We propose to develop and test a salmon habitat restoration framework that will identify cost-effective treatment strategies and designs for western Alaska streams. The framework will be tested on the Nome River, thereby serving the dual purpose of helping to restore a specific stream while identifying which aspects of restoration frameworks developed and applied elsewhere in North America may transfer to western Alaska. The work will consist of the following three components: (1) an overview watershed assessment to identify priority subbasins and reaches in relation to their importance to target fish species, probable critical limiting factors and potential for restoration success, (2) detailed habitat assessments on priority reaches to identify habitat condition, type and severity of impact and opportunities for restoration, and (3) designs for specific treatments or structures that address the restoration of watershed processes and critical habitats. Detailed assessment work and restoration designs will be undertaken on prioritized subbasins and stream reaches within the Nome River. This river was selected because of apparent historic impacts from both mining and road construction, ease of access, and existing information on both adult salmon returns (weir project) and juvenile salmon distribution (current study of coho salmon). The expected product will be specific prescriptions for habitat restoration on the Nome River and an extensive assessment for applying the methods to other western Alaska streams.
The objectives of this project are:
a. To identify, through watershed-level and reach-level fish habitat assessments, high priority subbasins and reaches within the Nome River watershed where there are critical habitat components for native salmonids that may require restoration.
b. To develop restoration designs for specific sites within high priority reaches where there is a high likelihood of restoration success.
c. To develop a habitat restoration framework for western Alaska based on the testing of the framework's effectiveness in the Nome River watershed.
Marc Gaboury
A Final Report is available for this project: Click to view First Year Funding: $142,978.00
fish.bio@kawerak.org
Documents
A Project Authorization Statement is available for this project: Click to view
The following Semi Annual Progress Reports are available
January 2005
July 2005
Funding
Second Year Funding:
Third Year Funding:
Fourth Year Funding:
Keyword Tree for Project
Fields of Expertise
Biological Science
Physical Science
Socio/Economic
Resource Management - 13 Other Projects
Professional Activity
Ecosystems
Freshwater – Rivers/Streams - 45 Other Projects
Ecosystem Components
Fish - 51 Other Projects
Species Groups
Anadromous salmonids - 51 Other Projects
Specific research issues
Habitat - 10 Other Projects
Geographic Regions
Seward Peninsula Streams - 12 Other Projects
Technological Expertise/Lab Methods
Lab Methods
Technology
Modeling
Method
Type
Physical Science Specialties Areas
Management/Policy/Social