Hydrology of Alaska— Waananen 157 



resources. These studies were continued by the Forest Service 

 and others until 1946 when the Survey started its present pro- 

 gram of water resources investigations. The results of the in- 

 vestigations prior to 1946 are published in the bulletins and 

 water supply papers of the Geological Survey or the Forest 

 Service— Federal Power Commission publication "Water Powers 

 of Southeast Alaska." Records since 1946 are in the Survey's 

 open files in Washington, D. C, or at Juneau and Palmer, 

 Alaska. A few records, generally of an intermittent nature, 

 have been collected by agencies or groups other than the Geo- 

 logical Survey or the Forest Service. 



Stream flow records indicate that mean annual runoff in 

 many streams in southeastern Alaska commonly exceeds the 

 precipitation recorded at nearby stations, which generally are 

 located at or near sea level. Mahoney Creek at George Inlet, 

 near Ketchikan, for example, had a runoff of about 240 inches 

 in 1948. In 1949 the runoff of many streams exceeded 200 

 inches. Records of stream flow in interior Alaska are insufficient 

 to define the rainfall-runoff relation adequately. 



Ground water investigations by the Geological Survey have 

 been in progress since 1947. Because of limited funds and the 

 extreme paucity of data from drillings or existing wells, prog- 

 ress has been slow. However, the progress to date may be sum- 

 marized as follows: 



1. Wells in the Fairbanks area have been completely inventoried 

 and some exploratory test drilling has been accomplished. A 

 report on the well data, including map delineating permafrost 

 in the city, is in the Survey's open files at Washington, Juneau 

 and Fairbanks. 



2. Inventory of wells in the Matanuska Valley is about complete 

 and a map and summary report are in preparation. Some test 

 drilling has been accomplished and more is planned. 



3. A general reconnaissance of water supplies for small communi- 

 ties has been made in cooperation with the Alaska Department 

 of Health. 



4. Test drilling carried out at Kotzebue. A test hole drilled to 325 

 feet produced only salt water and permafrost was found to be 

 present to the 238-foot depth. 



