101-11 KETCHIKAN CREEK K 91 
N55° 20.7 W131°38.7 Previous No. 86B 
KETCHIKAN, BEHM CANAL, TONGASS NARROWS, Thomas Basin 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink OTHER SPECIES Chum, coho, trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Middle. Aug. -Sep. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE  5-10,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Excellent, though limited by Ketchikan city requirements. The natural stream bed has 
been confined by levees and road embankments. Ketchikan electric requirements also have affected the discharge 
of Ketchikan Creek by reducing flooding and maintaining low water flow from upstream reservoirs. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES Normal range. Observed temperatures: 53°F., 9/16/47; 53°F., 9/21/47; 
53°F., 9/12/49; 51-62°F., 1953. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Stream cut in valley of glacial origin. Headwaters in two valleys, the Ketchikan lakes 
lie in the N. valley basin with steep, wooded slopes and the E. valley with steep, bare rock slopes. 
DRAINAGE 14 square miles (Polar Planimeter). Snow field and precipitation fed. 6.8 square miles drains to the out- 
let of Ketchikan Upper Lake; 8.5 square miles drains to the outlet of Ketchikan Lower Lake; 11.5 square miles 
drains to the dam site on Fawn Lake through the connecting tunnel and conduit; and 13.5 square miles drains 
to the gaging station located below the mouth of Schoenbar Creek. 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Just S. of the Ketchikan Federal Building, crossed by the highway 
bridge at Thomas Basin. 
ANCHORAGE Moorage in Thomas Basin. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES City roads follow stream to power-house above city park. Stream may be 
surveyed without wading. 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Aerial survey requirements are below minimum altitude allowed by Civil Aeronautics 
Administration over population centers. 
INTERTIDAL ZONE 
LENGTH 100 yards AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 50-60) 24-36" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES >3° at 3° per second 
BOTTOM Bedrock. 
LOW TIDE LOCATION At highway bridge. 
HIGH TIDE LOCATION Bedrock rapids above wooden foot bridge. 
SCHOOLING AREAS Thomas Basin. The head of Thomas Basin at the highway bridge is a well-known schooling 
area. Salmon are usually observed in this area from the end of July until the end of Sep. It was a major sports 
fishing spot. 
SPAWNING AREAS None. 
GENERAL NOTES Intertidal zone prior to dredging for small boat harbor extended 400 yards further to a point near 
the Ketchikan Spruce Mill. 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE  .8 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH  30-70'/12-24" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES 1-2° at 2' per second 
BOTTOM Sand, gravel, boulders, bedrock. 
MARKER DISTANCE .5 miles. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION Road bridge across creek at the power house. Major source of stream discharge 
from power house flume entering at terminal. 
BARRIERS Ketchikan Falls is a well-known tourist attraction. Passage is difficult during certain water levels. 
Bedrock barrier falls 40-50' high . 8 miles upstream. Low water makes access above .5 mile mark difficult. 
TRIBUTARIES Small tributary with limited spawning facilities enters from N. .3 miles upstream. Used by pink, 
chum, coho and steelhead during high water. Precipitation fed. 
SCHOOLING AREAS 1. Deep pools below Ketchikan Falls. 2. Deep pool below first road bridge above bridge 
across falls. (Number 2). 3. Pool above area 2. 4. Long, shallow, low velocity pool just above area 3. 
5. Long drift by Alaska Department of Fisheries hatchery at park. 6. At outlet flume from power house. 
SPAWNING AREAS _ The major spawning area is the large, flat section of valley between bridges 3 and 4. Good 
spawning facilities in the section above bridge 4, along the city park to below bridge 5 at the power house flume. 
GENERAL NOTES 
