Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund
Statement of Work
I.
Project Title: Karluk Lake Limnology
II.
Project Number: 44528
III.
Principal Investigator
Heather Finkle, Fisheries Biologist II
ADF&G, Commercial Fisheries Division
351 Research Court
Kodiak, AK 99615
Phone: (907) 486-1848; Fax: (907) 486-1841
Email: heather.finkle@alaska.gov
IV.
Project Period: 7/1/11 – 2/28/14
V.
Project Description
1. Synopsis
This project will continue collection and evaluation of high-resolution spatial and
temporal data on abiotic and biotic water quality components of freshwater habitats
that affect the distribution and production of wild juvenile sockeye and Chinook
salmon in Karluk Lake. Using spatial data models, this information will allow the
detection and evaluation of the effects of changing climatic and rearing conditions
that influence the productivity and maintenance of these important subsistence stocks.
This project continues work begun in AKSSF projects 45854 and 45884.
2. Introduction
This project will collect and evaluate high-resolution baseline water quality data for
Karluk Lake on Kodiak Island using standard water quality sampling procedures and
an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV).
PCSRF Objective: RM&E
Water quality data include physical data (temperature, light penetration, dissolved
oxygen content, pH), nutrient data (concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous, and
chlorophyll a), and zooplankton abundance and biomass estimates. Each of these
components can offer a snapshot of how trophic levels interact, which in turn can
point to a limitation in a rearing environment or to a sustainable level of production.
Physical data can indicate when freshwater conditions change relative to climatic or
seasonal changes, geological events, or other stochastic events. For example,
seasonal increases in water temperature may affect growth rates of rearing salmon
and also zooplankton reproduction rates. Nutrient data can indicate if phosphorous
and nitrogen are adequately available for photosynthesis, and therefore phytoplankton
production, and thus the ability of a lake to sustain a salmon forage base of
zooplankton. Zooplankton data can indicate forage limitations for rearing juvenile
salmon caused by overgrazing, which is revealed by small zooplankton size and low
biomass or limitations in phytoplankton (the food of zooplankton) production. Each
factor warrants monitoring as substantial changes to any one of these factors can
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affect the rearing and migratory behavior of a rearing juvenile salmon, and thus their
survival. With respect to Karluk Lake salmon, these data may indicate or rule out
factors that have contributed to recent run declines that were low enough to restrict
subsistence fishing.
Since 1985, water quality data have been intermittently collected by ADF&G to serve
as components of management recommendations, restoration projects, and habitat
assessments for Karluk Lake. However, a paucity of sufficient, descriptive biological
data still exists to detect and evaluate critical migration or rearing habitats and assess
stock productivity for Karluk Lake salmon, let alone to provide accurate baseline
water quality data for the lake itself. Specifically, water quality data were not
collected from 1995 to 2003 and from 2007 to 2008 and therefore lack the continuity
to reflect temporal trends relative to current declines in sockeye or Chinook salmon
productivity and climate change that have negatively affected subsistence,
commercial, and sport fishing harvests.
In 2009, an AUV was run successfully in a feasibility study consisting of monthly
summer missions in Karluk and Frazer lakes. This free-swimming robot efficiently
collected geo-referenced (latitude, longitude, and depth) data on water temperature,
dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, chlorophyll-a, and blue-green algae
fluorescence. In addition, the AUV simultaneously collected bathymetry information
and detected substrate quality and fish presence with side scan sonar. Preliminary
comparisons of these data to traditionally collected data sets indicated a substantial
improvement in data quality and in its ability to identify within-lake habitat
variability. For example, AUV lake bathymetry indicated a presence of deep pockets,
which may act as nutrient sinks, as opposed to being homogenous across bottom
depths as depicted in the existing bathymetric map that was created using a
fathometer over limited transects. Similarly, monthly dissolved oxygen profiles
accurately reflected changes to whole lake conditions over time as opposed to
extrapolating data from two miniscule points to cover the whole lake. This AUV
data, because they are geo-referenced, allows identification of specific habitat
conditions that may affect rearing juvenile salmon.
Because the life cycle of a salmon can last from four to eight years, salmon-related
data sets need multiple years of data to provide sufficiently meaningful information.
