111-10 STEWART CREEK K 56 
N55°45.1 W131°53.5 Previous No. 52 
KETCHIKAN, BEHM CANAL, PORT STEWART 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink OTHER SPECIES Chum, coho 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Late. Sep. -Oct. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE  5-10,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Excellent, though limited primarily to intertidal spawning. Several tributaries accessible 
to salmon are below the barrier falls. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Normal range. Observed temperatures: 48.5°F., 9/6/47; 45-50°F., 1949; 
48-56°F., 1950; 54-59°F., 1951; 49.5-57°F., 1952; 46-53°F., 1953. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Stream cut. Main valley runs $. W. to pass into Helm Bay. Tributary valley to N. short, 
heading in low pass to Spacious Bay. Extensive muskeg throughout valley. Timbered along slopes and along stream 
course. 
DRAINAGE 21 square miles (Polar Planimeter). Precipitation fed through extensive muskeg areas. Headwaters 
along ridges N. W. and S.E. of main valley. Discharge during high water estimated at 110 cubic feet per second. 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Extensive delta with large grassflat in the upper intertidal area. Stream 
course follows N.E. side of delta to mid-intertidal and cuts to $. W. side which it follows to the head of the 
grassflats. 
ANCHORAGE An excellent sheltered harbor lies on the N.E. side of Port Stewart. Caution advised for entry without 
local knowledge (see Coast Pilot). S.E. storms blow directly into Port Stewart. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES Game trails along banks. However, the extent of the intertidal zone at low 
tide is excessive for walking and entry should be by skiff at mid-tide or higher. Skiffs can be taken within . 3 
miles of the barrier falls and provide far better vision for salmon observation than possible from the bank. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Visibility is adequate during normal water levels. However, during rains and high 
water levels, the color of the water is too dark for observation. Stream may be approached from Helm Bay over 
N.E. pass at head of bay or from Spacious Bay up the S. fork. 
INTERTIDAL ZONE 
LENGTH 2 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 80-100'/8-18" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES Less than .5° at 1-2' per second 
BOTTOM Sand, shale gravel. 
LOW TIDE LOCATION ByN.W. point of small peninsula W. of sheltered anchorage. 
HIGH TIDE LOCATION Riffles at major bend to W. First small tributary enters on N. side just above high 
tide mark. 
SCHOOLING AREAS Extensive schooling holes from head of grassflats to high tide mark. 
SPAWNING AREAS Excellent spawning riffles along the upper grassflats. 
GENERAL NOTES Small logging camp has been operated in woods above grassflats on N. bank. 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE _ .3 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 30-40'/12-24" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES’ .5 at 1-2' per second (low water) 
BOTTOM Some sand, gravel, bedrock and scattered boulders. 
MARKER DISTANCE .3 miles. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION Barrier falls, impassable. 
BARRIERS Barrier falls in 2 stages: Lower stage 30-40' high, upper stage 70-80' high. 
TRIBUTARIES 1. Enters N. side at bend above high tide mark. 20' wide, 12-24" deep, gravel and boulders. 
2. .1lmiles upstream, 10' wide. 3. Just above second tributary, a very small tributary enters from N. W. side. 
SCHOOLING AREAS Inall pools to the falls. 
SPAWNING AREAS Limited to gravel areas around high tide. Bedrock and boulders predominant upstream. 
GENERAL NOTES 
