orthosterias koehleri x x x x Henricia leviuscula x Evasterias troschelli, Mottled star x Mediaster aegualis, Equal arm star x x OphlOphoTus sp., Brittle star x x Florometra serantissma, Crinoid x x x x x Crossaster papposus, Rose star x Pteraster tesselatus, Cushion star x x Dermasterias imbricata, Leather star x x x Plcnopodia helianthoides, Sun star x x Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis,
Green sea urchin x x S. franciscanus x Stichopus californicus, Sea cucumber x x Cucumaria miniata, Burrowing cucumber x Mollusca (Clams, nudibranchs)
x x x x x x Acmea, sp., limpet
~. mi tra, 1 impet x
-~p~--------------------.......... ..
Sites
2 3 4 5 6
Tonicella lineata, Lined chiton x x x x x x Trichotropis cancel lata x x Ceratostoma foliatum x Littorina sitkana
Macoma irus x x x Archidoris odhneri, nudibranch x x Chlamys sp., scallop x x x x x x Calliostoma caniculatum, snail x x x x x x Margarites pupilles, snail x x x Hinnites multirugosus, x Annelida
Eudistylia pOlymorpha, Plume worm x x Serpula vermicularis, Tube worm x x x x x x Arthropoda (shrimp, crabs)
Oregonia gracilis, Decorator crab x Hyas lyratus, Lyre crab x Balanus sp., Horse barnacle x x x x x x Chordata, Tunicates
Corella sp. x x x Halocxnthia aurantia x x x x !!.. i gaboja x x x x Ascidiopsis sp. x Cnemidocarpa joannae Broadbase sea squirt x Chordata, Fishes
Bathymaster signatus x x x x x Sebastes maliger x x S. flavidus x Hexagrali1110s decagrammus x x
Appendix W -11
Archeological Investigation
by
Robert E. Ackerman, Ph.D.
------------......
ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF PROPOSED ACCESS ROAD
AND DAM IMPOUNDMENT AREA: SILVER
BAY -GREEN LAKE REGION, BARANOF ISLAND, ALASKA
ffiR
R. W. BECK AND ASSOCIATES,INC.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
BY
ROBERT E. ACKERMAN
lABORATORY OF ANTHROPOLOGY
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
JUNE 28, 1977
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
PULLMAN. WASHINGTON 99163
DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY
Office: (509) 335-8556
R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc.
200 Tower Building
Seattle, Washington 98101
Attention: Mr. Donald Melnick
Gentlemen:
LABORATORY OF ANTHROPOLOGY
Office: (509) 335·4587
July 12, 1977
Enclosed is the final report of our archeological survey of the
proposed Silver Bay -Green Lake hydroelectric project area near Sitka,
Alaska (your project No. WW-1521-HG2-NC).
The data represents the compilation of our field investigations
(archeological survey and informant interviewing) as well as correspondence
relative to this project. The report contains a section by section evaluation
of the access road area along the eastern shore of Silver Bay and the Green
Lake impoundment area. During our investigations, June 6-12, 1977, we did
not find evidence of significant archeological data that would be affected
by your proposed hydroelectric project.
Yours sincerely,
rj.?(~t~ t l C'-Clc ~"-W\4.J
Robert E. Ackerman
Professor
J
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND STUDIES
Ethnography
History
Geology
Vegetation
Soils
FIELD STUDIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Historical and Ethnographic Research
Archeological Investigations
Silver Bay Section
4
4
6
7
8
9
10
Herring Cove 11
Shoreline -Herring Cove to Bear Cove 13
Bear Cove 15
Shoreline -Bear Cove to Green Lake Outlet 17
Shoreline -Green Lake Outlet to Salmon Lake
Outlet 20
Green Lake Section
Powerhouse -Damsite Area
North Shoreline
South Shoreline
Vodopad River Valley Section
Valley Bottom and Slopes
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
21
22
22
23
23
26
FIGURES
1. Location Map.
2. Project area.
3. Map of Herring Cove.
4. Aerial view of Herring Cove from the west.
5. Cabin ruins (chimney) in location 3, Herring Cove (view to the east).
6. Silver Bay north shore (Herring Cove to left), viewed from the west.
7. Aerial view of Bear Cove and Medvezhie Lake valley from the west.
8. Map of Bear Cove and Medvezhie Lake.
9. Privy, location 1, Bear Cove, view from west.
10. Site area, location 1, Bear Cove, view from north.
11. Map of head of Silver Bay and outlet to Green Lake.
12. Temporary camp area at Point Rasa1 with Peter Mehringer standing in
main concentration of debris, view to the north.
13. Cabin ruin on Silver Bay north shore, head of trail to Green Lake,
view to east.
14. Green Lake outlet to Silver Bay, view to the east.
15. Western part of Green Lake; Silver Bay in background.
16. Map of Green Lake -Vodopad River valley.
APPENDIX
1. MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
2. CORRESPONDENCE
3. INTERVIEW DATA
----------.......
INTRODUCTION
In compliance with the Historic Sites Act of 1935 (PL 74-292), Reservoir
Salvage Act of 1960 (PL 86-523), Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (PL 89-665),
National Environmental Policy Act of 1966 (PL 91-190), Executive Order 11593
of 1971, and the Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974 (PL 93-291)
as set forth in 36CFR66, 36CFR800, and 40CFR1500, R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc.
(Seattle, Washington) in consultation with Dr. Gerald Clark, Regional Archeo-
logist of the U. S. Forest Service (Region 10, Alaska), contacted Robert E.
Ackerman, Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, to propose
that an archeological survey be conducted over an area ten miles southeast
of Sitka, Baranof Island, Southeastern Alaska, that will be impacted by a
proposed hydroelectric project.
The Green Lake hydroelectric development (see Figs. 1 and 2) involves
the impoundment of Green Lake and part of the Vodopad River valley by the
establishment of a 230 foot high concrete arch dam. The water level in
Green Lake now at 230 feet above sea level will be raised to a maximum of
390 feet. A 1900 foot long power tunnel will extend from the dam site to a
POwer house located to the north of the Green Lake outlet on Silver Bay.
An access road of 6.58 miles will lead from the power house to a connector
road built by Alaska Lumber and Pulp Company at Herring Cove (road
fOllows north shore of Silver Bay). An eight mile long 69 KV transmission
line will parallel the access road and the existing road in Herring
Cove until its hookup with the existing transmission lines at the Blue
Lake project powerhouse at Sawmill Cove. Temporary roads will be built in the
damsite area, along the north shore of Green Lake and into the Vodopod
River valley where concrete aggregate mater1a 1S 0 . . 1 . t be obtained Since
the slopes of the north shore of Silver Bay are steep,
r I
------------......
2
considerable blasting will be required to establish a cliff side road bed.
The data relative to the project appeared in (1) "City and Borough of Sitka,
Alaska. Green Lake Project. Brochure of Preliminary Project Data, com-
piled for Briefing of Concerned Governmental Agencies March 7, 1977 by
R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc." and (2) r~emorandum to David Hoopes, environmen-
tal consultant May 23, 1977, by R. ~J. Beck and Associates ,Inc.
In response to the request for a statement of archeological pro-
cedures, a document entitled "Silver Bay -Green Lake Archeological
Survey" was submitted to R. W. Beck and Associates ,Inc. by this investigator
on May 22, 1977. The document contained the results of a preliminary
literature search involving ethnography, history, geology, vegetation,
soils, and a search of state and federal registers of national monuments,
as well as the Sealaska historic site survey of 1975. Potential archeo-
logical site areas based upon map analysis were noted, archeological
procedures indicated and a time schedule advanced. This survey prospectus
was favorably reviewed by R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc. in Seattle (principally
Donald R. Melnick, Principal Civil Engineer and Donald E. BO\<les, Executive
Engineer). A contract of agreement was drawn with the survey to be
accomplished June 6-12,1977 (File :10: l~W-1521-HG2-MC 3007).
As required by federal law a permit to survey and test for archeo-
logical sites on lands under the management of the U. S. Forest Service
was sought (with the assistance of R. W. Beck and Associates). Dr.
Gerald Clark, regional archeologist, U. S. Forest Service, Juneau, very
graciously worked out the details of the memorandum of agreement (No. 01-
103, see Appendix 1). A copy of the "Silver Bay -Green La~e Archeological
3
Survey" proposal that was sent to R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc. served dS
a projected work plan as requested by the Forest Service.
Dr. Peter Mehringer, Jr. of the Laboratory of Anthropology agreed
to work with me on this survey. His assistance under rather strenuous
field conditions is most gratefully acknowledged.
On June 6, Dr. Mehringer and met with Mr. Donald Melnick and Mr.
Donald E. Bowes of R. W. Beck and Associates, Inc. in their Seattle office.
Details of the hydroelectric project were discussed. Additional infor-
mation relative to mining claims, an earlier waterpower proposal by
Edgecombe Exploration Company, Inc. (1970), geological investigations
by Converse, Davis, Dixon, Associates, Inc., Green Lake construction
access road report by Steen and Matlock, Inc., and aerial photographs
and enlarged topographic sheets of the project area were given to us.
This information proved to be most useful in the field. Following
the briefing session, Dr. Mehringer and I left for Sitka, Alaska, and
arrived there that afternoon.
Lodging arrangements for the evening of June 6 and 7 were provided
by the U. S. Forest Service, Chatham Area, Tongass National Forest.
We are particularly indebted to Mr. George Reynolds of the Chatham Area,
U. S. Forest Service, for his assistance. The remainder of our stay
in Sitka was at commercial lodgings.
We travelled to the Silver Bay -Green Lake survey area by float
plane (Eagle Air, Inc.). Prior to our arrival, Davis-Swanson Surveys of
Sitka advised against the use of a boat along the steep shoreline.
readily concurred after our first day in the field.
~Je
r I
4
BACKGROUND STUDIES
Ethnography
Prior to European contact the region of the Western Coast of Baranof
Island was claimed by Tlingit clan groups. Silver Bay, for example, was
the territory of the Sitka Kiksadi Tlingit who had use rights to the re-
sources of the region. The report by Goldschmidt and Haas lists a smoke
house on the Green Lake outlet that belonged to the Kiksadi (1946:108).
At present, the Silver Bay -Green Lake area in the ethnographic period
(last 200 years) seems to have been used as a seasonal hunting/fishing
area with no indication of major settlements. This does not preclude
a different pattern in the more remote past.
History
The Russian Period
From the beginning, contact between the Tlingit Indians and the
Russians was marked by suspicion and hostility. The destruction of the
Russian Post in 1802 at Old Sitka by the Tlingit was followed by the
establishment of a more permanent settlement in Sitka harbor in 1804.
Various local industries were established by the Russian American Com-
pany in an effort to make the colony self-sufficient. Stands of timber
behind Sitka were felled to provide the lumber for dwellings and ships.
The Russian sawmill built in 1860 near the entrance to Silver Bay (where
the Sitka Pulp Mill is now located) provided both lumber and sawdust for
the later ice industry. A saltery, flour mill, and a small fort were
built on the north shore of Redoubt Bay in 1827 (Hilson 1974). The cura-
tive powers of the baths at Hot Springs Bay were realized early in the
history of the Russian colony (Zagoskin 1967).
5
Other records such as Tikhmenev's Historical Surveys of the Russian
American Company and its Activities to the Present Day (translated by
R. A. Pierce) and R. A. Pierce's translation of Russian American Company
Charters provides insights into Russian settlement patterns as does
Svetlana Fedorova's The Russian Population in Alaska and California (late
18th century to 1867).
Thus far no information regarding Russian activity in the Silver Bay -
Green Lake area other than the 1860 sawmill has been noted.
The Ame"i can Peri od
The mineral resources of Sou:heastern Alaska attracted American pros-
pectors soon after the Alaska purchase. In Sitka, the first gold strike
came in 1871 with the discovery of a gold bearing quartz ledge on the
Indian River. The find excited considerable interest but did not prove to
be of commercial value. In 1872 three miners discovered the quartz ledge
known as the Lower Ledge. Later in that same year, Nicholas Hayley dis-
covered the Stewart Ledge which was renamed the Cache Mine. A ten stamp
mill was built in 1879 at this location but the ore proved to be of too
low a grade to continue operations. Several other claims were staked and
some lode mining attempted. Three claims on the north shore of Silver
Bay are: Baranof Queen Prospect, Henrietta Prospect, and Silver Bay
Prospect (Knopf 1912: fig. 4).
Knopf reports that since 1880 none of the properties at Silver Bay
have been put on a productive basis (1912:8). Discoveries in the Juneau
area (1880-81) and at Klag Bay to the north of Sitka in 1905 continued the
gold fever, but the Silver Bay excitement does not appear to have been
rekindled.
6
Besides the tramways for the mines, the shaft cuts, and the dump
areas, there were wagon roads cut to bring in machinery and supplies to the
mines. These routes appear to be to the west and south of the project
area.
Cabins or camps are noted on the Sitka and Port Alexander quadrangles
at the head of Silver Bay, one of which is in the project area with a trail
leading to Green Lake.
Geology
The coastal area of the Sitka district on the west coast of Baranof
Island is made up of Mesozoic age rock consisting of graywacke, slate,
conglomerates, andesitic lavas, and tuffs (Knopf 1912: plate 1). Further
inland Paleozoic limestones, cherts, schists, phyllites, and greenstone
lavas, and tuffs dominate. Intrusive granites form the central spine
of Baranof Island (Knopf 1912: plate 1).
The conglomerate and conglomeratic graywacke contains pebbles of
chert, slate, schist, andesite, and felsite, all potential lithic mater-
ials for making the stone artifacts of the prehistoric period. Source
areas are thus readily available with specific workshop locations undoubt-
ably rare to non-existant. With pebbles the source of raw flaking material,
such worked pebbles will be good site indicators.
Within the Silver Bay -Green Lake area, as elsewhere in Southeastern
Alaska, the relief is rugged and mountainous. Bear Mountain and Cross
Mountain at 4005 and 3976 feet descend steeply to the shoreline of Silver
Bay. Vodopad river valley is a broad glacial valley with a small in-
terior catchment basin, Green Lake. The Vodopad River courses across a
rather flat valley bottom approximately 300 feet above sea level. Green
Lake, according to hydrographic data, lies at 230 feet above sea level
with a surface area of 173 acres.
7
Vegetation
The local vegetation is dominated by the climax forest species of
western and mountain hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla, ~ mertensiana), lodge-
pole pine (Pinus contorta), and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). Yellow
cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) is found in better drained locations
while the black spruce (Picea mariana) is more tolerant of wet, poorly
drained muskeg conditions. Deciduous trees like the Sitka and red alder
(Alnus sinuata, ~ rubra), Oregon crab apple (Malus diversifolia), and
Sitka mountain ash (Sorbus sitchensis) are present. The shrub, sweet-
gale (Myrica ~) occurs in the tidal flat or bog areas near the coast.
As part of the forest edge or understory, blueberry (Vaccinium
alaskaense, ~caespitosum, ~ ovalifolium, ~ parifolium, ~ uliginosum,
~.v;t;s-idaea), Pacific red elder (Sambucus callicarpa), currants
(Ribes bracteosum, ~ laxiflorum), Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana),western
thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus),salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis),and
devilsclub (Oplopanax horridus).
Crowberry (Empetrum nigrim) is found in more alpine conditions with
heath vegetation on the coast. In wet conditions, sphagnum moss,
saxifrage, skunk cabbage (Lysichitum americanum) as well as a myriad of
flowering, bog plants are to be found.
Pioneer plants such as nettles (Urtica ~), cowparsnip (Heracleum
lanatum), and wild celery (Angelica) are good indicators of historic site
disturbance as are Oregon crabapple and salmonberry.
----------......
8
Soils
Soils are highly variable depending on the substrate, slope,
drainage, vegetation cover and elevation. Forest podsols are dominant
on drained slopes with bog to muskeg development in poorly drained
areas. Glacial outwash and alluvium Cover valley bottoms.
----------........ 9
FIELD STUDIES
Historical and Ethnographic Research
As stated in the survey proposal of May 22, 1977, research in the
Silver Bay -Green Lake area would include historical and ethnographic
investigation as well as the archeological survey work. This was accord-
ingly accomplished. Correspondence from Mr. Robert De Armond (May 26,
1977, see Appendix 2) provided historical background data and leads for
further investigation in Sitka. We followed De Armond's suggestion and
met with Mr. William R. Hanlon, a retired miner in Sitka on June 10. (See
Appendix 3 for notes taken on this and following interviews). Mr. Hanlon
talked about mining activities of the 1930's and gave us the names of indi-
viduals who had constructed cabins in the project area. The same morning
we also requested information regarding land use permits on Forest Service
lands from the Chatham district office. Mr. Norman Schoonover was most
helpful in providing us with that information (see Appendix 2). The follow-
ing morning, June 11, we contacted Mr. James Davis, manager of the Sitka
Chamber of Commerce for information on the native settlement/land use in
Silver Bay-Green Lake area. Mr. Davis indicated that the older informants
who would have known about native land use were deceased, but recommended
that we talk to Mr. Glenn Morgan, manager of the Edgecombe Exploration
Company, Inc. as he was a long-time resident of the area. Mrs. Charlotte
Morgan was contacted immediately following my conversation with Mr. Davis.
As the Morgans were about to leave to go to Goddard Hot Springs, Mrs. Mor-
gan's comments were necessarily brief. I indicated that I would like the
opportunity to discuss with Mr. Morgan aspects of the history of Silver
Bay.
I' ----------........
10
Not satisfied with my ethnographic coverage, I called the Sheldon
Jackson Museum to locate members of the Sitka Historical Society who could
help me in my quest.
was given the names of Mrs. Isabel Miller and Mrs.
Luella Smith. Later in the morning, we met Mrs. Miller at the Centennial
Building. She contacted Mrs. Ellen Lang, Superintendent of the Sitka
National Monument by telephone for me. Mrs. Lang kindly provided me with
the information I was seeking, that the location of an aboriginal camp on
the lake side of the outlet to Green Lake was highly unlikely given the fact
that the camp was supposedly on a sockeye stream (see Appendix 3 for notes
on Mrs. Lang's telephone conversation).
Sunday morning, June 12, Mr. Glenn Morgan stopped by the Potlatch
House where we were staying. His conversation about the Silver Bay area
covered both mining and hunting experiences. He noted that no one had
discussed the proposed project with him or had inquired regarding his
intensive, local knowledge. We were fortunate to have had the opportunity
to talk with Mr. Morgan.
Archeological Investigations
Tuesday, June 7 marked the beginning of the archeological survey. The
first step was to familiarize ourselves with the terrain to be surveyed by
flying along the north shore of Silver Bay and over Green Lake and the
Vodopad River valley. The topographic relief is rugged. Both Medvezhie
Lake valley and Silver Bay lie on extensive faults with steeply sloping
side walls. The Green Lake -Vodopad River valley is broad, having been
1 . t'on The geological research sculptured by Pleistocene and Holocene g aCla 1 •
by Converse, Davis, Dixon Associates, Inc. (1974, 1977) indicate a tec-
tonic instability and numerous recent slides on many of the slopes are indi-
cated by barren scree or a thin covering of forest duff.
