Randy Host preparing to sample discharge and collect water quality samples on an icy Alsek River in winter.
The Alsek River is the furthest north watershed in the transboundary study of Southeast Alaska, reaching 300 miles north of Haines Junction, Yukon Territory.
Current and Historical Streamflow Data for the Alsek River
Current and Historical Streamflow Data for the Alsek River
Summary of all Available Data from Upstream Location
Summary of all Available Data from Upstream Location
View of Alsek River, updated daily
View of Alsek River, updated daily
The Alsek River is the furthest north watershed in this study, reaching 300 miles north of Haines Junction, Yukon Territory. Most of the land in the Alsek watershed is within protected wilderness areas or national parks. Apart from historic mining and small placer mines in the upper watershed, the Alsek River is considered pristine with no planned large-scale mining. Yakutat residents occasionally access Dry Bay for traditional and customary fishing of sockeye salmon, a fishery which was more important before sharp declines in the 1980s and 1990s. The USGS is studying the Alsek to document the natural conditions in this watershed for comparison with the other four rivers and to collect baseline data if significant mining does occur in this watershed in the future. CCTHITA began sampling the Alsek in June 2018 and Yakutat Tlingit Tribe (YTT) started sampling in September 2018. Both CCTHITA and YTT sample monthly during ice-free periods. More information about these studies is available in the Links tab. The USGS began sampling the Alsek in May 2020 and discontinued sampling in 2024.
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
USGS Transboundary River Monitoring in Southeast Alaska
The USGS Alaska Science Center operates super gages on the Alsek, Taku, Stikine, Unuk and Salmon Rivers. Discrete water quality, sediment, and biological sampling are also collected at each gage location. Discrete water quality samples are also collected annually at the Canada-Alaska border crossings of the Taku, Stikine, and Unuk Rivers. Water quality data collection began in 2018 on the Unuk...
Unuk River
The Unuk River is the second smallest watershed in the transboundary study of Southeast Alaska, but has three large mining projects in development (Kerr-Sulplherets-Mitchell (KSM), Brucejack, and Eskay Creek).
Stikine River
The Stikine River near Wrangell and Petersburg is the largest watershed in the transboundary study of Southeast Alaska.
Taku River
Adverse water quality from a trio of historic mines in the Tulsequah River watershed, a tributary of the Taku River, have caused concern in local communities including Juneau, Alaska, and Atlin, British Columbia
Salmon River
The Salmon River, located near Hyder, Alaska, and Stewart, British Columbia, is the smallest watershed in the transboundary study of Southeast Alaska.
Suspended-Sediment and Solids Sampling
Suspended-sediment samples are collected on each visit at both gage and border site locations.
Super Gages and Water Quality Sampling
Super gages provide real-time data specifically designed to improve understanding of watershed processes and to address specific water-resource issues such as climate and land-use effects or hazardous substance spills.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Icy Alsek River in winter
Randy Host preparing to sample discharge and collect water quality samples on an icy Alsek River in winter.
Gearing up boat at the Alsek River, Alaska
Preparing the boat for isokinetic water sampling using the equal discharge increment method on the Alsek River.
Preparing the boat for isokinetic water sampling using the equal discharge increment method on the Alsek River.
Alsek River in Southeast Alaska
Alsek River is one of the transboundary watersheds of Southeast Alaska.
Alsek River is one of the transboundary watersheds of Southeast Alaska.
The Alsek River is the furthest north watershed in the transboundary study of Southeast Alaska, reaching 300 miles north of Haines Junction, Yukon Territory.
Current and Historical Streamflow Data for the Alsek River
Current and Historical Streamflow Data for the Alsek River
Summary of all Available Data from Upstream Location
Summary of all Available Data from Upstream Location
View of Alsek River, updated daily
View of Alsek River, updated daily
The Alsek River is the furthest north watershed in this study, reaching 300 miles north of Haines Junction, Yukon Territory. Most of the land in the Alsek watershed is within protected wilderness areas or national parks. Apart from historic mining and small placer mines in the upper watershed, the Alsek River is considered pristine with no planned large-scale mining. Yakutat residents occasionally access Dry Bay for traditional and customary fishing of sockeye salmon, a fishery which was more important before sharp declines in the 1980s and 1990s. The USGS is studying the Alsek to document the natural conditions in this watershed for comparison with the other four rivers and to collect baseline data if significant mining does occur in this watershed in the future. CCTHITA began sampling the Alsek in June 2018 and Yakutat Tlingit Tribe (YTT) started sampling in September 2018. Both CCTHITA and YTT sample monthly during ice-free periods. More information about these studies is available in the Links tab. The USGS began sampling the Alsek in May 2020 and discontinued sampling in 2024.
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
USGS Transboundary River Monitoring in Southeast Alaska
The USGS Alaska Science Center operates super gages on the Alsek, Taku, Stikine, Unuk and Salmon Rivers. Discrete water quality, sediment, and biological sampling are also collected at each gage location. Discrete water quality samples are also collected annually at the Canada-Alaska border crossings of the Taku, Stikine, and Unuk Rivers. Water quality data collection began in 2018 on the Unuk...
Unuk River
The Unuk River is the second smallest watershed in the transboundary study of Southeast Alaska, but has three large mining projects in development (Kerr-Sulplherets-Mitchell (KSM), Brucejack, and Eskay Creek).
Stikine River
The Stikine River near Wrangell and Petersburg is the largest watershed in the transboundary study of Southeast Alaska.
Taku River
Adverse water quality from a trio of historic mines in the Tulsequah River watershed, a tributary of the Taku River, have caused concern in local communities including Juneau, Alaska, and Atlin, British Columbia
Salmon River
The Salmon River, located near Hyder, Alaska, and Stewart, British Columbia, is the smallest watershed in the transboundary study of Southeast Alaska.
Suspended-Sediment and Solids Sampling
Suspended-sediment samples are collected on each visit at both gage and border site locations.
Super Gages and Water Quality Sampling
Super gages provide real-time data specifically designed to improve understanding of watershed processes and to address specific water-resource issues such as climate and land-use effects or hazardous substance spills.
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Icy Alsek River in winter
Randy Host preparing to sample discharge and collect water quality samples on an icy Alsek River in winter.
Randy Host preparing to sample discharge and collect water quality samples on an icy Alsek River in winter.
Gearing up boat at the Alsek River, Alaska
Preparing the boat for isokinetic water sampling using the equal discharge increment method on the Alsek River.
Preparing the boat for isokinetic water sampling using the equal discharge increment method on the Alsek River.
Alsek River in Southeast Alaska
Alsek River is one of the transboundary watersheds of Southeast Alaska.
Alsek River is one of the transboundary watersheds of Southeast Alaska.