Seasonal Water Quality in Ship Creek, Alaska

Zufelt, Jon E.

doi:doi:10.1061/40792(173)260

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Proceedings / Volume 173 / Issue 40792 / COLD REGIONS SYMPOSIUM

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Seasonal Water Quality in Ship Creek, Alaska

ASCE Conf. Proc. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/40792(173)260

Impacts of Global Climate Change

Proceedings of World Water and Environmental Resources Congress 2005

Jon E. Zufelt, P.E., PhD, M.ASCE

US Army Engineer Research and Development Center — Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (ERDC‐CRREL), P.O. Box 5646, Fort Richardson, Alaska 99505‐0646; email: Jon.E.Zufelt@erdc.usace.army.mil

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Abstract

Ship Creek, while relatively small in drainage area at only 300 km², is one of the most important watersheds in Alaska. As it drops over 1000 meters in just over 30 km on its voyage from the mountains to the Cook Inlet, it passes through open tundra, spruce and cottonwood forests and tidal flats. The uppermost reaches of Ship Creek are within the Chugach State Park where water quality might be considered pristine. Wildlife influences include the activities of moose, black and brown bears, Dall sheep, coyote, wolf, and beaver. The creek then enters the Fort Richardson Army Base and flows through steep mountain canyons and glacial moraines. The land drained by the watershed includes military training areas (Stryker vehicles), firing ranges from small arms to 81 mm mortars, two 18‐hole golf courses, Alaska's busiest highway, and a State Fish Hatchery. Ship Creek then enters Elmendorf Air Force Base where it drains family housing areas, an active airfield, an old landfill, an 18‐hole golf course and another State Fish Hatchery. Upon leaving the relative green of Elmendorf, it enters the industrial heart of the city of Anchorage, passing many warehouses, truck and rail terminals, and an abandoned power plant at the head of tide. Its last kilometer to the Cook Inlet is through muddy tidal flats. Figure 1 shows a schematic of Ship Creek and its location relative to the bases and the city of Anchorage.