Alaska waterways

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.