Stream Water Temperatures Associated with Federal Subsistence Fisheries in Alaska— Winter 2014 to Fall 2015
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Stream Water Temperatures Associated with Federal Subsistence Fisheries in Alaska— Winter 2014 to Fall 2015 Prepared For the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Subsistence Management Leslie R. Jensen, Jeffrey C. Davis, and Gay A. Davis The Aquatic Restoration and Research Institute P.O. Box 923, Talkeetna AK, 99676 [email protected] 907.315‐4631 February 2016 Blank Page Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Methods ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 Project Design ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Project Implementation ............................................................................................................................ 5 Results and Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 6 Literature Cited ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Appendix A. Data Summaries for Sampling Locations ............................................................................. A‐1 Afognak River ........................................................................................................................................ A‐2 Buskin River ......................................................................................................................................... A‐10 Chandalar River ................................................................................................................................... A‐21 Chena River ......................................................................................................................................... A‐27 East Fork Andreafsky River ................................................................................................................. A‐36 Falls Creek ........................................................................................................................................... A‐47 George River ....................................................................................................................................... A‐58 Gisasa River ......................................................................................................................................... A‐69 Henshaw Creek ................................................................................................................................... A‐73 Klag Lake Outflow ............................................................................................................................... A‐84 Kogrukluk River ................................................................................................................................... A‐95 Kwethluk River .................................................................................................................................. A‐106 Long Lake Creek ................................................................................................................................ A‐114 Neva Creek ........................................................................................................................................ A‐125 Newhalen River ................................................................................................................................. A‐136 Salcha River ....................................................................................................................................... A‐147 Salmon Pitka ..................................................................................................................................... A‐158 Salmon River ..................................................................................................................................... A‐161 Tanada Creek .................................................................................................................................... A‐172 Tatlawiksuk River .............................................................................................................................. A‐183 Telaquana River ................................................................................................................................ A‐194 Tuluksak River ................................................................................................................................... A‐201 Unalakleet River ................................................................................................................................ A‐210 Appendix B. Instructions for Field Crews .................................................................................................. B‐1 Temperatures in Federal Subsistence Waters February 2016 Abstract A stream water temperature monitoring project was initiated in 2008 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, at multiple stream locations throughout Alaska. Water temperature monitoring will augment fisheries studies currently being conducted at these locations. The temperature monitoring project will provide consistent temperature data, from standard collection and reporting methods, for subsistence fishery management and to evaluate climate influence on stream temperatures and fish habitat. Water and air temperature loggers were checked for accuracy and distributed along with deployment instructions and data sheets to 27 sampling locations in 2014 and to 25 sampling locations in 2015. Sampling sites were located at fish weirs, counting towers, and tagging sites operated by native corporations, and state and federal agencies. Loggers were deployed by field crews under the supervision of a Principal Investigator. This report provides complete annual results from 2014, as well as partial‐year data from 2015. The ice‐ free period at most locations was from May through October, and stream water temperatures at most sites remained within the optimal range for rearing juvenile salmon during this period. Sites with temperatures above this range were generally located at lower latitudes and at lake outlets. Stream water temperatures at these sites can exceed juvenile salmon tolerance values, and biota at these locations may be more susceptible to the effects of climate change. Introduction Stream water temperatures are one of the more influential physical characteristics of stream systems. Water temperature is an important factor controlling numerous processes that effect fish and their habitats. The timing and size of plankton and algal blooms and insect emergence are often linked with specific temperatures, affecting food availability (e.g. Lewandowska and Sommer 2010; Harper and Peckarsky 2006). Additionally, ectothermic metabolism is almost entirely dependent on ambient temperature, which in turn will affect growth and energetic needs of individuals. Furthermore, many species have thermal optima in which they can survive, meaning that thermal gradients can determine a species geographic range directly through increased mortality or decreased fecundity (Vannote and Sweeney 1980; Cech et al. 1990). Currently, the availability of reliable water temperature data records for stream habitats is very limited in Alaska. Daily water temperature data is routinely collected at fish monitoring sites (weirs, counting towers and tagging sites) operated by federal, state and tribal organizations in Alaska; however, methods for data collection, standardization and reporting are not uniformly applied and often are inadequate for analyses required to monitor climate change, and support conservation actions. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Office of Subsistence Management (OSM), funds a number of long term fisheries monitoring sites on Federal Conservation Units throughout Alaska. OSM fisheries staff met with state and federal resources agencies in 2007 to investigate the potential benefits of initiating long term water quality monitoring at salmon research sites. Based on their recommendations, OSM 1 Temperatures in Federal Subsistence Waters February 2016 initiated a temperature monitoring project where equipment would be provided to Principal Investigators for deployment by field technicians. External support would conduct equipment accuracy checks and data management and analyses. Participation was voluntary and Principal Investigators were provided written and verbal instruction. The goal of this project is to obtain reliable stream water temperatures to support subsistence fishery management. This goal includes short and long term objectives. The short‐term objective is to provide an annual record of temperatures and compare these data with subsistence fish tolerance values. Annual temperature statistics will also be used to determine whether temperature can explain some of the variability in anadromous fish migration timing, spawning timing and locations, freshwater survival and timing of smolt migration. The long‐term objective