Reconnaissance of 

Water Resources in the 

Haines-Port Chi I koot Area, 

Alaska 

Recon nai ssa nee of 

Water Resources in the 

Haines-Port Chilkoot Area, 

Alaska 

By James A. McConaghy 

G E 0 L 0 G I C A L S U R V E Y C I R C U L A R 626 

Prepared in cooperation with the city of Haines 

and the city of Port Chilkoot 

Washington 19 70 
United States Department of the Interior 

WALTER J. HICKEL, Secretary 

Geological Survey 

William T. Pecora, Director 

Free on application to the U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. 20242 
CONTENTS 

Page 

In trod u ctio n _______________________ --------------___________________________________________________________ -------_ _____ __ ____ ___ _ __ _ _ ____ _ _ 1 

Description of the area ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ______ 1 Geology __ ______ __ _ ___ ___ _ _ ____ ___ _______ __ ___ ____ __ ___ _ ___ ___ ___ _ _ ____ ___ ____ _____ ___ _______ __ _ __ ____ ___ _ ____ ____ ___ _ __ __ ___ ____ ___ _ __ ___ ___ _ __ 2 

Present water su pp 1 y _______________________________________ ---------- __ _ ___ ___ ___ ______ _______ __ ___ _ __ _ ___ ____ _ ___ ___ ___ __ _ ___ ____ __ _ _ _ __ 3 

Haines __________________________________________________________________________________________________ ------- ___ __ _ __ _ ___ ___ ____ _ _ ___ _ __ ___ _ 3 

Port Chilk oo t ___________________________ -----------_________________________ -------- ___ ___ ____ __ ___ _ _ ___ ____ ___ ____ __ ___ ___ ____ ___ __ ___ ___ 4 

Hydrology ----------------------------------------~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 

Surf ace water ______ -------------___________ --------- ____ ___ ______ ___ ___ _ __ __ _______ ____ ___ _ _ ____ ___ __ __ _ ____ ___ _ __ __ ___ ____ ___ ______ _____ 5 

G round water ____________________ -·---- ___ __ ____ ___ ____ _____ ___ ____ __ _ _ __ ___ ___ ___ _ _ ___ ____ ___ ___ __ ____ ___ _ __ _ __ ___ ___ __ ___ _ ___ ___ _ _____ _ 5 

Quality of water ___________________ --------- ___ ____ ____ ____ ____ ___ _ _______ _ ___ ______ ___ __ _ _ __ __ ____ ___ ___ _ __ __ _ ___ ______ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _ _ __ __ _ 7 

Potential sources of additional water -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 

References cited ______________ -------- ____ ---------_ ______ ___ _ __ __ ____ ______ _ _____ ___ _ ___ _____ ___ ____ _ ____ ___ ____ __ __ _ ___ ___ _ __ __ _ _ ______ ___ 15 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 

Figure 1. Index map showing location of the Haines-Port Chilkoot area-------------------------------------- IV 

2. Photographs of the Haines-Port Chilkoot area -------------------------------------------------------------- 2 

3. Seismic profile along Fourth A venue, Haines ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4 

4. Map showing generalized water-level contours and direction of 

ground-water movement __ _______ ____ _ ___ ___ ______ ___ ___ __ _ __ _ ___ _ ___ ___ __ ___ ____ ____ __ __ _ ___ ___ _ __ __ _ ___ ____ __ __ __ 6 

5. Map showing location of wells and sample sites and delineation of 

areas of ground-water availability ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 

TABLES 

Page 

Table 1. Records of wells near Haines, Alaska ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 

2. Quality-of-water analyses from wells and streams near Haines, Alaska--------------------------- 10 

3. Summary of ground-water availability in the Haines-Port Chilkoot area, Alaska------------ 14 

III 
5 5 MILES 

5 0 5 KILOMETERS 

CONTOUR INTERVAL 200 FEET 

DATUM IS MEAN SEA LEVEL 

Figure I.-Index map showing location of the Haines-Port Chilkoot area. 

IV 
Reconnaissance of Water Resources in the 

Haines-Port Chilkoot Area, Alaska 

By James A. McConaghy 

INTRODUCTION 

This report summarizes an investigation made 

by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation 

with the cities of Haines and Port Chilkoot. 

Most of the fieldwork was done in 1966 and 

1967. The study was made to determine the 

availability of surface water and ground water, 

the source and movement of ground water, and 

the potential sources of additional water. During 

this investigation, data were collected on present 

sources and use of water, on wells, on 

public-supply and distribution systems, on 

water-bearing properties of geologic units, and 

on water quality. 

Most water in 1967 was provided by the city 

water systems from springs and surface sources. 

These sources are inadequate to meet increasing 

demand for water. The emphasis of this project 

was placed accordingly on locating a 

ground-water supply. There are few wells in the 

area and consequently ground-water data were 

sparse. Exploratory auger drilling was the 

principal method used to obtain new 

ground-water data. In addition, surface-water 

supplies were inventoried and water samples 

were collected for chemical analysis. 

The assistance of everyone in the area is 

gratefully acknowledged, especially that of 

Mayor Novak of Haines and Mayor Heinmiller of 

Port Chilkoot. Special acknowledgments are also 

due R. W. Lemke and L. A. Yehle, Geologic 

Division, U.S. Geological Survey, for providing 

advance maps, seismic profiles, and geological 

and geophysical data from their concurrent 

geologic study of the investigation area. 

In this report, data points are identified by 

the numbers shown in figure 5. Table 1 contains 

additional numbers, similar to D30-59-15daa, 

which are file numbers that are used by the U.S. 

Geological Survey and that indicate the location 

of the data point within the township, range, 

and section; their use is not required by the 

reader of this report unless additional data are 

needed. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA 

The Haines-Port Chilkoot area is located 

between Chilkat and Chilkoot Inlets at the 

northern end of the Chilkat Peninsula in 

southeast Alaska (fig. 1 ). This 32-square mile 

area is 159 miles south of the Alaska Highway at 

Haines Junction, Yukon Territory, and is at the 

southern terminus of the Haines Highway. Other 

means of transportation serving these 

communities include the State of Alaska ferry 

system and commercial airlines from Juneau. 

