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Sport Fish Division of the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game

Anadromous Waters Catalog



Introduction

Purpose and Availability of the Anadromous Waters Catalog and Atlas

Alaska Statute 16.05.871(a) requires the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) to "specify the various rivers, lakes and streams or parts of them" of the state that are important to the spawning, rearing or migration of anadromous fishes. The Catalog of Waters Important for the Spawning, Rearing or Migration of Anadromous Fishes and its associated atlas (the Catalog and Atlas or AWC, respectively) are the media used to accomplish this specification and are adopted as regulation under 5 AAC 95.011. The Catalog is a numerically-ordered list of the water bodies with documented use by anadromous fish for these purposes. The Atlas shows cartographically the location, name and number of these specified water bodies, the anadromous fish species using these water bodies, and the fish life history phases for which the water bodies are used (to the extent known).

Protection of these specified water bodies is addressed by other sections of AS 16.05.871, which requires persons or governmental agencies to submit plans and specifications to ADF&G and receive written approval in the form of a Fish Habitat Permit prior to beginning the proposed use, construction or activity that would take place in specified water bodies.

Copies of the entire Atlas of Waters Important for Spawning, Rearing or Migration of Anadromous Fishes are available for examination at the ADF&G Division of Sport Fish offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Douglas. Copies are also available for viewing at the Alaska State Library in Juneau and the Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS) in Anchorage. Copies of regional volumes of the Atlas for the region of the state in which they are located are available for inspection at ADF&G offices in Bethel, Cordova, Craig, Palmer, Petersburg, and Soldotna and ADF&G offices in Anchorage, Craig, Delta Junction, Dillingham, Douglas, Dutch Harbor, Glennallen, Haines, Homer, Ketchikan, King Salmon, Kodiak, Nome, Palmer, Petersburg, Sand Point, Sitka, Soldotna, Tok, Wrangell, and Yakutat.

Anadromous Waters Catalog and Atlas Users' Guide

Format

The Anadromous Waters Catalog is divided into six volumes corresponding to Alaska's six fish and game resource management regions (Arctic, Interior, Western, Southwestern, Southcentral, Southeastern) established in 1982 by the Joint Boards of Fisheries and Game (see Figure 1).

The Catalog is a numerically ordered list of the water bodies documented as used by anadromous fish. It also lists the quad map, latitude, longitude and legal description of the mouth and upper known extent of anadromous fish use for each specified water body.

Information from the Anadromous Waters Catalog is used to create the catalogs and to prepare a compilation of topographic maps, which indicate the specified anadromous fish-bearing waters and the known species and life stage use.

Limitations

Location information (latitude/longitudes, legal descriptions) and graphic representations used in the AWC Atlas are derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangle (quad) maps. ADF&G uses the most recent editions of these quad maps to depict as accurately as possible the locations of water bodies found in the AWC. The intent is to avoid any confusion when referring to a specific stream or lake. In some parts of Alaska, however, channel and coastline configurations have changed since the relevant USGS quad map was published, making it not entirely accurate for on-the-ground use. Locations listed in the Catalog should be compared to the USGS maps, not to field-surveyed or photo-extracted locations. In cases where the water body configuration has changed, permits are required for the present water body, regardless of its actual distance from the mapped or legally described channel in the catalog.

In some instances, polygons are used to specify areas containing a number of water bodies supporting anadromous fish that are impossible to depict legibly and accurately on 1:63,360-scale maps. Generally used by juvenile anadromous fish for rearing, waters in these polygons are highly productive and are important for anadromous fishes.

Fisheries surveys are an important tool in managing anadromous fish habitat and sport, personal use, subsistence and commercial fisheries. Data are collected by various methods including aircraft, boat, and foot. Due to timing, water clarity, temperature, survey method or other factors, a survey for a particular species may fail to gather complete life phase information, or observe juvenile fish, non-targeted anadromous fish species, or the actual upper limit of anadromous fish use. Therefore, the upper points of stream reaches listed in the Catalog and shown in the Atlas usually reflect the extent of fish surveys or known anadromous fish use in a particular water body rather than the actual limits of anadromous fish occurrence or of habitat use.

In addition, only a limited number of the water bodies in Alaska have actually been surveyed. Virtually all-coastal waters in the state provide important habitat for anadromous fish, as do many unsurveyed tributaries to known anadromous fish-bearing waters. Anadromous fish often rear in small tributaries, flood channels, intermittent streams, and beaver ponds. Due to the remote location, small size, or ephemeral nature of these systems, however, most have not been surveyed and are not included in the Catalog or Atlas.

Figure 1. AWC Regional Boundaries

Map of AWC Regional Boundaries

Interpretation of the Maps

Alaska is depicted by 153 1:250,000-scale USGS quadrangles (see Figure 2). Most quadrangles of this scale are further divided into 1:63,360-scale inch-to-the-mile maps (also known as quadrangles). The maps are made up of the 1:250,000-scale quadrangles to help users locate anadromous waters information on the more detailed 1:63,360-scale map(s), if any exist for an area. Where inch-to-the-mile USGS maps do not yet exist (e.g., in parts of the Interior, Arctic Western and Southwest regions), specified waters are drawn on the 1:250,000-scale quadrangles.