--------------...... _--
11
Forest vegetation covers all of the area to be s d' h urveye Wlt stand~
of western hemlock, Sitka spruce and yellow cedar below 2400 feet. In the
seasonally flooded valley bottoms alder and willow with thickets of salmon-
berry dominate the landscape. Muskeg is found in poorly drained valley
bottoms or on upland areas.
Silver Bay Section
Herring Cove
The proposed access road is to begin in the southeast corner of
Herring Cove (station 00+00, see Fig. 3). It will jOin the existing ALP
road that extends as far south as the barrow pit at the foot of an exten-
sive slide (Fig. 3:1). To the north and west of the barrow pit is a flat,
composed of alluvium and reworked beach gravels which has subsequently been
filled in and levelled by ALP for a log dump (Fig. 3:2). The cove is
partly filled with log rafts (Fig. 4).
As the transmission line will follow the existing ALP road northwest
to Sawmill Cove, we also surveyed areas that were still relatively undis-
turbed by the highway construction. The ALP road is bounded for the most
part by almost vertical cliffs of green schist (Fig. 4). This imposing
face is broken in a few areas by lower slopes. In the northwest corner of
the cove (Fig. 3:3) we came upon the remains of a stone chimney standing
isolated amidst a stand of salmonberry bushes and red elder berry (Fig. 5).
Scattered about the chimney were the following:
Christmas tree light bulb, gas jet burner for cook stove,
wood stove, kerosene stove, bedsprings, frying pan, wash boiler,
industrial type light reflectors, galvanized pipe, water pump
parts, and a Rainier pull tab beer can (this last item a rlore
recent addition).
J
I' ----------....... 12
About 20 meters to the north and west
was a narrow wooden walkway
that once served as a bridge Over a small stream. The location of the
chimney cOincides with the Position of the cabin cluster noted for
Herring Cove in Sitka (A4) Quadrangle based Upon aerial photographs of
1948. The aerial photographs produced by H. G. Chickering for ALP in
May 1957 also reveal eXisting cabins in this area (stereo pair ALP7:37A,
nos. 7 and 8).
Location:
Section: T.56S.,R.64E., S.3
57°2'45"N.Lat, 135°12'30" W. Long.
UTM (Zone 1, Alaska Coordinate system) E 2,378,734.375,
Nl ,907,718.750
Mr. Schoonover reports (see also Appendix 2) that the cabin where
only a chimney now stands was built in 1933 by Jack Calvin (see also Hanlon's
statement). Calvin obtained a special use permit for the area on March
16,1927 (year not clear in Schoonover's note). He sold the cabin in 1935.
There were apparently then two or more owners (one perhaps Bill Marquat
as noted by Hanlon). The cabin burned down in 1964 (approximate date).
No other data are available for the adjacent cabins noted
on the Sitka Quadrangle map. Hanlon mentions a cabin built by the ex-marine
Marsh. It may have been in this area rather than at the barrow pit area.
Below the road is a modern cabin last owned by Gilbert Engman
Whose permit was issued October 12, 1967 and terminated March 21, 1973.
Schoonover further notes that the previous permit holder was Edwin M.
Halverson who had the cabin as far back as 1958. The cabin appears to
be built on road bed fill next to the water.
fllijP
13
No other cultural features were noted in the Herring Cove area.
The survey was not carried into Sawmill Cove as Euro-American activity
there had destroyed any trace of aboriginal occupation. The "farm" and
the ALP pulp mill destroyed any meager evidence of the earlier Russian
sawmi 11 (see Appendi x 2 -George A. Ha 11 correspondence of June 13, 1977).
Prehistoric occupation is ruled out by the high vertical cliffs fronting
the shoreline in this section of the road.
Herring Cove Accessment
The earliest cabin ruin in location 3 of Herring Cove (Fig. 3) dates
to 1933 according to Forest Service records. Mr. Hanlon's recollections
are also somewhere in the 30's and 40's for the cabins. The cabin along
the beach is modern. Since the remains are less than 50 years of age
they are not subject to national register nomination unless there is
particular local significance attached to the area (36CFR60.6). There is
no indication that the sites would meet National Register criteria. No
significance can be attached to the scattered bits of this occupation
which has already been heavily impacted by the ALP road.
Recommendations -Since the cabin ruins are in a low area and it is
probable that transmission tower bases would be located higher to clear
the cliff areas along the road, it is unlikely that this modern site
area will be impacted. It can be easily avoided in the transmission line
planning.
Shoreline-Herring Cove to Bear Cove
Station 00+00 -20+00
Starting at Station 00+00 on the proposed access road area (Fig. 3)
we walked over a raised bench. This feature does not appear to be an
elevated beach but rather a feature of slope activity, i. e., a talus foot.
----------....... 14
Testing encountered rock a scant distance below the forest organic mat.
As we moved along the slope towards Station 20+00 we saw that the slope
was continuous (no evidence of interrupted uplift or sea still stands
resulting in terraces) and approximately 45° -60°. The southern shore-
line of Herring Cove in unstable with numerous examples of slides (Con-
verse, et al 1977: plate 6). The beach is abrupt with no suitable land-
ing for watercraft. No eVidence of sites in this section.
Station 20+00 -100+00
Along this section of the access road area we encountered some benches
on the slope. Our tests revealed evidence of buried organic horizons
separated by colluvium. This indicates repeated slides and slope instability.
Such slide areas were numerous. The slope (Fig. 6) was steep with little to
no shoreline flats. The heavy forest cover did not mask the fact that the
unstable slope was unsuitable for prehistoric or historic settlement. We did
not find any evidence of human occupation.
Station 100+00 -130+00
This section appeared on the Sitka (A-4) quadrang1e to have some
potential, as it was associated with two streams and was relatively flat
compared to the previous section surveyed (Figs. 3 and 8). We found the
surface to be very uneven (as if it were the toe of a talus slope) with
a great deal of tree throw. The uprooted crown roots were searched for
artifactual material but with negative results. The area did not look as
good on the ground as on the map. Plate 5 in Converse et al (1977)
indicates talus at triangulation point DENEB with an alluvial fan at the
shoreline. A slide was similarly noted between Stations 110+00 and 120+00.
Again, the instability of the slope is reflected in the relatively recent
15
surface features. There was no evidence of cultural features in the area
other than past timber cutting.
Station 130+00 -160+00
We found this section to be extremely steep with cliffs along the
shoreline (Fig. 7). In all of our cliffside scrambles we did not locate
any archeological features. Such an area can be safely ruled out of
consideration for human site use.
Bear Cove
Station 160+00 -170+00
The head of the cove is an outwash valley formed by the cascading
stream flowing from Medvezhie Lake (Figs. 7 and 8). Logs from previous
rafts lie in haphazard positions on the tidal flats. Back of the tidal
flats a thicket of alder, willow, and salmonberry bushes covers the gravels
of the stream delta. In this thicket (Fig. 8:1) we came upon the lean-
ing remains of a privy (Fig. 9) constructed of tongue and groove boards.
Fifty-five feet to the south in a thicket of salmonberry bushes (Fig. 10)
we encountered a five gallon Blazo can, tin cans for coffee and vegetables,
glass jars (catsup, pickles/relish), parts of a single metal bed frame,
stove pipe protective collar, and a section of floor or side wall made
of tongue and groove boards. There was no indication of a foundation for
a cabin. The site is located in:
Section: T. 56 5., R. 65 E., s. 18
57° 54" N. Lat., 135° 8' 45" W. Long.
UTM (zone 1, Alaska coordinate system E 2,390,937.5, N 1,895,843.75)
Evaluation: The site is modern and of little cultural significance.
An overflow channel active during spring run off cuts through the site area.
No further testing is recommended. A cabin was probably constructed here
----------........ 16
due to the presence of the well made privy, but little evidence is left to
mark the dwelling. A cabin is also shown on Sitka (A4) quad further up the
valley. Field checking and study of the ALP 1957 aerial photographs failed
to reveal it. The location given in Sitka (A4) quad for a cabin is highly
improbable given the nature of the valley bottom which seasonally is
flooded during the spring melt of the snow pack in the mountains.
As the site is between the shore and the road crossing the valley at
170+77.53 (Steen and Matlock 1977:plate 4),it undoubtably will be im-
pacted. Considering the age of the site and the fact that the few items
of modern junk do not constitute a significant contribution to knowledge
it is recommended that no effort be made to avoid the site nor further
archeological work be done there.
Stream Valley to Medvezhie Lake
Since alternate section 2 of the access road goes almost to Medvezhie
Lake it was necessary to survey the stream valley. We soon found that the
steep V notched valley (fault zone) with a cover of alder and salmonberry
in the bottom (disturbance vegetation) and hemlock and spruce on the
valley slopes was unsuitable for site use. The granitic rock slide on the
north face was impressive with house sized boulders. No cultural evidence
was noted.
Station 170+00 -190+00
Between station 170+00 and 190+00 we noted a small bench approxi-
mately 250 feet from the shore (Fig. 8). The face of the bench had sub-
angular cobbles showing with only a thin organic layer over sand, pebbles
and cobbles. While the bench looked very much like a terrace the angularity
of the rock indicated that it was not water rolled. It apparently repre-
sents morainal material from the Medvezhie Lake area (Converse et al 1977:
17
plate 5). Several tests were made and uprooted tree root crowns checked
but no evidence of artifactual material was found.
Considerable logging has been done in the area and undoubtably repre-
sents the post World War II logging mentioned by Mr. Hanlon. Skid trails
are evident in the forest.
The relatively low elevation of the south shore of Bear Cove between
stations 170+00 and 190+00 should have been ideal for a village location
but only if the area were stable. The age of the alluvial deposit derived
from up valley sediments is unknown but does not appear to be old as forest
soil development is insignificant. This may be the reason for the apparent
lack of occupation.
