111-20 NAHA RIVER K 87 
N55°35.6 W131° 35.6 Previous No. 85 
KETCHIKAN, BEHM CANAL, NAHA BAY, head of Roosevelt Lagoon 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink OTHER SPECIES Red, coho, chum, trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING July-Aug. -Sep. -Oct. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE »>200,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES It is a complex lake and stream spawning system offering a variety of spawning facilities 
for all species. Naha River was one of the well known red salmon systems in Southeastern Alaska and still supports 
runs up to 100,000. There are good middle run pink spawning areas above Lake Jordan and excellent late run areas 
from the mouth to the lake. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Warmrange. Observed temperatures: 52-61°F., 1949. Normal range temperatures 
probably are found on some of the upper lake tributaries, though most of the system is known to be warm during 
long dry periods in the summer. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION A broad series of lake basins of glacial origin in a relatively low valley between 
mountains 3-4,000' elevation. Timbered, extensive muskeg areas along the S. side of the valley. The valley 
runs easterly, then toward the N. with headwaters 16 miles above the mouth above the head of Carroll Inlet. 
DRAINAGE 48 square miles (Polar Planimeter). Precipitation fed through 6 fair sized lakes and a number of small 
ponds. Muskeg areas color water amber. Precipitation records from the old Fortmann Hatchery indicate rainfall 
is about 98% of that recorded at Ketchikan. 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION River mouth is at the N. head of Roosevelt Lagoon which is reached 
through an intertidal falls at the lagoon outlet at high tide or over a portage. 
ANCHORAGE There is a float on the N. shore outside Roosevelt Lagoon. Anchorage in narrow channel below float 
in 17 fathoms. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES Trail markers at float and N. shore at head of lagoon. Trail follows river 
to Jordan Lake, then around S. side to shelter cabin at inlet, follows S. bank of river to shelter cabin above 
outlet of Heckman Lake. Forest Service skiff may be taken to old hatchery at head of Heckman Lake. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES River is usually amber colored which restricts aerial visibility. No estimates possible 
of schools in lakes due to color.Holes also dark. Reds visible at head of Heckman Lake by old hatchery. 
INTERTIDAL ZONE 
The constricted outlet of Roosevelt Lagoon effectively regulates the tidal range of the lagoon to only a few feet. 
Though some tidal rise occurs in the outlet of the Naha River (3-4' during 18! tides), the river is not considered to 
have an intertidal zone above the mouth at the lagoon, since freshwater only is backed up as far as Dorr Falls. 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE 6 miles (main river) AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH  60-100'/18-36" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES 1° at 2! per second. Greater than 3° at 2-4' per second upstream. 
BOTTOM Sand, gavel (shale), bedrock below Jordan Lake. 
MARKER DISTANCE 14.5 miles. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION Foot bridge across river just below increasing gradient through bedrock rapids 
area. 
BARRIERS A fishway was constructed at Dorr Falls in 1950. Two falls, 5' and 7" are . 2 miles upstream above the 
inlet into Heckman Lake. The dam used at the old hatchery below the falls was a barrier to salmon. 
TRIBUTARIES Gibson and Emma creeks are tributary to Jordan Lake. Partee and McCune creeks are tributary 
to Heckman Lake. All have some limited spawning facilities. 
SCHOOLING AREAS 1. Head of Roosevelt Lagoon. 2. Large, deep pool below Dorr Falls and at falls. 3. Deep 
pool at terminal marker foot bridge. 4. Outlet slough of Jordan Lake. 5. Lake Jordan. 6. Pools between Jordan 
and Heckman Lakes. 7. Heckman Lake. 8. Outlet delta at old hatchery site. 
SPAWNING AREAS 1. Mouthto Dor Falls. 2. Dorr Falls to terminal marker. 3. Limited areas from terminal 
marker to outlet of Jordan Lake. 4. Stream between Jordan and Heckman Lakes. 5. . 2 miles of inlet river at 
head of Heckman Lake. 6. Limited areas in Jordan and Heckman Lake tributaries. 
GENERAL NOTES The red salmon run begins in mid-June and continues until mid-July. Pink salmon have been 
observed entering at the beginning of July, though the main runs begin in mid-August. The first and largest pink 
salmon peak occurs about the first of September. A second late run peak occurs at the end of September and 
spawns primarily in the lower stream. Naha River has an excellent steelhead run in the spring, good sports 
fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout. 
