Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund
Statement of Work
I.
Project Title: Black Lake Habitat Evaluation
II.
Project Number: 44721
III.
Principal Investigators
Heather Finkle, PI
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
Division of Commercial Fisheries (CF)
351 Research Court
Kodiak, AK 99615
907-486-1848; heather.finkle@alaska.gov
PCSRF Objective: RM&E
Adam St. Saviour, ADF&G CF (former Co-PI)
IV.
Project Period: 4/1/13 – 11/30/15
V.
Project Description
1. Synopsis
The Chignik watershed supports an important subsistence sockeye salmon stock
utilized by several local communities. This project will study and monitor the effects
of reduced rearing habitat in Black Lake on sockeye salmon in the watershed through
limnological and habitat use sampling. The assessment of habitat data will indicate
how juvenile sockeye salmon are impacted by recent dynamic changes to Black Lake,
what response those changes have elicited, and to what extent those changed
conditions are detrimental to Chignik watershed salmon. This information will assist
fishery managers to assess and recommend escapement goals and management
strategies and determine whether or not restoration or conservation actions should be
considered to protect this important subsistence stock.
2. Introduction
Changes to the freshwater rearing habitat in Black Lake resulting from morphological
changes and climate variation may be deleterious to Chignik sockeye salmon. A
rapid decline in Black Lake’s volume occurred roughly 40 years ago when the
confluence of the West Fork and Black rivers moved farther downstream. The shift
caused Black Lake to drain at a quicker rate and subsequently reduced the lake’s
volume. Subsistence and commercial user groups believed the reduced rearing
habitat resulting from this shift would reduce Black Lake’s salmon productivity.
Low subsistence harvests, particularly in the last decade, prompted local Chignik
fishermen to vocalize their concerns and relay the importance of subsistence harvests
to their traditional lifestyle to the Board of Fisheries in 2001 and 2004. To address
public concern, the Chignik Regional Aquaculture Association (CRAA) enlisted the
Alaska District U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (ACOE) to provide an environmental
assessment. Habitat monitoring efforts by the ACOE and U.S. Geological Survey
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found that the rate of change in the watershed has decreased over time and appears to
be approaching equilibrium. The ACOE indicated that continued monitoring of smolt
outmigration and limnological conditions throughout the system would be the best
indicator of any deleterious changes to Black Lake rearing habitat or juvenile sockeye
salmon life history strategies.
Limnological data are excellent indicators of habitat change because they provide a
direct measure of rearing conditions for juvenile salmon. Additionally, because these
data require minimal processing, they are readily comparable to historical water
quality records, smolt enumeration data, and adult salmon weir escapement data.
This baseline can then be used to indicate fluctuations in the rearing habitat quality of
Black and Chignik lakes. Because habitat loss is a focal point for Black Lake, this
project will deploy an autonomous underwater vehicle to remap its bathymetry, which
was last done by the University of Washington Fishery Research Institute in 2004.
Bathymetry data will estimate lake area and volume to indicate whether rearing
habitat is being lost, and if so, to what extent. To compliment the limnological data,
juvenile salmon will be beach seined from numerous sites throughout Black Lake and
Chignik Lagoon to indicate habitat utilization and quality. Juvenile salmon data,
when examined relative to limnological data, link the quality of the rearing habitat to
its use and subsequently reveals whether or not the habitat use is changing as a result
of changing rearing conditions and if those changes are deleterious to juvenile
salmon.
Because the changes to effluent flow and juvenile salmon migration occurring at
Black Lake affect downstream portions of the watershed, this project will collect
physical, nutrient, and zooplankton data from Black and Chignik lakes. These data
will be used to maintain the baseline for comparison to historical limnological, smolt,
and adult salmon escapement data. This baseline can then be used to indicate
fluctuations in the rearing habitat quality of Black and Chignik lakes relative to
current conditions in Black Lake.
Continued monitoring of limnological conditions throughout the watershed, coupled
with juvenile salmon habitat use data, will serve as a strong and immediate indicator
of change in Black Lake and of whether those changes have a negative impact on
Chignik sockeye salmon.
3. Location
Site: Black Lake
Latitude: 56.45345 N Longitude: 158.99502 W
Site: Chignik Lake
Latitude: 56.25573 N Longitude: 158.82472 W
Site: Chignik Lagoon
Latitude: 56.31655 N Longitude: 158.55263 W
4. AKSSF Objective
1C-1
VI.
