Wildlife

Fish

The subarctic stream and lake habitats and associated populations of salmon, trout, char, and other species are highly important resources of the Kenai NWR. Most of the aquatic habitats are in near-pristine condition and many of the fish species have significant recreational and commercial value. Several fish species are also important food resources for a variety of wildlife including loons, bald eagles, river otters, and black and brown bears. Welfare of the fish populations is dependent upon maintaining genetic variability, water quality, protection of critical rearing and spawning habitats, and escapement of sufficient spawning stocks. The national importance of these resources is particularly evident when they are compared to habitats and fish populations elsewhere in the nation, where many resources have been severely impacted by human expansion and development.

Fish species occurring on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) -Kokanee also occur on the KNWR
Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)
Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) -Steelhead also occur on the KNWR
Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma)
Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus)
Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus)
Northern Pike (Esox lucius)
Longnose Sucker (Catostomus catostomus)
Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
Ninespine Stickleback (Pungitius pungitius)
Round Whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum)
Coastrange Sculpin (Cottus aleuticus)
Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus)
Arctic Lamprey (Lampetra japonica)
Pacific Lamprey (Lampetra tridentata)

Chinook Salmon (King Salmon)

The chinook salmon is the largest of the five species of North American salmon. They spawn mostly in large freshwater stream systems and are known to inhabit about 160 miles (257 km) of Refuge streams. Watersheds which provide the majority of spawning and nursery habitat for chinook salmon on the Kenai Refuge are the Kenai, Funny, Killey, Russian, Chickaloon, and Kasilof rivers. Adult chinook salmon enter Refuge waters for spawning from late May through early August. Spawning occurs from mid- July through late August. Eggs overwinter in stream gravel and hatch in early spring. Fry emerge several days after hatching and begin feeding in the streams, where they may stay for up to two years before they make their seaward migration. Growth is rapid during ocean life, often exceeding 1 lb. (0.45 kg) per month. Chinook salmon mature at ages ranging from three to seven years at which time they return to their natal streams to spawn.

Chinook salmon are highly prized by recreational anglers due to size, strength, and eating quality. The Kenai River supports a chinook salmon recreational fishery of worldwide fame. The river is reputed to support the largest chinook salmon in the world. The current world's record on hook and line was a 97 lb. (44 kg) fish taken in the Kenai River in 1985.

Coho Salmon (Silver Salmon)

Coho salmon use a wide range of freshwater habitats on the Kenai Refuge. They spawn or rear in at least 360 miles (580 km) of Refuge streams. Juveniles rear in lakes or streams for two to three years before smolting and migrating to sea at a length of 3-6 in (8-15 cm). Major spawning and rearing areas include the Kenai, Killey, Funny, Moose, Russian, Swanson, Kasilof, Fox, and Chickaloon rivers. Coho salmon grow rapidly in the ocean and sexual maturity is attained after only one winter at sea. Adults usually weigh from 5 to 12 lb. (2 to 5 kg) except for fish returning to the Kenai River which can weigh in excess of 15 lb. (7 kg). Coho salmon provide an important late summer and fall recreational fishery in the Kenai and Swanson rivers. They are highly desirable to anglers because of their fighting and jumping ability.

Sockeye Salmon (Red Salmon)

Sockeye salmon use about 220 miles (354 km) of streams and 110,000 acres (44,517 hectares) of lakes on the Kenai Refuge for spawning and rearing. Spawning generally occurs in streams that connect with lakes, although some populations spawn in lakes and a few in streams with no lake. Juvenile sockeye salmon normally rear for one or two years in lakes before smolting and migrating to the sea, usually during May and June. After two to three years at sea they return as sexually mature adults averaging 3-8 lb. (1.4-3.6 kg) in weight. Sockeye in the Kenai River may exceed 15 lb. (6.8 kg).

The largest sockeye salmon populations on the Refuge are found in the Kenai and Kasilof river systems. The Kenai River, including the Russian River and Hidden Lake systems, is the major producer of sockeye salmon in Cook Inlet. Kenai River sockeye salmon support both a major commercial fishery in Cook Inlet and the largest recreational sockeye fishery in Alaska. This road-accessible sport fishery is nationally known and even attracts fishermen from foreign countries. The Kasilof River, including Tustumena Lake, historically has been the second largest producer of sockeye salmon in Cook Inlet.

