Trout Unlimited On Eklutna River Salmon Restoration

In April, Trout Unlimited’s Eric Booton wrote that Southcentral Alaska’s Eklutna River dam removal made for a hopeful plan to return salmon upriver. Here’s part of an update on the project from TU’s Booton:

Our survey reach began a rough 30-minute walk from the nearest access point and our downstream walk offered a scenic start to our day in the field. Since Kyle has walked this route weekly for the past 19 weeks, he had the most efficient route picked out through maze of alders. Where the trail intersects a series of beaver ponds, we were met with fresh ice to forge our way through as our wading boots get their first dunk in icy water.

Stepping from the brush and into full view of the beaver ponds, we quickly encountered a snapshot of the composition of life they host. I spotted a bank of swans resting on the first beaver pond, and further off in the brush I picked out the dark bodies of 2 moose cows and 2 calves in the distance mounting a retreat at our arrival. On a nearby rise, not far from our location, we heard the shout of fellow humans greeting us, a crew of scientists who were completing a field trip to orient themselves with the system ahead of preparing terrestrial studies for 2022.

Beyond the beaver ponds, the brush opened up and the scenery is noteworthy everywhere my eyes land. Ahead of me is a fresh perspective of the Knik Arm, behind me a compelling view of the Chugach Mountains and the discernable valley that the Eklutna River carved.

Roughly half a mile upstream of where the river meets the Knik Arm, our work officially began. Kyle and I assumed our positions on either side of the river and begin the walk upstream systematically observing every inch of flowing water for signs of life, using a fish stick (little more than an appropriately sized river side stick) to uncover anything hiding in the depths of pools and structure.