Quality of 

Surface Waters of 

Alaska, 1961-63

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1953

Prepared in cooperation with the Alaska 

Department of Health and Welfare, the 

city of Anchorage, and the U.S. Bureau 

of Reclamation
Quality of 

Surface Waters of 

Alaska, 1961-63

Prepared under the direction of S. K. LOVE, Chief, Quality of Water Branch

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1953

Prepared in cooperation with the Alaska 

Department of Health and Welfare, the 

city of Anchorage, and the U.S. Bureau 

of Reclamation

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1965
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Thomas B. Nolan, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Prlntim Office 

Washington, D. C. 20402 - Price 35 cents (paper cover)
PREFACE

This report was prepared by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Health and Welfare, the city 

of Anchorage, and Bureau of Reclamation, U. S. Department of 

the Interior by personnel of the Water Resources Division under 

the direction of L. B. Leopold, chief hydrologist, and S. K. Love, 

chief, Quality of Water Branch.

The data were collected and computed under the supervision 

of the district chemist in Palmer, Alaska, F. B. Walling, 1960-61, 

succeeded by R. G. Schupp, 1961-63.

III.
Figure 1. Map of Alaska showing general area of water-quality 

station operation.

IV
CONTENTS

[Symbols after station name designate type of data: ct chemical; 

tj water temperature; s, sediment.]

Page

Introduction..................................... 1

Collection and examination of samples............ 2

Chemical quality............................... 3

Temperature.................................... 3

Sediment....................................... 4

Expression of results ............................ 4

Composition of surface waters .................... 7

Mineral constituents in solution............... 7

Silica. ...................................... 7

Iron......................................... 8

Calcium...................................... 8

Magnes ium.................................... 8

Sodium and potassium......................... 8

Bicarbonate and carbonate.................... 9

Sulfate...................................... 9

Chloride..................................... 9

Fluoride..................................... 9

Nitrate...................................... 10

Phosphate.................................... 10

Dissolved solids............................. 11

Properties and characteristics of water........ 11

Hardness..................................... 11

Acidity...................................... 12

Specific conductance......................... 12

Hydrogen-ion concentration................... 13

Color........................................ 13

Temperature.................................. 14

Sediment..................................... 15

Streamflow....................................... 15

Publications..................................... 16

Literature cited................................. 17

Chemical analyses, water temperatures, and

sediment................................. 18

Alaska west of longitude 141°.................. 18

Copper River basin........................... 18

Tonsina River at Tonsina, cts.............. 18

Anchor River basin........................... 23

Anchor River at Anchor Point, ct........... 23

Ninilchik River basin........................ 27

Ninilchik River at Ninilchick, ts.......... 27

V
VI CONTENTS

Chemical analyses, etc. Continued

Alaska west of longitude 141° Continued Page 

Trail River basin............................. 29

Trail River near Lawing, ct................. 29

Knik River basin.............................. 38

Knik River near Palmer, ts.................. 38

Matanuska River basin......................... 42

Matanuska River at Palmer, cts.............. 42

Kuskokwim River basin......................... 52

Kuskokwin River at Crooked Creek, ct........ 52

Yukon River basin............................. 56

Yukon River at Eagle, cts................... 56

Yukon River at Rampart, cts................. 61

Tanana River near Tanacross, cts............ 65

Chena River at Fairbanks, ts................ 74

Nenana River near Healy, cts................ 78

Miscellaneous analyses of streams in

Alaska, cs................................ 85

Index............................................. 95

ILLUSTRATION

Page 

Figure 1. Map of Alaska showing general area of

water-quality station operation ............... IV
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS 

OF ALASKA, 1961-63

INTRODUCTION

The quality-of-water investigations of the United States Geological Survey are concerned with chemical and physical characteristics of the surface and ground water supplies of the Nation. 

Most of the investigations deal with the amounts of matter in solution and suspension in streams.

The records of chemical analysis, suspended sediment, and 

temperature for surface waters given in this volume serve as a 

basis for determining the suitability of the waters examined for 

all uses. The discharge of a stream and (to a lesser extent) the 

chemical quality are related to variations in rainfall End other 

forms of precipitation. In general, lower concentrations of dissolved solids may be expected during the periods of highflow than 

during periods of low flow. The concentration in some streams 

may change materially with relatively small variations in flow, 

whereas for other streams the quality may remain relatively uniform throughout large ranges in discharge. The quantities of suspended sediment carried by streams are also related to discharge, 

and during flood periods the sediment content in streams may vary 

over wide ranges.

The collection of water quality data (chemical quality, water 

temperatures, and suspended sediment) in Alaska was begun by 

the Geological Survey in 1948. Records of these data, combined 

with streamflow records, were published in three-year compilation volumes from 1948 to 1956 (1948-50, 1951-53, 1954-56) and 

from 1957 to 1960 in four annual volumes. The data given in this 

volume were collected during the water years October 1961 to 

September 1963. The stream locations of these records are arranged in downstream order according to the Geological Survey 

method of reporting streamflow. Stations on tributary streams 

are listed between stations on the main stem in the order in which 

those tributaries enter the main stem.

A station number has been assigned as an added means of 

identification for each stream location where regular measurements of water quantity or quality have been made. The numbers 

have been assigned to conform with the standard downstream order 

of listing gaging stations. Gaps are left in the numbers to allow 

for new stations that may be established; hence the numbers are
2 QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

not consecutive. The numbering system consists of two digits 

followed by a hyphen and a six digit number. The notation to the 

left of the hyphen identifies the part or hydrologic region used by 

the Geological Survey for reporting hydrologic data. The number 

to the right of the hyphen consists of only the essential digits of 

the complete number. For example, a station whose number is 

30-0120.00 is shown in this report as 30-120. The part designated for Alaska is 30.

Descriptive statements are given for each water niality station where chemical analyses, temperature measurements, or 

sediment determinations have been made. These statements include the location of the station, drainage area, periods of records 

available, extremes of dissolved solids, hardness, specific conductance, temperature, sediment loads, and other pert: nent data. 

Records of discharge of the streams at or near the station are 

included in most tables of analyses.

During the period covered in this report, the Geological Survey maintained 31 stations on 28 streams for the study of chemical and physical characteristics of surface water. In general, 

samples were collected during open-water season (usually April 

to September) and periodically during period of ice cover.

Samples for chemical-quality studies were collected daily at 

10 stations and periodically at 5 stations. Samples were also collected less frequently at many other points. Water temperatures 

were measured daily (during open-water season) at 12 stations. 

Suspended-sediment samples were collected daily during openwater season at 7 stations and periodically at 16 stations. Particle-size distribution of sediment were determined zt most of 

these stations.

COLLECTION AND EXAMINATION OF SAMPLES

Samples for analyses are usually collected at or near points 

on streams where gaging stations are maintained by the U. S. 

Geological Survey for measurement of water discharge. The concentration of solutes and sediments at different locations in the 

stream-cross section may vary widely with different rates of 

water discharge depending on the source of the material and the 

turbulence and mixing of the stream. In general, the distribution 

of sediment in a stream section is much more variable than the 

distribution of solutes. It is necessary to sample some streams 

at several verticals across the channel and especially for sediment, to uniformly traverse the depth of flow. These measurements require special sampling equipment to adequately integrate 

the verticle and lateral variability of the concentration ir the section. These procedures yield a velocity-weighted mear concen-
COLLECTION AND EXAMINATION OF SAMPLES 3

tration for the section in contrast to the average concentration 

that existed without regard to the variable velocities of the individual fluid elements.

The near uniformly dispersed ions of the solute load move 

with the velocity of the transporting water. Accordingly, the mean 

section concentration of solutes determined from samples is a 

precise measure of the total solute load. The mean section concentration obtained from suspended sediment samples is a less 

precise measure of the total sediment load, because the sediment 

samplers do not traverse the bottom 0. 3 foot of the sampling vertical where the concentration of suspended sediment is greatest 

and because a significant part of the coarser particles" in many 

streams move in essentially continuous contact with the bed and 

are not represented in the suspended sediment sample. Hence, 

the computed sediment loads presented in this report are usually 

less than the total sediment loads. For most streams the difference between the computed and total sediment loads will be small, 

in the order of a few percent.

CHEMICAL QUALITY

The methods of collecting and compositing water samples for 

chemical snalysis are described in a manual by Rainwater and 

Thatcher (1960, 301 p.) No single method of compositing samples is applicable to all problems related to the study of water 

quality. Although generally holding to the principle of 10 day periods or equivalent to three composite samples per month modifications are usually made on the basis of dissolved-solids content 

as indicated by measurements of conductivity of daily samples, 

supplemented by other information such as chloride content, river 

stage, weather conditions and other background information of the 

stream.

TEMPERATURE

Daily water temperatures were measured at most of the stations at the time samples were collected for chemical quality or 

sediment content. So far as practicable, the water temperatures 

were taken at about the same time each day for an individual station in order that the data would be relatively unaffected by diurnal variations in temperature. Most large, swiftly flowing streams 

probably have a small diurnal variation in water temperature, 

whereas sluggish or shallow streams may have a daily range of 

several degrees and may follow closely the changes in air tern-
4 QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

perature. Thermometers used for determining water temperature 

were accurate to plus or minus 0. 5°F.

SEDIMENT

Suspended-sediment samples were collected daily during the 

open-water season with a US D-49 depth-integrated cable-suspended sampler (U. S. Interagency, 1952, p. 86-90 and U. S. Interagency, 1963, p. 56-77) from a fixed point at one vertical in the 

cross section. Depth-integrated samples were collected periodically at three or more verticals in the cross-section to determine 

the cross-sectional distribution of the concentration of suspended 

sediment with respect to that at the daily sampling vertical and 

occasionally, point-integrated samples were taken with a US P-46 

sampler.

Sediment concentrations were determined by weighirgthe solid residue after filtration or evaporation of the samples. For 

stations where samples were collected periodically, th<? concentrations reported are instantaneous concentrations or concentration of composites of several samples. For regular daily stations, 

daily mean concentrations were obtained for the period during 

which samples were taken by plotting the instantaneous concentration on a copy of the gage-height-recorder chart. The plotted 

concentrations were connected by a continuous curve. Daily mean 

concentrations were estimated from the graph. Footnote** to daily 

values in the tables are used to indicate methods of computation.

In addition to sediment concentrations and loads, records of 

particle size are reported also for most of the sediment stations. 

Generally particle size was determined by a combination of sieve 

analysis and bottom-withdrawal tube analysis (U. S. Interagency, 

1943, p. 82-90). Sizes larger than 0.062 mm (sand size) were 

determined by sieve analysis and those smaller than 0.062 mm 

were determined by bottom-withdrawal tube or pipet analysis. 

Native or distilled water, as noted in the tables of analyses, was 

used as the settling medium. Usually distilled water with a dispersing agent was used. Results obtained with distilled vater and 

a dispersing agent as a settling medium approximate the ultimate 

particle size of the finer fractions; whereas, results obtained 

with native water as the settling medium more nearly simulate 

the particle size existing in the stream.

EXPRESSION OF RESULTS

Quantities of water for analysis are most conveniently measured in the laboratory by use of volumetric glassware. The analytical results thus obtained in this report are expressed in
EXPRESSION OF RESULTS

weights of solute in a given volume of water. To express the results in parts of solute per million (ppm) of water the data must 

be converted. For most waters this conversion is made by assuming that the liter of water sample weighs 1 kilogram; and thus 

milligrams per liter are equal to parts per million.

Equivalents per million are not reported, although th"> expression of analyses in equivalents per million is sometimes preferred. An equivalent per million (epm) is a unit chemical combining weight of a constituent in a million unit weights of water. 

Chemical equivalence in equivalents per million can be obtained 

by (a) dividing the concentration in parts per million by the combining weight of that ion, or (b) multiplying the concentration (in 

ppm) by the reciprocal of the combining weights. The following 

table lists the reciprocals of the combining weights of cations and 

anions generally reported in the water analyses.

The conversion factors are computed from atomic weights 

based on carbon-12 (International Union of Pure and Applied 

Chemistry, 1961).

Conversion factors: Parts per million to equivalents per million

Ion

Bicarbonate (HCO3 -1 )

PolriTiTM ^Pa+3V ....

Carbonate (CO3 ~ 2) . . .

Chloride (Cl' 1 ) . . .

Chromium (Cr+6'- 

Fluoride (F -1 ) ......

Hydrogen (H+1 ) ......

Multiply 

by

 0.01639 

.. .04990

.. .03333

.. .02821

 i iooa

.. .05264

. . . 99209

Ion

Iron (Fe + 3 ........

Magnesium (Mg+2). 

Nitrate (NO3 - 1 ) ... 

Phosphate (PO4 ~ 3). 

Potassium (K +1 ) . . 

Sodium (Na +1 ). ....

Sulfate (S04 ~ 2) . . . .

Multiply

by

0.05372 

. 08226 

.01613 

.03159 

.02557 

.04350 

.02082

Results given in parts per million can be converted to grains 

per United States gallon by dividing by 17.12.

The hardness of water is conventionally expressed in all water analyses in terms of an equivalent quantity of calcium carbonate. Such a procedure is required because hardness is caused by 

several different cations, present in variable proportions. It 

should be remembered that hardness is an expression in conventional terms of a property of water. The actual presence of calcium carbonate in the concentration given is not to be assumed. 

The hardness caused by calcium and magnesium (and other cations if significant) equivalent to the carbonate and bicarbonate is 

called carbonate hardness; the hardness in excess of this quantity is called noncarbonate hardness. Hardness or alkalinity 

values expressed in parts per million as calcium cartonate may 

be converted to equivalents per million by dividing by EO.
6 QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

The value usually reported as dissolved solids is the residue 

on evaporation after drying at 180°C for 1 hour. For some waters, particularly those containing moderately large quantities of 

soluble salts, the value reported is calculated from the quantities 

of the various determined constituents using the carbonate equivalent of the reported bicarbonate. The calculated sum of the constituents is given in this report.

Specific conductance is given for most analyses ard was determined by means of a conductance bridge and using a standard 

potassium chloride solution as reference. Specific ccnductance 

values are expressed in micromhos per centimeter at 25°C. Specific conductance in micromhos is 1 million times the reciprocal 

of specific resistance at 25°C. Specific resistance is the resistance in ohms of a column of water 1 centimeter long and 1 square 

centimeter in cross section.

The discharge of the streams is reported in cubic feet per 

second (see Streamflow, p. 15) and the temperature in degrees 

Fahrenheit. Color is expressed in units of the platinum-cobalt 

scale proposed by Hazen (1892, p. 427-428). A unit cf color is 

produced by one milligram per liter of platinum in the fcrm of the 

chloroplatinate ion. Hydrogen-ion concentration is expressed in 

terms of pH units. By definition the pH value of a solution is the 

negative logarithm of the concentration of gram ions of hydrogen. 

However, the pH meter that is generally used in Survey laboratories determines the activity of the hydrogen ions as distinguished from concentration.

In this report, discharge-weighted averages were computed 

for the water year for a few daily sampling stations where sampling stations where samples could be collected for at least 292 

days during the water year. A discharge-weighted average approximates the composition of water would be found in a reservoir containing all of the water passing a given station d iring the 

year after thorough mixing in the reservoir.

The concentration of sediment in parts per million is computed as 1,000,000 times the ratio of the weight of sediment to 

the weight of water-sediment mixture. Daily sediment loads are 

expressed in tons per day and except for subdivided days are 

usually obtained by multiplying daily mean sediment concentration in parts per million by the daily mean discharge, and the 

appropriate conversion factor, normally 0. 0027.

Particle-size analyses are expressed in percentages of material finer than indicated sizes in millimeters. The size classification used in this report is that recommended by the /merican 

Geophysical Union subcommittee on Terminology (Lane and 

others, 1947, P. 937). Other data included as pertinent to the 

size analyses for many streams are the date of collection, the 

stream discharge, sediment concentration when sample was collected, and the method of analysis.
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

COMPOSITION OF SURFACE WATERS

All natural waters contain dissolved mineral matter. Water 

in contact with soils or rock, even for-only a few hours, will dissolve some mineral matter. The quantity of dissolved mineral 

matter in a natural water depends primarily on the type of rocks 

or soils with which the water has been in contact and the length of 

time of contact. Some streams are fed by both surface runoff and 

ground water from spring or seeps. Such streams reflect the 

chemical character of their concentrated underground sources 

during dry periods and are more dilute during periods of heavy 

rainfall. Ground water is generally more highly mineralized than 

surface runoff because it remains in contact with the rocks and 

soils for much longer periods. The dissolved-solids content in a 

river is frequently increased by drainage from mines or oil fields, 

by the addition of industrial or municipal wastes, or ir irrigated 

regions by drainage from irrigated lands.

The mineral constituents and physical properties of natural 

waters reported in the tables of analyses include those that have 

a practical bearing on the value of the waters for most purposes. 

The analyses generally include results for silica, iron, calcium, 

magnesium, sodium, potassium, alkalinity as carbonate and bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, pH, dissolved solids, and specific conductance. The source and significance of the 

different constituents and properties of natural waters in the area 

covered in this report are discussed in the following paragraphs. 

The constituents are arranged in the order that they appear on 

standard analytical statement cards which are used to process 

the chemical quality data in this report.

MINERAL CONSTITUENTS IN SOLUTION

Silica (SiO2)

Silica is dissolved from practically all rocks. Some natural 

surface waters contain less than 5 parts per million of silica and 

few contain more than 50 parts, but the more common range is 

from 10 to 30 parts per million. Silica affects the usefulness of 

a water because it contributes to the formation of boiler scale; it 

usually is removed from feed water for high-pressure boilers. 

Silica also forms troublesome deposits on the blader of steam 

turbines.
8 QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63 

Iron (Fe)

Iron is dissolved from many rocks and soils. On exposure to 

the air, normal basic waters that contain more than 1 part per 

million of iron soon become turbid with the insoluble reddish ferric oxide produced by oxidation. Surface waters, therefore, seldom contain as much as 1 part per million of dissolved iron, 

although some acid waters carry large quantities of iron in solution. Iron causes reddish-brown stains on white porcelain or 

enameled ware and fixtures and on fabrics washed in tl ? water.

Calcium (Ca)

Calcium is dissolved from almost all rocks and soils, but the 

highest concentrations are usually found in waters that have been 

in contact with limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. Calcium and 

magnesium make water hard and are largely responsible for the 

formation of boiler scale. Most waters associated with granite 

or silicious sands contain less than 10 parts per million of calcium; waters in areas where rocks are composed of dolomite and 

limestone contain from 30 to 100 parts per million; and waters 

that have come in contact with deposits of gypsum may contain 

several hundred parts per million.

Magnesium (Mg)

Magnesium is dissolved from many rocks, particularly from 

dolomite rocks. Its effect in water is similar to that of calcium. 

The magnesium in soft waters may amount to only 1 or 2 parts 

per million, but water in areas that contain large quantities of 

dolomite or other magnesium-bear ing rocks may contain from 

20 to 100 parts per million or more of magnesium.

Sodium and potassium (Na and K)

Sodium and potassium are dissolved from practically all rocks. 

Sodium is the predominant cation in some of the more highly mineralized waters found in the western United States. Natural waters that contain only 3 or 4 parts per million of the two together 

are likely to carry almost as much potassium as sodium. As the 

total quantity of these constituents increases, the proportion of 

sodium becomes much greater. Moderate quantities of sodium 

and potassium have little effect on the usefulness of the vater for 

most purposes, but waters that carry more than 50 or 100 parts 

per million of the two may require careful operation of steam 

boilers to prevent foaming. More highly mineralized waters that 

contain a large proportion of sodium salts may be unsatisfactory 

for irrigation.
COMPOSITION OF SURFACE WATERS 9

Bicarbonate and carbonate (HCO3)

Bicarbonate, carbonate, or hydroxide is sometimes reported 

as alkalinity. The alkalinity of a water is defined as its capacity 

to consume a strong acid to pH 4. 5. Since the major causes of 

alkalinity in most natural waters are carbonate and bicarbonate 

ions dissolved from carbonate rocks, the results are usually reported in terms of these constituents. Although alkalinity may 

suggest the presence of definite amounts of carbonate, bicarbonate, or hydroxide, it may not be true due to other ions that contribute to alkalinity such as silicates, phosphates, borr.tes, possibly fluoride, and certain organic anions which may occur in 

colored waters. The significance of alkalinity to the domestic, 

agricultural, and industrial user is usually dependent upon the 

nature of the cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K) associated with it. However, moderate amounts of alkalinity does not adversely affect 

users.

Sulfate (SO4 )

Sulfate is dissolved from many rocks and soils--in especially 

large quantities from gypsum and from beds of shale. It is formed 

also by the oxidation of sulfides of iron and is therefore present 

in considerable quantities in waters from mines. Sulfate in waters that contain much calcium and magnesium causes the formation of hard scale in steam boilers and may increase the cost of 

softening the water.

Chloride (Cl)

Chloride is dissolved from rock materials in all parts of the 

country. Surface waters in the humid regions are usually low in 

chloride, whereas streams in arid or semiarid regions may contain several hundred parts per million of chloride leached from 

soils and rocks, especially where the streams receive return 

drainage from irrigated lands or are affected by ground-waterinflow carrying appreciable quantities of chloride. Large quantities of chloride may affect the industrial use of water by increasing the corrosiveness of waters that contain large quantities 

of calcium and magnesium.

Fluoride (F)

Fluoride has been reported as being present in some rocks 

to about the same extent as chloride. However, the quantity of
10 QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS,ALASKA, 1961-63

fluoride in natural surface waters is ordinarily very small compared to that of chloride. Investigations have proved that fluoride 

concentrations of about 0.6 to 1.7 ppm reduced the incidence of 

dental caries and that concentrations greater than 1.7 ppm also 

protect the teeth from cavities but cause an undesirable black 

stain (Durfor and Becker, 1964, p. 20). Public Health Service, 

1962 (p. 8), states, "When fluoride is naturally present in drinking water, the concentration should not average morethn n the appropriate upper control limit (0. 6 to 1. 7 ppm). Presence of fluoride in average concentration greater than two times the optimum 

values shall constitute grounds for rejection of the supply. " Concentration higher than the stated limits may cause mottled enamel 

in teeth, endemic cumulative fluorosis, and skeletal effects.

Nitrate (NO3)

Nitrate in water is considered a final oxidation procMct of nitrogenous material and may indicate contamination by sewage or 

other organic matter. The quantities of nitrate present in surface 

waters are generally less than 5 parts per million (as NO3) and 

have no effect on the value of the water for ordinary uses.

It has been reported that as much as 2 parts per million of 

nitrate in boiler water tends to decrease intercrystalline cracking 

of boiler steel. Studies made in Illinois indicate that nitrates in 

excess of 70 parts per million (as NO3) may contribute to methemoglobinemai ("blue babies")(Faucett and Miller, 1946, p. 593), 

and more recent investigations conducted in Ohio show that drinking water containing nitrates in the range of 44 to 88 pprr (as NO3) 

may cause methemoglobinemia (Waring, 1949). In a report published by the National Research Council, Maxcy (1950, p. 271) 

concludes that a nitrate content in excess of 44 parts per million 

(as NO3) should be regarded as unsafe for infant feeding. U. S. 

Public Health Service (1962) sets 45 ppm as the upper limit.

