HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Temperatures of West Creek and Taiya River and Possible Effects of West Creek Hydroelectric Project on Existing Eulachon Runs in Taiya River 1982DANI[L M. BISHOP
a report on
Water Temperatures of West Creek
and Taiya River and Possible
Effects of West Creek Hydroelectric
Project on Existing Eulachon Runs
in Taiya River
~nvironaid
12175 Mendenhall Loop Rd.
JUNEAU. ALASKA 99801
907 789-9305
Daniel M. Bishop
July 15, 1982
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The voluntary assistance of Mr. Skip Elliott of Skagway and
Mr. Dick Boyce of Haines was greatly appreciated. Without their
interest and assistance, the study effort on Taiya River eulachon runs
would have been much more difficult.
-TABLE OF CONTENTS -
BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .'. 1
OBJECTIVES
1. Present, evaluate water temperature data .. .. 2
2. Provide information on Eulachon run, Taiya River. 2
3. Analyze, evaluate data re hydroelectric
project effects. . . • . • . • . • . . . . . . . 2
OBSERVATIONS AND RELATED CONDITIONS
1. Water temperature data, this effort, combined
with U.S.G.S. water temperature data 2
2. Streamflow conditions: April and May 4
3. Observations of Eulachon runs, Taiya and
Chilkat Rivers, in light of other Eulachon
studies . . . . . . • . . . • . • . . . . . .. 4
ANALYSIS OF DATA
1. Assumptions re water flow and temperature. . . 21
2. Synthesis of water temperatures in Lower Taiya
River with varied assumptions . . . . • . . . • 21
CONCLUSIONS REGARDING POSSIBLE IMPACTS OF
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT . . . . • . . . . 21
-FIGURES, TABLES AND PLATES -
FIGURE 1: Wacer Temperacures, Taiya River above Wesc
Creek (car _ ...; _); lower Wesc Creek (lwc __ ).;
and upper Wesc Creek (uwc ..... ). 5
FIGURE 2: Escimaced Average Flows by Weekly Incervals,
Taiya River and Wesc Creek ........ 10
FIGURE 3: Projecced Temperacures in Lower Taiya River 23
TABLE 1: Average Daily Wacer Temperacures
(chree sCaCions) .....
TABLE 2: Summary of ~ximum/~inimum Wacer Temperacures
Obcained by U.S.C.S. in Taiya River,
6
1971 Co 1977 •.......•...... " 8
TABLE 2A: ~iscellaneous Observacions of Wacer
Temperacures, Wesc Creek, U.S.C.S. 8
TABLE 3 : Average Monchly Flows (March co June)
Taiya River and Wesc Creek . . 9
TABLE 4· Projecced Wacer Temperacures, lower
Taiya River wich regulaced Wesc Creek 22
PLATE 1 : ~ouch of· Taiya River, ~ay 20-21, 1982 24
PLATE 2 : Taiya River above Taiya River bridge,
~y 20-21, 1982 24
PLATE 3 : Dead smelc on bar of Taiya River 25
PLATE 4 : Confluence of Wesc Creek wich Taiya River 25
PLATE 5 : Taiya River hank above confluence of
Wesc Creek . . . . . . . 26
BACKGROUND
This report supplements an earlier environmental study completed
in 1981 by Environaid. At the time of the earlier work, only a few
months' temperature data was collected. The environmental investigations
of 1981 did not consider possible temperature effects in the Taiya
River. It did, however, present sufficient information to conclude that
if a significant problem existed regarding water temperature effects of
the hydroelectric project, it was most likely to occur in Taiya River,
since no anadromous fish and very few resident fish were found to use
West Creek above the lower gorge.
Anadromous runs of salmonids and of smelt use Taiya River. The
principal races of salmonids running into the Taiya move well up-river
from the West Creek confluence to spavn. These salmonid spawning
habitats, and probably most associated rearing habitats, are thus well
clear of temperature effects of West Creek on the lower Taiya River.
It is also widely known that salmon ids move to spawning areas through
a relatively wide temperature range --at least through 7 to 16°C, with
fish running in late fall 'often passing through waters approa.ching O'C
to reach warmer, upwelling or springfed spawning areas. It appeared
highly 'unlikely that fall chum and coho runs known co use che Taiya
River above West Creek would be adversely affected by regulated West
Creek temperatures in moving into the upper Taiya River. Accordingly,
this question was given a low priority and is not examined in this
report.
Runs of smelt --Eulachon --(Thaleichthys pacificus) into glacial
rivers, including Taiya River, are much less understood than salmon.
As temperature information continued to be collected on West Creek and
Taiya River, the ecology of Eulachon was investigated further, with the
conclusion that this fish might require a rather narrow band of river
1
2
water temperatures for spawning. This was the reason for developing
more detailed examination of Taiya-West Creek water temperatures and
Eulachon run characteristics in spring 1982.
OBJECTIVES
1. Present stream temperature data collected for this project.
Also present U.S.C.S. stream temperature measurements in Taiya
River and West Creek for earlier years. Evaluate this data.
2. Provide descriptive information on the Eulachon run into Taiya
River, particularly as related to timing of the run and water
temperature conditions.
3. Analyze flow-temperature conditions of West Creek-Taiya River
during April-May (Eulachon spawning) period to evaluate possible
hydroelectric project effects. Evaluate results to reach
conclusions.
OBSERVATIONS AND RELATED CONDITIONS
1. Water temperatures were observed at three locations for this work.
Each site had an ENDECO 109 thermograph installed. These units
provide a photo-record of a calibrated mercury thermometer for up
to five-month time periods.
The upper West Creek thermograph was installed on the streambed
about a half-mile below the proposed hydroelectric dam site. The
stream flows at high velocity through this entire sector of the
drainage, and location of the thermograph was critical in terms of
access and sufficient protection from damaging bedload movement.
The unit was relocated in the streambed several times. The thermograph
was exposed by falling stream level from September 23 to October S.
