Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska (2023-2027) Remediation of salmon habitat and estimation of sockeye and pink salmon escapement into Unalaska Lake, Unalaska Island.

Purpose: Monitor sockeye and pink salmon escapement at Unalaska Lake on Unalaska Island.

This will be accomplished by installing and operating a bipod weir to monitor escapement at Unalaska Lake. Technicians will count salmon, collect Age-Sex-Length data, and limnological data from the lake.

The outcome will be a Sustainable Escapement Goal as well as accurate and updated salmon escapement data that will be used to leverage funds for future projects to remediate and restore components of the Iliuliuk Creek system.

This project will monitor the escapement of two subsistence salmon stocks (sockeye and pink) on Unalaska Island at Iliuliuk Lake. A bipod weir will be installed at the base of the lake where it flows into Iliuliuk (sometimes called Town Creek) for the duration of the return spawning runs. Inconsistent and patchy escapement counts over the last few decades has made it difficult to establish a Sustainable Escapement Goal (SEG), meaning harvest limits have been kept intentionally low despite the accessibility of these salmon to Unalaskan subsistence users. A clearer understanding of the escapement at this location will allow for more responsive management moving forward.