Numbering of Specified Waters

Note: Examples given below refer to Figure 3.

All streams, rivers, and lakes specified in the Atlas and Catalog have a unique identifying number. The first six digits consist of a three-digit number and a two-digit number, separated by a hyphen. This number set is the 1982 ADF&G statistical fishing district number identifying the body of salt water to which the system drains. Although fishing district numbers used by the department's Commercial Fisheries Division have changed periodically since 1982, the numbering system in the Atlas and Catalog remains based on the 1982 statistical area boundaries in order to maintain a unique number for each specified water body through time.

First-order streams (which flow directly into salt water) are identified by a five-digit suffix added to the two-part fish district number into which the stream flows. For each first-order stream, this five-digit suffix begins with the number 1. For example, Big River (at the top of Figure 3) is "101-52-10100" (where "101-52" identifies the statistical fishing district and "10100" is the first-order stream in that district).

A stream branching from a first-order stream (i.e., second-order) carries the same base number (e.g., 101-52-10100) plus a four-digit number indicating that specific tributary. In the example, "2021" denotes the tributary that branches to the left (heading upstream) on Big River, making the entire number for this second-order stream 101-52-10100-2021. Third-, fourth- and higher-order streams are numbered in the same way by adding a four-digit number for each branch. The first digit for each branch sequence always indicates the stream order.

By convention, the last digit of a number sequence used to identify second- and higher- order streams will be even if the tributary branches to the right (heading upstream) and odd if it branches to the left. Due to limited space on maps, often only the number sequence of a specific tributary appears next to that tributary; however, the entire number sequence down to the statistical fishing district number can be determined by following the waterway. The Catalog lists the entire number sequence.

Figure 2. 1:250,000 scale quad names and numbers

Figure 3. Examples of Map Stream numbering

Examples of Map Stream numbering

The number assigned to a lake begins with the number of the stream that drains from it, plus a four-digit number beginning with a zero. In Figure 3, a lake occurs along a third-order stream in the Blue Creek drainage. Its unique identification number, 101-53-10100-2010-3005-0010, consists of the third-order stream number (101-53-10100-2010-3005) plus the four-digit lake identifier (0010).

A four-digit number sequence beginning with 09 designates polygons. Used only in special cases, polygons will be numbered, whenever possible, with the stream number on which the polygon is located, followed by a 09xx polygon designation. In the example, a polygon adjoins a tributary to the Kleen River. The polygon's unique identification number would be 101-53-10200-2016-3011-0910, which is the stream number (101-53-10200-2016-3011) plus the polygon designator "0910."

Figure 3 shows four watersheds having multiple lakes and flowing to Inoue Passage. Each illustrates a different aspect of the water body numbering system. In the first example, a first-order stream is named "Kleen River," but the named river does not continue above the first lake. Kleen River is numbered 101-53-10200, for statistical fishing district "101-53" and first-order stream "10200." A lake identifier "0010" is added to denote the first lake upstream of Kleen River. Since all tributaries flowing into a lake retain the base number of the lake's outlet stream but add a next-higher-order stream identifier, the tributary to the first lake above Kleen River is numbered 101-53-10200-2012. Meanwhile, the headwater lake that drains into second-order tributary "2016" reflects that in its last two suffixes: 101-53-10200-2016-0010. Any streams flowing into this lake would be third order and numbered accordingly.

In the second multi-lake example, Rain Creek passes through a series of lakes. Each lake is assigned the first-order stream number 101-53-10300, followed by a sequential and unique lake number, 0010 for the first lake, 0020 for the second. Tributaries to either Rain Creek or the lakes (none shown) would bear a second-order number after the base number.

The same numbering conventions apply to the third case, a system with unnamed streams (see left side of Inoue Passage): Each lake is numbered from the main channel, with an added lake number (101-53-10400-0010, for the first lake, 101-53-10400-0020 for the second lake).

In the fourth example, Great River, Little River, and Small Creek are first-, second-, and third-order streams, respectively. Each named stream is separated by a lake, to which it is a tributary. The lake above each tributary has the same number as its outlet stream but with an added lake identifier. In this example, the first lake (above first-order stream Great River) is 101-54-10100-0010; the second lake (above second-order tributary Little River) is 101-54-10100-2014-0010; and the third lake (above third-order tributary Small Creek) is 101-54-10100-2014-3005-0010. Alone the lake identifiers for these three lakes appears to be the same, however, combination with the outlet stream number provides a unique number for each.