3
The lower West Creek thermograph was located in a pool area nearly
under the north side of West Creek brid~e. This site proved good
throughout the measurement period. In the winter it remained in
the water column under thick ice cover.
The Taiya River thermograph was installed along the west bank
about 200 yards up-river from the West Creek confluence (see Plate
5). The thermograph was shifted a few feet in distance from the
bank depending on flow conditions throughout the measurement period.
It is quite likely that the ~ovember to ~arch record (see Figure 1)
shows response to groundwater flows from the adjacent gravel
streambank. This conclusion is supported by the values reported
by U.S.C.S. (Table 2) and by the ENDECO record after March 25, when
the thermograph was serviced.
From the August 21 beginning of record through December, upper .West
Creek was consistently warmer than lower West Creek by several
tenths of a °C. During winter months to early ~arch, the two
stations are variable in their relation, while in April and ~ay the
upper station showed cooler temperatures. The winter minimum for
West Creek settled around laC. This relatively warm level may result
from extensive groundwater flows known to originate in the upper
West Creek basin. During April and ~y, lower West Creek often
exceeds upper West Creek by up to 0.7°C, presumably due to
aeration through the lower rapids in warm air conditions. The few
miscellaneous water temperatures of West Creek taken by the U.S.C.S.
(Table 2A) are generally consistent with the record shown in
Figure 1 and Table 1, except that the December 9, 1971 (O.O°C) and
~rch 28, 1972 (l.O°C) are lower than expected from Figure 1.
These thermometer measurements, undoubtedly on the surface, suggest
temperature stratification in the water column, with the thermograph
sensor, around a foot deep, sensing a somewhat warmer layer.
Taiya River temperatures, as shown in Figure 1, Table 1, and
Table 2, support the following conclusions:
4
(1) summer temperatures normally range from 8_ll o C, as suggested in
Figure 1;
(2) the fall-winter record shown on Figure 1, between November 1
and March 19, is probably a measure of water temperature near
the bank or bottom, where considerable groundwater emergence,
or temperature stratification, was present;
(3) the temperature record after ~ay 24, 1982, is consistent with
previous U.S.C.S. values, even though the latter values appear
higher. The late spring of 1982 may account for this difference.
Taiya River compared with West Creek is thus seen as being considerably
warmer in summer-early fall, a little colder in winter-early spring,
becoming slightly warmer again in. the middle-late spring. The
relatively close match of Taiya River and lower West Creek temperatures
in ~ay is important in contributing to small temperature changes in
this work's analysis.
2. Streamflow conditions, based upon published U.S.C.S. records were
examined for Taiya River and West Creek. ~ean monthly flows,
~arch through June, for both stations were tabulated for the common
period of record (1970-77, see Table 3). These flows were graphed
(Figure 2) so that approximations of weekly flows for West Creek
and Taiya River above and below West Creek could be found for April
and May. Weekly flow values were used to synthesize mixed temperature
values for Taiya River, April and May, below West Creek (see Table 4).
3. Observations on Eulachon runs: In the course of the 1981 environ-
mental work, a review of available literature on Eulachon was
attempted. The principal objective was to find descriptions of the
spawning conditions and environment used by Eulachon. I soon learned
that the U.S. Forest Service in Petersburg, Alaska had already been
examining the same general subject with regard to the proposed B.C.
hydroelectric project(s) on the Stikine River. A pertinent section
