101-42 MARTEN RIVER KS i233. 
NS5°08.5 W130° 32.5 Previous No. 20 
KETCHIKAN, BOCA DE QUADRA, MARTEN ARM, N. head 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink, chum OTHER SPECIES Coho, king, trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Early. July-Aug. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE 10-100, 000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Excellent. Based on the facilities available for spawning, this river has a potential greater 
than 99% of the streams in Southeastern Alaska. However, actual escapements observed in the past indicate that 
factors other than available facilities may be limiting its production. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Coldrange. 45°F. , 8/14/49; 50°F. , 8/29/49; 47°F. ,9/24/49; 46°F. ,7/16/50; 46.5°F. , 
7/28/50; 47°F. , 8/7/50; 50. 5°F. ,8/17/50; 48°F. , 8/28/50; 50°F. , 9/9/50; 48°F. ,7/21/51; 49°F. , 7/29/51; 50°F., 
8/6/51; 49°F. , 8/17/51; 50°F. , 8/20/51; 44°F. ,7/21/52; 48.5°F. , 7/28/52; 52°F. , 8/7/52; 47°F. , 7/22/53; 51°F. , 
7/29/53; 55°F. , 8/7/53; 51°F. , 8/17/53. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Glacial. A broad flat valley in the lower stream and delta becoming narrow above the 
forks about 5 miles upstream. Above this point, the valley again widens into a typical Glacial U shape and continues 
to the head cirques. A cirque lake just below the 2, 00J foot level is at the head 18 miles from the mouth. 
DRAINAGE Snow fields, and a few small glaciers. Precipitation. This is one of the larger streams in this area. The 
main stream forks 4. 3 miles above high tide. The smallerS. fork rises into a glacial valley with snow fields. The 
main E. fork continues eastward up the main valley to the headwaters at the divide. 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION The stream mouth is on the N. side of the delta at the head of Marten 
Arm. The delta is .4 miles across and is common with the Red River (K 23A, Previous No. 20A) which enters 
the main river . 4 miles above the low tide point on the S. side. 
ANCHORAGE Good anchorage is found near the S. shore at the drop-off. A small stream dropping from the steep 
S. bank forms a small falls that will lie just down the shore from the drop-off. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES _ The Marten River is navigable by small skiff for the full survey distance of 
4.3 miles. Though the banks of the river can be hiked during low to normal water levels, the visibility from the 
banks is not suitable for good fish counts. During low water stages the few riffles that offer difficult skiff and out- 
board passage can be passed by pulling the skiff above to deeper water. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES This stream is excellent for aerial survey. The valley is broad enough for turns. The 
river is clear during the spawning runs, except for flooding periods. The river bottom is light and offers ideal 
contrast for fish counts. There is no low pass up above the terminal for crossing to Keta River (K 24, Pre. No. 21) 
and the best route is to return to Marten Arm lake on the N. side of the arm and cross through the low pass N. of 
the head of the larger lake. 
INTERTIDAL ZONE 
LENGTH 2 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 200'/50" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES Less than 1° at 1-2' per second 
BOTTOM Sand and gravel, silt in lower delta. Excellent gravel conditions. 
LOW TIDE LOCATION .4 miles below Red River on N. side (in upper intertidal zone). 
HIGH TIDE LOCATION At head of riffle area above large rock on S. bank: A large pool lies above, deepest on 
the N. shore side. Several stumps usually are found in the vicinity of high tide, subject to washing out during floods. 
SCHOOLING AREAS _ Two major schooling areas are found above the confluence with the Red River. A long deep 
hole lies along the N. shore below the large rock prominence on the S. shore. Fish school in the upper part. The 
second hole is at the base of the rock prominence below the riffle area. 
SPAWNING AREAS _ The major intertidal spawning area is above the rock prominence to the high tide point. The 
river splits into several channels through gravel. The gradient is about 1° with velocities about 2’ per second. A 
less important intertidal spawning riffle is found at the bend above the confluence with the Red River. 
GENERAL NOTES Both brown and black bears are seen frequently in the large flats S. of the intertidal area during 
the salmon runs. Caution is advised if on foot. A gravel excavation site is located in the S. flats above the Red River. 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE >10 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH = 200'/5u" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES 1-2! per second, less than 1° 
BOTTOM Sand, gravel, and some large rocks. Most riffles are suitable for spawning. 
MARKER DISTANCE 4.3 miles. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION The forks is the termination point, marked by a metal plate on a tree at the forks. 
BARRIERS None observed in over 6 miles on the main fork. None in 1 mile observed on the S. fork. 
TRIBUTARIES Small streams enter the main river at intervals from the steep valley slopes and are not large enough 
for more than a small number of salmon. 
SCHOOLING AREAS _ The salmon school at the lower ends of every large pool from high tide to the forks. The 
largest concentrations haye been observed schooled in the first four large pools above high tide. 
SPAWNING AREAS _ The major spawning areas observed during the recent years of small runs have been in the first 
mile of the lower stream. However, in the better years every riffle has been occupied, including the first mile of 
the S. fork and a mile above the forks of the main stream. 
GENERAL NOTES The Marten River is classified as an early run pink salmon stream. However, during the small 
escapements, the peak of the runs has been observed to be later than usual, falling toward the latter part of Aug. 