The principal industries are lumbering, fishing, 

and tourism. 

The climate at Haines, as in all southeast 

Alaska, is d aminated almost entirely by 

maritime influences. Precipitation at Haines 

averages about 40 inches per year, frost-free 

days average about 140 per year, and the mean 

maximum January temperature is about l2°F 

(-11 °C). 
MOUNT RIPINSKI --- MOUNT RIPINSKI 

Figure 2.-Photographs of the Haines-Port Chilkoot area. Photographs A, B, and C form a panoramic view of the area taker 

and F form a similar viev 

Significant geographic features and landmarks 

mentioned in the report are shown by the six 

photographs (fig. 2) taken in mid-May 1967. 

GEOLOGY 

Early geologic investigations near Haines were 

made by Knopf (1910) and by Eakin (1919) ; 

more recent investigations have been made by 

Barker (1952), Robertson (1956), and Munson 

( 1962). The mapping of previous investigations 

and the preliminary work of R. W. Lemke and 

2 

L. A. Yehle, (unpub. data, 1969) were useful in 

evaluating the water-bearing properties of 

geologic units. 

Bedrock composed of metamorphic rocks of 

Mesozoic age underlies the entire area, although 

sedimentary rocks of Tertiary age may also be 

present at depth (R. W. Lemke and L.A. Yehle, 

unpub. data, 1969). Robertson (1956) mapped 

bedrock units consisting of metabasalt, 

pyroxenite, tonalite (quartz diorite), and diorite. 

He also mapped some slate and limestone on the 
MOUNT RIPINSKI 

om about I ,000 feet above Chilkoot Inlet ; photographs D, E, 

ken above Chilkat Inlet. 

Chilkat Peninsula. A seismic profile of Haines 

was prepared by R. A. Farrow and E. E. 

McGregor in Lemke and Yehle (unpub. data, 

1969). They determined that the depth to 

bedrock is approximately 600 feet at the 

deepest point near Fourth Avenue and Main 

Street. Two hypothetical faults were indicated 

in the area as shown in figure 3. Bedrock in the 

Haines-Port Chilkoot area is not a good source 

of ground water because it is very dense. Ground 

water occurs in the fractures that store relatively 

small quantities of water and consequently yield 

only small quantities to wells. 

3 

Surficial deposits, which constitute the best 

aquifers in the area, are composed of sand, 

gravel, and cobbles interbedded with clay, silt , 

and other fine-grained sediments. These 

unconsolidated sediments are of Quaternary age , 

though they may be Tertiary in part. The extent 

of surficial deposits near Haines was determined 

by several events in a complex geologic history. 

The area is adjacent to the Chatham Strait fault, 

which parallels the Chilkat Inlet. Brew, Loney. 

and Muffler, (1966, p. 167) concluded that 

horizontal movement on this fault has been as 

much as 50 miles. The geologic framework was 

established by faulting and later modified by 

glaciation; the result was a deep valley at the 

present location of Haines. That valley was 

subsequently filled with glacial outwash. marine 

clay, beach deposits, alluvium, and slope wash. 

Faulting during late Pleistocene or Holocene 

time caused displacement of the surficial 

deposits as shown in figure 3. However, all 

surface evidence of Pleistocene or Holocene 

faulting has been destroyed by erosion. 

Deglaciation has caused a regional uplift of 

about 1 foot each 13 years at Haines during the 

last half century (Hicks and Shofnos, 1965). 

This uplift is probably indicated by raised beach 

deposits along Portage Cove. 

PRESENT WATER SUPPLY 

HAINES 

Haines obtains water from a creek , two 

springs, and an old mine tunnel near the base of 

Mount Ripinski , which is northwest of town 

(fig. 5). A few homes in northeast Haines receive 

their water supply from Johnson Creek. The 

main supply is generally adequate for present 

needs, although water shortages occur during 

dry periods in summer or cold periods in winter. 

Winter shortages are intensified as a result of 

allowing taps to run to prevent freezing. 

Although the municipal water-supply system did 

not freeze during the winter of 1966-67, it is 

reported to have frozen in some previous 

winters. Chemical quality of the water is 

generally acceptable. Results of a chemical 

analysis of a composite sample from the city 
s 

200' 

~ 

(/) 

~ 

~ 

~ 

~ 

(/) 

z 

0 

f.-

..J 

~ 

Cl 

~ 

(/) ~ 

z (/) 

0 ~ 

~ t.J ::J s: Land surface N EXPLANATION 

1 Vo 

-v --~..)-- ------v~ -- -- -----T- --- -- -----

Velocity interface 

SEA LEVEL 

200' 

400' 

v2 

600' 

.-> I I I 

I 

I 

1 V1 

~\_--?------?------?--"' I · 

v2 .-> 

I 

0 500 1000 FEET 

____ ? ___ _ 

Shallowest positio"n for interface 

VyV2 central sector 

__ _ ? _ __ _ ~---

Hyp~theticaifau t 

Arrows indicate direction 

of possible movement 

Figure 3.-Seismic profile along Fourth Avenue, Haines. From R. A. Farrow and E. E. McGregor in R. W. Lemke and 

L.A. Yehle (unpub. data). Location of profile shown in figure 5. 

V0 = 5,1000-6,250 fps (feet per second) velocity. Possibly bedded clay, gravel, and gravelly sand, silt and clay. 

V 1 "'" 10,500 fps velocity. Possibly indurated glacial drift(?) or soft rock(?) with some hard rock and clay seams. 

V 2 = 24,350 fps velocity. Bedrock. 

supply are shown in table 2 (sample 41). Water 

resources of the area were briefly discussed by 

Cederstrom (1952). 

Mr. J. C. Fox, consulting engineer, Haines, 

(written commun., 1957) determined the flow 

available to the system between June 11 and 15 , 

1957, by using a V -notch weir. His results are as 

follows: 

Gallons per hour 

Creek (unnamed)____________ 780 

West Spring.._____________________ 2, 000 

Center Spring__________________ 720 

Meyers TunneL__________ ___ 3,720 

To taL________________________ 17,2 2 0 

1120 gallons per minute . 