In order to successfully evaluate how fresh water rearing conditions affect juvenile
salmon, the water quality data must also encompass the same freshwater rearing time
frame, which can be up to four years for Karluk Lake sockeye salmon. To adequately
detect and evaluate the effects of climate change and lake rearing conditions on more
than one brood year of salmon would require the collection of seven years of data to
provide three data points relative to brood year returns. With the additional two years
of data collection provide by this project, Karluk Lake will have a total of five
consecutive years of high resolution data, which encompasses the freshwater rearing
time of three brood years of sockeye salmon.
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Limited data sets hinder the development of robust models to assess production, let
alone provide sufficient information to protect and manage the resource. Catch and
escapement data are often the only available data for assessing escapement goals and
estimating adult returns. Although these data sets span many years, they are often
confounded by a lack of contrast in the data or an inability of the data to fit well with
standard spawner-recruit models for escapement goal reviews or sibling relationship
regression models for forecasting. Additionally, adult return data alone often fail to
describe why stock production fluctuates. Therefore, ancillary data have become
increasingly valuable in those assessments as new relationships must be found to
assess these relationships. Thus, the long-term collection of water quality data has
become increasingly valuable to ADF&G on multiple levels for providing costeffective information to describe salmon survival and production. To date,
temperature data have already been employed in linear regression analyses for
Westward Region forecasts. Similarly, nutrient and light penetration data have been
modeled to provide estimates of optimal escapement. Zooplankton biomass levels
have been used to provide inseason recommendations for targeting levels of
escapement. Increasing the collection of three-dimensional limnology data in these
lake systems will lead to better modeling and stock estimation capabilities which will
aid managers in establishing harvest and escapement strategies that protect and
provide for maximum sustained yields of Karluk Lake’s salmon stocks.
The AUV technology allows autonomous and rapid mapping of whole-lake
conditions, not just the extrapolation of conditions from a few dispersed data points.
The purchase of a safety tow float retrieval system for the AUV which protects this
piece of equipment was unavailable at the time of the AUV’s purchase. The AUV
data is a valuable high-resolution suite of data providing a greater understanding of
the factors that drive salmon life history strategies and production. This data may
also be compared to water quality data collected by standard collection methods to
indicate data accuracy and possibly to model lake-wide trends over space and time for
systems limited to less than three sampling stations. These data are valuable for
salmon fisheries management because they describe the dynamic ecological
conditions of lake systems over space and time. In turn, this information can be used
to estimate escapement levels, improve forecasting confidence, and provide
information for maintaining salmon populations by describing conditions which may
affect the rearing strategies, growth, or mortality of juvenile salmon. With the
increased awareness of global climate change, water quality data are also valuable as
a fairly simple and cost-effective means of collecting a substantial amount of
descriptive information for monitoring and gauging changes to local climate in
addition to critical salmon rearing habitat.
3. Location
Latitude: 57.374114 N
Longitude: 154.050825 W
4. AKSSF Objective
Westward: 1C-1
VI.
Objectives
1. Project Objectives
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The objectives are to describe the following:
a. physical characteristics that include substrate, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen
and light penetration profiles
b. nutrient availability
c. available zooplankton forage base
d. distribution of juvenile salmon within the lakes as imaged with the hi-resolution
side-scanning sonar
e. relationships among the collected data to indicate trends or conditions that may
affect rearing salmonids
2. Methods
Travel to Karluk Lake will occur each month by float plane. Traditional water
quality and AUV sampling will occur on the same day to allow for data comparison.
In May 2012, sampling stations will be established on the lake. Each station’s
location will be logged with a global positioning system (GPS) and marked with a
buoy. Water and zooplankton sampling will occur once every four weeks from May
through September during 2012 and 2013.
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 meters (m),
and then increased to one-meter intervals. Upon reaching a depth of 20 m, the
intervals will be increased to every 5 m up to a depth of 50 m. A mercury
thermometer will be used to ensure the meter’s calibration. Measurements of
photosynthetically active wavelengths (kLux) will be taken with a photometer.
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 mean euphotic zone
depth (EZD) will be determined for the lake and incorporated into a model for
estimating sockeye salmon fry production. One-meter temperature and dissolved
oxygen measurements will be compared to assess the physical conditions in the
euphotic zones of the lake. Secchi disc readings will be collected from each station to
measure water transparency. The depths at which the disc disappears when lowered
into the water column and reappeared when raised in the water column will be
recorded and averaged.
