G B 705 •A*Hd DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director Wateb-Supply Paper 218 WATER-SUPPLY INVESTIGATIONS IN ALASKA, 1906-1907 NOME AND KOUGAROK REGIONS, SEWARD PENINSULA; FAIRBANKS DISTRICT, YUKON-TANANA REGION BT FRED F. HENSHAW and C. C. COVERT WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1908 Book 'rjitl 5 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY i GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director Water-Supply Paper 218 WATER-SUPPLY INVESTIGATIONS IN ALASKA, 1906-1907 NOME AND KOUGAROK REGIONS, SEWARD PENINSULA; FAIRBANKS DISTRICT, YUKON-TANANA REGION BY FRED F. HENSHAW and C. C. COVERT WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1908 °i/ D, Of D. MA> 25 1908 <* \A S CONTENTS. Page. Introduction 7 Scope of work - 7 Cooperation- 8 Explanation of data and methods. .- 9 The Nome region, by Fred F. Henshaw. 13 Description of area 13 Conditions affecting water supply 15 Gaging stations : 18 Nome River drainage basin 18 General description 18 Nome River above Miocene intake 19 Nome River at Pioneer intake and Pioneer ditch 21 Buffalo Creek 22 , David Creek 22 Dorothy Creek 23 Hobson Creek 23 The Miocene ditch system 24 General description. 24 Jett Creek ditch. 30 Grand Central ditch 31 David Creek ditch 32 Seepage measurements on Miocene ditch 33 Miscellaneous measurements 35 Campion ditch at Black Point 35 Seward ditch , 36 Pioneer ditch 37 Grand Central River drainage basin 38 General description 38 North Fork of Grand Central River 38 West Fork of Grand Central River 41 Crater Lake outlet 44 Grand Central River below the forks 46 Grand Central River below Nugget Creek 47 Gold Run 48 Thompson Creek 49 Nugget and Copper creeks 49 Jett Creek 50 Morning Call Creek 51 Storage possibilities 52 Salmon Lake 53 Kruzgamepa River drainage basin below Salmon Lake 54 General description 54 Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake 55 Crater Creek „ 57 Iron Creek 57 Miscellaneous measurements 59 Imuruk Basin drainage 59 3 4 CONTENTS. The Nome region — Continued. Page Sinuk River drainage basin 60 General description 60 Upper Sinuk River 60 Windy Creek 61 North Star Creek 62 Stewart River 63 Slate Creek 63 Other Sinuk River drainage 64 Cripple River drainage basin 64 General description 64 Cedric ditch 64 General description 64 Cedric ditch above penstock 65 Penny River drainage basin 66 General description 66 Penny River at Sutton intake and Sutton ditch 66 Snake River drainage basin 68 General description 68 Snake River above Glacier Creek 68 Flambeau and Eldorado River drainage basins 69 Solomon River drainage basin f 69 Flow of ditches in Nome region 70 Available water supply during 1906 and 1907 70 Ditch and pipe lines 72 Water-power possibilities. 76 The Kougarok region, by Fred F. Henshaw 77 Introduction 77 Description of area 77 Conditions affecting water supply 78 Gaging stations 79 Kougarok River drainage basin 79 Description of basin 79 Kougarok River below Washington Creek 80 Kougarok River at Homestake intake and Homestake ditch 80 Kougarok River above Taylor Creek 82 • Kougarok River above Coarse Gold Creek 82 Irving ditch 83 Homestake ditch 83 Taylor Creek at North Star intake 84 Taylor Creek at Cascade intake 85 Taylor Creek at mouth 86 North Star ditch above siphon 86 Cascade ditch 87 Henry Creek 88 Coarse Gold Creek 88 North Fork 89 Miscellaneous measurements 90 Total water supply in 1907 90 Noxapaga River drainage basin 91 Serpentine River drainage basin 92 Schlitz and Reindeer creeks 92 Bryan and Dick creeks 92 Quartz and Bismarck creeks 93 American. River drainage basin 93 CONTENTS. 5 The Kougarok region — Continued. Page. Hydraulic developments - => 94 Relative run-off of different areas 95 The Fairhaven precinct, by Fred F. Henshaw . . 99 Introduction 99 Fairhaven ditch 99 Candle ditch 100 Bear Creek ditch 100 The Fairbanks district, by C. C. Covert 101 Description of area 101 Conditions affecting water supply 103 Gaging stations 106 Little Chena River drainage basin 106 General description 106 Chena Slough at Fairbanks 108 Little Chena River above mouth of Elliott Creek 109 Elliott Creek above mouth of Sorrels Creek 110 Sorrels Creek 110 Fish Creek above mouth of Fairbanks Creek Ill Bear Creek 112 Fairbanks Creek 112 Miller Creek 113 Chatanika River drainage basin 114 General description . . . ' , . 114 Faith Creek I 115 McManus Creek 116 Chatanika River near junction of Faith and McManus creeks. 117 Boston Creek 118 McKay Creek 119 Belle Creek 119 Crooked Creek 119 Kokomo Creek • , 119 Poker Creek 120 Chatanika River below mouth of Poker Creek 121 Cleary Creek 122 Little Eldorado Creek 122 Dome Creek 122 Goldstream Creek drainage basin 123 General description v 123 Goldstream Creek at claim 6 below 124 Fox Creek 125 Beaver Creek drainage basin 125 General description 125 Measurements 127 Comparative run-off of different areas 128 Development of water supply in the Fairbanks district 129 General conditions 129 Ditch lines 130 Water-power development 131 Storage 131 Meteorological records, by Fred F. Henshaw and C. C. Covert 133 Introduction 133 Seward Peninsula 134 Fairbanks district : 139 Summary of records since 1902 142 Index : 151 ILLUSTRATIONS. / Page. Plate I. A, Price current meters; B, Measuring Grand Central River 10 II. V Typical topography, Seward Peninsula 14 III. 1 ' A, Tundra between beach and foothills; B, Miocene ditch, Glacier Creek 16 IV. Map showing location of gaging stations in Nome region 18 V^ Rock cut around.Cape Horn on Miocene ditch 24 VI. A, Upper Grand Central River drainage; B, Mount Osborn, July, 1906 38 VII." Map showing location of gaging stations and ditches in Kougarok region 78 VIII. V A, Intake of Homestake ditch on Kougarok River; B, Homestake ditch, showing sod work 80 IX.' Map showing location of gaging stations in Fairbanks district 106 X: Mining operations on Cleary Creek 122 XI! A, Lower Cleary Creek; B, Gaging station on Fish Creek 124 XII. Map of Alaska, showing location of rainfall stations 142 Fig. 1. Diagram showing flow of Nome River above Miocene intake and Grand Central River below the forks, 1906 17 2. Diagram showing flow of Chatanika River and total of Little Chena River and its tributaries, 1907 . 105 6 WATER-SUPPLY INVESTIGATIONS IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. By Fred F. Henshaw and C. C. Covert. INTRODUCTION. SCOPE OF WORK. \ For a number of years the United States Geological Survey has made systematic measurements and studies of the water supply as one of the great resources of the country. These data are now available for all the more important streams in the United States and are extensively used by engineers and others in problems involving water power, city water supply, irrigation, and manufacturing. The development of the important placer-mining fields of Alaska, notably those of Seward Peninsula and the Yukon-Tanana region, is intimately associated with the successful utilization of their water supplies. A knowledge of the amount of water available in the streams would have prevented most of the failures that have been made in the past, and will be invaluable in connection with future developments. There is a great tendency in Alaska to push forward the construction of ditches without first making sure of the primary requisite of their successful operation — an adequate water supply. The results of such a policy were forcibly shown during last summer in Seward Peninsula, in some parts of which a severe drought caused much loss and incon- venience to mining operators. These conditions are apt to occur in any portion of Alaska, and too much stress can not be laid on the importance of stream-flow data. The low-water period lasts only a part of the season and the water supply is usually sufficient at other times, but in view of the other unfavorable conditions — the shortness of the season, the frozen ground, the distance from base of supplies and consequent high cost of transportation — a reduction of even two or three weeks in the working season may mean the difference between profit and loss. The cost of the useless machinery and ditches which can be seen in some parts of Alaska amounts to hundreds of thousands 7 • 8 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-190*7. of dollars, and most of this could have been saved by a preliminary investigation of conditions by a competent engineer. Hydraulic developments have been carried farthest in the Nome region of Seward Peninsula, which has been an important producer of placer gold since 1899. Hundreds of miles of mining ditches have been built at a great expense. When it was decided in 1906 to extend stream-gaging work to Alaska, the Nome region was accord^ ingly selected as the first district to be studied. A reconnaissance was made and gaging stations were established by John C. Hoyt in the early summer of 1906, and the work was then carried on until the end of the season by Fred F. Henshaw. During last season the work was continued by Mr. Henshaw, assisted by Raymond Richards, and was extended into the Kougarok region, north of the Kigluaik Mountains, in the central portion of Seward Peninsula. Altogether the parties were in Seward Peninsula from June 11 to October 3, 1906, and from June 11 to October 14, 1907. The collection of stream-flow records was begun in the Fairbanks district of the Yukon-Tanana region by C. C. Covert in 1907. The work was largely that of reconnaissance, but a few regular stations were established. The work of collecting the data and preparing this report was done under the direction of the water resources branch by engineers detailed for the purpose. The expenses were paid out of the appro- priation for investigating the mineral resources of Alaska, and the field work has been under the general supervision of Alfred H. Brooks, geologist in charge of Alaskan work. COOPERATION. The funds available for the work were inadequate to cover properly the large extent of country on which it was desirable to obtain records. It was possible to obtain daily gage readings only through the hearty cooperation of mining operators, ditch companies, and others. Those to whom special acknowledgment is due are named below: In the Nome region, to the officers and employees of the Miocene Ditch Company, Wild Goose Mining and Trading Company, Cedric Ditch Company, Pioneer Mining Company, Gold Beach Development Company, and the United Ditch Company; to W. L. Leland, of the Three Friends Mining Company; to J. E. Styers, superintendent of construction for the National Wood Pipe Company; and to Arthur Gibson, George Ashley, William E. Morris, J. Potter Whittren, Mark N. Ailing, and George M. Ashford, civil and mining engineers, Nome. In the Kougarok region, to the officers and employees of the Kou- garok Mining and Ditch Company, Taylor Creek Ditch Company, Pittsburg-Dick Creek Mining Company, Irving Mining Company, INTRODUCTION. 9 Cascade Mining and Ditch Company, Ottumwa Gold Mining Company, and to others for information and accommodations in camp. In the Fairbanks district, to John Zug, superintendent good roads commission; A. D. Gassaway, general manager of the Chatanika Ditch Company; Falcon Joslin, president of the Tanana Mines Railroad Company; Herman Wobber, Fairbanks Creek; C. D. Hutchinson, electrical engineer, Tanana Electric Company, and Martin Harris, Chena. EXPLANATION OF DATA AND METHODS. The methods of carrying on the work and collecting the data were substantially the same as those previously used for similar work, a but were adapted to the special conditions found in Seward Peninsula. In the consideration of industrial or mining enterprises which use the water of streams, it is essential to know the total amount of the water flowing in the stream, the daily distribution or the flow, and facts in regard to the conditions affecting the flow. Several terms are used, such as second-foot, miner's inch, gallons per minute, etc., to describe the quantity of water flowing in a stream, the one selected depending on the use to be made of the data. 11 Second-foot " is in most general use for all classes of work, and from it the quantity expressed in other terms may be obtained. It is an abbreviation of cubic foot per second and may be defined as the quantity of water flowing per second in a stream 1 foot wide and 1 foot deep at the rate of 1 foot per second. It should be noted that it is a rate of flow, and to obtain the actual quantity of water it is necessary to multiply it by the time. " Second-feet per square mile 77 is the average number of cubic feet of water flowing.per second from each square mile of area drained, on the assumption that the run-off is distributed uniformly, as regards both time and area. " Run-off in inches" is the depth to which the drainage area would be covered if all the water flowing from it in a given period were con- served and uniformly distributed on the surface. It is used for com- paring run-off with rainfall, which is expressed in depth in inches. 11 Acre-foot" is equivalent to 43,560 cubic feet, and is the quantity required to cover an acre to the depth of 1 foot. It is commonly used in connection with storage problems. The "miner's inch," the unit used in connection with placer mining, also expresses a rate of flow, and is the quantity of water flowing through an orifice of a given size, with a given head. The head and size of the orifice used in different localities vary, thus making it a most indefinite and unsatisfactory unit. Owing to the confusion a See Water-Sup. and Irr. Papers Nos. 94, 95, and 201, U. S. Geol. Survey. 10 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. arising from its use, it has been denned by law in several States. The California miner's inch is in most common use in the United States and was defined by an act approved March 23, 1901, as follows: 'The standard miner's inch of water shall be equivalent or equal to 1^ cubic feet of water per minute, measured through any aperture or orifice." This miner's inch corresponds to the so-called " 6-inch pressure" and is one-fortieth of a second-foot. The inch in most common use in Seward Peninsula is the "old California inch," which was the standard in that State prior to the passage of the above act and is equivalent to 1.2 cubic feet per minute, or one-fiftieth of a second- foot. Following is a list of convenient equivalents for use in hydraulic computations : 1 second-foot equals 40 California miner's inches (law of March 23, 1901). 1 second-foot equals 50 "old California" miner's inches (used prior to law of March 23, 1901). 1 second-foot equals 7.48 United States gallons per second; equals 448.8 gallons per minute; equals 646,272 gallons for one day. 1 second-foot for one year covers 1 square mile 1.131 feet, or 13.572 inches deep. 1 second foot equals about 1 acre-inch per hour. 1 second-foot for one day covers 1 square mile 0.03719 inch deep. 1 second-foot for one day equals 1.983 acre-feet. 100 California miner's inches equal 15.7 United States gallons per second. 100 California miner's inches for one day equal 4.96 acre-feet. 100 United States gallons per minute equal 0.223 second-foot. 100 United States gallons per minute for one day equal 0.442 acre-foot. 1,000,000 United States gallons per day equal 1.55 second-feet. 1,000,000 'United States gallons equal 3.07 acre-feet. 1,000,000 cubic feet equal 22.95 acre-feet. 1 acre-foot equals 325,850 gallons. 1 inch deep on 1 square mile equals 2,323,200 cubic feet. 1 inch deep on 1 square mile equals 0.0737 second-foot per year. 1 mile equals 5,280 feet. 1 acre equals 43,560 square feet. 1 acre equals 209 feet square, nearly. 1 cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons. 1 cubic foot of water weighs 62.5 pounds. 1 horsepower equals 550 foot-pounds per second. 1 horsepower equals 746 watts. 1 horsepower equals 1 second-foot falling 8.80 feet. 1^ horsepower equal about 1 kilowatt. Sec, ft. X fall in feet . To calculate water power quickly: y. = net horsepower on water- wheel realizing 80 per cent of theoretical power. The determination of the quantity of water flowing past a certain section of a stream at a given time is termed a discharge measure- ment. The quantity is the product of two factors — the mean veloc- ity and the area of the cross section. The mean velocity is a func- tion of surface slope, wetted perimeter, roughness of bed, and the channel conditions at, above, and below the gaging section. The area depends on the contour of the bed and the fluctuations of the 1NTE0DUCTI0N. 11 surface. The two principal ways of measuring the velocity of a stream are by floats and current meters. All current-meter measurements are made by the engineers of the Survey, but as float measurements can readily be made by the prospector the method is described below. The floats in common use are the surface, subsurface, and tube or rod floats. A corked bottle with a flag in the top and weighted at the bottom makes one of the most satisfactory surface floats, as it is affected but little by wind. In flood measurements, good results can be obtained by observing the velocity of floating cakes of ice or debris. In all surface-float measurements the observed velocity must be multiplied by 0.85 to 0.90 to reduce the surface velocity to the mean velocity. The subsurface and tube or rod floats are intended to give directly the mean velocity in the vertical. Tubes give excellent results when the channel conditions are good, as in canals. In measuring velocity by a float, observation is made of the time taken by the float to pass over the "run" — a selected stretch of river from 50 to 200 feet long. In each discharge measurement a large number of velocity determinations are made at different points across the stream, and from these observations the mean velocity for the whole section is determined. The area used in float measurements is the mean of the areas at the two ends of the run and at several intermediate sections. The essential parts of the current meters in use are (1) a wheel of some type so constructed that the impact of flowing water causes it to revolve and (2) a device for recording or indicating the number of revolutions. The relation between the velocity of the moving water and the revolutions of the wheel is determined for each meter. This rating is done by drawing the meter through still water for a given distance at different speeds and noting the number of revolu- tions for each run. From these data a rating table is prepared which gives the velocity per second for any number of revolutions. Many kinds of current meters have been constructed. The small Price acoustic meter (see PL I, A) was used exclusively in the work in Alaska. Measurements were made by