Phosphate (PO4 )

Phosphorus is an essential element in the growth of plants and 

animals, and some sources that contribute nitrate, such as organic wastes and leaching of soils, may be important as sources 

for phosphate in water and its occurrence may add to the apparent 

alkalinity. The addition of phosphates in water treatment constitutes a possible source, although the dosage is usually small. In 

some areas, phosphate fertilizers may yield some phosphate to 

water. A more important source is the increasing use of phosphates in detergents. Domestic and industrial sewage effluents
COMPOSITION OF SURFACE WATERS 11 

may therefore contain considerable amounts of phosphate.

Dissolved solids

The reported quantity of dissolved solids--the residue on evaporation--consists mainly of the dissolved mineral constituents in 

the water. It may also contain some organic matter and water of 

crystallization. Water with less than 500 parts per million of 

dissolved solids are usually satisfactory for domestic and some 

industrial uses. Water containing several thousand parts per million of dissolved solids are sometimes successfully used for irrigation where practices permit the removal of soluble salts through 

the application of large volumes of water on well-drained lands, 

but generally water containing more than about 2,000 ppm is considered to be unsuitable for long-term irrigation under average 

conditions.

PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WATFR 

Hardness

Hardness is the characteristic of water that receives the most 

attention in industrial and domestic use. It is commonly recognized by the increased quantity of soap required to produce lather. 

The use of hard water is also objectionable because it contributes 

to the formation of scale in boilers, water heaters, radiators, 

and pipes, with the resultant decrease in rate of heat transfer, 

possibility of boiler failure, and loss of flow.

Hardness is caused almost entirely by compounds of calcium 

and magnesium. Other constituents--such as iron, manganese, 

aluminum, barium, strontium, and free acid--also cause hardness, although they usually are not present in quantities large 

enough to have any appreciable effect.

Generally, bicarbonate and carbonate determine thn proportions of "carbonate" hardness of water. Carbonate hardness is 

the amount of hardness chemically equivalent to the amount of 

bicarbonate and carbonate in solution. Carbonate hardness is approximately equal to the amount of hardness that is removed from 

water by boiling.

Noncarbonate hardness is the difference between the hardness 

calculated from the total amount of calcium and magnesium in 

solution and the carbonate hardness. If the carbonate hardness 

(expressed as calcium carbonate) equal the amount of calcium and 

magnesium hardness (also expressed as calcium carbonate) there 

is no noncarbonate hardness. Noncarbonate hardness is about 

equal to the amount of hardness remaining after water is boiled.

780-874 O - 65 - 2
12 QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 190>l-63

The scale formed at high temperatures by the evaporation of water containing noncarbonate hardness commonly is tough, heat 

resistant, and difficult to remove.

Although many people talk about soft water and hard water, 

there has been no firm line of demarcation. Water that seems 

hard to an easterner may seem soft to a westerner. In this report hardness of water is classified as follows:

Hardness range

(calcium carbonate

in ppm)

0-60

61-120

121-180

more than 180

Hardness description

Soft 

Moderately hard

Hard 

Very hard

For public use, water with hardness above 200 parts p-^r million 

generally requires softening treatment (Durfor and Becker, 1964, 

p. 23-27).

Acidity (H+1 )

The use of the terms acidity and alkalinity is widespread in 

the literature of water analysis and is a cause of contusion to 

those who are more accustomed to seeing a pH of 7. 0 used as a 

neutral point. Acidity of a natural water represents the content 

of free carbon dioxide and other uncombined gases, organic acids 

and salts of strong acids and weak bases that hydrolyze to give 

hydrogen ions. Sulfates of iron and aluminum in mine and industrial wastes are common sources of acidity. The presence of 

acidity is reported in those waters which have a pH below 4. 5.

Specific conductance (micromhos per centimeter at 25°C)

Specif ic conductance is a convenient, rap id determination used 

to estimate the amount of dissolved solids in water. It is a measure of the ability of water to transmit a small electrical current 

(see p. 6 ). The more dissolved solids in water than can transmit 

electricity the greater the specific conductance of the water. 

Commonly, the amount of dissolved solids (in parts per million) 

is about 65 percent of the specific conductance (in micromhos). 

This relation is not constant from stream to stream or from well 

to well and it may even vary in the same source with changes in 

the composition of the water (Durfor and Becker, 1964, p. 27-29).
COMPOSITION OF SURFACE WATERS 13

Hydrogen-ion concentration (pH)

Hydrogen-ion concentration is expressed in terms of pH units 

(see p. 6 ). The values of pH often are used as a measure of the 

solvent power of water or as an indicator of the chemical behavior 

certain solutions may have toward rock minerals.

The degree of acidity or alkalinity of water, as indicated by 

the hydrogen-ion concentration, expressed as pH, is related to the 

solvent power of water or as an indicator of the chemical behavior 

certain solutions may have toward rock minerals.

The degree of acidity or alkalinity of water, as indicated by 

the hydrogen-ion concentration, expressed as pH, is related to 

the corrosive properties of water and is useful in deter mining the 

proper treatment for coagulation that may be necessary at watertreatment plants. A pH of 7. 0 indicates that the water is neither 

acid nor alkaline. pH readings progressively lower than 7. 0 denote increasing acidity and those progressively higher than 7.0 

denote increasing alkalinity. The pH of most natural surface waters ranges between 6 and 8. Some alkaline surface waters have 

pH values greater than 8. 0, and waters containing free mineral 

acid or organic matter usually have pH values less than 4. 5.

The investigator who utilizes pH data in his interpretations of 

water analyses should be careful to place pH values in their proper perspective.

Color

In water analysis the term "color" refers to the appearance 

of water that is free from suspended solids. Many turbid waters 

that appear yellow, red, or brown when viewed in the stream show 

very little color after the suspended matter has been removed. 

The yellow-to-brown color of some waters is usually caused by 

organic matter extracted from leaves, roots, and other organic 

substances in the ground. In some areas objectionable color in 

water results from industrial wastes and sewage. Clear deep 

water may appear blue as the result of a scattering of sunlight by 

the water molecules. Water for domestic use and some industrial uses should be free from any perceptible color. A color 

less than 15 units generally passes unnoticed (U. S. Public Health 

Service, 1962).

The extent to which a water is colored by material in solution 

is commonly reported as a part of a water analysis because a 

significant color in water may indicate the presence cf organic 

material that may have some bearing on the dissolved solids content. Color in water is expressed in terms of units between 0 and 

500 or more based on the above standard (see p. 6 ).
14 QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA,

Temperature

Temperature is an important factor in property determining 

the quality of water. This is very evident for such a direct use 

as an industrial coolant. Temperature is also important, but perhaps not so evident, for its indirect influence upon aquatic biota, 

concentrations of dissolved gases, and distribution of chemical 

solutes in lakes and reservoirs as a consequence of thermal stratification and variation.

Surface water temperatures tend to change seasonally and daily 

with air temperatures. Superimposed upon the annual temperature cycle is a daily fluctuation of temperature which is greater 

in warm seasons than in cold and greater in sunny periods than 

with a cloud cover. Natural warming is due mainly to absorption 

of a solar radiation by the water and secondarily to transfer of 

heat from the air or from the bottom. Condensation of water vapor at the water surface is reported to furnish measurable quantities of heat. Heat loss takes place largely through radiation, 

with further losses through evaporation and conduction to the air 

and bottom. Thus the temperature of a small stream generally 

reaches a maximum in mid-to late afternoon due to solar heating 

and reaches a minimum from early to mid-morning after nocturnal radiation.

Temperature variations which commonly occur during summer in lakes and reservoirs of temperate regions results in a 

separation of the water volume into a circulating upper portion 

and a non- circulating lower portion. Separating the two is a stratum of water of variable vertical thickness in which the temperature decreases rapidly with increasing depth. This physical division of the water mass into a circulating and a stagnant portion 

is the result of density differences in the water column associated 

with the temperature distribution. Knowledge of the stratification 

in a body of water may result in increased utility by locating 

strata of more suitable characteristics. For example, the elevation of an intake pipe may be changed to obtain water of lower 

temperature, higher pH, less dissolved iron, or other desirable 

properties.

Temperature is a major factor in determining the effect of 

pollution on aquatic organisms. The resistance of fish to certain 

toxin substances has been shown to vary widely with temoerature. 

The quantity of dissolved oxygen which the water can contain is 

also temperature dependent. Oxygen is more soluble in cold water than in warm water, hence the reduction of oxygen concentrations by pollution is especially serious during periods of high 

temperature when oxygen levels are already low. Increased temperatures also accelerate biological activity including that of the 

oxygen-utilizing bacteria which decompose organic wastes These
STREAMFLOV 15

pollutional effects may be especially serious when low flow conditions coincide with high temperatures. Summary temperature 

data of water are essential for planning multiple uses of water 

resources.

SEDIMENT

Fluvial sediment is generally regarded as that sediment which 

is transported by, suspended in, or deposited by water. Suspended 

sediment is that part of it which remains in suspension in water 

owing to the upward components of turbulent currents or by colloidal suspension. Much fluvial sediment results from the natural 

process of erosion, which in turn is part of the geologic cycle of 

rock transformation. This natural process may be accelerated 

by agricultural practices. Sediment is also contributed by a number of industrial and construction activities. In certain sections, 

waste materials from mining, logging, oil-field, and other industrial operations introduce large quantities of suspended as well 

as dissolved material.

The quantity of sediment, transported or available for transportation, is affected by climatic conditions, form or nature of 

precipitation, character of the solid mantle, plant cover, topography, and land use. The mode and rate of sediment erosion, 

transport, and deposition is determined largely by the size distribution of the particles or more precisely by the fall velocities 

of the particles in water. Sediment particles in the sandsize 

(larger than 0. 062 mm) range do not appear to be affected by flocculation or dispersion resulting from the mineral constituents in 

solution. In contrast, the sedimentation diameter of clay and silt 

particles in suspension may vary considerably from point to point 

in a stream or reservoir, depending on the mineral matter in solution and in suspension and the degree of turbulence present. 

The size of sediment particles in transport at any point depends 

on the type of erodible and soluble material in the drainage area, 

the degree of flocculation present, time in transport, and characteristics of the transporting flow. The flow characteristics include velocity of water, turbulence, and the depth, width, and 

roughness of the channel. As a result of these variable characteristics, the size of particles transported, as well as the total 

sediment load, is in constant adjustment with the characteristics 

and physical features of the stream and drainage area.

STREAMFLOW

Most of the records of stream discharge, used in conjunction 

with the chemical analyses and in the computation of sediment
16 QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

loads in this volume, are published in Geological Survey State reports on the surface-water supply of the United States. The discharge reported for a composite sample is usually the average of 

daily mean discharges for the composite period. The discharges 

reported in the tables of single analyses are either daily mean 

discharges or discharges for the time at which samples were collected, computed from a stage-discharge relation or from a discharge measurement.

More complete records of stream discharge in Air ska maybe 

obtained by writing to District chief, Water Resources Division, 

U.S. Geological Survey, Juneau, Alaska.

PUBLICATIONS

Reports giving records of chemical quality and temperatures 

of surface waters and suspended-sediment loads of streams in the 

area covered by this volume for the water years 1948-63, are 

listed below:

Numbers of water-supply papers containing records for 

Alaska, 1948-63

Years

1948-50 

1951-53 

1954-56 

1957

WSP

1372 

1466 

1486 

1500

Years

1958 

1959 

1960 

1961-63

WSP

1570 

1640 

1720 

10B3

Geological Survey reports containing chemical analyses of 

surface waters of Alaska prior to 1948 are listed below. Publications that are out of print are preceded by an asterisk.

^Professional Paper 135. Composition of river and Icke waters

of the United States, 1924. 

Bulletin 770. The data of geochemistry, 1924.

*Water-Supply Paper 372. A water-power reconnaissance in 

south-central Alaska, 1915.

*Water-Supply Paper 418. Mineral springs of Alaska, with a 

chapter on the chemical character of some surface waters of 

Alaska, 1917.

Some of the reports listed are available for consultation in 

the larger public and institutional libraries. Copies of Geological 

Survey publications still in print may be purchased at a nominal 

cost from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing 

Office, Washington, D. C. 20242, who will, upon request, furnish 

lists giving prices.
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63 17

LITERATURE CITED

American Society for Testing Materials, 1954, Manual 01 industrial water: Am. Soc. for Testing Mat., Philadelphia, Pa., 

p. 356.

Durfor, C. N. and Becker, E., 1964, Public water supplies of the 

100 largest cities in the United States; 1962: U. S. Geol. 

Survey, Water-Supply Paper 1812, p. 17-29.

Faucett, R. L. and Miller, H. C., 1946, Methemoglobinemai occurring in infants fed milk diluted with well waters of high 

nitrate content: Jour. Pediatrics, v. 29, p. 593.

Hazen, Alien, 1892, A new color standard for natural waters: 

Am. Chem. Jour. , v. 12, p. 427-428.

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 1961, Table 

of Atomic weights based on carbon-12: Chem. and Eng. 

News, v. 39, no. 42, Nov. 20, 1961, p. 43.

Lane, E. W., and others, 1947, Report of the Subcommittee on 

Terminology: Am. Geophys. Union Trans., v. 28, p. 937.

Maxcy, K. F., 1950, Report on the relation of nitrate concentrations in well waters to the occurrence of methemcTlobinemia: Natl. Research Council, Bull. Sanitary Eng. and environment, App. D. , p. 271.

Rainwater, F. H., and Thatcher, L. L., 1960, Methods for collection and analysis of water samples: U. S. Geol. Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 1454, 301 p.

U. S. Interagency Report 6, 1952, A study of methods used in 

measurements and analysis of sediment loads in rtr earns, 

the design of improved types of suspended samplers, p. 

86-90; U. S. Engineer Office, St. Paul, Minn.

U. S. Interagency Report 7, 1943, A study of methods used in 

measurement and analysis of sediment loads in streams, 

a study of new methods of size analysis of suspended sampler, p. 82-90; U. S. Engineer Office, St. Paul, Minn.

U. S. Interagency Report 14, 1963, A study of methods in measurement and analysis of sediment loads of streams, determination of fluvial sediment discharge, p. 56-77; U. S. 

Engineer Office, St. Paul, Minn.

U. S. Public Health Service, 1962, Drinking water standards: 

U. S. Dept. Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health 

Service: Pub. no. 956.

Waring, F. H., 1949, Significance of nitrates in water supplies: 

Am. Water Works Assoc. Jour., v. 41, no. 2., p. 147-150.
CHEMICAL ANALYSES, WATER TEMPERATURE

COPPER RIVER BASIN 

2080. TONSINA RIVER AT TON

LOCATION. At gaging station, near left bank on downstream side of bridge on Richardson H

0.6 mile upstream from Squirrel Creek. 

DRAINAGE AREA. 420 square miles, approximately. 

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Chemical analyses: August 1950 to September 1954, May to August 1956, 

Water temperatures: June to October 1953, May 1959 to September 1963.

Sediment records: May 1953 to July 1963 (periodic). 

EXTREMES (for observation) 1960-63. Dissolved solids: Maximum, 78 ppm Apr. 8, 1961; min

Hardness: Maximum, 58 ppm Apr. 8, 17, 1961; minimum, 26 ppm July 1-10, 1963.

Specific conductance: Maximum, 125 micromhos Apr. 8, 1961; minimum, 58 micromhos July 

EXTREMES, 1959-63. Water temperatures: Maximum, 66°F Aug. 18, 1961.

Chemical analyses, in parts per million, water year 

Date of collection

Oct. 1, 2, 4-9, 1960 

Oct. 10, 11, 13-16, 

18, 19. ...........

Apr. 8, 1961. .......

May 1-8.. ...........

May 21-31. ..........

June 21-27, 29, 30. . 

July 1, 3, 5-10. .... 

July 11-16, 18-20. ..

Aug. 1-10...........

Sept. 21, 22, 27, 28

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

705

486 

336 

81 

78

78 

348 

721 

1270 

1310

2690 

3110 

2980 

2240 

2330

3600 

1860 

1760 

932 

1590 

1030

Silica 

(Si02 )

6.2

5.4 

6.7 

8.6 

8.2

5.8 

6.7 

6.7 

5.8 

5.1

4.5 

4.9 

4.6 

4.5 

4.4

3.6 

4.3 

3.7 

4.3 

4.n 

5.1

Iron

(Fe)

0.05

.07 

.00 

.07 

.04

.00 

.09 

.09 

.09 

.02

.02 

.00 

.02 

.02 

.02

.02 

.00 

.02 

.02 

.O1? 

.02

Calcium 

(Ca)

12

12 

13 

18 

17

11 

12 

12 

12 

11

11 

11 

9.9 

11 

9.9

9.6 

8.8 

9.6 

9.2 

10 

11

Magnesium 

(Mg)

3.8

.0 

.6 

.3 

.6

.8 

.0 

.4 

.1 

.9

.6 

.1 

.2 

.0 

.2

.2 

.7 

.2 

.2

i!i

Sodium

(Na)

1.4

.6 

.7

: .5

.8 

.4 

.6 

.5 

.4

.2

.1 

.0 

.1 

.0

.0 

.1 

.1

.2 

.1 

.2

Potassium 

(K)

0.3

.4 

.3 

1.1 

.8

1.8 

1.2 

.8 

.5 

.7

.4 

.5 

.4 

.4 

.4

.4 

.5 

.3 

.5 

.5 

.5

Bicarbonate 

(HCOS )

41

44 

45 

67 

63

45 

47 

41 

38 

34

34 

33 

32 

32 

31

30 

32 

30 

35 

33 

35

Sultate

(S04 )

9.0

8.0 

8.0 

7.0 

9.0

6.1 

9.0 

7.0 

7.0 

5.0

3.0 

2.0 

6.0 

6.0 

6.0

6.0 

5.0 

5.0 

5.0 

6.0 

5.0
COPPER RIVER BASIN Continu

2080. TONSINA RIVER AT TONSINA C

Chemical analyses, in parts per million, water year O

Date of collection

May 4-6, 20,

June 1-3, 8, 10..... 

June 11-19, 21, 23..

July 3-7, 9, 17, 18. 

July 19, 20, 22-26,

Aug. 4-6, 13, 15,

Aug. 21-25, 27-31... 

Sept, 1-6, 8-10, 12, 

13, 24............

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

599 

1,300 

2,620 

3,170 

2,900

2,680

2,310 

1,880

983

Silica 

(SiOs)

6.0 

8.8 

7.8 

7.2 

6.1

5.6

6.3 

5.5

4.6

Iron

(Fe)

0.03 

.05 

.05 

.05 

.05

.05

.07 

.10

.14

Calcium 

(Ca)

12 

11 

9.0 

9.4 

9.6

9.4

9.0 

9.6

11

Magnesium 

(Mg)

2.1 

1.7 

1.6 

1.8 

1.5

1.6

1.6 

1.7

1.2

Sodium

(Na)

1.5 

1.3 

1.2 

1.1 

1.4

1.0

1.0 

1.0

1.2

Potassium 

(K)

0.4 

.4 

.4 

.3 

.4

.3

.4 

.4

.7

Bicarbonate 

(HCO3 )

42 

38 

30 

32 

30

32

31 

32

32

Sulfate

(SO.)

5.0 

6.0 

6.0 

6.0 

5.0

5.0

5.0 

6.0

5.0

Chemical analys in parts per million, water year 

May 21-31, 1963.....

Aug. 21, 23, 25-31. .

Sept. 21-30.. .......

1030

2680

480

5.3

4.4

3.9

0.02

.05

.07

12

9.2

12

1.7

1 2

1.2

1.0

1.8

1.0

1 3

1.3

0.5

3

.4

.4

42

29

38

4.0

4.0

4.0
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

> 2?

!il

a l
COPPER RIVER BASIN Continued

2080. TONSINA RIVER AT TONSINA Cont

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 19

April..........

July...........

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Day

16 17 18 19 

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 196

May...........

July...........

August........ 

September .....

1

50

2

49

3

49

4

48

5

49

6

48

7

48

8

49

9

48

10 11 12 13 14 15

Day

16 17 18 19 
COPPER RIVER BASIN Continued 

2080. TONSINA RIVER AT TONSINA Conti

determinations of suspended-sediment discharge and particle-size analy

(Methods of analysis: B, bottom withdrawal tube; C, chemically dispersed; 

P, pipet; S, sieve; V, visual accumulation tube; W, in 

Date of collection

Aug. 8.............

July 12. ...........

Time 

(24 hour)

1605

Sampling 

point

Water 

temperature 

(°F)

39 

50

Discharge 

(cfs)

1150 

2100 

2940

727 

6640 

2500

624 

4970

Sediment 

concentration 

(ppm)

24 

22 

36

34 

104 

39

47 

127

Sediment 

discharge 

(tons per day)

74 

125 

286

67 

1860 

264

0.002 0.004 
ANCHOR RIVER BASIN 

2400. ANCHOR RIVER AT ANCHOR POI

LOCATION. At gaging station, near right bank on downstream side of Sterling Highway bridge 

1 mile upstream from mouth. 

DRAINAGE AREA. 226 square miles. 

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Chemical analyses: May 1953 to September 1954, October 1957 to Septemb

Water temperatures: May 1953 to September 1954, April 1959 to September 1963.

Sediment records: July 1953 to August 1954 (periodic). 

EXTREMES (for observation), 1961-63. Dissolved solids: Maximum, 94 ppm Nov. 11-17, 19-21, 

Hardness: Maximum, 39 ppm Aug. 11-20, 1962; minimum, 15 ppm May 9-18, 1961.

Specific conductance: Maximum, 102 micromhos Sept. 11-18 1962; minimum, 48 micromhos May 

EXTREMES, 1959-63. Water temperatures: Maximum, 69°F July 28, 1963.

Date of collection

Oct. 1-4, 6-10, 1960

Oct. 23-25, 27, 30.. 

Nov. 2-10. ..........

Jan. 8, 1961. .......

Apr. 29, 30, May 1-8 

May 9-18. ...........

May 29-31, June 1-7.

June 20-30.. ........

July 21-30. .........

Aug. 20-31. .........

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

266 

193 

392 

264

180 

160 

a 118 

1110 

1060

711 

455 

316 

263 

196

255 

248 

295 

184 

298 

977

Silica 

(Si02 )

36 

39 

35 

36

39 

42 

40 

19 

19

26 

30 

31 

32 

32

31 

26 

23 

25 

21 

18

Iron

(Fe)

0.05 

.10 

.03 

.07 

.07

.31 

.00 

.10 

.03 

.03

.00 

.03 

.16 

.24 

.28

.26 

.14 

.16 

.22 

.17 

.10

Calcium 

(Ca)

6.4 

6.4 

6.0 

6.0 

6.0

7.1 

7.1 

7.1 

4.0 

3.2

3.6 

4.8 

6.0 

6.0 

6.7

6.4 

8.4 

3.0 

8.0 

7.2 

6.4

Magnesium 

(Mg)

4.0 

4.3 

4.3 

4.5 

5.0

3.3 

3.8 

4.5 

1.7 

1.7

2.4 

2.6 

2.6 

3.1 

3.3

3.1 

1.5 

1.5 

2.7 

1.9 

.7

Sodium

(Na)

5.3 

5.8 

5.0 

5.4 

6.0

6.4 

5.2 

6.5 

3.9 

3.3

4.4 

5.0 

5.1 

5.1 

5.6

5.3 

6.8 

6.6 

7.2 

6.8 

5.5

Potassium 

(K)

.4 

.8 

.4 

.7 

.9

.4 

.0 

.5 

.7 

.1

.4 

.6 

.6 

.6 

.6

.4 

.9

.1 

.0 

.6

Bicarbonate 

(HCOS )

40 

42 

37 

42 

40

46 

42 

48 

24 

20

25 

34 

40 

42 

46

45 

43 

41 

50 

42 

30

Suit ate 

(S04 )

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0

a Discharge of sampling.
ANCHOR RIVER BASIN Continue

2400. ANCHOR RIVER AT ANCHOR POINT 

Chemical analyses, in parts per million, water yea

Date of collection

May 18-31, 1962.....

