113-12 HARRIS RIVER K 176 



55*27.8'N. 132*41. 9- W. Previous No. 144 



KETCHIKAN, CLARENCE STRAIT, KASAAN BAY, TWELVEMILE ARM, W. shore 8. 2 miles from head 



MAJOR SPECIES Pink OTHER SPECIES Chum, coho, red 



ESCAPEMENT TIMING Late. Sept. -Oct. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE 



SPAWNING FACILITIES Excellent but limited in areas by outcrops of bedrock. 

 STREAM TEMPERATURES Warm range (Observed temperatures: 47* F , 10/8/48, 4?*- 51" F. , 1949; 



47-53* F. , 1950; 5r-S4*. F. , 1951; 47*151* F. , 1952; 52* F. , 9/5/53,- 50* F. , 9/18/53). 

 VALLEY DESCRIPTION A wide valley of glacial origin. Both sides of the valley are lined by snowcapped 



ridges. Numerous small tributary valleys. Logging has taken place along both sides of the river. 

 DRAINAGE 29 square miles (polar planimeter) Precipitation fed. Numerous small feeder streams fed by 



surface runoff drain into the river. 

 STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION The stream enters Twelvemile Arm about 1. 5 miles south of 



Hollis. Extensive mud flats 0. 8 mile long and 0. 5, mile wide are found at the mouth. Runs into the arm 



on the S. side of the island. 

 TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES At high tide a skiff may be take n upstream for some distance. When 



the tide is low a trail may be followed up the left bank. The stream bed is easily followed above the 



intertidal zone. 

 AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Excellent for aerial survey. 

 GENERAL NOTES 



INTERTIDAL ZONE 



LENGTH Approx. 1. 5 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 60'-75'/2' 



GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES Moderate 



BOTTOM Gravel and fine sediments. 



LOW TIDE LOCATION At outer end of island off mouth. 



HIGH TIDE LOCATION At first cataract. 



SCHOOLING AREAS Numerous pools from the midtide mark to the high tide mark offer shelter for 

 schooling salmon. 



SPAWNING AREAS Heavy spawning occurs in a riffle area above the confluence of Harris and Indian 

 Rivers (K176-1), extending to the high tide mark. It has been estimated that in some years 60 per- 

 cent of the spawning population utilizes this area. 



GENERAL NOTES 



UPSTREAM 



LENGTH ACCESSIBLE Smiles AVER AGE WIDTH/ DEPTH 30 • -40 ' / 2" - 24 " 



GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES 



BOTTOM Gravel, rock and considerable bedrock in the lower part of stream. 



MARKER DISTANCE 



MARKER IDENTIFICATION 



BARRIERS None 



TRIBUTARIES Indian Creek joins the Harris River about 500 yards below the high tide mark. 



SCHOOLING AREAS Pools are found throughout the upstream section. 



SPAWNING AREAS At the upper end of the cataract area marked by the remains of an ore stamping mill 



and wooden bridge abutments there is good spawning gravel with occasional bedrock outcrops. This 



extends for about 2 miles. Here the valley widens into an area of beaver ponds, log jams, and riffles. 



About 5 miles of this area is accessible to spawning. 

 GENERAL NOTES An FRI camp is found in the S. W. corner. of the Hollis anchorage on the N. shore. The 



FWS has a cabin just below the high tide mark. 



