Introduction

The Alaska field stations are located in southwestern Alaska. The quality of the habitats surrounding the stations ranges from excellent to nearly pristine, and the sites are either within or adjacent to state or national parks. Unlike nearly all salmon populations and most aquatic habitats in the lower 48 states, the fish communities have not been influenced by species introductions, the genetic composition of the populations has not been affected by hatcheries or transplants, and the habitats have experienced no logging or agriculture. With the exception of a hydroelectric facility on one tributary in the Iliamna Lake system, the rivers have no dams. Thus, the integrity of the fish populations essential for ecological and evolutionary studies has been maintained. Commercial fishing on sockeye salmon is well-managed and the populations in the lakes and spawning grounds are near pre-fishing levels of abundance. Other salmonids (e.g., rainbow trout and Arctic char) are managed almost exclusively as "catch and release" fisheries, and other fishes such as northern pike, cisco, sticklebacks, sculpins and Alaska blackfish are virtually or entirely unfished.

Wood River Lakes

The Wood River Lake system consists of five interconnected lakes (425 km2) draining to Bristol Bay (59o20'N lat., 158o40'W long.). Situated between precipitous mountains, the lakes are deep (100–150 meters [m]) and range from 6 to 201 km2. The lakes are oligotrophic, covered with ice from December through May and are arrayed along a continuum from marine to interior climates. Most of the lake system is located within the Wood–Tikchik State Park. Terrestrial communities include mixed conifer–deciduous forest and deciduous scrub.

Three facilities are available in the Wood River Lakes. The facility on the lower lake is within the village of Aleknagik (pop. ~250) and is capable of supporting 15 people. A two-story house, a bunkhouse, and a Pan Abode cabin provide housing quarters for all visiting personnel. The Aleknagik facility serves as a base of operations for research on Lake Aleknagik (the lowermost of the lakes) and as a staging ground for research in the upper lakes. Visitors can fly to Dillingham (the largest fishing port in the region, served by regularly scheduled jet flights from Anchorage) and drive the 30 km to our camp. A wet lab, a small lab for limnological studies, and a telephone and fax machine are available, as well as cooking facilities, washer–dryer, and other amenities. Electricity is provided by conventional hook-up to the local community. A Chevrolet suburban and pick-up truck are available for transportation as well as a four-wheel drive ATV.

Our second camp (on Lake Nerka, next in the chain of lakes) is accessible by float plane or, more typically, by boat from Aleknagik. The Lake Nerka facility is capable of supporting eight people; it has a small laboratory, tool shop, storage building, and two bunkhouses. Electrical power is supplied by a 12-kw diesel generator, heat is by propane, and communication is provided by radio-telephone. A four-person cabin is maintained at Lake Kulik (the upper-most of the main lakes) and is accessible by float plane or boat during moderate to high water levels.

Boats available for research in the Wood River Lakes include two very sturdy welded aluminum vessels: a 24' flat-bottom boat powered by twin 40-hp outboard motors and a 19' boat powered by a 70-hp motor. We also have an aluminum boat with twin 40-hp jet motors, several 16–18' skiffs, and an inflatable boat. Each camp has a maintenance shop, fully equipped for carpentry, plumbing, electrical projects or outboard motor and truck repairs.

Iliamna Lake System

The Iliamna Lake system (59o30'N lat., 155oW long.) is dominated by Iliamna Lake (the largest lake in Alaska at 2,622 km2) and Lake Clark (370 km2). Numerous smaller lakes feed into these lakes and eventually discharge to Bristol Bay via the Kvichak River. The lakes are oligotrophic and covered with ice from December through May. The eastern end of Iliamna Lake is relatively deep (>150 m) but has numerous small islands, and ends in steep mountains. The western end of the lake is wider, shallower, has few islands and the land becomes flat tundra towards the outlet. Lake Clark is turbid from glacial flow during spring and summer, whereas Iliamna Lake is clear (Secchi disk transparency ~15 m). The mountainous habitat surrounding Lake Clark is protected by the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.

We have two facilities on Iliamna Lake: one at Iliamna village (pop. ~500) near the shore of the lake and the other on Porcupine Island at the eastern end of the lake. The facility at Iliamna village is used as a point of arrival/departure (there are several scheduled jet flights from Anchorage each day), for research on the Newhalen River, and as a staging ground for studies at Lake Clark or travel to Porcupine Island. Four or more scientists can be supported at the Iliamna village facility, which is powered by large village generators and utilizes well water for drinking and cooking. We have a bunkhouse, a second house with bathroom and cooking facilities, and a third very large storage building (originally built to house airplanes) where we keep all boats and vehicles during the winter. The facility has a telephone and fax machine. Scientists can travel to Lake Clark by plane or by trailering a boat above the falls on the Newhalen River and motoring up. Large, comfortable facilities at Lake Clark can be arranged with the National Park Service station at Port Allsworth. Vehicles available at the Iliamna village include a Chevrolet pick-up and a GMC suburban.

Most of our Iliamna Lake research has been conducted from the facility at Porcupine Island, located in the most protected region of Iliamna Lake, near many major sockeye salmon spawning grounds. This facility is powered by a diesel generator and can easily support 8 scientists in three cedar buildings, one of which has cooking and showering facilities, and another doubles as a limnology lab. We have a well-equipped shop for fabrication of apparatus and repairs. The Porcupine Island camp is accessed directly by boat or float plane from Iliamna village or by wheel plane and boat via the nearby village of Pedro Bay. Boats available at the Iliamna Lake system include a 24’ aluminum Workskiff, a 23’ fiberglass Beaver, an 18’ Lund, and a 16’ Whaler.

Chignik Lake System

The Chignik Lake system consists of two interconnected lakes on the Alaska Peninsula (56o16'N Lat., 158o50'W Long.), draining south to the Gulf of Alaska. This system is adjacent to the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge and the Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve. Terrestrial communities include deciduous scrub and alpine tundra. Mt. Veniaminof (2,560 m), an active volcano, is within 25 km of the station. Chignik Lake and Black Lake are relatively small (22 and 41 km2, respectively) but are markedly different in average depth (60 m vs. <4 m) and associated limnological characters (water temperature, date of ice breakup, primary productivity, etc.). These lakes are influenced by marine climate from the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. Primary productivity and density of fishes are high relative to other Alaskan lakes.

Our primary facility is located at the outlet of Chignik Lake, the lower of the two lakes, near Chignik village and is capable of supporting four biologists. The facility is powered by a 5-kw generator and includes a wet lab and maintenance shop. A telephone is available at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 2 km down river. Food and supplies are generally purchased from the nearby salmon cannery in Chignik Lagoon, which may also be used for major equipment repairs or metal work. Flights the Chignik Lake village come from King Salmon. Two 16' boats powered by 70-hp or 40-hp outboard motors and a 13' Boston Whaler powered by a 40-hp motor are available. A large shelter (without electricity) is also maintained at Black Lake. Special features of the Chignik Lake–Black Lake system include the following: