Instream Flow Protection in Alaska, 2015
Author: Joe Klein (Hydrologist)
Publisher:
Published: 2016
Total Pages: 33
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis report summarizes instream flow protection and related activities of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) in 2015. 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 2015, ADF&G filed 29 applications for river reaches and was granted certificates for 13 river reaches, providing approximately 22 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 265 river reaches and 4 lakes. Certificates of reservation have been granted to ADF&G for 120 river reaches and one lake. ADF&G filed an average of 26 applications over the past 5 years. During that same time, ADF&G has received, on average, 17 certificates of reservations per year. Factors contributing to this success include: ADF&G and Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) leadership making reservations a priority, a 2002 Memorandum of Understanding between ADF&G and DNR which 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 six projects in 2015. Investigations were performed primarily to obtain the necessary data to support reservation of water applications. SARCU staff monitored 52 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission hydroelectric and hydrokinetic projects and served as ADF&G's representative for the Alaska Clean Waters Actions program, which funded 13 projects in state fiscal year 2015 (July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015).