At the time of Mr. Fox's measurements, only 

87 gpm (gallons per minute) of the 120 gpm 

available were taken into the system; 60 of the 

87 gpm were unused and overflowed at the tank. 

Weather records and other streamflow records 

indicate that the period June 11 -15 were days 

of high runoff. Therefore the reported quantities 

are more than could be expected at times of low 

flow. Mr. Fox stated that about 500 gpm could 

4 

ultimately be developed by collecting all 

streamflow within about 3,600 feet of the 

present sources. 

Haines obtained supplemental water from 

Port Chilkoot until the Haines system was 

completed in 1952. The Haines system presently 

provides water to about 600 people. Although 

there are no meters on the system, present 

demand may average 60,000 gpd (gallons per 

day). 

PORT CHILKOOT 

The present source for water at Port Chilkoot 

is Lily Lake about 2Yz miles southeast of town. 

The system was constructed by the U.S. Army 

and very few records are available. This source 

of water is adequate, but the intake facilities and 

the pipeline between the lake and town are 

reportedly in poor condition (J. J. Millegan and 

Associates, written commun., Aug. 19, 1965). 

Lily Lake is in a muskeg area which causes the 

water to be discolored and to have a poor taste. 

Haska Creek, across the Chilkat Inlet, from 

Chilkoot, was used for water supply by the U.S. 

Army, Corps of Engineers for a short period 
during the 1930's. Water was transported across 

the Chilkat Inlet in a pipeline held above ground 

level and water level by wooden supports, but 

this system became obsolete. Haska Creek is not 

considered as a source of additional water 

because of problems involved in constructing 

and maintaining a pipeline across the Chilkat 

Inlet. Analysis of water from Haska Creek 

(sample 43, table 2) indicated that the water 

quality is very satisfactory. The creek reportedly 

flows all year. 

Port Chilkoot, in one of several attempts to 

solve its water problems, drilled a test well to a 

depth of 110 feet in 1960 (Waller and Tolen, 

1962). This test well (well 32, fig. 5) was 

reportedly drilled into "egg-sized water-bearing 

gravel," but was never developed and tested. 

Measurements reveal that the lower 6 feet of the 

test well are filled with sand or mud. If this well 

were completed, developed, and tested, it might 

be used to determine the water-bearing 

properties of rocks underlying the area; it might 

prove to be an adequate source of water to meet 

the present needs of Port Chilkoot. Water 

obtained from the test well is of good chemical 

quality (table 2, sample 32). Geophysical logs 

were made by the U.S. Geological Survey, but 

further testing of this well was beyond the scope 

of this investigation. 

HYDROLOGY 

SURFACE WATER 

Surface water is water moving in streams or 

stored in lakes and glaciers. It is closely related 

to ground water; thus, intensive developtnent of 

one often adversely affects the other. In the 

Haines-Port Chilkoot area. surface water consists 

of the Chilkat River, its tributaries, a few small 

streams that flow directly into the Chilkat and 

Chilkoot Inlets, and Lily Lake. Surface water 

constitutes a major part of the present water 

supply for both communities. 

A partial inventory of surface-water resources 

was made on April 21, 1967. The discharges of 

the creek crossing Sawmill Road and of Haska 

Creek were measured; all other stream discharges 

5 

were estimated. Results of the mezsurements 

and estimates of the surface flow wen': 

Unnamed creek crossing 

Sawmill Road. 

Haska Creek -------------------------

Unnamed creeks crossing 

State Highway 7 between 

Haines and mile 4 (total 

flow). 

Unnamed creeks crossing 

Lutak Road between 

Haines and mile 3 (total 

flow). 

Cubic feet 

per second 

10.2 

3.1 

1.3 

1.3 

Gallons per 

minute 

4,570 

1,390 

580 

580 

The streams vary greatly in discharge and 

respond quickly to precipitation and snowmelt. 

Most of them are not significantly affected by 

ground-water discharge, although an exception 

might be the creek crossing Sawmill P.oad. The 

above discharges are probably representative of 

late winter low flow of these streams. However, 

no previous records are available for comparison 

and there are no nearby stream-gaging stations 

for use in interpreting the long term significance 

of the measurements. If an expanded 

surface-water supply is proposed)a stream gaging 

station should be installed on the creek crossing 

Sawmill Road. Such a station could determine 

the long-term low-flow characteristics of streams 

in the area. 

GROUNDWATER 

Ground water is water that fills openings in 

the rocks of the earth's crust and that thus 

forms a saturated zone. Where grouniJ water is 

unconfined, the water table is free to move 

upward or downward as water is added to or 

removed from the zone of saturation. Where 

ground water is confined by overlying less 

permeable materials, water rises in wells that 

penetrate the confining stratum and may even 

flow from the well. When water is '"ithdrawn 

from an unconfined or water-table aquifer, a 

cone of depression is formed adjacent to the 

well. When water is withdrawn from z confined 

or artesian aquifer, a cone of depression is 
formed in the pressure surface; the aquifer is not 

dewatered immediately but may be dewatered 

with time. The cone of depression resulting from 

water withdrawal from an unconfined aquifer is 

local in extent and enlarges slowly; withdrawal 

of water from a confined aquifer affects a much 

larger area-the cone of depression enlarges 

rapidly. With continued withdrawal, an artesian 

system gradually becomes a water-table system. 

Both types of aquifer systems are found in the 

r' 

EXPLANATION 

Well numbers refer to text and tables 

o8 

U.S. Geological Survey test well 

ell 

Domestic well 

¢14 

Destroyed test well 

orvSpring 

--200--

Water-level contour Shows altitude at' water let'el. 

Contour inte1:ml 20 (eet. 

Datum is mean sea iePel. 

~----------

Approximate direction of ground-water 

movement 

Haines-Port Chilkoot area. Sand and gravel 

constitute the aquifers; clay or silty sand 

constitutes the confining beds. It is conceivable 

that a well may receive water from several 

artesian aquifers, because the sediments are 

interbedded. 