Shoreline -Bear Cove to Green Lake Outlet
Station 190+00 -270+00
Proceeding from the flat on the south side of Bear Cove toward Point
Ranus we constantly climbed upward to make our way round the point to
Silver Bay (Converse, et al 1974:14). From station 210+00 -270+00 it was
a steep slope from 60 -80 0 (Figs. 8 and 11). Nothing in this section was
noted that could be regarded as evidence for human occupation.
Station 270+00 -280+00
At Point Rasal we came upon a temporary camp (Figs. 11:1, and 12)
with numerous broken beer and wine bottles, fragments of an iron wood
stove, Copenhagen snuff can lid, an earthernware sherd, pieces of quart-
zite laid on sawn stumps and two boards which may define an enclosure
1.7 x 1.7 meters. It is also at this point that a cable for a log raft
is tied.
18
Location:
Section: T. 56 S., R. 65 E., S. 19
56 0 59' 46" N. Lat., 135 0 8' 24" W. Long.
UTM (Zone 1, Alaska coordinate system) E 2,391,548.125,
N 1,888,843.75
Evaluation: The area appears to represent a late historic, temporary
camp. The quartzite samples suggest mining activity. which may be related
to the claim KX 116-11 Baranof Queen (1912). The bottles were all mold
formed so the site is well within the 1900's. It would seem that the
placement of the quartzite samples on the stumps was also a relatively
recent event as there was no moss growing over or around the samples. A
recently visited prospect may be nearby.
The thin scatter of 20th century trash is culturally insignificant.
No further work needs to be done in the area and no precautions need to be
taken to protect the site from impact.
Station 280+00 -320+00
The shoreline was paralleled until we reached a point south of station
290+00 where the road turns inland and follows the slope just north of an
alluvial filled depression (muskeg) (Converse et al 1977: Plate 4). This
slope was followed to station 320+00 where we dropped down to view the
cabin ruin along the shore.
The cabin ruin, at the head of the trail to Green Lake (Figs. 11:2
and 13) consists of a collapsed jumble of square cut timbers.
Mr. Morgan indicated that it had been a three story structure but that
most of the timbers had fallen on the shore and been washed away. In
front of the cabin is a stone dock built of graywacke with eye bolts
r
IL
------------...... 19
anchored in the rock shoreline. A few pieces of metal and fragments of
a transfer ware, ironstone (chinaware) plate were found on the beach. Within
the cabin area there was a section of a flattened metal drum, a piece of
modern looking galvanized pipe, and two shallow wooden boxes. The cabin
seems to have been approximately 16 x 20 feet. There is surprisingly
little debris about the cabin. Perhaps it has been picked clean by col-
lectors or there never was much debris about.
, Mr. De Armond indicates that the cabin had been built on the site
of an earlier log cabin occupied by Andrew Dixon, Peter Romanoff and John
Sandman (correspondence, Appendix 2). The present cabin ruin occupied
by Steve Tuss was said to have been constructed by Andrew Dixon (Glenn
Morgan, Appendix 3). The cabin was built in the late 1920's to early
1930's. Steve Tuss was also working mining claims for Nicholas Bolshanin
of Sitka (De Armond and Morgan data).
Location:
Section: T. 56 S., R. 65 E., S. 30.
56 0 54' 21" N. Lat., 135 0 7' 22" W. Long.
UTM (Zone 1, Alaska coordinate system) E.2,395,031.25,
N. 1,886,234.3R
Evaluation: Since the road runs north of the cabin ruin and dock, it
is unlikely that the site will be impacted. As a point of interest it has
little value relative to the history of mining in the area. The cabin is
additionally almost completely gone. No further archeological work is
recommended. The site can easily be avoided and if possible this is the
course of action to be recommended.
20
Silver Bay -Green Lake Trail
While not exactly of concern in terms of historic cultural values,
the scenic value of the trail constructed by the Civilian Conservation
Corps in the 1930's to Green Lake should be considered. The access roads
will cross this trail at two pOints. I am unaware of plans that are
being considered in terms of the recreational value of the Green Lake dam
but the trail itself is quite spectacular. Preservation of the trail
should be considered in the land use plan.
Station 320+00 -332+66.37.
,
The access road from Station 320+00 to the powerhouse at 332+66.37
extends along a steep cliff to the powerhouse site which will be in a
cliffside cut (Fig. 14). No cultural materials were noted in this section.
Habitation on such a slope in the past was not feasible.
Shoreline -Green Lake outlet to Salmon Lake Outlet
Although the head of Silver Bay from the Green Lake outlet was not
specified in the project area, I felt that the question of a Kiksadi camp
at the head of Silver Bay should be resolved if possible. The location of
the former camp on the west shore of Green Lake near the outlet (Goldschmidt
and Haas 1946: plate 9) was quite improbable. The shore line is very
steep with no area for a camp. Additionally, Goldschmidt and Haas mention
that the camp was on a sockeye stream. Salmon cannot get up the falls in
the Green Lake outlet. We thus needed to find a more appropriate location.
The streams at the head of Silver Bay were checked. West of the buildings
associated with the Edgecombe Exploration Company, Inc. operation, there
is a fine stream, but not one associated with sockeye (no lake). Further
west, beyond Bower Cove ;s a braided stream channel which flows out of
Q
------------......... . 21
Salmon Lake. Mr. Morgan informed us that this formerly was filled with
runs of sockeye, coho, and dog salmon. 0 th newest bank of the stream,
there is suitable location for a camp. Th'
1S is adjacent to a cabin that
has recently been destroyed by a slide (Fig. 11:3).
It would thus appear from the statements of informants and our
own investigation that the former Kiksadi camp was on the outlet to Salmon
Lake and not on Green Lake. No further investigation was done as we
were only interested in checking the probability of the Kiksadi camp out-
side the project area. We can now safely conclude that the location of a
Tlingit fish camp on Green Lake is quite improbable.
Green Lake Section
Powerhouse -Damsite Area
The construction road route (station 320+00 -340+00) to the dam site
was surveyed as well as the work area associated with the building of the
dam. The only cultural material noted was the work camp established by
Converse, Davis, Dixon and Associates, Inc. during the coring of the Green
Lake outlet. This camp on an elevated bench now covered with muskeg
vegetation is within the projected work area for the dam.
The trail was followed down to the Green Lake shore and then around
the rock face to the outlet of the lake. The area, through which a sub-
surface power tunnel (going from the dam to the powerhouse) will pass, is
extremely precipitous. Use of the area aboriginally or historically is impro-
bable. No cultural material was noted.
Due to the extremely rugged terrain of the powerhouse damsite area,
there is little need for concern that cultural values in terms of previous
human occupation will be threatened.
J
l'
L
----------.........
22
North Shore
Since the project plans include the construction of a road to the
Vodopad River valley to obtain gravel for the concrete aggregate, we surveyed
the shoreline from the trail to Green Lake to the flat on the north
central shore (Fig. 16). This was undoubtably the most difficult stretch
in our entire survey. The slope is extremely steep and heavily wooded
(Fig. 15). The section from the trail head at Green Lake to the north
shore flat was too steep for anything but trees to cling to. We did not
find any evidence of human site use.
The flat in the central part of the north shore is composed of
alluvium carried by three or more streams from the higher slopes. It is
frequently covered with a sheet wash of alluvium during peak run offs. The
streams carry their load out into the lake forming a shallows between the
north shore and the island against the opposite south shore (Converse, et
al 1977: plate 4). While the outwash area is pleasant in summer, I am not
sure it would be a good spring location. De Armond noted that there was
a claim on the north side of the lake worked in 1923 by Andrew Dixon,
Peter Romanoff, and John Sandman (Appendix 2). We did not find any evidence
of this activity.
From the north flat to the Vodopad River the shoreline rises verti-
cally. We eliminated this area from consideration as it fell into the
extremely difficult to impossible category for utilization.
South Shore
The south shore was surveyed from the east side to the island opposite
the north flat. The remainder of the shoreline to the outlet was a steep
cliff that was too sheer to traverse. The entire south shore is uniformly
steep. A headland and the island were considered the best possibilities.
--------........ 23
Our survey revealed that the island would have been a fair campsite area,
but no evidence of utilization was observed here or elsewhere along the
south shore. Mr. Hanlon reported that Robert's tunnel was cut into the
south shore of Green Lake. This was undoubtably at a much higher elevation
than the level of the dam impoundment. Most shafts to the south were at or
above 2000 feet.
Vodopad River Section
Valley Bottom and Slopes
The valley bottom along the Vodopad River and the branch streams
associated with it is covered with a tangle of willow, alder, salmonberry
bushes and conifers. The alluvial covering does not restrict the course
of the streams which meander across the valley, changing their courses
over the years. As a habitation zone, the valley bottom is quite undesi-
rable. In our surveys along the edges of the valley at the toe of the
slopes we found excellent growths of skunk cabbage, but no evidence of
human occupation or land use.
Surveys along the valley walls were equally negative. Benches that
appeared on the map to be potentially interesting proved to be covered with
muskeg. We made several overflights into the valley to check out areas
that we could not reach on foot within the time limits of the proposed
survey. We did not see any locations within the impoundment area that
would require further investigation.
CONCLUSIONS
The survey from Herring Cove to the head of Silver Bay and then
around Green Lake and into the Vodopad River valley was from the archeo-
logical standpoint rather unproductive. The Silver Bay section, based
upon prevlOus knowledge of lan use pa e . d tt rns was earlier evaluated as
--------....... 24
being the most potentially productive part of the survey in terms of
site locations. Although the entire area was covered on foot, the results are
meager -three cabin areas at (1) Herring Cove, (2) Bear Cove, and (3)
the start of the trail to Green Lake. These had already been noted on
eXisting maps. The fourth site was the camp at Paint Rasal. None of
the sites have any local significance as judged by an interest in site
preservation. Most are historically recent, i. e., less that fifty years
old. None represent material that can "offer a significant contribution
to knowledge". The admonition to avoid where Possible would hold for
these sites as today's trash is the future's heritage. If the site areas
are to be impacted by the prOject however it is felt that no further
archeological work need be done in these areas as there is no justification
for further investigation based upon the recovered data.