Chum Salmon (Dog Salmon)

Chum salmon are the least abundant species of salmon on the Refuge. Small runs occur in the Fox and Martin rivers which enter Kachemak Bay. Chum salmon enter Refuge streams during July and August at an age of three or four years. They spawn in riffle and upwelling areas of streams with medium-sized gravel. Eggs develop in the gravel and fry emergence usually occurs in April and May. Fry develop for about one month in freshwater, then spend several months in an estuarine environment before entering the ocean.

Pink Salmon (Humpback Salmon or Humpy)

The largest run of pink salmon on the Refuge occurs in the Kenai River with much smaller runs in the Kasilof, Chickaloon, Swanson, and Fox rivers and Big Indian and Little Indian creeks. An even-numbered year annual spawning pattern is characteristic of most upper Kenai Peninsula streams, whereas an odd-numbered year spawning cycle occurs in the Fox River. Pink salmon fry migrate to sea when they emerge from the gravel, spend 14 to 16 months at sea, and return as sexually mature adults mostly in July and August. Adults generally do not migrate far upstream and in some areas spawning occurs in tidally influenced areas. They are the smallest of the Pacific salmon and usually weigh from 2 to 5 lb. (0.9 to 2.3 kg). Pink salmon are popular because they take artificial lures aggressively and are easily caught.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout are found in all major Refuge watersheds except those entering Kachemak Bay. Resident populations are more widespread and occur in both lake and stream environments. Lake populations are common but their presence is dependent upon suitable spawning gravels in inlet or outlet streams. Rainbow trout seldom exceed 20 in (51 cm) in length in the smaller lakes and streams, although rainbow trout in the Kenai River and anadromous forms attain a much larger size. Locally, rainbow trout are of secondary interest to anglers when salmon are available, but they are the preferred resident species during other times. They support popular fisheries on the Kenai River and the Swanson River and Swan Lake canoe systems. The popularity of the trophy rainbow fishery on the upper Kenai River is growing at a rapid pace. Anadromous rainbow trout (steelhead) inhabit Crooked and Nikolai creeks in the Kasilof River watershed.

Dolly Varden

The Dolly Varden is the most abundant species of char on the Kenai Refuge. There are several life history forms including stream resident, stream spawning-lake resident and anadromous populations. The stream resident form inhabits a substantial portion of the 1,500 mi. (2,400 km) of Refuge streams. Dolly Varden vary in size but most individuals are small, less than 15 in (38 cm) long. A good-sized fish is 19-20 in (48-51 cm) long and weighs 2.5-3 lb. (l.l-l.4 kg). Dolly Varden, like other char, are fall spawners utilizing streams with gravel bottoms. Anadromous populations generally spend three to four years in freshwater before smolting. The smolts spend only a few weeks to several months at sea before returning to freshwater for spawning and overwintering. Several anadromous runs occur on the Refuge but none have been well studied. Anadromous runs are present in the Kenai, Kasilof, and Fox rivers and may occur elsewhere as well. Dolly Varden are important to anglers when salmon are not available. They are often common near the mouths of lakes in the spring and in rivers during their fall migration. In the Kenai River, the sport fishery for Dolly Varden appears to be growing at a rate similar to that observed for rainbow trout. Both species are readily caught using similar angling techniques.

Arctic Char

Of the three char species found on the Refuge (lake trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic char), the Arctic char is probably the least abundant. Arctic char are lake spawners that have been reported from nearly 50 Refuge lakes in the Swanson River watershed. Externally, Dolly Varden and Arctic char are nearly impossible to differentiate and can be separated only by internal examination. Arctic char are a moderate-sized species on the Refuge with most individuals less than 20 in (51 cm) long. Because of their preference for cold, deep water they are generally unavailable to anglers during the summer months but do contribute to the spring, fall, and winter recreational fisheries.

Lake Trout

Lake trout occur in Hidden, Skilak, and Tustumena lakes, the three largest lakes on the Refuge. They spawn in the fall over rocky lake bottoms. This species is long lived with sexual maturity not usually occurring until seven years of age. Lake trout can attain large size but 5-10 lb. (2.3-4.5 kg) is a good sized fish on the Kenai Peninsula. Hidden Lake provides the best lake trout sport fishery on the Kenai Peninsula. Fishing occurs in the summer and during a winter ice fishery.

Longnose Sucker

Longnose suckers are common on the northern portion of the Kenai Lowlands. They are abundant in a number of lakes in the Moose, Swanson, and Chickaloon river drainages. They have not been reported in the Kasilof River watershed and do not occur in lakes of smaller watersheds draining into Cook Inlet such as Miller, Bedlam, and Pincher creeks. Longnose suckers generally attain a length of 16-20 in (41-51 cm), however, a dwarf form occurs in the Finger Lakes which does not exceed 12 in (30.5 cm) in length. Longnose suckers spawn in the early summer, usually in streams, and become concentrated at times in some locations where they may be an important seasonal food source for bald eagles and possibly otters and mink. This species is long lived. Individuals have been aged up to 19 years suggesting low natural mortality rates.