wading, except on Kruzgamepa River, where a cable and car were installed for use during high stages. In making a measurement a tape line is stretched across the stream (see PL I, B) and depth and velocity are measured at regular intervals (from 1 to 5 feet apart, depending on the size of the stream). The depths from which the area of the cross section is computed are taken by soundings with a graduated rod. The velocities are measured by a current meter. Three methods of measuring the velocity were used. In the first the meter is held at the depth of the thread of mean velocity, which has been shown by extensive experiments to occur at about 0.6 of the 12 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. total depth. In the second method the mean of the velocities taken at 0.2 and 0.8 depth is taken as the mean. In the third method the meter is held at mid depth and about 0.1 of the total depth below the surface and above the bottom, and one-fourth of the sum of the top and bottom and twice the mid depth is used as the mean. This method is not adapted to very shallow streams or to those with extremely rough beds. One of the general laws of the flow of streams with permanent cross sections is that the discharge varies directly with the stage, or gage height, and that it will be the same whenever the stage or gage height of the stream is the same. Therefore, in order to determine the daily discharge of a stream, a gage on which the fluctuations of the surface of the stream may be noted is installed and read daily. As the dis- charge regularly increases with the stage, it is possible with a few discharge measurements taken at various stages to construct a rating curve which will give the discharge at all stages. The beds of most of the streams measured changed but little during the season and it was therefore possible to obtain the daily flow as just stated. Water to be of use for mining purposes must be available under con- siderable pressure, or when diversion is necessary it must be taken at an elevation high enough to allow it to be carried over the divides. The gaging stations, therefore, were so established as to obtain meas- urements at points whose elevations were sufficient to permit the stream to be diverted for use in mining on the ground already pros- pected. Such stations were established on all the important streams in the area. At some of the locations it was impossible to secure gage readers to take the daily observations of river height, and for these stations, therefore, it is possible only to give the flow at the time of the actual discharge measurements. THE NOME REGION. By Fred F. Henshaw. DESCRIPTION OF AREA. The area to which the term "Nome region" is applied is, in a gen- eral way, 15 to 20 miles wide and stretches 40 miles inland from the town of Nome, which is situated on the southern coast of Seward Peninsula. Most of the measurements recorded in this paper were made about 20 to 25 miles from the coast, at points where the altitude is sufficiently high to make the water available for mining high-level placers, but some trips were also made into the adj acent regions to the east and west. The region embraces three types of topography, which, from south to north, are (1) a coastal plain, (2) an upland, and (3) a mountain mass. Bordering the coast line between Cape Nome and Cape Rodney is an area of low relief, which stretches back to the foothills with a width of 2 to 5 miles. This lowland, known as the " Nome tundra," is made up in general of wet, moss-covered ground, rising with a gentle slope to an elevation between 200 and 300 feet at the southern margin of the upland. The ridges that constitute the upland trend in a general way north and south, rising from about 700 feet near the coast to 2,000 feet 30 miles inland. These ridges are separated by the broad U-shaped valleys of the larger drainage courses. Thirty miles from the coast the ridges are united by an east-west ridge, which presents a steep escarpment toward a broad depression to the north. This depression separates the upland from the Kigluaik Mountains. The east-west ridge is broken by broad, low gaps, a feature of great importance to the engineer who contemplates tapping the water resources of the Kigluaik Mountains. North of the depression the Kigluaik Mountains, locally known as the Sawtooth Range, rise abruptly, constituting a rugged east-west mass, sharply dissected, with serrated crest line. As these mountains have been the center of local glaciation in recent times, their valleys are characterized by cirques, which form important sources of water for the district. Most of the area here considered drains southward to Bering Sea through Nome and Snake rivers, whose sources lie close to the ridge which forms the northern boundary of the upland. A part of the waters of the upland also flows southward to Bering Sea through Eldorado, Flambeau, Cripple, and Penny rivers. The valleys of all of these streams are of about the same type— broad and deep in the 13 14 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. upland, with gentle slopes for 300 to 600 feet, then with steeper walls which rise to crest lines ranging from 800 to 1,500 feet in altitude. Their floors are usually covered with gravels. Some of the smaller tributaries occupy sharply incised trenches and have but a thin coat- ing of gravel on their rock floors. The east-west depression which separates the upland from the mountains to the north is drained in part by streams flowing west- ward to Sinuk River, which empties into Bering Sea, and in part by streams flowing eastward to Kruzgamepa River, which discharges into Imuruk Basin. The streams draining the southern slope of the Kigluaik Mountains are all tributary to one or the other of the two systems. Many of them head in glacial cirques and flow through steep-walled rock-bound valleys, and all have torrential courses. The general character of all the drainage areas is the same. (See PL II.) The streams have little slope, except in their extreme upper portions, and spread over wide gravelly beds, in which many of them divide into several channels or disappear in the gravel. The channels are also subject to considerable shifting during floods. For 1,000 to 3,000 feet on either side of this gravelly bed extend level or gently sloping bottom lands, from which the hills rise abruptly. The drainage basins are from* 4 to 12 miles wide. Most of the tributary streams are short and flow in narrow ravines having steep sides. Their slope is great, and many of them are made up of a series of rapids, waterfalls, and pools. Practically the whole country to an elevation of 1,000 feet is cov- ered with a thick turf, commonly known as " tundra." (See PL III, A.) In the summer this turf carries a rank growth of grass dotted with wild flowers of many varieties, and in some areas there is con- siderable moss. There are no trees with the exception of scattered patches of scrub willow and alder, which in the absence of better fuel can be used for firewood. Much of the ground remains frozen within 2 feet of the surface throughout the year. The soil in the lowlands is mostly gravel, overlain with muck, which contains a large per- centage of water, and, when it thaws out in summer, becomes very soft. Considerable areas are underlain by clear ice. The hills are composed largely of schist and limestone rock, mantled with loose slide and gravel. The Nome region has been an important producer of placer gold since 1899. During the first two or three years operations were con- fined largely to the shallower and richer creeks and to the present beach. They were carried on by the primitive methods of rocking and shoveling in, and the producing creeks themselves usually fur- nished an adequate sluice head. During the last five or six seasons the operations have been of two widely different kinds, namely, underground and hydraulic mining. CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY, NOME REGION. 15 The ancient beaches, notably the so-called third beach, have yielded the largest production during the last four years. The work is carried on underground, by shaft and drift, largely in the winter, the material being sluiced with water derived from the melting snow in the spring. Owing to the small yardage moved and the high tenor of the gravels, the problem of obtaining a water supply for sluicing is relatively un- important. Pumping by gasoline engine is often resorted to and does not materially increase the total cost of mining. In hydraulic mining the conditions are radically different. The chief requirements are a large body of gravel carrying values and an abundant supply of water under a high head. The stream-gaging work of the Survey in this district has been carried on for the purpose of obtaining accurate information in regard to its water resources, developed and undeveloped, and their adapta- tion both for placer mining and power. Most of the work in the Nome region in 1907 was done by Raymond Richards, and much credit is due him for the careful and thorough manner in which he carried it on. The work has been confined to the comparatively small area from which water has been or can be diverted for working the rich placer deposits near Nome. The gaging stations were so located that the measurements would show the water available in this important area. The additional water supply below the points of measurement may on many streams have a local value, and all the streams in the vicinity of the gold-bearing ground of Seward Peninsula are of more or less economic importance, but it was impossible to measure them all on account of inadequate funds. The results obtained in 1906 have been published, but are included in this report in order to bring all the records up to date. a The data obtained give a fair idea of conditions of flow that may be expected from other areas in the vicinity, provided allowance is made for difference in rainfall, topography, and soil. For this pur- pose a summary of the flow from different areas has been prepared. (Seep. 95.) CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. Three sources of water supply contribute to the run-off of Seward Peninsula — summer rains, melting of accumulated snow, and melting of the frozen ground. Comparatively few data concerning the rainfall are available for years prior to 1906, when rainfall records were begun by the Geolog- ical Survey in connection with the investigations of stream flow. «Hoyt, J. C, and Henshaw, F. F., Water supply of Nome region, Seward Peninsula, 1906: Water- Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 196, U. S. Geological Survey. The edition of this paper is completely exhausted, 16 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Records were received from three stations in 1906 and from six in 1907. The daily and monthly rainfall at these points is given on pages 136 to 138. In the opinion of the mining operators at Nome, the season of 1907 was one of the best for water supply since the settlement of the region, whereas 1906 was about the poorest. An examination of the tables of rainfall will reveal the fact that this difference must have been due less to the greater total rainfall of 1907 than to its more even distri- bution through the season. A brief statement of climatic conditions for the last nine years is given on page 135. At Salmon Lake the total rainfall from June to September was greater in 1906 than in 1907 by nearly 2 inches, but as almost half of the total fell in six days during the heavy storms of July 8 to 10 and September 19 to 21, the minimum flow was smaller and lasted longer than in 1907. The record of snowfall for the winter of 1906-7 at Nome is the only one available. The total (88.7 inches) was abnormally high, and was perhaps double that of some other years. The snowfall in the Kig- luaik Mountains is probably much larger than that on the coast. In 1906 most of the snow in this region had melted before the 1st of June. Only the drifts in the gulches and along the north sides of the hills and the ice banks along the beds of the rivers remained after the 15th. The spring of 1907 was much later and the snowfall of the previous winter was heavier. On June 15 the ground in the moun- tains was still largely covered with snow, and the daily fluctuation of Nome River, due to the more rapid melting of the snow in the day- time, continued until about July 20. With the exception of Sinuk and Nome rivers, which have their sources in the mountains a short distance apart, the streams flowing into Bering Sea rise in the foothills of the Kigluaik Range. Their drainage areas have a southern exposure and the snow on them melts early in the season. They are, therefore, dependent for their water supply mostly on the summer rains. The cirques in the Kig- luaik Mountains are more protected and hold their snow later in the season, so that the flow of the streams which rise in them is much better sustained. Some water finds its way into the streams from the melting of the frozen ground. The frozen muck and ground ice, which carry a large amount of water, are protected with a thick coating of moss, through which the heat of summer hardly penetrates, and therefore they thaw very little. The gravelly and sandy soils, which often thaw to a considerable depth, contain much less water. This source of water supply is of minor importance. In the Nome region there is much ground which becomes thawed and takes up the rain as ground storage, especially late in the season. U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. A. TUNDRA BETWEEN BEACH AND FOOTHILLS. B. MIOCENE DITCH AT GLACIER CREEK. CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY, NOME REGION. 17 The coming of the frosts, however, checks the flow of the ground water. Owing to the steep slopes, the thinness of the surface covering, and the shallow depth to which the ground thaws, the water from the rains finds its way into the streams in a very short time, and the streams rise and fall very rapidly. (See fig. 1.) During the heavy July Aug. 20 Aug.30 Sept.3 Sept.13 Fig. 1.— Diagram showing flow of Nome River above Miocene intake and of Grand Central River below the forks in 1906. storm of July 8, 1906, it was noted that although all supply gates of the Miocene ditch were closed and the waste gates were open, the ditch was running full from the rain water coming in from the slopes above. Owing to this lack of ground storage, which is one of the important factors in maintaining a well-sustained stream flow in warmer climates, the streams depend in great part on the rainfall and melting snow for their supply and respond very quickly to an increase or decrease in either. If two or three weeks pass with- hardly any rain, as during the last week in July and the first half of August in both 1906 and 1907, the streams will fall rapidly. A notable feature of many drainage basins is the occurrence of limestone springs. These tend to produce a very uniform flow, and when the entire flow is from this source, as in the case of Hobson Creek, the variation in discharge is small. Other streams deriving much of their discharge from springs are Morning Call Creek and Grand Central River in the Nome region, North Fork and Budd Creek in the Kougarok region, and many creeks in the Solomon and Casadepaga regions. 35283— irr 218—08 2 18 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. GAGING STATIONS. The following list gives the points in the Nome region at which gages were established or discharge measurements made in 1906 and 1907. The numbers refer to PL IV. Gaging stations in Nome region. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. Nome River above Miocene intake. Buffalo Creek. Dorothy Creek. Miocene ditch at Black Point. Miocene ditch at flume. Hob son Creek at Miocene ditch crossing. David Creek ditch intake. Seward ditch intake. North Fork of Grand Central River at elevation 750 feet. North Pork of Grand Central River at elevation 1,030 feet. West Fork of Grand Central River at elevation 860 feet. West Fork of Grand Central River at elevation 1,010 feet. Crater Lake outlet. Grand Central River below forks. Grand Central River below Nugget Creek. Gold Run. Thompson Creek. Nugget Creek. Copper Creek. Jett Creek. Morning Call Creek. Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Sal- mon Lake. Crater Creek. Iron Creek below mouth of Canyon Creek. 25 Iron (Dome) Creek. 26. Eldorado Creek. 27. Discovery Creek. 28. Canyon Creek. 29. Sinuk River. 30. Windy Creek. 31. North Star Creek. 32. Stewart River. 33. Slate Creek. 34. Josie Creek. 35. Irene Creek. 36. Jessie Creek. 37. Upper Oregon Creek. 38. Slate Creek. 39. Aurora Creek. 40. Penny River at elevation 420 feet. 41. Penny River at elevation 120 feet. 42. Eldorado River. 43. Fall Creek. 44. Glacier Creek. 45. Snow Gulch. 46. Nome River at Pioneer intake and Pioneer ditch. 47. Miocene ditch at Clara Creek. 48. Rock Creek. 49. Slate Creek. 50. Cedric ditch above penstock. 51. Snake River above Glacier Creek. 52. Solomon River below Johns Creek. 53. Solomon River below East Fork. NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Nome River is formed by the junction of Buffalo and Deep Canyon creeks, which have their sources in the Kigluaik Range. It has a drainage area of 150 square miles and flows in a general southerly direction through a valley having a length of about 40 miles and a width ranging from 4 to 6 miles. The elevation at the headwaters is between 3,000 and 4,000 feet, and the altitude of the ridges that bound the valley on the east and west averages 1,000 feet. The principal tributaries are David, Sulphur, Darling, Buster, and Qsborn , S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. IV MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF GAGING STATIONS IN NOME REGION. CI dl di w is be P r NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 19 creeks from the east and Divide, Dorothy, Clara, and Hobson creeks from the west. Nome River is the most important source of water for use in hydraulicking the rich placer deposits on the old beach lines back of Nome. Four ditches have been built to divert water for mining purposes. These systems, with the elevations of their intakes, are the Campion, 610 feet; Miocene, 572 feet; Seward, 407 feet; and Pioneer, 330 feet. Any additional water supply that may be obtained in other high- level streams can best be brought to the mines by way of the valley of Nome River. During the seasons of 1906 and 1907 the waters of Nugget, Copper, and Jett creeks were diverted over the Nugget divide by branches of the Miocene system. Discharge measurements made in this drainage area are given in the following pages. \ NOME RIVER ABOVE MIOCENE INTAKE. This station, elevation about 575 feet, is located between the junc- tion of Buffalo and Deep Canyon creeks and the intake of the Miocene ditch. At low water the river at this point has a width of about 30 feet, a depth of H feet, and a mean velocity of 1 foot per second. The gage was read twice daily by employees of the Miocene Ditch Com- pany. The flow at this station is affected by four ditches — the Campion ditch, which diverts water above the station, and the Jett Creek, David Creek, and Grand Central ditches, which bring in water above the station from areas outside the Nome River basin. In order to obtain the natural flow of the river, the mean flow of the Campion ditch has been added to the flow at the gaging station and the flow of the other three ditches subtracted. Discharge measurements of Nome River above Miocene intake in 1906-7. [Elevation, 575 feet.] Date. June 17 a.. June 28 . . . July3 July 5 July 14.... Do.... August 3.. August 23. Do.... June 21 . 