Sept. 11-18.........

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

984 

630 

614 

348 

171 

266

140 

92 

89 

134 

135 

121

Silica 

(SiO,)

17 

21 

23 

26 

26 

17

25 

27 

28 

28 

29 

29

Iron 

(Fe)

0.03 

.05 

.05 

.08 

.07 

.05

.08 

.05 

.07 

.10 

.12 

.12

Calcium 

(Ca)

3.6 

3.8 

4.2 

4.8 

5.4 

6.0

6.6 

7.2 

7.2 

7.2 

7.2 

7.2

Magnesium 

(Mg)

1.7

2^3 

2.9 

3.5 

3.9

4.3 

4.9 

5.1 

4.9 

4.9 

5.1

Sodium 

(Na)

3.3 

3.9 

4.2 

4.8 

5.4 

5.1

5.7 

6.4 

6.1 

6.1 

5.9 

6.1

Potassium 

(K)

.6 

.4 

.6 

.6 

.8 

.9

.8 

.1 

.1 

.0 

.0 

.1

Bicarbonate 

(HCO,)

23 

30 

31 

36 

44 

46

51 

56 

58 

57 

55 

57

SuUate 

(SO,)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Chemical analyses, in parts per llion, water y a

395 

225 

220 

216 

333 

360 

267

260 

175 

151 

652 

369 

405 

534

13 

21 

21 

22 

22 

23 

25

26 

29 

24 

25 

28 

22 

19

0.19 

.05 

.02 

.03 

.05 

.07 

.20

.15 

.26 

.12 

.05 

.14 

.10 

.15

4.0 

5.2 

5.2 

6.4 

6.4 

6.4 

6.4

7.2 

6.4 

7.2 

5.6 

6.4 

5.6 

5.0

2.7 

3.6 

3.6 

3.9 

2.2 

1.9 

2.9

2.9 

4.4 

3.2 

3.4 

3.9 

2.9 

3.3

3.6 

6.2 

6.3 

5.3 

5,3 

4.7 

5.0

5.3 

5.6 

5.7 

5.5 

5.6 

5.7 

5.1

7 

7 

1 

7 

5 

3 

3

4 

5 

5 

4 

5 

1 

3

33 

37 

36 

37 

34 

36 

42

43 

51 

49 

40 

44 

36 

35

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0
ANCHOR RIVER BASIN Contin

2400. ANCHOR RIVER AT ANCHOR POIN

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 

October .......

January........

April ..........

July........... 

August ........

September .....

1

45 

55

2 3 4

42

5

4?

6

39

7

40

56

8

40

9

*n

10

39

11

37

12

in

13

41

14

79

15

38

Day

16

35

17

4?

18

36

19

3
ANCHOR RIVER BASIN Continued

2400. ANCHOR RIVER AT ANCHOR POINT C

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 196

May.'..........

June ..........

July........... 

August........

1

42

54 

60

2

58 

57

3

60 

58

4

64 

57

5

57

6

65 

56

7

55

8

54 

55

9

53

58

10

53 

58

1 1

53 

58

12

55 

54

13

46

14

45 

57

15

48 

59

Day

16

58 

54

17

56

18

38

_

19

39

56

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 

JAuly.. .........

September .....

1

5?

55

2

50

55

3

49

4

55

55

5

54

53

6

52

53

7

53

8

51

9

53

10

52

1 1

50

12

56

13

53

14

59

54

15

55

52

Day

16

58

45

17

55

50

18

61

51

19

59

51
NINILCHIK RIVER BASIN 

2416. NINILCHIK RIVER AT NINILCHIK

LOCATION. At gaging station, on downstream side of bridge, at mile post 137 Ste

upstream from mouth. 

DRAINAGE AREA. 131 square miles. 

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Water temperatures: May to September 1963.

Sediment records: May to September 1963. 

EXTREMES, May to September 1963. Water temperatures: Maximum, 62°F July 14.

Sediment concentrations: Maximum daily, 236 ppm Sept. 27.

Sediment loads: Maximum daily, 204 tons Sept. 27.

Temperature (°F) of water, May to Septemb

May...........

June.......... 

July...........

August ........ 

September .....

1

50

52

50

2

48

53 

52

3

54

4

53

5

52

6

50

7

48

8

53

9

51

10

51

11

52

12

52

13

52

14

60

15

59

Day

16

57

17

54

18

53

19

514
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

NINILCHIK RIVER BASIN Continued

2416. NINILCHIK RIVER AT NINILCHICK Continued

Suspended sediment, May to September 1963

Day

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

B..

9..

0..

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

0..

1..

Total

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

APRIL

Mean 

discharge

(cf.)

Suspended sediment

Mean

concentration

(ppm)

Ton.

per

day

JULY

118

106

94

87

85

79

79

103

90

84

77

72

70

68

76

101

108

90

76

71

65

80

77

122

103

84

74

68

66

64

62

2599

19

17

23

17

14

18

17

21

22

19

21

19

18

17

22

14

MAY

Mean 

discharge 

(cf.)

260

370

350

398

356

310

265

256

239

217

212

228

206

201

196

179

177

170

196

209

201

174

154

143

157

150

118

108

103

97

97

6497

Suspended sediment

Mean

tration 

(ppm)

40

0

0

0

0

0

7

7

7

9

6

1

9

3

5

9

2

0

9

1

9

9

1

2

6

0

9

7

5

6

4

--

Ton*

per 

day

E 28

E 40

E 38

E 43

E 38

E 33

26

26

24

23

26

31

16

18

18

14

15

23

26

29

37

18

13

12

28

12

6

5

4

4

4

678

AUGUST

62

62

62

58

59

62

62

66

65

48

48

48

46

46

46

22

24

18

18

18

19

26

42

29

25

20

21

1

20

21

20

- 147

45

46

52

55

49

56

124

20

21

20

3

4

3

24 4

24

23

31

25

25

22

18

16

19

15

13

15

15

15

18

18

19

56

194 112

159

139

114

90

76

71

71

71

2252

40

25

17

18

17

16

18

18

"

4

4

5

4

4

3

2

2

2

2

2

2

JUNE

Mean 

discharge

(cf.)

95

92

92

92

108

97

104

99

92

88

97

104

101

132

163

150

137

135

104

94

84

84

112

112

114

99

108

128

104

112

3233

Si-spended sediment

Mean

trafion

(PPm)

15

17

13

14

20

19

20

23

18

14

16

20

23

36

34

27

24

26

25

23

21

25

22

26

29

20

13

IB

17

16

-

Ton.

per

day

1

1

1

190

SEPTEMBER

71

72

68

77

70

59

68

77

25

25

23

25

29

30

27

28

85 26

94

87

76

71

70

66

77

2 1 137

2 \ 161

3

2

3

19

59

17

9

5

4

3

3

3

3

187

132

120

108

92

24

20

21

19

20

19

22

41

38

5

5

4

5

5

5

5

t>

b

6

5

4

4

4

3

4

15

16

31 11

48

32

31

16

9

8

80 25 5

77

72

94

320

307

209

177

3274

18

37

198

<:36

138

86

67

~

4

7

50

204

114

48

32

615

Total discharge for period May to September 1963 (cf s-days) ............................... 17855

Total suspended sediment load for period Hay to September 1963 (tons) ..................... 1817

E Estimated
TRAIL RIVER BASIN 

2480. TRAIL RIVER NEAR LA WI

nter of stream on downstream 

rom Lower Trail Lake, 1.9 mi

LOCATION. At gaging station, near c 

Falls Creek, 0.2 mile downstream 

DRAINAGE AREA.--181 square miles. 

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Chemical analyses: October 1949 to September 1963.

Water temperatures: April 1959 to September 1963. 

EXTREMES, 1959-63. Dissolved solids (1961-63): Maximum, 68 ppm Jan. 1-10

Hardness (1961-63): Maximum, 50 ppm Dec. 21-31, 1961, Feb. 11-20, 1962;

Specific conductance (1961-63): Maximum, 109 micromhos Mar. 11-20, 1962

Water temperatures: Maxin 54°F Ju 16-18, 1959, July 11, 12, 1960, July 28, 1962.

!nd of pier at bridge s

is upstream from mouth, 

Mar. 1-10, 19

minimum, 28 ppm 

"~ mi

Chemical analyses, in parts per million, water year O

Date of collection

Oct. 1-10, I960.....

Jan. 1-10, 1961.....

Feb. 1-8. ...........

Mar. 11-20.... ......

4pr. ?!-', ?, 98-30...

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

489 

335 

691 

682 

205

386 

650 

323 

271 

237

1170 

367 

233 

155 

138

112 

107 

135 

134 

199

Silica 

(Si02 )

3.8 

3.9 

4.0 

4.4 

5.1

5.7 

5.3 

5.7 

6.6 

5.7

5.6 

5.4 

5.9 

5.7 

5.9

5.9 

5.9 

5.9 

5.7 

7.8

Iron 

(Fe)

0.05 

.06 

.06 

.03 

.03

.03 

.03 

.03 

.03 

.02

.03 

.07 

.03 

.03 

.00

.03 

.03 

.03 

.03 

.00

Calcium 

(Ca)

13 

13 

13 

13 

14

14 

14 

14 

15 

15

14 

14 

15 

15 

16

15 

15 

15 

15 

15

Magnesium 

(Mg)

1.0 

.7 

.0 

.9 

.1

.8 

.6 

.1 

.8 

.9

.0 

.4 

.6 

.6 

.9

.9 

.8 

.6 

.1 

.4

Sodium 

(Na)

.9 

.4 

.9 

.3 

.5

.4 

.5 

.5 

.7 

.3

.5 

.1 

.2 

.6 

.5

.6 

.4 

.3 

2.1 

1.6

Potassium 

(K)

0.6 

.7 

.6 

.4 

.6

.5 

.5 

.5 

.5 

.6

.8 

.4 

.5 

.6 

.6

.6 

.5 

.6 

.6 

.6

Bicarbonate 

(HCO,)

31 

33 

32 

34 

38

39 

36 

38 

40 

42

38 

36 

40 

43 

43

42 

43 

49 

46 

43

Sulfate 

(304)

9.0 

10 

11 

11 

13

11 

13 

13 

13 

11

10 

10 

11 

12 

11

10 

9.0 

9.0 

9.0 

10
TRAIL RIVER BASIN Continu

2480. TRAIL RIVER NEAR LAWING Co

Date of collection

May 1-10. ...........

May 11-15, 20-24. . .. 

May 25-31, June 1-3.

June 23-30. .........

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

542 

1080 

1340 

1630 

2250

2340 

2340 

2620 

2190 

2370

1880 

1590 

1050 

2130 

904

Silica 

(SiOa )

5.6 

5.6 

5.3 

5.6 

5.0

4.4 

4.1 

4.0 

4.1 

4.3

3.0 

3.2 

3.9 

4.3 

3.5

Iron 

(Fe)

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.02

.02 

.02 

.02 

.00 

.02

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02

Calcium 

(Ca)

14 

14 

13 

13 

12

13 

12 

12 

11

10

10 

10 

11 

10

11

Magnesium

(Mg)

3.1 

.5 

1.0 

1.2 

1.4

1.0 

1.2 

.7 

.9 

1.2

1.5

1.5 

.6 

1.7 

1.3

Sodium 

(Na)

1.4 

1.2 

1.2 

1.1 

.9

.8 

.8 

.8 

.8

.7

1.0

.7 

.7 

.8 

.7

Potassium 

(K)

1.0

.7

Bicarbonate 

(HCOj)

42 

33 

34 

33 

33

32 

31 

30 

29 

26

29 

27 

28 

30 

31

Sulfate

(S04 )

10

11

9.0 

10 

10

9.0 

10 

9.0 

7.0 

8.0

8.0 

8.0 

7.0 

7.0 

8.0
TRAIL RIVER BASIN Contin

2480. TRAIL RIVER NEAR LAWING 

Chemical analyses, in

Date of collection

Oct. -10, 1961.....

Nov. -8... .........

Nov. 2, 14-17, 

19, 20.... ........

Jan. -10, 1962.....

Feb. 1-20..........

Mar. -10. ..........

Mar. 21-31..........

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

773 

413 

325 

289

359 

225

172 

145 

95 

118 

122 

90

89 

85 

78 

70 

63 

66

Silica 

(310,)

3.5 

3.5 

3.5 

4.0

5.2 

4.3

5.7 

5.0 

6.1 

6.1 

4.5 

5.0

5.3 

5.7 

6.0 

8.6 

5.2 

5.2

Iron

(Fe)

0.02 

.02 

.02 

.02

.02 

.02

.02 

.02 

.02 

.03 

.07 

.07

.05 

.03 

.07 

.02 

.02 

.00

Calcium 

(Ca)

11 

12 

11 

12

12 

14

15 

16 

17 

17 

16 

17

17 

17 

17 

18 

18 

18

Magnesium 

(Mg)

.6 

.5 

.1 

.7

.9

.7

.6 

.5 

.8 

.2 

.8 

.6

.5 

.9 

.7 

.0 

.9 

1.3

Sodiu 

(Na

0

1

parts per million, wa

m

.8 

.7 

.8 

.8

.8 

.0

.1 

.1 

.3 

.4 

.6 

.5

.4 

.3 

.5 

.6 

.6 

.5

Potassium

(K)

0.7 

.6 

.6 

.7

.7 

.6

.6 

.6 

.7 

.6 

.7 

.6

.6 

.5 

.6 

.8 

.5 

.5

Bicarbonate 

(HC03 )

32 

34 

33 

34

35 

39

42 

44 

46 

44 

46 

46

46 

48 

48 

49 

48 

48

Sulfa

(S04

8

8

9

8

9

9

10 

10 

12 

12 

11 

11

9

10 

10 

11 

9

10
TRAIL RIVER BASIN Continu

2480. TRAIL RIVER NEAR LAWING Co

Chemical analvses, in parts per million, water year October 1

Date of collection

Sept. 22-30.........

Weighted average..

Time weighted 

average .........

Tons per day. .....

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

176 

179 

260 

316 

526 

662 

881

2,010 

2,220 

2,310 

2,010 

1,790 

1,650 

998

598.2

-

Silica 

(SiO.)

.2 

.2 

.0 

.7 

.3

'.7

.4 

.9 

.0 

.1

.5 

.7 

.7

.8

5.2

7.7

Iron

(Fe)

o.oo

.00 

.02

.00

.00 

.02 

.02

.02 

.02 

.02 

.03 

.03 

.03 

.03

.02

.02

.04

Calcium 

(Ca)

17 

17 

17 

15 

14 

14 

10

9.6 

13 

12 

11 

11 

11 

11

12.0

14.0

20.0

Magnesium

(Mg)

.2 

.2 

.5 

.5 

.5 

.2 

.2

.2 

.0 

.2 

.5 

.2 

.9 

.1

.3

1.4

2.1

Sodium

(Na)

.5 

.6 

.6 

.3 

.1 

.1 

.6

.6 

.8 

.8 

.7 

.8 

.6 

.7

.8

1.1

1.3

Potassium

(K)

0.5 

.5 

.5 

.4 

.4 

.4 

.3

.3 

.3 

.3 

.3 

.3 

.4 

.5

.4

.5

.6

Bicarbonate 

(HCO3 )

46 

46 

42 

42 

40 

38 

29

25 

34 

32 

31 

30 

29 

29

33

39

53

Sulfate 

(SOJ

10 

9.0 

9.0 

10 

10 

9.0 

6.0

9.0 

9.0 

9.0 

8.0 

8.0 

6.0 

7.0

8.5

9.3

14.0
TRAIL RIVER BASIN Continued

2480. TRAIL RIVER NEAR LAWING C

Chemical analyses, in parts per million, water year 

Date of collection

No . 1-10. ..........

Jan. 1-10, 1963. ....

Jan. 20-31. ........

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

392 

266 

344 

1160 

421 

239

169 

254 

207 

124 

119 

124

89 

96 

184 

191 

133 

86

84 

95 

151 

359 

526 

1010

1260 

1080 

1560 

2350 

2580 

1850

Silica 

(Si02 )

.8 

.3 

.8 

.5 

.3 

.9

.1

.6 

.8 

.3 

.0 

.2

.2 

.1 

.1 

.2 

.6 

.9

.1

.8

>.'2 

.8 

.3

.3 

.0 

.1 

.7 

.3 

.5

Iron

(Fe)

0.05 

.05 

.07 

.03 

.03 

.03

.03 

.02 

.03 

.02 

.03 

.07

.07 

.07 

.08 

.08 

.08 

.08

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02

Calcium

(Ca)

1 

2

2 

3 

3 

3

4 

4 

5 

6 

6 

6

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6

6 

6 

6 

16 

15 

14

13 

13 

14 

12 

12 

11

Magnesium

(Mg)

0.7 

.9 

1.1 

.7 

.6 

.2

.0 

.0 

.6 

.5 

.5 

.5

.9 

.9 

.2 

.2 

.0 

.5

.1 

.1

.9 

.9 

.7 

.7

1.0 

1.0 

.7 

.7

.7

.7

Sodium 

(Na

0.7 

.7 

.8 

.2 

.0 

.1

.2 

.3 

.2 

.2 

.4 

.3

.3 

.2 

.3 

.2 

.3 

.3

.7 

.4 

.4 

.4 

.2 

.1

.0 

.0 

.4 

.0 

.9 

.9

Potassium 

(K)

0.4 

.5 

.5 

.6 

.6 

.8

.6 

.6 

.6 

.6 

.7 

.6

.5 

.6 

.6 

.6

Bicarbonate 

(HCO3 )

27 

29 

31 

32 

34 

35

36 

39 

40 

42 

43 

45

48 

44 

40 

43 

42 

43

42 

41 

41 

40 

39 

37

36 

36 

36 

34 

32 

31

Sulfate 

(SO.)

9.0 

9.0 

8.0 

9.0 

10 

9.0

9.0 

9.0 

11 

2 

2 

0

1 

1 

1 

0 

0 

0

0 

0 

0 

8.0 

8.0 

7.0

7.0 

7.0 

7.0 

6.0 

6.0 

6.O
TRAIL RIVER BASIN--Continu

2480. TRAIL RIVER NEAR LAWING Co

Chemical analyses, in parts per million, Octo

Date of collection

Aug. 1-10, 1963.....

Sept. 21-30.. .......

Weighted average

Time weighted 

average .......

Tons per day ....

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

1640 

1520 

1800 

2020 

1110 

731

735.1

--

Silica 

(SiOa )

2.8 

2.3 

2.5 

3.0 

2.7 

2.5

3.5

3.9

6.9

Iron

(Fe)

0.02 

.05 

.27 

.10 

.07 

.10

.05

.05

.11

Calcium 

(Ca)

11 

11 

10 

11 

9.6 

10i

12.0

14.0

24.0

Magnesium 

(Mg)

0.7 

.5 

1.1 

.6 

1.0 

.5

.8

1.0

1.6

Sodium 

(Na)

0.9 

1.8 

1.8 

1.8 

1.8 

1.8

1.3

1.2

2.5

Potassium 

(K)

0.3 

.3 

.3 

.3 

.3 

,3

.4

.5

.7

Bicarbonate 

(HCO3 )

30 

28 

29 

28 

27 

26

33

36

65

Sulfate

(SOJ

6.0 

7.0 

7.0 

7.0 

8.0 

9.0

7.3

8.8

14.0
ALASKA WEST OF LONGITUDE 141°

g g
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

O M -P
TRAIL RIVER BASIN Continue

2480. TRAIL RIVER NEAR LAWING Co

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 1

November ..... 

December .....

January. .......

March .........

April .......... 

May...........

July...........

August ........ 

September .....

1

37 

32

32

34

33 

37

50

2

38 

32

32

34 

33

50

3

38 

33

32

34 

33

50

4

38 

32

32

34 

33

50

5

38 

32

32

34 

34

50

6

38 

32

32

35 

35

50

7

39 

32

32

36

50

8

38 

32

32

34 

36

50

9

38 

33

32

34 

35

50

10

36 

32

32

33 

35

50

11

35 

32

32

32 

35

50

12

35 

32

32

32 

35

50

13

35 

33

33

32 

35

50

14

35 

33

33

32

35

51

15

34 

33

32

32 

34

53

Day

16

34 

33

33

32 

34

52

17

35 

33

32

32 

33

51

18

35 

33

33

32 

33

50

19

34 

33

33

32 

34

50

3

3

3

3

3

5
KNIK RIVER BASIN 

2810. KNIK RIVER NEAR PALM

LOCATION. At gaging station near center of span on downstream side of bridge 

DRAINAGE AREA. 1,180 square miles, approximately.

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Chemical analyses: October 1957 to August 1958.

Water temperatures: May to September 1963.

Sediment records: July 1953 to August 1956, July, August 1961, May 1962 to S

EXTREMES, May 1962 to September 1963. Water temperatures (May to September 19

Sediment concentrations: Maximum daily, 6,290 ppm June 27, 1962.

Sediment loads: Maximum daily, 518,000 tons June 28, 1962.

Temperature (°F) of water, May to Se

May...........

July.. .........

August........ 

September .....

1

_

1,0

2

__

41

3

41

39

4

40

39

5

40

6

39

7

38

8

40

9

38

10 ]] 12

43

13

41

14

42

15

40

Day

16

39

17

38

41

18

38

40

19

38
ALASKA WEST OF LONGITUDE 141°

KNIK RIVER BASIN Continued

2810. KNIK RIVER NEAR PALMER Continued

Suspended sediment. May to September 1962

APRIL |. MAY S JUNE

| Suspended sediment

Day

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12,.

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

IB..

19..

20..

21..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

29..

30..

31..

Total

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

16..

17..

19..

20..

