102 KLAHINI RIVER KA 7, 
N56°03 W131°04.7 Previous No. 43A 
KETCHIKAN, BEHM CANAL, BURROUGHS BAY, S. shore at head 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink and chum OTHER SPECIES King, coho, trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Early. July-Aug. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE »>20,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Excellent. Extensive riffle areas through accessible stream. About 2 miles of the stream 
has many split channels which are excellent spawning areas. The last mile of accessible stream has rapids and 
more coarse gravels, but has been observed with good spawning populations. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Coldrange. Observed ranges: 42-49°F., 1949; 47-54°F., 1950; 47-51°F., 1951; 
46-49°F., 1952; 48-SO°F., 1953. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Glacial valley running E. 5 miles, then S.E. 3 miles, then E. 4 miles to the headwaters 
in high, glaciated peaks. Hanging valleys throughout system. Valley floor flat, deep glacial till, wooded and 
some muskeg areas. The main river valley is over 16 miles long. 
DRAINAGE 100 square miles (Polar Planimeter). Large snowfields and some small hanging glaciers maintain the 
discharge of the river throughout the low rainfall periods. The water is usually slightly cloudy. Occasionally, the 
water will become opaque for short periods. 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Stream lies in a large valley S.E. of the main Unuk River delta. 
Extensive silt and sand bars lie at the mouth, large grassflats above. 
ANCHORAGE Just inside of point between the Unuk and Klahini rivers 100 yards off shore. Silted water necessitates 
use of lead-line for first anchorage. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES Game trails only. Stream can be hiked on normal water levels to barrier 
falls, though this is a long walk. River skiff can be taken 1 mile above high tide on most water levels. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Except for low visibility conditions which occur during floods and heavy glacial 
silting on occasion, visibility is excellent from the air. The wide valley and wide stream with light colored 
bottom offer optimum conditions. 
INTERTIDAL ZONE 
LENGTH 1.6 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH  100-150'/3-5' 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES <1l° at 2-3' per second 
BOTTOM Silt, sand, and gravel, with scattered boulders in upper intertidal. 
LOW TIDE LOCATION .3 miles inside point between Unuk and Klahini rivers. 
HIGH TIDE LOCATION At the head of the pool against the N. side of the valley with the very large boulder in 
mid-stream. The stream bends S. at approximately 130°. A small tributary enters on the E. bank. This is above 
the grassflats on the N. bank. 
SCHOOLING AREAS 1.Deep pool at high tide marker. 2. .3 miles below high tide mark, grassflats along N. 
bank, wooded along S. bank. 3. .4 miles below high tide mark, deep hole extends downstream from sharp 
tight bend against N. wooded bank. 4. .7 miles below high tide mark, long, deep run with steep N. bank. | 
Grassflats along both banks. 5. 1 mile below high tide mark, deep hole at rocky S. bank point. 
SPAWNING AREAS Excellent spawning riffle extends from deep hole . 4 miles below high tide mark (see above) 
to . 3 miles below high tide mark. Scattered spawning occurs throughout intertidal stream. 
GENERAL NOTES Soft silt mud throughout lower intertidal zone. Brown bear frequently observed in grassflats. 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE 3.3 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH /75-100'/24-36" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES 1-2° at 2-3' per second 
BOTTOM Sand, gravels, rocks and scattered boulder areas, some silt. 
MARKER DISTANCE 1 mile. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION First branching of river along N. side of valley. A split occurs below the marker 
(. 4 miles) which follows S. side of valley. 
BARRIERS Series of rapids with impassable falls 3. 3 miles upstream at S. bend of valley. Ridge above falls on 
S. side of valley. 
TRIBUTARIES 1.SmallN. side stream, from lake flows down .8 miles of the main N. side valley to confluence 
with N. branch above marker(.2 miles). 2. S. side tributary enters .8 miles above marker, small steep above 
. 3 miles. 
SCHOOLING AREAS 1.Broad, deep section above mark to steep clay bank at bend. 2. .3 miles mark in broad, 
deep section mid-way up straight channel along S. side of valley. 3. -5 mile mark, deep pool at bend toward 
N. side of valley. 4. .8 mile mark, at bend of river on N. side of valley, broad deep pools. 5. Scattered 
pools above marker. 
SPAWNING AREAS 1. Above high tide mark along E. bank shallows. 2. Riffles above clay bank bend at S. side 
of valley. 3. Excellent riffle area between first bend to N. and bendtoE. below marker. 4. Scattered spawning 
tiffles to barrier. 
GENERAL NOTES Most extensive spawning has been observed above marker throughout branching area and 1.5 
miles of good spawning riffles above. However, marker is set at the lower end of riffles which are difficult to 
pass by river skiff. 
