101-32 WILSON RIVER, EAST FORK K 34-1 
N55° 23.7 W130° 26.3 No Previous No. 
KETCHIKAN, BEHM CANAL, SMEATON BAY, WILSON ARM, large tributary of Wilson River 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink, chum, king, coho OTHER SPECIES Trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Early. July-Aug. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Excellent and extensive. Accessible for over 14 miles. Beyond the slow current, deep 
water lower stream terminating at a large log jam 1. 3 miles upstream, the river consists of alternating deep pools 
and broad riffles. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Coldrange. Observed ranges: 44°-47°F., 1949; 44°-50°F., 1950; 44°F. , 8/23/52. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Glacial. Typical "U" shaped valley, timbered floor, numerous cirques and hanging 
valleys, running upstream 21 miles to cirque lake, 4,000'. High steep rock sides. 
DRAINAGE Greater than 110 square miles. Large snowfields and a number of small hanging glaciers in the upper 
valley. Water is usually tinged with glacial silt, though clear: Occasionally, the color is milky during increased 
glacial and snowfield run-off. 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Deep hole at the confluence with the main Wilson River at the high 
tide mark. Glacial coloration of water evident downstream in the intertidal zone for some distance. 
ANCHORAGE See Wilson River, K 34. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES The lower river is easily run by skiff to the log jam 1. 3 miles upstream. 
Light skiffs have been taken over the log jam and run upstream for several miles. The river is accessible by 
skiff and outboard motor above the log jam for over 8 miles. No trails reported. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Usually surveyed from 8 air miles upstream where the pass from Keta River (K 24) 
joins river. Valley width sufficient for adequate light plane maneuvering. Stream course easily followed for 
aerial visibility. Caution advised in stream areas near S.E. side of valley during moderate to strong S.E. winds 
due to down-drafts. 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE >14 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 60-90'/2-5! 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES Less than 1° at 1-3' per second 
BOTTOM Silt, sand, little gravel in first 2 miles. Sand and gravel above. 
MARKER DISTANCE 1.3 miles. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION Log jam which prevents further skiff travel. 
BARRIERS No barriers to salmon in first 14 miles of stream. Rapids above tributary entering from S.E. about 14 miles 
upstream may be a barrier. No salmon have been observed above the rapids in the few flights made that far. 
TRIBUTARIES Numerous small tributaries along the valley are not important salmon spawning areas. 
SCHOOLING AREAS Throughout the first 1.3 miles of deep, slow current stream. 
SPAWNING AREAS Very limited in first 1. 3 miles of stream. Above, most riffles have been observed with 
some salmon spawning- King salmon usually are observed spawning above the 6 mile mark. During 1949 when 
the only large escapement was observed in the stream the heaviest spawning concentrations were observed above 
the six mile mark. 
GENERAL NOTES This stream is best surveyed by air. The difficulties and distance to the spawning areas makes 
ground surveys impractical unless a passage through the log jam can be made. 