22..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

Mean 

dis- Mean I Tons

charge

(cfs)

41500

28700

23900

22600

23500

25000

25800

25300

27100

26900

26100

24800

23400

20900

17600

18500

21200

22700

22400

22500

22000

21300

21200

21400

24000

26500

27000

735900

(ppm)

per

day

[ Suspended sediment

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

- 1-1 

fl 550

JULY

1150

1080

1100

1400

1760

1900

1700

1600

1800

1660

1350

1320

1220

1100

799

930

1400

1550

1300

1300

1160

1100

1190

1200

1500

2120

1800

129000

83700

71000

A 85000

112000

128000

A 120000

A 110000

A 130000

120000

95100

88400

77100

A 62000

38000

A 46000

A 80000

95000

A 79000

A 79000

68900

A 63000

68100

A 69000

A 97000

152000

A 131000

568

586

622

658

712

787

844

980

1120

1160

1120

1140

1040

960

1180

1220

1270

1200

1270

1350

1420

1550

1690

1880

2000

1780

1800

2120

38017

Mean Ton<

*i°n|fn~ per

(ppm)

100

130

96

120

140

150

187

200

260

310

310

180

172

180

150

178

240

275

200

200

213

208

280

310

360

340

310

320

321

AUGUST

27000

23300

23500

21900

18200

18200

18700

19100

18700

19400

20900

21400

21500

20900

19200

18500

20600

20600

20400

17000

16000

16000

16200

16900

27000

24700

20900

1600

1400

1780

1400

997

1090

930

925

920

990

1100

1200

1100

1100

950

900

1200

1760

1100

1400

1600

1600

1510

910

1600

3010

2300

day

| Suspended sediment

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

A 150 1 2350

A 200

152

A 200

A 250

A 290

397

A 460

A 690

937

A 970

A 540

529

A 500

A 390

567

A 790

943

A 650

A 680

776

2270

2320

2400

2240

2200

2350

2320

2450

2610

2690

3400

MearT[ Ton>

t t' per

(ppm)

240

230

250

260

252

220

245

220

182

360

450

460

3720 581

3810

3660

4900

6620

7980

9110

9200

9680

797 10300

A 1200 8560

1410 8730

A 1800 | 9200

A 1800

A 1500

A 1600

1840

25308

A 120000

A 89000

113000

A 83000

49000

53600

A 47000

47700

A 46000

A 52000

A 62000

A 69000

63800

A 62000

A 49000

A 45000

A 67000

97900

A 61000

A 64000

A 69000

A 69000

66000

41500

A 120000

201000

A 130000

2265600

19600

144000

99400

473470

594

1200

1700

2500

2890

3100

3000

3470

3200

2980

1680

2800

6290

1260

992

day

A 500

A 400

A 600

A 700

520

A 300

550

A 400

200

A 500

270

A 200

840

110

A 1 000

2 500

A 4 000

6 300

76200

74500

90700

A 89000

68900

39600

A 70000

S 334000

490000

266000

2387090

SEPTEMBER

16600

14800

16400

17100

15500

12800

11100

9860

8980

8310

7980

7580

7150

6550

5870

5700

5220

6370

9200

13100

12300

10700

9240

7820

6730

6040

290640

1500

1300

1860

1140

924

950

640

340

370

372

370

340

310

271

320

330

370

330

500

10CO

870

650

500

428

280

220

A 67000

A 52000

82400

52600

38700

A 33000

A 19000

A 9000

8970

8350

A 8000

A 7000

A 6000

A 4800

* 

A 5100

A 5100

A 5200

A 5700

A 12000

A 35000

A 29000

A 19000

A 12000

9040

A 5100

A 3600

585660

Total suspended sediment loads for period May to September 1962 (tons) ................ 8711086

A Computed from partly estimated concentration graph.

B Computed by subdividing day.
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

KNIK RIVER BASIN Continued 

2810. KNIK RIVER NEAR PALMER Continued

Susnenderi sediment, water vear October 1962 to September 1963

Day

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

13..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28.. 

29..

30..

31..

Total

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

APRIL

Mean

discharge 

(cfs)

Suspended sediment

Mean

concentration 

(ppm)

Tons

per 

day

 

JULY

16000

17000

18800

20100

21800

24500

25800

23400

22000

22800

24700

24200

25700

26700

28900

29200

28400

25200

21800

21300

22400

22700

23400

24400

19600

18300

19600

22000

24300

711200

Total discharg

882

1250

1530

1720

1850

350

980

710

710

730

200

100

060

800

600

940

500

110

930

990

1170

1240

1240

1320

672

688

935

1160

1550

~

e for pe

38100

57400

77700

A 93300

A 109000

A 155000

138000

108000

102000

106000

147000

A 137000

A 143000

130000

203000

153000

115000

75500

54700

56900

A 70800

A 76000

A 78300

A 87000

74400

35600

A 34000

49500

68900

102000

2921200

rlod May to S

MAY

Mean

discharge 

(cf.)

1620

1530

1660

1830

1640

1460

1730

1530

1420

1460

1710

2270

2830

2770

3520

3310

3780

4110

4230

4770

5160

5630

6220

6150

6080

6550

6850

8350

9990

10700

128200

24500

24200

25400

24300

22400

19600

16300

14700

15200

16900

17700

18300

19700

20300

19900

19300

21200

28000

29500

24900

21300

23200

30100

34200

38200

30000

24200

20900

20100

20000

723600

Suspended sediment

Mean

concentration

(ppm)

255

230

238

255

221

340

314

196

255

323

340

468

595

527

612

76

61

20

46

04

612

714

1060

1350

646

578

561

873

1520

1340

Tons

per 

day

A 1120

A 950

1070

1260

978

1340

1470

810

978

A 1270

1570

2870

4550

3940

5820

4250

5720

6880

A 7380

7780

8530

10800

17800

22400

10600

A 10200

10400

19700

41000

38700

AUGUST

1260

1040

1220

1160

1040

858

706

680

808

1080

1200

1160

1380

1260

1280

1320

1540

83300

68000

83700

A 76100

A 62900

A 45400

A 31100

A 27000

33200

49300

57300

57300

73400

69100

68800

68800

A 88100

2640 A 200000

2920

1960

1470

1930

2800

3410 

3680

2890

2260

1480

960

1120

eptember 1963 (cfs232000

132000

84500

A 121000

228000

315000 

380000

391000

234000

148000

83500

52100

A 60500

3704400

juf";

Mean

discharge 

(cfs)

10500

10100

9770

9460

9590

9330

8940

8640

9150

9720

9900

10400

11100

10300

9950

9590

9900

10400

10800

11800

12500

14900

14300

14200

14100

14600

15100 

14400

13600

14500

Suspended sediment

M.vm

(ppm)

1310

1330

1120

639

684

711

666

531

630

594

630

684

837

612

495

531

585

675

837

945

855

910

855

738

711

765

747 

639

459 6!1

Tons

per 

day

37100

36300

A 29500

16300

17700

17900

16100

12400

A 15600

15600

16800

19200

25100

17000

13300

13700

15600

19000

24400

A 30100

28800

36200

33000

28300

moo

30200

A 30400 

24800

16800

24300

"

688600

SEPTEMBER

22000

24500

26100

25300

24300

24100

22800

21200

20400

19300

18000

15800

13500

12400

11600

11000

10600

10000

9650

9400

8850

8520

8160

7660 

7030

6590

7150

8750

8800

8520

431980

1490

1840

2000

1920

1870

1820

15CO

1070

638

638

536

425

357

306

272

255

23S

231

24%

231

231

255

24%

230 

17f

144

289

536

570

527

88500

122000

141000

131000

U3000

118000

92300

61200

35100

A 33200

A 26000

18100

13000

10200

8520

7570

6810

6430

6410

5840

5500

5870

5420

4760 

3380

2560

5580

12700

13500

12100

1125550

days) ........................... 21162027

Total suspended sediment load for period May to September 1963 (tons) ................. 8000058

A Computed from partly estimated-concentration graph.
KNIK RIVER BASIN Continued 

2810. KNIK RIVER NEAR PALMER Con

Particle-size analyses of suspended sediment, May 

(Methods of analysis: B, bottom withdrawal tube; C, chemically dispersed; 

P, pipct; S, sieve; V, visual accumulation tube; W, in 

Date of collection

une 28 ..

une 29 .

ug. 20............

Sept. 25. ..........

Time 

(24 hour)

1445 

1300 

0840 

1630 

0930 

1030

1310 

1300 

1115 

0900 

1150 

1400

Sampling 

point

Water 

temperature 

(°V

46 

42 

39 

41 

37 

37

39 

40 

46 

39 

38 

38

Discharge 

(cfs)

2100 

80140 

143000 

155000 

119000 

27400

6480 

23400 

21600 

25300 

29900 

6750

Sediment 

concentration 

(ppm)

232 

3050 

1690 

1390 

1070 

851

1180 

1480 

1010 

1390 

1420 

178

Sediment 

discharge 

(tons per day)

0.002

41 

12 

13 

17 

20 

25

15 

29 

30 

29 

25 

46

0.00

57 

18 

18 

22 

25 

37

23

42 

45 

43 

37 

55
MATANUSKA RIVER BASIN Con

2840. MATANUSKA RIVER AT 

LOCATION. At gaging station on left bank 100 feet downstream from bridge on Glenn Highwa

DRAINAGE AREA. 2,070 square miles, approximately.

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Chemical analyses: May 1949 to October 1950, April 1951 to July 1953

Water temperatures: March to August 1952, April to September 1953, December 1958 to Se

Sediment records: April 1953 to September 1954, April 1958 to September 1963. 

EXTREMES (for observation), 1961-63. Dissolved solids: Maximum, 184 ppm Dec. 10, 1963; 

Hardness: Maximum, 140 ppm Dec. 10, 1963; minimum 67 ppm Aug. 1-5, 7, 8, 10, 1961, Aug

Specific conductance: Maximum, 309 micromhos Jan. 7, 1963; minimum, 147 micromhos Aug. 

EXTREMES, 1958-63. Water temperatures: Maximum, 56°F June 16, 25, 1959.

Sediment concentrations: Maximum daily, 16,100 ppm Aug. 25, 1959.

Sediment loads: Maximum daily, 1,300,000 tons Aug. 25, 1959.

Chemical analyses in parts per million, water year 

Date of collection

Oct. 3-7, i960......

Oct. 13, 21, 27. .... 

Nov. 30... ..........

Jan. 9, 18, 22, 

27, 1961... .......

Mar. 13, 20.........

Apr. 3, 7, 10, 20...

May 22-31...........

June 2-4, 7-13. .....

June 14-23.. ........

July 1, 3, 7-10..,. .

July 21, 23-25, 28, 

29, 31. ...........

Aug. 1-5, 7, 8, 10..

Aug. 21-25, 28-31... 

Sept. 1, 4-8........

Sept. 11-16, 18-20.. 

Sept. 21-23, 25-30..

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

3400 

2110 

910 

970

908 

480

560 

1220 

2240 

2640 

3090 

5580

12500 

13500 

10400 

10200

12100 

12000

8010 

7680 

 1320 

5250 

3880

Silica 

(SiOa)

7.5 

8.9 

8.5 

8.5

7.1 

7.3

7.0 

5.9 

6.9 

6.7 

6.1 

6.1

6.4 

6.4 

5.8 

5.0

4.5 

4.7

5.2 

4.2

5.1 

4.7 

5.4

Iron 

(Fe)

0.02 

.02 

.00 

.00

.07 

.00

.03 

.07 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00

.00 

.00 

.02 

.02

.02 

.02

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.02

Calcium 

(Ca)

32 

36 

39 

37

40 

39

40 

34 

31 

29 

27 

26

23 

24 

26 

25

24 

24

26 

26 

28 

29 

29

Magnesium 

(Mg)

7.1 

6.7 

8.8 

10

5.2 

6.7

6.4 

6.0 

4.3 

4.0 

4.3 

3.6

4.5 

3.8 

2.4 

2.1

2.1

1.7

3.2 

2.4 

3.4 

3.5 

4.7

Sodium 

(Na)

7.6 

7.4 

7.8 

7.8

7.3 

7.9

8.0 

7.3 

7.4 

7.3 

7.0 

5.6

4.9 

5.3 

4.2 

3.5

4.3 

3.1

3.9 

3.4 

3.9 

4.1 

5.1

Potassium 

(K)

0.8 

.6 

.9 

.9

.7 

.8

.6 

.7 

.9 

.9 

.8 

.6

.7 

.7 

.7 

.6

.6 

.6

.6 

.6 

.6

.7 

.7

Bicarbonate 

(HCOS )

83 

89 

101 

100

102 

102

102 

96 

82 

77 

73 

70

68 

68 

64 

62

61 

60

63 

63 

68 

72 

72

Sulfa

(90.

50 

55 

52 

52

45 

43

43 

36 

36 

32 

34 

27

25 

26 

28 

24

23 

23

29 

27 

33 

33 

38
MATANUSKA RIVER BASIN Conti

2840. MATANUSKA RIVER AT PALMER 

Date of collection

Oct. 2-6, 9,

Apr. 25-28, 30-

May 7, 8, 10, 15-18.

June 12-15, 18-20...

July 1, 3, 4, 6-8,

July 17-19, 23-30...

Aug. 22, 24, 26-31..

Sept. 11, 12, 14,

Sept. 24, 26-28.....

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

2,850 

1,700 

1,600 

1,600 

760

1,090 

1,700 

3,880 

6,330

18,600 

17,400

14,400 

14,000 

11,200

9,500 

15,100 

7,196

4,350 

2,960

Silica 

(SiO,)

6.0 

5.9 

6.5 

6.5 

7.0

5.6 

5.9 

5.1 

5.3

9.2 

6.6

5.9 

5.2 

4.8

4.5 

5.4 

5.9

6.1 

6.2

Iron

(Fe)

0.00 

.02 

.00 

.00 

.02

.07 

.08 

.26 

.24

.00 

.00

.00 

.02 

.00

0.00 

.00 

.02

.00 

.02

Calcium 

(Ca)

32 

36 

39 

40 

40

38 

35 

26 

29

27 

25

24 

23 

22

22 

24 

28

32 

35

Magnesium 

(Mg)

5.4 

4.9 

5.2 

4.6 

5.8

2.9 

2.9 

3.4 

3.6

3.0 

3.5

3.0 

3.0 

2.9

2.7 

3.5 

3.9

4.5 

5.0

Sodium 

(Na)

5.8 

6.3 

6.9 

6.9 

7.2

7.1 

7.0 

6.0 

6.2

4.3 

4.0

4.3 

3,2 

2.8

3.0 

4.3 

4.5

5.6 

6.5

Potassium 

(K)

0.7 

.6 

.7 

.6 

.8

.7 

.8 

.9 

.8

.6 

.6

.9 

.4 

.4

0.7 

.6 

.4

.5 

.5

Bicarbonate 

(HCO,)

80 

87 

92 

92 

96

88 

84 

70 

74

79 

71

67 

63 

60

bO 

66 

72

78 

84

Suit ate 

(S04)

42 

46 

50 

50 

48

38 

34 

28 

30

23 

23

24 

22 

23

 ft 

25 

30

36 

43
MATANUSKA RIVER BASIN Conti

2840. MATANUSKA RIVER AT PALMER 

Chemical analyses, in parts per millie »ater y

Date of collection

Oct. 1, 3, 5, 1962..

Apr. 10-12, 15, 19. . 

Apr. 24-26, 29, 30..

 ay 11, 12, 14-18,

June 11-15, 17-20...

July 22-27, 30, 31..

Aug. 21, 22, 26-30.. 

Sept. 4-6, 9, 10....

Mean 

discharge 

(els)

2310 

a630 

520 

610 

480

480 

660 

1540

2850 

6620

6060 

6690 

7260 

16200 

14400 

10600

9760 

13600 

9680 

7080 

4950 

3090

Silica 

(SiO,)

6.5 

6.1 

5.4 

4.9 

5.9

13 

6.6 

16

9.8 

14

14 

8.0 

2.2 

9.5 

12 

13

12 

12 

5.0 

8.4 

12 

14

Iron

(Fe)

0.00 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.00

.00 

.00 

.00

.00 

.00

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00

Calcium 

(Ca)

37 

47 

43 

41 

42

42 

40 

34

31 

27

28 

27 

26 

26 

26 

25

24 

27 

27 

26 

28 

31

Magnesium 

(Mg)

5.2 

5.6 

6.3 

6.9 

6.3

4.1 

4.6 

4.3

3.3 

2.4

2.7 

2.2 

1.7 

1.5 

1.2 

1.5

2.3 

1.7

2.3 

2.9 

3.2

Sodium 

(Na)

7.0 

7.9 

7.6 

8. 

7.

8. 

8. 

7.

7. 

5.

5. 

4. 

4, 

3. 

3. 

3.

3. 

3.

3*. 

4.

5.

Potassium 

(K)

0.6 

.7 

.9 

.9 

.6

.7 

.8 

.8

.8 

.6

.8 

.6 

.5 

.5 

.6 

.6

.5 

.5 

.6 

.8 

.9 

.5

Bicarbonate 

(HCO3 )

88 

105 

103 

100 

100

98 

92 

80

76 

66

70 

64 

61 

64 

60 

59

58 

69 

68 

64 

66 

73

Suit at

(S04

49 

56 

53 

56 

48

42 

43 

41

35 

28

30 

28 

25 

21 

23 

21

21 

19 

24 

23 

30 

37

a Mean discharge period Dec, 1-30.
MATANUSKA RIVER BASIN Contin

2840. MATANUSKA RIVER AT PALMER C

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 

October .......

November .....

January. .......

April..........

June ..........

July........... 

August ........ 

September .....

1

52 

42

2

45

t,",

3

37

33

46

4

43 

45

5

36

44

6

35

42

7

14

j

8

43 

41

9

32

10

34

41

1 1

47

12

43

13

35

14

42 

39

15

2

Day

16

44 

43

17

45

18

45 

41

19 
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

2>£S
MATANUSKA RIVER BASIN Continued 

2840. MATANUSKA RIVER AT PALMER Cont

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 1

April..........

July...........

August ........

1

44

2

46

3

49

4 5 6 7

45

8

45

9

45

10

34

11

34

12

33

13

45

14 15

32

Day

16 17 18 19

33

42
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

MATANUSKA RIVER BASIN Continued

2840. MATANUSKA RIVER AT PALMER Continued

Suspended sediment, water year October 1960 to September 1961

Day

1..

2..

3.,

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11.. 

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19.. 

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22.. 

23..

APRIL

Mean

discharge

(cfs)

12700

11600

11100

9700

9200

8850

8950

9550

9100

10800

1050U

9800

8400

8600

10200

10700

10800

10500

11300

11200

11000

10*00 

9910

24.. 10100

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

11200

11700

12000

13500

14700

13800

14200

336060

Suspended sediment

Mean

tration 

(ppm)

Tons

per 

day

JULY

1500

1370

1120

960

950

970

1030

1280

1160

1940

15BO

1270

1150

1250

1310

1400

1410

1340

1150

1090

1030

950 

870

1140

1130

1040

1200

51400

A 42900

33600

A 25100

A 23600

A 23200

24900

33000

28500

56600

44800

33600

26100

29000

36100

40400

41100

38000

35100

33000

30600

A 26700 

23300

31100

34200

A 32800

A 38900

2070 ' 75*00

3320

3030

2050

-

132000

A 113000

78600

1316600

MAY

Mean

discharge

(cf.)

1270

1210

1290

1540

1870

2380

2820

3000

3410

3630

3040 

2370

2000

1900

1980

2690

3630

3230

245o

2300

2550

3230

3170

335C

3230

3130

3070

3090

3210

2890

81870

Suspended sediment

Mean

tration 

(ppm)

372

455

500

605

950

1370

1190

1600

1370

735

1120

542

380

435

735

1010

1970

1080

745

610

887

825

892

670

470

380

495

508

302

"

AUGUST

14700

13600

14300

14100

13300

10400

8650

735o

7080

9600

9250

8950

8500

SoOO

7660

7440

758^

8150

9200

925o

9300

9300 

935o

8800

8050

7660

6780

6180

6220

6100

5780

280580

2240

2000

2120

2560

1990

1680

1600

1370

1700

2130

1040

985

880

650

525

600

688

595

560

685

895

992 

1380

1110

1020

932

700

545

48j

485

455

-

Tons

per 

day

1280

l49o

1740

2520

4800

8800

9060

13000

12600

7200

7240 

7170

2930

1950

2320

5:140

9900

17200

A 7140

A 4630

4200

774U

7060

8070

5840

A 397U

3150

4130

4400

2360

192930

88900

73400

81800

97400

71500

A 47200

37400

27200

A 32500

55200

261)00

A 23800

A 20200

14oOu

10800

12000

1410u

13100

A 13900

A 17100

22500

24900 

34BOU

2640u

2220o

A 19JOO

A 12800

9090

«u6o

7990

7100

972640

JUNE

Mean

discharge

(cfs)

2980

3o2o

2830

2690

2870

3800

4850

4330

4880

7040

10000

8350

7850

9100

10200

119oO

13200

15200

501)0

34UO

5000

46 JO

2600

4200

3700

3200

13100

13100

285050

Su">ended sediment

MBMI

(pp-n)

315

408

330

220

550

1580

2690

1150

1540

4320

3780

2080

1340

2240

2490

2690

32?0 

3820

4160

4720

3030

3480

2710

4430

4300

<:78o

3000

2600

1830

-

Tons

per 

day

A 2530

J^30

2520

1600

A 4260

A 16200

J5200

13400

20300

62100

102000

46900

28400

55000

68600

86100

17000 

4700O

71000

91000

liooo

41000

07000

51000

65000

03000

07000

92000

64700

2287040

SEPTEMBER

5640

5400

5580

5250

4790

4510

4490

4230

3830

3920

5100

5890

5960

5610

5640

[ 5580

5340

4880

4540

4070

3780

4930

4790

4230

3800

3560

3460

3560

3900

139930

440

4UU

285

2' 0

255

2CO

150

1 5 o

155

170

320

680

1060

1030

1120

1050

770

525

385

240

180

210

191

9 J

7 J

60

50

55

65

--

-

6700

A 5830

A 4290

3400

3300

2440

1820

1710

A 1600

A 1800

4410

0800

7000

5600

7000

5800

A 1100

6920

4720

2640

1840

2800

A 2460

1030

718

577

467

529

684

~

151715

Total discharge for period May to September 1961 (cfs-days) ........................... 1123490

Total load for period May to September 1961 (tons) .................................... 4920925

A Computed from partly estimates-concentration graph.
ALASKA WEST OF LONGITUDE 141°

MATANUSKA RIVER BASIN Continued

2340. MATANUSKA RIVER AT PALMER Continued

Suspended sediment, water year October 1961 to September 1962

Day

APRIL

1 Suspended sediment Mean h~ 

JU. Mean ^

charge

(cfs)

1.. 510

2.. 544

3..

4. 

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10.. 

11..

12..

1?..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18. .

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

1..

2..

3..

4. .

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15.. 

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

604

580

580

544

604

598

616

592 

562

568

568

568

568

616

628

668

682

745

815

858

906

914

890

994

1020

1030

1000

1050

21422

Oration

(ppm)

18

20

25

24

46

42

36

per 

day

A 25

29

41

38

72

62

59

40 64

22 36

20 ' 

18

16

« 3 £

27

24

22 34

28

28

43

A 43

41 68

24

24

28

54

126

210

238

79

124

197

169

186

190

138

41

A 43

A 52

109

277

A 490

582

195

298

529

465

517

A 510

391

 ' 5196

JULY

16800

14100

13400

15500

17800

17100

17100

17000

16500

15500

12800

12300

12500

11900

12400 

13100

14000

15300

14400

14500

15300

13100

12700

12700

2340 106000

5500

6120

A 210000

221000

5320 I 223000

2600 j A 120000

2590

2840

2370

2200

2160

120000

131000

109000

A 98000

90400

MAY JUNE

*. , . 