q
8
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FIGURE 1: Water Temperatures, Taiya River above West Creek
(tar ); lower Weat Creek (lwc ); o and upper-West Creek (uwc .•.•. ). Taiya River
record from November 1 to Karch 19 indicates the
thermograph was receiving strong influence from
-r ground water.
AU.6U.ST OCTO&.P.
20 '5 to 15 20 2'5 II 10 HI 20 28
L-__________ -J ____________ ~ _____________ L ____________ _L ____________ _L ____________ _L ____________ ~ ____________ l-____________ ~ __ __
6
TABLE 1
Average Daily Water Temperatures at (1) Upper West Creek,
(2) Lower West Creek, and (3) Taiya River above West Creek.
-
Measurements were made with ENDECO 109 th~~ographs.
2 3 1 2 3 1/ 1 2 1
Date uwc lwc tar Date uwc lwc tar Date uwc lwc
!Aug 21 5.4 4.9 9.6 Oct 3 (3.5) 3.5 -Nov 15 2.9 2.3
22 5.4 4.9 9.8 4 (2.1) 2.2 -16 2.9 2.6
23 5.4 5.1 p-O.O 5 ( -) 3.3 -17 2.9 2.6
24 5.5 5.3 10.4 6 4.9 4.0 -18 2.1 1.9
25 5.8 5.5 p-0.8 7 4.8 4.4 -19 1.7 1.8
26 5.3 5.1 10.1 8 5.0 4.5 -20 1.9 1.7
27 5.1 4.7 9.8 9 3.9 3.4 -21 1.4 1.6
28 5.1 4.8 9.6 10 4.4 3.8 9.3 22 1.6 1.7
29 5.2 5.0 9.6 11 3.7 3.0 8.4 23 2.0 1.9
30 5.0 4.7 9.7 12 4.8 4.3 9.6 24 2.9 2.5
31 4.9 4.7 9.7 13 5.9 5.4 110.7 25 3.4 2.7
Sept 1 4.6 4.1 9.2 14 6.3 5.9 110.9 26 2.6 1.9
2 4.7 4.3 9.6 15 4.7 4.2 9.5 27 3.6 2.9
3 4.9 4.4 9.8 16 4.6 4.1 9.3 28 4.1 3.0
4 5.2 4.8 9.9 17 3.9 3.4 8.8 29 3.3 2.8
5 5.4 5.1 9.9 18 4.0 3.6 9.0 30 2.9 2.6
6 5.1 4.7 9.5 19 4.3 3.9 9.2 Dec 1 2.7 2.5
7 5.7 5.3 9.9 20 4.2 3.7 9.2 2 2.6 2.2
8 4.4 4.0 9.2 21 4.2 3.7 9.0 3 2.1 2.0
9 4.9 4.6 9.4 22 4.5 4.1 9.4 4 1.9 1.8
10 5.4 5.1 9.7 23 4.9 4.4 9.8 5 2.5 2.3
11 5.7 5.4 9.9 24 5.1 4.8 110.5 6 2.0 1.8
12 5.4 5.1 9.9 25 4.7 4.3 9.6 7 1.5 1.0
13 5.2 4.9 9.9 26 3.8 3.3 9.0 8 1.3 1.1
14 5.0 4.5 9.6 27 3.9 3.3 8.9 9 1.4 1.1
15 5.5 5.1 9.7 28 3.7 3.1 8.6 10 1.2 1.0
16 4.9 4.5 9.6 29 3.7 3.1 8.6 11 1.1 1.0
17 4.5 4.1 9.3 30 -3.2 -12 1.1 1.0
18 5.3 5.0 9.7 31 4.2 3.3 -13 1.2 1.1
19 5.0 4.7 9.5 Nov 1 3.4 2.5 5.3 14 1.3 1.1
20 4.9 4.5 9.5 2 3.6 2.8 4.6 15 1.4 1.0
21 4.6 4.1 9.2 3 3.3 2.8 5.1 16 1.3 1.1
22 4.6 3.9 -4 2.6 2.2 5.1 17 1.2 1.1
23 (6. ~) 4.3 -5 3.3 3.0 4.3 18 1.2 1.1
24 (6.2) 4.6 -6 3.4 2.7 5.1 19 1.3 1.1
25 (5.7) 4.7 -7 3.0 2.5 4.8 20 1.3 0.9
26 (6.1) 4.4 -8 3.3 2.5 4.8 21 1.6 1.0
27 -4.2 -9 3.8 3.3 4.7 22 1.9 1.0
28. (4.2) 3.5 -10 4.1 3.7 5.4 23 1.7 1.0
29 (6.0) 4.2 -11 4.3 4.0 5.6 24 1.7 1.0
30 (5.5) 4.3 -12 4.1 4.0 5.8 25 2.1 1.1
bct 1 (5.2) 4.3 -13 3.4 . 3.1 5.8 26 1.6 1.1
2 (3.4) 3.6 -14 3.0 2.6 5.1 27 0.8 1.0
1/ tar values between October 31, 1981, and March 20, 1982, are inconsistent with
previous and following record. This may be caused by thermograph set too near
bank, thereby picking up groundwater influence.
1/
3
tar
4.7
4.4
4.7
4.8
4.1
4.0
3.9
3.8
3.9
4.1
4.8
4.9
4.1
5.0
5.0
4.8
4.7
4.7
4.4
4.2
4.0
4.6
4.0
3.3
3.0
3.0
3.0
3 .. 0
3.3
3.3
3.3
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.5
3.7
3.9
3.7
I
7
1 2 3 1.1 1 2 1 2
Date uwc 1wc tar Date uwc 1wc tar Date uwc 1wc
Dec
Jan
Feb
1/
28 1.0 1.0 3.3 Feb 15 1.2 1.0 3.5 Apr 5 1.6 1.4
29 1.1 1.0 3.3 16 1.3 1.1 3.6 6 2.1 1.8
30 1.3 1.0 3.3 17 1.3 1.1 3.8 7 2.8 2.4
31 1.2 1.0 3.3 18 1.1 1.1 3.8 8 2.9 2.8
1 1.2 1.0 3.4 19 1.2 1.2 3.8 9 3.1 3.1
2 1.3 1.0 3.4 20 1.2 1.0 3.7 10 3.2 3.2
3 1.3 1.0 3.4 21 1.3 1.0 3.8 11 3.0 3.2
4 1.2 1.0 3.4 22 1.4 1.0 3.7 12 3.1 3.2
5 1.2 1.0 3.4 23 1.3 0.9 3.4 13 3.4 3.6
6 1.2 1.0 3.4 24 1.3 1.0 j 3.4 14 3.4 3.5
7 1.2 1.1 3.5 25 1.2 1.0 3.4 15 3.1 3.5
8 1.2 1.1 3.3 26 1.2 0.9 3.4 16 2.9 3.1
9 1.1 1.0 3.1 27 1.3 1.0 3.4 17 2.8 3.3
10 1.1 1.1 3.8 28 1.3 1.1 3.4 18 3.5 3.7
11 1.1 1.1 3.9 Mar 1 1.3 1.1 3.5 19 2.9 3.2
12 1.1 1.1 3.9 2 1.3 1.0 3.5 20, 2.4 2.5
13 1.1 1.1 3.8 3 1.3 1.1 3.7 21 3.1 3.4
14 1.1 1.1 3.8 4 1.3 1.1 3.7 22 3.6 4.1
15 1.2 1.2 3.8 5 1.2 1.1 3.6 23 3.5 3.9
16 1.1 1-.1 3.7 6 1.2 1.1 3. 7 24 3.7 4.2
17 1.1 1.1 3.8 7 1.3 1.2 3.8 25 4.0 4.5
18 1.1 1.1 3.7 8 1.2 1.1 3.8 26 3 -. 6 4.2
