A PROGRAM FOR THE COLLECTION, STORAGE, AND ANALYSIS OF BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA FOR COOK INLET, ALASKA By David G. Wagner, R. Sage Murphy and Charles E. Behlke This report was prepared by the Institute of Water Resources of the University of Alaska for the Alaska Water Laboratory, Federal Water Pollution Control Adminlstration under Contract No. 14-12-449. ii A PROGRAM FOR THE COLLECTION. STORAGE. AND ANALYSIS OF BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA FOR COOK INLET. ALASKA TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLES FIGURES AND MAPS I INTRODUCTION Background 1 Scope and Objectives 1 Organization 2 Acknowledgments 3 II CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCLUSIONS Study Area 4 Data Collection Programs 4 Data Storage Facilities 5 Program Implementation 5 RECOMt>lENDATIONS 6 III THE COOK INLET ESTUARY SYSTEM 7 INTRODUCTION THE STUDY AREA Location B Structure B Geography B West and northwest sides 12 Northeast side-Anchorage Area 12 East si de 13 Geology 15 Glaciation 16 Mt. susitna glaciation 19 Caribou Hills glaciation 19 Eklutna glaciation 19 Knik glaciation 19 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) Naptowne glaciation 19 Post-Naptowne glaciation 20 Earthquakes 20 Good Friday earthquake 20 Effect on Anchorage 21 Effect on Homer 21 Ground breakage in Cook Inlet Area 21 Earthquake effects on hydrologic regime'l 22 Climatological Characteristics 22 Anchorage area 22 Cook Inlet·area. 23 Estuary Characterisitcs ·25 Physical and chemical characteristics 25 Ti des: characteri sti cs and currents 29 Ice 31 Sediments 33 THE BIOTA OF COOl< INLET 36 Fish 36 Shellfish 37 Birds 38 INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND EXPLOITABLE RESOURCES 39 Coal Mining 39 Petroleum Industry 40 History 40 1967 summary 40 Oil fields and operators 42 Manufacturing pipeline and gas utility companies 4? Undeveloped mineral resources of importance 45 Canneries and shellfish processors 46 WATER QUALITY CONSIDERATIONS 47 Water Quality Standards and Laws 47 Federal regulations 47 Alaska state laws 49 Local laws 51 Alaska State Water Quality Standards 51 Waste discharges to Cook Inlet 52 Domestic and industrial discharges 52 Ships 52 RELATED ENGINEERING STUDIES 54 Introduction 54 Eva 1ua tion of Reports 54 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) IV PROPOSED DATA COLLECTION PROGRAMS 60 INTRODUCTION 60 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR. DATA. COLLECTION PROGRAMS 61 Estuary Characteristics 61 Spatial variation 62 Temporal variation 62 Frequency of Investigations 62 PROPOSED DATA COLLECTION PROGRAMS 64 Programs 64 Inter-Agency Program Data Collection Stations 64 Terrestrial 65 Intertidal· 65 Offshore 65 Sampling Methods and Techniques 66 Program Organi zati on and Time Schedule 66 Optimum Program 66 Alternate Program 67 HYDROLOGIC AND HYDROGRAPHIC DATA COLLECTION PROGRAMS 68 Introduction 68 Types of Data 68 Hydrographic 69 Hydro1ogi c 70 Data Needs and Requirements 70 Review of Existing Data and Studies 71 Summary and evaluation 83 Proposed Data Collection Programs 86 First Phase 86 Second Phase 86 Thi rd Phase 86 Fourth Phase 91 GEOLOGICAL DATA COLLECTION PROGRAMS 92 Introduction 92 Data Needs and Requirements 92 Review of Existing Data and Studies 95 Proposed Data Collection Programs 97 First Phase 97 Second Phase 97 Third Phase 98 Fourth Phase 98 v TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL DATA COLLECTION PROGRAMS 102 Introduction 102 Types of Data 102 Data Needs and Requi rements 104 Review of Existing Data and Studies 106 Proposed Data Collection Programs 120 First Phase 120 Second Phase 120 Third Phase 120 Fourth Phase 124 BIOLOGICAL DATA COLLECTION PROGRAMS 125 Introduction 125 Data Needs and Requirements 125 Review of Existing Data and Studies 131 Proposed Data Collection Programs 135 First Phase 135 Second Phase 135 Third Phase 139 Fourth Phase 139 WASTE DISCHARGE INVENTORY 142 IntrodUction 142 Data Needs and Requirements 143 Review of Existing Data and Studies 145 Proposed Waste'Inventory Program 148 SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS 150 V DATA MANAGEMENT 155 AN OVERVIEW 155 PLANNING 159 Staff 159 Objectives 159 Characteristics 160 Requirements 160 Review 161 Existing data 161 Existing data management systems 162 STANDARDS 162 Methods Standards 163 Systems Analysis 164 Programmi ng 165 Operation 167 TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) Performance Standards 167 SYSTEM DESIGN 168 Data Processing 168 Data types 168 Data formats 169 Data input medi a 169 Data storage 169 User Demands 169 Analysis 170 Report formats 170 Response time 170 Data maintenance 170 Equipment Requirements 171 Specifi cati ons 171 IMPLEMENTAT ION 172 Phase 1 - Planning and Design 173 Phase 2 - Review 173. Phase 3 - Design by Contractor 173 Phase 4 - System Maintenance 176 VI PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION 177 INTRODUCTION 177 PROJECT SCHEDULE AND CONTROL 178 Acti vi ty Schedu1i ng 178 Component Task Description 178 Fi rst Phase 178 Second Phase 183 Third Phase 187 Fourth Phase 187 Project Control 188 Program Continuation 188 COOK INLET BASELINE STUDY PROGRAM MANAGEMENT 189 Existing Organizations Dealing with Water Quality 189 State agenci es 189 Federal government 190 University of Alaska 190 Advisory groups and organizations 191 Oil pollution task force 191 Proposed Program Management Structure 191 vi i TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.) Function operation~data flow 192 Management 192 Program Cost 192 ALTERNATE PROGRAM 192 Investigations to be Conducted 196 Anchorage Special Pollution Study 196 Kenai Area Pollution Study 199 Major Wastes Discharge Monitoring 199 Computer Simulation Model 199 Areal Investigations within Cook Inlet 200 Comp1ete Was tes Di scharge Moni tori ng 200 SUMMARY 200 VII REFERENCES 201 VII I APPENDICES A Oil Fields and Statistics B Fisheries and Shellfish Processors in Cook Inlet C Problems of Setting Standards and of Surveillance for Water Quality Control D Proposed Ecological Study - Kachemak Bay E Waste Discharge Inventory and Oil Spills in Cook Inlet F Special Studies Collier Carbon &Chemical Corp.' G Computer Programming Languages and Service Organization H Sampling Equipment, Methods, and Analytical Procedures vii i TABLES TABLE NO. TITLE OF TABLE PAGE NO. CHAPTER III II1-1 SELECTED ECONOMIC DATA 14 IU-2 AVERAGE MONTHLY WINDSPEED 24 IU-3 WINDS AT KENAI FOR CASES EXCEEDING 12 KNOTS 26 III-4 RIVER FLOW DATA-COOK INLET 27 III-5 COOK INLET TIDES IN FEET 30 III-6 STATE TOTAL PRODUCTION 41 III-7 CURRENT STATUS AND SCHEDULE FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS CONSTRUCTION IN ALASKA - JUNE 1967 ­ 53 III-8 SUMMARY OF ENGINEERING REPORTS RELATING TO COOK INLET 55 CHAPTER IV IV-l REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS DEALING WITH HYDROGRAPHIC AND HYDROLOGIC DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM 73 IV-2 HYDROLOGIC AND HYDROGRAPHIC DATA COLLECTION PROGRAMS 87 IV-3 DATA NEEDS FOR DETERMINATION OF SEDIMENTATION PRO- CESSES 93 IV-4 REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS DEALING WITH GEOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM 96 IV-S GEOLOGIC DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM 99 IV-6 PHYSICAL AND CHHlICAL DATA REQUIREMENTS 103 IV-7 REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS DEALING WITH PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM 107 IV-8 pH-COOK INLET - JUNE 1967 119 IV-9 PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL QUALITY SAMPLING PROGRAMS 121 IV-10 BIOLOGICAL DATA REQUIREMENTS 128 IV-11 REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS DEALING WITH BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM 132 IV-12 BIOLOGICAL DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM 136 IV-13 PRELIMINARY INFORMATION NEEDED FOR WASTE DISCHARGE CHARACTERIZATION 144 IV-14 REPORTS DEALING WITH WASTE DISCHARGES 146 CHAPTER V V-1 SELECTED REFERENCES DEALING WITH DATA PROCESSING AND DATA ANALYSIS 158 V-2 STANDARDS FOR SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT 163 V-3 IMPLEMENTATION - PHASE 1 - PLANNING AND DESIGN 174 V-4 IMPLEMENTATION - PHASE 2 - CONSULTANT'S REVIEW 175 V-S IMPLEMENTATION - PHASE 3 - DESIGN BY CONTRACTOR 175 V-6 IMPLEMENTATION - PHASE 4 - SYSTEM MAINTENANCE 176 ix TABLES (cont.) TABLE NO. TITLE OF TABLE PAGE NO. CHAPTER VI VI-1 SECONO PHASE PILOT PROGRAM STATION LOG 184 VI-2 PROGRAM COST· 195 VI-3 INVESTIGATION PRIORITIES AND TYPES OF DATA TO BE COLLECTED 197 VI-4 STATION SELECTIONS FOR ~EPARATED INVESTIGATIONS 198 x FIGURES AND MAPS ' FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE NO. CHAPTER III III~l LOCATION MAP 9 III-2 LOCATtON MAP 10 III-3 LOCATION MAP 11 III-4 PRINCIPLE GEOLOGIC AND TECTONIC FEATURES OF COOK INLET 17 III-5 EXTENT OF KNIK AND NAPTOWNE GLACIATIONS 18 III-6 SALINITY RANGE OF COOK INLET WATERS 28 III-7 ICE CONDITIONS DURING WINTER 32 III-8 SEDIMENTARY FACIES OF COOK INLET 34 1II-9 OIL AND GAS FIELDS IN THE COOK INLET AREA 43 CHAPTER IV IV-1 EXISTING CLIMATE STATIONS 76 IV-2 PROPOSED CLIMATE STATIONS 77 IV-3 EXISTING STREAMFLOW PARTIAL RECORD STATIONS 78 IV-4 SURFACE WATER AND WATER QUALITY PROGRAM 79 IV-5 GROUND WATER PROGRAM BO IV-6 GROUND WATER OBSERVATION WELLS B1 IV-7 PROPOSED AND EXISTING SNOW COURSE MONITORING AREAS 82 IV-8 ACTIVE AND EXISTING GLACIER MONITORING AREAS 84 IV-9 TIDE MONITORING STATIONS 85 IV-10 LOCATION OF PROPOSEO HYDROGRAPHIC, AND HYDROLOGIC DATA COLLECTION STATIONS, UPPER COOK INLET 88 IV-l1 LOCATION OF PROPOSED HYDROGRAPHIC AND HYDROLOGIC DATA COLLECTION STATIONS, LOWER COOK INLET 89 IV-12 LOCATION OF PROPOSED GEOLOGIC DATA COLLECTION STATIONS, UPPER COOK INLET 100 IV-13 LOCATION OF PROPOSED GEOLOGIC DATA COLLECTION STATIONS, LOWER COOK INLET 101 IV-14 OCEANOGRAPHIC CRUISE STATIONS IN COOK INLET 109 IV-15 OCEANOGRAPHIC CRUISE STATIONS IN COOK INLET 110 IV-16 OCEANOGRAPHIC CRUISE STATIONS IN COOK INLET 111 IV-17 OCEANOGRAPHIC CRUISE STATIONS IN COOK INLET 112 IV-18 OCEANOGRAPHIC CRUISE STATIONS IN COOK INLET 113 IV-19 OCEANOGRAPHIC CRUISE STATIONS IN COOK INLET 114 IV-20 OCEANOGRAPHIC CRUISE STATIONS IN COOK INLET 115 IV-21 NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS IN COOK INLET 117 IV-22 UPPER COOK