1906. 1907. Gage Dis- height. charge. Feet. Sec.-ft. 39 0.15 28 .00 21 .45 54.7 .40 50.5 = 82 117 —.01 21.4 .87 121 .70 87 1.25 135 Date. 1907. June 22..... June 30 July 10 July 12 July 17 August 4 Do August 7 August 17... Do September 4 . September 9. height. Feet. 1.25 1.09 .95 .78 .60 .44 .36 .25 .75 .68 .53 .96 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 141 95 120 74 43 37 37 25 82 72 48 124 a One-half mile above Dorothy Creek 20 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Daily gage height and discharge of Nome River at Miocene intake, 1906-7. [Drainage area, 15 square miles.] Bay. Total. 1906. July. Ft. Mean at gaging station Mean of Campion ditch Total David Creek ditch. . . Jett Creek ditch Grand Central ditch. Natural flow of Nome River. Run-off per square mile Run-off, depth in inches 0.00 .25 .48 .31 .28 1.31 1.50 .85 .58 .60 .50 .61 .56 S.ft. 23 23 21 35 59 40 37 214 5a 2 5.2 61.4 51.4 3 43 3.95 August. Ft. 0.02 .00 -.01 -.02 -.04 -.04 + .09 + .04 -.02 .00 +.26 .34 .28 .10 .04 .03 .02 .00 .00 +.38 .41 .42 .87 .53 1.14 .78 .72 .70 S.ft. 22 21 21 20 20 20 25 23 20 21 36 43 37 25 23 22 22 21 21 47 50 52 123 66 59 110 176 106 96 92 79 49.0 14.4 50.4 3.36 3.87 Septem- Ft. 0.61 .57 .52 .46 .42 ,40 .36 .36 .27 .21 .18 .18 .18 .15 .12 .10 .10 .32 .70 1.22 1.12 .83 .82 .74 .65 .60 .54 .52 .52 .50 1907. June. S.ft. 78 72 65 57 52 49 45 39 37 32 30 30 30 28 26 25 25 41 92 194 172 115 114 99 84 76 68 65 65 62 Ft. 65.6 15.8 81.4 64.4 4.29 4,79 2.14 1.44 1.29 2.12 1.60 1.36 1.26 1.29 1.28 1.66 1.56 1.55 1.38 1.26 1.31 1.20 S.ft. 384 192 149 378 237 169 141 149 146 253 225 222 174 141 155 124 July. Ft. 1.19 1.06 1.03 .94 .94 1.08 1.04 .90 .84 .88 .92 .78 .80 .75 .65 .65 .64 .64 .72 .80 .94 .70 .71 202 202 13.5 8.03 S.ft. 122 88 80 117 117 168 152 103 87 97 110 74 78 68 53 53 52 52 63 78 117 60 62 59 54 52 43 37 35 39 43 August. Ft. 0.51 .49 .48 .45 .33 .33 .27 .28 .27 .22 .22 .22 .20 .24 .20 .51 .74 .70 .64 .60 .52 .50 .46 .46 .42 .62 .67 .60 ,62 .78 ,62 1 be S.ft. 38 36 35 33 32 32 27 28 27 24 24 24 23 25 23 48 79 72 64 58 49 47 42 42 39 61 77.8 7.3 85 1 5.5 3 1 4.3 12.9 72.2 4.81 5 54 44.1 12.9 57.0 U~8 6.1 6.2 2.19 2.52 Septem- ber. 85 20.8 58.4 3.89 4.34 a Approximate. Note.— Discharges for 1907 were computed from three rating curves, covering June 15 to July 3, July 4 to August 4, and August 5 to September 30. The channel below the gage was scraped out with horses on July 1 to 7 and August 4. NOME ETVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 21 Natural daily discharge, in second-feet, of Nome River at Miocene intake, 1907. Day. June. July. Aug. Sept. Day. June. July. Aug. Sept. 1 122 88 80 117 117 168 . 159 108 88 101 112 70 76 63 51 52 43 26 26 25 24 23 23 19 22 22 19 19 19 18 20 16 34 63 43 38 36 40 35 34 29 29 101 307 200 112 79 74 85 63 57 18 378 237 169 141 149 146 253 225 222 174 141 155 124 46 53 66 100 49 48 44 39 37 29 26 23 30 33 57 45 37 29 30 29 28 25 50 56 44 46 75 49 41 2 19 43 3 20 40 4 21 35 5 22 22 6 23 24 18 7 31 8 25 26 30 9 30 10 27 28 11 28 27 12 29 26 13 30 18 14 31 384 192 149 Mean 16 202 72.2 32.9 58.4 NOME RIVER AT PIONEER INTAKE AND PIONEER DITCH. These stations were established to obtain the total discharge of Nome River available for the three ditches. Both were located about one-fourth mile below the diversion dam of the Pioneer ditch. Gage heights were obtained for only a short period in August, when readings were made by employees of the Pioneer Mining Company. To obtain the natural flow of the river, the discharge of the Seward ditch at intake and of the Miocene ditch at Clara Creek has been added, and that of the two ditches discharging over Nugget divide subtracted. The run-off per square mile thus obtained is slightly greater than that of the river at the Miocene intake for the same period. The discharge at this station can, therefore, be conserva- tively estimated at the same rate per square mile as that at the upper station. Discharge measurements of Nome River at Pioneer intake and Pioneer ditch, 1907. [Elevation, 330 feet.] NOME RIVER. July 9.... July 18... August 9. Date. Gage height. Feet. 1.89 1.58 1.13 Dis- charge. Sec. ft. 132 58 3 Date. August 20. August 29. height. Feet. 1.39 1.49 Dis- charge. Sec. ft. PIONEER DITCH. July 18 1.22 1.35 1.19 18.7 22.2 16.8 1.41 1.44 24.3 July 24 25.6 August 9 22 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Daily gage-height and discharge of Nome River and diversions at Pioneer intake, August, 1907. [Drainage area, 38 square miles.] Nome River. Pioneer ditch. Seward ditch. Mi- ocene ditch. Total. Di- verted over Nugget divide. Net total. Nome River at Mio- cene intake. Day. . Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. 21 Feet. 1.40 1.30 1.30 1.25 1.25 1.55 1.60 1.57 1.52 1.75 1.55 Sec. ft. 29 16 16 12 12 52 62 55 47 95 52 Feet. 1.43 1.40 1.42 1.42 1.48 1.48 1.40 1.38 1.30 1.39 1.36 Sec. ft. 25.0 24.0 24.7 24.7 26.8 26.8 24.0 23.4 20.8 23.7 22.7 Sec. ft. 29.0 26.9 27.9 27.9 29.0 29.0 27.2 27.2 27.9 28.6 28.6 Sec. ft. 34.0 34.0 34.0 33.0 34.6 35.2 35.2 35.2 35.2 35.2 35.2 Sec. ft. 117 101 103 98 103 143 148 140 131 183 139 Sec. ft. 17.5 15.5 14.2 16.2 14.9 14.2 14.9 15.6 16.9 14.9 14.9 Sec. ft. 100 86 89 82 88 129 133 124 114 168 124 Sec. ft. 29 30 29 28 25 22 23 24 25 26 50 27 28 44 29 4ti 30 75 31 49 Mean 40.7 24.2 28.1 34.6 128 15.4 112 2. 95 41.9 Run -off per square mile 2 80 BUFFALO CREEK. Buffalo Creek rises in a high U-shaped valley on the south side of the Kigluaik Mountains, and after a steep descent joins Deep Canyon Creek, forming Nome River. Measurements were made as follows: Discharge measurements on Buffalo Creek in 1906. [Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 4.4 square miles.] Second- feet. June 28 • 18. 1 July 6 '. 23. 3 August 3 9.1 DAVID CREEK. David Creek is the first large tributary of Nome River below the junction of Buffalo and Deep Canyon creeks. Its valley has a north- westward exposure, and holds a considerable amount of snow well into the summer. The discharge of the David Creek lateral of the Miocene ditch (see p. 33) is equal to that of the creek at the. point of diversion at times of low water. This has been compared with the natural flow of Nome River for five such periods, as follows : Comparison of floiv of David Creek and Nome River at Miocene intake, 1907. Date. Nome River. David Creek. David Creek in per cent of Nome River. July 25-31 : Sec. ft. 31 22 32 34 32 Sec. ft. 14.3 10.4 13.8 11.9 11.2 46 47 August 19-25 43 35 September 19-30. 35 NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 28 The above table shows that the discharge of David Creek was from 47 to 35 per cent of that of Nome River. The discharge for other periods than those given has therefore been taken as 45 per cent of that of Nome River for July, 40 per cent for August, and 35 per cent for September. Monthly discharge of David Creek at Miocene intake, 1907. [Drainage area, 4.3 square miles. Discharge in second-feet. Run-off. Month. Maximum. Minimum. Mean. Second- feet per square mile. Depth in inches. July 76 30 107 10.9 8.9 8.3 32.2 14.2 20.7 7.49 3.30 4.81 8.64 August 3.80 5.37 92 days : 107 8.3 22.4 5.20 17.81 \ DOROTHY CREEK. Dorothy Creek, which enters Nome River from the southwest, is a short, precipitous stream. It receives water from the Campion ditch, as noted on page 35. The following discharge measurements were nfade above the outlet of the ditch: Discharge measurements on Dorothy Creek in 1906. [Elevation, 500 feet; drainage area, 2.7 square miles.] Second- feet. June 16 5. 1 July 29 3.0 August 18 2. 9 HOBSON CREEK. Hobson Creek is one of the most interesting and valuable streams in the Nome region. It rises south of Dorothy Creek, flows south- ward and discharges into Nome River about 18 miles from the sea- coast. It is about 4 miles long and very steep. Its only important tributary is Manila Creek, which becomes dry at low water. Hobson Creek is notable for the large limestone springs from which it receives its water. The highest of these springs emerges just above the dam at the Miocene ditch crossing. Above them a trench has been dug across the stream to solid rock, and no flow was intercepted. Be- tween the dam and the mouth of Manila Creek there are many springs, none of them very large, but giving an aggregate discharge nearly equal to that above the Miocene intake. At low water the Miocene ditch obtains nearly half its water supply from Hobson Creek. Laterals have also been built to the other ditches, that to the Seward lying on the east bank and the Pioneer branch on the west bank. 24 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. The water from Hobson Creek is valuable not only on account of its remarkably uniform flow but also on account of its high temperature, which prevents the formation of slush ice during cold nights and makes it possible to run the ditches somewhat longer than they could be with Nome River water alone. In the opinion of employees of the Miocene Ditch Company the extreme range of the discharge of the upper springs is from 8 to 32 second-feet during the summer season. During the winter they probably run somewhat lower, but always remain open. Daily discharge, in second-feet, of Hobson Creek at Miocene intake, 1907. [Elevation, 500 feet; drainage area, 2.6 square miles.] Day. June. July. Aug. Sept. Day. June. July. Aug. Sept. 1 25.5 24.9 23.8 22.7 22.7 21.1 19.6 25.8 24.5 22.7 23.0 24.0 23.0 23.0 19.7 23.1 21.4 23.2 22.3 20.4 18.7 19.1 19.3 19.2 18.9 19.4 17.3 18.1 18.2 16.2 16.7 16.4 16.4 16.3 16,9 14.7 14.7 14.3 17.7 17.3 17.3 17.7 17.3 16.9 16.5 17.9 16.6 18.2 20.0 20.5 21.0 21.9 20.3 20.6 20.6 20.7 20.3 20 22.6 23.0 21.1 22.3 23.5 22.7 24.2 21.8 21.4 20.2 20.9 21.2 14.3 15.4 14.7 14.3 16.8 18.3 17.3 17.3 17.3 17.7 17.7 17.7 19.5 2 21 19 7 3 22 18 3 4 23 22 3 5 24 20.6 6 25. 19.5 7 26.. 19.3 8 27.. 17.7 9 28 26.7 25.8 25.0 19.0 10 29 19.3 11 30 19.7 12 31 13 14 25.8 9.92 1.11 22.6 8.69 10.02 17.1 6.58 7.59 19.1 15 Run-off per square mile Run-off, depth in inches 16 7.35 17 18 8.20 19 Note.— These discharges were obtained by subtracting those of the Miocene ditch above the dam from the flow of the ditch below the dam, and adding the amount spilled from the waste way, as esti- mated by C A. McDermith. Some water was being spilled from July 16 to 26 and September 12 to 30. Discharge measurements of Hobson Creek below Manila Creek and diversions, 1907. [Drainage area, 5.1 square miles. Point of measurement. July 2. July 9. July 19. Aug. 9. Sept. 28. Miocene intake Sec. ft. 24.9 0.0 0.0 25.0 Sec. ft. 24.5 5.2 0.0 21.0 Sec. ft. 22.3 5.2 0.0 17.7 Sec. ft. 18.1 4.3 0.0 10.7 Sec. ft. 19.0 Seward lateral 4.5 Pioneer lateral 5.8 Hobson Creek below Manila Creek. . . 5.0 49.9 • 50.7 45.2 33.1 34.3 THE MIOCENE DITCH SYSTEM. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. The Miocene ditch system includes 31 miles of main ditch and 31 miles of lateral feeders and distributing ditches, 8 miles of which are under construction. (See PI. Ill, B, and PL Y.) This ditch diverts water from upper Glacier Creek, upper Snake River, Nome River and NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 25 its tributaries, and from the Grand Central River drainage for use on claims along lower Glacier, Dexter, and Anvil creeks. The first section of this system was built in 1901, from upper Glacier Creek to Snow Gulch, this being the first ditch in Seward Peninsula. In 1902 an extension was made from Ex to Hobson Creek, and in 1903 the ditch was extended to the head of Nome River, these three sec- tions constituting the main line of the system, with a length of 31 miles. The elevation of the intake is 572 feet and that of the lower end 420 feet, giving a fall of 152 feet. This fall varies at different points along the ditch, ranging from 3.17 to 7 feet per mile. There are two siphons, one at Dorothy Creek, 24 inches by 300 feet, which carries about 40 second-feet, and one at Manila Creek, 40 inches by 1,000 feet. Below Willow Creek there is a 1,100-foot flume. The main ditch has an average width of 8 feet aboye and 10 feet below Hobson Creek, and a capacity of 60 second-feet. The mean flow is about 40 second-feet. The water is delivered from the end of the ditch on claims along Glacier Creek; on Anvil Creek by a tunnel 1,800 feet long and 4 by 6 feet in cross section, built in 1903 and 1904; and on Dexter Creek by a ditch from Ex around the south side of King Mountain. The lateral feeders, in order up the ditch, are: (1) From upper Glacier Creek to Ex (this was the upper portion of the first section of the main ditch); (2) from Grouse and Cold creeks to flume; (3) from upper New Eldorado Creek to Buster Creek (it was originally intended to connect this feeder with the main ditch by a siphon across Nome River, but in 1907 it was extended to producing ground on Buster Creek); (4) the David Creek ditch, which empties into Nome River above the intake; (5) the Jett Creek ditch, which takes water from Jett and Copper creeks and carries it over the Nugget divide; (6) the Grand Central ditch, which is under construction (this ditch diverts water from Nugget Creek and will tap the headwaters of Grand Cen- tral River). As a rule water can not be turned into ditches in this region before July 1, as there is too much frost in the ground. In 1906 the water of Hobson Creek was turned into the ditch about June 20 and that of Nome River about June 26, but before July 1 it was turned out fre- quently to permit repairs. The ditch was also out of use on account of a break from July 8 to 11, inclusive, after which the water ran almost continually. The Nome River water was turned out October 12, and the Hobson Creek water on the morning of the 13th. This season was somewhat longer than usual. In 1907 the Hobson Creek water was turned in on June 27 and that from Nome River on July 3, but the ditch was not run to its full capacity until July 27. All water was turned out on October 3. A break occurred just below Hobson 26 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Creek on September 10 and all water turned out for thirty- three hours; this was practically the only interruption in the flow. During 1906 two gaging stations were maintained on the ditch — one at Black Point, about 1 mile below the intake, to determine the amount of water diverted from Nome River, and one at the flume, which gives practically the total amount delivered at the mines. In 1907 three additional stations were established — at Clara Creek, above Hobson Creek, and below Hobson Creek. The difference in discharge at the last two gives the flow of the creek (p. 24). The dif- ference between the flow at any of the other stations and that at the one below it gives the loss by seepage in that portion of the ditch. The Grouse Creek lateral joins the main ditch between Hobson Creek and the flume and sometimes causes an increased discharge at the flume as compared with that at the creek station. Measurements of this lateral are given on page 35. The distances by ditch between sta- tions are as follows: Black Point to Clara Creek, 7.1 miles; Clara Creek to Hobson Creek, 4.9 miles; Hobson Creek to the flume, 4.2 miles; the flume to the Ex, 9.5 miles. Measurements at the Ex are given on page 30. The flow of the Glacier Creek lateral about equals the seepage below the flume. The results of measurements at the above-named stations are given in the following pages. All the gages were read by employees of the Miocene Ditch Company from two to four times a day. Gage readings taken after September 30 were unreliable, on account of the slush ice that was running, and the discharge for the last few days in September may be slightly too large, for the same reason. Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch at Black Point, 1906-7. Date. 190G July7 July 13 July 21 July 27 July 29 August 2 August 11 August 23 September 11 September 25 Gage Dis- height. charge. Feet. Sec. ft. 0.80 31.8 .89 34.1 .71 27.5 .68 25.7 .46 20,6 .39 18.1 1.20 44.7 1.30 48.3 .85 30.7 1.10 38.2 Date. 1907 July 4 July 10 July 17 August 2 August 6 August 16 Do Gage height. Feet. 0.51 .57 .79 .96 .62 .91 1.13 Dis- charge. Sec. ft. 21.8 24.0 29.6 36.4 25.1 33.5 42.5 NOME RTVER DRAINAGE BASTN. 27 Daily gage height and discharge of Miocene ditch at Black Point, 1906-7. 1906. 1907. July. August. September. July. August. September. Day. § 5 A CD 60 5 a5 o3 A o s i i CP o 6 A o CO s ho 1 CD 8P o o5 8 1 co s 3 A CD 8P o 03 eg A u s s A CD bo cti o 6 to s 4^ to "3 CB bC o3 O 6 ■a CO ft 1 2 Feet. 0.70 .70 .60 .85 .95 .88 .85 Sec.-ft. 27 27 24 31.5 34.8 32.4 31.5 21 36.5 36.5 36.5 43.5 40 40 40 33.7 27 27 24.6 31.5 34.8 33.7 28.5 24.6 22.2 21 19.9 19.2 Feet. 0.40 .38 .35 .34 .33 .34 .52 .48 .37 .40 .81 .82 .96 .60 .50 .50 .45 .39 .46 .86 1.12 1.03 1.17 1.19 1.20 1.17 1.16 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 Sec.-ft. 18.8 18.5 18 17.8 17.7 17.8 21.6 20.6 18.3 18.8 30.3 30.6 35.1 24 21 21 19.9 18.6 20.1 31.8 40.7 37.6 42.4 43.2 43.5 42.4 42.1 43.5 43.5 43.5 43.5 Feet. 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.17 1.04 1.00 .98 .82 .80 .80 .76 .72 .66 .64 .78 .80 .58 .69 .92 1.00 .96 1.05 1.06 1.22 1.20 1.20 1.20 Sec.-ft. 43,5 43.5 43.5 43.5 43.5 43.5 42.4 37.9 36.5 35.8 30.6 30 30 28.8 27.6 25.8 25.2 29.4 30 23.4 26.7 33.7 36.5 35.1 38.2 38.6 44.2 43.5 43.5 43.5 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.05 .98 .91 .85 .80 .68 .61 .64 .61 .52 .52 .52 .50 .55 .45 .90 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.16 1.16 1.16 1.10 1.08 1.02 1.15 1.16 1.16 1.16 1.15 1.15 Sec.-ft. 38.8 36.5 34.2 32.2 30.7 27.0 24. 9 25^8 24.9 22.3 22.3 22.3 21.7 23.> 20.4 33.8 42.2 42.2 42.2 42.6 42.6 42.6 40.5 39.8 37.7 42.2 42.6 42.6 42.6 42.2 42.2 Feet. 