19 1.1 1.1 3.7 9 1.2 1.2 3.8 27 3.2 3.6
20 1.2 1.1 3.6 10 1.1 1.2 3.8 28 4.1 4.8
21 1.1 1.1 3.7 11 1.2 1.2 3.8 29 4.0 4.5
22 1.1 ]; ~ 1-' 3.6 12 1.2 1.3 3.8 30 3.9 4.6
23 1.2 1.1 3.6 13 1.2 1.2 3.8 May 1 4.3 4.8
24 1.1 1.0 3.6 14 1.2 1.2 3.8 2 4.3 5.0
25 1.1 1.0 3.7 15 1.2 1.4 3.8 3 4.4 5.0
26 1.1 1.1 3.9 16 1.2 1.4 4.0 4 4.3 5.2
27 1.1 1.1 3.8 17 1.2 1.5 3.9 5 4.0 4.7
28 1.1 1.2 3.8 18 1.2 1.7 3.9 6 3.7 4.4
29 1.1 1.2 3.8 19 1.2 1.7 -7 3.7 4.3
30 1.1 1.2 3.8 20 1.3 1.7 -8 3.9 4.5
31 1.1 1.0 3.9 21 1.3 1.7 -9 3.9 4.6
1 1.1 1.1 4.0 22 -1.8 -10 3.5 4.1
2 1.1 1.1 3.9 23 -1.9 -11 3.6 4.1
3 1.1 1.0 3.8 24 ---12 4.0 4.4
4 1.1 1.1 3.9 25 2.6 2.3 0.2 13 3.9 4.3
5 1.1 1.2 3.9 26 2.2 2.2 0.3 14 4.1 4.7
6 1.1 1.1 4.0 27 2.3 2.2 0.4 15 4.2 4.8
7 1.1 1.1 3.9 28 2.6 2.5 0.5 16 4.6 5.4
8 1.2 1.2 3.9 29 2.2 2.1 0.4 17 3.7 4.4
9 1.2 1.4 3.8 30 1.7 1.7 0.3 18 3.8 4.4
10 1.2 1.2 3.9 31 1.9 1.7 0.3 19 3.9 4.6
11 1.1 1.0 3.8 Apr 1 1.6 1.5 0.3
12 1.0 1.0 3.5 2 1.6 1.2 0.2
13 1.1 1.0 3.3 3 1.4 1.2 0.2
14 1.2 1.0 3.4 4 1.6 0.9 0.2
tar values between October 31, 1981, and March 20, 1982, are inconsistent with
previous and following record. This may be caused by thermograph set too near
bank, thereby picking up groundwater influence.
3 -tar
0.5
2.4
1.4
1.9
2.1
2.4
2.5
2.4
3.7
3.4
3.1
2.8
2.8
3.8
2.4
2.2
2.6
3.6
3.3
3.1
3.8
3.2
2.8
4.1
3.8
3.5
4.3
4.6
4.5
5.0
4.5
4.4
4.4
4.6
4.7
4.1
4.1
4.1
4.2
5.0
4.8
5.6
4.9
4.7
4.8
Year
1971
max
min
1972
max
min
1973
max
min
1974
max
min
1975
max
min
1976
max
min
1977
max
min
8
TABLE 2
Summary of Maximum/Minimum Water Temperatures
Obtained by U.S.G.S. in Taiya River, 1971 to 1977
Jan
0.5
0.0
Maximum/Minimum Water Temperatures for Month
Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct
~5.5
~.5
I 8.5 7.5 5.5
4.0 0.5 0.5
0.5 3.5 7.5 9.5 9.0 8.0 8.5 8.0
0.0 0.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 2.5 2.5 ~2.5
8.0 ~O.O 9.5 9.5 8.5 >7.0
0.5 1.0 2.5 3.5 3.5 ~3,0
5.0 8.5 9.0 9.0 8.5 7.5 7.0
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.5 3.5 2.5
TABLE 2A
Miscellaneous Observations of Water Temperatures,
West Creek, U.S.C.S.
Year Tem erature Observations
Nov
3.0
0.0
1965 Apr 15-37°F, June 24-40°F, Aug 12-4 0°F, Sept 3D-39°F
1971 Dec 9-0.0°C
1972 Mar 28-1.0, July 19-7.5°C
1974 Oct 27-4.0°C
1975 July 29-5.0°c
Dec
0.5
0.0
9
TABLE 3
Average Monthly Flows (March to June)
(a) near mouth Taiya River,
(b) mouth West Creek, and
(c) Taiya River above West Creek
C~(a)-(b)), as derived from
U.S.G.S. data
Year March April May
1970
I
(a) 139 163 794
(b) 39.7 51. 7 223
(c) 99.3 111.3 571
1971
(a) 80 109 452
(b) 20.6 43.9 143
(c) 59.4 65.1 309
1972
(a) 72.4 53.5 816
(b) 19.3 20.1 189
(c) 53.1 33.4 627
1973
(a) 49.0 102 682
(b) 17.4 59.0 209
(c) 31.6 43.0 473
1974
(a) 27.7 73.6 707
(b) 8.65 20.6 183
(c) 19.0 53.0 524
1975
(a) 61. 9 126 704
(b) 23.3 54.1 199
(c) 38.6 71. 9 505
1976
(a) 62.6 179 I 662
(b) 15.5 58.1 159
(c) 47.1 120.9 503
1977
(a) 91.4 219 718
(b) 58.3 107 240
(c) 33.1 112 478
June
2073
593
1480
2646
664
1982
1903
527
1376
1707
462
1245
1625
481
1144
1751
549
1202
2046
528
1518
2575
669
1906
NOTE: Maximum flows occur in September;
minimum flows in late winter-early spring.
Low of record, Taiya River -16 cfs,
March 31, 1974, when West Creek was 7 cfs.
Low of record, West Creek • 6 cfs,
January 17-28, 1963.
2000
1900
1800
1700
I
1600t
I
!
1500t
1400t
1300
1200
1100
1000t
900
800
700
600
500
400
JOO
200
100
nCUPE 2: ESTHIATEIl AVEHM:E FLOHS
BY HEEKLY INTERVALS
Upper Hest lower
Ta iya Creek Taiya
WEEK 1 62 cfs 4J cfs 105 ---
April 2 69 49 118
] 117 61 178
4 218 97 315
1 332 133 465
Hay 2 427 ~68 595
] 550 215 765
4 790 JOO 1()91l -
\'a 1 ue:i f rOIT. U.S.C:.~. !ecllrd!:.
cfs
APRil
/
I
Taiya River
a~ bridge
Taiya River
above West
Creek
.~
o
West Creek
1/
11
of an in-service report by Franzel and Nelsonll is presented here
to summarize reported Temperature Effects.
