DESCRIPTION OF STUDY RIVERS 

 L. L. Moulton, Ed. 



As previously mentioned, 25 sites were selected for study. These sites 

 occurred in four geographical regions of Alaska and include a wide variety 

 of Physical Site Characteristics and Gravel Removal Area Characteristics 

 (Table I). Site locations are shown on Figure I. Table 4 summarizes dis- 

 turbed area size, volume of gravel removal, and period of activity at each 

 site. 



SEWARD PENINSULA 



General Description of Region 



The region of Seward Peninsula containing the six study sites is in 

 the foothills of the Kigluaik Mountains, characterized by broad rounded 

 hills with elevations of 250 to 700 m (Figure 2). The surficial geology at 

 Sinuk River, Washington Creek, and Nome River is dominated by remnants of 

 highly modified moraines and associated drift resulting from Pleistocene 

 glaciation. Gold Run Creek however, is just outside the northern edge of 

 glacial influence and the surficial geology is fine-grained alluvial and 

 colluvial deposits with rare bedrock exposures. At Oregon Creek and Penny 

 River the surficial geology is characterized by coarse and f i ned-grai ned 

 deposits of alluvium and co I I uv i um associated with moderate to steep-sloped 

 mountains and hills. Bedrock exposures are common on the upper slopes and 

 crests. The region is general ly underlain with permafrost of variable thick- 

 ness. Normal temperatures range from 3 to 13 C in the summer and -23 to 

 -13 C in the winter. The annual precipitation of the region is about 30-40 

 cm, including approximately 130 cm as snow. 



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