The Green Lake -Vodopad region was even more archeologically
sterile. Based upon ethnographic data such a region would undoubtably
have had little aboriginal impact. Hunting expeditions would have oper-
ated from small camps with no visible remains after a few years of forest
growth. Most interior camps have been previously found along acknowledged
salmon streams. The Green Lake area has been regarded as unproductive
in terms of fish and probably would not have been fished in the past. In
other words, the infrequent use of the area by native groups would have
left little if anything for the archeologist of the present to discover.
In more ancient times the valley was strongly influenced by mountain
glaciation.
In taking an overVlew of the en lre regl , . t· ·on one is struck with the
idea that that area has been only recently relieved of the effects of
. t b·lity of many of the slopes neoglaciation and that the surface lns a 1
J
----------...... 25
and the alluvial washes of the valley bottoms made for a rapidly changing
landscape. The landslide that destroyed most of the cabin at the Salmon
Lake outlet is only a more recent example of this.
The ethnographic data seem to confirm this _ hunting and fishing
activity in the Silver Bay area occurred with perhaps the establishment
of temporary camps, but not permanent settlement.
Historically, during white occupation, the activity was mining on
the higher elevations with the scatter of cabins as a reminder of that
presence along the shore. The cabins at Herring Cove and the mobile home
of Dorman McGraw at Bower Cove reflect recreational use, a new cultural
practice in the history of Silver Bay.
transmission lines, construction road, damsite, power tunnel, powerhouse,
From this survey, we can conclude that the access road, power
work area, and impoundment area will not threaten significant archeo-
logical sites. In fact, there appear to be few sites of even inconse-
quential archeological value within the entire area. This is not to
imply in the final sense that there are no archeologically significant
sites in the project area. Our survey has shown, however, that the
possibility is extremely limited. In the event that archeological
materials are encountered during construction, every effort should be
made to salvage the available data by qualified personnel.
J
--------....... 26
REFERENCES
Converse, Davis, Dixon, and Associates, Inc.
1974 Preliminary Geologic Investigations, proposed Green Lake Hydro-
electric Project, Sitka, Alaska.
1977 Phase II Geotechnical Investigation, Green Lake Hydroelectric Pro-
ject, Sitka, Alaska.
Goldschmidt, W. R., and T. H. Haas
1946 Possessory Rights of the Natives of Southeastern Alaska. A report
to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Mimeo.
Hilson, S. E.
1974 Treasures of Alaska. Holland: Van Winkle Publishing Co.
Knopf, A.
1912 The Sitka Mining District, Alaska. U. S. Geological Survey, Bulletin
504. Washington, D. C.
Steen and Matlock, Inc.
1977 Preliminary Cost Study, Green Lake Construction Access Road, Sitka,
Alaska.
Zagoskin, L. A.
1967 Lieutenant Zagoskin's Travels in Russian America, 1842-1844. Edited
by H. N. Michael. Arctic Institute of North America. Anthropology of
the North: Translations from Russian Sources No.7. Toronto: Univer-
sity of Toronto Press.
J
~------.
FIGURES
i
o
L.
10 20
SILVER BAY
GREEN LAKE AREA
30 Miles
FIG. 1. Location Map
ALASKA \
\
Baranof
HERRING COVE
2 BEAR COVE
3 ACCESS ROAD
301 ALTERNATE SECTION
3b CONSTRUCTION ROAD
4 DAM
5 POWER TUNNEL
!; POWERHOUSE
SCALE 1": 1 Mile
FIG. 2 Project Area
s>
(~
8 ~~
0>
FIG.3
..y).-
Herrinq Cove
OSITE
0 1000' 2000' L I
SCALE
------..
Fig. 4. Aerial view of Herring Cove from the west
Fig. 5. Cabin ruins (chimney) in location 3, Herring
Cove (view to the east)
J
Fig. 6.
--------.
Silver Bay north shore (Herring Cove to the left),
viewed from the west
Fig. 7. Aerial View of Bear Cove and Medvezhie Lake valley
from the west
o
I
FIG.8
Bear Cove &
Medvezhie Lake
1000' 2000'
I ,
SCALE
IfF
Fig. 9. Privy, location 1, Bear Cove, view from the west
Fig. 10. Site area, location 1, Bear Cove, view from north
N 1,889,500 __ -+-__ "-",,
FIG 11
Head of Silver Bay
&. Outlet to Green
Lake
o 1 CO) , 2 CO) ,
L-L --'--_'L------'--_--',
SCALE
<$
--1--"'Y )------4--
--------.
Fig. 12. Temporary camp at POint Rasal, Peter Mehringer
standing in main concentration of debris, view to the north
Fig. 13. Cabin Ruin on Silver Bay, north shore, head of
trail to Green Lake, view to the east
, --------
Fig. 14. Green Lake outlet to Silver Bay, view to the east
1 g. . F· 15 Western part of Green Lake; Silver Bay in
background
§
~
N
W
+ o lC(X)' ~'
' ..... _-'---...... ' --'--~'
SCALE
FIG. 16
Green Lake-Vodopad River
Valley
IN1,_~,500
----------.......
APPENDIX 1
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE
P.o. Box 1628, Juneau, Alaska 99802
1580 (2300)
JUN 2 a rJn4
'Dr. Robert Ackerman
Department of Anthropology
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington 99163
L Dear Dr. Ackerman:
(!)
Enclosed is a fully executed copy of the Memorandum of Understanding
01-103 relating to your archeological reconnaissance in Silver Bay.
We regret the mixup with the Chatham Area office, but fortunately
the accomplishment of the reconnaissance apparently was not affected.
Sincerely,
Enclosure
6200-,1 (1 69)
--------........
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
between
Labo~atory of Anthropology
Washlngton State University
and
United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Service, Alaska Region
Agreement No. 01-103
THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, made and entered into by and between the
Laboratory of Anthropology, Washington State University, hereinafter refer-
red to as the Laboratory, and the United States Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Alaska Region, hereinafter referred to as the Forest Service
under provisions of the Act of May 15, 1962 (7 U.S.C. 2201). '
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Municipality of Sitka, Alaska, has contracted with R.W. Beck
and Associates of Seattle, Washington, to undertake studies pertaining to
a proposed hydroelectric project and associated facilties in the vicinity
of Silver Bay and Green Lake, southeast of Sitka; and
WHEREAS, the areasof actual and potential impact of the project must be
examined for historical and archeoloqical values prior to project imple-tation and
WHEREAS, R.W. Beck and Associates have negotiated an agreement with the
Laboratory for the performance of the required historical and archeolo-
gical investigation and examination, the Forest Service being unable at
present to perform said investigation and examination.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, the parties hereto agree as follows:
A. The Laboratory shall:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Provide the Forest Service with no less than two (2) copies of
the final report submitted to R.W. Beck and Associates.
Provide the Forest Service with a catalog of all artifacts or
other samples collected in the course of its investiaation for
the project.
Provide the Forest Service with a catalog of all photoaraphs
taken of cultural resources encountered.
After the completion of the work, restor~ ~he lands upon ~hich
they have worked to the~r customary condltlon, to the satlsfac-
tion of the Forest Servlce.
~-----.•
5. ~ully de~cribe the work to be performed under the agreement
1n a Project Work Plan to be attached as Exhibit I to this
agreement. The work plan will outline the aims, purposes,
and exact character of the work to be done.
B. The Forest Service shall:
Consider this Memorandum of Understanding as authorization to
the Laboratory to conduct historical and archeological investi-
gations on lands administered by the Forest Service which may
be actually or potentially impacted by the proposed prOject.
C. It is mutuall a reed and understood b and between the said arties that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
No Member of, or Delegate to, Congress or Resident Commissioner
shall be admitted to share any part of this agreement, or to
any benefit that may arise therefrom; but this provision shall
not be construed to extend to this agreement if made with a corporation for its general benefit.
The United States of America shall not be liable for any
damage incident to the performance of work under this agree-
ment. The Laboratory hereby expressly waives any and all
claims against the United States if America for compensation
for any loss, damage, personal imjury or death occurring in
consequence of the performance of this agreement.
This agreement shall be effective upon execution by both parties hereto.
Either party may terminate the agreement.by provi~ing 60 days
written notice. Unless terminated by wr1tten not1ce, this
agreement will remain in force until June I, 1978.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement as of
the last date written below.
" 7 ,I
I , ,
DATE
Alaska Region
U.S. Forest Service
Laboratory of Anthropoloqy
APPENDIX 2
CORRESPONDENCE
Robert E. Ackerman
Department of Anthropology
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington 99163
Dear Bob:
DE ARMOND
422 CALHOUN AVENUE
JUNEAU. ALASKA 99801
PHONE, 586.3165
May 26, 1977
Except for some minor mlnlng activity, I do not know that anything has gone on in the Green Lake area.
The study, "Water Powers of Southeast Alaska," iSsued by the Federal Power
Commission and the Forest Service in 1947 mentions both this site and the one
at Medvezhie Lake, but the W'ormation is more techniCal than historical.
Mining activity began in the Silver Bay area in the 1870's, but most of
it was concentrated on the south and west side of the bay.
In addition to the claims or prospects marked on the map, Fig. 1, which
you enclosed, there is a short tunnel jUst above high tide on the south side
of the little bight into which the Vodopad River flows. It was there when I
first saw the area, which was probably 1918 or 1919, but I have no idea who drove it.
