114-20 BLACK BEAR CREEK K 66 
N55°43.8 W132°09.8 Previous No. 61 
KETCHIKAN, ERNEST SOUND, UNION BAY, Head 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink OTHER SPECIES Chum, coho, trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Late. Sep. -Oct. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE »>25,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Excellent throughout upper intertidal zone and lower upstream. Some upstream areas 
beyond the forks also have excellent spawning facilities. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Warmrange. Observed temperatures: 46-54°F., 1951; 49°F., 9/23/52; 
47°F., 10/5/52. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Main valley runs S.E. to low pass into Helm Bay. Timbered, with patches of muskeg. 
Upper valley turns into mountain headwaters to the S. of glacial origin. Lake basin at the foot of the mountains. 
DRAINAGE 15 square miles (Polar Planimeter). Precipitation fed through lake 4 miles upstream. Two smaller 
tributaries enter from S. slopes in lower valley. 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Extensive tidal flats, long bar at low tide extends from S. W. point . 1 
miles. Flats are used for floating trap storage. Several cabins are on the S. bank in the upper intertidal zone. 
ANCHORAGE Ojffthe E. point at the entrance to the tidal flats. (See Coast Pilot, Chart 8124.) Dolphin off W. 
point marks edge of drop-off. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES Skiff can be taken to high tide mark on high tides and return on dropping 
tide. Stream bed easily walked during low or normal water levels. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Good aerial visibility during normal water levels. Water becomes dark during rains 
and reduces visibility below minimum requirements for survey. Early run schooling at low tide area of flats 
best observed from the air. 
INTERTIDAL ZONE 
LENGTH 1.9 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH _  60-80'/8" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES Less than .5° at 1-2' per second 
BOTTOM Sand and gravel, some boulders. 
LOW TIDE LOCATION Offthe E. point. 
HIGH TIDE LOCATION The 100° bend to the S.E. above the grassflats marks the high tide point. A small 
tributary enters below on the E. side. 
SCHOOLING AREAS There are two major schooling pools. One is at the first sharp bend to the S. W. in the 
upper grassflats, the other at high tide. 
SPAWNING AREAS Excellent spawning riffles throughout the upper .5 miles of intertidal zone. 
GENERAL NOTES During large escapements numerous schools have been observed throughout the lower tidal 
area and drop-off. 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE >3 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 40-50'/12" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES .5-1° at 1-2' per second 
BOTTOM _ Gravel, some boulders, becomes more coarse upstream. 
MARKER DISTANCE 1.2 miles. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION Forks. 
BARRIERS None observed below increased gradient area below Bear Lake. 
TRIBUTARIES Small tributary enters .1 miles below high tide mark. Stream forks 1. 2 miles upstream, tributary 
fork to the S. small during normal water levels. 
SCHOOLING AREAS Pools throughout stream. Largest schools have been observed in the lower stream, especially 
near high tide. 
SPAWNING AREAS Spawning throughout main stream. Upper limits have not been defined. Riffles are excellent 
from high tide mark to forks. Main fork to the E. has good riffle areas about one mile upstream. 
GENERAL NOTES This is a very productive late run stream. 