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.04 1.08 1.10 .80 .48 .98 1.15 1.08 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.08 1.15 1.08 1.15 1.15 1.06 1.00 1.04 .98 .94 1.02 1.12 Sec.-ft. 42.2 42.2 3 0.52 .50 .50 .45 .40 .48 .48 .50 .50 .50 .50 .50 .80 .80 .80 .80 .80 .80 .80 .80 .80 .80 .85 .86 1.00 .94 .94 .96 1.10 22.3 21.7 21.7 20.4 19.2 21.1 21.1 21.7 21.7 21.7 21.7 21.7 30.7 30.7 30.7 30.7 30.7 30.7 30.7 30.7 30.7 30.7 32.2 32.6 37.1 35.1 35.1 35.8 40.5 42.2 4. 42.2 5 42.2 6 42.2 7 38.4 8 39.8 9 40.5 10 30.7 11 .50 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.20 1.10, 1.10 1.10 .92 .70 .70 .62 .85 .95 .92 .75 .62 .54 .50 .45 .42 21.1 12.. 36.5 13 42.2 14 39.8 15 37.1 16 37.1 17 37.1 18 37.1 19 .. 39.8 20: 42.2 21 39.8 22 42.2 23 42.2 24 39. 1 25 26 37.1 38.4 27 . 36.5 28 29 35.1 37.7 30... 41.2 31 . . . 27.4 29.2 35.9 28. 34.4 38.7 Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch at Clara Creek, 190') Date. July 9... July 18.. August 9 Gage height. Feet. 0.50 .79 .60 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 18.2 •■ 27.7 21.1 Date. August 20 . . . August 29 . . . September 27 Gage height. Feet. 0.91 .92 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 35.2 34.7 34.0 28 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Daily gage height and discharge of Miocene ditch at Clara Creek, 1907. July. August. September. July. August. September. +; Day. A to a5 § S 1 Day. §, a5 § S> S> A c3 a co A o3 A fl3 A o3 ,d o3 9P A cj GO a> 8P ■a go 1 ■3 go CD A O fj> a go bQ i 00 o P o P o p 3 A O ft o A Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-//. Feet. Sec.-ft. 1 0.89 .85 .84 .80 .78 .66 33.5 31.5 31.0 29.0 28.1 23.1 0.92 .92 .92 .92 .92 .91 35.2 35.2 35.2 35.2 35.2 34.6 18 19 20 21 22 23 82 79 79 81 82 80 30.0 28.6 28.6 29.5 30.0 29.0 0.91 .90 .91 .90 .90 .90 34.6 34.0 34.6 34.0 34.0 34.0 91 92 So 95 88 88 34.6 2 35.2 3 a 18.0 « 19.0 a 19.0 a 19.0 31.5 4 37.0 33.0 6 33.0 7 6.52 18.8 .60 21.0 .89 33.5 24 80 29.0 .88 33.0 92 35.2 8 .55 19.6 .58 20.4 .88 33.0 25 80 29.0 .91 34.6 90 34.0 9 .50 18.2 .55 19.6 .92 35.2 26 82 30.0 .92 35.2 92 35.2 10 .54 19.3 .52 18.8 .69 24.2 27....... 88 33.0 .92 35.2 88 33.0 11 .56 19.9 .50 18.2 .70 24.5 28 88 33.0 .92 35.2 84 31.0 12 .46 17.2 .50 18.2 .88 33.0 29 83 30.5 .92 35.2 88 33.0 13 .50 18.2 .48 17.7 .95 37.0 30 89 33.5 .92 35.2 88 33.0 14 .51 .71 .82 18.5 25.0 30.0 .52 .48 .72 18.8 17.7 25.4 .95 .94 .91 37.0 36.4 34.6 31 92 35.2 .92 35.2 .. 15 16 Mean. .. 25.4 28.7 .. 33.7 17 .75 26.8 .92. 35.2 .91 34.6 1 a Estimated from Black Point records. Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch above Hobson Creek, 1907. Date. July 9. July 19 August Gage | Dis- height. charge. Feet. Sec.-ft. 0. 88 17. 6 1. 25 25. 7 . 98 18. 8 Date. August 29 . . . September 27 September 28 Gage height. Feet. 1.38 1.36 1.30 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 35.4 31.7 31.8 Daily gage height and discharge of Miocene ditch above Hobson Creek, 1907. July. August. September. July. August. September. • ^ +a +s A A A A A A Day. to ?? 55 &e .W) &F Day. 53 &? §» S> A oS A c3 A o3 A 03 A o3 A c3 HP 1 0> 1 i | 60 03 ■a ■a GO 8P id 00 O P O P O ft O ft o A o p Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. 1 1.37 1.31 1.30 33.1 31.0 30.6 1.38 1.38 1.38 33.5 33.5 33.5 18 19 20 1.20 1.20 1.16 27.0 27.0 25.6 1.38 1.38 1.38 33.5 33.5 33.5 1.37 1.38 1.35 33.1 2 33.5 3 0.80 14.7 32.4 4 v. .90 17.3 1.20 27.0 1.38 33.5 21 1.21 27.4 1.38 33.5 1.39 33.8 5 .90 17.3 1.18 26.3 1.38 33.5 22 1.21 27.4 1.38 33.5 1.39 33.8 6 .90 17.3 1.04 21.5 1.38 33.5 23 1.23 28.1 1.37 33.1 1.29 30.2 7 .93 18.1 .97 19.3 1.35 32.4 24 1.24 28.4 1.29 30.2 1.39 33.8 8 .77 13.9 .95 18.7 1.31 31.0 25 1.22 27.7 1.30 30.6 1.39 33.8 9 .89 17.0 .99 19.9 1.39 33.8 26 1.22 27.7 1.38 33.5 1.39 33.8 10 .90 17.3 .90 17.3 1.42 34.9 27 1.33 31.7 1.38 33.5 1.35 32.4 11....... .89 17.0 .88 16.8 28 1.33 31.7 1.38 33.5 1.27 29.5 12 .85 16.0 .86 16.3 1.34 32.0 29 1.28 29.9 1.38 33.5 1.30 30.0 13 .89 17.0 .84 15.7 1.40 34.2 30 1.27 29.5 1.38 33.5 1.35 32.4 14. ... .89 17.0 .92 17.9 1.40 34.2 31 1.38 33.5 1.38 33.5 15 1.22 27.7 .80 14.7 1.37 33.1 16 1.17 25.9 1.02 20.8 1.36 32.8 Mean . . 23.6 27.4 31.8 17 1.21 27.4 1.39 33.8 1.36 32.8 NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch below Hobson Creek, 1907. 29 Date. Gage height. Dis- charge. Date. Gage height. Dis- charge. Tnlv 2 Feet. 1.60 2.08 2.30 Sec-ft. 24.8 39.1 46.8 July 24 Feet. 2.38 2.38 Sec.-ft. 49.4 September 27 52.0 July 19 1 Daily gage height and discharge of Miocene ditch below Hobson Creek, 190", June. July. August. September. Day. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.63 1.60 1.74 2.10 2.10 2.05 2.03 2.09 2.14 2.10 2 10 2.10 2.10 2.10 2.30 2.29 2.31 2.32 2.31 2.30 2.30 2.33 2.38 2.38 2.34 2.38 2.46 2.45 2.37 2.38 • 2.49 Sec.-ft. 25. 5 24.9 28.3 40.0 40.0 38.4 37.7 39.7 41.5 40.0 40.0 40.0 40.0 40.0 47.4 47.0 47.8 48.2 47.8 47.4 47.4 48.5 50.4 50.4 48.9 50.4 53.5 53.1 50.1 50.4 54.7 Feet. 2.46 2.36 2.36 2.27 2.25 2.11 2.06 1.98 2.04 1.95 1.89 1.89 1.86 1.93 1.83. • 2.03 2.33 2.32 2.31 2.31 2.34 2.32 2.30 2.29 2.34 2.39 2.39 2.39 2.40 2.40 2.40 Sec.-ft. 53.5 49.7 49.7 46.3 45.5 40.4 38.7 36.0 38.0 35.5 33.0 33.0 32.1 34.3 31.0 37.7 48.5 48.2 47.8 47.8 48.9 48.2 47.4 47.0 48.9 50.8 50.8 50.8 51.2 51.2 51.2 Feet. 2.40 2.39 2.39 2.40 2.39 -2.38 2.34 2.34 2.38 2.45 Sec.-ft. . 51.2 2 50.8 3 50.8 4 51.2 5 50.8 6 50.4 7 48.9 8 48.9 9 . 50.4 10 53.1 11 12 2.33 2.40 2.37 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.31 2.31 2.34 2.33 2.32 2.33 2.38 2.35 2.37 2.37 2.33 2.35 2.37 48.5 13 .. 51.2 14 50.1 15 47.4 16 47.4 17 47.4 18 47.8 19 47.8 20 48.9 21 48.5 22 48.2 23 48.5 24 50.4 25 49.3 26 ; 50.1 27 50.1 28 1.68 1.64 1.60 26.7 25.8 25.0 48.5 29 49.3 30 50.1 31 25.8 43.8 45.3 47.9 Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch at flume, 1906-7. Date. 1906 July 4 July 27 August 2 September 11 . . . September 25 . . . September 26. . . height. Feet. 0.95 1.08 .81 1.50 1.85 1.65 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 29.8 36.5 28.3 43.9 58.2 48.5 Date. 1907, July 2 July 3 July 19 July 23 August 10 August 29 September 28. . Gage height. Feet. 1.58 1.51 1.99 2.09 1.63 2.05 2.02 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 36 32 50 55 33 51 50 30 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Daily gage height and discharge of Miocene ditch at flume, 1906-7. 1906. 1907. July. August. September. July. August. September. Day. I 03 o o3 o 03 s i 1 If q5 A O 03 s 4J CO a5 03 ■s 03 5 i §0 03 o M o 03 s S3 bo 03 o 03 5 1 3 03 of o & o 03 s 1 Feet. 0.98 .95 .92 1.00 1.08 1.09 1.12 (a) (a) (a) .79 1.10 1.26 1.29 1.28 1.39 1.35 1.35 1.28 1.19 1.16 1.11 1.19 1.09 1.26 1.17 1.07 .98 .95 .91 .88 Sec.-ft. 31.6 30.8 29.9 32.1 34.3 34.5 35.3 26.4 34.8 39.1 39.9 39.7 42.6 41.6 41.6 39.7 37.2 36.4 35.1 37.2 34.5 39.1 36.7 34 31.6 30.8 29.7 28.9 Feet. 0.82 .81 .84 .89 .90 .91 .93 .98 .90 .88 1.01 1.13 1.23 1.02 .94 .92 .91 .87 .86 1.10 1.29 1.28 1.32 1.40 1.44 1.55 1.34 1.46 1.51 1.56 1.50 Sec.-ft. 27.2 27 27.8 29.1 29.4 29.7 30.2 31.6 29.4 28.9 32.4 35.6 38.3 32.6 30.5 29.9 29.7 28.6 28.3 34.8 39.9 39.7 40.7 42.9 44 47 41.3 44.5 45.9 47.3 45.6 Feet. 1.71 1.71 1.70 1.70 1.70 1.69 1.66 1.68 1.63 1.54 1.49 1.46 1.45 1.41 1.40 1.34 1.31 1.47 1.48 1.52 1.58 1.65 1.61 1.60 1.71 1.63 1.75 1.76 1.79 1.80 Sec.-ft. 51.5 51.5 51.2 51.2 51.2 50.9 50.1 50.6 49.2 46.7 45.3 44.5 44.2 43.2 42.9 41.3 40.5 44.8 45.1 46.2 47.8 49.8 48.7 48.4 51.5 49.2 52.6 52.9 53.7 . 54 Feet. 1.56 1.56 1.56 1.74 1.75 1.75 1.70 1.77 1.80 1.86 1.77 1.80 1.85 1.85 1.92 1.80 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 2.00 2.00 2.02 1.99 2.01 2.05 2.08 2.06 2.04 2.00 2.03 Sec.-ft. 33.5 33.5 33.5 39.6 40.0 40.0 38.0 40.8 42.0 44.4 41.0 42.0 44.0 44.0 46.8 42.0 48.0 48.0 48.0 48.0 50.0 50.0 50.8 49.6 50.4 52.0 53.2 52.4 51.6 50.0 51.2 Feet. 2.05 2.00 1.92 1.86 1.82 1.78 1.70 1.68 1.69 1.63 1.58 1.56 1.54 1.58 1.50 1.71 1.96 1.95 1.92 1.94 1.95 1.93 1.92 1.92 1.95 2,00 2.04 2.01 2.04 2.06 2.03 Sec.-ft. 52.0 50.0 46.8 44.4 42.8 41.2 38.0 37.3 37.7 35.6 34.0 33.5 32.9 34.0 31.8 38.4 48.4 48.0 46.8 47.6 48.0 47.2 46.8 46.8 48.0 50.0 51.6 50.4 51.6 52.4 51.2 Feet. 2.02 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.99 1.98 2.04 2.10 (a) 1.98 2.02 2.12 2.10 2.10 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.10 2.13 2.08 2.04 2.09 2.09 2.08 2.08 2.03 2.03 2.04 Sec.-ft. 50.8 2 . 50.0 3... 50.0 4 50.0 5 50.0 6 50.0 7 49.6 8 49.2 9 51.6 10: 54.0 11 . 12.. 49.2 13 . 50.8 14 54.8 15 54.0 16 54.0 17 54.0 18 54.4 19 54.8 20 54.0 21.. 55.2 22 53. 2 23 51 . 6 24 53.6 25 . 53. 6 26 53.2 27 53.2 28 51.2 29 51.2 30 . 51.6 31 6 31.8 35.2 ' i 48.4 45.1 44.0 50.4 a Ditch broken by heavy rains. & For 28 daj^s, 35.2 second-feet. Note.— About 28 second-feet turned in June 28, 1907. Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch below the Ex, 1907. Date. Glacier branch. Dexter branch. Total. June 26... July 6 July 19.... September Sec.-ft. 8.8 27.6 31.5 34.3 Sec.-ft. 0. 16.0 14.0 13.0 Src.-ft. 8.8 43.6 45. 5 47.3 JETT CREEK DITCH. The Jett Creek ditch was constructed during 1906 to divert water from Jett and Copper creeks over the Nugget divide. In 1906 the water was turned in from Copper Creek July 20 and from Jett Creek August 18, and was turned out September 25. The ditch carries the total flow of these creeks above the intake up to a maximum of about 10 second-feet. In 1907 a gage was established below Copper Creek and read by A. D. Jett, NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 31 Discharge measurements on Jett Creek ditch at outlet, 1906-7. Date. 1906. July 21 August 11 August 29 August 31 September 2 . September 7 . September 10 . Gage height. Feet. Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 1 2.4 .8 4.6 7.3 9.2 7.2 5.3 Date. 1906. September 14. July 31.... Do.... Do... Do... 1907. Gage height. Feet. 1.59 1.38 1.21 .75 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 3. 8.1 5.3 3.6 0.0 Daily gage height and discharge of Jett Creek ditch, 1907. July. August. September. Day. July. August. September. Day. I bo O 6 m s i cS 1 ■ ft I A a> §P O a3 bp o3 o ft / I ! 6 ho a o to ft 1. .. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.59 1.50 1.45 1.40 1.35 1.33 1.33 1.33 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.55 1.50 Sec.-ft. 8.1 6.9 6.2 5.6 5.0 4.8 4.8 4.8 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.9 4.4 4.4 4.4 7.6 6.9 Feet. 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.45 1.45 1.45 1.45 1.50 1.60 "i.60" 1.60 1.60 Sec.-ft. 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.9 8.2 8.2 8.2 8.2 18 19 20....... 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Mean . . Feet. 1.18 1.19 1.30 1.42 1.22 1.32 1.38 1.40 1.45 1.45 1.42 1.45 1.50 1.59 Sec.-ft. 3.2 3.3 4.4 5.9 3.6 4.6 5.4 5.6 6.2 6.2 5.9 6.2 6.9 8.1 Feet, 1.60 1.60 1.55 1.50 1.45 1.45 1.50 1.50 1.45 1.50 1.55 1.55 1.50 1.50 Sec.-ft. 8.2 8.2 7.6 6.9 6.2 6.2 6.9 6.9 6.2 6.9 7.6 7.6 6.9 6.9 Feet. Sec.-ft. 2. .. . 3. .. . 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1.15 1.35 1.32 1.15 1.20 1.15 3.0 5.0 4.6 3.0 3.4 3.0 13 14 15 16 4.9 6.1 6.1 17 GRAND CENTRAL DITCH. The completed portion of the Grand Central ditch diverted water from Nugget Creek at an elevation of 785 feet from June 27 to Sep- tember 29, 1906, and from July 9 to October 2, 1907. In 1907 a gage was installed just below Nugget Creek and read by A. D. Jett. The entire flow of the creek was diverted except on September 11 and 12 and possibly a few other days of high water. For measure- ments during 1906 see page 50. Discharge measurements of Grand Central ditch, 1907. Date. Gage height. Dis- charge. Date. Gage height. Dis- charge. July9 Feet. 1.39 1.28 Sec.-ft. 5.4 3.7 July 9 Feet. 1.18 1.47 Sec.-ft. 1.27 Do Do. 6.6 32 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 190G-L907. Daily gage height and discharge of Grand Central ditch, 1907. July. August. September. July. August. September. 4-> +j L +j ^ +j A A A ,0 A A Day. bo bo % be % be Day. & bo bo g. & *n A oS A oS A oS a oS A oS A oS 03 bo -s £> 1 € 03 bo ■s 03 bo ■s '9 * O A P ft o ft O ft O ft O ft Feet. See.-/*. Feel. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sr.c.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. 1 1.34 1.34 1.32 1. 32 1.32 4.4 4.4 4.0 4.0 4.0 1.50 1.50 1.45 1.45 1.45 .8.0 8.0 6.8 6.8 6.8 18 19 20 21 22 1.40 1.46 1.48 1.65 1.47 5.6 7.0 7.5 12.0 7.3 1.55 1.55 1.60 1.60 1.55 9.3 9.3 10.6 10.6 9.3 1.70 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.55 13.4 9 10.6 3 10.6 4 10.6 5 9.3 6 1.30 3.6 1.45 6.8 23 1.48 7.5 1.50 8.0 1.55 9.3 7 1.30 1.28 1.28 3.6 3.3 3.3 1.45 1.50 1.60 6.8 8.0 10.6 24 25 26 1.46 1.40 1.38 7.0 5.6 5.2 1.55 1.50 1.50 9.3 8.0 8.0 1.55 1.50 1.50 9.3 8 8.0 9 1.45 6.8 8.0 10 1.34 4.4 1.25 2.8 1.70 13.4 27 1.36 4.8 1.50 8.0 8.0 11 1.34 4.4 1.25 2.8 28 1.33 4.2 1.50 8.0 8.0 12 1.38 5.2 1.28 3.3 29 1.32 4.0 1.55 9.3 8.0 13 1.38 5.2 1.27 3.1 1.70 13.4 30 1.32 4.0 1.50 8.0 8.0 14 1.45 6.8 1.30 3.6 1.70 13.4 31 1.34 4.4 1.50 8.0 15 16 1.35 1.35 4.6 4.6 1.30 1.50 3.6 8.0 1.70 1.70 13.4 13.4 Mean . . 5.7 6.2 9.0 17 1.31 3.8 1.50 8.0 1.70 13.4 DAVID CREEK DITCH. David Creek enters Nome River from the east a short distance below the intake of the Miocene ditch. It has a well-sustained flow which is diverted at an elevation of about 590 feet by a ditch that discharges into Nome River just above the Miocene intake. In 1906 the water was running in this ditch before gagings were made on Nome River. Except during extreme high water, it carried the entire flow of David Creek up to its capacity of about 14 second-feet. When the ditch was cleaned out in 1907 it was enlarged from 4 feet to 5 feet on the bottom, increasing its capacity to nearly 20 second- feet. The gage was read by employees of the Miocene Ditch Com- pany during August, 1906, and July to September, 1907. Discharge measurements of David Creek ditch, 1906-7. Date. July 3 July 29.... August 3.. August 23 . August 29. Do.... Do.... Do.... 1906. Gage height. Feet. 0.51 .41 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. "3.5 6.4 4.4 7.9 5.4 7.6 10.1 13.7 Date. 1906 August 29 Do 1907 July 17 July 25 Do August 4 Gage height. Feet. 0.81 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 13.7 11.4 8.9 13.0 13.7 11.5 NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. Daily gage height and discharge of David Creek ditch, 1906-7. [Drainage area at point of diversion, 4.3 square miles.] 33 1906. 1907. Day. August. July. August. September. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 0.75 .70 .80 .69 .67 .62 .60 ,56 .56 .52 .52 .52 ,52 .50 .50 .80 .82 .80 .90 .90 .95 .95 .72 .70 .72 .72 .75 .75 .75 .75 .75 Sec.-ft. 12.4 11.6 13.2 11.5 11.2 10.5 10.2 9.6 9.6 9.1 9.1 9.1 9.1 8.9 8.9 13.2 13.5 13.2 14.9 14.9 15.8 15.8 11.9 11.6 11.9 11.9 12.4 12.4 12.4 12.4 12.4 Feet. 70 Sec.-ft. 11.6 2 65 80 80 72 70 68 60 60 50 55 10.9 3 13.2 4 0.35 .35 .35 .42 .38 .37 .37 .38 .40 .38 .35 .34 .33 .39 .31 .29 .40 .38 .50 .48 .54 .77 .40 .41 .78 .80 4.4 4.4 4.4 5.8 5.0 4.8 4.8 5.0 5.4 5.0 4.4 4.3 4.1 5.2 3.7 3.3 5.4 5.0 7.5 7.1 8.3 13.2 5.4 5.6 13.4 13.8 13.2 5 11.9 6 11.6 7 11.3 8 10.2 9 10.2 10 8.9 11 9.5 12 13 14 15 16 2? 17 0.50 .52 .50 .60 .60 .60 .80 .80 .80 .65 .75 .75 .75 8.9 9.1 8.9 10.2 10.2 10.2 13.2 13.2 13.2 10.9 12.4 12.4 12.4 18 90 99 85 85 73 68 14.9 19 16.5 20. 14.0 21 14.0 22 12.1 11.3 24 . . 10.6 58 57 54 50 50 45 9.9 26 9.8 9.4 28... 8.9 29 8.9 30 8.3 31 6.1 11.3 11.8 9.0 Note.— These discharges are believed to represent the total flow of the creek from August 3 to 20, 1906, and from about July 23 to September 8, and September 19 to 30, 1907. SEEPAGE MEASUREMENTS ON MIOCENE DITCH. Measurements were made at different times at several points along the main ditch and also on the Jett Creek branch to determine the loss by seepage from the different sections of the ditch. The dis- charge of the branches and principal feeders was found by measuring the flow in the ditch above and below them. The figures obtained for the section between points of measurement were therefore the resultant of the gain from creeks too small to measure and the loss by seepage and leakage. The measurements of July 3 to 4 and July 27 were made at periods of extreme low water, and show a much larger loss than those of September 11 to 12, when there was much more water entering. On the latter date the ditch was. gaining along much of its course. These measurements are of value to ditch builders in showing the losses which may be expected in ditches in frozen countries. 35283— irr 218—08 3 34 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Seepage measurements of Miocene ditch, 1906. MAIN DITCH FROM NOME RIVER TO GLACIER CREEK. Date. Point of measurement. Dis- charge. Gain. Loss. July 3 Do Nome River intake Sec.-ft. 21 15.8 20.5 31.0 28.1 29.8 27.9 28.8 28 25.7 26.2 26.0 23.7 Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Above Hobson 5.2 July 4 do Do Below Hobson 10.5 Do Above flume 2.9 Do Below flume 1.7 ""."9" Do Above Ex 1.9 Do Above tunnel July 27 Nome River intake Do 2.3 Do .5 Do Below Dorothy .2 Do Above Hobson 2.3 Below Hobson 14.3 Do 38.0 1.7 Do Grouse Creek branch 39.7 Do 36.5 28.3 3.2 do Glacier branch Do 13.0 13.3 Do Dexter branch Total 26.3 2.0 September 11 . . Do 29.8 30.7 30.3 30 Black Point .9 Do .4 Do Above Hobson .3 Below Hobson 14.4 Do 44.4 2.4 Do Total above flume 46.8 Do 43.9 a 43 2.9 September 12.. .do Glacier Fork at Ex Do 30.3 15.3 Do... Dexter Fork at Ex Total at Ex 2.6 45.6 Glacier Fork at Ex September 13. . Do . a 29. 6 29.4 6.9 6.4 .2 July 29 Do... .5 JETT CREEK BRANCH. September 10.. Copper Creek ditch, intake 2.5 Copper Creek ditch, outlet into Jett Creek ditch Do 1.8 4.2 0.7 Do Total... 6.0 Jett Creek ditch, below junction with Copper Creek ditch Do 5.7 5.3 .3 Do .4 a Estimated. NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 35 The following measurements were made at the points stated during the two years: Miscellaneous measurements of Miocene ditch, 1906-7. Date. Point of measurement. Discharge 1906. August 23 September 25. 1907. July 2 July 20 July 31 August 20 September 28 . Above Dorothy Creek siphon. do Grouse Creek branch Above Snow Gulch Copper Creek branch Above Dorothy Creek siphon . Grouse Creek branch Sec. -ft. 39.5 41.4 11.7 31.9 3.5 40.9 5.8 CAMPION DITCH AT BLACK POINT. The Campion ditch diverts water from Buffalo Creek at an eleva- tion of 610 feet. Its lower end terminates in Dorothy Creek, into which it discharges. The ditch has a width of 6 feet on the bottom and 9 feet on top, is 2 feet deep, and has a mean velocity of 2 feet per second when running full. The water was turned in at 1 p. m., July 6, 1906. The ditch broke near its outlet at 7 a. m., July 8. It was repaired and water turned in again on the 19th. All water was turned out from 9.30 p. m. August 12 to 2.30 p. m. August 13. It ran continuously from July 7 to September 29, 1907, except September 23, when the water was turned out on account of slush ice. Measurements were taken on the ditch in order to determine the natural flow of Nome River below the junction of Buffalo and Deep Canyon creeks. Discharge measurements of Campion ditch at Black Point, 1906-7. Date. 1906 July7 July 20 July 21 August 2 August 11 August 18 August 23 August 31 Gage height. Dis- charge. Feet. Sec.