Unalaska Road System Fish Surveys

This project will conduct fish passage assessments and fish surveys in freshwater water bodies along the road system in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor to add new species, life stages, and water bodies to Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s (ADF&G’s) Catalog of Waters Important for the Spawning, Rearing or Migration of Anadromous Fishes and associated Atlas (AWC) and identify barriers to fish passage.

By identifying waters supporting anadromous fish, this project will directly benefit the conservation of salmon habitat through the statutory protections afforded by the Anadromous Fish Act. The updated Catalog of Waters Important for the Spawning, Rearing or Migration of Anadromous Fishes is used by ADF&G Habitat biologists when issuing Fish Habitat Permits to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to salmon habitat. Identifying stream crossings that obstruct migrating salmon will facilitate future fish passage and fish habitat restoration.