There was also a claim on the north side of Green Lake, a short distance
from the shore of the lake, which was being worked on in 1923 by Andrew Dixon,
Peter Romanoff and John Sandman, all of Sitka. They had a round log cabin
on the shore of Silver Bay near the present --or proposed _ power house site.
Later, in the late 1920's or early 1930's, Steve Tuss carried on work there,
financed by the late Nicholas BOlshanin of Sitka. Steve built another cabin on the shore, this one of hewed logs.
William Hanlon, who still lives in Sitka -more commonly knORn as Ikey
Hanlon -spent a good deal of time at Silver Bay, on the Haley property and
probably knows as much about the area as anyone now living.
The old mining records at Sitka contain many pages of location notices
in the 1870's, but it is difficult to place many of them because they did not
Use geographic names that are now recognizable.
I am sorry to say that Esther Billman died in April _ April 2, I believe _ at Salem, Oregon.
I do not know James Davis and cannot think of anyone now living in Sitka
except Hanlon who might provide any useful information.
th Indl'an settlements or houses anywhere So far as I am aware, ere were no
on Silver Bay.
Best regards,
-I' r---,./0
R. N. De Armond
--------
MI'S. M4_. QMWGr
DEPARTMENT OF NATURt\L RESOURCES
June 1, 1977 D, ..... ,Slon of Parks
Re: 3100
Professor Robert E. Ackerman
Department of Anthropology
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington 99163
Dear Bob:
619 Warehouse Or. SUite 210
AnChorage, Alaska 99501
This is in reply to your letter dated May 22 informing us of your archaeo-
logical survey in the Silver Bay and Green Lake areas near Sitka, in
anticipation of a proposed hydroelectric construction project. I enclose
a copy of the May 1977 list of sites in the Sitka United States Geological
Survey quadrangle which are listed in the Alaska Heritage Resource Survey (AHRS).
You may have learned by now the sad news of the recent death of Ms.
Ester Billman. We do understand that James W. Davis has knowledge of
cultural resources in the area of your interest. His address is: P.O. Box 1109, Sitka, Alaska 99835.
Sincerely,
GEORGE A. HALL
Acting Director
By, ~. "anable, Chief
His tory & Archaeology v
Enclosures
,t
AM:lea
~------.
a ~~~-~k~ ~,..../ ~~ ..... ~ u_ d~-7 ,-e~;'I.r: -/Zs ~k~ ~ ~~ e-/73 3 ~ ...k..d . ~;-? ~,-~
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/~.sL.c.~J I!!J>, 3p4C/77. ~<I__ f~d d. ~
/~ /7Js-.. .72-~~ ? 47J '"~ A&'~~LA.~
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~/~ ~"7 -c;~. ~~ ~~-d ~,~
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J't b,/~&.t-&f~ -~ /~:c ~ ~s.;s-""~
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7L /~c-e rh7 /~_ .. l7U ~ .&/c.v;.., /"7.
~/ue-so-. ~ ~ k:,,,,/e.t.. A .. ~ ~~ ~u:rr~
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-------_. ~
JC(.'1'O-d·
lc~t ~ 113;)-
~-----.• ~1T~1T[ @W !PJ~!PJ~~!PJ
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
June 13, 1977
Re: 0012
Robert E. Ackerman, Professor
Washington State University
Dept. of Anthropology
Pullman, Washington 99163
Dear Bob:
Df\/,I~'on of Parks
619 Warehouse Dr., SUite 210
AnChorage, Alaska 99501
I appreciate having been asked for information on the probability of
encountering archaeological data in the Silver and Green Lake area at
Sitka. You are correct that the Russian's sawmill, which stood at the
entrance of Silver Bay was fairly well destroyed by a "farm" that existed
there prior to the Pulp Mill Construction. The Pulp Mill transformed the land even more.
My knowledge of the area suggests that the natives (Kiksadi) moved from
Wrangell to Sitka and in some development of the native lore lived at
various points along the coast as far westward as Jamestown Bay and then
gradually through successive moves to Castle Hill at Sitka. The camps
at old Sitka to the North and deeper into Silver Bay were temporary or
summer camps. I did not encounter any references to native encampments,
villages or other large scale unit uses of this area and deep in Silver
Bay. I heard nothing at all about Green Lake. I think the prospect of
your finding much material in there is rather limited. There may be
evidence of temporary camps although I question this since I believe you
will find it was largely a route to somewhere else. I am pleased to see
that they are utilizing a professional archaeologist before they under-
take a project; this has not been the case in the past. At the time the
pulpmill was constructed, there was an offer to do archaeological work
at Blue Lake which Paul Schumacker chose to turn down since he arbitrarily
determined that there was little probability of evidence. He may have
been right, but I would have been much happier if he had done some kind
of an analysis.
Sincerely,
~
Deputy Director
GAH:lea
--------.......
APPENDIX 3
INTERVIEW DATA
INTERVIEW DATA
FROM INFORMANTS IN SITKA, JUNE 10 -12, 1977
1. William R. Hanlon (June 10, 1977)
Mr. Hanlon known as "Iky" or "Mule" Hanlon is a retired miner living
in Sitka. He worked for Nicholas Haley and Nicholas Bolshanin in the
1920's and 1930's. His reminiscenses on mining were mainly about claims
outside of the project area. Relevant to our investigations are the
following:
(1) Herring Cove:
Bill Marquat had a cabin in the area where a stone chimney
now stands as the last vestige.
Jack Calvin had a cabin on the east shore, probably destroyed
by the ALP log dump construction.
Marsh (ex-marine, W. W. II) had a cabin and small prospect
in the southeast corner of Herring Cove. This according to Hanlon's
location would be the site of the barrow pit created during the con-
struction of the access road from Sawmill Cove to Herring Cove.
(2) Green Lake
Robert's Tunnel - a shaft sunk near the outlet to Green Lake
on the south shore in 1936. It was not clear from Mr. Hanlon's conver-
sation whether this was the same tunnel he then mentioned as being 250
feet long and at the 2600 foot level.
2. Nonnan Schoonover (June 10, 1077)
Mr. Schoonover is in the planning section of the Chatham district
of the Tongass National Forest, U. S. Forest Service. We stopped at the
office of the Forest Service to request information regarding the
~-----..
issuance of use permits. Calvin Bird, forest ranger for the Chatham
area,suggested in a telephone conversation prior to Our arrival in Sitka
that we talk to Mr. Clyde Ferguson or Norman Schoonover. We first saw
Mr. Ferguson who quickly referred us to Mr. Schoonover. I explained our
mission and asked for data on cabins within the project area. Mr.
Schoonover said he was not sure how much data was locally available
but would make a search for us. He later sent a written copy of his
findings to us (see Appendix 2).
3. James Davis (Sitka, June 11, 1977)
Telephone conversation -Mr. Davis is the manager of the Sitka
Chamber of Commerce and is an active participant in the Sitka Historical
Society. Mr. Davis reported that there were no native informants who
could tell me about the aboriginal use of the Silver Bay _ Green Lake
area. All of the loldtimers" were gone and with them such information.
He recommended that I contact Mr. Glenn Morgan of Sitka as he was a long
time resident with considerable experience in mining at the head of
Silver Bay.
4. Mrs. Charlotte Morgan (June 11, 1977)
Telephone conversation - I explained to Mrs. Morgan that I was
interested in aboriginal settlement in the Silver Bay -Green Lake
area and was interested in the statement by Goldschmidt and Haas that a
camp was located at the mouth of a good sockeye stream at the head of
the bay (1946:108) [on Chart 9 Goldschmidt and Haas have located the
former camp at the outlet of Green Lake, on the west shore]. Mrs.
Morgan reported that Nicholas Haley in 1864 had Indians working for him
in his surface mining activities, spoke Tlingit and knew a fair amount
about the native culture. He d· , accor lng to Mrs. Morgan, never spoke of
a smokehouse or camp in the area She wa ··1 1 . . s Slml ar y unacqualnted with
any fixed aboriginal use area.
5. Mrs. Isabel Miller (June 11, 1977)
Mrs. Miller is one of the members of the Sitka Historical Society
that is active in managing the museum in the Centennial Building in
Sitka. She indicated that we should contact Mrs. Ellen Lang, Superin-
tendant of the Sitka National Monument for information regarding abori-
ginal land use in the Silver Bay -Green Lake area. Mrs. Miller kindly
located Mrs. Lang for me by telephone and enabled me to get the informa-
tion that I was seeking.
6. Mrs. Ellen Lang (June 11, 1977)
Telephone conversation -Mrs. Lang is of Tlingit ancestry and
considered knowledgeable about local land use. Mrs. Lang indicated
that the Tlingit of Sitka had general use rights to the Silver Bay -
Green Lake area but that there were no specific settlements there in
the past. I asked her about the camp at Green Lake. Mrs. Lang indi-
cated that it was unlikely as there were no salmon in Green Lake, only
trout and that the Tlingit made little use of trout. She indicated
that the outlet to Salmon Lake would have been a more likely location.
Mrs. Lang also noted that the area had been highly disturbed by mining
activity over the past hundred years and that the chances of finding
any evidence of historic Tlingit occupation of the area would be small.
She also provided me with the names of other Tlingit informants: Mr.
Bill Peters, Mr. Moses Johnson, and Mr. Bill Bradley (Sitka Camp
President, Alaska Native Brotherhood). I was unable to contact these
individuals as that evening a potlatch was being held at the ANB hall and
we left Sitka the following day.
--------.......
7. Mr. Glenn Morgan (June 12, 1977)
Mr. Morgan is the manager of the Edgecombe Exploration Company, Inc.
Mr. Morgan visited us in response to Our call to Mrs. Morgan on June 11.
