GRAVEL REMOVAL AND THE FISHERIES 

 Robert McVey 



Removal of gravel from streams offers a 

 potential source of damage to Alaska's fishery re - 

 sources. Although it has not been a matter for 

 great concern in past years, continuing develop- 

 ment will so increase gravel requirements for 

 construction purposes that the problem may be- 

 come serious. It is vital that Alaska's valuable 

 fishery resources receive proper consideration 

 during this period of development and growth. 



Since most major construction to date has 

 been federally financed, and appropriations for 

 these activities have fluctuated little from year 

 to year, Alaska's sand and gravel requirements 

 did not show any distinct upward trend the past 

 several years. From 1950 to 1958, over 6 1/2 

 million short tons of gravel, worth approximately 

 6 million dollars, were used each year. 



Danger of damage to the fisheries would be 

 eliminated if gravels were never taken from the 

 streams. However, streams are often the only 

 source from which gravels can be obtained in- 

 expensively, and the quality of this stream-worn 

 material frequently makes it the more desirable. 

 Removal from streams is relatively simple and 

 not costly since trucks can be loaded by dragline 

 right at the stream bank. 



Although the need for additional construc- 

 tion and road building might seem so important 

 that it should override consideration of the fishery 

 problem, a brief look at the value of the Alaskan 

 salmon resource will show that to do this would 

 be an error. Throughout the years salmon have 



provided the backbone of Alaska's economy. Re- 

 cent years have witnessed a decline inproduction 

 but the value of the annual pack ha6 remained high 

 (figure 1). 



The value of some salmon runs should not 

 be measured only in terms of dollars and cents. 

 Certain native villages are highly dependent upon 

 local runs of salmon for food; for these people, 

 preservation of the resource is essential. Many 

 people derive enjoyment each year from observ- 

 ing the salmon runs as they enter the streams. 

 The annual enactment of this drama will become 

 increasingly valuable as a source of recreation. 



The sport fisheries of Alaska are sustained 

 almost entirely by salmon, trout, char, and gray- 

 ling, most of which are stream spawners. While 

 a reliable estimate of the value of these fisheries 

 is not available, their importance should not be 

 underestimated. 



■ PRODUCTION 



■ VALUE 



I ■ i ' ' I ' ' 

 1925 1930 



1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 



Figure 1. Production and value 

 of Alaskan canned salmon 



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