Smith and Saalfeld (1955) found that the temperature of the
water had a direct effect on migration and availability of
Eulachon in the Columbia River. Timing of the Eulachon runs
were found to correlate with temperatures around 39-40 a F,
normally in January. The Columbia River Eulachon run would
be delayed when temperatures were below 39 a F and when
temperatures exceeded 46 a F.
The Stikine River water temperatures, measured at the catch
locations and averaged daily, ranged from 35.S a to 46 a F.
The peak of the run occurs in early April at temperatures of
36 a to 38 a F (Table 2). Eulachon captured per unit effort
declined as water temperatures increased. The Eulachon run
begins when water t,emperatures are lower than 36 a F and appears
to correspond with the breakup of ice. Eulachon were present
in the river when the survey was discontinued on 11 May 1979
and 15 ~ay 1980. Low concentrations of Eulachon in ~ay,
reflected in catch per unit effort, may indicate the Eulachon
will continue to spawn in the Stikine River as temperatures
exceed 46 a F'.
Franzel and ~elson also found that Eulachon spawning occurred
particularly on coarse sand bottom, an observation also made by
earlier investigators. Several sources, in addition to Franzel and
Nelson, also have reported spawning as apparently coinciding with
spring break-up and high meltwater or spring flow conditions.
Animals reported by several observers to feed moderately or heaVily
on Eulachon include harbor seal, sea lion, glaucous-winged gull.
This small assembly of background information stimulated an effort
to develop some descriptive information on the Eulachon runs of
Taiya and Chilkat rivers as a basis for evaluating the applicability
of other findings to this setting. I was fortunate to contact two
volunteer observers, Mr. Skip Elliott, Skagway, and ~r. Dick Boyce,
Haines, who have provided valuable field observations on the 1982
J. Franzel and K.A. Nelson, Stikine River Eulachon (!haleichthys
pacificus), January 1981, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Petersburg, Alaska.
Petersburg R.D. In-service.Report.
12
Eulachon runs into Taiya and Chilkat rivers. These daily
observations are provided below:
Observations of the Taiya River and its run of Eulachon in spring
1982 by Skip Elliott, Skagway, May 3 to May 24, and by Tim ~oore,
Juneau. May 20-21.
:1ay 3 -10 a.m.
:1ay 4 - 9 a.m.
:1ay 5 - 9 a.m.
8 p.m.
May 6 - 9 a.m.
:1ay 7 - 9 a.m.
May 8 -10 a.m.
May 9 - 1 p.m.
4 p.m.
May 10 -10 a.m.
-SKIP ELLIOTT-
River low, clear. Dolly Varden schooling ~nder
(Taiya River) bridge. About 50 ducks and gulls
near river mouth. Calm, near high tide. Eight
gray seals diving about mile 7 (on Dyea Road).
Fifteen ducks mid-bay at mile 7~. ~o Hoolies in
river.
Two rafts of ducks --surf seaters ?
Bay.
in Long
River unchanged; no Hoolies visible. Six ducks
under brtdge. ~ight sandpipers at mile 7~. Same
number of ducks, gulls near mile 7; one eagle.
Forty ducks in water at mile 6~. Little action
in Long Bay --about 75 ducks scattered in pairs.
Little change in water clarity, calm; ducks paired
off. About 400 gulls; 100 ducks.
Raft of 100 seaters and 50 ducks in Long Bay.
River unchanged. Cool, rainy, calm, near low tide.
Gulls, one eagle at/near water's edge, noisy.
:1uch splashing near shore by ~nidentified sea
mammals. No Hoolies spotted. Long Bay: about 250
scoters at water's edge and a thousand more in
mid-bay.
Taiya River: birds vicinity Dyea unchanged. No
sea mammals seen. Long Bay: only 200 seaters;
tDaybe 200 ducks.
River up; becoming murky.
River up 6 inches since May 7; brown tint. Breeze.
No Hoolies.
High tide. Almost no birds in Long Bay. About
200 gulls near river mouth. No ducks seen. Sunny.
River up 1-2 inches from 5/9. Same clarity. About
500 gulls --300 at water" sedge, 200 flocking,
hovering over tidal flats. On~ gull seen diving
repeatedly. Long Bay: only 25 ducks.
May 11 - 9 a.m.
May 12 - 9 a.m.
~y 13 -8 a.m.
11 a.m.
13
River up another 6 inches. Slightly dirtier.
No Hoolies at bridge. About 1000 gulls at water's
edge near river mouth. Very few in air. Saw no
diving or hovering. Raft of about SOD waterfowl
near mile 6~ (~mile below river mouth). Long Bay:
nothing.
River up another 2 inches, with same clarity
ca. 1 foot visibility. No Hoolies at bridge.
About 1000 gulls at lower end of flats. Saw about
20 birds dive repeatedly at water's edge, especially
Bonaparte gulls. One Bonaparte dove six times in
30 seconds. 500 scoters .~ mile 6~. Long Bay:
(head) IS scoters.
River down about 6 inches; near high tide. Same
water clarity.. Partly cloudy. Twenty gulls at
cattle guard, several diving. ~uch diving in
central (river) channel, especially by Bonaparte
gulls. Several sea lions in same channel. Gulls
thinly scattered over both Dyea and Long Bays.
19 sea lions in Long Bay; 100 gulls all diving·.
Water temperatures: at mile 7, near river mouth
z 41°F (a SaC); at Taiya River bridge a 39.S a F
(a 4.2 Q C).
May 14 -9:30 a.m. Partly sunny. River at level and clarity of
May 7. No HooHes at bridge. One hundred gulls
crazily diving at mile 7~. About 1000 gulls and
SO ducks sitting at mouth of central channel,
Taiya River. 100 more ducks at east branch and
about 200 more gulls in scattered groups. Long Bay:
few birds, minimal action.
