Prepared for: The Municipal Planning Department and Watershed Management Services 1 Prepared by: Anchorage Waterways Council Rev. 4, September 2014 (Draft) Table of Contents Executive Summary...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Importance of Watershed Planning .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Regulations and Plans ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 2 Creation of the Plan................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 History of the Plan and Participants ................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Vision, Mission and Goals .............................................................................................................................................................................. 11 3 Watershed Characterization ................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Location and Watershed Features ................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Subwatersheds and Creek Sections ................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Lakes ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Climate and Soils............................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 Natural Vegetation .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Fish and Wildlife ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates ............................................................................................................................................................................ 26 Hydrology, Water Quantity, and Flooding ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 Human Population ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Land Use ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34 Impervious Surfaces and Stormwater System ................................................................................................................................................. 36 Channel Habitat ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Water Quality .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 44 Chemicals ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 45 Bacteria ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 45 Sedimentation and Turbidity ........................................................................................................................................................................... 47 Dissolved Oxygen ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Temperature..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 48 4 Watershed Issues .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 51 Water Quality .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 51 Water Quantity ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 51 Wildlife Habitat ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 52 2 Fish Habitat ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 53 Social and Economic Opportunities ................................................................................................................................................................. 54 Communication and. Coordination ................................................................................................................................................................. 55 Data Acquisition .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 55 5 Plan Implementation .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 57 1.0 Water Quality ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 57 2.0 Water Quantity .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 57 3.0 Wildlife Habitat ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 58 4.0 Fish Habitat ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 58 5.0 Social and Economic Opportunities ........................................................................................................................................................... 59 6.0 Communication and Coordination ............................................................................................................................................................. 59 7.0 Data Acquisition ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 60 6 Appendix .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 61 Restoration Priorities for Chester Creek Watershed ....................................................................................................................................... 61 Recent LID Projects in Chester Creek Watershed