Instream Flow on Stariski Creek

In cooperation with Statewide Aquatic Resources Coordination Unit (SARCU) staff of ADF&G, Cook Inletkeeper installed a stream gage and staff plate on Stariski Creek. Cook Inletkeeper conducted 17 surveys as quality assurance checks and collected discharge and staff plate readings 21 times over the project duration. Based on these data and previously collected data from 2006 and 2007, SARCU staff developed a rating curve to generate a hydrograph for Stariski Creek. This information, along with a fish periodicity table developed through this project, were incorporated into a Reservation of Water for 6.1 miles of Stariski Creek. The Department of Natural Resources received the application for Reservation of Water on Stariski Creek on July 6, 2011, submitted by ADF&G. The Section reviewed the application and pursuant to 11 AAC 93.142, found it to be adequate to accept for filing, initiation, and to establish the provisional priority date. The Department initiated the case file with the following LAS number: LAS 28162.

Continuous stage and flow data are essential for scientists and managers to make biologically sound water quantity and quality decisions relating to development practices that have the potential to impact water resources, fish populations, fish habitat and natural resource stewardship. As a result, this project will provide two discrete benefits. First, it will provide concrete data to assist fisheries and other resource managers with permitting, allocation, and related decisions in the Stariski Creek watershed. Second, this project will allow scientists, natural resource specialists, engineers, and others to improve models to predict flow availability and characteristics in un-gaged systems or portions of waterways with limited hydrologic information in Southcentral Alaska.