1 Suspended sediment

Mean 1 ~ ~

discharge

(cfs)

1 1040

1080

1140

1250

1300

1410

1460

1540

1720

1720

1550

1580

1540

1550

1700

1790

2120

2140

2500

2890

3410

3280

3320

4120

4400

4850

4430

3750

4380

5090

Mean ' Ton(j

"tration" p

(ppm) | day

187

155

166

316

390

338

318

383

280

297

157

160

185

180

270

332

826

960

525

452

511

1070

A 1400

Suspended sediment

Mean ' 

dis. Mean Tong

charge

(cfs)

5790

5460

tration 

(ppm)

1840

908

4850 516

4880 401

4970

1290 4970

1250 , 6110

1590 6830

A 1300

1380

8500

12800

470

480

725

150

960

450

657 14900 800

A 680 15500 780

769 ' 16700

753

1240

1600

4730

A 5500

1000 A 6800

1210

1710

790

815

2010

15700

20300

160

620

940

21300 , 150

23300 i 100

22100 230

21900

9440 22700

15700 24200

7000

7300

22400

1380 16400

760 A 10000

860

501

760

1600

18500

14300

12300

140

060

820

830

680

620

12300 , 140

per 

day

28800

13400

6760

5280

A 6300

6440

12000

21200

45000

326000

233000

116000

142000

111000

216000

239000

A 260000

252000

245000

249000

315000

141000

64900

53800

71100

14800 940 < 117000

10300 1 18600

5070 18700

8990 1 17100

22000

AUGUST

440 122000

590

790

131000

129000

"

3746380

SEPTEMBER

16300 2550 112000 10500 200C

15300 2100 A 87000 | 8700

14100 ' 1900

12000 i 1710

9550

9100

9350

9450

9450

9400

1250

A 72000 10400

55400 ' 11100

32200

1380 33900

99C

140C

1500

8300 , 840

6910 820

1200 A 30000 6270

1180

1440

1200

1 

1800 62200 9600 | 1000

1840

1600

1220

1240 

1380

1700

2800

61100

54000

39200

41500 

48800

64300

116000

9650 1100

9650

10000

8260

30100 5790

36700 5390

A 30000

A 26000

A 29000

1760 45800

1910

1580

8030 ' 1420

7900 ! 720

2100 81600 8300 860

2300 90000

2200

2000

2080

2060

12900 ' 1780

12700

12500

14000

15200

15400

16200

446700

1720

1700

A 91000

A 71000

71300

70600

62000

59000

57400

2080 78600

2400

3200

2300

A 98000

133000

A 100000

2979000

12400

14700

12300

11600

11500

11300

10900

13100

17600

23600

19200

12400

51600

35200

30800

A 15000

A 19000

2480 ! 83000

3000 ' A 120000

1700

1700

1450

1700

1200

1680

56400

5160

4940

A 57000

A 23000

A 39000

A 45000

A 19000

15300

700 i 11800

510 A 600

390

330

289

4790 265

4760

4480

4140

3920

3730

3590

240

A 5700

A 4600

3850

3430

A 3100

178 i 2150 

160 A innn

130

113

A 1400

1200

92 A 926

131

3640 132

A 1300

1300

3550 140 A 1300

3410

A 53000 3300

45000 3260

A 52000

35300

59400

2980 142000

7420 , 473000

8130 421000

3980 133000

3110

2970

140 A 1300

13T A 1200

156

120

107

2870 90

2740 ! 74

2660 73

2540 70

 ~

1370

A 1000

858

697

547

A 520

A 480

258228

Total discharge for period April to September 1962 (cf s-days) ......................... 1481092

Total load for period April to September 1962 (tons) .................................. 9637331

A Computed from partly estimates-concentration graph.
IJUALITf OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

HATANUSKA RIVER BASIN Continued

2840. MATANUSKA RIVER AT PALMER Continued

Suspended sediment, water year October 1962 to September 1963

Day

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7,.

8..

id.

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

18..

19..

20..

21.. 

22.. 

23..

24..

2$..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

APRIL

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

460

450

450

480

500

520

510

510

510

500

480

470

460

460

460

470

470

480

490

500

520

532

530

526

550

556

640

745

773

787

Suspended sediment

Mean

(ppm)

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

43

39

41

30

30

25

40

40

40

40

50

60

76

70

62

70

67

80

100

136

288

Tons

per 

day

E 37

E 36

E 36

E 39

E 40

E 42

E 41

E 41

E 41

58

50

52

E 37

E 37

31

51

51

52

53

68

84

109

100

88

104

100

138

201

284

612

JULY

17400

15800 

14300

14600

13800

14700

16100

17000

16400

18700

18800

1680U

17400

15500

12200

10200

9800

10800 

11800 

11100

10700

10300

9800

9150

9050

9050

10400

11600

422650

4550

3120 

2510

2660

2620

2860

3050

3340

2950

4330

4180

3050

S 215000

133000 

96900

105000

97600

114000

132000

153000

131000

150000 

219000

212000

138000

3330 156000

2830 j 118000

1950 64200

1600

1460

1660 

2100 

1840

1490

1350

1210

1080

1070

44100

38600

66900 

55100

43000

37500

32000

26700

26100

1280 31300

1370 38500

2010 63000

3048400

MAY

Mean 

discharge

(cf.)

829

1060

1550

2050

1880

1740

1510

1570

1740

1440

1420

1800

2270

2950

2700

2950

3110

3500

4140

4400

5290

6430

7580

6590

6110

5830

6070

6910

7400

7620

7000

11700

12200 

13200

11700

11700

9250

7490

Suspended sediment

Mean

concentration

(ppm)

416

481

819

1310

1590

884

682

806

754

702

696

897

1460

1610

1190

1230

1250

1150

1290

2060

2900

3630

3560

1660

978

737

1120

2640

3000

2670

1380

AUGUST

1800

1780 

1930

1690

1730

1170

899

7000 856

7000

7540 

7940

8450

9300 

10400

10700

10200

11600 

18700

18000

14900

11700 

21100

18400

15200

14200

9400

7490

6790

6590

6430

347870

856

1000 

1200

1530

Tons

per 

day

A 931

1380

3430

7250

8070

4150

2780

3420

3540

2730

2670

4360

8950

12800

8680

9800

0500

0900

A 4400

4500

1400

3000

2800

9500

6100

1600

8400

9200

59900

54900

26100

56900

5B600 

68800

53400

54600

29200

18200

16200

16200 

20400

25700

34900

2220 62300

2460 71100

2380

2540 

3260

4070

3360

2240 

3410

4170

3700

3280

2040

1420

1060

1230

1230

65500 

79600

164000

19BOOO

135000 

86400

70800 

194000

JUNE

Mean 

discharge

(cf.)

6550

6430

6110

6030

5830

5750

5680

5680

6150

6470

6190

6230

7040

6910

6510

6150

6350

6830

7180

7580

7720

7940

7620

70BO

6710

7040

7130

6830

6830

8380

""

Suspended sediment

Mein

tration

(pp-n)

1080

938

677

639

626

449

422

348

683

1270

724

739

1500

1420

950

676

598

832

1350

2360

2480

2540

1740

1110

781

1440

1460

918

717

1160

"

"~

Tons

per 

day

19100

16300

11200

10400

9850

6970

6470

5340

A 11300

22200

12100

12400

28500

26500

16700

A 11200

10200

15300

26200

48300

51700

54900

35800

21200

14100

27800

28100

A 16900

13000

A 26200

""

616230

SEPTEMBER

6710 12->0

6590

6870

7180

1200

1210

13.-0

7360 10?0

7080

6470

6750 

7220

6910

6350

6030 

5030

4220

3950

3660 

3550

3410

3350

3280 

3200 

3070

207000 2910

152000 2850

126000 2790

51800 3030

28700 ' 3640

19400

21900

21400

2258000

3390

91Q

S'.O

BIO 

910

7>0

5*0 

480

395

300

240 

190

160

A 23200

A 21400

22200

26200

21700

A 18700

A 14700

14600 

17700

A 14000

9260 

A 7810

A 5360

A 3420

A 2560 

A 1880

1530

145 A 1340

150 

140

110 

115

110

80

80

110

A 1360 

A 1240

A 950 

953

864

616

A 603

900

100 A 983

120

3150 110

146590

A 1100

936

260165

Total discharge for period April to September 1963 (cfs-days) .................... .. 1251268

Total suspended sediment load for period April to September 1963 (tons) .. . 6773649

Estimated. 

S Computed by subdividing day. 

A Computed from partly estiraated-concentration graph.
MATANUSKA RIVER BASIN Continued 

2840 MATANUSKA RIVER AT PALMER Continu

Particle-size analyses of suspended sediment, water year Octob

(Methods of analysis: B, bottom withdrawal tube; C, chemically dispersed; 

P, pipet; S, sieve; V, visual accumulation tube; W, in 

Date of collection

Aug. 20. ...........

Time 

(24 hour)

0920 

1345 

1425 

1200

Sampling 

point

Water 

temperature 

(°F)

33 

35 

50 

45

Discharge

(cfs)

703 

1580 

9800 

21200

Sediment 

concentration 

(ppm)

175 

2050 

1400 

3190

Sediment 

discharge 

(tons per day)

0.002

15 

4 

20 

19

0.004

17 

5 

27 

28
KUSKOKWIM RIVER BA

3040. KUSKOKWIM RIVER AT C

LOCATION. At gaging station on right bank at village of Crooked Creek, 0.2 mile upstr

DRAINAGE AREA, 31,000 square miles, approximately.

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Chemical analyses: May 1957 to September 1963.

Water temperatures: May 1957 to September 1963. 

EXTREMES (for observation), 1961-63. Dissolved solids: Maximum, 179 ppm Jan. 24, 1961

Hardness: 109 ppm Oct. 1-13, 1962; minimum, 46 ppm May 24-31, 1962.

Specific conductance: Maximum, 292 micromhos Jan 24, 1961; minimum, 93 micromhos May 

EXTREMES, 1957-63. Water temperatures: Maximum, 68°F June 28, 1959, June 22, 1960, J

Chemical analyses in parts per million, water year 

Date of collection

Jan. 24, 1961.......

May 25-31, June 1-3.

June 14-20. .........

June 21, 22, 24, 25,

July 1, 3-10. .......

July 21-31,. ........

Aug. 21-31..........

Sept. 21-30.........

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

a 15900 

45000 

61100 

56500 

96600

71400 

77700 

68300 

72900 

129300

94500 

111000 

90800 

142000 

112000

Silica

(SiOj

10 

6.7 

10 

8.9 

10

11

9.8 

9.4 

9.8 

7.7

11.0 

10.0 

11.0 

11.0 

10.0

Iron 

(Fe)

0.05 

.03 

.03 

.05 

.03

.03 

.07 

.07 

.03 

.09

.05 

.05 

.05 

.07 

.03

Calcium 

(Ca)

32 

18 

21 

23 

28

34 

27 

25 

28 

29

30 

26 

28 

21 

23

Magnesium 

(Mg)

6.7 

4.8 

5.0 

4.8 

2.9

3.2 

5.5 

6.2 

4.9 

1.8

2.9 

4.6 

3.4 

4.3 

4.5

Sodium

(Na)

4.1 

1.5 

2.1 

2.1 

1.8

2.7 

2.5 

2.1 

2.0 

1.7

2.0 

1.7 

1.9 

2.9 

2.3

Potassium 

(K)

21 

1.0 

1.0 

1.0 

1.0

1.3 

.9 

.9 

.9 

1.1

1.1 

1.0 

.9 

.8 

.8

Bicarbonate 

(HCO,)

110 

68 

79 

79 

86

94 

96 

92 

89 

82

86 

86 

86 

76 

80

Sulfa

(SO

24 

11 

12 

13 

16

22 

18 

16 

19 

18

20 

15 

18 

11 

12
KUSKOKWIM RIVER BASIN Contin

3040. KUSKOKWIM RIVER AT CROOKED CREE

Chemical analyses, in parts per Billion . water yea

Date of collection

May 24-31, 1962. ....

Aug. 11, 12, 14, 

15, 17, 18, 20....

Sept. 21-30.........

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

103 , 000 

200 , 000 

147,000 

122,000 

128,000

63,400

48,700 

67,700 

164,000 

87,400 

53 , 000

Silica 

(SiO.)

10 

8.6 

7.7 

9.5 

6.7

9.4

8.9 

7.5 

7.0 

8.2 

10

Iron 

(Fe)

0.05 

.10 

.09 

.05 

.05

.03

.03 

.07 

.09 

.09 

.12

Calcium 

(Ca)

23 

15 

17 

21 

29

32

31 

27 

27 

27 

28

Magnesium 

(Mg)

4.3 

1.9 

3.2 

4.6 

5.1

5.8

6.8 

6.6 

5.5 

5.7 

7.2

Sodium 

(Na)

.8 

.2 

.3 

.8 

.0

.2

.4

.0 

.6 

.8 

.2

Potassium 

(K)

0.7 

.9 

.6 

.9 

1.2

1.7

1.2 

1.3 

1.5 

1.0 

1.0

Bicarbonate 

(HCOS )

79 

54 

62 

76 

97

109

108 

96 

91 

93 

104

Sulfate 

(SOJ

13 

6.0 

9.0 

10 

18

22

22 

18 

17 

17 

17

Chemical analyses, in par s per million, water yea

Oct. 1-13, 1962. ....

June 28-30, 1963. ... 

July 1-10. .........

Sent. 1, 2, 4, 6-10.

41000 

33000 

29500 

96000 

120000 

118000

113000 

112000 

146000 

246000 

147000 

81300 

62100

12 

11 

12 

6.8 

6.6 

6.6

5.7 

5.7 

5.5 

5.2 

6.4 

7.0 

6.5

0.12 

.09 

.07 

.00 

.00 

.00

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00

30

33 

34 

26 

27 

27

27 

28 

26 

23 

26 

29 

30

8.0 

8.0 

8.0 

3.9 

5.4 

6.8

5.4 

5.1 

4.9 

5.1 

4.6 

5.6 

5.4

.5 

.6 

.6 

.9 

.7 

.8

.7 

.7 

.4 

.4 

.7 

.0 

.2

1.0 

1.0 

1.0

.7 

.7 

.7

.7 

.7 

.8 

.8 

.8 

.8 

.8

117 

124 

128 

89 

90 

96

88 

90 

90 

76 

85 

100 

104

17 

17 

16 

9.0 

15 

17

15 

14 

13 

14 

13 

14 

16
KUSKOKWIM RIVER BASIN Continued

3040. KUSKOKWIM RIVER AT CROOKED CREEK Co

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 1960 

June. .........

July...........

September .....

]

50

2

40

3

46

4

48

5

55

6

50

7

55

8

_

58

9

53

10

00

1 1

5J

12

60

13

54

14

5U

15

68

Day

16

56

17

56

18

62

19

51

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 1961 

October .......

November .....

January........

May...........

July...........

September .....

1

36

2

fin

3 4 5 6

 i4

7 8 9 10 1 1 12 13 14 15

Day

16 17 18 19 
ALASKA WEST OF LONGITUDE 141°

ss <s.

: s g . 3 £

X &C X 3 OH
YUKON RIVER BASIN

3560. YUKON RIVER AT EAGLE

LOCATION. At gaging station on left bank at Eagle, 0.1 mile upstream from Mission Creek, 

downstream from the international boundary. 

DRAINAGE AREA. 113,500 square miles, approximately. 

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Chemical analyses: April to October 1951, June to September 1952, Jul

Water temperatures: May to October 1951, June to August 1952, October 1961 to September 

Sediment records: July and October 1954, April and August 1955, July 1956 (periodic), O

EXTREMES, 1951-52, 1961-63. Water temperatures: Maximum, 65°F Aug. 1, 2, 1962.

Sediment concentrations (1961-63): Maximum daily, 2,480 ppm July 15, 1963

Sediment loads (1961-63): Maximum daily, 1,850,000 tons July 15, 1963.

Chemical analyses, in parts per million, water year 

Date of collection

June 25- 

July 14, 1962... ..

Aug. 26-Sept. 4.....

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

329,000 

220,000 

177,000 

174,000 

142,000 

114,000

Silica 

(SiO.)

9.0 

.5 

.6 

.8 

.5 

.2

Iron 

(Fe)

0.03 

.02 

.02 

.03 

.02 

.02

Calcium 

(Ca)

23 

24 

25 

25 

27 

27

Magnesium 

(Mg)

6.9 

8.0 

8.1 

7.9 

8.4 

8.3

Sodium 

(Na)

2.0 

2.4 

2.8 

2.7 

2.5 

2.2

Potassium 

(K)

0.9 

1.2 

1.3 

1.2 

1.0 

.9

Bicarbonate 

(HCOS )

83 

91 

94 

95 

99 

99

Sulfate 

(S04)

20 

21 

23 

23 

24 

24
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

3560. YUKON RIVER AT EAGLE Contin

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 196

July........... 

August ......

1

52 

65

2

53

3

53

4 5 6

49

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Day

16 17 18 19 

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 1

May ........... 

June ..........

July........... 

September .....

1

50 

54 

56

'

50 

55

3

51 

S7 

57

4

51

5

51 

58

6

51 

58

7

51

8

51 

62

9

52 

62

10

5* 

62

11

54 

62

12

54 

62

13

53

61

14

53

59

15

53 

58

Day

16

52 

59

17

52

59

18

52 

59

19

53 

58
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

3560. YUKON RIVER AT EAGLE Continued

Suspended sediment, water year October 1961 to September 1962

Day

1.. 

2..

3..

4..

5..

&..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

1.. 

2..

3..

4..

6..

7..

8..

9..

11..

12..

13..

15..

16..

17..

19..

20..

21.. 

22..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

APRIL

I Suspended sediment

discharge

(cfs) 

 

370000 

350000

342000

320000

290000

280000

Mean

tration 

(ppm)

Ton,

per 

day

^~

JULY

299 

274

299000 

259000

265 245000

275 238000

MAY [ JUNE

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

Suspended sediment J Suspended sediment

Mean

tration 

(ppm)

Tons ' dis- M"an Tons

per 

day

charge 

(cfs)

360000 

360000

350000

340000

330000

320000

310000

310000

300000

290000

290000

297000

tration 

(ppm)

_

per 

day

312000

331000

377000

403000

420000

453000

466000

452000

416000

398000

--

--

~

397000

400000

404000 1 

1

409000

401000

399000

402000

390000

11087000

482

418

404

414

345

532000

452000

435000

449000

363000

2231000

AUGUST SEPTEMBER

190000 

190000

191000

190000

770 395000 181000

760 , 392000

1340 | 687000

260 204000 19*000 958

272 206000 200000 ' 902

270000 328 239000

280000 410

272000 503

310000

369000

274000 532 394000

275000

255000

247000

242000

2*0000

240000

232000

230000

220000

210000

210000

200000

200000

200000

200000

7987000

640

497

441

475000

342000

294000

370 242000

190000 1010

183000

179000

184000

184000

176000

170000

730

451

440

531

591

436

168000 358

276 179000 164000 401

350

411 

410

791

667

227000 169000 458

257000 

A 250000

470000

378000

564 320000

482 i 260000

424 | 229000

412 ' 222000

436 235000

9121000

169000

167000

166000

169000

172000

172000

497

462

502000

487000

518000

361000

218000

456 223000

177000 796 380000

170000 468

163000 196

149000 67

151000

143000

133000

218000 130000

263000

281000

200000

162000

178000

209000

227000 

244000

126000

215000

86200

27000

182 74200

151

108

58300

38800

89 31200

85 28900

122000 84 ! 27700

120000 j 207 67100

118000 i 94

115000 82

113000

111000 

110000

208000 111000

454 203000 , 110000

352 i 161000

273 ! 127000

233 108000

174000 ' 221 104000

179000

5510000

231 112000

8722000

29900

25500

55 16800

61 

53

18300 

15700

50 15000

49 14600

110000 45 13400

109000 44 12900

109000 45

110000 50

3935000

13200

1*800

1B&0000

Total discharge for period June to September 1962 (cfs-days) .......................... 28519000

Total suspended sediment load for period June to September 1962 (tons) ................ 31896000

A Computed from partly estimated-concentration graph.
ALASKA WEST OF LONGITUDE 141°

YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

3560. YUKON RIVER AT EAGLE Continued

Suspended sediment, water year October 1962 to September 1963

Day

1..

2..

3..

4. .

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

1..

4. .

5..

6..

7. .

8..

11..

12..

13..

14..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

Tot

Tot

discharge

(cfs)

U- -

251000

245000

230000

232000

235000

237000

236000

232000

235000

232000

242000

268000

261000

249000

239000

231000

227000

223000

220000

218000

210000

210000

210000

204000

199000

194000

189000

186000

APRIL

Suspended sediment

Mean

concen-

(ppm)

JULY

270

345

250

310

385

460

495

530

690

710

740

2010

1490

1000

840

740

640

535

470

362

314

314

356

365

370

382

391

343

7089000 ; al discharge for pe

al suspendsd sedime

Tons

day

182000

228000

155000

A 194000

244000

A 294000

315000

332000

438000

445000

484000

S 1450000

1050000

672000

542000

462000

392000

322000

279000

213000

178000

178000

202000

201000

A 199000

200000

20000C

172000

12668000

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

26000

30000

36000

55000

84000

120000

120000

130000

140000

160000

170000

140000

160000

160000

170000

170000

170000

180000

190000

200000

230000

252000

276000

285000

284000

289000

286000

270000

250000

229000

210000

 

181000

179000

174000

174000

179000

180000

175000

166000

158000

156000

157000

160000

156000

154000

153000

150000

150000

156000

156000

145000

138000

137000

141000

144 "30

]<,4000

142000

138000

132000

4870000

MAY

._.._. ...^

Suspended sediment T

Mean"

(ppm)

6

7

9

12

31

55

55

80

85

120

140

85

120

120

140

140

140

17U

190

230

370

820

1020

1030

939

1070

650

335

320

259

216

AUGUST

346

345

405

540

690

845

765

500

310

250

230

245

322

410

439

465

535

900

1330

1140

72 0

«80

415

560

1080

1060

910

740

"

day

421

567

875

1780

7030

17800

17800

28100

32100

51800

64300

32100

51800

51800

64300

64300

64300

82600

97500

124000

230000

558000

760000

792000

720000

A 835000

502000

244000

L 216000

160000

122000

5994273

discharge

(cfs)

00000

90000

82000

80000

83000

85000

80000

74000

72000

76000

84000

89000

93000

02000

15000

24000

24000

25000

21000

05000

99000

95000

98000

03000

13000

27000

35000

36000

36000

43000

JUNE

Suspended sediment

Mean

concen-

(Ppm)

194

187

203

187

168

158

152

135

132

128

125

141

180

215

250

320

295

240

220

180

140

120

130

145

195

220

240

235

255

250

Tons

day

105000

95900

99800

90900

83000

78900

73900

63400

61300

60800

62100

72000

93800

17000

45000

94000

78000

46000

31000

99600

75200

63200

69500

79500

112000

35000

52000

50000

62000

64000

~

3211800

SEPTEMBER

169000

167000

190000

254000

333000

411000

361000

224000

132000

105000

97500

106000

136000

170000

181000

188000

217000

379000

560000

446000

268000

178000

158000

218000

420000

406000

339000

264000

7543500

125000

123000

118000

116000

115000

117000

118000

119000

117000

116000

120000

121000

131000

136000

140000

143000

141000

137000

133000

131000

128000

126000

124000

123000

123000

120000

119000

3744000

540

400

347

337

351

400

441

515

260

230

210

203

203

218

222

199

142

133

120

110

92

79

74

73

65

57

55

--

riod May to September 1963 (cf s-days) ...........................

nt load for period May t

E Estimated.