May 15 -11:30 a.m. River down about 1 inch and clearing a little.
No HooHes at bridge. About 4,500 gulls at (Dyea)
flats. Tremendous activity exactly at meeting of
Taiya River water with salt water. Hundreds of
gulls diving constantly on probably Hooligen activity.
Nine Hooligen on beach: one unidentifiable: four
virile males; four virile females.
Water Temperatures:
at Taiya River bridge z 41 a F (zSoC)
at end of small spit, mile 6~ (where gulls diving)
a 43 a F ( a 6. 1 a C)
a 7 a 100 feet south of spit, along Bay a 44 F (a 6. C)
8:30 p.m. Returned to tidal flats; same activity. One
fisherman who dipped a net full of Hooligan at
tide water, about equal male and female.
14
May 16 -11 a.m. River down an inch. Sunny day. Two live
Hooligan swimming slowly at bridge and a few dead
nearby. Downstream 500 yards: many Hoolies
swimming upstream: estimate l50/minute on the
river-side where observed. Presume these fish
are moving past bridge in deeper water.
11:30 a.m. Downstream another 500 yards, on opposite bank,
Hooligan were more bunched up and less numerous:
about 75/minute passing, but fish may have been
more widely spread out.
3 p.m. Returned to site 500 yards below bridge. Lots
more fish (s-LO fish passing per second).
8:30 p.m. Again at site 500 yards below bridge. Water up
1-2 inches. Hoolies passing upstream (near visible
near-shore water) at LO fish/second.
8:45 p.m. Hoolies now very evident at Taiya River bridge.
:1ay 17 - 9 a.m.
Large school appears to be spawning in deep, still
water beneath east end of bridge. Dying, spawned-
out females dying in shallow water on west shore.
About 20 fish/second swimming rapidly upstream in
shallow water at west end of bridge.
Water Temperatures:
at bridge, 11 a.m. ~ 40'F (a4.4°C)
500 yards below bridge, 11:15 a.m •• 41.5°F (a s.3°C)
1000 yds. below bridge, 11:30 a.m. a 40.5 to 41°F
(a 4.7 to 5°C)
500 yards below bridge, 3 p.m. = 47°F (a 8.3°C)
500 yards below bridge, 8:30 p.m. a 48°F (= 8.90C)
at bridge, 8:45 p.m. ~ 47.s o F (a 8.6°C)
River up 6 inches, murkier. Rainy. Only few
Hooligans sighted at bridge. ~ajor gull accivicy
near old cattle guard, mile 7-3/4, not far from
land's end.
7:30 p.m. Fish schooling and spawning under bridge. Water
up. No obvious migrating fish.
l1ay 18 -9:30 a.m. River now starting to cloud with glacial silt,
making for poor visibility. At "dead end" junction,
below confluence of West Creek with Taiya River:
about 5-10 Hoolies/second passing.
10 a.m. West Creek very silty. No Hooligan live or dead
spotted along West Creek. The clear tributary to
West Creek (immediately below West Creek bridge)
had no fish. Only one fish spotted at confluence
with Taiya River, and it was headed up the Taiya
River. West Creek very turbulent and cloudy.
15
10:45 a.m. Went up Taiya River, above West Creek. Taiya
River much clearer than West Creek, though Taiya
River was becoming "dirty" as opposed to "milky".
Many Roolies in mid-stream and on east side. Park
Service employees catching Rooligan with bare hands.
A mass of Roolies on west side of river were
nesting io calm w~ter. They were not obviously
spawning, though they were weak and starting to
turn spotty.
11 a.m. Lots of Hooligan spawning at Taiya River bridge.
~o fish appear tabe running upstream.
7'p.m. Major seagull diving at mile 7~-8, even with low
tide.
8 p.m. Hoolies still spawning under bridge. Water in
river up another 3 inches.
At 8 mile observed 50 swallows skimming over water.
Noted a school of two-inch fish in a tidal backwater.
Probably over 10,000 gulls now.
Water Temperatures:
Taiya River below West Creek at 9:30 a.m.
= 37.5°F (= 3.0'C)
West Creek near West Creek bridge at 10 a.m.
'" 37°r (_ 2 .• 8°C)
Clean tributary to West Creek at 10 a.m.
-38°F (-3.3°C)
Taiya River above West Creek at 10:45 a.m.
-3aoF (-3.3·C)
~ay 19 -10 a.M. Still no Roolies at West Creek bridge.
~ay 20 -9:30 a.m. River level at bridge unchanged, but siltier.
Too silty for positive identification and
observation of Hooligan activities. Thirty gulls
diving for Roolies just south-of Taiya bridge.
Estimate 15,000 (+) birds on Dyea flats.
May 21 Gulls diving on borh sides of bridge.
May 24 Still no fish or carcasses on West Creek.
Gulls swarming on Taiya, just north of West Creek,
and near backwater by McDermott's.
May 25 -10 a.m. Some gulls still diving near mouth of river. Most
gulls are congregated upstream ~ mile from Taiya
River bridge, though none appear to be diving --
just flying and roosting. Dead fish on shore.
16
-TIM MOORE-
May 20 -9:45 a.m. Met Skip Elliott on road to Dyea -discussed his
observations and obtained his field notebook for
review.
11 a.m.
Several hundred gulls are on the water along a
tideline just off the point at Long Bay. Weather
is high overcast with a light south wind blowing.
Thousand of gulls in Dyea flats, drifting off the
Taiya River mouth. Along the river most are below
the ~PS camp area.
11:30 a.m. Saw one sea lion at about 7-7~ mile. Gulls do
not appear to be catching many fish -but do not
appear to be trying very hard either. Taiya River
Bridge: numerous dead fish -several hundred can
be seen from bridge. No live fish seen. Water is
murky so can only see 1-2 feet in depth.
11:45 a.m. Dead End Road (just below West Creek): One eagle
up in tree. 2 dozen (+) gulls diving into rapids.