He had been with Mr. Mongin, architectural historian, Office of History
and Archeology, at Goddard hot springs the previous day to consider the
possibility of nominating the hot springs to the state and national
register. Mr. Morgan thus evinced an interest in the cultural values of
the Sitka region.
Regarding the possibility of a Tlingit camp at the head of Silver
Bay, Mr. Morgan reported that temporary camps were certainly possible in
the past, but that he had not heard of any fixed location for such, nor
had Nicholas Haley ever mentioned anything like a smokehouse or fish
camp for the area. He agreed that if one were to have a camp , the
outlet to Salmon Lake would be the likely location. Sockeye, coho, and
dog salmon go up this outlet to Salmon Lake and this was a favored
fishing location until the fishery was ruined by over netting at the
mouth. The cabin on the west bank of the outlet to Salmon Lake was
built by Lee Burkhart who received the land title from William Johnson,
a relative of Nicholas Haley. The cabin was utilized also by Dorman
McGraw until a slide destroyed most of the structure. McGraw then
moved a mobile home on floats to Bower Cove (to the immediate east of
the Salmon Lake outlet at the head of Silver Bay). McGraw is currently
utilizing Bower Cove as a weekend retreat.
Mr. Morgan indicated that Edgecombe Exploration Company, Inc. had
5 ore shoots and 25 claims at the head of Silver Bay -Salmon Lake area.
He indicated that he had also thought of using the waterpower potential
of Green Lake, but had not done anything with his plan of development.
I commented on the cabin at the head of the trail leading to
Green lake and noted that Robert De Armond wrote that it had been
built by Steve Tuss. Mr. Morgan laughed and said that Steve Tuss could
not drive a nail straight and that the three story, squared log cabin
had been built by Andrew Dixon. Steve Tuss occupied a small room on
the third story, the rest of the cabin was open. When the cabin col-
lapsed, much of it fell onto the tidal zone and was washed away. Only
a small part of the cabin structure remains.
Mr. Morgan then spoke of the vandalism in the area and the depre-
dations upon his property. Such activity would further reduce once
existing evidence of historic occupation. Mr. Morgan was also concerned
that we might be raising the question of native claims to the Silver
Bay area, but I assured Mr. Morgan that our only interest was the loca-
tion of an aboriginal camp said to be on a sockeye stream at the head
of the bay. I was sure that it could not be at the Green lake outlet
and was interested in proving this pOint as it would remove any ques-
tion of specific land use from the project area. Mr. Morgan, relieved
that our interest was of a strictly investigative nature, concurred
that a camp at the lakeside near the outlet was quite improbable.
R. W. BECK AND ASSOCIATES
ENGINEERS AND CONSULTANTS
NING
YSES
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200 TOWER BUllDINC
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Bull Run River near Portland, Oregon. An investigation was com-
pleted in 1972 for the installation of additional units (260 MW)
at the Salina Pumped Storage Project in Oklahoma. An 800 MW~ 400-
foot head pumped storage project was lo?ated on the Brazos Rlver
in Texas together with a 50-11111 conventlonal pow:r plant on the.
same riv~r.An FPC Preliminary Permit t? ~n~est~gate ~hes~ proj-
ects has been obtained and detailed feaslblllty l~vestlgatlons
are in progress. A review was made of the economlCS and.powe~
marketing of the 1,300 MW Boyd County Pumped Storage Project In
Nebraska.
-2-
Feasibility investigations and preliminary designs have
been made on a number of hydroelectric sites in the Pacific North-
west including the Illinois River, the Little White Salmon River
and the Wenatchee River. Also in Washington, a possible expansion
of the Chelan Power Plant from 48 MW to 288 MW was investigated. A
preliminary feasibility report was prepared in 1967 for the 50 MW
Cowlitz Falls Project on the Cowlitz River, and an FPC Permit was
secured in 1968. A study is now being initiated to appraise the
feasibility of this development under current economic conditions.
Preliminary designs and feasibility studies have been completed for
power installations totalling 43 MW at the existing water supply
dams on the Bull Run River for the City of Portland. These studies
indicated that such power installations are economically feasible.
An analysis was made for the Corps of Engineers of various methods
of selective withdrawal from Libby Reservoir in Montana to meet tem-
perature requirements for fish life, and a method was selected and
constructed.
State-wide site selection surveys have been made of po-
tential hydroelectric developments in the small to medium range
for Washington, Virginia and North Carolina. A similar study for
the State of Pennsylvania is in progress.
Investigations, FPC Licensing, and design are also pro-
gressing for a number of hydroelectric projects at other loca-
tions in Southeast Alaska, ranging up to 25 MW, including the
Green Lake Project for Sitka, expansion of the Blind Slough Proj-
ect at Petersburg, the Thomas Bay and Virginia ~ake Projects for
the Petersburg-Wrangell area, and Swan Lake Project for Ketchikan.
Feasibility studies were completed for the Black River
Hydroelectric Project for the Town of Springfield, Vermo~t, and
an FPC License Application is being prepare~ for the pr~Ject.
The development comprises six powerhouses wlth a ~o~al lnstalle~
capacity of 30.3 MW. A report was ~re~are~ a~pralslng the feas~
bili ty of developing 12 r1W on the r1lsslquol Rl ver for Swanto~ ~ll
lage, Vermont, and investigations have comme~ced on t~e fea~lbll
ity of developing about 35 MW on the James Rlver and ltS trlbu-
taries in Virginia. Modifications to the Snowden Plant were stud-
ied for the City of Bedford, Virginia.
Feasibility studies were made of insta~li~g 62 MW Off
bulb turbine driven generators atLea~h ~;dtg:m:x~~t~g~ g~~~sR~ver.
Engineers' Greenup and Cannelton oc s MW on the Gunni-
Studies are continuing on the dev~l~pm:~; o~n~5an FPC Permit has
son River for the City of D:lta, °A orlication was r~centlY sub-b I' d for An FPC Llcense pp , , , :en app le : f S t Clara California for the eXlstlng
mltted for the Clty 0 an a M;kelumne River. hydroelectric development on the
these projects contain und:rground excavations
Many of wl'th a range of cross-sectlons and lengths, and including tunnels
-3-
----------......
for. many d~fferent geological conditions. The Firm is well ex-perlenced In the design and constructl·on . t.
i I lnspec lon of tunnels, part cu arly th~ Use of more recent innovations such as shot crete and tunnel machlnes.
?ur transmission design experience includes prOjects
under varYlng conditions of structural and electric loads for
voltages up through 3 4 5-kV. Design concepts include sir.gle and
H-frame prestres~ed concrete and wood poles, steel poles for sin-
gle and double clrcuit construction and steel towers for single and double circuit construction. ' "
The Firm has been engaged in all facets of substation
design for more than fifteen years, with voltages ranging up to
500-kV. During this period, we have been in the forefront of
modern design in substations leading to low-profile and semi-Iow_
profile designs utilizing pleasing structural elements. Screen-
type fencing, landscaping and other aesthetic treatments are em-ployed.
Staff members and special consultants to the Firm are
experienced in a Wide range of technical matters related to the
air, water and land environments. This experience has been ap-
plied to investigations concerning thermal powerplants, reser-
vOirs, hydroelectric plants, transmission facilities, roads, and
structures. The Firm has Supervised field studies to Character-
ize the environment and ecological systems at proposed project
Sites, performed analytical studies to project the impact of new
facilities on the environment, developed design alternatives to
minimize or relieve such impact, and prepared environmental im-
pact statements to accompany applications for facility permits and licenses.
R. W. Beck and Associates has conducted economic and
financial feasibility studies Which have formed the basis for fi-
nancing and construction of many hydroelectric and water supply
projects throughout the country. Our staff has worked closely
with bond counsel and financing agencies and is very well respec-
ted in this regard. In all, the Firm has provided assistance for
the issuance of more than $3 billion in bonds over the years: In
parallel with this we have gained a reputation in the analyslS of
electric power supply, power marketing and power rates and sales contracts.
-4-
----------.........
(;, "",,/,,"(,11 I "'JUtil.1I1I 1
NVERSE DAVIS DIXON ASSOCIATES, INC
100 West Harrison, Seattle, Washington 98119. (.:>06) .:>R'-'.'ou
GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS
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Converse Davis Dixon Associates Inc r 'd
vices in geotechnical engineering. These c~pabii,~,ov1,esladcomplet{! :ange of ser-
i' " 1 1es 1nc u e foundat10n en-g neer~ng, eng1neer1ng geology, earthquake engineering, and groundwater geolo y
includ1ng all attendant field and laboratory testing serv1'ces Th f' , g , d ' . e 1rm 1S or-gan1ze to ~cov1de close, direct consultation of its principals on key assign-
ments, and 1S staffed to provide sufficient personnel to perform major geotech-nical investigations.
The administrative offices of the company are located in Pasadena
California. The firm's consulting offices are maintained in Pasadena, San Fr~ncisco,
and Anaheim, California, Las Vegas Nevada; and in Seattle, Washington. The firm
presently maintains a staff of about 80 total personnel which includes approxi-
mately 40 professional engineers and geologists.
Since its founding in 1946, Converse Davis Dixon Associates, Inc. has
develofed 2.n cutstanding reputCltic'n in rendering its professional services. Many
of its key employees publish technical papers routinely and are active in pro-
fessional society activities. It has served many of its clients on a continuing
basis for decades. The firm has performed investigations in southeast Asia, in
Japan and adjoining islands, in South America and Central America, ~nd Africa and
the ~liddle East.
