POSITION PAPER FISHERIES ISSUE F- 2.2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Main Author: Statement Of Issue
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Position; Tundra; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.484.7194; http://www.arlis.org/docs/vol2/hydropower/APA_DOC_no._4089.pdf

Significance of potential changes in pH on salmon and resident fish habitats and populations downstream of the dams. Position It is the position of the Alaska Power Authority that potential changes in pH due to inundation of acid bogs and tundra soils by the project reservoirs will not significantly affect the pH of the reservoir or t he river downstream of the iams. Therefore, no mitigation measures are needed. Present Knowledge The Susitna River watershed above Devil Canyon presently drains large areas of acidic tundra soils and bog or wetland habitats. The mainstem rl.ver water, however, contains sufficient alkalinity-producing ions to buffer against biologically harmful pH changes which otherwise might occur due to acidi c tributary influents. The wet land ma pping recent l y completed by the USFWS indicates that approximately 2.7 percent of the combined i mpoundme nt; areas is "bog-like " wetland. The alkalinity buf f er i ng system wh i ch exists now will continue to minimize pH changes during project construct ion and operation. 420016