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Alaska waterways
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Name |
Representing |
Lee Adler | BLM |
Doug Clark | U.C. Santa Cruz |
Bob Lund | BLM |
Mike Wright | BOR |
Roger Smith | ADF&G |
NOTE: These reports may not contain important information about: 1) safety, 2) land management and ownership, 3) fishing and other regulations and 4) possible errors > READ MORE |
Presently the river area is used extensively
for hunting. There is not much fishing in the Chitina but the ponds and lakes in
the area receive heavy use. There is little evidence that the river gets much
use as a canoeing stream. The old railroad grade from McCarthy to the Copper
River is usable by four-wheel drive vehicles. This road roughly parallels the
north bank of the Chitina approximately 3 miles from the river. The State
Highway Department is considering grading this roadbed to make it usable for
conventional automobile traffic.
Access is a minor problem in the Chitina. The prospective river user must fly in
to the upper reaches, a situation not uncommon in Alaska; however, this does
limit use to those who can afford to charter a plane or own one.
Being a glacial river, the Chitina is cold during all seasons. This presents a
problem to the river user unless wearing a wet suit. The turbidity, common in
glacial streams, adds to this problem as we cannot estimate depths readily and
must constantly read the water surface to stay out of trouble. This is not
difficult for an experienced canoeist but a novice could get into difficulty
quite often. Another problem with turbid rivers is that, in the event of an
accident, gear over the side is not likely to be recovered.
Rapids present a problem to the novice but for an experienced canoeist they can
be negotiated with some care or, in some instances, avoided entirely.
There is a potential dam site located on the Lakina River, a tributary to the
Chitina. Should this site ever be developed, flow characteristics in the Chitina
below the confluence of the Lakina could be altered and, perhaps, present a
problem to river users. Conversely, regulated flows could prove beneficial.
Several mining companies are reputedly interested in the 'area around McCarthy.
It is primarily the mining interests pushing for the development of the road to
McCarthy and the conservation groups in opposition. Mining interests in the
immediate vicinity of a wild river area are a potential problem and must be
considered should the Secretary for further study list this river.
The Chitina River provides recreation
opportunity canoeing, kayaking or rafting. Power boating is not recommended, as
the river is exceedingly turbid. The braided channels and gravel bars would
preclude the safe use of a powerboat, excepting of course a flat-bottomed jet
boat in the hands of a skilled operator who could read the river. As the Chitina
is a glacial river and quite cold, kayakers should definitely wear wet suits,
and they are recommended for those traveling in open canoes as well. The river
has a fast current and there are numerous stretches where one is liable to swamp
a canoe unless exercising extreme caution. Gravel bars are frequent and camping
areas easily located.
While on the river we sighted peregrine falcons and eagles but other forms of
wildlife were not seen. Evidence of the presence of moose and grizzly bear was
plentiful and, on the f1ight up the river, two moose were seen in ponds on the
south side of the Chitina within a half-mile of the river. The land had the
characteristics of good sheep country, particularly the ridges on the south side
of the river. Grayling were caught at fresh water tributaries emptying into the
Chitina.
Views from the river are excellent. Fireweed Mountain, MacColl Ridge and several
unnamed mountains on the north and Nelson Mountain and other unnamed ridges on
the south are visible for miles from the river. The riverbanks are forested with
birch, alder, willows and black spruce. In some areas the forests screen out the
distant vistas but generally this is not the case.
The old Kennicott Copper Mine was located north
of the Chitina River and mining and trapping were carried on in the area in
years past. We located an abandoned cabin just west of the Chakina River in the
deep forest about a quarter mile from the Chitina. It appeared as though no one
had been there in 30 years. Implements were neatly arranged in the cabin and
would have been usable had not the roof caved in and exposed the interior to the
elements. Nearby we found a double set trap, one of which had not been sprung.
The entire area has historic significance for those interested in the trapping
and mining era.
At the time of the river reconnaissance, the
land status was 30% Native, 20% (d) (l) and 50% (d)(2). This situation may
change as a result of the Secretary's final decision regarding
(d)(1)-(d)(2)lands.
Recommendation: Although the Chitina river itself is not a particularly
attractive river as a result of the extreme turbidity common to glacial streams,
it is worthy of additional in depth study for possible inclusion in the national
This recommendation is based on the scenic the area, the canoeing experience
possible in this primitive environment and the excellent hunting potential along
the river corridor.
Chitna River [460 kb]
List of rivers for which information is available on this website
Alagnak River | Alatna River | American Creek | Andreafsky River | Aniakchak River | Awuna River | Beaver Creek | Black River | Bremner River | Canning River | Charley River | Chilikadrotna River | Chitina River | Colville River | Copper River | Delta River | Fortymile River | Gulkana River | Huslia River | Ivishak River | John River | Kakhonak River | Kanektok River | Karluk River | Kasegaluk Lagoon | King Salmon River | Kobuk River | Koyukuk River North Fork | Little Susitna River | Mulchatna River | Nigu Etivluk rivers | Noatak River | Nowitna River | Nuyakuk River | Porcupine River | Saganirktok River | Salmon River (Kobuk) | Selawik River | Sheenjek River | Squirrel River | Talachulitna River | Tlikakila River | Togiak River | Unalakleet River | Utukok River
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