Ground water and surface water are closely 

related; surface water can be made to flow from 

a stream or lake through the ground to a nearby 

! ,, 

Base from U S Geological Survey 0 1 MILE 

~--_L_L~~~L-L-~ 

0.5 1 1\ILOMETER 

CONTOUR INTERVAL 500 FEET 

DATUM 1'3 MEAN SEA LEVEL 

Figure 4.-Generalized water-table contours and direction of ground-water movement. 

6 
well. This process is known as induced 

infiltration. This relationship is often utilized to 

make use of the natural filtering properties of 

sand and gravel that are near a stream. Large 

withdrawals from this type of system could 

cause the surface-water source to dry up. 

Ground water moves down the hydraulic 

gradient, which approximately parallels the 

slope of the land surface. Figure 4 shows 

generalized water-level contours and the 

direction of ground-water movement in the area. 

Movement is generally perpendicular to 

water-level contours. Ground water moves 

relatively rapidly through dean well-sorted sand 

and gravel; it moves slowly through silty sand or 

clay, which may constitute confining layers. All 

ground water near Haines is derived locally and 

is thus directly related to precipitation. The 

slopes northwest and southwest of town are the 

principal recharge areas. Most ground water in 

the area moves down the valley west of Haines, 

although some also moves into Portage Cove. 

The areal extent and storage capacity of all 

aquifers near. Haines are small. The generally low 

concentrations of dissolved mineral constituents 

suggest that water is in the ground for a 

relatively short time and that the rocks are not 

readily soluble. 

Test drilling was required during the study 

because few wells had been drilled in the area 

and well records were not available. Eleven test 

wells were augered in 1966 and 15 in 1967. 

Locations of all test wells and selected domestic 

wells are shown in figure 5; descriptions are 

given in table I. Pipe casings were installed to 

permit geophysical logging and observation of 

water levels. The test wells were cleaned out by 

pumping air or water into the well. Water was 

then pumped from the well and a sample 

collected for quality-of-water analysis. The 

geophysical logs and other ~ecords are on file, as 

noted in table 1, in the Juneau office of the 

Water Resources Division. It was not possible to 

determine hydraulic characteristics of the 

aquifers because the test wells were stnall in 

diameter, and because no large-capacity wells 

were available for test pumping. 

7 

QUALITY OF WATER 

Chemical quality of water in the Haines-Port 

Chilkoot area is summarized in table 2. In 

general, the water is of the calcium bicarbonate 

type and is suitable for most uses. Some water in 

the area is moderately hard. The main problem 

caused by hard water is the scum formed as the 

water reacts with soap. Most hardne~s can be 

removed from water by sin1ple treatment. 

Treatment commonly consists of passing the 

water through a chemical chamber that 

exchanges harmless sodium ions for calcium and 

magnesium ions that cause water to be l'ard. 

The chemical quality of ground water at 

Haines and Port Chilkoot for the most part 

meets the standards for potable water 

recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service 

( 1962). Standards for some of the chemical 

constituents are listed in the followhg table, 

which shows recommended limits fC'r public 

water supply. 

Constituent Concentration in 

milligrams p'?-r liter 

Iron ---------------------------- 0.3 

Chloride_____________________ 2 50 

Nitrate________________________ 4 5 

Sulfate________________________ 2 50 

Dissolved solids1_______ 500 

11,000 mg/1 (milligrams per liter) permitted if no 

other supply is available. The quality of water in the 

study area was evaluated in accordance with t}·~se 

standards. 

Excessive iron (more than 0.3 mg/1) was 

noted in only four samples. It is surpr::sing that 

three of these are from surface-water sources. 

High iron content is often found in ground 

water from surficial deposits, but surface water 

generally does not contain excessive iron. 

Excessive chloride (more than 250 mg/1) was 

noted only in water from test well 22 (22 feet 

deep), which had 1,050 mg/1, but water from 

test well 21 (72 feet deep and about 10 feet 

away) contained 198 mg/1 chloride. High 
Table I.-Records of wells 

Map distance: Scaled from the southeast corner of section (fig. 5). 

Depth of well: Reported depth or log depth (cased depth in parentheses) below land-surface datum. 

Diameter of casing: N, not cased. 

Use of water: Com, commercial; D, domestic; E, emergency or standby; lnd, industrial; N, none; 0, ol::'servation; 

TW, test well. 

Map distance Year Depth of 

Well File North Owner or user com- well West pleted (feet) (feet) (feet) 

1 ______ D30-59-26cac ________ 1,575 3,625 Alaska Highway Commission _____________________ 1966 14 

2 ______ 26cbc ________ 1,830 5,000 Tom Ward·------------------------------------------------- 1966 9 3 ______ 2 6c bc2 ______ 1,850 5,150 __________ do·-·------------------------------------------------- 1966 18 4 ______ 26ccc _________ 600 4,775 City of Haines-------------------------------------------- 1967 82 (50) 

5------ 26ccc2 _______ 475 5,125 --------.. d 0---------------------------------------------------- 1966 19 

6 ______ 2 6ccd ________ 25 4,425 John S chna beL----------------------------------------- 1966 64 (35) 

7------ 27 cad ________ 1,525 2,700 Ed Alex·---------------------------------------------------- 1957 60 

8 ______ 27 cca ________ 700 4,200 Alaska Highway Commission _____________________ 1967 97 (92) 

9------ 27 ccc ________ 400 4,900 City of Haines·------------------------------------------- 1967 97 (95) 

1 o ______ 27ccc2 ______ 400 4,890 ----------d 0 ---------------------------------------------------- 1967 45 (43) 

11 ______ 2 7 ccd ________ 525 4,450 Cliff Reeves·---------------------------------------------- 1960 60 

12 ______ 27 dbc ________ 1,900 2,125 Dr. Stan Jones·------------------------------------------ 1964 64 

13 ______ 27 dca _________ 1,050 1,950 Tom Helms·----------------------------------------------- 1943 .284 

14 ______ 27 deb ________ 1,000 2,600 R. E. Henderson---------------------------------------- 1967 95 

15------ 2 7 dec ________ 400 2,300 Alaska Highway Commission _____________________ 1943 123 