-ft. 0.80 11.9 .60 8.9 .70 10.2 .67 9.7 1.36 27.5 .76 12.0 1.10 19.6 1.00 16.8 Date. 1907 July 10 July 12 July 17 August 4 Gage height. Feet. 0.88 .35 .79 1.04 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 9.9 2.7 8.2 13.9 36 WATEE SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Daily gage height and discharge of Campion ditch, 1906-7. [Drainage area at point of diversion, 8.2 square miles.] 1906. 1907. July. August. September. July. August. September. Day. Si 6p Si a> too o3 O ai bfi o3 Si o to s § 33 si 03 bo o Si o xn A 2 ho 3 si 03 of o oi o3 ■8 02 s si be '53 si 03 be 03 O o5 bf) o VI s 3 w> '3 si 03 be o3 O o5 • o3 ■si o Vj s .be '3 si 03 faO 03 O 03 o3 si o P. 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 0.69 .68 .65 .62 .56 .61 !70 .73 .77 1.13 1.05 1.09 1.02 .92 .80 .80 .78 .75 .80 .76 1.01 1.16 .99 .93 1.15 1.16 1.14 1.09 1.00 .99 Sec.-ft. 10.1 10.0 9.5 9.0 8.2 8.9 10.1 10.3 10.9 11.7 20.4 18.2 19.2 17.5 15.0 12.3 12.3 11.9 11.3 12.3 11.5 17.2 21.3 16.8 15.2 21.0 21.3 20.7 19.2 17.0 16.8 Feet. 0.98 .90 1.02 1.04 1.00 1.02 .96 .96 1.00 1.08 1.07 1.02 1.06 1.02 .98 .93 .92 .90 1.10 .98 .50 .60 .75 .72 .91 .96 1.02 .98- .95 .94 Sec.-ft. 16.5 14.5 17.5 18.0 17.0 17.5 16.0 16.0 17.0 19.0 18.8 17.5 18.5 17.5 16.5 15.2 15.0 14.5 19.5 16.5 7.5 8.7 11.3 10.7 14.8 16.0 17.5 16.5 15.8 15.5 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. l.OO 1.00 1.00 Sec.-ft. 12.8 12.8 12.8 12.5 11.5 10.3 10.8 , 11.8 12.3 10.3 10.3 11.3 11.3 12.3 10.1 15.1 12.5 15.4 13.1 12.3 13.6 13.9 13.4 13.4 12.8 15.4 15.1 14.5 14.2 16.3 15.1 Feet. 1.10 1.12 1.12 1.10 1.06 1.11 1.08 1.06 1.16 .82 .65 .93 1.00 .91 .97 .92 .97 1.01 1.06 1.18 .98 .99 ".'98' .99 1.06 1.04 1.03 .98 Sec.-ft. 15.7 2 16.3 3 16.3 4 .99 15.7 5 .95 .90 .92 .96 .98 .90 .90 .94 .94, .98 .89 1.08 .99 1.09 1.01 .98 1.03 1.04 1.02 1.02 1.00 1.09 1.08 1.06 1.05 1.12 1.08 14.5 6 'o.'n" .58 .80 .81 .66 .52 .77 .69 .66 .73 .70 .95 .'84 .90 .94 .88 .93 -89 .88 .89 .83 .86 .91 1.05 1.07 ""&.8 5.1 8.3 8.5 6.0 4.4 7.8 6.5 6.0 7.1 6.7 11.5 9.1 10.3 11.3 9.9 11.0 10.1 9.9 10.1 8.9 9.5 10.5 14.2 14.8 16.0 7 0.88 14.1 15.1 8 14.5 9 17.4 10 8.7 11 5.9 12 11.0 13 12.8 14 10.5 15 12.0 16 10.8 17 12.0 18 13.1 19 14.5 20 18.0 21 12.3 22 12.5 23 24 12.2 25 .92 .78 .75 .82 .78 .76 .72 15.0 11.9 11.3 12.7 11.9 11.5 10.7 12.5 26 14.5 27 13.9 28 13.6 29 12.2 30 31... 14.4 15.8 9.0 12.9 1 12.5 SEWARD DITCH. The Seward ditch was built in 1905-6 to take water from Nome River just below Dorothy Creek, at an elevation of 407 feet, and con- vey it to Saturday Creek for use along the ancient beach line. Its total length is 38 miles. The water is conducted across Hobson and Clara creeks by 42-inch continuous stave-pipe siphons having lengths of 1,050 and 800 feet. A part of the flow of Hobson Creek is diverted by a branch ditch. a In 1907 a gage was established near the intake and read by the ditch walker. Measurements to determine the flow and also the seepage of this ditch were made as follows: Seepage measurements of Seward ditch, 1906. Date. Point of measurement. Dis- charge. Gain. Loss. July 29 Do Do Do Sec.-ft. 19.7 20.6 4.0 Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Above Clara Creek 0.9 Above Trout Creek ... 24.6 22.0 2.6 o For measurements of the Hobson Creek branch, see page 24. NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. Other measurements were made at the intake as follows: Discharge measurements of Seward ditch at intake, 1906-7. 37 Date. Gage height. 1906. Feet August 18 August 30 September 13 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 25 26 a 32 Date. 1907 July 11 July 18 July 24 Gage height. Feet. 0.55 .72 .82 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 19.1 23.2 25.7 a Computed from gage reading. Daily gage height and discharge of Seward ditch at intake, 1907. July. August. S< iptember. July. August. September. p -p p +3 Day. ft .tap be | oJ Day. 53 oJ a SO 53 03 53 03 o3 & c3 3 o3 A o3 3 o3 A 03 03 ■s ■ 03 §. o & | 03 ■s 03 ■3 o3 o3 o ft o ft 3 ft O ft 3 ft / • o ft Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. F eet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. F eet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. 1 0.85 ,85 .85 .80 .74 .72 .71 .72 .74 .72 .72 27.2 27.2 27.2 25.4 23.6 23.0 22.8 23.0 23.6 23.0 23.0 .. 90 89 89 89 88 88 89 88 85 81 29.0 28.6 28.6 28.6 •28.3 28.3 28.6 28.3 27.2 25.8 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 0.70 .75 .75 .75 .75 .75 .75 .80 .82 .82 .88 22.5 23.8 23.8 23.8 23.8 23.8 23.8 25.4 26.2 26.2 28.3 85 84 84 90 84 87 87 90 90 85 85 27.2 26.9 26.9 29.0 26.9 27.9 27.9 29.0 29.0 27.2 27.2 0.85 .82 .82 .78 .78 .80 .80 .80 .80 ,80 .75 27.2 2 26.2 3 26.2 4 24.8 5 24.8 6 25.4 7 25.4 8 25.4 9... 25.4 10 25.4 11 o:oo 20.1 23.8 12 .62 20.5 .71 22.8 82 26.2 29 .82 26.2 87 27.9 .74 23.6 13 .65 21.3 .78 24.8 i 85 27.2 30 .85- 27.2 89 28.6 .75 23.8 14 .65 21.3 .77 24.5 84 26.9 31 .85 27.2 89 28.6 15 .70 22.5 .71 22.8 84 26.9 16 .70 22.5 .88 28.3 84 26.9 Mean.. 23.9 .. 26.2 25.7 17 .70 22.5 .88 28.3 85 27.2 i PIONEER DITCH. The Pioneer ditch, begun in 1905 and completed in 1907, has its intake on Nome River just below the mouth of Christian Creek, about 3 miles below the Seward intake and at an elevation of about 330 feet. It has a total length of 38 miles and extends to Anvil Creek. There are three siphons, composed of two lines of 30-inch riveted steel pipes — one 545 feet long across Hobson Creek, one 1,050 feet long across Banner Creek, and one 755 feet long across Dexter Creek. Several narrow gulches and gullies eroded by waste water from the other ditches are crossed by flumes. Daily gage heights and discharges of the Pioneer ditch at the intake and of Nome River are given on page 22. 38 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. ' GENERAL DESCRIPTION. On account of its elevation and well-sustained flow, Grand Central River offers one of the most valuable unused water supplies of Seward Peninsula. The drainage area of this stream, which is about 12 miles long and 2 miles wide, is almost surrounded by ridges of the Sawtooth Range (Kigluaik Mountains), having elevations of 1,500 to 4,000 feet. (See PL VI, A and B.) The river is formed near the foot of Mount Osborn, at an elevation of about 700 feet, by the junction of North and West forks, and flows in a southerly direction into Salmon Lake. From the forks to Salmon Lake the river has a fall of about 300 feet, and at high stages spreads over a wide gravelly bed. On either side there is a little bottom land, from which the mountains rise abruptly. The principal tributaries of Grand Central River below the forks are Gold Run and Rainbow Creek from the east, and Thompson, Thumit, Nugget, Jett, and Morning Call creeks from the west. These tributary streams, with the exception of Nugget Creek, drain short, steep-sided gulches. They have considerable fall and are fed from melting snow. In order to make the water from this drainage basin available for use* at Nome it has to be diverted over the Nugget divide, which has an elevation of 785 feet. One such diversion has been made from Jett Creek and Copper Creek, from which water is taken by the Jett Creek ditch into the Miocene ditch. The Miocene Ditch Company is building a ditch which will tap West Fork above the mouth of the Crater Lake outlet and North Fork at an elevation of about 850 feet. This ditch will extend down the west side of the valley, crossing and tapping Thompson and Thu- mit creeks, and will pass over the Nugget divide, where it will be taken up by the main Miocene ditch and carried to Glacier and Anvil creeks. The Wild Goose Mining and Trading Company has started from Crater Lake a 42-inch continuous wood-pipe line, which will extend along the south side of the valley over the Nugget divide and down Nome Valley to Anvil Mountain. The company plans to dam and use Crater Lake as a storage resorvoir, into which the waters from North and West forks will be diverted by lateral pipes. Other laterals will carry the water of Gold Run and Thompson Creek into the main pipe line. Measurements made in this drainage are shown on the following pages. NORTH FORK OF GRAND CENTRAL RIVER. North Fork of Grand Central River rises in a cirque at the base of Mount Osborn, which is surrounded by almost perpendicular moun- U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. VI A. UPPER GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE. ] i^w t- . . "*1 '^ r« -•' -,- x- .; • - . '- "".A.-^ . ■ "aft; i ■ — — ^- — — . • ■•■<•• - ' ■ .-'■ ■ , • ■ "Tv. •.*>• . v*. , . > . ; . ..." B. MOUNT OSBORN, JULY, 1906. GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 39 tains rising from 1 ; 000 to 3,000 feet above the bed of the stream. This cirque contains a small glacier, the melting of which maintains a very steady flow. The flow is increased by a large spring at an elevation of about 860 feet. Discharge measurements on this stream in 1906 were made at ele- vations of about 750 feet and 1,030 feet, points which give the flow at the ditch and pipe intakes, respectively. The bed is very rough and it is difficult to obtain satisfactory measuring sections. Gage heights were read at the time of the measurements by measuring down from reference points on rocks. In 1907 a gaging station was established about 100 yards above the junction of the forks to take the place of the one at the ditch intake. The increase in flow between the stations is small. The gage was read by Cornelius Edmunds. Daily gage height and discharge of North Fork of Grand Central River near ditch intake, 1906. [Elevation, 750 feet; drainage area, 5.4 square miles.] July. August. September. Day. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. 1 Feet.- Sec.-ft. 23 (23) (23) (25) Feet. Sec.-ft. 30 30 30 32 32 29 6 32 33 31 33 32 27 27 28 28 a 27 6 25 27 25 27 (32) (36) (60) 6 37 40 (40) (67) 67 71 54 48 . Feet. Sec.-ft. 44 2 0.92 6 44 3. 38 4 38 5 40 6 37 7 0.81 33 8 31 9 .76 6 27 10 : 28 11 1.10 a 67 27 12 (26) 13 26 14 27 15 26 16 .76 .74 25 17 25 18 27 19 20 40 (45) a 38 42 61 a 47 6 42 ■ 45 50 38 42 28 21 22 .85 1.5 6 c 120 23 24 .85 25 .95 .90 26 27 28 29 30 31 Mean <*39.9 7.39 4.67 36.7 6.80 7.84 «31. 6 Run-off per square mile 5.85 Run-off depth in inches 3.92 a Measurements. 6 Estimates based on gage readings. c Not included in mean. d 17 days. e 18 days. Note.— These values were obtained by subtracting the sum of the discharges at the West Fork and Crater Lake station from the flow below the forks. For the days for which this method does not give consistent results the discharges are based on the West Fork flow and are in parentheses. From July 5 to 19 the flow did not fall below 40 second-feet. The flow on June 26 was 43 second-feet. 40 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Discharge measurements of North Fork of Grand Central River at the forks, 1907. [Elevation 690 feet.] Date. July 8... July 16.. July 25.. July 26. . August 5 Gage height. Feet. 1.31 1.19 1.23 1.20 1.11 Dis- charge Sec.-ft. Date. August 13... August 26... September 6. September 16 Gage height. Feet. 1.07 1.36 1.18 1.44 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. Daily gage height and discharge of North Fork of Grand Central River at the forks, 1907. [Drainage area, 6.9 square miles.] July. August. September. Day. July. August. September. Day. i 0) bO o3 o c3 XI o 3 x\ . so '3 A 03 w> o3 ° o3 o 03 s "8 8P O 1 O CO s 03 of o o3 X! o 5 +3 be 8 03 bo c3 O 0) o3 o s M '8 SP bo o o to 5 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.16 1.20 1.15 1.15 1.12 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.08 1.10 1.10 1.08 1.11 1.05 1.34 1.40 1.35 Sec.-ft. 37 42 36 36 33 31 31 31 31 29 31 31 29 32 27 68 81 70 Fee*. 1.32 1.22 1.14 1.22 1.25 1.16 1.10 1.07 1.50 2.15 2.10 1.68 1.52 1.50 1.49 1.44 1.40 1.37 Sec.-ft. 64 45 35 45 50 37 31 29 102 238 194 106 72 68 66 57 49 45 19 Feet. Sec.-ft. 50 60 80 51 50 46 45 42 41 35 32 35 37 48.7 7.06 6.30 Feel. 1.28 1.34 1.44 1.44 1.41 1.32 1.30 1.37 1.38 1.31 1.74 1.66 1.42 Sec-ft. 56 68 89 83 64 60 75 77 G2 152 136 85 58.1 8.42 9.71 1.32 1.30 1.29 1.10 1.18 Sec.-ft. 39 2 20 36 3 . 21 35 4 .. 22 21 5... 23 25 6 24 7 25 26 27 28 29 30 :. 31 1.22 1.20 1.19 1.14 1.11 1.14 1.16 8 1.31 62 46 50 70 60 65 50 41 41 38 42 9 10 1.25 11 12 13 14 Mean 64.7 15 Run - off per square mile.. Run-off, depth in inches 16 17 1.19 9.38 18 8.02 Note.— Channel conditions were changed during the high water of September 10, and a new rating table was used after that date. Discharges for days between July 8 and 25, when the gage was not read were obtained by the aid of a hydrograph. Daily discharge in second-feet of North Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake, 1906-7. [Elevation, 1,030 feet; drainage area, 2.3 square miles.] Day. 1906. 1907. July. Aug. Sept. July. Aug. Sept. 1 21 21 21 22 22 22 22 24 24 21 a 23 25 23 25 24 20 20 21 31 a 31 27 27 28 26 23 22 « 19 20 19 17 18 19 "a 42' 37 40 56 48 52 40 30 34 29 29 a 27 25 25 25 25 23 23 23 22 24 46 2.. 32 3 25 4 32 5 36 6. 27 22 8 21 9 74 10 171 11. 140 12.. 76 13 52 14 49 a Measurements. Other discharges are obtained by taking about the same percentage of the flow at the lower station, as was found on the dates of measurements. This varied from 70 to 90 per cent. Gagings on June 20, 1906, gave 30 second-feet, and on J line 26, 1906, 43 second-feet. The flow from July 5 to 19, 1906, probably exceeded 35 second-feet. GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 41 Daity discharge in second-feet of North Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake, 1 90 6-7— Continued. Day. 1906. 1907. July. Aug. Sept. July. Aug. Sept. 15 21 20 a 19 20 19 20 24 27 45 a 28 30 30 50 50 53 40 36 18 18 17 19 33 33 30 34 40 48 64 41 40 37 37 a 38 33 28 26 28 30 20 51 61 52 42 51 67 67 62 48 a 43 54 55 44 110 98 61 47 16 a 41 17 35 18 32 19 . 28 20 31 35 30 33 48 37 a 33 34 38 28 32 21 26 21 25 22 -... 15 23 18 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Mean 30.3 7.86 27.4 11.9 13.7 22.2 9.65 6.46 39.0 16.9 15.1 43.5 18.9 „ 21.8 46.5 20.2 Run-off, depth in inches 17.3 a Measurements. Other discharges are obtained by taking about the same percentage of the flow at the lower station, as was found on the dates of measurements. This varied from 70 to 90 per cent. Gagings on June 20, 1906, gave 30 second-feet, and on June 26, 1906,43 second-feet. The flow from July 5 to 19, 1906, probably exceeded 35 second-feet. A limestone spring at an elevation of 850 feet discharges into North Fork near the proposed ditch intake, and is the largest of a consider- able number of springs in the upper Grand Central Valley. The fol- lowing measurements of the flow of this spring were made in 1907: July 10, 3.8 second-feet; September 5, 7.4 second-feet. WEST FORK OF GRAND CENTRAL RIVER. West Fork of Grand Central River has its source in Mount Osborn, and flows between Mount Osborn and the high ridges which separate the Grand Central drainage from the Sinuk drainage. It is fed from snow storage for a greater part of the season, by limestone springs, and by Crater Lake, which lies at an elevation of 973 feet and has an area of about 106 acres. There is considerable glacial drift in the lower part of the basin containing several depressions, one having an area of nearly 5 acres. These depressions fill with water during a rain and gradually drain off through the gravel. Two gaging stations were established on the fork in 1906 at eleva- tions of 1,010 and 860 feet. The lower station is just above the outlet to Crater Lake and shows the flow at the proposed ditch intake. The other station was established to obtain the flow at the proposed pipe intake by comparison with the flow at the lower station. The flow was about 70 per cent of that at the lower station during the earlier part of the season of 1906. As the snow above the pipe intake melted away and the flow of the springs between the intakes in- 42 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. creased, this percentage became about 35 for low water and 50 for higher stages. The cold weather in September checked the flow at high levels and reduced the percentage to 32. During 1907 the per- centages were almost the same as for the corresponding dates of 1906. In 1907 an additional station was established just above the forks, where the flow from Crater Lake is included. Discharge measurements of West Fork of Grand Central River at the forks, 1907. [Elevation, 690 feet.] Date. July 10.. July 16.. July 26.. August 5 Gage height. Feet. 1.88 1.77 1.74 1.65 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 107 80 77 50 Date. August 13... August 26... September 5. September 17 height. Feet. 1.61 1.71 1.62 1.70 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. Note. — These measurements were made by subtracting the flow of North Fork from that of the river below the forks, taking both from the rating curves of the two stations, all three gages being read at the same time. Daily gage height and discharge of West Fork of Grand Central River at the forks, 1907. [Drainage area, 7.7 square miles.] July. August. September. Day. July. August. September. Day. 6 o 6 o &t eg W> o © 6 ll 03 o H 3 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.72 1.71 1.70 1.70 1.65 1.60 1.60 1.62 1.64 1.62 1.62 1.65 1.62 1.65 1.62 1.88 2.00 1.92 1.88 Sec.-ft. 66 64 61 61 50 42 42 45 48 45 45 50 45 50 45 112 154 125 112 Feet. 1.82 1.78 1.63 1.72 1.68 1.68 1.76 1.84 2.07 2.70 2.37 2.12 1.82 1.80 1.80 1.74 1.70 1.67 1.62 Sec.-ft. 93 82 47 66 57 57 77 99 179 406 287 197 93 87 87 71 61 54 45 20 Feet. Sec.-ft. 100 140 90 80 76 74 74 61 50 42 57 61 Feet. 1.78 1.82 1.78 1.72 1.65 1.64 1.63 1.64 1.65 2.32 2.38 1.88 Sec.-ft. 82 93 82 66 50 48 47 48 50 276 291 115 Feet. 1.61 1.59 1.54 1.61 Sec.-ft. 2 21 41 3 22 34 4 23 44 5 24 6 25 26 27 28 29 1.75 1.75 1.70 1.65 1.60 1.68 1.70 7 8 1.93 129 95 112 125 90 95 88 80 79 70 75 85 9 . 10 11 1.88 30 31 Mean 12 14 84.5 11.0 9.82 81.0 10.5 12.1 100 15 Run - off, square t Run-off, < in inche per nile . . . lepth 3 16 : 17 1.77 13.0 18 11.1 19 Discharge measurements of West Fork of Grand Central River at ditch intake, 1906-7. [Elevation, 860 feet.] Date. June 19 June 26 July 1 July 10.... July 11 July 22.... July 24 Jury 25.... August 6. . August 16. 