ALASKA HYDROLOGIC SURVEY

What is the purpose of the Alaska Hydrologic Survey?

The objective of the Alaska Hydrologic Survey (AHS) is to provide technical hydrologic information to ensure proper and accurate management of the State's water resources for the benefit of the people of the State of Alaska. Hydrologic data are provided to state, federal, and municipal governments, as well as industry and the general public.

The statutory basis for the AHS existence and programs are under AS 41.08. Under those guidelines, AHS is specifically charged with "the systematic collection, recording, evaluation, and distribution of data on the quantity, location, and quality of water of the state in the ground, on the surface of the ground, or along the coasts, are in the public interest and necessary to the orderly domestic industrial development of the state."

The following categories are components of the "Alaska Hydrologic Survey". Select one of the following categories to see information pertaining to that particular category.

Links to related sites within DNR:

Other related links:

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Stream Discharge Measurement

Alaska has the greatest surface water resources of any state in the United States. Approximately 40% of the all the surface water outflow for the entire U.S. comes from Alaska. The state receives an average of approximately 1,050,000 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) in the form of precipitation. The Yukon, Kuskokwim, and Copper Rivers are among the ten largest rivers in the U.S., and the state has over 3 million lakes. The Alaska Hydrologic Survey collects, analyzes, and interprets surface water data for the citizenry of Alaska. Listed below are additional facts related to the surface waters of Alaska.

• Many of Alaska's lakes and streams are frozen, or partially frozen, for five-six months of the year. In late April and May, "breakup" occurs when the snow melts, and the lakes and streams thaw.
• A typical Alaska stream experiences low flows from December through March, peak flows during breakup in May-June, lower summer flows in July and August, secondary peak flows produced by rainfall in September-October, and declining flows in November.
• Glaciers significantly influence most of Alaska's major rivers, even though glaciers cover just 5% of the state. For example, glaciers cover only 5% of the Tanana River drainage basin, yet glacial meltwater accounts for half of the river's runoff.
• Surface water supplies approximately 75%, or about 300 Mgal/d, of the state's water needs for industry, agriculture, mining, fish processing, and public water use.
• Surface water is used for about half of Alaska's domestic water supply.
• Hydroelectric powerplants use approximately 1,400 Mgal/d of surface water to generate 20% of the state's electricity.
• Even with all of the surface water in Alaska, a number of communities experience water quantity problems because of inadequate supplies (especially in permafrost regions), lack of satisfactory distribution systems, and droughts.
• Flooding and erosion are responsible for millions of dollars of property damage each year. Most of the flooding that occurs in Alaska results from:

  • Rainfall
  • Snowmelt
  • Ice jams clogging stream channels, backing up flow, causing upstream flooding.
• Glacial outburst floods: nearly 750 glacier-dammed lakes have been identified in Alaska; if the glacial ice dam fails, lake water is released resulting in downstream flooding.
• Flooding can also be caused by the rapid melting of snow and ice during volcanic eruptions.
• Alaska's surface waters include over 15,000 anadromous streams (that is, they support runs of spawning seagoing fish, including salmon).
• Surface water instream flow can be appropriated to support fish and wildlife habitat.

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Well Surveying and Ground-water Sampling

Alaska has the greatest ground water resources of any state in the United States. Ground water resources are used for most domestic needs around the state. Ground water supply aquifers range from extremely small thaw bulbs in permafrost to large regional aquifers. The extensive permafrost development around the state provides challenges to the development of ground water resources. In many parts of Alaska, steep topography limits the size of most aquifers, preventing large scale extraction. Ground water is also used for bottled water export and many industrial operations, such as mining. Warm ground water discharging to the Chilkat River allows the river to stay unfrozen in the early winter. This has allowed a late run of salmon to become established and over 3,000 bald eagles gather in the early winter to feed on the fish.

Some interesting Alaska ground water facts are:

• Alaska has the largest volume of frozen ground water in the U.S.

• In the spring, much of the ground water recharge comes from snow melt.