16 ______ 2 7 dcc2. _____ so 2,100 __________ d 0 ---------------------------------------------------- 1966 87 (35) 

17------ 2 7 dd a ________ 750 350 City of Haines-------------------------------------------- 1966 67 (17) 

18 ______ 27 ddb ________ 925 1,200 ----------d 0 ---------------------------------------------------- 1967 99 

19------ 28add ________ 2,875 500 ----------d 0---------------------------------------------------- 1967 25 

20 ______ 28daa ________ 2,100 575 --------__ d 0 ---------------------------------------------------- 1967 10 

21 ______ 33aad ________ 4,325 260 ----------d 0---------------------------------------------------- 1967 92 (72) 22 ______ 33aad2 ______ 4,325 250 ----------d 0 ---------------------------------------------------- 1967 32 (22) 

23 ______ 33aca _________ 3,450 1,600 Alaska Forest Products, Inc _______________________ 1966 120 

24 ______ 34aac _________ 4,525 975 Haines-Port Chilkoot School District__ _______ 1966 21 

25------ 34aac2 _______ 4,425 1,000 ----------d 0 ---------------------------------------------------- 1966 67 (63) 

... 26 ______ 34aad ________ 4,025 625 Alex Chevron·-------------------------------------------- 1959 64 

27------ 34adc ________ 2,750 775 City of Port Chilkoot__ _______________________________ 1967 40 28 ______ 35 b be ________ 4,250 5,100 Pre sb yt e rian Mission---------------------------------- 191>6 34 29 ______ 35bbc2 ______ 4,000 4,950 City of Haines·------------------------------------------- 1966 87 

30 ______ 35bcb ________ 3,650 4,625 --------__ d 0 ---------------------------------------------------- 1966 50 

31 ______ 35bcc _________ 2,925 5,050 Presbyterian Mission __________________________________ 1966 31 

32 ______ 3 5 c bd ________ 1,775 4,600 City of Port Chilkoot_ ________________________________ 1960 105 

33 ______ 35 ccb ________ 1,125 5,150 ----------d 0 ---------------------------------------------------- 1967 30 

34 ______ D31-59-2bda __________ 3,550 3,100 Federal Aviation Agency--------------------------- 1967 22 

35------ 2bdb _________ 3,600 3,300 __________ do---------------------------------------------------- 1953(?) 17.6 

8 
near Haines, Alaska 

Depth to water: Given in feet and tenths below or above ( +) land surface. 

Altitude of land surface: All altitudes are barometric and are given in feet above mean sea level. 

Remarks: GS, U.S. Geological Survey test well; L, log or well available; D, destroyed; Sh, shothole; Sp, san1 point; 

QW, determination of water quality given in table 2; Gp, geophysical log on file at Federal Building, Jun~au, Alaska. 

Diameter 

Use Depth Altitude of Date of 

casing of to of land Remarks 

water water surface measurement 

(inches) 

N TW -------------------- 20.0 --------------- GS,L,D 

N TW Dry 180.0 2-28-66 GS,L,D,Sh 

N TW Dry 180.0 2-28-66 GS,L,D 

2 TW,O 12.35 82.0 4-15-67 GS, L, Sp, QW, Gp 

N TW Dry 117.0 3- 2-66 GS,L,D 

2 TW,O Flow 30.0 4-24-67 GS, L, Sp, QW, flow~ gpm. 

6 D Flow 170.0 1967 QW 

2 TW,O +3.2 32.0 4-15-67 GS, L, Sp, QW, Gp 

2 TW,O Flow 27.0 4-15-67 GS, L, Sp, QW, flow~ gpm. 

2 TW,O 2.55 27.0 4-15-67 GS, Sp, QW, Gp 

8 N Flow 22.0 4-27-67 QW, flow~ gpm. 

6 D Flow 215.0 1964 QW 

8 N 0.00 92.R 5-- 2-67 L, QW, Gp, pumped 16 gpm. 

N TW -------------------- 100.0 --------------- GS,L,D 

8 N 13 (reported) 40.0 1943 L, D, pumped 35 gpm, reported salty. 

2 TW,O 4.52 37.0 4-22-67 GS,L 

1.6 TW -------------------- 85.0 --------------- GS,L,D 

N TW -------------------- 87.0 --------------- GS,L,D 

2 TW,O 7.25 244.0 4-15-67 GS,L 

N TW Dry 140.0 4-11-67 GS,L,D 

2 TW,O 4.50 22.0 4-15-67 GS, L, QW, Gp 

2 TW,O 5.80 22.0 4-15-67 GS, L,QW 

6 Ind Flow 25.0 1966 QW, electric submersible pump. 

2 TW -------------------- 42.0 --------------- GS, L, D, Sh 

2 TW,O -------------------- 41.0 --------------- GS, L, D (1967), chloride= 300 mg/1. 

Iron= 0.8 mg/1, hardness= 242 mg/1. 

6 Com Flow 52.0 1967 QW 

N TW -------------------- 102.0 --------------- GS,L,D 

N TW -------------------- 57.0 --------------- GS,L,D 

N TW -------------------- 52.0 --------------- GS,L,D 

N TW -------------------- 33.0 --------------- GS,L,D 

N TW -------------------- 52.0 --------------- GS,L,D 

8 N 14.95 99.0 4-24-67 L,QW 

N TW Dry 202.0 4- 3-67 GS,L,D 

N TW -------------------- 251.0 --------------- GS,L,D 

48x48 D,E 1.0 245.0 4-22-67 QW, electric centrifugal pump. 

