101-42 HUMPBACK CREEK K 21 
N55°82 W1i30°42.2 Previous No. 18 
KETCHIKAN, BOCA DE QUADRA, MINK ARM, East shore .7 miles from head 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink OTHER SPECIES Chum, coho, red, trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Aug. -Sep..,-peak Sep. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE — 50-200,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Excellent throughout stream. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Warm range in Aug. -Sep. (Observed range 51° -64°F. , 1949; 54°-S59°F., 1950; 
52° -62°F., 1951; 50°-63°F., 1953). 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Stream cut glacial valley. High mountains. Granite and quartz. 
DRAINAGE Humpback Lake (4 miles long, 1,000 acres) at 240' elevation. Drainage area about 20 square miles. 
Mountains mainly high barren rock with some small cirque lakes and early snow fields. Discharge is 285 cubic 
feet per second. {Dort Report) ; 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Mouth is a narrow opening in shore line. Steep hill side on S. of 
opening and rises to high ridges on N. trail marker on N. side of mouth. Stream flows through a rapids. Delta 
extends over half way into Mink Arm. 
ANCHORAGE 2 miles N. of mouth next to shore. Anchorage is at drop-off and other anchorages in Mink Arm 
are preferred for stormy or overnight stays 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES Forest Service trail starts at trail marker at mouth on N. Side. It follows 
the intertidal zone to high tide and cuts through the woods to the clay bank hole and through to the shelter cabin 
beside the terminal falls. The trail continues to Humpback Lake. The surveys on foot can be made downstream 
with better results. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES The stream is easily observed from the air. Flights in light planes may be made 
either upstream or downstream. During winds, the windward side of the stream above the high tide point should 
be avoided due to sinking air. Humpback Lake head has a pass on the S. side into the head of Fillmore Inlet 
(K 8) lake and stream. 
INTERTIDAL ZONE 
LENGTH .8 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH  350'/18" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES Less than 1° at 1-2' per second 
BOTTOM Coarse sand throughout the flats mixed with small gravel to 3" diameter. 
LOW TIDE LOCATION Lower end of the rapids at the mouth of the stream. 
HIGH TIDE LOCATION. The lower end of the constricted stream above the broad intertidal flats, . 25 miles 
below the first bend in the stream. 
SCHOOLING AREAS 1. Entering salmon school above rapids at mouth in narrows below flats. Deeper water and 
shade from steep hillside offer shelter. 2. Area near high tide. 3. Entire flats during peak of run. The intertidal 
zone has ridges and troughs running across the stream that the salmon Lie in during schooling and spawning. 
SPAWNING AREAS 1. Upper flats. 2. Lower schooling area (limited). 3. Entire flats during large runs. 
GENERAL NOTES Flats easily walked at low to moderate water levels and mid to low tide. Skiffs may be taken 
upstream on high tide for drift surveying. High trees along the shore or on a small island on §. bank may be used 
for observations of large sections of the flats. The ridges and depressions make walking difficult during high water. 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE 1 mile AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 200/24" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES 1-2” toward upper stream at 2' per second 
BOTTOM Coarse sand 25%, gravel to 3" 25%, more than 3" gravel 50%. Clean, some algae in upper areas. 
MARKER DISTANCE 1 mile. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION 40! falls, shelter cabin on N. bank, large gravel and boulders below falls. 
BARRIERS Falls are impassable to salmon. Inclination over 45° over granite. 
TRIBUTARIES One small tributary enters . 3 miles above high tide on S. bank as a slough. Little current and 
not important for spawning 
SCHOOLING AREAS 1. Lower stream contains salmon at all stages of run. 2. Clay bank hole .5 miles above 
high tide is large deep pool with logs for shelter. Difficult observations. 3. Hole .7 miles above high tide below 
flats at terminal falls, a large boulder in stream on S. bank offers shelter. 4. Some salmon lie in hole at base 
of falls. 
SPAWNING AREAS The area from high tide to the clay bank hole is the primary area. Early spawning is above 
clay bank hole to falls. 
GENERAL NOTES Stream is best surveyed by drifting in skiff. Stream can be ascended by skiff and propeller 
Protected motor. 
