Mat-Su Instream Flow Protection - Year 4

Reservations of water in Alaska require five years of hydrologic data. However, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources allows entities to submit preliminary reservations of water with three years of data in order to establish the reservation in the queue (Alaskas water reservations operate on a first come, first served basis). However, the submission cannot be finalized without an additional two years of data. This project collected and analyzed the fifth required year of hydrological data necessary to finalize four preliminary reservations of water for two reaches of Meadow Creek and two reaches of Fish Creek. With these data, the reservations of water are complete and instream flows are protected for their anadromous fish inhabitants.

This project provides a substantial and direct benefit towards salmon habitat protection by providing hydrological data necessary to support reservations of water or instream flow water rights in Fish and Meadow Creeks. These creeks are major sockeye and coho salmon producing streams that support subsistence use fisheries.