102 EULACHOCN CREEK K 48-1 
N56°06 W131°05 Previous No. 43- 
KETCHIKAN, BEHM CANAL, BURROUGHS BAY, UNUK RIVER TRIBUTARY, N. side of valley about high tide 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink, chum OTHER SPECIES King, coho, trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Early. July-Aug. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE 50,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Excellent. Lower stream from confluence with Unuk Slough for a distance of 2. 2 miles 
is not suitable for spawning. However, beyond to the forks (. 6 miles) are broad gravel riffles that have been used 
extensively by all species (1. 2 square yards per pink, 1950). Both forks also have excellent facilities. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Coldrange. Observed ranges: 48-54°F., 1950; 48-52°F., 1951; 45-52°F., 1952; 
46-51°F., 1953. Diurnal fluctuations in temperature occur during low water periods in late summer (July 21, 1952: 
45°F., 10:30; 51°F., 14:45). 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Glacial. Extends N. W. from mouth of Unuk valley, broad and flat for 2 miles, then 
turning N. W. fork at 3 mile point with headwaters in 4,000' mountain cirques 7 miles above junction. E. fork 
extends N. to cirque headwaters in 4,000' mountains 6 miles above junction. Lower valley with grassflats, muskeg 
and beaver pond areas. 
DRAINAGE 48 square miles (Polar Planimeter). Main source is from large snowfields along the high ridges. Some 
beaver ponds and muskeg in lower stream areas do not color water except for short periods during heavy rains. 
No lakes. 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Broad shallow mouth with clear water flowing out into Unuk Slough 
under the silted water. Grassflats on W. side and rocky bank with timber on E. side. Home site on E. bank . 2 
miles upstream. 
ANCHORAGE Small vessels enter Unuk Slough on high tides and moor at Unuk Landing . 3 miles below mouth 
of creek. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES Small skiffs can be run to base of the spawning riffles 3 miles upstream with 
ease. Light river skiffs can be dragged over shallow spawning riffles to the forks where the E. fork is accessible 
beyond, for an additional .5 miles. The lower valley is easily walked, though time-consuming. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Excellent aerial visibility with light colored bottom, clear water and easily followed 
stream course. A light plane may land in the lower stream during normal water levels and take off down the 
Unuk Slough. The broad valley has no obstructions or unusual flying conditions during normal survey weather. 
TIDAL INFLUENCE 
LENGTH 2.7 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH  100-200'/24-36" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES Less than.5° at 1-2' per second 
BOTTOM Sand 
HIGH TIDE LOCATION log jam area below the first spawning gravels is only point which is difficult to pass 
by skiff. 
SCHOOLING AREAS Large initial schooling area at the confluence with the slough. Overlayer of silt water offers 
shelter for salmon schooled in clear water below. All pools from .8 miles upstream and above have been observed 
with schooling salmon during stages of migration upstream. 
SPAWNING AREAS Very limited gravel areas between pools in the upper section near the limits of tidal influence. 
GENERAL NOTES Tidal influence zone has not been observed to be brackish at any time. The large discharge of 
the Unuk River is sufficient to displace any saltwater during the incoming tides at the mouth of the Eulachon. 
Silt water has been observed over 1 mile upstream and the tidal rise to the location given above. 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE Greater than 2.5 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH  50!/18" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES 2° (estimated) at 2' per second 
BOTTOM Sand and gravel. 
MARKER DISTANCE Il1nmile. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION Forks. 
BARRIERS .3 miles to impassable falls on the W. fork. None observed in 1.5 miles on the E. fork. 
TRIBUTARIES No important tributaries reported as far as the above barriers. 
SCHOOLING AREAS 1.Several holes below base of the first riffles. 2.Hole at the head of the first long riffle. 
3. Hole between head of first riffle and forks. 4.Hole at the forks. 5.First .5 miles of the E. fork is deep and 
slow with schooling points throughout. 
SPAWNING AREAS 1.First long riffle above tidal influence, .2mileslong. 2. Two short riffles to forks. 
3. .2 miles of W. fork offer excellent gravels. 4.E. fork beyond .5 mile mark above forks for greater than 
1 mile, becoming more coarse beyond. 
GENERAL NOTES King salmon enter and spawn about the same time as the pink and chum. Spawning king have 
been observed with spawning pink. 