1906. height. Feet. 1.65 1. 53 1.20 1.41 1.34 1.12 1.01 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 40. 38 28. 115 - 86 38. 58 50 30. 23 Date. 1907 July 8 July 16 July 26 August 6 August 25 September 5 September 16... Gage height. Feet. 1.30 1.18 1.13 1.01 1.18 1.18 1.37 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 43 Daily gage height and discharge of West Fork of Grand Central River at ditch intake, 1906-7. [Elevation, 860 feet; drainage area, 5.4 square miles.] 1906. 1907. July. August. September. July. August. Sept i CO A CD W) o3 O ember. Day. •4-= CD ? bO o3 O bfl M o3 GO s § 53 CD 8P o 6 bfi o s 1 53 of 03 s 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. 14 14 14 25 69 Feet. 0.85 "."90" .95 .96 Sec.-ft- 7 8 8 9 9 11 12 10 9 9 14 11 9 7 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5 15 15 31 15 14 21 23 21 17 14 13 Feet. 0.98 .94 .90 .82 .78 .78 .78 .75 .73 .71 !68 .65 .65 .61 .61 .61 .75 Sec.-ft. 13 10 9 6 5 5 5 4.5 4.3 4.1 3.9 3.8 3.5 3.5 3.1 3.1 3.1 4.5 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec. -ft. 20 20 17 17 12.3 11.8 S.O 11.8 11.2 11.2 11.8 11.2 12.3 12.3 10.7 47 46 34 24 40 46 40 34 40 80 41 42 40 52 40 34 Feet. 1.03 1.10 1.08 1.15 .93 .90 .85 .83 .80 1.05 1.90 1.75 1.40 1.40 1.35 1.00 .97 .95 .94 .92 .82 .75 .75 Sec.-ft. 11/8 2... 1.00 1.00 1.15 1.65 16.0 3... 14.7 4.. 19.7 5.. 1.04 1.03 .95 1.03 1.02 1.02 1.03 1.02 1.04 1.04 1.01 1.41 1.40 1.30 1.20 1.35 1.40 1.35 1.30 1.35 .95 1.36 1.37 1.35 1.45 1.35 1.30 7.4 6 . 6.4 7 5.2 8 1.32 "i.'27' 'i'.ih' 36 28 31 36 26 30 26 22 22 20 22 26 30 40 30 24 22 21 18.2 18 15 12 12.3 17 4.8 9 4.2 10 1.55 1.25 1.45 1.30 1.15 1.10 1.15 1.10 1.05 1.00 1.00 1.05 .96 1.06 1.10 1.05 1.02 1.00 59 33 50 37 25 21 25 21 17 14 14 17 12 18 21 17 15 14 12 9 8 8 .90 .90 1.00 .95 .90 "\~80" .80 .79 .80 .78 1.01 1.01 1.22 1.02 1.00 1.10 1*12 1.10 1.05 1.00 12.8 11 106 12 88 13 46 14 46 15 40 16 10.2 17 8.9 18 8.0 19 7.7 20 7.0 21 4.6 22 1.40 a 46 3.5 23 3.5 24 25 1.17 1.13 26 27 28 29 .90 .88 .88 30 1.04 31 Mean 22.3 12.4 12.4 11.8 6.56 7.56 5.2 2.89 1.93 24.4 13.6 12.1 26.0 "'14.4 16.6 21.0 Run-off per square mile 11.7 Run-off, depth in inches 10.0 a Not included in mean. 46 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. GRAND CENTRAL RIVER BELOW THE FORKS. This station was established to obtain the total flow that can be diverted over the Nugget divide from the headwaters of Grand Cen- tral River. But little water enters the stream between this station and the proposed ditch intakes. Gage readings were taken during 1906 by employees of the Wild Goose Mining and Trading Company. Gage readings were discontinued in 1907, but measurements were made and the discharge of West Fork obtained by subtracting that of North Fork from the total below the junction. The two stations above the forks replaced the one below the forks in 1907. Discharge measurements of Grand Central River below the forks, 1906-7. [Elevation, 680 feet.] Date. 1906 July 1 July 11 July 24 Do July26 August 7 August 17 Gage Dis- height. charge. Feet. Sec-feet. 0.95 63 1.40 180 1.29 140 1.22 129 1.10 101 .89 66 .79 54.4 Date. 1907 July 10 July 16 July 26 August 5 August 13 September 5 Gage height. Feet. 1.33 1.20 1.19 1.02 .97 1.06 Dis- charge. Sec-feet. 145 121 119 85 72 Daily gage height and discharge of Grand Central River below the forks, 1906. [Drainage area, 14.6 square miles.] July. August. September. Day. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. 1 Feet. 0.95 .90 .95 1.05 1.87 Sec-feet. 63 56 63 80 370 Feet. 0.90 .90 .90 .95 Sec-feet. 67 67 67 74 74 67 79 ■ 73 67 65 66 68 65 62 59 56 54 54 53 53 65 59 210 96 86 140 210 135 135 HI 104 Feet. 1.10 1.05 1.00 .95 .93 Sec-feet. 100 2 91 3 82 4 74 5 72 6 .90 .98 .94 .90 67 7. 63 8. . 59 9 1.75 1.70 1.45 325 300 198 280 198 187 168 160 180 100 91 100 100 82 143 145 118 100 100 100 82 82 67 .80 55 10... 54 11 .78 .75 .75 .75 .72 .71 53 12 50 13 1.45 1.42 50 14 50 15 . 48 16 . .81 .79 47 17... 1.40 1.10 1.05 1.10 1.10 1.00 1.28 1.29 1.18 1.10 47 18 54 19 20 .78 21 22 1.72 ^310 23 24 1.08 1.02 25 26 27 28 1.10 1.00 1.00 .90 1.25 1.25 1.15 1.12 29 30 31 M44 9.86 10.27 85.2 5.84 6.73 c62.0 4.25 2.84 o Not included in mean. 628 days. cl8 days. Note.— The interpolated discharges of Aug. 21-23 and 26-27 are 40 to 45 per cent of the flow at the sta- tion below Nugget Creek. This is about the proportion that holds for higher water. Other interpo- lations are made by comparison with the West Fork and Crater Lake outlet stations. GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 47 GRAND CENTRAL RIVER BELOW NUGGET CREEK. This station was established June 30, 1906, but it was not possible to obtain regular gage readings until August 12, after which the gage was read once each day by A. W. Peterson. At low water the river at this point is about 50 feet wide and 1 to 2 feet deep, and has a mean velocity of about 2 feet per second. It is impossible to obtain measurements above gage height 1.2 feet by wading. The estimates at this station give practically the total flow of Grand Central River into Salmon Lake. Discharge measurements of Grand Central River below Nugget Creek, 1906. June 24.. June 30... July 7.... August 4. Date. Gage height. Feet. "b'.hi .98 .46 Dis- charge. Sec-feet. 313 148 286 123 Date. August 28 September 9. September 14 Gage height. leet. 1.10 .46 ^ .36 Dis- charge. Sec. -feet. 324 121 101 Mean daily gage height and discharge of Grand Central River below Nugget Creek, 1906. [Drainage area, 39 square miles.] July. August. September. Day. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. 1 Feet. 0.5 .45 Sec-feet. 132 120 Feet. Sec-feet. Feet. 0.8 .75 .65 .6 .6 .55 .5 .5 .45 .42 .4 .4 .38 .35 .35 .3 .3 .4 1.2 2.6 2.2 1.6 1.6 1.35 1.15 Sec-feet. 220 2 204 3 172 4 157 5 157 6 144 7 132 8 132 9 120 10 1.9 750 114 11 109 12 1.55 545 0.5 .5 .5 .4 .42 .45 .4 .35 ' .5 .55 .5 1.5 .8 .7 1.05 1.5 1.1 .95 .9 .8 132 132 132 109 114 120 109 100 132 144 132 520 220 187 310 520 330 272 255 220 109 13 105 14 100 15 100 16 90 17 90 18 109 19 375 20 1,230 21 .6 157 950 22 570 23 570 24 445 25 352 26 .5 132 27 28 29 30 31 Mean a 210 5.38 4.00 6 274 Run-off per square mile 7.03 Run-off, depth in inches 6.54 20 days. t> 25 days. 48 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. GOLD RUN. Gold Run enters Grand Central River from the east, about 2 miles below the forks. It drains a high cirque which lies between North Fork and Fox Creek, has a rapid fall, and terminates in a large gravel fan. A glacial lake near the head of its valley affords possibilities of storage to regulate the flow. On account of the large flow and the concentration of a considerable fall in a short distance, Gold Run has greater advantages for a high-head power development than any other stream on the south side of the Kigluaik Mountains. In order to determine the quantity of water from this stream avail- able for diversion across the Nugget divide, a station was established at an elevation of about 800 feet. Daily gage height and discharge of Gold Run, 1906-7. [Elevation, 800 feet.] 1906. 1907. July. August. September. July. August. September. Day. bo '5 P 8P © 03 c3 O s bo '3 £\ 03 SP 03 O 03 P bo "3 43 3P © 03 b£> o3 .a o s _bp '3 P be © 03 bo CO 3 I 03 03 bo 03 O 03 bo o3 X3 P & bo '3 03 bo o3 O 3 bp =3 C3 P 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. 14 a 13 13 20 Feet. Sec.-ft. 18 18 18 20 24 30 6 34 6 22 6 21 20 20 24 22 20 18 6 17 6 16.5 16 16 15 28 34 50 34 6 29 44 68 a 51 40 36 32 Feet. 'o.% "Yri Sec.-ft. 30 6 26 23 20 17 „ 16 15 14 13 a 12 12 12 11 11 11 10 10 12 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. 24 24 22 22 6 22 19 16 18 18 15 15 15 15 a 16 13 50 55 48 40 60 75 75 70 60 56 6 74 76 60 90 70 40 Feet. "i.22" "i.'38" Sec.-ft. 22 2 25 3 25 4 30 5 1.24 6 20 6 16 7 1.03 .90 .89 14 8 1.57 T46" a 72 60 80 86 65 70 60 48 642 38 42 48 54 70 45 40 35 32 32 24 20 6 18 a 23 24 "i'JIe" 13 9 13 10 .. 25 11 52 a 69 55 45 40 38 42 24 20 22 23 al8.5 6 30 30 a 30 6 24 24 21 20 19 18 "isi" .80 "*99" 120 12 1.21 90 13 70 14 60 15... 50 16 a 26 17 24 18 22 19 20 20 18 21 14 22 .84 1.00 11 23 10 24 25 1.00 .93 26 27 28 29 1.20 1.25 30 31 Mean 29.0 27.6 15.3 47.0 41.1 32.1 a Measurements. 6 Estimates based on gage heights. Other discharges were obtained by plotting a hydrograph passing through the known points and following the rise and fall of the other streams in the vicinity, Gagings made on June 20, 1906, gave 22 second-feet and on June 25, 24 second-feet. GRAND CENTKAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 49 THOMPSON CREEK. Thompson Creek enters Grand Central River from the west about 2 miles below the forks. It drains a small glacial cirque almost wholly surrounded by very steep walls ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 feet in height. Measurements were made at a point with an eleva- tion of 720 feet, which gives the amount of water available for di- version over the Nugget divide. Daily gage height and discharge of Thompson Creek, 1906-7. [Elevation, 720 feet; drainage area, 2.5 square miles.] 1906. • 1907. July. August. September. July. August. September. Day. I A 8P o ■s GO 5 i 53 A » o5 60 A m ft ft 1 1 O 1 1 GO 5 ft 1 8, O 1 o3 ■s ft i s a OJ to A CO ** s 4J ft 3 A $> 60 o3 O i 03 1 s 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. 11 all 11 16 Feet. Sec.-ft. 9 9 10 10 11 15 6 22.5 6 14 ol2.5 11 11 17 14 12 11 69.6 6 10 10 10 9 20 20 40 6 23 21 28 30 28 6 25.4 22 20 Feet. Too' 1.00 Sec.-ft. 19 14 12 8 7 7 7 6 66.2 o6.2 6 . 6 6 5 5 5 5 .. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. 30 27 23 20 15 613 9 13 13 13 13 13 613 o20 15 50 50 39 29 40 46 40 34 40 69 6 35 35 35 40 34 30 Feet. "l'.U "l."25" ""99" Sec.-ft. 16 2 17 3 16 4 22 5 12 6 1.24 o9.6 7. . "| 1.39 1.22 1.19 8 8 1 1.55 i'.m o49 45 6 82 87 60 50 40 34 6 32 30 34 40 46 55 44 35 30 6 28 6 35 34 31 27 a 32 34 i*24' 1.34 Ti5' 1.47 7 9 7 10 i 15 11 36 a 52 40 30 ' 24 28 23 19 16 16 18 613 21 a 25 a 23 6 17.5 16 14 11 is i.'ii' 1.12 "i.'4o" 100 12 80 13 50 14 50 •. 15 42 16 14 17 : 12.6 18 6 11 19 10 20 9 21 6 22 1.20 5 23 65 24 1.42 1.41 1.29 25 1.42 1.47 26 ! 27 28 1 29 1 30 1.44 1 31 1 20.5 8.20 7.62 16.6 6.64 7.66 7.6 3.04 2.10 42.2 16.9 15.1 :::: 27.0 10.8 12.4 i 22.8 Run-off per sq uare 9.12 Run-off, deptt inches in 7.80 a Measurements. 6 Estimates based on gage heights. Other discharges were obtained by plotting a hydrograph passing through the known points and following the rise and fall of Crater Lake outlet, whose basin adjoins that of Thompson Creek and is of a similar character. A measurement on June 25 gave 42 second-feet. NUGGET AND COPPER CREEKS. Nugget Creek rises in the divide between Nome River and Grand Central River and empties its waters and those of its tributary, Copper Creek, into Grand Central River about 2 miles above Salmon Lake. 35283— ier 218—08- 50 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. The headwaters of both Nugget and Copper creeks are precipitous and are fed by springs in limestone. Measurements were made on Nugget Creek at an elevation of 785 feet, at the point where its waters are diverted over the Nugget divide by the Grand Central branch of the Miocene ditch. During 1907 the discharge of the creek was measured in the ditch about 200 feet below the intake. The results of measurements are given on page 31. The flow of Copper Creek is also tapped by a branch of the Jett Creek ditch at an elevation of about 800 feet. The combined monthly discharge of Copper and Jett cree 1 ..: for 1907 is given on page 51. Discharge measurements of Nugget and Copper creeks, 1906-7. NUGGET CREEK. [Elevation, 785 feet.] June 18. June 19. June 21 . June 28. July 12. Date. 1906. Elevation of point of measure- ment. Feet. Discharge. Sec-feet, 1.8 1.6 4.4 .96 6.8 Date. 1906. August 11 August 29 September 2 . . . September 7 . . . September 14. . Elevation of point of measure- ment. Feet. Discharge Sec-feet. 3.0 8.6 6.8 6.1 4.4 COPPER CREEK. 1906. June 18. .. June 19... June 21 . . . July 12... July 21... August 11. 700 3.8 800 8.7 700 11.6 700 11.3 800 2.4 800 .8 1906. August 31 September 10.. 1907. July 9. 800 800 800 2.4 9.4 Monthly discharge of Nugget Creek at Miocene intake, 1907. [Drainage area, 2.1 square miles.] Month. , Discharge in second-feet. Run-off. Maximum. Minimum. Mean. Sec. -ft. per sq. mile. Depth in inches. July 9-31 12.0 10.6 40 3.8 2.8 6.8 5.7 6.2 11.0 2.71 2.95 5. 24 2.32 3.40 5. 85 ■ 84 days 40 2.8 7.8 3.71 11.57 Note.— The maximum for September is estimated. For the daily discharge see page 32. JETT CREEK. Jett Creek enters Grand Central River from the south. It has a short drainage basin and is made up of a series of falls and rapids. Water is diverted over the Nugget divide into Nome River by the Jett Creek ditch. (See p. 31 for measurements on Jett Creek ditch.) GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN 51 The discharge of this ditch at times of low water is equal to the combined discharge of Jett and Copper creeks at the intakes, less a small amount of loss by seepage. This has been compared with the natural flow of Nome River for four such periods, as follows : Comparison of flow of Jett Creek ditch and Nome River at Miocene intake, 1907. Dates. Nome River. Jett and Copper creeks. Creeks in per cent of Nome River. July 26-31 August 1-16 . . August 19-25. September 3-8 Sec.-ft. 30 22 32 34 Sec.-ft. 7.0 5.2 7.0 6.4 The above table shows that the discharge of Jett and Copper creeks was from 24 to 19 per cent of that of Nome River. ^ The combined discharges of the two creeks for other periods than those given have therefore been taken as 24 per cent of that of Nome River for July, 20 per cent for August, and 16 per cent for September, on the assumption that in September the flow was checked to a greater extent by cold weather than that of Nome River. Measurements were made in 1906 to show the amount of water available at the diversion. Discharge measurements of Jett Creek, 1906. [Elevation, 800 feet.] Date, June 19 July 2 . July 12. Discharge. Sec.-ft. 14.9 4.4 14.3 Date. July 21 August 31 . . . September 10 Discbarge Sec.-ft. 5.8 8.3 4.2 Combined monthly discharge of Jett and Copper creeks at Miocene intake, 1907 [Drainage area, 2.25 square miles.] Discharge in second-feet. Run-off. Month. Maximum. Minimum. Mean. Sec.-ft. per sq. mile. Depth in inches. July _ 40 15 49 5.9 3.9 2.9 17.3 7.1 9.6 7.69 3.16 4.27 8.87 August 3.64 September 4.76 92 days 49 2.9 11.3 5.04 17.27 MORNING CALL CREEK. Morning Call Creek enters Grand Central River from the south near Salmon Lake. The hills to the south are lower and more exposed than those of Copper and Jett creeks, and the snow melts earlier in the 52 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. spring. At low water all the flow disappears in the pervious lime- stone above the point where a ditch intended to cross the Nugget divide would have its intake. The water appears again near the contact with the schist, at an elevation of about 750 feet. Discharge measurements of Morning Call Creek, 1906. Date. June 20. June 20. June 24. Elevation of point of measure- ment. Feet. 700 900 500 Discharge. Sec.-ft. Date. July 2... July 12.. August 9 Elevation of point of measure- ment. Feet. 700 700 900 Discharge. Sec.-ft. 10.0 20.8 0.0 STORAGE POSSIBILITIES. There are several reservoir sites in the headwaters of Grand Central River. The most' important of these is Crater Lake, which lies in a cirque at an elevation of 973 feet. This lake has an area of 106 acres, and a dam to raise the water 15 feet would increase the area to about 160 acres. The outlet could be arranged so as to draw the lake 5 feet below its present level, thus giving a storage capacity of about 2,500 acre-feet. There is also a small lake at the head of Gold Run. Its area has not been measured, but it would probably afford sufficient storage to reenforce the low-water flow of that stream considerably. Computations have been made to ascertain the storage capacity that would be necessary to maintain a given discharge in a proposed ditch, taking water either from (1) Gold Run, both forks of Grand Central River, and Thompson Creek; (2) the forks of Grand Central River and Thompson Creek, without Gold Run; or, (3) Gold Run alone, with storage obtained on the lake on that stream. Both 1 and 2 have been studied for a discharge of 80, 100, and 120 second-feet with storage obtained on Crater Lake. The amount of water that would have to be drawn from storage during any day is the difference between the discharge of the streams tapped and the assumed capacity of the ditch. The sum of these deficiencies for any week or month gives the total draft that would be made on the reservoirs for that period. The days of deficient flow during 1906 occurred in four periods and those for 1907 in three periods, between which there were periods when the discharge of the streams exceeded the capacity of the ditch. During such periods of greater flow some of the water could be con- served in one of the lakes already mentioned. The amount thus retained would be equal to the excess of the discharge of the streams over the ditch capacity until this excess became greater than the dis- SALMON LAKE. 53 charge into the lake, or until the lake had refilled or contained enough water to meet any later demands on it. The amount thus conserved during periods of high water, deducted from the total drawn from storage, gives the net storage capacity that would be required. The unit used in the following statement is 1 second-foot for 1 day, which is equal to nearly 2 acre-feet. • Storage capacity required to maintain given discharges, 1906 and 1907. GRAND CENTRAL RIVER, THOMPSON CREEK, AND GOLD RUN. Discharge. July 1 to September 30, 1906. July 8 to September 23, 1907. Total deficiency. Storage capacity re- quired. Total deficiency. Storage capacity re- quired. Sec-feet. 80 100 120 Sec.-ft. for 1 day. 127 560 1,332 Sec.-ft. for 1 day. 123 372 1,002 Acre-feet. 244 738 1,987 Sec.-ft. for 1 day. 9 51 274 Sec.-ft. for 1 day. 9 51 145 A cre-feet. 18 101 288 GRAND CENTRAL RIVER AND THOMPSON CREEK. 80 413 268 532 26 26 51 100 1,227 925 1,834 212 107 213 120 2,206 1,814 3,590 607 320 635 GOLD RUN. 20 165 104 206 91 40 79 25 395 181 359 225 117 232 30 679 444 880 410 217 430 Note.— Discharges for the latter part of September, 1906, were estimated. SALMON LAKE. Salmon Lake lies at the foot of the Kigluaik Mountains at an eleva- tion of about 442 feet. It has a water surface area of 1,800 acres and a drainage area of 81 square miles. Its principal supply comes from Grand Central River, which enters it at its west end. A number of small streams also enter the lake from both the north and the south, but with the exception of Fox Creek and Jasper Creek these are of minor importance. The outlet of the lake is through Kruzgamepa River. This lake offers an excellent opportunity for a storage reservoir for power purposes and mining along Kruzgamepa River. The use of its water in the vicinity of Nome is practically prohibited, owing to its low elevation and the long tunnel which would be necessary to bring the water through the Nugget divide into the Nome River basin. By raising the water of the lake to an elevation of 500 feet the shortest tunnel line would be between 5 and 6 miles long; and if any 54 allowance be made for drawing on the storage, water could not be brought through to the Nome Valley at an elevation greater than about 450 feet. The mouth of the tunnel would be near Dorothy Creek, and the loss in grade between that point and Nome would bring the water so low that it could not be used to any extent for hydraulicking. Even if the water could be brought to the vicinity of Nome under a sufficient head for hydraulicking, the great cost and difficulty of building so long a tunnel would make the feasibility of the plan very doubtful. Measurement of flow in and out of Salmon Lake, 1906. Date. June 22. Do. Do. June 24. Do. Do. Do. Do. June 23. Stream. Rainbow Creek Fox Creek 8 small streams from north Jasper Creek Morning Call Creek Jett Creek 6 small streams from south Grand Central River below Nugget Creek. Total ,. Kruzgamepa River, at outlet of Salmon Lake. Discharge. Sec-feet. 3.4 99 ad 11. f» 27 a 10 a\ 313 474 425 a Estimated. Note.— The stage of Salmon Lake remained practically constant from June 22 to 24, inclusive. A measurement on Fox Creek August 16, 1906, gave a discharge of 17.3 second-feet. KRUZGAMEPA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN BELOW SALMON LAKE. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Kruzgamepa or Pilgrim River, the outlet of Salmon Lake, has a larger discharge than any other stream in this section on which records have been obtained. For about 12 miles it flows in a valley ranging from 6 to 12 miles in width, and then enters the lowlands north of the Kigluaik Range, finally discharging into Imuruk Basin. The principal tributaries are Crater, Grouse, and Homestake creeks from the north and Iron Creek from the south. As it leaves Salmon Lake the river flows through a narrow outlet having a width of 150 feet at the bottom and 500 feet at the top, offering an excellent dam site and location for a hydro-electric power plant. Plans for the construction of such a plant have been per- fected by the Salmon Lake Power Company, which intends to develop 3,000 horsepower, to be used on dredges at Nome and Council and on Solomon River. Salmon Lake, at its present level, 442 feet, covers 1,800 acres; if raised to a level of 475 feet it would cover 3,600 acres; and at 500 feet, 4,600 acres. The reservoir thus formed could be used for the KEUZGAMEPA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 55 storage of the water of the floods caused by the melting snow in the spring and the occasional heavy rains in the summer. The water thus retained would give a large minimum flow not only in summer but also during the winter months, when the natural run-off becomes small. Kruzgamepa River seldom freezes over before the first of January, and it is probable that with proper installation power could be developed throughout the year. KRUZGAMEPA RIVER AT OUTLET OF SALMON LAKE. A gaging station was established at Leland's camp, about 100 yards below Salmon Lake, June 23, 1906. A temporary gage had been set and float measurements made during the spring flood by J. P. Samuelson. Discharge measurements were made by wading when the discharge was less than 600 second-feet. The high-water measurements were made by floats in 1906, and from a cable in 1907. The gage was read twice daily by J. P. Samuelson and M. Don- worth. Discharge measurements of Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake, 1906- 1906. June 23 June 29 June 30 Julv9 Do July 10 August 4 August 15 August 25 August 26 ... . August 28 September 1. . September 7. . September 17. September 21. September 23. September 24. Area of Mean veloc- ity. Sq. ft- 183 170 157 431 412 372 117 116 148 159 184 164 •127 108 336 299 269 Ft. per sec. 2.32 2.08 2.01 5.43 5.09 4.73 1.81 1.80 2.11 2.33 2.49 2.27 1.95 1.62 4.61 3.76 3.44 Gage Dis- height. charge. Feet. Sec.-ft. 1.22 425 1.00 353 .93 315 3.18 2,340 3.02 2,094 2.68 1,760 .38 212 .37- 209 , .70 312 .80 371 1.02 458 .85 373 l! .52 248 .27 175 2.38 1,546 2.06 1,124 1.80 925 ! 1907. June 16 June 17 June 28 Do July2 July 4 July 14 August 2 August 14 August 23... September 6. September 11 September 12. September 20. Area of Mean veloc- ity. Gage I Dis- height. charge Sq. ft. 415 367 282 270 248 220 229 149 125 174 155 362 327 162 Ft. per sec. 4.94 4.47 3.62 3.67 3.03 2.58 2.69 2.04 1.86 2.52 2.13 4.20 4.01 2.21 Feet. 2.97 2.56 1.88 1.78 1.56 1.30 1.37 .65 .39 2.52 2.19 .76 Sec.-ft. 2,050 1,640 1,020 991 751 567 616 304 232 438 330 1,520 1,310 358 Daily gage height and discharge of Kruzgamepa River at Salmon Lake, 1906. [Drainage area, 81 square miles.] May. June. July- August. September. Day. Gage Dis- height. charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. 1 Feet. \ Sec.-ft. Feet. 3.05 3. 75 3.90 4.20 3.75 3.20 2.45 Sec.-ft. 1,780 2, 270 2,350 2,520 2,270 1,920 1,220 Feet. 0.82 .72 .70 .70 .80 1.10 1.10 1.92 3.05 2. CO 2.20 Sec.-ft. 272 241 235 235 265 380 380 .1,030 2,130 1,640 1,275 Feet. 0.48 .42 .38 .36 .38 .38 .40 .40 .40 .36 .35 Sec.-ft. 239 221 , 209 | 203 209 209 215 215 215 203 200 , Feet. 0.86 .81 .74 .69 .65 .60 .53 49 .46 .41 .39 Sec.-ft. 387 2 364 3 336 4 316 5 300 6 280 7 256 8 242 9 233 10 218 11 212 56 WATER. SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1006-1907. Daily gage height and discharge of Kruzgamepa River at Salmon Lake, 1906 — Continued. [Drainage area, 81 square miles.] May. June. July. August. September. Day. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge Gage height. Dis- charge. 12 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.95 1.85 1.55 1.45 1.25 1.12 1.08 .98 .90 .82 .85 .82 .85 .82 .80 .72 .70 .62 .55 .50 Sec.-ft. 1,065 985 768 702 582 511 490 441 405 369 382 369 382 369 360 328 320 288 262 245 Feet. 0.35 .36 .34 .36 .35 .32 .30 .26 .32 .39 .42 .66 .71 .70 .76 .90 1.02 1.05 .99 .94 Sec.-ft. 200 203 197 202 200 197 185 175 191 212 221 304 324 320 344 405 460 475 446 423 Feet. 0.37 .34 .31 .30 .28 .26 .27 .52 1.34 2.35 2.40 2.11 1.78 1.58 1.38 1.22 1.08 .98 .88 Sec.-ft. 206 13 197 14 188 15 185 16 180 17 175 18 178 19 252 20 634 21 1,410 1,455 22 23 1.20 1.25 1.20 1.12 420 442 420 388 1,198 930 24 25 787 26 658 27 1.10 ! 380 1.05 360 1.02 I 348 .92 308 566 28 5.45 5.00 4.05 3.60 3,270 3,000 2,430 2,180 490 29 441 30 396 31 Mean 2,720 33.6 5.00 21,600 If ° 2, 050 } } 571 7.05 8.13 35, 100 259 3.20 3.69 15,900 456 Run-off per square mile } } I "686 f a 25. 3 1 b 4. 73 f a 6. 59 Y&1.41 fa28,500 \b 6,040 5.63 Run-off, depth in inches ." 6.28 Run-off, acre-feet . . . 27, 100 a June 1 to 7. b June 23 to 30. Note.— The channel changed during the high water of July 9, and a new rating table was used after that date. The discharges of May 28 to June 7 are based on measurements which show a low velocity, probably caused by backwater. Daily gage height and discharge of Kruzgamepa River at Salmon Lake, 1907. [Drainage area, 81 square miles.] June. July. August. September. October. Day. bC "3 a) SP o 6 bp o3 O w 5 bo '3 03 bJO c3 O a3 o3 1 5 ,d bfi '3 A ■a 5 Si bp "3 A 1 3 3 ,£3 be '3 O 3 bo O s 1 Sec.-ft. 6 70 60 54 40 48 6 52 46 42 42 60 80 70 leet. "i."28" "i.'27~ Sec.-ft. 36 35 34 31 29 26 24 c26 25 25 24 d24 24 24 22 60 100 82 c70 leet. '1.38" "i.32" "l."48" "i.'ii" 1 Sec.-ft. 55 d46 40 50 40 d33 30 28 60 160 114 90 75 c65 58 52 46 6 41 35 20 Sec.-ft. 80 100 60 56 48 42 38 636 29 24 28 32 Feet. 'i. - 34" "i.'io" 46 54 54 d37 34 32 50 62 c65 80 100 70 Feet. Sec.-ft. 32 2 21 22 24 3 «7 4... 23 24 5 6 25 . 7 26 8 27 9 28... 10 29 11 30 12... 31 6 75 j 62 | 52 .-. Mean .... Run-off per square mile . . Run-off, depth in inches 14... 52.3 8.44 9.73 45.0 53.7 15... 16... 44 40 ;, ! 03 SP o O 05 s 03 o5 O CO s I bo o3 O bo CO 5 CD 03 be O 03 ■s 03 s ■ bp P be ce O 03 be ,d 03 s 1 Feet. 1.36 Sec.-ft. a 28 20 16 13 14 "16 14 13 14 16 20 22 a 23 17 14 12 10 13 17 Feet. '0. 94" ""."97* "i.'io" Sec.-ft. 8 6 5 5 4 a 4. 8 5 5 5 6 5.3 5 5 5 15 25 16 8.3 Feet. '6.92' "'."94" "i.'os" Too" Sec.-ft. 6 4.5 4 7 6 6 4.8 4 4 4 40 30 20 14 6 7.8 7 7 6 6 5.7 5 20 Feet. Sec.-ft. 24 30 20 16 13 10 8 a 5,5 5 4 5 6 Feet. ""."97" "i."i3" Sec.-ft. 7 8 8 6 5.2 5 4 8 12 a 9.1 14 20 10 ""."•75" Sec.-ft. 4 2 21 3 3 22 c2.0 4 23 24 6 1.26 25 7 26 -- 8 27 28 1.03 '9 10 29 11 30 12 31 13 14 1.33 Mean Run-off per square mile. . Run-off, depth in inches 14.8 6.43 7.41 8.3 3.61 4.16 f__ 8.9 15 16 3.87 17 18 3.16 19 o Measurements. 6 Computed from gage reading. c Estimated : slush ice running. Note. — Other discharges were obtained in the same manner as those of Sinuk River. STEWART RIVER. Stewart River lies south of upper Sinuk River, to which it is tribu- tary. It drains an area of limestone and schist hills. The flow is small and the stream of minor importance. Discharge measurements of Stewart River, 1906. [Elevation, 400 feet.] Date. July 15. July 17. Discharge. Sec.-ft. Date. July 30.... August 19. Discharge. Sec.-ft. a 26 11.4 a Estimated. SLATE CREEK. Slate Creek is the second tributary to Stewart River from the north. The following measurements give approximately the flow that can be diverted into Nome River over Divide Creek: Discharge measurements of Slate Creek, 1906. [Elevation, 700 feet; drainage area, 2.1 square miles.] July 15. July 17. Date. Discharge. Sec.-ft. 6.7 4.4 Date. July 30.... August 19. Discharge. Sec.-ft. 2.8 2.2 64 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 19.06-1907. OTHER SINUK RIVER DRAINAGE. For measurements on Josie, Irene, and Jessie creeks, which are small tributaries of Stewart River, see "Cedric ditch." CRIPPLE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Cripple River enters Bering Sea about 12 miles west of Nome, and drains an area of about 88 square miles. As yet but little mining has been done in this section, except in the vicinity of Oregon and Hungry creeks. Some small ditches have been constructed at the headwaters of Cripple River, the principal one being the Cedric, which diverts water from the Stewart River drainage area. CEDRIC DITCH. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. The Cedric ditch was built in 1905 to divert water from Josie and Jessie creeks (tributary to Stewart River) over the divide to the Cripple River basin for use on Oregon, Hungry, Trilby, and Nugget creeks. After passing the divide it picks up water from upper Oregon (two forks), Slate, and Aurora creeks, which are its principal feeders, and from Daisy Swift Creek, Snowshoe Gulch, and three other small gulches. It has a total length of about 19 miles and a width of 4 to 8 feet. The elevation of the head is about 870 feet and of the outlet 790 feet. The capacity of the lower half is about 25 second-feet. Water is carried across Oregon Creek near the outlet by a syphon 2,970 feet long, of 30-inch riveted steel pipe. There are about 6 miles of distributing ditches at the lower end. The following measurements were made to determine the amount of water available for the ditch : Water available for Cedric ditch, 1906-7. . Stream. 1906. 1907. July 15-17. July 30-31. August 19. August 31. Sec.-ft. 3.0 1.0 b.3.2 6 6.8 4.0 4.8 .5 Sec.-ft. 1.5 a 8 2.6 2.6 2.0 2.1 Scc.-ft. 1.1 o.4 .6 Sec.-ft. «2.0 03.0 Jessie Creek Upper Oregon Creek Slate Creek a3.0 a3.5 3.1 2.4 18.3 11.6 17.0 aEstimated. ^Measured below ditch level; only about half this amount is available for the ditch. CRIPPLE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 65 Seepage measurements on Cedric ditch, 1906. Date. Point of measurement. Dis- charge. Loss. Dis- tance. Loss per mile. July 30 Do Do Sec.-ft. 2.6 1.9 3.9 3.1 5.2 4.7 4.5 2.5 Sec.-ft. Miles. Sec.-ft. Above Slate Creek Below Slate Creek 0.7 2.3 0.3 July 31 Do .8 1.8 .4 Do .5 .2 2.0 2.0 .6 3.7 .25 Do .3 Do. . .5 4.2 10.4 .4 CEDRIC DITCH ABOVE PENSTOCK. This station was established to determine the total flow of the ditch. The gage was located just above the penstock of the siphon across Oregon Creek. Part of the water was used in a giant connected with the bottom of the siphon and part was used for hydraulicking about one-fourth mile above the siphon. Discharge measurements of Cedric ditch above penstock, 1907. Date. July 22 August 30 — August 31 September 19 Above penstock. Gage height. Feet. 0.80 .78 .76 .10 Discharge. Sec.-ft. 10.3 8.6 7.9 Discharge to upper giant. Srx.-ft. 3.0 4.4 5.0 Daily gage height and discharge of Cedric ditch above penstock, 1907. July. August. September. Day. July. August. September. Day. 1 03 A 05 3P o 6 $ o3 A o ft I 03 A 03 o 6 &? o3 A A % 53 A 03 bfi c3 o 03 el s 03 A 1 1 A o ft 03 A SP i 03 A o 03 s i 03 A bo o3 C5 03* o3 ■s 03 s 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.00 1.02 1.02 1.05 .95 .88 .80 .92 .90 .90 .88 .90 .95 .98 .98 1.05 1.05 Sec.-ft. 13.1 13.5 13.5 14.0 12.2 10.8 9.3 11.6 11.2 11.2 10.8 11.2 12.2 12.7 12.7 14.0 14.0 Feet. 0.95 .85 .98 .88 .95 .95 .98 .95 1.05 1.20 1.25 1.15 1.05 1.02 1.10 1.02 1.05 Sec.-ft. 12.2 10.2 12.7 10.8 12.2 12.2 12.7 12.2 14.0 16.9 17.8 16.0 14.0 13.5 15.0 13.5 14.0 18 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.08 1.15 1.08 1.10 1.10 .95 .95 1.05 1.20 1.10 1.05 1.00 .85 .80 Sec.-ft. 14.6 16.0 14.6 15.0 15.0 12.2 12.2 14.0 16.9 15.0 14.0 13.1 10.2 9.3 Feet. 1.05 "."65" .68 .60 .60 .62 .58 .52 .50 Sec.-ft. 14.0 2 19 3 20 . 4 ... 21 . 5 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 0.80 .88 1.00 .98 1.00 .90 .88 1.00 1.10 1.05 9.3 10.8 13.1 12.7 13.1 11.2 10.8 13.1 15.0 14.0 6 6.6 7 7.1 8 5.7 9 5.7 10 6.1 11 5.4 12 4.5 13 4.2 14 15 16 12.3 12.9 9.6 17 35283— irr 218—08- 66 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. PENNY RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Penny River rises about 13 miles from the seacoast and enters Bering Sea about 10 miles west of Nome. Its basin lies between Snake and Cripple rivers and has a total area of 36 square miles. Two ditches have been built by the United Mining Company. The Sutton ditch has its intake one-half mile above the mouth of Willow Creek and extends about 6 miles to a point near the mouth of Jess Creek. The water is used for hydraulicking on the second beach line, which lies about 1,200 feet back of the present beach. The Highline ditch, uncompleted, has its intake 7 miles above the Sutton ditch and will extend to Sunset Creek, a distance of about 11 miles. The water is carried across Honey Creek in a pipe line 2,000 feet long. PENNY RIVER AT SUTTON INTAKE AND SUTTON DITCH. Gaging stations were established on Sutton ditch and Penny River just below the ditch intake, and the sum of the discharges gives the natural flow of the river at this point. The gages were read by employees of the United Mining Company. Discharge measurements of Penny River and Sutton ditch at intake, 1906-7. PENNY RIVER. Date. August 1 . 1906. 1907. July 4. Gage height. Feet. Discharge. Sec.-ft. Date. Gage height. 1907. July 4 July 22 September 1 . Feet. .82 1.30 .99 Discharge. Sec.-ft. 12.6 42 16.3 SUTTON DITCH. 1906. August 1 . July 4. 1.20 30 1907. July 4 July 22 September 1 . 1.49 1.11 1.32 PENNY RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 67 Daily gage height and discharge of Penny River and Sutton ditch at intake, 1907. July. August. September. River. Ditch. River. Ditch. River. Ditch. Day. bp '53 A to a O 6 ■8 03 ft § 53 as 8P o ai & o3 o 03 ft 3 a> of O aj S> o3 ■s 03 ft bp '3 03 of O P Xi 8 ft bp "3 S3 be o aj o 03 ft 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. 71 56 41 26 26 44 152 79 44 44 44 34 55 • 67 34 34 34 34 67 44 67 44 34 55 55 79 67 67 55 67 79 Feet. "i.y 1.2 1.25 1.2 1.2 1.25 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.1 1 1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1 1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 .9 .8 .7 Sec.-ft. 29 29 29 29 29 32 29 29 32 29 29 29 29 29 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 18 18 18 18 13 9 6 Feet. "i.'e" 1.4 l.i 1.1 .8 .8 .7 .7 .7 .6 1.4 1.2 1.1 .9 .8 1.0 .9 .8 .8 1.0 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.1 Sec.-ft. 85 85 ' 85 85 85 79 55 26 26 10 10 7 7 7 4 55 34 26 14 10 19 14 10 10 19 44 44 44 34 34 26 Feet. "6." 8" .8 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.2 -1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.25 1.3 1.25 1.25 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.2 1 2 1.2 1.2 1.2 Sec.-ft. 9 9 18 18 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 32 35 32 32 35 35 47 29 29 29 29 29 29 Feet. 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 .9 .9 .9 .9 1.0 2.1 1.8 1.6 1.0 1.0 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.3 1 3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 .9 .9 .8 Sec.-ft. 19 19 19 19 14 14 14 14 19 140 103 79 19 19 103 103 91 44 44 44 44 34 26 26 26 26 19 14 14 10 Feet. 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1 3 1.3 .5 ^8 1.3 1 3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 Sec.-ft. 35 2 35 3 . 35 4 1.1 1.1 1.3 2.2 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.3 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.6 35 5 35 6 35 7 35 8 35 9 35 10 35 11 35 12 35 13 35 14 35 15 16 17 9 18 35 19 35 20 . 35 21 . 35 22 35 23 35 24 35 35 26 35 35 28 . 35 29... 35 30 35 31 54.8 23.9 35.3 23.8 33.9 31.8 Monthly discharge of Penny River at Sutton intake, 1907. [Drainage area, 19 square miles.] Discharge in second-feet. Run-off. Month. Maximum. Minimum. Mean. Sec.-ft. per sq. mile. Depth in inches. J uly 181 88 175 55 33 45 78.7 59.0 71.1 4.14 3.11 3.74 4.77 August September 3.58 4.17 92 days 181 33 69.6 3.66 12.52 Note.— These values are the sum of the discharges of Sutton ditch and of Penny River below the ditch intake. Discharge measurements of Penny River at Highline intake, 1906-7. Date. August 1. 1906. Discharge. Sec.-ft. 7.8 Per cent of Sutton intake. Date. 1907. July 22.... August 30. Discharge. Sec.-ft. 15.9 15.6 Per cent of Sutton intake. 