Shaw Creek
Watershed Studies

Shaw Creek, a northern tributary of the Tanana River, helps drain the Yukon-Tanana Uplands, and has been identified as an important stream to many different animal species. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has found the Shaw Creek Watershed to be rearing and possibly spawning habitat for coho as well as chinook salmon. It is also very important spawning habitat for grayling and other resident fish species. In addition, it serves as winter habitat for the Fortymile caribou herd, moose, bears, and other furbeaers. Not only is this watershed valuable to the wildlife that rely on it, it is also important to the people of the Delta region. Shaw Creek Watershed contains spruce and hardwood timber resources, mining resources, scientific resources, recreational resources, as well as the aforementioned wildlife resources. As a result of this watershed's intrinsic value, this fall, The Alaska Boreal Forest Council, in conjunction with GW Scientific, The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Restoration Science and Engineering and other partners, established three long term monitoring stations. The purpose of these stations is to gather much needed baseline data for sustainable development of the Tanana River basin, such that multiple land uses can be supported while protecting the natural qualities of this watershed.

The specific objectives of this project are the following:

1. Establish 2 baseline hydrologic monitoring stations along Shaw Creek and 1 baseline monitoring station in an upland area of the watershed (See Figure Above). Continuous data will be collected on ground-water and surface-water levels; air, soil, and surface-water temperatures; stream conductivity, soil moisture; and relative humidity. The data from these stations will be sent via a wireless network to an existing ABFC base station in Big Delta, where it will be uploaded to the Internet
2. Conduct a preliminary hydrologic field-survey of Shaw Creek basin. This will entail a stream survey to document basic water-chemistry data with portable meters along different reaches of Shaw Creek and its tributaries. Water velocity and discharge measurements as well as major geomorphology and streamside vegetation will also be documented during the survey.
3. Provide data to improve public understanding of these public fisheries and water resources.
4. Develop a GIS database structure to promote public interest, information exchange, education, and improved decision-making for natural resource issues associated with our project goals.

URL: http://www.tanana-watershed.com/shaw_creek/shaw_creek_summary.html

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