Anadromous cataloging and fish inventory in select drainages of the Upper Tanana and Yukon Rivers 2019

During the summer of 2019, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish staff conducted a rapid systematic inventory of anadromous fish distribution and associated aquatic and riparian habitat in select drainages of the upper Yukon River and Tanana River. Target streams will be selected to fill gaps in coverage of the State of Alaska's Catalog of Waters Important for the Spawning, Rearing or Migration of Anadromous Fishes (AWC) for freshwater habitats expected to support anadromous fish populations likely to be impacted by human activities. Two crews sampled standardized target stream reaches using electrofishers with sufficient effort to collect all species (perhaps with the exception of rare species) of the extant fish community. At each sampling site, crews documented standard aquatic and riparian habitat characteristics. For each water body in which anadromous fish are observed, nominations to the AWC were submitted. One hundred sites were surveyed during this study period, a slightly smaller number than what was expected due to long term drying patterns in the region that led to farther travel times in addition to flooding events that happened after heavy rains.