50-70 live smelt resting in pool on side of river.
Water is murky, so difficult to see any depth
12:00
(> 6"), but did see fish moving upstream in a small
rapid area.
Birds (Bonaparte gulls) catching approximately
12 fish/minute: a 4 minute count.
Sun trying to break through. Temperature out in
fast moving water l' deep just under 5°C. Saw
more fish moving upstream where water is shallow
enough to see. An eagle flew in to sit closer to
rapids where the gulls are fishing. Noted 4 more
roosting downstream in a 500 m. span.
West Creek: More sediment load, darker brown in
color when compaired to the Taiya. Observed at
junction. No gulls along West Creek.
1 p.m. Temperature at Taiya River junction· 4°C.
Walked up to West Creek bridge. No dead fish
noted --no gulls. Appears the warm days are
causing the creek to rise -as noted in a side
pool.
3:15 p.m. Above Taiya River thermograph: some dead fish,
but fewer than at the Taiya River bridge.
300 m. upstream: small schools moving up -counted
30-40/minute, but water not good for seeing. Some
flocks of gulls flying over up fairly high (50-200 m.)
flock sizes • 40-100 birds. Some eagles gliding in
4 p.m.
17
thermals up very high over West Creek. Noted
fish moving along the shore, close in by the
bank. 'Appeared to be moving slow and/or resting.
McDermott's Sauna -behind their cabin: 'saw
several hundred gulls in area. A high % were
black heads -Bonaparte's? Some were fishing
below the sauna area, but consisted of a few
birds. Most were sitting about. Downstream
some dead smelt were noted -they had floated into
the shallows.
4:30 p.m. 7~ mile (approximately): Water cemperature 8~C.
From chis point r could see chousands of gulls
down channel. Cold wind off che water, but sunny.
Tide is way out at this time.
Reported by Alf Kalvig that four whales were seen
feeding close to Standard Fuel docks.
May 21 A long line of gulls off Dyea -near center of the
channel. Small flocks of diving ducks are scattered
about', some mixed in with the gulls. No large sea
mammals were seen.
At 6 mile, Taiya inlet, there is a steady flight
of gulls toward the mouth of the river. A lot of
noise. Ducks are scattered around on'the water -
some are diving. Disturbance out in water, could
be a sea 1 ion.
9:30 a.m. 7 mile -tide is out. At flowing, river, two eagles
were Sitting out on the river buoy. High overcast,
bright, but no sun. Water cemperature 3'C, air 7Q C.
Most of the gulls are on the bars near river. Seems
to be some feeding going on up the river.
8 mile -some fish being taken between 7-8 mile.
Water is brown, cannot see far into it. Large
number of swallows at 8 mile.
Dead end road -air 10.S QC, Taiya River 4Q C•
See about 45/50 fish going up each minute -3' area
of vision.
10-10:45 a.m. McDermott's residence: 35+ eagles all in
trees -still big school of smelt in pool by saunas
but not as many as at height of run. Saw some
moving up -estimate 1S-30/minute. Most were
"resting".
11:30 a.m. Dead end: Three dozen gulls at rapids -some
fishing smelt in pool along shore. Air 10.S·C,
water 4°C.
18
1:30 p.m. 7~ mile - 1 sea lion, 1 seal. Birds but not
much fish. Several thousand birds drift off
Long Bay Point.
Observations made by Dick Boyce, Haines t concerning the ehilkat River,
and its Eulachon run, spring 1982.
A.M. Temp.
April 2 2 ode
May
30°C
4
S
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15-
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
o.soe
2.soe
2°C
3°c
3°C
2. SoC
3°C
3°C
4°C
3.s o e -
3°C
2.Soe
2.2°e
2.soe
3.2°e
sOc
s.soe
6°C soc
4°C
3.8°C
4°C
2.soC
3.s o C
3.S o C
So.C
S.SoC
soc:
S.2°e soc
4.2°C
6.s o C
S.7°C
6.2°C
7.SoC
6.2°e
Wtr. elariey
clear
ice
ice
ice
clear
clear
clear
very slight sile
very slight sile
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
slighe sile
siley-1' vis.
clear
clear
clear
clear
slighe sile
3-4' vis.
3-4' vis.
4' vis.
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
slight silt
6' vis.
first evidence of Eulachon
small groups gulls feeding
near airport (mile 4)
gulls feeding below river
at Pyramid Island, not
upriver
May
19
A.M. Temp. P.M. Temp. Wtr. Clarity
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
7.SQ C
7.SoC
7.0°C
7.0°C
7.5°C
7.0°C
7.8 °c
6.5°C
9.0°C
9.0°C
9.5°C
9.0°C
8.aoC
8.8°C
8.SoC
7.SoC
7.5°C
7.0°C
8.S o C
slight silt
3-4' vis.
slight silt
2-3' vis.
2-3' vis.
2-3' vis. gulls moved to Lutak
Inlet, heavy feeding
2-3' vis. same
4-S' vis. same
4-S'vis. same
same 4-S' vis.
clear-6'vis. same
silty same
O. S-l' vis.
0.5-0.8' vis. same
same 0.5' vis.
silty-O.S' vis.
a. S' vis.
o .5' vis.
a.s' vis.
0.5' vis.
silty
1-1.5' vis.
many gulls feeding
heavily again at airport,
on Chilkat side, no gulls
remain in Lutak
first Eulachon caught at
6 mile in fyke net
gulls tapering off
run evidently over
27 10.SoC l' vis.
28 8.S o C l' vis.
29 7.Soc l'vis.
30 end of observations
An interpretation of the preceeding sets of obserVations is
summarized below. These will be used, along with observations from
other investigations, in evaluating possible effects of the
hydroelectric project on Eulachon runs into Taiya River.
Taiya Eulachon appear to have begun their run around 4°C (Taiya
River). Run continued through temperatures in the river ranging
from 3°C to 9°C.
