Surveying Proposed Land Transfer Selections and Remote Roads Systems for Anadromous Fish in Southeast Alaska

This project will collect data on anadromous fish streams in areas that have not been thoroughly surveyed for presence of anadromous fish and incorporate the information in the Catalog of Waters Important for Spawning, Rearing or Migration of Anadromous Fishes and its companion Atlas (AWC). Some of the identified lands are slated, by two separate congressional acts, to be transferred from the United States Forest Service (USFS) to Southeast Alaska tribes that did not receive land through the Alaska Native Claims and Settlement Act. When the lands are transferred into private ownership, they have potential to be developed, which could include road building, timber harvest, and rock/mineral extraction. Uncataloged anadromous fish habitat does not receive protection under state law and would be vulnerable to degradation from development. Lands near the selected plots that have not been surveyed for anadromous fish presence will also be surveyed. Potential fish passage barriers will be assessed.

This project has identified 858 uncataloged streams potentially containing 369 km of anadromous fish habitat. Once listed in the AWC, the water bodies will receive long-term protection from development and other uses outlined in the Anadromous Fish Act and FRPA. In areas where this project identifies stream crossings that obstruct fish passage, ADF&G Habitat Section will work with responsible parties to restore fish passage and self-sustaining processes supporting natural salmon habitat.