111-20 TRAITORS CREEK K 84 
N55°43.9 W131°31 Previous No. 84 
KETCHIKAN, BEHM CANAL, TRAITORS COVE, head of inner cove 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink and chum OTHER SPECIES Coho, trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Middle. Aug. -Sep. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE _ »>20,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Good intertidal spawning facilities throughout the long upper tidal area. The lower half 
of the accessible stream has some excellent riffle areas with good gravel distribution. The coarser gravels below 
the falls do not appear to be as satisfactory. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Normal range. Observed temperatures: 48°F., 8/2/50; 48°F., 8/5/50. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Stream cut. Timbered valley and slopes, bare rock ridges. 8 miles to divide ridges. 
8 miles to divide ridge above W. side of Carroll River. Scattered high pond basins along ridges. 
DRAINAGE 34 square miles (Polar Planimeter). Precipitation fed. Some small early snowfields on the southern ridges. 
Scattered small pothole ponds along ridges. No lake in main valley. Scattered muskeg areas color water during 
tains. 150-200 cubic feet per second (estimate 8/16/47). 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Extensive intertidal delta and grassflats at the head of the inner cove. 
ANCHORAGE "Roaring Hole" constriction between the inner and outer cove is safe for small vessels only on slack 
tides which are very short in duration. Anchorage for overnight at mouth of Margaret Creek (K 85). Good anchorage 
available off mouth of Traitors Creek if desired. See Coast Pilot. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES A good skiff (over 15') and dependable outboard motor (over 12 h. p. ) can be 
taken through Roaring Hole safely when impassable to larger vessels. However, caution is advised at any time 
other than slack tide. Spring tides are exceptionally hazardous. The extensive intertidal zone makes proper mooring 
of skiff necessary to avoid delays for tides. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Aerial visibility good, except during flooding when the water becomes dark. Terminal 
falls visible at lower end of short canyon. 
INTERTIDAL ZONE 
LENGTH 1.3 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 75-200!/18" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES Less than .5° at 1=2' per second 
BOTTOM Sand and mud throughout lower intertidal, good small gravel (shale) in upper. 
LOW TIDE LOCATION NearS. shore by a small point .6 miles from intertidal constriction. 
HIGH TIDE LOCATION At the head of the grassflats where the stream contacts the N. side of the valley. A 
mark has been placed on a stump on the N. bank. 
SCHOOLING AREAS Long, broad pool at the base of the steep hillside at the constriction of the intertidal zone. 
A second long pool, over 6' deep, at the 180°bend toward the N. just below the high tide mark. A pool at the 
high tide mark extends along the bend below to the edge of the grassflats. 
SPAWNING AREAS _ Some spawning below the constriction. Most intertidal spawning is in the upper sections. 
GENERAL NOTES 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE 1mile AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH  30-60'/12-18" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES 1° at 2? per second 
BOTTOM ‘Sand, shale gravel, small rock, coarser near falls. Brown algae. 
MARKER DISTANCE 1 mile. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION Barrier falls over 10' high at lower end of canyon. 
BARRIERS 10! falls over bedrock is nearly vertical. Maximum flow just S. of center, pool at base. Several falls above 
ate higher. 
TRIBUTARIES Small tributary on S. bank . 3 miles upstream accessible for short distance to salmon. 
SCHOOLING AREAS Pools at intervals throughout accessible stream used by schooling salmon. Largest schools 
have been observed in the lower stream. 
SPAWNING AREAS Excellent riffle in first .5 miles of steam. More coarse gravels above are good and are used 
by chum. 
GENERAL NOTES Canyon above falls is .7 miles long. The low gradient valley above has extensive grassflats. 
Ponds in the lower section contain many cutthroat trout, some dolly varden. 
