Author: Joe Klein (Hydrologist)

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 33

ISBN-13:

This report summarizes instream flow protection and related activities of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) in 2016. The status of reservation of water applications by other agencies and the public is also presented. ADF&G created the Statewide Aquatic Resources Coordination Unit (SARCU) within the Division of Sport Fish to address instream flow related activities.In 2016, ADF&G filed 20 applications for river reaches and 3 for lakes, and was granted certificates for 13 river reaches, providing approximately 320 miles of fish habitat protection. ADF&G has continued to exceed the program goal of filing 10 reservations annually. Overall, ADF&G filed reservation of water applications on 287 river reaches and 7 lakes through December 2016. Certificates of reservation have been granted to ADF&G for 133 river reaches and one lake, and for one river and one lake under the water export provision, resulting in protection of 1,728 miles of streams and 1,481 surface acres of lakes. ADF&G filed an average of 26 applications per year and was granted an average of 17 reservations over the past 5 years. Factors contributing to this success include the following: ADF&G and Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) leadership making reservations a priority, a 2002 Memorandum of Understanding between ADF&G and DNR that created the vision and framework for reducing the backlog, and efficiencies gained through a better understanding of the adjudication process. SARCU staff performed hydrologic investigations on four projects in 2016. Investigations were performed primarily to obtain the necessary data to support reservation of water applications. SARCU staff monitored 46 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission hydroelectric and hydrokinetic projects and served as ADF&G's representative for the Alaska Clean Waters Actions program, which funded 12 projects in state fiscal year 2016 (July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016).