Alaska Watershed Boundaries by Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC)
Bering Glacier HUC: 19010402
The components of this watershed that directly relate to the Bering Glacier itself are
Vitus Lake, Berg Lake, the Abandoned River, and the Seal River. Because of their
direct hydrologic connection to the Glacier, they will be the primary focus of this
page. Please visit the following links for additional information on the entire Bering
Glacier Watershed:
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EPA’s Bering Glacier Watershed Profile
USGS Alaska Science Center, Water Resources Office
Bering Glacier Hydrological Features – map showing the names and locations
of additional rivers in the Watershed
Vitus Lake
With an area of 70 square kilometers, Vitus Lake is a tidally influenced lake at the
terminus of the Bering Glacier. It is connected to the Gulf of Alaska via the Seal
River. Measurements in this lake show strong saline stratification in the deeper
portions of the lake. Thermal diffusion across the pycnocline may produce frazil ice
growth, while melting of the glacier terminus produces convection at the margin of
the lake, not the interior. Vitus Lake is a marine mammal habitat; marine life is
increasing in the lake as the glacier retreats. Temperature and salinity profiles from
Vitus Lake show a highly stratified two layer system: a layer of cold fresh water on
top of a "warmer" saline layer. At the pycnocline, water with temperatures below 0°C
and salinities of less than the deep water result from convection driven by melting
ice.
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Location Map
Vitus Lake Bathymetry Map
Vitus Lake Temperature Map
Berg Lake
Berg Lake is a freshwater lake that is dammed by the Stellar lobe of the Bering
Glacier System. This lake has been increasing in size during the 20th century, as the
ice from the Bering Glacier has thinned. During the 1980s it experienced several
major releases (Glaciers and Glaciology of Alaska, Field Trip Guidebook T301). The
temperature profiles from Berg Lake show a vertical structure that consists of a 10m-thick surface layer where the temperature drops from near 9°C to approximately
4°C, the temperature of maximum density for fresh water. Below this depth the
temperature decreases to 0°C in the deepest portions of the lake, approximately 75
m. Superimposed on this unstable temperature profile are spatially variable fine
structure details that include vertical steps and temperature inversions. While the
temperature profiles indicate an unstable situation, the sub-glacial discharge has a
suspended sediment load sufficient to marginally stabilize the density structure in the
lake. This sediment laden water flows out from below the glacier and spreads
horizontally throughout Berg Lake. As the suspended sediment settles, vertical
thermal convection occurs that yields the observed fine structure in the temperature
profiles.
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Location Map
Berg Lake Bathymetry Map
Berg Lake Temperature Map
Hubbard Glacier, Alaska - Russell Lake at Hubbard Glacier, Alaska is a
dammed lake with many similarities to Berg Lake. By studying the rise and
fall of Russell Lake, much can be learned and applied to the study of Berg
Lake.
Abandoned River
The Abandoned River enters Vitus Lake and contains roughly 3 gl-1 of fine-grained
sediment. This is thought to be more than enough fine-grained-sediment to stabilize
Berg Lake.
Seal River
Seal River flows 7.3 kilometers from Vitus Lake into the Gulf of Alaska. The 8-meter
deep river is observed to contain very low salt, indicating that Gulf of Alaska water
enters the system during periods of high tides and low freshwater input from the
glacier. Seal River is home to numerous harbor seals, hence the name of the river.
The number of large icebergs that enter the Gulf of Alaska through the Seal River is
causing great concern because the river is located only 100 kilometers from the
Pacific Ocean tanker lanes that enter and exit Prince William Sound.
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Location Map
Tsiu River
The Tsiu River flows from the Bering Glacier into the Gulf of Alaska. A location map
can be found here. The river is shallow (about two to four feet), clear, and has a
sandy bottom. There are no trees on the river, which makes for a fly fisherman's
paradise. The Tsiu is world renowned for having the most consistent and one of the
largest silver salmon runs in Alaska.
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Tsiu to Duktoth Coastal Strip
Tsivat River
The Tsivat River is a tributary of the Tsiu River.
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Location map
Kaliakh River
The Kaliak Riveris known for its large fish. The trunk of the river is glacial with the
fishing done on the upper clear water tributaries. Along the river there are numerous
eagle feeding concentration areas. Floating and float-based fishing and hunting are
common recreational uses of the Kaliakh River.
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Location Map
Upper Kaliakh River and Tributary Drainages
Lower Kaliakh River and Tributary Drainages