Chilkat Eulachon were observed to run heavily in river
temperatures of 6_7°C. It is likely that the run also entered
the river at temperatures ranging up to 8.S-g0e.
20
Taiya Eulachon were known to be running in the ~ from
about May 16 through May 21 and possibly until May 24 or 25.
--Chilkat Eulachon run evidently peaked May 23-24.
Both Eulachon stocks probably arrived below the river mouths
around the first week in May. Both stocks appear to have
migrated significantly along the shorelines during their final
period of sexual developments, evidently staying in-shore.
A hypothesis regarding Eulachon's sexual development,
movements, and timing (not used in the conclusions reached
in this work):
a. Estuarine conditions near the home streams, perhaps
dominantly water temperature, may provide the principal
controls over the timing of Eulachon movement into the
home river.
b. Eulachon may use water clarity --light transmissivity to
seek out both home estuary and home stream.
c. The condition of river water temperature may be coincident
with, but not a trigger to, Eulachon spawning runs.
Animals observed to feed on Eulachon off Taiya River, 1982:
Gulls -Glaucous
Gulls -Bonaparte
Eagles
Seoters
Ducks
Seal
Sea lion
Whale (Humpback 1)
Zl
ANALYSIS OF TEMPERATURE AND FLOW DATA
The purpose of this analysis is to synthesize temperatures of lower
Taiya River under conditions where West Creek is discharging a regulated
flow through a powerhouse near the mouth of the lower gorge. The
analysis uses the mixing relation
Temperature of flow l + flow Z' mixed (TemPl . Flowl)+(TempZ . Flow Z)
Flow 1 + Flow Z
Flow assumptions used are shown in Table 4. Weekly flow values for
lower Taiya River are derived from Figure Z, while flows for regulated
West Creek are taken from the Haines-Skagway Feasibility Study, R.W. Beck,
April 1982. The latter values do not include natural flows into West
Creek below the proposed dam.
The temperatures assumed for Taiya River above West Creek are
taken directly from recorded values measured in 198Z. The three
temperatures used for West Creek are also derived from 1982 measured
values: the first temperature value (1) assumption is the average
lower West Creek value measured in 198Z for the indicated week, and the
next two values (Z), (3), are derived from (1).
From these values, four projected temperatures for lower Taiya
River were produced for each week, as shown in Table 4, and on Figure J.
CONCLUSIONS REGARDING POSSIBLE IMPACTS OF HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
1. Development of the West Creek hydroelectric project is unlikely
to affect Eulachon runs in the Taiya River through alteration
of river water temperatures.
Z. It is possible there may be a relation between water clarity
and spawning migration of Eulachon; no significant information
is available on this feature.
I
22
TABLE 4
Projected Water Temperatures, lower Taiya River (ltar)
in April-May based upon assumed flow and temperature
conditions in Taiya River above West ereek (tar) and
regulated West ereek (rwc)
Temp (ltar) = (Tem p (tar»)(Vo1 tar) + (Tem p (rwe»)(Vo1(rwc))
Vo1(ltar)
Flow Assumpt ions -I 21 11 31
1tar tar wc Temp. , tar Three Assumptions7 ' Four Proj ected
Week /I unreg re~ unre~ re~ 'e (1982) Temp. rwc Temps. ,
(ds) (ds) (ds) (ds) (ds)\
<O.9°e
I (1) T rve =1 . 5 ° e 1. oOe
I-April 105 119 6Z 43 I 57 ! n.s'e (Z)-(1)+2°e-3.soe 1. 9°e
, (3)-(1)-Zoe-o.ooe 0.3°e
<2.9°e
, (1 ) -3.3°e 3.0 oe
2-April 118 127 69 49 58 2.7°e (2) _s.3°e 3.9°e
(3) -1. 3 °e 2.0oe
I <3.o oe
\ (1 ) -3.3°e 3.0 oe
3-April 178 173 117 61 56 I 2.9°e (Z) -s.3°e 3.7°e I
! I (3) =1.3°e 2.4°e
I -r <3.7°e
(1) _4.3°e 3.6°e
4-April 315 273 218 97 55 3.4 'e (2) =6.3°e 4.0oe
(3) -2.3°e 3.2°e
4.6'e
(1) _4.8°e
1
4.5°e
5-l1ay 465 385 33Z 133 53 4.soe (2) _6.8°e 4.8°e
(3) -2.8°e 4.3°e
, <4.4°e
(1) _4.4°e 4.4°e
6-l1ay 595 480 427 168 53 4.4°e (2) _6.4°e 4.6°e
(3) _2.4°e 4.Zoe
4.7°e
(1) _4.6°e 4.8°e
7-May 765 603 550 214 53 4.8°e (2) _6.6°e 5.0 oe
(3) _2.6°e 4.6°e
11 See Figure 2 for estimation of Vol . R.W. Beck Feasibility Report for Vol tar' rwc
];.1
31
See Figure 1 and Table 1.
(1) value is weekly average of 1982 West ereek temperatures.
(2) -(1) + 2°e
0) -(1) -zOe
1tar
° 5.0 C
4.0°C
3.0°C
2.0°C / +
/----... ----
/ ~---
/ e.
lA' .
10 20
APRIL
23
~
10
MAY
+ temp. assumption #2
/ E)tp.mT). assumption #1
,," without regulation
~temp. assumption #3
20
FIGURE 3: Projected Temperatures in Lower Taiya River;
without regulation ( ), and regulated, with
three alternate temperatures assumed for West
Creek.
24
PLATE 1: Mouth of Taiya River, May 20-21, 1982 •
PLATE 2:
.. ~ .... -:'. . .... ~,
Taiya River above Taiya River bridge,
May 20-21, 1982.
25
PLATE 3: Dead smelt on bar of Taiya River.
PLATE 4: Confluence of West Creek (dirty water)
with Taiya River.
26
PLATE 5: Taiya River bank above confluence of
West Creek.