111-30 BELL’ CREEK K 81 
NS Ss Shiva Wks Eo 37.5 Previous No. 49 
KETCHIKAN, BEHM NARROWS 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink OTHER SPECIES Chun, coho, trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Late. Sep. -Oct. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE 2,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Good, though limited. Section below barrier falls has some short gravel areas that offer 
excellent facilities. Occasionally, access to the best spawning area has been blocked in the past by beaver dams 
which have been removed by the Fish and Wildlife Service each time. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Warmrange. Observed temperatures: 49-67°F., 1948; 48-65°F., 1949; 
52.5-69.5°F., 1950; 60-64°F., 1951; 57-66°F., 1952; 58°F., 9/2/53; 55°F., 9/17/53; 58°F., 9/16/54. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION A long, straight "V" valley with a chain of three lakes lies along the central axis of Bell 
Island and appears to have been of glacial origin. High, straight ridges lie along each side of the valley running 
N.E. from the W. end of the island. 
DRAINAGE 7 square miles (polar planimeter). Precipitation fed through three small lakes, the first being the largest 
(.8 by . 2 miles). Several hot springs are in the lower stream area and may contribute to the high stream temp- 
eratures observed. 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Bell Island Hot Springs resort is next to the creek. A navigation light is 
visible from the channel. A Forest Service float and board-walk to the resort are on the N. side of the mouth of 
the creek. 
ANCHORAGE Good moorage at the float. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES A good board-walk parallels the stream to just above the high tide mark. 
The Forest Service maintains an excellent trail to the first lake. The barrier falls termination point is reached by 
leaving the trail at the base of the steep section. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Not surveyed by air. 
INTERTIDAL ZONE 
LENGTH .2 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 15-20'/12" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES 2° at 1-2! per second 
BOTTOM Sand, gavel, scattered boulders and some bedrock. 
HIGH TIDE LOCATION At the base of the first split in the stream above the resort store. 
SCHOOLING AREAS _ The small cove at the mouth has been observed with schooling salmon throughout the 
season. However, the schooled salmon in July and Aug. are believed headed to other areas. Several small pools 
near high tide are used by schooling salmon. 
SPAWNING AREAS Limited to the upper intertidal area, usually at the foot of each of the pools. Several short 
riffles are also used. 
GENERAL NOTES 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE .5 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 15-30'/12-36" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES .5-2° at 1-3' per second 
BOTTOM Sand, gravel to 8" in diameter, scattered boulders, some bedrock. 
MARKER DISTANCE .5 miles. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION Barrier falls, a series of rapids and falls rising an estimated 50-70'. 
BARRIERS _ Beaver dams are often obstructions in the flat stream area below the barrier falls. The most frequent 
dam-site obstructing salmon is at the constriction at the lower end of the flats. 
TRIBUTARIES None. 
SCHOOLING AREAS 1. A relatively large, deep hole by a stream gage near the end of the board-walk. 
2. Several holes between the end of the board-walk and the first beaver dam-site at the lower end of the spawning 
area flats. 3. Pool formed by the beaver dam. 4. Wide pool at the first bend above the constriction of the 
spawning area flat. Pool at the base of the barrier falls. 
SPAWNING AREAS _ Throughout the . 1 miles of stream below the barrier falls. The facilities are excellent in 
this section with abundant grayel and stream velocities of 2' per second. 
GENERAL NOTES Bell Island Creek has been observed with pink salmon entering at the end of July and some 
spawning in August, though the stream is definitely late run. The stream could be of interest for determination 
of the effects of unusually warm stream temperatures on incubation due to the hot springs draining into the 
stream. 