• Ground water generally discharges to lakes and streams, but may discharge into the oceans.

• Some ground water is removed, via wells, using pumps.

• In the winter, Alaska ground water from springs and seeps freezes, forming icing or "aufeis".

The Division of Mining, Land and Water, Water Management Section, oversees the management and appropriation of Alaska's ground water.

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Water Quality:

Water Quality Sampling

  Most of Alaska's waters are suitable for the following beneficial uses:

Some beneficial uses are limited by natural water quality conditions in Alaska:

Beneficial uses can also be limited or impaired by the following human activities in Alaska:

Fecal coliform bacteria, sediment, and petroleum products are the primary pollutants of surface waters in Alaska.

Petroleum products are the primary pollutants of ground waters in Alaska.

Urban runoff is the most common pollutant source in Alaska.

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Meteorology:

Snow Surveying

Precipitation Station

The Alaska Hydrologic Survey performs meteorological studies, often as components of larger hydrologic investigations or projects. Precipitation (either as rain or snow), temperature, and low level, local winds are the principal elements that we study. A project usually includes on-site measurement and long-term sensing and recording, followed by data analysis and interpretation.

Roy Ireland (907)269-8639 

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Water Databases:

The Alaska Hydrologic Survey maintains several public information databases, in various formats. To obtain information from the unlinked databases below, contact Roy Ireland at (907)269-8639.

WELTS: This is a statewide well log tracking system database. It is an index to the files of over 25,000 well logs that have been submitted to the Hydrologic Survey, as required by state statute. Other well logs are obtained from various sources, including water rights applications. Public access is supported and encouraged. The on-line version of the WELTS database allows well logs searches, downloading of search results, and viewing and printing of well logs, and can be reached by clicking on the link above.

ARID: This database is a summary of stream characteristics resulting from an initial investigation into navigable streams within the state. The database has continued to grow as new data becomes available.

STREAMS: This is an electronic record of all discharge measurements made by the Hydrologic Survey staff over the years. Many are discrete, once only measurements, while others are from sites visited repeatedly during the term of specific projects.

AKWUDS: This is an annual compilation of water use data gathered as part of the water rights management tasks performed by the Division of Mining, Land and Water. Many communities and other significant users of water are required to report their water usage.

LAKES: This is a compilation of lake data gathered during specific field projects within the state.

WATER QUALITY: This is an index to water quality data collected by Hydrologic Survey staff.

Roy Ireland(907)269-8639
 

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Publications:

This is a link to the publications produced by the Alaska Hydrologic Survey as well as unpublished reports on water data.

Publication List

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Hydrologic Survey Regional Offices:

Northern Region

The Northern Regional Office, located in Fairbanks, provides services and data collection throughout the state. Analytical services are provided through the Water Quality Laboratory, located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. Integrating with several University research labs, the laboratory can provide inorganic analysis and wet chemistry covering a wide variety of parameters. Primary work involves stream sediment analysis, including turbidity, total suspended solids, and bedload analysis including particle sizing and distribution. Other facets include automated major anion chemistry and metals analysis on ground water and surface water. Field activities in the Northern Regional Office include ground water and surface water sampling and monitoring, site surveys, and hydrologic monitoring. Current and past projects include: mine site reclamation activities consisting of planning, construction and monitoring; operation of several stream gaging stations throughout Interior Alaska; sampling and analysis of contaminated sites for site-specific delineation; basin wide geochemical sampling; ground water investigation for fish habitat viability; among others.