9 
Table I.-Records of wells 

Map distance Year Depth of 

Well File Owner of user com- well 

North West pleted (feet) (feet) (feet) 

36 ______ 2 b dd ------------------------- 2,750 3,000 Federal Aviation Agency-------------------------- 1967 3 

37------ 2 cad------------------------- 1,950 3,050 -------d 0 ------------------------------------------------------ 1967 58 

Table 2.--Quality-ofwater analyses from 

Sample Date Depth 

of Temperature Iron Calcium Magnesium Bicarbonate Sulfate 

(well or of Source 

well CF) (oC) (Fe)2 (Ca)2 (Mg)2 (HCC' 3)2 (S04)2 gaging site) 1 collection (feet) 

4------------ 4-10-67 Al uvi urn ______________ 51 40 4.5 0.07 32 4.9 103 28 

6------------ 3-12-66 ______ do __________________ 64 .04 28 10 102 33 

7------------ 4-30-67 ______ d 0------------------ 60 .10 40 6.1 40 76 

8------------ 4-10-67 ______ do __________________ 92 40 4.5 .05 120 26 71 320 

9------------ 4- 6-67 ______ do __________________ 95 41 5.0 .03 44 13 116 37 

1 0------------ 4- 6-67 ______ d 0------------------ 43 .20 30 7.3 190 30 11 ____________ 12- 5-60 ...... do __________________ 60 42 5.5 .18 51 9.3 111 98 

1 2------------ 3-14-66 ------d 0 ------------------ 64 .00 118 4.5 93 232 

13------------ 5- 2-67 ______ do __________________ 284 .20 88 3.6 91 175 21 ____________ 4-14-67 _ _____ do __________________ 72 42 5.5 .02 32 24 169 60 

22 ____________ 4-27-67 ------d 0------------------ 22 40 4.5 .00 20 2.9 70 5.0 

22 ____________ 4-13-67 ------d 0------------------ 32 40 4.5 .05 44 80 421 36 

22 ____________ 4-13-67 ______ do __________________ 32 40 4.5 .05 52 66 386 28 

22 ____________ 4-13-67 ------d 0------------------ 22 39 4.0 .02 20 2.4 71 4.0 

23 ____________ 7-25-67 ------d 0------------------ 120 .05 260 8.5 94 520 

26 ____________ 3- -67 ______ do------------------ 64 .02 15 17 116 30 

3 2 ____________ 3-14-67 ______ d 0------------------ 105 .38 8.8 4.9 39 11 

3 5------------ 4-22-67 ______ do __________________ 18 41 5.0 .05 4.0 2.4 22 2.0 

4 38------------ 7- 5-61 Chilkat River ______ .03 8.0 1.2 26 6.0 

40 ____________ 4-21-67 Johnson Creek _____ 34.5 1.5 .02 24 2.4 65 14 

41 ____________ 4-15-67 Haines Public .02 42 6.1 58 62 

supply. 4 2 ____________ 4-27-67 Creek crossing 34 1.5 .60 11 1.8 27 16 

Sawmill Road. 

4 43------------ 4-21-67 Haska Creek _________ 33.5 1.0 .03 22 3.6 63 28 

44------------ 12- 6-60 Port Chilkoot .74 15 2.6 38 19 

public supply. 

45 ----------- ----------------- Tank Farm 3.21 28 .0 64 25 

supply. 

lsample numbers ( 4-35) are identical to well numbers on table 1; numbers 40-45 refer to surface-wcter or publicsupply samples. 

2

Constituents given in milligrams per liter. 

10 
near Haines, Alaska-Continued 

Diameter Use Depth Altitude of Date of of to of land Remarks casing surface measurement 

(inches) water water 

N TW -------------------- 183.0 --------------- GS, L, D 

N TW -------------------- 127.0 --------------- GS,L,D 

wells and streams near Haines, Alaska 

Hardness 2 

as CaC03 Specific Total Chloride Fluoride Nitrate conductance 

dissolved pH Remarks 3 

(Cl) 2 (F)2 (N03)2 Calcium Non- (micromhos solids 2 

magne- carbonate at 25°C) 

sium 

6.0 0.2 0.1 100 16 300 140 7.9 

5.0 .1 .2 112 28 255 145 7.9 ADF (8837). 

7.0 .1 .1 125 92 275 179 6.8 

9.0 .4 .2 407 349 950 524 7.1 

5.0 .2 .1 164 19 350 170 7.6 

14 ") 2.1 105 .0 450 251 7.2 

6.0 .0 .0 165 74 383 253 7.9 ADF (6359). 

3.9 .1 .1 313 237 600 42I 7.7 ADF (8838). 

4.0 .1 .0 235 160 600 340 7.9 

198 .5 .1 179 40 1,020 543 7.3 

6.7 .0 .6 62 5 I38 82 7.0 ADF (1 OI30); aresnic 0.00. 

I ,050 .45 ") 439 94 3,550 2,030 7.9 After I hr., pump at 32 ft. 

950 .5 .4 400 84 3,300 1,900 7.8 After 2 hrs., pump at 32ft. 

10 .2 "') 60 2.0 160 80 7.3 After I hr., pump at 22 ft. 

3.0 .2 .2 684 607 1,200 877 7.6 

60 .1 .1 107 12 442 246 7.7 ADF (8836). 

7.4 .1 .2 42 8 126 63 8.4 ADF (8839). 

2.0 .1 .1 20 2 50 27 6.0 

1.0 .1 .1 25 4 57 35 7.0 ADF (6731); sec. 29, T. 28 S., R. 56 E. 

5.0 .1 1.1 70 17 160 86 7.6 

5.0 .2 .2 165 83 300 157 7.4 

3.9 .1 .4 35 13 89 56 6.8 ADF (10129); arsenic 0.00. 

2.0 .1 .2 70 19 170 101 7.3 Sec. 6, T. 31 S., R. 59 E. 

6.0 .0 .0 48 17 113 72 7.2 ADF (6360). 

2.8 .5 1.2 71 46 201 89 8.1 ADF (8725 ); sec. 9, T. 30 S., R. 59 E. 

3 ADF ( ) = Additional data in files for laboratory analysis indicated. 

4Sample locations that occur off map are not shown. 

11 
Well numbers refer to text and tables 

08 

U.S. Geological Survey test well 

.11 

Domestic well 

,014 

Destroyed test well 

01\JSpring 

... 40 

Surface water sampled for water quality 

Line of seismic profile figure 2 ___ &_ __ 

Water availability (see table 3 and text) 

Base from U S Geological Survey 

Q:, 1 KILO''ETER 

I I I I I I I I I I 

CONTOUR INTERVAL 500 FEET 

DATUM IS MEAN SEA LEVEL 

12 

I 

I ! 