S Computed by subdividing day.

o Septem tier 1963 (tons) ......... ........

82000

E 33000

10000

06000

09000

E 26000

40000

65000

82100

72000

E 68000

66300

71800

80000

83900

76800

54000

49200

E 43100

38900

31800

26900

24800

24200

21600

18500

17700

. 2338200

27284000

31755773

780-874 O - 65 - 5
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

1

S I 

1^!-s

 p H

0,2

oil -30

sis rt «g

In _ M

H5 ° s*

*< X

S&jf >,«!

fcl >> rd sediment watenbe; chemical C, sual accumulatio

S-a"-

o) S > 

P *3 >

0 * "

g w

8g- !5 I

s«V

Tj ?*a>>

a, c

 H O

^ o 2 1

S.

1 

I

S

 0

1

S. §w

"c 

a 

E

I

Sediment

i§**

atAa!

L

s

a

1 

a>

3 

H

.3

 a" 

3

1 

a>

1 

fl

1

C

f-.

^

be "^

s -g

'.

C B

a> °

S 3 

5 i.

&

i£

3

M

^.5 

Sg

U

Date ofcollection

analysis

!

§

o

o

0

0

d

2 

o

so 

d

o 

d

o 

d

0

o o'

 ^ 

o 

o

d

o

0

d

>»*

3

) 

2.

3 

5

i

e

o ooo

1 III

1 

o ooo 

o ooo

H H H H

s sss

s sss

s §ss

§ sss

Ol C-* t~- N

O) m ct H

 * W* tO

s sss

CD O O M"

C-* H O (0 QO m CD o

H CD 00 ^

0 OOO §

000 

ooo

^* m o m

H N W H

O) C-* 01 C-* ^ -^ to to

o ooo

 ^ 000 

O O N 00

H H H iH

® to

H

C-* -f* tD 

N H iH 

' W

& XrH bO

(D rt p 3 

W S-a-t;
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

4680. YUKON RIVER AT RAMPART

LOCATION. At gaging station on left bank at Rampart, 0.8 mile downstream from Squaw Cr

upstream from Russian Creek.

DRAINAGE AREA. 199,400 square miles, approximately. 

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Chemical analyses: June 1954 to September 1963.

Water temperatures: June 1954 to September 1963.

Sediment records: June 1962 to August 1963. 

EXTREMES (for observation), 1961-63. Dissolved solids: Maximum, 193 ppm Aug. 9-17, 1962; 

Hardness: Maximum, 162 ppm Aug. 9-17, 1962: minimum, 65 ppm May 28-31, 1962.

Specific conductance: Maximum, 317 micromhos Aug. 9-17, 1962: minimum. 128 micromhos Ma

EXTREMES, 1954-56, 1960-63 . Water temperatures: Maximum. 67°F July 21, 1960.

Chemical alyse in parts per nilli water year Oc

Date of collection

Dec. 9. .............

May 27-31, June 1-3,

June 19, 24-30. .....

Aug. 1, 3-7, 10.. ...

Aug. 21-28, 30. 31..

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

134000 

a 24200 

a 23500 

a 18800 

333000

445000 

428000 

369000 

318000 

234000

241000 

212000 

291000 

257000

Silica 

(SiO,)

7.2 

9.0 

8.3 

6.8 

6.8

7.5 

8.0 

7.7 

7.9 

8.1

8.2 

11 

7.6 

8.0

Iron

(Fe)

0.00 

.03 

.02 

.07 

.02

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.03

.05 

.03 

.02 

.02

Calcium

(Ca)

30 

39 

36 

39 

20

23 

26 

36 

36 

31

30 

34 

34 

42

Magnesium 

(Mg)

12 

12 

12 

9.5 

4.0

5.5 

5.0 

9.0 

11 

8.6

8.3 

8.0 

6.3 

9.5

Sodium

(Na)

3. 

3. 

2. 

5.

2. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

3.

4 . 

4. 

5.

Potassium

(K)

1.1 

2.0 

1.8 

2.5 

1.6

1.3 

1.4

.8 

.9 

1.0

1.2 

1.5 

1.6 

1.4

Bicarbonate 

(HCO3 )

117 

152 

144 

144 

63

76 

88 

112 

119 

107

108 

118 

108 

136

Sulfate

(S04 )

28 

27 

27 

22 

15

20 

17 

38 

40 

30

28 

32 

30 

40

Analysis of additional sample

June 6, 1961. ....... 3463000 6.1 0.02 27 3.8 0.9 0.9 86 14 

Discharge at time of sampling.
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued 

4680. YUKON RIVER AT RAMPART--Co

Chemical analyses, in _parts per million, water year 

Date of collection

June 22-30. .........

July 1-10.. .........

July 11-20..........

AUE 9-17

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

618,000

742 , 000

607,000

517,000

456,000

347,000

317,000

3O5.OOO

Aug. 24.............! 249.000

Sept. 1-7. .......... 345,000

Silica 

(SlOj)

4 7

5.5

7.6

7.1

6.4

6.4

S.5

6.0

7.5

Iron

(Fe)

0.02

.03

.02

.02

.02

.02

.02

.02

.07

.05

Calcium 

(Ca)

21

21

24

28

29

34

35

36

41

32

34

27

Magnesium

3.0

4.7

4.3

6.3

6.8

11

13

13

15

8.3

8.1

Sodium 

(Na)

1.3

1.4

1.6

2.1

2.2

3.6

4.0

3.8

4.3

2.3

2.6

2.2

Potassium 

(K)

.3

.3

.0

.1

.2

.2

.9

.1

.1

.3

.6

.7

Bicarbonate 

(HCO3 )

65

72

82

98

00

20

26

27

44

12

18

93

Sulfate 

(S04 )

13

12

15

20

22

37

43

43

50

25

32

29

al analyses, In parts per million, wate 

June 1, 3, 5-10,

Sept. 21-30. ........

354000

393000

312000

168000

5.2

5.7

4.8

6.4

.02

.02

25

31

26

32

7.9

8.4

9.5

7.1

7.7

2.5

2.6

2.7

3.2

2.6

.7

.7

.9

.8

.5

.8

1.3

1.1

83

108

110

91

116

108

29

28

31

21

32

28

24
ALASKA WEST OF LONGITUDE 141°
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued 

4680. YUKON RIVER AT RAMPART Contin

Periodic determinations of suspended-sediment discharge and particle-s

(Methods of analysis: B, bottom withdrawal tube; C, chemically dispersed; D

Date of collection

June 5, 1963. ...... 

Aug. 8.............

Time 

(24 hour)

1500 

1200 

1400 

1400 

1400

pling 

point

Water 

temperature

CD

52 

53 

44 

40 

47

Discharge

(cfs)

d 593000 

d 454000 

d 249000 

351000 

313000

Sediment 

coucentration 

(ppm)

174 

248 

296 

474 

262

Sediment 

discharge 

(tons per day)

278000 

304000 

199000

0.002

6 

12 

21 

11 

30

0.004

12 

21 

31 

16 

37

d Daily mean discharge
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued 

4760. TANANA RIVER NEAR TANACRO

LOCATION. At gaging station on right bank, 0.2 mile downstream from unnamed tributary, 0.

Robertson River, and 13 miles west of Tanacross. 

DRAINAGE AREA. 8,550 square miles, approximately. 

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Chemical analyses: December 1953 to October 1954, January to Septembe

Water temperatures: June to September 1954, May 1957 to September 1963.

Sediment records: October 1953 to September 1956 (periodic), May 1957 to September 1963 

EXTREMES (for observation), 1961-63. Dissolved solids: Maximum, 310 ppm Dec. 29, 1960; m

Hardness: Maximum, 232 ppm Dec. 29, 1960; minimum, 75 ppm Aug. 21-29, 31, 1963.

Specific conductance: Maximum, 448 micromhos Dec. 29, 1960; minimum, 168 micromhos Aug. 

EXTREMES, 1953-63. Water temperatures (1954, 1957-63): Maximum, 65°F June 2, 7, July 3, 

Sediment concentrations: Maximum daily, 5,370 ppm June 17, 1961.

Sediment loads: Maximum daily, 340,000 tons Aug 28, 1963.

Chemical analyses, in parts per million, water year Oc

Date of collection

Oct. 1-11, 1960. ....

Dec. 29. ............

May 1-10, 1961. .....

May 31, June 1-10.. .

July 1-10.. .........

Sept. 21-27. ........

Mean 

discharge

(ds)

6550 

a 3190 

3000 

6260 

10300 

12600

11500 

17300 

23700 

17500 

15600 

18200

24200 

16100 

16100 

10700 

9570 

8020

Silica 

(SiO,)

16 

18 

44 

15 

11 

11

10 

10 

10 

10 

9.6 

9.0

9.9 

9.7 

10 

10 

11 

9.9

Iron

(Fe)

0.00 

.02 

.00 

.07 

.09 

.10

.07 

.03 

.03 

.03 

.03 

.03

.02 

.03 

.03 

.03 

.03 

.03

Calcium 

(Ca)

28 

44 

62 

41 

32 

28

31 

33 

32 

30 

29 

28

34 

35 

31 

38 

10 

42

Magnesium 

(Mg)

14 

8.6 

19 

4.5 

6.4 

5.7

5.2 

4.8 

5.2 

5.2 

5.0 

4.8

3.2 

3.3 

5.0 

2.9 

5.1 

5.6

Sodium

(Na)

7.9 

6.0 

9.2 

5.2 

5.3 

6.1

5.6 

5.4 

5.1 

5.7 

5.9 

5.6

5.5 

5.5 

5.6 

5.7 

6.0 

5.9

Potassium

(K)

Bicarbonate 

(HCOS )

120 

157 

247 

132 

112 

104

106 

105 

106 

106 

102 

94

110 

110 

108 

114 

198 

134

Sulfate

(S04 )

30 

27 

45 

23 

19 

18

17 

19 

19 

17 

17 

17

18 

19 

19 

22 

25 

26

Analysis of additional sample

Discharge at time of sampling.
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

4760. TANANA RIVER NEAR TANACROSS 

Chemical ana]

Date of collection

ug. 1-6, 8, 10.....

Sept. 21-30.........

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

2,650 

8,860 

17,000 

18 , 400 

18,300

29,700 

24,500 

27,000 

27,000 

29,200

31,200 

25,800 

21 , 500 

12,400 

8,550

Silica 

(SIO.)

15 

10 

7.7 

8.0 

8.0

9.0 

9.5 

8.9 

8.9 

7.7

8.1 

8.9 

8.9 

9.8 

11

Iron 

(Fe)

0.04 

.07 

.09 

.09 

.02

.02 

.02 

.02 

.03 

.03

.03 

.03 

.02 

.03 

.02

Calcium 

(Ca)

44 

34 

29 

29 

32

33 

31 

30 

28 

27

28 

29 

31 

36 

41

vses . 1

Magnesium

(Mg)

9. 

8. 

5. 

5.

5.

6. 

5. 

5. 

4.

7. 

6. 

6. 

7. 

9.

n parts per million, water vea

Sodium 

(Na)

5.4 

4.6 

3.3 

4.0 

4.3

4.6 

4.4 

5.0 

5.0

4.8 

5.0 

5.4 

5.4 

5.7

Potassium

(K)

.2

.8 

.5 

.7 

.9

.4 

.4 

.7 

.1

.0 

.1 

.2 

.0 

.3

Bicarbonate 

(HCO,)

164 

125 

99 

104 

112

109 

105 

100 

96

101 

102 

109 

126 

147

Sulfate

(SO.)

26 

23 

16 

14 

18

19 

17 

17 

18

21 

20 

21 

27 

28
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

4760. TANANA RIVER NEAR TANACROSS C

rhpmiral analyses in parts per million, water year 

Date of collection

Oct. 1-9, 1962. ..... 

Apr. 25-30, 1963. ...

May 11-20. .......... 

May 21-31 ........... 

June 1, 3-10. .......

July 18-31..... .....

Aug. 11-16, 18-20... 

Aug. 21-29, 31......

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

6390 

3110 

8090 

11200 

12400 

8320 

8600

9260 

14600 

24300 

19100 

15900 

24600 

17700

Silica 

(Si02 )

11 

15 

10 

8.8 

8.6 

9.3 

9.4

10 

8.8 

8.8 

8.8 

8.8 

8.3 

9.0

Iron

(Fe)

0.02 

.02 

.02 

.05 

.02 

.02 

.02

.02 

.02 

.02

.02

.02 

.02 

1 .02

Calcium 

(Ca)

42 

45 

33 

32 

32 

34 

34

33 

29 

28 

28

28 

24

1 27

Magnesium 

(Mg)

9.1 

9.8 

6. 

6. 

5. 

7. 

7.

6. 

5. 

4. 

4. 

5. 

3. 

1 * 

Sodium

(Na)

6.2 

5.0 

4.3 

4.0 

4.6 

5.9 

5.6

5.8 

5.6 

5.4 

5.5 

5.9 

5.3 

6.0

Potassium 

(K)

.8 

.5 

.4 

.6 

.8 

.6

.6 

.5 

.3 

.2 

.4 

.2 

.3

Bicarbonate 

(HC03 )

152 

166 

121 

115 

110 

121 

119

116 

102 

94 

99 

102 

88 

100

Sulfate

(S04 )

27 

18 

15 

16 

17 

22 

20

20 

18 

17 

15 

16 

12 

15
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

 5 S

s-g-g

.Q C £

ozo <"|
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued 

4760. TANANA RIVER NEAR TANACROSS Con

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 19

Month

May...........

July........... 

August ........

Day

1

34 

50

53 

63

2

33 

49

53 

62

3

6

7

4

4

38 

50

57

5

8 

2

8

6

38 

53

60

7

38

55

60

8

38 

56

58

9

38 

60

10

38 

59

59

11

8

0

8

12

39 

60

57

13

39 

55

56

14

40 

53

56

15

39 

53

58

16

40 

55

17

38

54

18

41

53

19

56

4

6

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 196

January........

May.. .........

July........... 

August........ 

Sentemher .....

1

35 

52

56

51

2

35 

52

57

3

34

54 

5?

4

36 

48

55 

SI

5

39 

54

52

6

39 

52

7

37

-

8

37 

54

49

9

37 

57

50

10

37 

56

50

1 1

39

53

12

40

55

13

44 

57

61

14

57

62

15

48 

53

60

Day

16

54

58

17

48 

54

-

18

50 

56

54

19

53 

56

51
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

4760. TANANA RIVER NEAR TANACROSS Continued 

tided sediment, water year October 1960 to September 1961

Day

1..

2..

3..

4. .

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

1..

2..

3..

4. .

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12.. 

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

IB..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30.. 

31..

Total

APRIL

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

Suspended sediment

Mean

concentration 

(ppm)

Tons

per 

day

JULY

9800

9800

9900

9300

8400

7400

6000

5300

4700

4500

5600

5800

5500

5200

3800

4200

5800

7100

7200

7500

7700

7100

6800

6100

6000

6500

7800

9700

23900

531300

962

1040

1080

1140

1140

1070

948

984

972

905

915

1030

51400

55600

58000

59400

56600

50300

41000

40600

38600

35400

38500

43900

968 40500

880

792

796

1280

1*00

1250

1200

1460

1200

962

965

uoo

1050

1170

1600

2290

-

36100

29500

30500

54600

64600

58000

56700

69800

55400

43600

428UO

47500

46800

56200

85100

148000

1692900

MAY

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

3260

3990

4780

4920

4850

5110

5920

7810

10600 

11400

9800

10400

10400

10100

9800

937U

9580

10400

11400 

11800

11600

1090U

10600

11100

12800

14400

14500

13800

13600

13200

12500

304690

Suspended sediment

Mean

concentration

(ppm)

310

440

46o

350

275

336

356

554

612 

980

1280

1040

960

639

555

715

662

644

824

755

545

500

5J8

720

958

1050

779

650

590

490

Tons

per 

day

730

740

940

b5U

600

4660

5690

11700

17500 

30200

33900

29200

27000

17400

14700

18100

17100

18100

26200

23600

1600U

14300

161UO

24900

37200

41100

29000

23900

21000

16500

58001U

AUGUST

245UO

23400

26200

26300

25800

26600

26000

23000

20500

19200

18600

18200

17400

16500

1520U

14300

13900

14300

14200

13900

14300

15100

16500

18200

19200

18700

16600

14600

13400 

125UO

575900

24UO

2700

2450

2410

1970

1920

1870

1280

1080

113U

1060

1020

930

900

865

829

771

768

818

810

841

060

430

840

940

690

440

100

970 

834

-

159000

170000

173000

171000

137000

138000

131000

79500

59800

5b60o

53200

50100

43700

40100

35500

32000

28900

29600

JUNE

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

12100

11500

11200

11100

11600

11200

11000

11400

11600

12300

13600

Sucjended sediment

Mem

concfntratiin

(ppn)

462

430

525

4P2

502

519

410

452

390

458

755

15800 , 1380

17600

16600

16100

17800

21300

21^^

23200

3U600

293CO

25500

23600

22500

21500

20900

20400

3250

3320

3110

5370

3220 

1320

1190

Tons

per 

day

15100

13400

16200

14400

15700

15700

12200

13900

12200

15200

27700

58900

156000

A 149000

A 135000

258000

185000

68100

202U 12SJOI"

3720

2610

1450

110U

988

1240

1410

1010

19800 j 920

J070^0

206JOO

99800

70100

6C.OOO

720UO

79600

55600

49200

SEPTEMBtR

12000

11600

11300

11200

11300

11500

11300

10500

958U

9040

86 0

62 0 

85 0

93 0

97 0

104 0

109 0

106 0

98 0

31400 93 0

30400

A 32500

A 43200

A 63700

90400

100000

85300

64500

43400

35100 

28100

2288400

88 J

0^

72

78

81

25

07

15

04

42

8S

97

14 

7 t

53

59

74

93

00

56

23000

21000

23700

2060u

19200

18800

18800

17100

14000

11900

11600 

11500

10800

11500

14700

18900

23300

22900

17500

18 15600

21 1250U

84 - 57 : 10400

80 0 12 9000

77 3

75 o

78 0

76 0

72 J

70 0

68 0

282240

78 7880

76 7670

18

93

61

43

39

--

6700

6040

A 5110

A 4600

A 4430

420730

Total discharge for period May to September 1961 (cfs-days} ........................... 2218830

Total suspended load for period May to September 1961 (tons) .......................... 7377540

A Computed ±rom partly estimated-concentration graph.
ALASKA WEST OF LONGITUDE 141°

YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

4760. TANANA RIVER NEAR TANACROSS Continued

Suspended sediment, water year October 1961 to September 1962

Day

1.. 

2.. 

3.. 

4,. 

5..

6.. 

7.. 

8..

9..

10..

11.. 

12.. 

13.. 

1*.. 

15..

16.. 

17.. 

18.. 

19.. 

20..

21.. 

22.. 

23.. 

2*.. 

25..

26.. 

27.. 

28.. 

29.. 

30.. 

31..

Total

1.. 

2..

3.. 

* 

5..

6..

7.. 

8.. 

9.. 

10..

11.. 

12.. 

13.. 

1*.. 

15..

16.. 

17.. 

18.. 

19..

20..

21.. 

22.. 

23..

25.. 

26..

28.. 

29..

30.. 

31..

Total

APRIL 1 MAY

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

Suspended sediment

Mean

(ppm)

Tons

rday

JULY

26600 

26500 

25100 

22800 

22200

22*00

2*600 

25000 

26200

27700 

26600 

2*000 

23500

25600 

28900 

29000 

28900 

29000

27600 

28600 

29700

28100 

27*00

25000 

25000 

25000 

26200

811700

11*0 

1020 

932 

907 

9*1

87*

1390 

1390 

1710

1500 

1530 

1290 

1230

1310 

1*10 

1190 

1110 

1020

1000 

11*0 

1280

11*0 

1110

1060 

1030 

999 

1260

"

81900 

73000 

63200 

55800 

56*00

52800

92300 

93800 

121000

112000 

110000 

83600 

78000

90500 

110000 

93200 

86600 

79900

74500 

88000 

103000

86500 

82100

71600 

69500 

67*00 

89100

2627900

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

25*0 

2*60 

2320 

2430 

2610

2660 

2680 

2760 

29*0 

3130

3**0

*100 

5*70 

6620 

7580

8920 

10900

13800 

15500

15800 

16600 

17300 

17*00 

17200

17800 

19800

18*00 

17900

Suspended sediment

Mean 

concentration 

(ppm)

1*3 

67 

50 

50 

59

8* 

87 

67 

66 

92

1*6

209 

*22 

496 

643

890 

1010

983 

1390

1*00 

1200 

1080 

1020 

1100

97* 

907

68* 

659

AUGUST

29000 

30000 

30200

29800

28700 

27600 

28300

30700 

32800 

32900 

31500 

30200

30000 

30600 

31100 

31100 

31*00

31600 

30700 

28*00

25600

23600 

21900 

20500 

19800 

20500 

23000

875*00

1900 

19*0 

19*0

2100

1300 

1300 

1320

1650 

18*0 

1560 

1300 

1210

1330 

1230 

1210 

1210 

1300

1330 

1210 

1210 

1100 

1080

999 

972 

891 

880 

1100 

1*80

"

Total discharge for period Bay to September 1962 (cfsTotal suspended sediment load for period May to Septem

per

day

981 

**5 

313 

328 

*16

603 

630 

*99

777 

1360

2310 

6230 

8860 

13200

21*00 

29700

36600 

58200

A 60000 

A 5*000 

50*00 

*7900 

51100

*6800 

*8500

3*000 

31800

JUNE

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

18100 

20500 

20800 

19300 

18700

18800 

18300 

17600

15300 

16100

16100 

17300 

19600 

22500

26200 

33800

37100 

31800

30200 

31600 

33*00 

35200 

33000

28700 

26900 

26000

26300

n

t

1*9000 

157000 

158000

A 170000

101000 

96900 

101000

137000 

163000 

138000 

110000 

98700

108000 

102000 

102000 

102000 

110000

113000 

100000 

92800 

78700 

7*600

63600 

57500 

*9300 

A *7000 

A 61000 

91900

Suspen 

Mean

tration 

(ppm)

6* 

85 

85 

68 

6*

6* 

60 

60

*8 

55

72 

8*0 

1260 

129T

1600 

2360

2730 

1990

15*0 

1*20 

1530 

1710 

1*50

1230 

1180 

1080

1120

ded sediment

Tons 

per 

day

31700 

*7*00 

*8100 

35*00 

32300

32800 

29800 

28700

19800 

2*200

31700 

39200 

66700 

78*00

113000 

215000

273000 

171000

126000 

121000 

138000 

162000 

129000

95300 

85700 

75800 

71200 

79500

SEPTEMBER

27000 

2*800 

21900

22200

18100 

16600

1*700 

13900 

13300 

12900 

12600

12*00 

12100 

11200 

10600 

10000

96*0 

93*0 

90*0 

8770 

8560

8350 

8230 

8030 

7860 

7720

*2*1*0

1670 

20->0 

1620

990

927 

792

618 

671 

5*8 

502 

588

573 

539 

529

5** 

50*

III 

*57 

7*7 

498

796 

729 

*59 

388 

370

ber 1962 (tons) .................