3700 Airport Way
Fairbanks, AK 99709
Telephone: (907) 451-2772
Fax: 451-2703
Jim Vohden

Southcentral Region

The southcentral field office, headquartered in Anchorage, generally encompasses an area stretching from Prince William Sound, north to the Alaska range, and west to the lower Kuskokwim River, and includes the Alaska Peninsula, Aleutian Islands, and Kodiak Island. The climate in this area ranges from the mild and wet maritime zone along the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea, to transitional in the Anchorage vicinity and Alaska Peninsula, and to the dry and cold continental zone in western Alaska and the south side of the Alaska range. Rivers in the area include the Copper, Susitna, and Kuskokwim Rivers, and the popular Kenai River. Notable lakes are, Iliamna Lake (the state's largest), Becharof Lake, and Naknek Lake. Annual stream runoff in the area ranges from 1 cubic feet per second per square mile (cfsm) in western Alaska to 12 cfsm in Prince William Sound.

550 W 7th Ave Suite 1020
Anchorage, AK 99501-3577
Telephone: (907) 269-8639
Fax: 269-8947

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Current Projects

The databases continue to be maintained and are continually being updated. Distribution of data to the public and other users is of high priority.

• Hydrologic support for Alaska's Surface Coal Mining Program
• Hydrologic support for Large Mine Permitting and Compliance
• Alyeska Ski Resort Stream Gaging
• Tuluksak Stream Gaging
• Unalaska Stream Gaging
• Interior Alaska Stream Gaging and Sediment Sampling
• Database Management and Maintenance
• Support for the Water Management Section ( including hydrologic analysis)

Past Projects

• Old Harbor Stream Gaging (DCRA, Div of Energy/AK Village Elec. Coop)
• Kenai River Mgmt Plan, Wetlands Work Group
• Water quality assessment of Ship Creek, Anchorage, AK
• Matanuska River drainage basin study
• Hydrologic assistance on Indian fuel spill (DEC Contaminated Sites Program)
• Old Hiland Dump ground-water investigation
• Nonpoint pollution impacts from agriculture in Alaska's coastal zone
• Water supply investigation at Chefornak, AK (Village Safe Water Program)
• Ground water investigation at Sterling, AK
• Water resources assessment for proposed Shepard Point road, near Cordova, AK
• Ground-water assessment at Alaska Railroad yard at Fairbanks, AK (USGS coop project)
• Ground water investigation at Nikiski, AK
• Surface water resources of Glacier Creek watershed, Girdwood, AK
• Water supply investigation at St. Paul, AK (Village Safe Water Program)
• Water resources assessment for proposed Copper River highway
• Recharge area delineation for Moonlight Springs near Nome, AK
• Aquifer mapping at Anchor Point, Alaska

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General Alaska Water Facts:

• Alaska has more than 40% of the entire nation's surface water resources
• About three-fourths of all fresh water in Alaska is stored as glacial ice that covers nearly 5% of the state
• Alaska has more than three million lakes, over 12,000 rivers, thousands of streams and creeks, and an estimated 100,000 glaciers
• Longest River----------------------Yukon River, 1,280 miles in Alaska, draining 204,000 square miles
• Largest Lake-----------------------Iliamna Lake, 1,115 square miles
• Largest Glacier---------------------Malaspina Glacier, 850 square miles
• Highest Average Annual Precipitation-220 inches, Little Port Walter, S.E. Alaska
• Lowest Average Annual Precipitation-4.8 inches, Barrow, Arctic Slope, Alaska
• Greatest 24-Hour Precipitation-------15.2 inches, Angoon, S.E. Alaska
• Highest Average Annual Snowfall-----540 inches, Thompson Pass
• Greatest 24-Hour Snowfall-----------62 inches, Thompson Pass
• Statewide Average Annual Precipitation--1,050,000 million gallons per day
• Statewide Average Consumptive Water Use--27 million gallons per day
• Alaska Surface Water Inflow---------152,000 million gallons per day
• Alaska Surface Water Outflow-------989,000 million gallons per day
• Normal Reservoir Storage------------1.8 million acre-feet
• Total Estimated Water Use--406 million gallons per day, 82% surface water, 18% ground water
• Greatest Daily Tidal Range-----------38.9 feet, Upper Cook Inlet
• Alaska Total Land Area--------------586,000 square miles

Send comments and mail to Roy Ireland

This Page Last Updated by Mary Maurer on 2/4/00