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 stored in
polyethylene (poly) carboys and 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 particulate N and P analyses. For
chlorophyll-a analysis, one liter of lake water from each depth sampled will be
filtered through a 4.25-cm diameter 0.7-m Whatman GF/F filter, adding
approximately 5 ml of MgCO3 solution to the last 50 ml of the sample water during
the filtration process. Upon completion of filtration, all filters will be placed in
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individual Petri dishes, labeled, and stored frozen for further processing at the Near
Island Laboratory in Kodiak.
The water chemistry parameters of pH and alkalinity will be assessed with a pH
meter. One hundred milliliters of refrigerated lake water will be warmed to 25 C and
titrated with 0.02-N sulfuric acid.
All filtered and unfiltered water samples will be stored and frozen in clean
polyethylene bottles. Water analyses will be performed at the ADF&G Near Island
laboratory for total phosphorous (TP), total ammonia (TA), nitrate + nitrite,
chlorophyll a, and phaeophytin a. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) will be processed
by the Olsen Biochemistry Lab at South Dakota State University. Nutrient data will
be analyzed via linear regression and compared to published ratio values.
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 placed in a 125-ml polyethylene bottle containing 12.5
ml of concentrated formalin to yield a 10% buffered formalin solution. Samples will
be stored for analysis at the ADF&G Near Island laboratory. Subsamples of
zooplankton will be keyed to family or genus and counted on a Sedgewick-Rafter
counting slide. This process will be replicated three times per sample; counts will
then be averaged and extrapolated over the entire sample. For each plankton tow,
mean length (0.01 mm) will be measured for each family or genus with a sample
size derived from a student’s t-test to achieve a confidence level of 95%. Biomass
will be calculated via species-specific linear regression equations between weight and
unweighted and weighted length measurements.
AUV sampling: The AUV will be deployed on five sampling events between May
and September in Karluk Lake in 2012 and 2013. All AUV missions will be plotted
and logged on geo-referenced images. Upon each deployment, physical parameters
will be measured along a sampling grid throughout each lake. In addition, bottom
profiles and fish presence or absence will be obtained by the side-scanning sonar.
Deployments of the unit will be coordinated with ADF&G lake surveys to minimize
flight cost and ensure data comparability. Data will be downloaded and reviewed
following each mission.
Data analysis: All data will be compared graphically by month and by station.
Correlation and linear regression analyses will be used to compare historical and
recent data in an attempt to identify temporal trends and possible climatic influences;
analysis will compare physical, nutrient, and zooplankton data for the time series of
data. Data will be compared by location, time, and depth using multivariate analysis
to indicate spatial and temporal trends. AUV-collected data will be mapped against
sample station data to assess data variability. Ratios of nitrogen to phosphorous will
be compared by station and on average for each lake to indicate nutrient limitations.
Physical, zooplankton, and nutrient data will also be compared to available adult
return data using linear or multiple regression to assess trends related to productivity
and escapement. Fish presence as indicated by side scan sonar data and all AUVKarluk Lake Limnology
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collected data will be mapped together to indicate potential areas of preferred habitat
or rearing conditions.
Prior to commencement of project activity, PI will obtain ADF&G Fish Collection,
Fish Resource, Fish Transport, and/or other required permits, as appropriate.
VII.
Benefits
This project will establish water quality baselines that will help to better understand the
interdependencies of different trophic levels in the freshwater salmon rearing
environment. Project results will assist in efforts to efficaciously manage Karluk salmon
fisheries towards the maximum sustainable yield of the resource, which in turn will allow
ADF&G to assess and recommend escapement goals and management strategies based
on biological data. The subsistence user groups that rely on this resource should realize a
benefit from improved management.
VIII. Products, Milestones, and Timelines
 July 2011 – April 2012: Purchase and install safety tow float for AUV
 May - September 2012: Run monthly AUV missions in Karluk Lake and collect
water quality data
 October 2012 – April 2013: Edit, analyze, and report data; process water samples;
prepare for 2013 field season
 May - September 2013: Run monthly AUV missions in Karluk Lake and collect
water quality data
 October 2013 – June 2014: Process water samples; edit, analyze, and report data*
*Costs incurred for activities outside the project period are funded separately.
PI will submit PCSRF performance metrics, semiannual, and project completion reports
according to the AKSSF schedule, as well as copies of any other report/product/
deliverable produced with this funding.
All invoices will be submitted for payment within 30 days of the project end date in
accordance with the current AKSSF invoicing P&P.
