Pond water salinity along the Kashunk River in the Y-K Delta of western Alaska, summer 2023

During September 2022, Typhoon Merbok flooded a large area of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (Y-K Delta) in western Alaska. This flood had the potential to alter the salinity of the numerous ponds and small water bodies in the region. We surveyed pond water salinity during early to mid-summer in 2023 along the Kashunuk river in the central Y-K Delta. Ponds were sampled along transects perpendicular to the river extending up to 500 meters (m) from the river at 26 sample points between the mouth and ca. 50 km inland. Data reported is pond water salinity in parts per thousand at multiple ponds per sample transect