I 

Figure 5 .-Location of wells and sample sites and delineation of areas of ground water availability. 

12 
chloride is possibly caused by salt water from 

McClellan Flats and represents water from the 

underlying salt-water wedge near the interface. 

It might also be caused by trapped sea water 

that has not been completely flushed since 

uplift. Regardless of which is true, only 

moderate pumping from the 72-foot depth in 

test well 21 would cause rapid deterioration of 

water quality. 

Nitrate may be an index of decaying organic 

material; thus, nitrate provides a check on water 

pollution. The recommended limit of nitrate 

concentration (NO 3 ) is 45 mg/1. All samples had 

less than 2.1 mg/1, which indicated that 

contamination was not a problem in 1967. 

Excessive sulfate (more than 250 mg/1) was 

noted only in wells 8 and 23. The effect of 

sulfate (SO 4 ) in water has not been studied in 

detail; its presence may have a laxative effect on 

humans (Hem, 1959, p. 239). 

Large concentrations of total dissolved solids 

(more. than ?OO mg/1) were noted in four wells, 

but only well 22 had excessive total dissolved 

solids (more than 1,000 mg/1). Total 

dissolved-solids content is directly related to 

electrical conductivity. Study of the 18 

ground-water samples from Haines-Port Chilkoot 

indicates that total dissolved-solids content is 

about 65 percent of the conductivity expressed 

as micro mhos per centimeter at 25° C. Thus 

the approximate concentration of total dissolved 

solids can be computed after the conductivity 

has been measured. Because the ratios between 

ions are rather consistent, a rough chemical 

analysis can alsobe computed. 

Temperature of ground water in the area 

ranged from 4° to 6°C. Surface water at the 

same time (late April 1967) was about l°C. 

Even though the temperature differential is only 

4° to 5° C, advantages of the warmer water are 

obvious. 

Near Sawmill Road, ground-water quality 

changed considerably with depth in the same 

13 

well. For example, water containing about 2,300 

mg/1 total dissolved solids was obtained from 

well 22 at 31 feet. When the well p'1int was 

raised to 21 feet, the yield was increased and 

dissolved solids were reduced to about 100 tng/1. 

The poor-quality water is associated v.rith fine 

sediments of low permeability that were 

probably deposited in a bog or lagoon. 

Hydrogen sulfide and an associated oily 

substance found in water in well 27 also indicate 

that poor-quality water can gene··ally be 

expected from fine-grained sediments. In similar 

circumstances wells should be constructed and 

pumped with caution. Wells should not be 

perforated opposite such fine-grained materials 

or pumped at rates that would induce flow of 

water from these zones. 

POTENTIAL SOURCES OF 

ADDITIONAL WATER 

The most obvious source of fresh water in the 

Haines-Port Chilkoot area is the Chilkrt River. 

It is nearby, has a dependable flow, and 

generally has satisfactory chemical quality; 

however, the river contains glacial flour or 

suspended silt that causes a milky appearance 

and which is difficult to remove. The creek that 

crosses Sawmill Road near the north edge of 

Haines has adequate flow for projecte-d needs 

during most of the year, but it is discolored with 

organic material. Other creeks in the area do not 

have adequate water for dependable public 

supply. Surface water might be imported by 

pipeline from outside the area, but the cost 

would probably be prohibitive. Investigation of 

such sources was beyond the scope of this study. 

The author concludes that ground water will be 

the best source of additional water in the area. 

Table 3 summarizes the availability of ground 

water near Haines and Port Chilkoot. Yields 

shown in table 3 are the maximum expected 

from a properly constructed well. '"ater is 

probably not available in significant quantities 

from the bedrock. Large quantities ate rrobably 

available from the surficial deposits in only a 

few areas. 
Table 3 .---Swnmary of ground-water availability in the Haines-Port Chilkoot area, Alaska 

Area 

(fig. 5) Geologic summary Present development 

Ground-water potential in 

surficial deposits 1 

l _______ Thin surficial deposits over bedrock. No wells, no test wells. As much as 25 gpm (possibly more near 

Mink Creek). 

2 _______ Isolated surficial deposits over bedrock. _______ do ______________________________ Less than 5 gpm; generally drained or 

thinly saturated. 

3 _______ Slide and slopewash or glacial deposits 

over bedrock. 

No wells, two test wells. As much as 25 gpm; composed of poorly 

sorted material containing many 

boulders. 

4 _______ Alluvial fan and slopewash deposits over _______ do ______________________________ As much as 50 gpm; poody sorted 

bedrock. material with perched Ylater. 

5 _______ At least 100 feet of clay overlying a few Three wells, two test No yield upper 100 feet. Less than 100 

hundred feet of unknown sedimen- wells. gpm from lower sediments. 

tary rocks which overlie bedrock. 

6 _______ Similar to area 5 except that clay migl1t Three wells, four test 

be thinner because of possible faulting wells. 

and subsequent erosion. 

7------- Thick surficial deposits over bedrock; One well, no test wells. 

tidal flats in part. 

No yield upper 50 feet. Less than 100 

gpm from lower sediments. 

As much as 100 gpm; quality of water 

may be poor. 

8 _______ Glacial outwash, beach deposits, or No wells, four test wells. As much as 500 gpm; quality of water 

variable. Considerable drainage from 

muskeg areas. 

younger alluvium in eroded channel; 

thick upper clay of areas 5 and 6 has 

been eroded. 

9 _______ Glacial and be-ach deposits terrace over One well, nine test wells. As much as l 00 gpm; water-bearing beds 

are not extensive and may be partly 

drained. 

bedrock. 

1 0 _______ Thin surficial deposits over bedrock. 

ll _______ Surficial deposits over bedrock. 

No wells, no test wells. 

One well, five test wells. 

Less than 1 0 gpm. 

As much as 25 gpm. Excellent to poor 

quality of water. 

12 _______ Isolated surficial deposits over bedrock. No wells, no test wells. Less than 5 gpm. 

1

Less than 5 gpm from bedrock. 

On the basis of exploratory test augering by 

the U.S. Geological Survey in 1967, area 8 (fig. 

