101-22 COHO CREEK K 44-1 
N55 25:0 Wis0[S0.3 Previous No. 40- 
KETCHIKAN, BEHM CANAL, CHICKAMIN RIVER, S. side 3 miles above Chickamin delta 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink OTHER SPECIES Chum, coho, trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Early. July-Aug. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE § 10-20,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Good. Limited areas upstream. Main spawning areas above lagoon for . 5 miles. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Normal range. Observed ranges: 52-64°F., 1950; 54-60°F., 1951; 
51-63°F., 1952; 57-60°F., 1953. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Glacial. Steep valley sides, bare rock ridges. Runs $. 2 miles from confluence and 
turns W. to Gilbert Lake. A short valley, steep walled to the cirque head 9 miles from the mouth which lies 
over the ridge N. of Walker Cove. 
DRAINAGE Greater than 20 square miles (estimated). Several small snowfields drain into Gilbert Lake (1.3 miles 
long). 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Mouth lies behind a chain of sand bars in the main Chickamin River. 
Beyond the narrow, deep outlet lies a lagoon in which the salmon school. A long, gravel riffle is just above the 
lagoon. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES Coho Creek is easily reached by skiff and outboard up the main Chickamin 
River. The lower stream is easily hiked until stream becomes very brushy. Upper stream is reached through a 
narrow section of the valley. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Lower stream and lagoon are easily surveyed by air. Upper stream from barrier falls 
down to narrow valley section is broad and clear. Gilbert Lake clear for landing. 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE 2.5 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 18-24" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES 1° at 2' per second 
BOTTOM _ Gravel, some sand and a few boulders. 
MARKER DISTANCE 2.5 miles (aerial survey marker), .5 miles (ground). 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION Aerial marker: barrier falls. Ground marker: split area above long spawning 
riffle above lagoon. 
BARRIERS Falls 2.5 miles upstream is a high bedrock slide over 30° inclination. Impassable to all salmon. 
TRIBUTARIES No important tributaries. 
SCHOOLING AREAS _ Throughout lagoon and lower riffle area. Few schooling fish have been observed beyond. 
SPAWNING AREAS _ The long riffle above the lagoon is an excellent spawning area and has had the greatest 
concentrations of spawning salmon observed. .5 miles above, the stream splits frequently and offers good 
facilities. Little available area in the narrow valley section. A short, good section of spawning riffle is available 
below the falls. 
GENERAL NOTES Large schools of salmon are found each year in the lagoon. A number of king salmon have been 
observed also and may indicate that some upstream migrating salmon will school in this lower river section before 
ascending further up the Chickamin River. 