119000 

122000 

1*0000 

95800 

72800

59300

*5300 

35500

2*500 

25200 

19700 

17500 

20000

19200 

17600 

16000 

15600 

13600

12800 

10*00 

11200 

17700 

11500

17900 

16200 

9950 

8230 

7710

3162600 

10536266

A Computed from partly estimated concentration graph.
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

YUKOH RIVER BASIN--Continued

4760. TANANA RIVER NEAR TANACROSS Continued

Suspended sediment, water year October 1962 to September 1963

Day

1.. 

2.. 

3..

4.. 

5..

6.. 

7.. 

8.. 

9..

10..

11.. 

12.. 

13.. 

14.. 

15..

16.. 

17.. 

18.. 

19..

20..

21.. 

22.. 

23.. 

24.. 

25..

26.. 

27.. 

28.. 

29..

30.. 

31..

Total

1.. 

2.. 

3.. 

4.. 

5..

6..

7.. 

8.. 

9..

10..

11.. 

12.. 

13.. 

14.. 

15..

16..

17.. 

18.. 

19..

20..

21.. 

22.. 

23.. 

24.. 

25..

26.. 

27.. 

28.. 

29..

30.. 

31..

Total

Tot 

Tol

APRIL

Mean 

discharge

(eft)

Suspended sediment

Mean 

concentration 

(ppm)

JULY

0200 

1100 

1800 

3300 

4900

5700 

6800 

8300 

19600 

21100

21700 

21600 

25200 

31400 

31900

30200

28900 

29400 

29800

30300 

29400 

24400 

23500 

23200

22200 

21300 

20600 

19900 

18900

683600

al discharg 

al suspends

940 

1100 

1200 

1360 

1800

2390 

2020 

1890 

2150 

2140

2120 

1960 

2720 

3850 

2780

2330

1990 

1960 

1880

1760 

1540 

1360 

1350 

1340

1110 

1080 

1120 

1000

e for pe 

d sedlmc

Tons 

per 

day

25900 

33000 

38200 

48800 

72400

101000 

91600 

93400 

114000 

122000

124000 

114000 

185000 

326000 

239000

190000

155000 

156000 

151000

1*4000 

122000 

89600 

85600 

83900

63BOO 

60100 

60200 

51000

riod May to £ 

nt load for j

MAY

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

3910 

4340 

5230 

7220 

8890

9640 

9830 

10300 

10500 

11000

11500 

11000 

11000 

10500 

11300

11700 

11400 

11100 

11000 

11100

11700 

12500 

13800 

15500 

15600

13800 

11900 

10800 

10200 

10100 

10400

Suspended sediment

Mean 

concentration

(ppm)

225 

565 

590 

910 

1000

900 

780 

860 

830 

790

870 

2180 

1550 

990 

1070

1000 

840 

730 

1440 

1110

720 

890 

1200 

1580 

1560

1130 

1000 

1860 

1680 

1100 

830

Tons 

per 

day

2380 

6620 

8330 

17700 

24000

23400 

20700 

23900 

23500 

23500

27000 

S 85000 

S 52100 

28100 

32600

31600 

25800 

21900 

42800 

A 33300

22700 

A 30000 

44700 

66100 

65700

42100 

32100 

54200 

46300 

30000 

23300

AUGUST

17800 

18400 

19800 

21600 

22400

23000 

22300 

19800 

17300 

15500

14300 

13700

14000 

14400

15200 

16200 

17100 

18200 

22400

25400 

24800 

21800 

20300 

23100

29900 

31300 

27000 

21900

eptember IS 

eriod May t

980 

1060 

1360 

1900

1740 

1560 

1340 

1160 

1040

920 

780

810 

900

1000 

1150 

1290 

1480 

2400

3110 

2760 

2160 

1660 

1950

3700 

4020 

3160 

1870

63 (cfs 

o Septer

47100 

52700 

72700 

111000

A 108000 

A 93900 

71600 

54200 

43500

35500 

28800

30600 

35000

41000 

A 50300 

59600 

72700 

145000

213000 

185000 

127000 

91000 

122000

299000 

340000 

230000 

110000

days )

JUN"

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

10200 

9700 

9250 

8710 

8380

8060 

7750 

7420 

7330 

7810

7860 

8060 

8440 

8800 

9100

9610 

8950 

8380 

8230 

8200

8470 

8890 

9520 

9550 

9760

9130 

9010

9730

Su« tended sediment

Mean 

concentration

(ppm)

530 

480 

500 

500 

510

610 

450 

460 

440 

510

540 

490 

72-) 

710 

660

80T 

681 

550 

581 

555

570 

600 

730 

790 

800

780 

610

880

__

Tons 

per 

day

14600 

A 12600 

12500 

A 11800 

11500

13300 

9420 

9220 

8710 

10800

11400 

10700 

16400 

16900 

16200

20800 

16400 

12400 

12900 

12300

13000 

14400 

18800 

20400 

21100

19200 

14800

23100

449650

SEPTEMBER

19100 

18500 

17100 

16200

16500 

16800 

17100 

17000 

16900

16500 

15900

14500 

13000

12000 

10700 

9830 

9190 

8680

8440 

8090 

7920 

7700

1

7250 

7050 

6860 

6750 

6670

1330 

1340 

1260 

1180

1090 

1060 

1040 

1010 

1040

1060 

1080

940 

910

840 

840 

740 

620 

615

500 

480 

520 

430

400 

350 

320 

300 

340

nber 1963 ( tons) ................

68600 

66900 

58200 

51600

48600 

48100 

48000 

46400 

47400

A 47200 

46400

36800 

31900

27200 

24300 

19600 

15400 

14400

11400 

10500 

11100 

8940

7830 

6660 

5930 

5470 

6120

2275490 

9110260

S Computed by subdividing day.

A Computed from partly estimated-coneentration graph.
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued 

4760. TANANA RIVER NEAR TANACROSS Continu

Particle-size analyses of suspended sediment water years Octob

(Methods of analysis: B, bottom withdrawal tube; C, chemically dispersed; D

P, pipet; S, sieve; V, visual accumulation tube; W, in d

Date of collection

Time 

(24 hour)

0900 

1350 

1715

1530 

0750 

0900 

0930

1100 

1400 

1400

Sam-, 

pling 

point

Water 

temperature 

(°F)

53 

51 

47

43 

54 

55 

38

50 

54 

54

Discharge

(cfs)

11400 

29800

an 7640

14700 

29200 

29800 

12300

11700 

28900 

16900

Sediment 

concentration 

(ppm)

463 

1720 

325

1400 

1110 

1240 

554

674 

1300

Sediment 

discharge 

(tons per day)

1540 

467.0 

565

0.002

6 

32 

9

6 

19 

29 

11

10 

31 

25

0.004

11 

41 

12

11 

23 

35 

14

12 

40 

33

a Daily mean discharge.
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued 

5140. CHENA RIVER AT FAIRBANKS

LOCATION. At gaging station near center, on downstream side of bridge on Stees

mile upstream from Noyes Slough, 11 miles upstream from mouth, and 11 miles 

DRAINAGE AREA. 1,980 square miles, approximately. 

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Chemical analyses: May to September 1953, January 1954 to 

Water temperatures: Hay to September 1953, May 1962 to September 1963.

Sediment records: January 1954 to September 1955, Hay 1962 to September 1963

EXTREMES, May 1962 to September 1963. Water temperatures: Maximum, 66°F June 

Sediment concentrations: Maximum daily, 510 ppm May 17, 1962.

Sediment loads: Maximum daily, 14,600 tons May 18, 1962.

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 1

July........... 

August........

1

56 

58

2

57 

58

3

58 

56

4

53

5

9

1

6

63 

52

7

62 

50

8

60 

51

9

59

51

10

59

55

11

9 

6

12

56 

57

13

55 

57

14

57 

58

15

58 

53

Day

16

58 

57

17

59 

60

18J19 

38 1

60 1 

59 9

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 19

April... .......

June.......... 

July...........

August ........ 

September.. ...

1

48 

51

50

2

49 

52

51

3

58

51

4

so

53

54

5 6

Jo

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

36

Day

16 17 18 19 
ALASKA WEST OF LONGITUDE 141°

YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

5140. CHENA RIVER AT FAIRBANKS Continued

Suspended sediment, May to September 1962

Day

1.. 

2.. 

3.. 

4.. 

5..

6.. 

7.. 

8.. 

9.. 

10..

11.. 

12.. 

13.. 

14.. 

15..

16.. 

17.. 

18.. 

19.. 

20..

21.. 

22.. 

23.. 

24.. 

25..

26.. 

27.. 

26.. 

29..

30.. 

31..

Total

1.. 

2.. 

3.. 

4.. 

5..

6.. 

7.. 

8.. 

9..

10..

11.. 

12.. 

13.. 

14.. 

15..

16..

17.. 

16.. 

19.. 

20..

21.. 

22.. 

23.. 

24.. 

25..

26.. 

27.. 

26.. 

29..

30.. 

31..

Total

APRIL

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

2900 

2680 

2510 

2360 

2270

2160 

2140 

2080 

2040 

2020

1960 

1900 

1950 

3210 

3890

3230 

2830 

2540 

2390 

2260

2160 

2360 

3880 

3870 

4380

7500 

8960 

7460 

6240 

5470 

4920

106540

Suspended sediment

Mean 

concentration 

(ppm)

JULY

40 

32 

26 

28 

25

17 

20 

22

15 

14

13 

10 

11 

63 

92

39 

25 

20 

15 

12

6

13 

10B 

144 

140

334 

301 

11B 

83 

74 

69

"

per 

day

313 

232 

176 

178 

153

100 

116 

124 

83 

76

69 

51 

58 

546 

966

340 

191 

137 

97 

73

35 

83 

1130 

1500 

1660

6760 

7280 

2380 

1400 

1090 

916

28313

MAY

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

580 

600 

640 

670 

710

760 

820 

920 

1100 

1600

2330 

2970 

3940 

5020 

7340

9040

11400 

11000

11900 

12700 

13100 

13200

13400 

13800 

13900

13600 

13300

4480 

4160 

3960 

3820 

3740

3600 

3460 

3340 

3280 

3230

3120 

2970 

2820 

2700 

2590

2490 

2430 

2470 

2500 

2470

2470 

2470 

2490 

2490 

2660

2830 

2990 

4520 

7220 

8570 

10800

113140

Suspended sediment

Mean 

concentration 

(ppm)

14 

20 

19 

17 

21

21 

26

19 

25

3B

50 

V2 

28 

308 

310

417

404 

424

427 

385 

363

337

322

302 

270

241 

220

per 

day

22 

32 

33 

31 

40

43 

58 

47 

74 

164

314 

738 

298 

4170 

A 6100

10200

12400 

12600

13700 

13200 

12800

11600 

11200 

10100

8850 

7900

AUGUST

50 

36 

27 

24 

24

21 

18 

25 

20 

27

27 

24 

20 

24 

24

17 

15 

15 

16 

12

8 

18 

15 

10 

10

13 

15 

124 

199 

281 

372

"

Total discharge for period May to September 1962 (cfsTotal suspended sediment load for period May to Septem

605 

404 

289 

248 

242

204 

168 

225 

177 

235

227 

192 

152 

175 

168

114 

98 

100 

108 

80

53 

120 

101 

67 

72 !

99 

121 

1510 

3880 

6500 

10800

27534

JUNE

Mean 

dis. 

charge

(cfs)

12100 

9500 

8210

6890

7180 

6580 

5880 

5980 

5350

5220 

5090 

4880 

4690 

4500

4700 

4390 

3960 

3650 

3320

3110 

3220 

5350

4340

3690 

3320 

3140 

3110 

3060

157030

_Suspen

Mean 

concentration 

(ppm)

229 

272 

252

235

206 

172 

144 

165 

147

112 

88 

76 

62 

46

67 

78 

51 

37 

34

34 

46 

250

66

48 

38 

2S 

32

35

"

ded sediment

per

day

7480 

6980 

5590

4370

3990 

3060 

2290 

2660 

2120

1580 

1210 

1000 

785 

559

850 

924 

545 

365 

305

285

400 

3610 

3300 

773

478 

341 

246 

269 

289

60884

SEPTEMBER

12000 

12500 

11700 

11400 

11100

8270 

7270

5980

5520 

5130 

4820 

4570 

4340

4160 

4040 

3940 

3800 

3630

3520 

3420 

3310 

3190 

3100

3080 

3140 

313 

3020 

2920

172060

310 

296 

227 

174 

139

9i<-

103

8' 

81 

6? 

52

41

3S 

44 

37 

28 

26

29 

29 

29 

25 

27

23 

22

21 

21

24

~

her 1962 (tons) .................

10000 

9990 

7170 

5360 

4160

2210 

1880

1660

1310 

1110 

807 

642 

480

427 

480 

394 

287 

255

276 

268 

259 

215 

226

191 

186 

177 

171 

189

56160

778110 

371905

780-874 O - 65 - 6
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

5140. CHENA RIVER AT FAIRBANKS Continued

Suspended sediment, water year October 1962 to September 1963

Day

It.

2..

3,.

4..

5..

6t.

7..

8..

9t.

10t.

lit.

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

1..

2..

3. .

4..

5..

6..

7. »

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

52..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

OCTOBER

Mean

discharge

(cf»)

2820

2750

2680

2600

2530

2470

2360

2290

2190

2160

2110

2050

1940

1850

1800

1760

1750

1750

1700

1650

1510

1450

1370

1300

1200

1100

1100

1000

1000

960

920

56140

Suspended sediment

Mean

tration

(ppm)

20

18

26

15

25

15

14

20

18

20

14

14

10

18

12

16

10

21

10

ie

27

22

13

17

50

41

35

30

45

38

22

-

Ton.

per 

day

152

134

188

105

171

100

89

124

106

117

80

77

52

90

58

76

47

99

46

80

110

86

48

60

162

122

104

81

122

100

55

3041

JULY

3690

3470

3350

3050

2800

2590

2*60

2330

2220

2180

2180

2180

2150

2080

2090

2100

2150

2130

2090

2160

2240

2260

2300

2240

2140

2100

2290

2780

4350

3880

3300

79330

29

44

30

40

45

41

28

26

26

18

27

44

33

26

27

22

21

22

21

25

22

27

24

18

23

23

34

44

104

82

289

412

271

329

340

287

166

164

156

106

159

259

192

146

152

125

122

126

118

146

133

165

149

MAY

Mean

discharge

(cf.)

1200

2300

4400

5600

7000

8600

10000

11000

9500

8720

9170

9720

11000

12100

12600

13300

13700

13000

12100

11600

1 1900

11600

11400

11500

9230

5290

4350

4090

3740

3460

3220

266590

2990

2740

2860

3150

4110

Suspended sediment

Mean

tration

(ppm)

84

94

128

143

158

196

222

278

326

304

334

340

358

350

330

254

224

180

276

281

266

278

292

206

200

121

86

69

64

60

34

-

JUNE

i Mean

Ton. *.-

per charge

day (cf«)

 L _ 

272 2920

584 |J 2650

1520

2160

2990

4660

5990

8260

8360

2520

2440

2*30

3000

3420

3330

3310

7160 3020

8270 ! 2820

8920

10600

2660

2560

11400 1 3360

11200

9120

8280

4700

4610

3530

6320 ! 3220

9020 J 3530

8800

8550

8710

8990

6400

3810

3820

3630

3270

3970

4980 '1 5180

1730

1010

762

646

560

296

176520

AUGUST

32

26

24

31

258

192

185

264

83 921

5230 184 2600

5120 132

4490 68

4090

4710

6380

6940

6260

50

105

212

196

118

5360 i 86

4750

4390

76

36

4670 72

5400

5530

96

64

5190 j 54

4770

4400

4090

109 || 3860

133

130

210

330

1220

659

45 j 401

7924

3650

39

36

23

51

40

1

3470 1 28

3340

3220

3090

24

23

27

2980 13

2840 14

 

134070

1820

824

552

1340

3650

3670

1990

1240

975

4890

6640

5700

4410

4050

_

109400

Svapended sediment

Mea r 

con-en- Ton*

tration 

(Pfm)

34

per 

day

268

34 243

26

22

19

72

84

50

43

37

27

21

20

22

172

176

66

45

60

60

56

45

38

64

216

120

339

312

120

52

____ ~

177

145

125

583

776

450

384

302

206

151

138

200

2180

2190

648

391

572

617

578

441

336

686

2880

1580

7150

4800

1430

569

31196

SEPTEMBER

2740

2620

2560

2480

2400

2330

2280

2220

2160

2130

2070

2020

1970

1920

1870

450 ' 1830

908

1400

956

757

502

1780

1740

1720

1680

1640

428 i, 1600

254 1570

532

394

262

216

200

15

14

111

99

14 97

14

12

28

20

22

22

10

94

78

176

123

132

128

58

12 67

14

20

76

106

11 57

21

17

106

84

12 58

18 84

10

13

17

14

46

59

75

60

16 68

1540 17 ! 71

1480 12 48

1460

1440

1420

225 j 1400

104

107

28176

9

9

10

12

1380 9

57450 L "

35

35

38

45

34

2348

Total discharge for period October 1962, May to September 1963 (cfs-days) ............. 702980

Total suspended sediment load for period October 1962, May to September 1963 (tons)... 249205
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued 

5140. CHENA RIVER AT FAIRBANKS Co

Particle-size analyses of suspended sediment, May 1

(Methods of analysis: B, bottom withdrawal tube; C, chemically dispersed

Date of collection

Hav 17. 1963. ......

Time 

(24 hour)

0845 

1530

1500

Sampling 

point

Water 

temperature 

( F)

37 

47

41

Discharge 

(cfs)

134OO 

8290

13800

Sediment 

concentration 

<ppm)

426 

461

217

Sediment 

discharge 

(tons per day)

0.002

5

0.00

4 

8
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continu

5180. NENANA RIVER NEAR HE

LOCATION. At gaging station on right bank, 0.5 mile upstream from Healy Creek, 1.1 mil

bridge.

DRAINAGE AREA. 1,910 square miles, approximately.

RECORDS AVAILABLE. Chemical analyses: June to December 1949, October 1953 to October 

September 1963.

Water temperatures: June to October 1949, August 1957 to September 1963.

Sediment records: June 1953 to September 1963. 

EXTREMES, (for observation), 1961-63. Dissolved solids: Maximum, 186 ppm Jan 4, 1961; 

Hardness: Maximum, 150 ppm Jan 4, 1961; minimum, 56 ppm May 16-25, 1961, May 21-31, 

Specific conductance: Maximum, 287 micromhos Jan. 4, 1961; minimum 121 mlcromhos May 

EXTREMES, 1953-63. Water temperatures (1957-63): Maximum, 56°F Aug. 9, 1957.

Sediment concentrations: Maximum dally, 8,330 ppm July 11, 1963.

Sediment loads: Maximum daily, 585,000 tons June 25, 1953.

Chemical analyses, in

Date of collection

Jan, 4, 1961.....,,,

May 26-31, June 1-4. 

June 5-14. ..........

June 15-24 ..........

July 11-15, 17-20.. .

Aug. 21-31..........

Sept. 21-30.. .......

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

a 790 

2500 

9200 

5210

8760 

12100 

10400 

8650

8660 

9830 

15800 

8590

7450 

3820 

5470 

3860

Silica 

(SiO.)

9.7 

7.9 

4.9 

6.0

5.1 

4.7 

6.0 

5.2

5.3

5.1 

5.5 

5.4

5.8 

6.2 

6.4 

7.0

Iron

(Fe)

0.00 

.02 

.00 

.00

.02 

.02 

.00 

.02

.00 

.00 

.00

.02

.02 

.00 

.00 

.02

Calcium 

(Ca)

40 

21 

18 

25

24 

24 

26 

25

26 

28 

29 

30

31 

34 

31 

33

Magnesium 

(Mg)

12 

2.8 

2.7

3.0

2.9 

2.4

2.9 

4.0

3.9 

4.9 

4.7 

4.6

5.0 

5.4

5.0

" *

parts per million, water yea

Sodium 

(Na)

5.3 

2.4 

2.6 

2.5

2.7 

1.8 

2.0 

1.9

1.7 

1.8 

1.8 

2.2

2.1 

2.8 

2.5 

3.3

Potassium 

(K)

.9 

.5 

.2 

.3

.2 

.2 

.5 

.3

.6 

.9 

.0 

.5

.8 

.3 

.6

3

Bicarbonate 

(HCO,)

119 

62 

50 

64

59 

58 

61 

63

66 

72 

76 

74

76 

84 

76

Sulfa

(so.)

53 

18 

17 

25

27 

24 

29 

28

30 

31 

32 

41

35 

43 

41 

12

a Discharge at time of sampling
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued 

5180. NENANA RIVER NEAR HEALY Con

Chemical analyses L in parts per million, water vear 

Date ol collection

June 1-10, 1962. .... 

June 11-2O. .........

Sept. 21-30.........

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

8,700 

21 , 000 

15,700 

11,000 

9,600 

13 , 600

7,000 

5,600 

11,000 

10,000 

4,800 

5,700

Silica 

(SiO,)

5.9 

4.8 

5.0 

4.8 

4.8 

5.1

4.8 

4.8 

4.8 

6.0 

6.4 

6.1

Iron

(Fe)

0.03 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02 

.02

Calcium 

(Ca)

19 

22 

25 

25 

27 

27

30 

28 

27 

29 

32 

30

Magnesium 

(Mg)

5.1 

5.7

5.4 

5.1 

7.4

5.4 

5.0 

5.5 

7.7 

7.5 

8.3

Sodium

(Na)

2.2 

1.8

1.9 

2.0 

2.1

2.1 

2.1 

2.1 

2.7 

3.3 

3.1

Potassium

(K)

.3 

.4

.5 

.7 

.6

.4 

.8 

.8 

.3 

.2 

.2

Bicarbonate 

(HCO3 )

59 

72

68 

72 

77

71 

65 

72 

80 

89 

86

Suit ate 

(SOJ

26 

23 

32 

33 

34 

36

41 

39 

36 

40 

43 

42

Chemical analyses, in parts per million, 

May 14-20, 1963.....

Sept. 21-30.. .......

6060

16100

4100

.3

5.9

0.05

.02

23

33

.9

.6

7.5

.7

.4

.3

.9

.2

.6

71

58

66

90

21

27

43
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued 

5180. NENANA RIVER NEAR HEALY Conti

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 19

May...........

July........... 

August........ 

September .....

1

43

45 

52 

46

2

45 

50

3

46 

46

4

45 

42 

43

5

45 

45 

44

6

46

44

7

47 

47

8

48 

47

9

46 

46 

45

10

46

45 

43

11

51

12

51 

46

13

51

44

14

50 

48

15

4°

Day

16

50

50 

4.

17

48

49

18

52 

50

19

48 

4B

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 1

July...........

August ....... 

September .....

1

49

44

2

48

43

3

50

41

4

51

40

5

54

40

6

52

41

7

52

41

8

51

42

9

50

42

10

50

40

1 1

51

41

12

47

39

13

Day

14

48 48

L38J39_

15

49

39

16

52

38

17

54

39

18

52

40

19

52

40

Temperature (°F) of water, water year October 

May...........