Any report or product distributed as a result of this funding will include the following
language:
This [report/video/website] was prepared by [recipient/author name] under award
NA09NMF4380373 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce, administered by the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the
author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game.
Any displays produced (e.g., signs, interpretive displays, posters) must include logos
from both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Alaska
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Department of Fish and Game (please contact AKSSF staff for graphics and relevant
language).
IX.
Partners
The Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association (KRAA) will assist with funding for
personnel and air charter contracts. The USFWS will assist with lodging and provide
skiffs at Karluk Lake.
X.
Project Budget
ADF&G
100 Personnel
200 Travel
300 Contractual
400 Supplies
500 Equipment
Total Direct
ADF&G 3%
Project Total
FY12
$6,950
$0
$4,380
$3,295
$6,000
$20,625
FY13
$27,795
$0
$10,300
$3,020
$0
$41,115
FY14
$21,515
$0
$7,420
$575
$0
$29,510
Total
$56,260
$0
$22,100
$6,890
$6,000
$91,250
$2,738
$93,988
Budget Narrative:
Line 100: Personnel ($56,260)
Fishery Biologist II (Darin Ruhl; PCN 11-1447): This position will collect limnology
samples from stations in Karluk Lake and assist with AUV missions, process samples,
and maintain limnology databases. A total of eight man months for all fiscal years is
calculated for this position based on a 37.5 hour work week plus 10 hours of overtime per
month using the state salary calculator.
 FY12: 1 month @ $6,950/month = $6,950
 FY13: 4 months @ $6,950/month = $27,795
 FY14: 3 months @ $7,172/month = $21,515
Line 300: Contractual ($22,100)
Freight for shipping samples from Kodiak to the University of South Dakota and for
shipping the AUV to YSI Integrated Systems and Services for annual maintenance:
 FY13: $600
 FY14: $600
Routine AUV servicing to be performed by YSI Integrated Systems and Services:
 FY12: $1,500
 FY13: $1,500
 FY14: $1,500
Processing of samples for total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) by the Olsen Biochemistry Lab
at South Dakota State University:
 FY13: $1,000
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
FY14: $1,000
Air charter to collect samples from Karluk Lake:
 FY12: 4.8 hours @ $600/hour = $2,880
 FY 13: 12 hours @ $600/hour = $7,200
 FY14: 7.2 hours @ $600/hour = $4,320
Total FY12 Contractual: $4,380
Total FY13 Contractual: $10,300
Total FY14 Contractual: $7,420
Line 400: Supplies ($6,890)
Spare AUV parts
Calibration standards
Field camp groceries
Whatman filters
Reagents
Rite-N-Rain paper
Rain gear/boots/PFDs
Fuel
Batteries AA
Labels
Total
FY12
$500
$580
$400
$195
$400
$50
$600
$500
$20
$50
$3,295
FY13
$500
$300
$750
$70
$180
$50
$600
$500
$20
$50
$3,020
FY14
$0
$0
$375
$0
$180
$0
$0
$0
$20
$0
$575
Line 500: Equipment ($6,000)
FY12
YSI safety tow float: $6,000
Budget adjustments between line items are allowed for amounts equal to or less than
10% of the total award without prior AKSSF approval; any amount above 10% requires
prior AKSSF approval. All costs in lines 100-500 must represent actual cash
expenditures.
All direct and match expenses shall be adequately documented and filed.
All invoices will be submitted for payment within 30 days of the project end date in
accordance with the current AKSSF invoicing P&P. Invoices submitted after that
deadline will not be reimbursed. Invoices for expenses incurred after the project end
date will not be reimbursed.
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XI.
Match Budget
ADF&G
100 Personnel
200 Travel
300 Contractual
400 Supplies
500 Equipment
Total
FY12
$30,168
$0
$0
$0
$0
$30,168
FY13
FY14
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Total
$30,168
$0
$0
$0
$0
$30,168*
*Match budget shows more match than is required for this project.
Total required ADF&G match: $30,113
Match Budget Narrative:
Line 100: Personnel ($30,168)
Fisheries Biologist II (Heather Finkle; PCN 11-1332): This position 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. A total of 4.19 months of time spent on this project is calculated as match based
on a 37.5 hour work week for one field season using the state salary calculator:
 FY12: 4.19 months @ $7,200/month = $30,168
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