EXPERIENCE IN HYDROELECTRIC AIm DAM PROJECTS
Converse Davis Dixon Associates, Inc. has considerable experience in
the geotechnical engineering phases of many hydroelectric and dam projects. One of
the major services the firm offers is studies leading to the selection of sites
for dams. The firm and its personnel have consulted on a total of approximately
80 dam projects throughout the world. All of its key personnel have at one time
another performed work outside the continental United States.
or
Converse Davis Dixon Associates, Inc. has performed some 20 ~nvcstiga
tions for R. H. Beck and Associates, Inc. The firm has, therefor~, ~ons~derable
, 11 IT'll' . nand 1fr. Dixon pr1nc1pals of each experience in work~np, together. r, v1, ~amso ' , , ,
J f prior "~s1gnmcnts ,·nth sevl'ral firm, have worked together over a number 0 years on U~
organizations.
Typical f the hydroelectric projects are the Castaic power project
o , G I I .. project in Alaska, and the Black near Los Angeles in Califorrna, the reen .a ,e, f d
' . TI e l~ t ler tlW of lhe~;e pnlJ ec ts ue re per onne as
River project in Vermont. 1 -,,:, " t s Inc.. The c.ons\llting assignments on these
consultants to R. W. Beck and A~JoCla e", 't. loration field and labor-
projects typically included ,;cological li',lpplng, s~ e e}.~_,' , 'f 1 '
, " . ,·tudies provld~ng the bas1s or pre .~-alory testing and gcotec]llllcal eng1ncer1nb "
minary design and cost estimates.
rr
DR. DAVID T. HOOPES -ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTAlJT
B.S. in Wildlife Management
University of Alaska
M.S. in Fishery Biology
PhD in Fishery Biology
Iowa State University
American Fisheries Society, American Institute
of Fisheries Research Biologists
Dr. Hoopes has had over fifteen years of professional experience re-
lated to fishery investigation and study in Alaskan waters. With
the National Marine Fisheries Service he has served as project leader
for international shellfish problems, and fishery biologist. Dr.
Hoopes taught Principles of Ecology at the University of Alaska
Juneau-Douglas Community College Campus. He is currently providing
consultant services in the field of fisheries and wildlife.
Dr. Hoopes was the writer-editor of the 1971 Southeast Alaska Area
Guide, a land and resource management program for the Tongass lJa-
tional Forest, sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service.
In addition Dr. Hoopes has published numerous papers generally con-
cerned with fisheries in Alaska. Some recent publications are:
"Alaska's Fishery Resources -The Dungeness Crab." NMFS
Fishery Facts -6, 1973;
"King and Tanner Crab Research." (With J.F. Karinen and
M. H. Pelto) pp. 110-120 in INPFC Annual Report 1970;
"Selection of Spawning Sites by Sockeye Salmon in Small
Streams." pp 447-458 Fishery Bulletin 70, 1972;
"Occurrence of Tanner Crabs in the Eastern Bering Sea
with Characteristics Intermediate Between c. Bairdi and
c. Opilo. " (With J. F. Karinen) Shellfisheries Associa-
tion Vol. 61, 1971.
--------....... VITA
ROBERT E. ACKERMAN, Prof:ss or of Anthropology
Washlngton State University
Born:
Grand Rapids, Michigan. May 21, 1928
Education: B.A.
M.A.
PhD
University of Michigan 1950
University of Michigan 1951
University of Pennsylvania 1961
Professional Experience:
1973
Profess o : of Anthropology, Washington State Unlversity
3/77
1971-72 Acti~g Chairman, Department of Anthropology,
Washlngton State University
1961-date
1960-61
1959-61
1957-59
Instructor to Professor, Washington State University -
Instructor in Anthropology, University of
Delaware (extension)
Fellow in Anthropology, Eastern Pennsylvania
Psychiatric Institute, Philadelphia
Research Assistant, University Museum,
University of Pennsylvania
Membership in ProfesSional Societies:
Arctic Institute of North America (Fellow)
American Anthropological Association (Fellow)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (Fellow)
Society for American Archaeology
Society for Historical Archaeology
American Association of University Professors
Current Anthropology (Associate)
Sigma Xi
Canadian Archaeological Association
Society of Professional Archaeologists
Recent Research and Field Experience:
1976 lJational Academy of Sciences Senior Scientist
Exchange Program with the Soviet Academy of
Sciences -2-1/2 months in Leningrad, Moscow,
IJovosibirsk, and Irkutsk archaeological research
institutes while on professional leave from
Washington State University.
VITA (cont.)
Recent Research and Field Experience (cont.)
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
Research Interests:
Archaeological Survey of Loran C Site, Shoal
Cove, S.E. Alaska; U.S. Coast Guard
Archaeological Investigation in Yukon-Kuskokwim
Delta; National Science Foundation, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Washington State University
Archaeological Survey of Baranof and Chichagof
Islands, S.E. Alaska; U.S. Forest Service, USDA
Archaeological Investigations in the Icy Strait
Region, S.E. Alaska; National Science Foundation
Archaeological Survey of Clarence Rhode National
Wildlife Range, Bureau of Sports Fisheries and
Wildlife, USOI
Archaeological Investigations in the Icy Strait
Region, S.E. Alaska; National Science Foundation
Archaeology and Ethnology of Northern North America, Siberia,
and Japan
~-------
STEEN & MATLOCK
CONSULTING ENGINE!:;:RS
THE FIRM
II. O .• OX "-2",
ANCHORAt;K, ALASKA "SOI
Alaska, with its increasin .
faces a growinG need for professie g l~portance to the nation,
are familiar with both Alask~' ~als In many disciplines who
ments and techniques in the ;e~tU~~q~~ conditions and with develop-
ledge of both can provide the basi~ one ~~rld. Only a broa? know-
cisions can be made. Also personal t~ ~r sound engineerlng de-
principals who have this b~ckgroUnd i! e:~en~~aiOi~r~hjeecbtst by thle tion is to be found. es so u-
i~ the civ~ie~ggfn::;i~~kfi;~~: w;~ef~~~egr~~ci~~~!d~nt~~! ~~~~ice
wlth an aggregate of nearly 20 years of responsible experience in
Alaska,.and over ~o years in other states, are able to offer the
mature Judgment, broad professional experience and proven technical
ability needed to accomplish this objective. The principals' ex-
perience has included advance pla~ning, feasibility studies, evalua-
tions, re~orts and final designs as well as construction manage-
ment on hlghw~ys, railroads, bridges, docks and harbor facilities,
airports, resldential, commercial and industrial bUildings ferry
facilities, parking garages, and other related projects. '
Geographically, the principals have been involved in proj-
ects fron the arctic to the tropics, and ranging from the Southwest
Pacific to the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.
A prime objective of the firm is to adapt each project in
the most compatible manner possible to the environment in which it
is locat~d and to the project's ~ntended purpose. This requires
a knowledge of subjects outside of the purely technical areas of
engineering. For many years both principals have worked closely
with federal and state agencies, private associations and people
throughout the state on various projects to accomplish this purpose.
They have a good working relationship with, and understanding of,
the needs in the various areas of Alaska, as well as an intimate
knowledge of the terrain, climate, and soil conditions throughout
the state.
On the premise that proper management of lands in Alaska
is the key to the future well being of the state and its citizens,
the principals have contjnued their active interest and partiCipa-
tion in such matters. This, whjle satisfying a personal interest,
also helps in providing a tetter and mere current understand~ng .
of the concerns of the people and, thereby, a tetter capabillty ln
providing facilities which best satisfy these concerns.
The firm also has a close work inc relationship with other
engineering firms, as well as with e~perts in ecol?gical SCiences,
economics, social sciences, earth sClenccs, surveYlng ~nd.photo
grammetry, and does not hesitate to calIon these speclallsts as
needed to supplement in-house expertise.
rl11l9 -vr. -n F'Tl-r ")Ivr:"HJE:,-ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, (907) 274·6224
1549 E. Tudor Rd.
STEEN &: MATLOCK
CONSULTING ENGINE~S
COSBY E. STEEN
President
KEY PERSONNEL
.... O .• OX "-2'"
ANCHORAGE. ALASKA "!l0'
Education -Texas A&M University, BSCE 1950
Professional Engineer -Alaska Texas Y k T ' , ,u on errltory
C. E. Steen has accumulated ~ore th 14 including design and constru~tion ~~ner i y :ars experience in Alaska,
bridges, docks and harbor facilities P i~dsl~n,oi highways, railroads,
ties and commercial bUl'ld' d' us rla plants and facili-, lngs an utilities Thi '
ed supervision of a force of more than l,600'perso~n:~r~h~~: ~~c!~~;_
ed as Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Al k D of Highways. as.a epartment
Prior to his experience in Alaska, C.E. Steen was Project Manager
~nd Chief Estimator for 10 years with a contracting firm operating
In Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Mr. Steen also served
as Resident Engineer for the Texas Highway Department. His profes-
sional career spans more than 25 years.
~~. Steen served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He is
a pilot and flies the company aircraft.
CHARLES S. MATLOCK
Vice-President
Education -University of Texas, BSCE 1943
Professional Engineer -Alaska, Texas, New York
C. S. Matlock has extensive design and construction experience in
bridges, port and harbor facilities, buildings and other structures.
His professional career exceeds 32 years and has included recogni-
tion as a leader in his field,'both locally and nationally. During
the past 9 years, t1r. Matlock served as Deputy Cor-missioner of High-
ways, State Highway Engineer, District Highway Engineer, and Chief
Bridge Design Engineer for the Alaska Department of Highways.
Prior to coming to Alaska in 1966, Ivlr. f\iatlock was Chief Bridge
Engineer for a major consulting enfineering firm in New York City
and previously had been Supervisin~ De8ign Engineer (bridges) for
the Texas Highway Depart~ent. During World War II he served as an
officer in char~e of building and port construction on Saipan,
Mariaria Islands for a Naval Construction Battalion.
rcng>'T,-nF'TH' ",vr:JIlOE,-ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, (907) 274·6224
1549 E. Tudor Rd,