Salmon science brings many together for species

This last week, Wasilla was the site of the 2009 Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium. More than 35 different presenters from a wide variety of government, university and private-sector agencies gave examples of the diverse range of studies and construction happening here in the Valley, which is concerned with salmon and their habitat.

Some of the government agencies included the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the U. S. Geological Survey, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Wasilla Soil and Water Conservation District, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Washington were represented. The private sector saw The Nature Conservancy, the Great Land Trust, the Friends of Mat-Su, Cook Inletkeepers, the Aquatic Restoration and Research Institute, The Wildlifers, the Knik River Watershed Group, the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, AlaskChem Engineering and the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council all making presentations.

I attended hoping to learn more about salmon biology or fish movement patterns, and I did. I also learned about a whole myriad of projects which relate specifically to salmon through the bigger picture of the watershed ecosystem in general. For instance, the state forestry folks are looking at revising the Susitna forestry guidelines to better facilitate what they call a working forest. A properly working forest will provide good salmon habitat along with many other beneficial properties.

The U. S. Geological Survey is studying the interconnection and flow patterns of both surface and shallow ground water throughout the Mat-Su valley. A study of this nature sheds light on how interconnected all our water systems truly are. The flow patterns also allow looking at the potential spread of contaminants and show the influence on water table depths. This obviously affects more than just salmon in the big picture of our valley environment.

There were several presentations about culvert installations and upgrades. Literally hundreds of culverts around the valley have a very direct and profound influence on salmon movement into their natal streams for spawning and on the outmigration of the salmon fry or smolts.

Improperly designed or damaged culverts have ended salmon runs into discreet sections of valley streams and rivers because of the inability of the fish to get past the culvert. These defective structures have also resulted in major road damage during high water events because of their inability to pass the increased volumes of water.

A properly designed and constructed culvert allows not only fish passage but also results in little or no damage when a high water event occurs because it has been designed to pass the increased volume of water in the system.

There were some presentations on creek restoration projects, which usually involved a culvert upgrade among other improvements, which have resulted in the reintroduction of salmon back into some long unused sections of habitat. There were examples of streambank restoration projects, showing how severely damaged and eroded banks were revegetated and protected, not only from future flood damage, but which also provide new salmon rearing habitat.

One presenter discussed how the entire Knik Arm is now being assessed to develop a better understanding of how this estuarine habitat is being utilized by anadromous fish, including salmon, year around. Having a good understanding of what is needed by a wide variety of anadromous fish species in this type of environment allows, among other things, a long-term monitoring effort to make sure the necessary elements are available in the proper proportions to continue a healthy environment.

There were several talks by Fish and Game staff about ongoing studies in the valley. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff also presented a few projects which were directly involved in salmon movement patterns and habitat use.

Two of these especially caught my attention. One Fish and Game study looked at the feasibility of controlled netting to significantly reduce pike numbers in Alexander Creek and concluded that this approach could significantly reduce pike numbers — perhaps by as much as 90 percent. That is encouraging, if they can get funding to do the work!

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife study on spawning areas for sockeye salmon in the Matanuska River found that over 90 percent of all spawning occurred in the mainstem of the river — not in a lake system which feeds into the river, as was expected. This could be significant in enumerating sockeye returns to valley systems since accounting for the mainstem spawners is the biggest missing piece in the current enumeration program Fish and Game is using.

One small study pointed out how government regulation intended to correct a perceived problem can, in fact, actually damage the fish and habitat it was intended to protect. The Palmer waste water treatment plant needs several millions of dollars in upgrades to comply with new government regulations meant to protect salmon and their habitat. The current situation is beneficial to growing salmon and the “correction” would actually create a poorer quality habitat.

As the presenter stated, “The science should come BEFORE the regulations are written!”

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by e-mailing sports@frontiersman.com.