Symbols

The alpha numeric in the lower left corner of the maps identifies the 1:63,360 scale quadrangle of the 1:250,000-scale quadrangle. (Numbers for the 1:250,000-scale quadrangles are identified on Figure 3.) The legend beneath each map lists letter symbols for each fish species and life activity. Some maps also include the diamond symbol (t) to depict streams for which the length of documented fish habitat is too short (less than 660 feet) to accurately map at the 1:63,360 scale. In most cases barriers to fish passage or limits of fish survey efforts account for the short terminus.

Arrows on the maps delimit the distribution of fish in a water body, where known. A single arrow-drawn at the mouth of a stream or stream reach indicates which fish species migrate upstream. Downstream-pointing arrows farther upstream indicate the highest point at which a fish species is currently known to occur (see symbols for king salmon spawning on Chance Creek, Figure 3).

A double-headed arrow is usually added to show that the range of a listed species continues onto adjacent maps (see notation for king, chum, and coho salmon, and sheefish migrating on Main River).

Interpretation of the Catalog

Water Bodies by Number

Each river, stream, lake, or polygon in the Catalog is listed on two lines. The first line contains the water body number and information about the location of the mouth of the water body. The second line lists the water body name (if known) and locates the upper point. Column headings occur at the top of each page. For example, Grant Creek would be listed as follows:

Stream / Lake Map Sheet Lat. Long. Legal
101-75-10100 Bradfield Canal A-4 56.03889 N 131.21270 W C 67S 92E 20
Grant Creek Bradfield Canal A-5 56.10856 N 131.34453 W C 66S 91E 33

In this example, the first line lists:

  1. the water body number (101-75-10100);
  2. the USGS map quadrangle containing the mouth of the water body (Bradfield Canal A-4);
  3. the latitude-longitude of the mouth of the water body in decimal degrees (56.03889 latitude North; 131.21270 West longitude, NAD 1927 datum); and
  4. the legal description of the water body mouth, given by meridian (Copper River), township (67S), range (92E), and section (20)
  5. species string for the species and life stages present or entering at the mouth.

The second line lists:

  1. the water body number (101-75-10100);
  2. the USGS map quadrangle containing the mouth of the water body (Bradfield Canal A-5);
  3. the latitude-longitude of the mouth of the water body in decimal degrees (56.10856 latitude North; 131.34453 West longitude, NAD 1927 datum); and
  4. the legal description of the water body mouth, given by meridian (Copper River), township (66S), range (91E), and section (33)
  5. species string for the species and life stages present or entering at the mouth.

For purposes of data presentation in the catalog, lakes and polygons do not have mouths or upper points. Instead the location information contained in the first line reflects a point near the middle of the lake or polygon on the cited quadrangle map. If any portion of a lake occurs on several quadrangle maps, only one quad will appear in the first line. The lake or polygon name will appear on the second line if known.

Water Bodies by Name

To reference anadromous water bodies by name, use the alphabetical listing of known named water bodies in the second part of the catalog. Local names are denoted by an * that appears in the front of the name and appears first in the alphabetical listing.

Sources

Sources of information for the 1982 revision of the Atlas and Catalog of Waters Important for Spawning, Rearing or Migration of Anadromous Fishes were the following:

  • ADF&G "Alaska's Fisheries Atlas" (1978);
  • ADF&G field notes from area and regional offices and various;
  • ADF&G individual reports;
  • U.S. Forest Service;
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
  • Revised Anadromous Fish Stream Catalog of Southeastern Alaska (1977) by John Edgington, Robert Larson, Jim Eastwood and Paul Novak;
  • Bureau of Land Management survey notes; and
  • Index to Northslope Stream and Lake Surveys (1982) by Terry Bendock and John Burr.

Since the 1982 revision, the AWC has been revised regularly with information on anadromous waters being provided by various state and federal agencies, private companies, and individuals.

Update Procedures

Procedures are in place, which provide for regular updating of the AWC. Water bodies, or particular stream reaches, can be added or deleted and the upper range of anadromous water bodies changed as more current surveys document the presence or absence of anadromous fish. Anyone can submit a proposal for additions or changes to the AWC. However, proposals from other than ADF&G staff may be subject to field verification prior to approval by ADF&G.


Proposals for revisions should be submitted to:

ADF&G Sport Fish Division Regional Office
ATTN: J Johnson
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, Alaska   99518

The proposed revision must include a nomination form, available through Sport Fish Division regional offices or website, which lists the name and location of the water body, the fish species observed using the water body, the date fish were observed; the life stages (migration, spawning, or rearing) for which the water body is being used, if known; and any other clarifying information. The person submitting the proposed revision must sign the nomination form.

The location of water body and the upper known extent of anadromous fish use should be marked on a 1:63,360-scale USGS map or better. Field sketches or aerial photography are also helpful.

Changes to the Anadromous Waters Catalog and Atlas will be made in accordance with 5 AAC 95.011 and the regulation adopting procedures of the Administrative Procedures Act (AS 44.62). Deadline for nomination submission is Sept. 29, annually.

Operational Plans

Operational Plans (115 Kb PDF) file.