July........... 

August........

September .....

50

2

45

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

34

15

34

43

Day

16

37

17 18

3

4

19

6
ALASKA WEST OF LONGITUDE 141«

YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued 

5180. NENANA RIVER NEAR HEALY Continued

Suspended sediment, water year October 1960 to Se

Day

1..

2..

3..

ft..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

APRIL

Mean 

discharge

(cf.)

Suspended sediment

Mean

tration 

(ppm)

Ton.

per 

day

JULY

9640

9240

9300

8440

7960

8130

8520

8470

8380

8440

8790

8190

7820

7110

7030

7460

8190

0600

0200

0000

0300

2000

11200

9670

9180

8880

8670

9390

9900

9420

9540

280060

478

356

240

196

320

506

2«5

300

327

322

910

444

510

635

465

370

1800

2410

1500

900

1250

1200

612

490

639

613

668

1450

1240

1220

1340

12400

8880

6030

4470

6880

11100

6790

6860

7400

7340

21600

9820

10800

12200

8830

7450

39800

69000

41300

24300

34800

38900

18500

12800

15800

14700

15600

36800

33100

31000

34500

609750

MAY

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

Suspended sediment

Mean

tration 

(ppm)

Tons

per 

day

AUGUST

10300

9300

12000

29200

23100

20100

16900

13500

11700

12400

10900

9610

8730

8160

8050

7940

7770

7680

8500

8580

8760

9150

10500

10200

8270

7080

6310

5840

5540

5340

4930

326340

1220

1010

1960

4200

2940

1950

1100

602

704

712

500

365

212

145

195

200

180

212

670

835

970

1210

2500

1400

620

385

258

745

335

177

140

33900

25400

63500

331000

183000

106000

50200

21900

2220U

23800

14700

9470

5000

3190

4240

4290

3780

4400

15400

19300

22900

29900

70900

38600

A 13800

7360

4400

11700

5010

2550

1860

ptember 1961

JUNE

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

4600

4700

4500

4100

4000

4800

5800

5200

5200

8600

13000

1400U

15000

12000

11000

11000

11000

11000

12300

13700

12500

12200

12800

13500

11500

11000

10000

9940

9900

10300

289140

Suspended sediment

Mean

tration 

(ppm)

124

142

200

110

60

132

187

170

153

198

360

432

265

170

32U

417

689

468

340

432

564

444

465

508

617

867

476

296

294

380

-

Tons

per 

day

1540

1800

2430

1220

648

1710

2930

2390

2150

4600

12600

16300

10700

5510

9500

12400

2U500

13900

11300

16000

19000

14600

16100

18500

19200

25700

12800

7940

7860

10600

302428

SEPTEMBER

4690

4460

4230

3920

3550

3390

3650

3610

3360

3380

5620

7490

7430

6160

5420

4810

4190

411U

498U

4500

4170

3840

4110

4880

4390

3800

3520

3380

3310

3240

131590

131

15fr

12e

128

78

57

61

65

65

51

453

988

776

378

191

144

129

69

85

69

125

B'l

7<t

3'>

30

94

63

25

23

23

1660

1880

1460

1350

748

522

601

634

590

465

6870

20000

15600

6290

2800

187^

146U

754

1140

838

1410

892

821

448

356

964

599

228

206

201

73657

Total discharge lor period June to September 1961 (cfs-days) .......................... 1027130 

Total suspended load for period June to September 1961 (tons) ................. ....... 2138485

A computed rrom partly estlraa tea-concentration grapb.
QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS, ALASKA, 1961-63

YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

5180. NENANA RIVER NEAR HEALY Continued

Suspended sediment, water year October 1961 to September 1962

Day

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

?6..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

APRIL

Mean 

discharge

(cf.)

Suspended sediment

Mean

tration 

(ppm)

Tons

per 

day

JULY

14000

11000

10000

11000

11000

11000

11000

11000

10000

10000

9400

9400

11000

10000

9700

9200

9400

9700

9100

8600

15000

18700

14000

12000

16000

13000

11000

11000

11000

10000

9500

346700

771

719

594

580

640

532

748

885

879

864

1020

1110

1270

735

713

512

558

606

713

1380

1660

?380

3020

3870

3060

882

644

1230

1290

1120

1000

29100

21400

16000

17200

19000

15800

22200

26300

23700

23300

25000

282000

37700

198000

9480

12700

14200

15900

17500

32000

67200

120000

114000

125000

132000

31000

19100

36500

38300

30200

A 26000

1166680

MAY

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

Suspended sediment

Mean

tration 

(ppm)

Tons

per 

day

JUNE

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

11000

9200

8600

8200

7800

7800

8200

8400

1 8400

9000

1 9600

1 11000

AUGUST

Q200

9200

9000

7800

7000

6500

6000

6600

6600

6400

6200

6000

5800

5800

5800

S800

5400

5200

5000

5300

6000

7000

6500

6000

6400

7800

9800

12000

17000

22200

18100

249400

1100

1510

1720

1070

1730

1600

711

759

891

630

852

989

865

1190

922

600

590

805

961

988

094

1410

1550

931

1140

1040

922

1130

1450

1790

1220

-

A 27000

37500

41800

22500

32700

28100

11500

13500

15900

10900

14300

16000

13500

18600

14400

9400

8600

11300

13000

14100

16100

26600

27200

15100

19700

21900

24400

36600

66600

107000

59600

795400

15000

10300

35900

31000

27000

21900

18200

16800

19200

23700

18500

14000

13000

13000

13000

14000

15000

14000

Suspended sediment

Mein

concen-

(pp-n)

530

388

222

218

218

253

259

214

170

260

298

663

475

2710

2950

30'*0

2230

20 '*0

2660

2710

2530

3160

2230

1200

1010

913

1200

925

883

733

449700 1

Tons

day

15700

9640

150

830

590

330

730

850

860

320

720

1 700

1 200

14 000

2B 000

25 000

16 000

121000

131000

123000

131000

202000

111000

45400

35100

31700

42100

35000

35800

27700

2027420

SEPTEMBER

13000

11000

13000

16000

13000

10000

8000

7000

6300

5800

5400

5300

5200

5000

4700

4700

4400

4200

3990

5200

6000

5200

4900

5400

6100

7000

6600

5800

5100

4600

207890

2360

2330

817

880

975

839

82800

69200

28700

38000

34200

22600

885 | 19100

660 12500

787

795

728

2?8

62

430

610

13400

12400

10600

4260

870

5800

7740

378 1 4800

585 ' 6950

802

716

126

408

752

704

716

462

517

366

450

549

52S

-

9090

7710

1770

6610

10600

9310

10400

7610

9770

6520

7050

7540

6530

474430

Total discharge for period June to September 1963 <cf s-days) .......................... 1253690

Total suspended sediment load for period June to September 1963 (tons) ................ 4463930
ALASKA WEST OF LONGITUDE 141"

YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued

5180. XENANA RIVER NEAR HEALY, Continued

Suspended sediment, water year October 1962 to September 1963

Day

1..

2..

3..

4..

5,,

6..

7..

8..

9..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15., 

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

1..

2..

3..

4..

5..

6,.

7..

8..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

16..

17.. 

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Total

APRIL

Mean 

discharge 

(cf.)

Suspended sediment

Mean 

concentration

(ppm)

Tons 

peiday

JULY

12000

14000

13000

12000

14000

15000

16000

17000

17800

17300

17700

16600

15000

15000

17100

17500

14000 

12000

11000

10000

10000

13000

13000

12000

12000

12000

11000

10000

10000

433000

1350

1520

1260

1100

990

1020

790

1550

6500

8330

6200

2350

1440

1640

1910

2300

1800 

880

590

1040

1340

1390

1540

880

760

1180

1180

1410

1050

"

3700

7400

4200

5600

7400

1300

4100

1100

312000

389000

296000

105000

58300

66400

88200

109000

68000 

28500

17500

28100

36200

48800

54000

28500

24600

38200

35000

38100

28400

2546600

MAY

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

Suspended sediment

Mean 

concentration 

(ppm)

AUGUST

11000

15000

17500

16000

15200

13300

12700

11800

10900 

12500

12900

11800

11300

10800

10600

10600

14200

12300

10800

9720

11500

15100

15200

18400

15300

12000

11000

9200

8600

393120

890

1390

1960

1720

1950

2040

1680

1100

1710

1600

1320

1010

840

900

940

2080

2240

2050

2330

2350

2520

2830

3010

2480

1590

1330

1750

1260

Tons 

per 

day

JUNE

Mean 

discharge

(cfs)

11000

9400

9400

9400

9300

8200

7300

7400

6600

9200

8800

8600

l| 10000

26400

56300

92600

74300

80000

73200

64500

35000 

28800

57700

55700

42000

30800

24500

25800

26900

79700

74400

59800

61100

73000

103000

116000

150000

102000

51500

39500

43500

29200

1909100

11100

8400

7800

8000

8200

8400

9200

13700

16700

14000

11000

11000

11000

11000

9800

9700

296500

Suspended sediment

Mean 

concentration

(ppm)

720

830

390

1060

1240

340

60

530

700

300

390

430

470

1040

910

360

230

250

630

710

1320

1660

650

610

840

1090

960

860

950

-

Tons 

per 

day

21400

21100

9900

26900

31100

7530

1580

10600

16200

7450

9270

9980

12700

31200

20600

7580

4970

5540

14300

17600

48800

75800

24600

18100

24900

32400

28500

22800

24900

620600

SEPTEMBER

6800

6800

6800

6600

6800

6800

6800

6800 

6600

6800

6800

6800

6800

6800

6800

4100

4100 

4100 

4100

4100

4100

4100

4100

4100

4100

4100

4100

4100

4100

4100

163500

555

1040

1230

824

1000

940

968

207 

562

651

572

758

704

360

243

608

574 

500 

700

494

185

396

34

34

228

271

312

187

146

176

10200

19100

22600

15100

18400

17200

17800

3800 

10700

12000

10500

13900

12900

6610

4460

6730

6350 

5540 

7750

5470

2050

4380

376

376

2520

3000

3450

2070

1620

1950

248902

Total discharge for period June to September 1963 (cfs-days) .......................... 1286120

Total suspended sediment load for period June to September 1963 (tons) ................ 5325202
YUKON RIVER BASIN Continued 

5180. NENANA RIVER NEAR HEALY Contin

Particle-size analyses of suspended sediment water year Oc

(Methods of analysis: B, bottom withdrawal tube; C, chemically dispersed; 

Date of collection

Time 

(24 hour)

0630

1720 

1555

1545 

1300 

1000

Sampling 

point

Water 

temperature

rn

45

52 

42

45 

58 

57

Discharge 

(cfs)

10500

14900 

9080

5300 

6880 

4640

Sediment 

concentration 

(ppm)

1970

532 

468

874 

2580 

1010

Sediment 

discharge 

(tons per day)

5220

0.002

17

8 

10

3 

28 

16

0.004

24

17 

15

4 

38 

23
MISCELLANEOUS ANALYSES OF STREAMS 

Chemical analyses, In parts per million, water years Oc

Date of collection

Mean 

discharge 

(els)

Silica 

(SiO.)

Iron 

(Fe)

Calcium 

(Ca)

Magnesium 

(Mg)

Sodium 

(Na)

Potassium 

(K)

Bicarbonate 

(HCO,)

Sulfate 

(S04)

2740. SOUTH FORK CAMPBELL CREEK NEAR 

Dec. 28.. ...........

July 28.... .........

58 

19 

24 

a 41 

a 9 

83

8.6 

10 

11

6.8

0.07 

.00 

.00 

.02

.02

12 

14 

14

12

2.1 

5.2 

3.1 

.8

1.0

1.2 

1.2 

1.3

.8

0.3 

.4 

.2

.2

29 

39 

46

27

15 

19 

11

13

2742. NORTH FORK CAMPBELL CREEK NEAR

Apr. 14, 1961. ......

0.0

0.09 

.00 

.16

23 4.3 1.9 0.6

52 

64 

63

24

2750. CHESTER CREEK AT ANCHORA

Oct. 27, 1960

Oct . 27 Site No. 4a

Oct. 27 Site No. 8..

Oct. 27 Site No. 12. 

Dec. 20.... .........

-

22

14

15

16 

16

.07

.18

.23 

.00

.05

28

25

25

_

5.7

5.0

5.5 

9.3

3.2

2.6

3.4 

<?. ?

.9

.7

.7 

.8

_

105

85

88 

93

_

13

14

13 

18

81

a Ice conditions
MISCELLANEOUS ANALYSES OF STREAMS IN AL

Chemical analyses in part^ per million, outer yearn Octobe

Date of collection

Mean 

discharge 

(els)

Silica 

(SiO,)

Iron 

(Fe)

Calcium 

(Ca)

Magnesium 

(Mg)

Sodium 

(Na)

Potassium 

(K)

Bicarbonate 

(HCO,)

Sulfate 

(SO.)

2760. SHIP CREEK NEAR ANCHOR

Oct. 26, 1960 ByPass

Oct. 26 Site No. 10. 

Oct. 26 Site No. 12.

July 27 Site No. 10. 

July 27 Site No. 10.

-- 7.6

,2.4 

8.6

5.9

6.5 

6.8

0.04

.05 

.09

.03 

.03

20

23 

23

23 

23

3.3

4.0 

4.8

2.8 

3.3

1.7

2.1 

6.2

2.4

4.8

0.3

.4 

.6

.4 

.4

52

65 

70

59 

60

22

22 

23

21

21

7480. OGOTORUK CREEK NEAR POIN

Nov. 2, 1960. .......

Sept. 21.. ..........

a 34

a 34

96

3.3

9.7

2.9

0.00

.02

12

109

7.2

6.0

1.9

7.0

5.6

0.4

2.7

.7

32

346

20

30

13

COVHOERUK SPRINGS NEAR KIVALINA (CAP

Sept . 9 .............

4.6

4.3

0.00

.00

64

56

120

42

36

130

362

1060

13

53

157

158

108

60

115

CLIFF SPRING NEAR POINT HOP

Sept. 8, 1961. ...... f

 

4.8 0.00 144 175

 1 . . 

1520 1 93 1 138 1 ISO 

a Ice conditions

b Residue on evaporation at 180°
KUPUK RIVER NEAR POINT HOPE

Hay 3, 1961......... 0.0 .02 7.9 2.4 1.1 0.4 28 6.

Aug. 8.............. .02 77 

IPEW1K RIVER NEAR CAPE THOM

0.2 0.02 7.9 2.4 1.1 0.4 28 6.

COVROERUK SPRING NO. 1 RIGHT FORK 

COVROERUK SPRING NO. 2 LEFT FORK 

ROARING CREEK 200' UPSTREAM FROM CONFLUENCE WI

July 5, 1961. 4.8 0.00 19 1.1 2.3 0.0 58 9.0 

NUKA RIVER NEAR HOMER

Jan. 7, 1961. 3.6 0.00 15 45 9.0 

b Residue on evaporation at 180°
MISCELLANEOUS ANALYSES OF STREAMS IN A

Chemical analyses in parts per million, water years Octobe

Date of collection

Mean 

discharge 

(cfs)

Silica 

(SiOa )

Iron 

(Fe)

Calcium 

(Ca)

Magnesium 

(Mg)

Sodium

(Na)

Potassium 

(K)

Bicarbonate 

(HCO,)

Sulfate 

(SO,)

WILLIAM'S SPRING AT ANCHOR PO

0.0 33 0.03 7.1 2.8 6.8 1.1 38 2.0 

DOG SALMON RIVER NEAR KODIA

295 7.0 0.03 5.2 .7 4.6 .4 17 2.0 

CHAKACHATNA RIVER NEAR TYO

Dec. 15, 1960....... 907 6.5 .14 9.5 1.2 1.3 1.8 25 10 

LITTLE KITOI CREEK NEAR AFO

Apr. 21, 1961.... . . .

17 

3.3

7.2 

6.9

0.03 

.04

9.1 

9.5

2.1 

2.1

8.2

8.4

0.6 

.5

33 

34

5.

8.

SWENTNA RIVER NEAR SWENTN

Jan 5, 1961..... .... 1330 13 0.00 28 4.3 7.7 1.7 77 24 
MISCELLANEOUS ANALYSES OF STREAMS IN ALASK

Periodic determinations of suspended sediment discharge and particle-size analy

(Methods of analysis: B, bottom withdrawal tube; C, chemically dispersed; D

P, pipet; S, sieve; V, visual accumulation tube; W, in d

Date of collection

Time 

(24 hour)

Sampling 

point

Water 

temperature 

(°F)

Discharge 

(cfs)

Sediment 

concentration 

(ppm)

Sediment 

discharge 

(tons per day)

0.002 0.004 

562. VEST CREEK NEAR SKAGWAY (Southeastern 

1100 

1035

49 

39

1150 

500

72 

44

224 

59

2004. GULKANA RIVER AT GULKANA

July 7. ............

0800 

1150 

1635

54 

57 

55

2730 

4420 

5550

37 

84 

100

272 

1000 

1480

7 

2020. TAZLIKA RIVER NEAR GLENNALLE

June 4, 1961.. .....

May 25, 1962. ...... 

June 24, ............

July 24... ......... 

May 15, 1963... ....

1010 

1420 

1415 

1415 

1045

43 

51 

54 

39 

55

3470 

11200 

4720 

11700 

13500 

2020 

10700

61 

71 

576 

304 

110 

398 

300

572 

2150 

7340 

9600 

4010

18

31 

21

28

45 

30

2120. COPPER RIVER NEAR CHITINA

June 18... .........

July 2 .............

July 12............

0930 

1330 

1300 

1000 

1300 

2000

48 

50 

4S 

51 

51 

52

37300 

45500 

6140" 

98500 

151000 

161000

1540 

436 

694 

3490 

3530 

3200

11 

26

15 

19 

19

13 

30 

6 

25 

26 

25
MISCELLANEOUS ANALYSES OF STREAMS IN ALAS

Periodic determinations of suspended sediment discharge and particle-size analyses, 

(Methods of analysis: B, bottom withdrawal tube; C, chemically dispersed

P, pipet; S, sieve; V, visual accumulation tube; W, in 

Date of collection

Time 

(24 hour)

Sampling 

point

Water 

temperature 

(°F)

Discharge 

(cfs)

Sediment 

concentration 

(ppm)

Sediment 

discharge 

(tons per day)

0.002 0.00

2415. DEEP CREEK NEAR NINILCHIK

June 19... .........

Aug. 3.............

June 21............

1830 

1400 

0930 

1730 

0930

34 

46 

58 

50 

56

1480 

e 980 

186 

150 

e 192

400 

48 

7 

30 

12

1600 

127 

4 

12 

6

1 

2439. SNOW RIVER NEAR LAWING

1430 

1300 

1500 

1330 

1130 

1700 

2030 

1500

40 

46 

44 

43 

39 

42 

44 

44

213 

d 400 

2440 

d 1750 

d 500 

1900 

2440 

2300

10 

47 

276 

390 

103 

24 

631 

838

6 

51 

1820 

1840 

139 

123 

4160 

5200

11 18 

2722. PLACER RIVER AT'PORTAGE'

May 30.............

Aug. 3.. ...........

June 21. ...........

1100 

1100 

1030 

1000 

1215 

1800

38 

39 

44 

40 

43 

45

299 

2130 

d 5120 

d 1000 

819 

2200

35 

140 

212 

95 

129 

150

28 

805 

2930 

256 

285 

891

e Estimated. 

d Daily mean discharge
2724. TWENTY MILE RIVER NEAR PORTAG

1300 

2100 

1600 

1700 

1750

45 

44 

48 

47 

40

2780 

4040 

3220 

2410 

1990

65 

151 

81 

53 

48

38 49 

2820. CARIBOU CREEK NEAR SUTTON

May 25, 1962. ......

June 24

May 14, 1963. ......

1510 

0915 

0945 

1130 

0730

July 5, 1961 a. ....

July 27, 1962. .....

1045 

1045 

1030 

1700 

1400

43 

41 

45 

34 

46

506 

414 

308 

196 

1680 

1850 

803 

300 

1510

74 

115 

125 

61 

1080 

519 

148 

564 

1720

101 

128 

104 

32 

4900 

2590 

321

15 

21

19 

24

27 

35

25 

35

2910. SUSITNA RIVER NEAR OENALI

43 

43 

40 

50 

40

1980 

6090 

11800 

1 0600 

2280

2770 

1140 

2830 

1800 

355

1480Q 

8700 

90200 

51500 

2180

3 

14 

10 

5 

9

3 

14 

16 

9 

13

Stream divided by gravel bar and was treated as two independent sti
Date of collection

MISCELLANEOUS ANALYSES OF STREAMS IN ALASK

Periodic determinations of suspended sediment discharge and particle-size analyses, w

(Methods of analysis: B, bottom withdrawal tube; C, chemically dispersed; D

P, pipet; S, sieve; V, visual accumulation tube; W, in d

perature

Discharge 

(cfs)

Sediment 

concentration 

(ppm)

Sediment

discharge

(tons per day)

0.002[o. 004

2912. MACLAREN RIVER NEAR PAXSON

July 5............

June 25, 1962... .. 

July 27. ..........

0800

0700

0915 

1945

40

39

40 

46

d 2910

d 3640

3520 

3220

292

1630

489 

1190

2290

16000

4650 

10300

12

23

17 

12

17

30

24 

19

2915. SUSITOA RIVER NEAR CANTWELL

Sept. 11. .........

July 25. ..........

Sept. 30..........

1430

1515

1100

1300

1300

52

54

40

42

45

47

42

36900

20000

12000

d 15000

22000

d 6600

2590

814

219

408

2790

1300

770

116

258000

44000

7100

_

_

_

_

__

18

20

4

10

9

9

20

12

23

24

10

11

11

12

23

15

d Daily mean discharge.

2920. SUSITOA RIVER AT GOLD CHEEK

June 16, 1962... .. 1400

1130

51

54

40

52000

13200

14400

1400

334

107

196000

11900

4160

11 

30

19

13 

42

27
4700. CHISANA RIVER AT NORTHWAY JUNCTI

June 23, 1961. .... 

July 6. ...........

July 15.. .........

1645

1300

52

52

58

4410

6700

6880

612

1240

7290

_

3 5

26
INDEX

Page Page 

Aciditv............................... 12 I Matanuska River at Palmer............. 42-51

Colic

Color................................

Composition of surface waters........

Copper River near Chitina............

Copper River basin...................

Covroeruk Spring No. 1 Right Fork

(west)...........................

No. 2 Left Fork (east).............

Covroeruk Springs near Kivalina (Cape 

Thompson)........................

7-15

89

18-22

4-6 

9-10

Gulkana Riv 89

11-12 

13

1-2

38-41 

38-41

Kupuk River near Point Hope........... 87

at Crooked Creek..

Literature cited. 

Little Kitoi Cree Afognak.

Phosphate. ............................ 10-11

Sediment....... 0 ......................

Ship Creek near Anchorage.............

Silica................................

Sodium and potassium..................

Swentna Ri

Tazlina River near Glennallen.........

Temperature....................... 3-4,14-

Tonsina River at Tonsina.............. 18-

Trail River near Lawing............... 29-

Trail Ri basin..................... 29-37

Twenty Mile Riv

95

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1965 O - 780-S74