5) is the one most likely to provide adequate 

water for the needs of the community. At the 

present time (1967), no supply wells obtain 

water from this area. Two pairs of test wells 

were installed in area 8. Two water-bearing 

zones were tested at each site because relatively 

impermeable material was found between them; 

the zones are presun1ed to be correlative at both 

sites. At Haines Highway and Sawmill Road, 

well 9 was 97 feet deep and well 10 was 45 feet 

deep. Near the creek crossing of Sawmill Road, 

well 21 was 92 feet deep and well 22 was 32 feet 

deep. Gravel in the upper zone had good 

14 

water-bearing characteristics; it was cleaner, 

more rounded, and better sorted than any other 

water-bearing gravel found near Haines. The 

upper zone at the highway was between 11 and 

47 feet below land surface; at the creek crossing, 

it was between 12 and 3 5 feet. Results of 

analyses of water from the upper zone (table 2) 

indicate that quality of water ern deteriorate 

rapidly with depth. Total dissolvec solids ranged 

from 80 to 2,030 mg/1 in well 22. This points 

out the need to use care in constructing wells in 

these materials and in planning pumping rates 

and schedules; wells should not be completed in 

zones with poor quality of water. Analyses of 

water from the upper part of test well 22 and 
from the creek (sample 42, table 2) indicate that 

the water is very similar. Thus, there is probably 

a good hydraulic connection between the creek 

and the upper aquifer, and drawdown in the 

upper zone would probably be less than 

expected. 

The lower water-bearing zone will not yield as 

much water as the upper zone because the 

material is not as well sorted. However, if a well 

system is constructed to tap the upper zone, 

adjacent wells completed in the lower zone 

might provide a separate economical source of 

water. Water quality in the lower zone in the 

southeastern part of area 8 might be better than 

that from the upper zone because of its 

proximity to the recharge area and smaller 

possibility of the_ occurrence of salt water. 

There are a few factors that discourage 

development of area 8. The gravel zones are not 

continuous with area and depth in the 

underlying materials and the water is of poor 

quality. Also more than one well may be 

required to obtain adequate water for the total 

supply without causing excessive drawdown. 

Excessive drawdown in the upper zone could 

cause poor-quality water from the underlying 

zone or discolored water from the creek to enter 

the well. A surveillance program will be required 

to determine changes in water quality. Specific 

conductance measurements would adequately 

identify chemical changes; bacteriologic tests 

would detect contamination. Although there 

have been reports of arsenic in the water in area 

8, it was not present in the two samples for 

which it was analyzed. 

Areas 7 and 9 are less favorable for 

ground-water development than area 8, but they 

are the most desirable areas for additional 

investigation if area 8 proves to be 

unsatisfactory. It should be noted that most test 

holes have not reached bedrock. If none of the 

suggested areas prove satisfactory, deeper 

drilling might reveal large quantities of 

good-quality water. Area 7 is an extension of 

area 8, and the water-bearing properties of the 

15 

surficial deposits presumably are similar. The 

area is periodically flooded by tide water; 

therefore, the salt-water intrusion near the 

Chilkat Inlet may affect water qualit:r. No test 

wells were drilled in area 7. Only th~ Sawmill 

well (well 23, table 1) presently obtains water 

from the area. 

Area 9 has even less potential for 

development of ground water than area 7. 

Geologic relationships near the ridge at Second 

Avenue and Union Street in Haines are not well 

understood. Coarse material on this ridge 

prohibited augering deeper than about 17 feet. 

Consequently, it was impossible to determine 

the stratigraphic relationship of the trick clay a 

city block to the west and the beach deposits a 

city block to the east. The clay was not observed 

on the slope to the east of the ridge ard was not 

found in a nearby test well (test well 4, fig. 5). 

Test well 4 (at the Health Center) Vl'as drilled 

through materials with fair water-bearing 

properties and the water quality was 

satisfactory. 

Well 6 (near the beach at Main f'treet) has 

flowed for more than a year with no noticeable 

decrease of pressure or quantity. Yet, the raised 

beach deposits are of local extent and the 

recharge area is small; the underlying till 

deposits further restrict recharge; and local 

contamination of water in the surfici2l deposits 

is possible. Therefore, area 9 may not provide a 

suitable supply of water. 

REFERENCES CITED 

Barker, Fred, 1952, The Coast Range batholith 

between Haines, Alaska, and Benr~tt Lake, 

British Columbia: Pasadena, California Inst. 

Technology, master's thesis. 

Brew, D.A., Loney, R.A., and Muffler, L.J.P., 

1 9 6 6, Tectonic history of sou the astern 

Alaska: Canadian Inst. Mining and Metallurgy, 

spec. v. 8, p. 149-170. 

Ceders t rom, D.J., 1952, Summary of 

ground-water development in Alaska, 1950: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Circ. 169, 37 p. 
Eakin, H.M., 1919, The Porcupine gold placer 

district, Alaska: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 699, 

29 p. 

Hem, J.D., 1959, Study and interpretation of 

the chemical characteristics of natural water: 

U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1473, 

269 p. 

Hicks, S.D., and Shofnos, William, 1965, The 

determination of land emergence from 

sea-level observations in southeast Alaska: 

Jour. Geophys. Research, v. 70, no. 14, p. 

3315-3320. 

Knopf, Adolph, 1910, Occurrence of iron ore 

near Haines, Alaska: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 

442-C, p. 144-146. 

16 

Munson, R.J ., 1962, Centerline and materials 

site investigation, Lutak Ro'ld, Haines, 

Alaska: Alaska Dept. Highways, Juneau, 

unnumbered rept., 45 p. 

Robertson, E.C., 1956, Magnetite deposits near 

Klukwan and Haines, southeastern Alaska: 

U.S. Geol. Survey open-file rept., 37 p. 

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

standards: U.S. Public Health Service Pub. 

956, 61 p. 

Waller, R.M., and Tolen, D.A., 1962, Data on 

ground-water exploration and development in 

southeastern Alaska: Alaska Dept. Health and 

Welfare Hydrol. Data Rept. 19, 15 p. 

~ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1970 0- 383-797