In 2002, a Tribal elder brought this historical information to the attention of the Chickaloon Village Environmental Protection Program (CVEPP) staff. This elder also said that all five species of Alaskan salmon (sockeye, coho, chinook, pink, and chum salmon) used to spawn in the upper reaches of the Moose Creek, though now only chinook and coho are routinely found. Salmon have always been central to the way of life of the Ahtna people, including members of Chickaloon Village, who continue to use traditional sources for sustenance. For the last 80 years, however, Village members must travel great distances to harvest salmon.
584 chinook salmon is the yearly average counted in Moose Creek. The salmon are found only in the 3.2 stream miles from the mouth to the largest waterfall, where fish passage is not possible. This autumn CVEPP staff counted 216 coho salmon in Moose Creek. We are anticipating a considerable increase in coho salmon numbers after the restoration of fish passage around the waterfall barrier, as the wetland creek near stream mile 7 appears to be excellent coho rearing habitat.
Project Goals
Example of Improved Fish Passage
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The goals of this project are to restore salmon passage to the upstream habitats, develop strong community stewardship, and ultimately restore and sustain the salmon populations. The Moose Creek Fish Passage Restoration Project is designed to re-establish the original stream channel around the largest waterfall and restore salmon passage to the upper reaches of the creek. By restoring fish passage around the waterfall, fish spawning and rearing habitat will be increased by at least five miles, including the highest quality habitat in the watershed. In turn, the increase in habitat will lead to an increase in salmon populations. The long-term aim of this project is to have a Moose Creek salmon return large enough to support a small subsistence harvest for members of the Tribe, thereby reviving a local traditional food source and contributing to the ongoing survival of the Tribe’s culture.