Round Whitefish

The round whitefish is the only member of the whitefish subfamily found on the Kenai Peninsula. Available information suggests that the distribution of this species is rather limited. They are mostly confined to the larger lakes such as Skilak and Tustumena and the larger rivers. Scenic and Camp Island lakes are the only lowland lakes on the Refuge known to support this species. A few are caught incidentally each year but otherwise the species is of little interest to anglers.

Pacific Lamprey

Pacific lamprey have been observed spawning in the Moose River during June. The young reportedly spend four years in the river bottom as filter feeding ammocoetes before migrating to sea for a year as a parasite of larger fish such as salmon. Adults return in the fall, overwinter in fresh water without feeding, then spawn and die the following summer. The spawning adults are easily seen and approached and may serve as food for some wildlife species.

Arctic Lamprey

Arctic lampreys are common during their June spawning season in the Moose River and have been collected in small numbers in the Swanson and Chickaloon river basins and in the Finger Lakes. This species is believed to be a non-parasitic freshwater resident on the Refuge. Freshwater Arctic lamprey are small and rarely exceed 7 in (18 cm) in length.

Arctic Grayling

Arctic grayling are distributed throughout much of Alaska but did not occur naturally on the Kenai Refuge. Arctic grayling were stocked into Twin Lakes in 1965 and into Lower Fuller Lake in 1967 by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Arctic grayling in Twin Lakes came from Crescent Lake, on the Chugach National Forest, while the Lower Fuller Lake stock came from Tonsino Lake near Glenallen. Arctic grayling are popular with anglers but provide limited sport fishing on the Refuge because Lower Fuller Lake is only 12 acres (5 hectares) in size and Twin Lakes are accessible only by float-equipped aircraft. Both populations are maintaining themselves through natural reproduction.

Threespine Stickleback

The threespine stickleback is the most abundant resident freshwater species on the Kenai Refuge. This small fish, seldom exceeding 2.5 in (6.4 cm) in length, is present in nearly every lake on the Kenai Lowlands and is usually abundant. Females spawn during the summer in nests made and guarded by the male. Sexual maturity is attained at age 1 but their life span is only 25-27 months. Threespine stickleback provide forage for rainbow trout, coho salmon, and char, but they also compete with juvenile salmonids for food and space. They are frequently the only fish species found in lakes used by fish eating birds such as common and Pacific loons, red-necked grebes, Arctic terns, and Bonapart's and mew gulls.

Anadromous populations of threespine stickleback occur in the Chickaloon, Swanson, Killey, Moose, and Fox rivers. The anadromous form is distinguished from the resident form by an enlarged ventral keel and their larger size. Anadromous threespine stickleback attain lengths of 3.5 in (8.9 cm).

Ninespine Stickleback

Ninespine stickleback also occur on the Refuge although not in large numbers. They are primarily found in oxbow ponds connected to small rivers such as the Moose and Chickaloon. This species probably provides forage for predaceous fishes and fish eating birds. Ninespine stickleback are small and seldom exceed 3 in (7.6 cm) in length.

Slimy Sculpin

The slimy sculpin is commonly found in most Refuge lakes and streams. Most slimy sculpins are less than 5 in (12.7 cm) in length and probably provide food for larger fishes and fish eating birds and mammals.

Coastrange Sculpin

The other sculpin found on the Refuge is the Coast range sculpin. This sculpin is normally more abundant near the coast and not well represented inland. It is the most abundant sculpin found in lakes of the Swanson River drainage. Elsewhere on the Refuge it is usually inferior in numbers to the slimy sculpin.

Northern Pike

Northern pike are distributed throughout much of Alaska but did not occur naturally on the Kenai Peninsula. They were introduced into Mackey Lakes in the Soldotna Creek watershed by a private citizen during the mid-1970's. There are reports of northern pike in Cisca, Tree, and Gagara lakes in the upper Soldotna Creek drainage, but these reports have not been substantiated. In 1986, a northern pike was observed in the Moose River above the Refuge boundary. This sighting indicates that northern pike have migrated up the Kenai River or that another illegal introduction has occurred. No evidence of successful reproduction has been documented in the Moose River, however, if northern pike become established in this watershed, they could have detrimental effects on rainbow trout and other species.

Last updated: September 11, 2008