Objectives
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1. Project Objectives
 Evaluate physical characteristics in Black and Chignik lakes including pH,
temperature, dissolved oxygen, and light penetration profiles on a temporal scale
 Evaluate the nutrient levels on a temporal scale in Black and Chignik lakes
 Perform sampling to evaluate the effects of limnological conditions on the
available zooplankton forage base in Black and Chignik lakes
 Perform high-resolution bathymetric mapping of Black Lake
 Determine the presence or absence and condition of rearing juvenile sockeye
salmon in Black Lake and Chignik Lagoon
2. Methods
Juvenile sockeye salmon habitat use data collection and limnological sampling will
occur once every four weeks May through August 2013, 2014, and 2015. In May of
each sampling year, sampling stations will be established on each lake, logged with a
global positioning system (GPS), and marked with a buoy. Currently, Chignik Lake
maintains four limnology stations, Black Lake has one limnology station and four
beach seining sites, and Chignik Lagoon has four beach seining sites. Bathymetric
mapping and limnological sampling of Black Lake will be performed concurrently in
July 2014. Data collection and sample processing will adhere to the following
methods:
 Dissolved Oxygen, Light, and Temperature
Water temperature (°C) and dissolved oxygen (mg/L) levels will be measured
with a YSI dissolved-oxygen/temperature meter. Readings will be recorded at
half-meter intervals to a depth of 5 m, and then increased to one-meter
intervals. Upon reaching a depth of 20 m, the intervals will be increased to
every five meters up to a depth of 50 m. A photometer will measure
photosynthetically active wavelengths (kLux). Readings begin above the
surface, at the surface, and proceed at half-meter intervals until reaching a
depth of 5 m. Readings will be recorded at one-meter intervals until the lake
bottom or 0 kLux light penetration is reached. The depths at which a Secchi
disc disappears and reappeared when lowered and raised in the water column
will be averaged to measure water transparency.
 Water Sampling
Four to eight liters of water will be collected from each station with a Van
Dorn bottle from the epilimnion (depth of 1 m) and from the hypolimnion
(depth of ≥ 29 m depending on lake morphometry). Water samples will be
refrigerated until initial processing. One-liter samples will be passed through
4.25-cm diameter 0.7-m Whatman GF/F filters under 15 to 20-psi vacuum
pressure for chlorophyll-a and particulate N and P analyses. For chlorophylla analysis, approximately 5 ml of MgCO3 solution will be added to the last 50
ml of the sample water during the filtration process. All filters will be stored
frozen for further processing. The water chemistry parameters of pH and
alkalinity will be assessed with a pH meter and using acid titration.
 Zooplankton
One vertical zooplankton tow will be made at each limnology station with a
0.2 m diameter, 153 micron net from one meter above the lake bottom to the
surface. Each sample will be stored in a 10% buffered formalin solution.
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
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
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VII.
Three subsamples will be keyed to zooplankton family or genus and counted
on a Sedgewick-Rafter counting slide and averaged. Mean length (0.01 mm)
will be measured and biomass will be calculated via species-specific linear
regression equations between weight and length measurements.
Autoanalyzer Analysis
Water samples collected during the project will be processed for TP, TKN,
TA, silicon, and nitrate + nitrite using a SEAL Analytical AA3 segmented
flow autoanalyzer following the manufacturer’s instructions and established
chemistries.
Bathymetric Mapping
Bathymetry of Black Lake will be assessed using a YSI Ecomapper
autonomous underwater vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer’s
protocol. Multiple missions will be plotted and run to collect georeferenced
depth data. These data will be plotted with Surfer software to estimate
bathymetric statistics for comparison to historical Black Lake data.
Beach Seining of Juvenile Salmon
A single haul will be made at each Black Lake and Chignik Lagoon location
with a beach seine net. All fish species caught will be identified and counted.
A total of 40 juvenile sockeye, 20 coho (O. kisutch), and 20 Chinook (O.
tshawytscha) salmon will be randomly sampled from the catch and measured
for fork length (FL) to the nearest millimeter (mm). The first 20 juvenile
sockeye salmon per set will be sampled for age, weight, and length (AWL)
data. If a specific fish is too small (<45 mm) for scale sampling, it will be
assumed to be an age-0 fish. All AWL sample fish will then be transported to
the Chignik field lab for AWL processing. All FL and AWL information will
be collected and recorded.
Data Analysis
All data will be entered into the ADF&G limnological database and compared
by month and by station. Correlations and linear regressions will be used to
compare historical and recent physical, nutrient, and zooplankton data.
Nutrient and zooplankton data will also be compared to available smolt and
adult return data using linear or multiple regression to assess trends related to
productivity and escapement.
Products
Project results will be disseminated through annual season summary reports
available to the public by request, online through the ADF&G eLibrary
archive, and at the CRAA annual meeting. The Chignik smolt enumeration
project public outreach event at the Chignik Lake School, which focuses on
developing resource stewardship, will also provide information on this project
annually (funded separately).
