Prioritization of Matanuska-Susitna River Basin Culvert Pipes Under Consideration for Replacement

Approximately 56 culvert pipes within the Matanuska-Susitna Basin were assessed as suitable candidates for replacement or restoration activities.  Presently, ongoing restoration efforts occurring within the region are targeting replacement of these culvert pipes, yet prioritizing which culvert pipes to replace remains largely at question.  This poster presents data collected in 2014 from 50 culvert pipes within the Matanuska Susitna Basin that were verified as barriers to adult Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. migrations.  We make recommendations for sites that warrant consideration as high priority culvert pipes for each of two different scenarios that are based on a nested hierarchy of habitat variables.  Scenario 1 is based upon a site’s (1) barrier status and; (2) stream length.  Scenario 2 is based upon a site’s (1) barrier status; (2) surface area of riffle habitat and; (3) linear distance of available habitat within the main channel.  Further, verifying the barrier status of these sites allowed us to nominate 11 sites and 10.7 km of stream habitat for inclusion within the Anadromous Waters Catalog.  These findings will help inform management and conservation activities occurring within the Matanuska-Susitna Basin.