Prince of Wales Landscape Assessment, Anadromous Waters Cataloging, and Stream Mapping Support

Hydaburg Cooperative Association staff completed 30 miles of stream habitat surveys in timber-cruised young growth units near Twelvemile Arm, Polk Inlet, and the Harris River watershed on Prince of Wales Island between June and October of 2017. At points alone each stream reach, including above and below expected barriers, minnow traps were utilized to capture juvenile salmon and, late in the season, foot surveys were conducted to seek spawning adults. Habitat characteristics including geomorphic channel type and stream class were collected at each survey location. Data transfer to USFS staff was completed inseason in order to contribute to analyses being conducted by the USFS as part of the Prince of Wales Landscape Level Assessment and the Tongass National Forest Young Growth inventory. One nomination package was submitted to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) for Dog Salmon Creek including 3.0 miles of anadromous habitat not previously included in the AWC.

These surveys are essential to ensure that watersheds supplying subsistence salmon stocks for the communities on Prince of Wales Island receive the conservation measures and protections required by law for anadromous waters, and to further develop an effective baseline inventory of important subsistence salmon habitat on the island. In the event of future development, these measures will help to avoid or mitigate negative impacts on the stocks, guaranteeing that these salmon resources (important as subsistence, cultural, ecological, social, and economic resources to the people of Prince of Wales) remain intact. An estimated 20 km of habitat will be protected through this project.