Salmon Country Watch a showcase of videos featuring Conservancy work from Alaska to California to revive threatened salmon. Dive In Go Deeper Read the entire report: Fish Surveys in Headwater Streams of the Nushagak and Kvichak Drainages Nushagak-Mulchatna Traditional Use Area Conservation Plan Salmon Ecosystems and Mining More about our salmon conservation efforts in Alaska You Can Join Us Learn about Alaska's role in the Campaign for a Sustainable Planet Discover Alaska: Travel with The Nature Conservancy Explore our work in Alaska's Bristol Bay See where we work in Alaska

Bristol Bay Headwaters Field Study

In July and August of 2008, a Conservancy field team conducted anadromous fish surveys in the lakes and streams of the Nushagak-Mulchatna headwaters. The field crew used sampling protocols developed by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game. Field volunteers relied on electro-fishing to gather data such as species presence and size.

The results:

• Documented juvenile coho salmon in 20 of 27 surveyed streams;
• Documented both juvenile coho and king salmon in two of 27 streams;
  Documented resident fish species important to subsistence in 23 of 27 surveyed streamsand
• Nominated more than 28 miles of streams to the state's Anadromous Waters Catalog. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game maintains anadromous waters data in the Catalog of Waters Important for the Spawning, Rearing or Migration of Anadromous Fishes and its associated Atlas. This database currently contains the 16,000 streams, rivers and lakes in Alaska which have been recognized as important spawning, rearing or migration habitat.

Nominated streams:

• 1 tributary of the South Fork Koktuli River
• 6 tributaries of Upper Talarik Creek
• 13 tributaries of the North Fork Koktuli River

Map:

• Southwest Alaska field study and nominated streams

 Scientific Literature

• Salmon Ecosystems and Mining

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Field team in Nushagak-Mulchatna headwaters © Bridget Besaw/TNC; fish measurement © TNC; field team member at river © TNC.