Benefits
The data gathered by this project will indicate if the Chignik watershed systems are
overtaxed or underutilized by juvenile salmon, allowing fishery managers to assess and
recommend escapement goals and management strategies based on biological data and
whether or not restoration or conservation actions should be considered. The benefits of
improved management will be realized by Chignik area subsistence harvesters.
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VIII. Products, Milestones, and Timelines
 May 2013: Collect initial round of water samples
 May – August 2013: Collect and process water quality data
 October 2013 – April 2014: Edit, analyze, and report initial 2013 data; process water
samples; prepare for the 2014 field season
 May – August 2014: Collect and process water quality data; remap Black Lake (July)
 October 2014 – April 2015: Process water samples; edit, analyze, and report 2014
data
 May – August 2015: Collect and process water quality data
 September 2015 – May 2016: Summarize data in fisheries data series report
(activities occurring after the project end date of 11/30/15 are funded separately)
IX.
Budget
ADF&G CF
100 Personnel
200 Travel
300 Contractual
400 Supplies
500 Equipment
Subtotal
600 Indirect @ 14%
Total
Total
$127,473
$3,600
$10,800
$21,465
$0
$163,338
$22,867
$186,205
Budget Narrative:
Line 100: Personnel ($127,473)
The State of Alaska salary calculator was used to estimate personnel costs.
 Darin Ruhl, Fishery Biologist I, will oversee sample processing at the Near Island
Laboratory in Kodiak:
FY13: 1.25 months @ $6,446/month = $8,058
FY14: 2.25 months @ $6,569/month = $14,780
FY15: 3 months @ $6,723/month = $20,169
FY16: 3 months @ $7,079/month = $21,237

Dawn Hunt, Fishery Biologist I, will oversee sample collection at Black and
Chignik lakes and at Chignik Lagoon and assist with post-season sample
processing at the Near Island Laboratory in Kodiak:
FY13: 0.5 months @ $6,547/month = $3,274
FY14: 3 months @ $6,547/month = $19,641
FY15: 3 months @ $6,719/month = $20,157
FY16: 3 months @ $6,719/month = $20,157
Line 200: Travel ($3,600)
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Adam StSaviour, Fishery Biologist II, will travel to Chignik Lake from Kodiak to
oversee project progress in July of each of the three field seasons:
 Airfare: 3 trips @ $1,200/trip = $3,600
Line 300: Contractual ($10,800)
FY14
 Phytoplankton sample processing: 12 samples @ $150/sample = $1,800
 Sample shipping: 3 shipments @ $100/shipment = $300
 Meter servicing: $1,500
FY15
 Phytoplankton sample processing: 12 samples @ $150/sample = $1,800
 Sample shipping: 3 shipments @ $100/shipment = $300
 Meter servicing: $1,500
FY16
 Phytoplankton sample processing: 12 samples @ $150/sample = $1,800
 Sample shipping: 3 shipments @ $100/shipment = $300
 Meter servicing: $1,500
Line 400: Supplies ($21,465)
FY13
 Field and lab supplies (calibration standards, field camp food, filters, lab ware,
Rite in the Rain paper, rain gear and boots, batteries, labels, fuel): $3,500
FY14
 Field and lab supplies (calibration standards, field camp food, filters, lab ware,
Rite in the Rain paper, rain gear and boots, batteries, labels, fuel): $6,320
FY15
 Field and lab supplies (field camp food, reagents, Rite in the Rain paper, fuel, rain
gear and boots, batteries): $7,145
FY16
 Field and lab supplies (reagents, fuel): $4,500
Line 600: Indirect ($22,867)
ADF&G’s federally negotiated indirect rate through June 30, 2013, is 14.41% excluding
equipment and pass-through funds; however, indirect will be recovered at a reduced rate
of 14% for this project.
X.
Match Budget
ADF&G CF Match (35%)
100 Personnel
200 Travel
300 Contractual
400 Supplies
500 Equipment
Subtotal
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Total
$57,168
$0
$0
$0
$0
$57,168
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600 Indirect @ 14%
Total
$8,004
$65,172
Match Budget Narrative:
Line 100: Personnel ($57,168)
The State of Alaska salary calculator was used to estimate personnel costs.
Heather Finkle, Fisheries Biologist III (PCN 11-1332), is the project leader responsible
for administrative functions such as budget tracking, hiring, training, and evaluating
personnel and overseeing daily operations for Westward Region research projects.
 FY13: 1.25 months @ $9,527/month = $11,909
 FY14: 1.5 months @ $10,243/month = $15,364
 FY15: 2.0 months @ $10,089/month = $20,179
 FY16: 0.991935 months @ $9,795/month = $9,716
Line 600 Indirect: ($8,004)
ADF&G’s federally negotiated indirect rate through June 30, 2013 is 14.41% excluding
equipment and pass-through funds; however, indirect will be recovered at a reduced rate
of 14% for this project.
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