| Summary: | The primary purpose of the Tubutulik Instream Flow Protection Project is to gather discharge and related data to be applied in the protection of fish and wildlife habitat, migration, and propagation flows on Vulcan Creek in the Tubutulik River Watershed. The Watershed produces a variety of Pacific salmon and other fish species important to the Norton Sound area. In addition, the Watershed is located within the Migratory range of the Western Arctic Reindeer Herd which rely on the associated watersheds for habitat and forage needs. Current threats to fish and wildlife habitat within the River’s watershed, however, include uranium mining exploration and other potential mining related activity and associated roads, railroads from mining and related development. As part of the Project, the Traditional Council of the Native Village of Elim is collecting discharge, logger and staff gage data for protection of fish and wildlife habitat, migration, and propagation flows on Vulcan Creek reach located in the Tubutulik River Watershed on the Seward Peninsula of Alaska. Objective - obtain a certificate of reservation for instream flows under the Alaska State Water Code, on Vulcan Creek and other creeks in the Watershed. An instream flow certificate is required for maintaining a specific flow in a portion of stream or water level in a lake. An instream flow reservation can be made to protect fish and wildlife habitat, migration, and propagation; recreation and park purposes; navigation and transportation purposes; and sanitary and water quality purposes. The Vulcan Creek data will be incorporated into an application form and the fee prescribed by 11 AAC (Alaska Administrative Code) 05.260 will be filed with the Department of Natural Resources.
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