68 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. SNAKE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Snake River empties into Bering Sea at Nome. It has a drainage area of 110 square miles, which contains some of the richest mining ground in Seward Peninsula, notably the claims on Glacier, Anvil, and Little creeks. Owing to its slight fall the use of the main stream for mining purposes is limited to ground sluicing. All the available water from its tributaries is being used, and water is diverted into this area by the Miocene ditch, the Seward ditch, and the Nome River ditch of the Pioneer Mining Company. SNAKE RIVER ABOVE GLACIER CREEK. A station was established June 25, 1907, just above the mouth of Glacier Creek, to determine the discharge of this stream and the rela- tion of the run-off from its drainage basin to that from areas in and near the Kigluaik Mountains. The run-off per square mile during the period covered by the records was 56 per cent of that of Nome River and 38 per cent of that of Kruzgamepa River. The gage was read by A. H. Clambey. Discharge measurements of Snake River above Glacier Creek, 1907. Date. June 25 July 3. July 20 Gage height Feet. 1.88 1.20 1.13 Discharge. Sec.-ft. 527 168 147 Date. August 10... September3. Gage height. Feet. .89 1.01 Discharge. Sec.-ft. 72 112 Daily gage height and discharge of Snake River above Glacier Creek, 1907. [Drainage area, 69 square miles.] June. July. August. September. Day. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.35 1.30 1.25 1.18 1.22 1.32 1.50 1.35 1.25 1.25 1.28 1.25 1.20 1.20 1.18 1.10 1.12 1.10 1.18 1.18 1.20 1.18 1.16 1.22 Sec.-ft. 235 212 191 163 178 221 308 235 191 191 204 191 170 170 163 135 142 135 163 163 170 163 156 178 Feet. 1.05 1.02 1.00 1.00 .96 .95 .96 .94 .92 .92 .91 .90 ]97 .90 1.04 1.10 1.10 1.05 1.00 1.05 1.01 .99 1.00 Sec.-ft. 120 111 105 105 94 91 94 89 83 83 80 77 99 97 77 117 135 135 120 105 120 108 102 105 Feet. 1.08 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.04 1.03 1.02 1.08 1.08 1.15 1.90 1.68 1.52 1.47 1.50 Sec.-ft. 129 2 120 3 120 4 120 5 117 6 114 7 111 8 129 9 129 10 . 152 11 540 12 "T" 408 13 1" 319 14 293 15 308 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 ::::::::::: 23 24 i... FLAMBEAU, ELDORADO, AND SOLOMON DRAINAGE BASINS. 69 Daily gage height and discharge of Snake River above Glacier Creek, 1907 — Continued. June. July. August. September. Day. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. 25 Feet. 1.90 1.85 1.80 1.55 1.45 1.40 Sec.-ft. 540 510 .480 335 283 258 Feet. 1.30 1.22 1.18 1.12 1.08 1.08 1.05 Sec.-ft. 212 178 163 142 129 129 120 Feet. 1.02 1.08 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.10 1.08 Sec.-ft. Ill 129 135 135 135 135 129 Feet. Sec.-ft. 26 27 28 :.. 29 30 31 Mean 401 . 5.81 1.30 177 2.56 2.95 108 1.56 1.80 207 Run-off per square mile 3.00 1.67 FLAMBEAU AND ELDORADO RIVER DRAINAGE BASINS. Flambeau and Eldorado rivers rise near Salmon Lake and now in a southerly direction to Bering Sea near Cape Nome. The Flambeau Hastings ditch has its intake on the upperjork of Flambeau River and is to be built to Hastings Creek, near Cape Nome. Another ditch to Hastings Creek is projected, which will divert the water to Eldorado River below Venetia Creek, and will have a length of over 30 miles. The following measurements were made at the proposed intake of this ditch: August 14, 1906, 44 second feet; Sep- tember 17, 1907, 225 second feet. SOLOMON RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. Solomon River empties into Bering Sea at Solomon, 40 miles east of Nome. This stream has been a good producer of gold, and sev- eral ditches have been built to utilize its water and that of its tribu- taries, including the East Fork ditch of the Solomon River Hydraulic Company, the Midnight Sun ditch from Big Hurrah Creek, the Brogan ditch from the mouth of Johns Creek to East Fork, and a ditch about 7 miles long on Coal Creek. A ditch has been started by the Three Friends Mining Company to furnish power for its dredge on Solomon River. It will take water from the river just below East Fork and extend to a point below the mouth of Shovel Creek, where a head of 75 feet will be available. Discharge measurements in Solomon River drainage basin, 1907. Date. Stream and locality. Drainage area. Discharge. October 1 Solomon River below Johns Creek. ... Sq. miles. 66 Sec.-ft. 43 Do Brogan ditch at intake 7.7 Solomon River below East Fork 40 10 50.7 October 2 96 Do East Fork ditch 17 113 70 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. FLOW OF DITCHES IN NOME REGION. The following table has been prepared to show in a concise man- ner the flow of the ditches which take their water supply from Nome River and its tributaries, and from near-by streams. It is also of value for comparison with the discharge of the streams from which the water is taken, to show the percentage of flow that can be deliv- ered by a ditch at the point where it is to be used. Monthly discharge of ditches in Nome region, 1907. Ditch. Point of measurement. Yearly- maximum. July August. Septem- ber. Campion Black Point Sec.-ft. 18.0 42.6 37.0 34.9 54.7 55.2 16.5 8.2 13.4 29.0 Days. 25 29 29 29 31 31 15 20 23 21 26 16 Sec.-ft: 9.0 28.0 25.4 23.6 43.8 45.1 11.3 4.9 5.7 23.9 5.2 20.4 Sec.-ft. 12.9 34.4 28.7 27.4 45.3 44.0 11.8 6.1 6.2 26.2 4.3 22.2 Sec.-ft. 12.5 do 38.7 Do, Clara Creek 33.7 Do Above Hobson 31.8 Do Below Hobson 47.9 Do Flume 50.4 Do David Creek branch |. . . 9.0 Do Jett Creek branch a 6.1 Do Grand Central branch 9.0 Seward Nome River intake 25.7 Do Hobson Creek branch 4.5 Pioneer Nome River intake b 26.8 21.8 Do Hobson Creek branch 5.8 Sutton Intake 35.0 17.8 31 10 23.9 12.3 23.8 12.9 31.8 Cedric Penstock 9.6 a Mean for 14 days. b Values for Pioneer ditch have been estimated at 85 per cent of those for Seward ditch; this was the proportion during the time for which records were obtained on both ditches. AVAILABLE WATER SUPPLY DURING 1906 AND 1907. In order to show the amount of water that was available during 1906 and 1907 for hydraulicking the placers near Nome, the mean flow of the streams in each drainage basin has been tabulated by weekly periods in the table on page 72. In using this table the following points should be noted : The "Nome River high-level flow" represents the total amount of water in that river above the Miocene ditch, including the flow of the Campion ditch, David Creek, and Hobson Creek. The flow of the springs on Hobson creek has been taken as 14 second-feet during 1906 except for the first week in July, when it did not exceed 10 second-feet. The "Nome River low-level flow" includes all additional water down to Pioneer ditch. The drainage area of Nome River below the Miocene and David Creek intakes and above the Pioneer intake is 18 square miles. The run-off from this area for the period in August, 1907, during which records were kept was at about the same rate per square mile as at the Miocene intake. The low-level flow has therefore been taken as 1.2 times the natural flow at the Miocene intake, where the drainage area is 15 square miles. To this has been AVAILABLE WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION. n added 60 per cent of the discharge of Hobson Creek at the Miocene intake, this being approximately the amount entering that stream between the Miocene and Pioneer intakes. " Upper Grand Central River/' etc., includes the station below the forks and those on Thompson Creek and Gold Run, and gives the amount that can be brought over the Nugget divide. The mean flow of " Nugget, Copper, and Jett creeks" gives the amount that can be brought over the Nugget divide, and for 1906 was estimated from the few measurements obtained. The flow of "Sinuk River, Windy and North Star creeks/ ' has been estimated for an elevation of 800 feet, which is as low as the water can be taken over the divide into Nome River. The amount of this flow for 1906 was obtained by taking 70 per cent of the flow of Grand Central River below the forks, this precentage being determined as follows : Comparison of flow of Grand Central River below forks with that of Sinuk River and its tributaries at elevation of 800 feet. Date. June 26, 27.. July 6 July 13 July 20 August 3... August 10.. September 6 Sinuk River. Sec.-ft. 33 37 (75) 36 20 23.5 (20) Windy Creek. Sec.-ft. 22 (35) 86 36 24 26 24 North Star Creek. Sec.-ft. 10 18 16 4 3 3 (3) Total. Sec.-ft. 65 90 177 76 47 52.5 47 Grand Central below forks. Sec.-ft. 105 198 100 67 65 67 Sinuk, Windy, and North Star in per cent of Grand Central. The drainage area of Grand Central River lies on the north side of a ridge of the Kigluaik Mountains, and the basins of Sinuk River and Windy and North Star creeks lie adjacent to it on the south side of the same ridge. On the days when measurements of flow were made of the streams on both sides of the mountains it was found, as shown in the preceding table, that the flow on the south side was from 62 to 89 per cent of the flow on the north side. It is, therefore, conservative to say that the average combined flow of Sinuk River and Windy and North Star creeks was 70 per cent of the flow of Grand Central River below the forks. During the season of 1907 gaging stations were maintained on all the streams which are summarized below, and their daily discharge is given elsewhere. The following table should not be taken as indicating the water that can be used. This will, of course, be limited by the capacity of ditches that can be built economically. In the economical construc- tion of a ditch the size will depend largely upon the duration of the 72 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. low-water flow. This will probably limit the size in most cases to twice the minimum, except for short ditches. Mean weekly water supply, in second-feet, available for use back of Nome, 1906-1907 '. Date. Available for use at elevation 220 to 280 feet. Nome River low- level flow. Available for use at elevation 400 to 450 feet. Nome River high- level flow. Upper Grand Central, Thompson, and Gold Run. Nugget, Copper, and Jett creeks. Sinuk River, Windy and North Star creeks. Total. 1906. July 1-7 July 8-14 July 15-21 July 22-28 July 29-August 4 August 5-11 August 12-18 August 19-25 August 26-September 1 September 2-8 September 9-18 September 19-30 Mean Maximum Minimum 1907. July 1-7 July 8-14 July 15-21 July 22-28 July 29-August 4 August 5-11 August 12-18 August 19-25 August 26-September 1 September 2-8 September 9-15 September 16-23 September 24-30 Mean Maximum Minimum 43 155 52 43 81 130 120 45 144 58 49 42 45 53 84 128 73 53 118 153 a 343 179 156 101 108 91 138 202 101 68 250 173 90 79 50 49 42 62 94 51 36 125 72 155 36 74 144 42 158 343 68 78 173 36 135 102 84 49 47 72 51 176 60 45 199 152 107 77 59 49 62 61 89 63 204 76 56 ( 6 ) 292 228 183 144 107 190 245 318 142 418 115 ( b ) 152 172 113 105 77 50 95 86 124 72 167 62 (*) 74 176 96 204 49 216 418 107 109 172 50 324 796 378 325 223 236 228 352 540 287 375 796 522 745 583 440 335 250 409 454 621 342 1,005 337 116 473 , 005 116 a Too small, no record of highest water. b No record. No water could have been used from Grand Central River the first week in July, on account of snow; nor from either Grand Central or Sinuk rivers the last week in September, on account of ice. DITCH AND PIPE LINES. In order to bring the water to the gold-producing ground between Capes Nome and Rodney at sufficient elevation to be used for hydrau- licking and sluicing, nearly 300 miles of ditch and pipe line have been constructed and several extensive additional systems are now under construction or consideration. The first ditch in this section was built in 1901, by Leland, Davidson, and Bliss, from upper Glacier Creek to Snow Gulch. This ditch demonstrated the practicability of ditch systems in this country and was the beginning of the Miocene system. DITCH AND PIPE LIKES, NOME REGION. 73 Ditches are usually built so as to follow the contour approximately with grades limiting the velocity to about 2 feet per second, which is as high as the material in this section will stand without scour. The ditches are therefore for the most part on slopes, and are constructed by making a cut from 12 to 18 inches deep to grade at the lower bank. This bank is then built up by material from the excavation. The slopes of the banks are from 1:1 to 1 J: 1, depending on the material. The work of constructing a ditch is usually divided into three classes — team work, pick and shovel work, and rock work. Teams may be used in handling dry soil that contains only medium-sized rock. This is the fastest method, and the compacting of the lower banks by the horses and scrapers makes it much tighter than when the dirt is thrown in loose. Pick and shovel are used in loose rock, in wet soil, and in frozen ground from which the top is removed as it thaws from the surface. Rock must be blasted, unless it is fissured limestone, which may be loosened with the crowbar, or decomposed schist, which yields to the pick. In building through solid rock, a shelf is blasted out about 1 foot below grade and wide enough to carry the ditch and the lower bank, which is built of rocks. The bottom and sides are lined with sod about 1 foot thick, and are pud- dled with clay. In rock slide the method is similar. A good example of this kind of construction was seen on the Grand Central branch of the Miocene system. The ditch was built through a pile of large bowlders, unmixed with any soil or gravel. A trench was made 1 foot deeper and 2 feet wider than the finished ditch. The sides of the trench were lined with a slope wall, laid 1 to 1, to a height of 4 or 5 feet. The outer slope of the lower bank was also rock wall, laid some- what flatter. The ditch will be lined with sod and will be tight and permanent. The use of sod is very common and economical, and saves much piping and fluming that would otherwise be necessary. The sod in a short time settles and knits together, and thus becomes a very ser- viceable bank. It will not cut or wear out, and the older it gets the better it becomes. In this way a ditch can be made over perpetually frozen ground, where otherwise it would be impossible. Much ditch has to be constructed over loose stones with little or no sediment between them. Such ditches must be lined with sod and all holes must be filled by tamping sod into them as far as possible. This being done, it will be found that the water traveling through the ditch will deposit sediment over the sod and that after a little while it will become tight. Canvas is also used as a lining to make a ditch water-tight. Wil- lows with the tops left out, so that they may grow, are utilized in embankments with success. 74 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. In construction over "glacier," which is the term used for frozen muck mixed with ground ice, the ditch is either built wholly on top of the sod covering or an excavation is made and lined with sod. Ditches over this material are expensive to maintain, owing to the thawing of the ice by the running water. One of the most interesting pieces of construction over glacier is the flume on the Miocene ditch. This flume is 1,100 feet long, and has a width of 8 feet and a depth of 28 inches. It was constructed in 1901, and is now in practically perfect alignment, both horizontal and vertical, and no repairs have been necessary on it. In putting in the foundation, trenches were dug 3 or 4 feet deep in the frozen ground, which was practically all ice. The excavated material was covered to protect it from thawing. A sill was laid in the bottom of the trench and the uprights fastened to this sill. The excavated material was then replaced in the trenches and froze again into the original condition. Sod was carefully placed over the trench. The uprights were then sawed off to grade and the flume constructed on them. Inverted siphons are built across deep ravines where their use will save expense and reduce loss by seepage. Most of these are riveted steel pipe. Joints are made by lapping the ends from 4 to 6 inches. Siphons must be weighted down and protected by rock to prevent injury by frost and snowslides. During 1906 two siphons were built on the Seward ditch, across Clara and Hobson creeks, continuous wood-stave pipes with steel bands being used. On account of the rapid surface run-off during hard rains, it is necessary to have waste gates at short intervals. The most common waste gates consist either of a flume as deep as the bottom of the ditch, in which the height of the water is regulated by flashboards, or of a long weir, laid on the ground surface, which will spill the water when it reaches a certain level. Ditch intakes consist of a dam or barrier across the stream, con- taining one or more waste gates, and head gates for regulating the flow into the ditch. In order to divert the entire flow of a stream, a bed-rock dam must be built to stop the ground flow through the gravelly beds. Such a dam is made by cutting a trench across the stream bed, extending down to an impervious stratum, and filling it with sod, which is carefully laid and tamped. The dam should be protected from erosion with large flat rocks or riprap. Frozen ground, inadequate facilities for transportation, and the high cost of help a and supplies make ditching very expensive. To the first cost of a ditch should be added the cost of maintenance for the first three years, during which time extensive repairs are neces- o Laborers receive $. r ) per day and board; blacksmiths, cooks, etc., $6. DITCH AND PIPE LINES, NOME REGION. 75 sary. On many ditches these repairs cost as much as the first con- struction. At the end of three years ditches are, as a rule, in fairly permanent condition and the cost of maintenance is greatly reduced. Such information as could be obtained shows that the cost of a ditch carrying from 1,000 to 2,000 inches, including the first three years' maintenance, is from $5,000 to $10,000 per mile. Owing to dangers from washouts and landslides it is necessary to have the ditch con- stantly patrolled. Owing to the frozen condition of the ground it is not practicable to use ditches much before the 1st of July, as the surface does not become fully thawed until that time, and during the thawing period the ground becomes very soft and. there is great danger of damage by washouts. The following table gives a list of the principal ditches in this region. Some of the data given are only approximate, as it was necessary to obtain them by inquiry. Ditches between Cape Nome and Cape Rodney, Seward Peninsula. Prom- To- Length. Date com- pleted. Bot- tom width Fall per mile. Ca- pac- ity. Elevation. Name. Head. Out- let. Miocene Ditch Co.: Main ditch... Feeding lat- Nome River. .. Hobson Creek. The Ex Upper Glacier Creek. Grouse Creek.. Upper New El- dorado Creek. David Creek... Jett Creek Grand Central River. The Ex New Year Gulch. Kanoma Gulch, Glacier Creek Nome River below Doro- thy Creek. Crater Lake . . . Nugget Divide. Pumping plant. No. 3, below Little Creek. No. 2, above Anvil Creek. No. 4, above Anvil Creek. Nome River, above Clara Creek. Hobson Creek. The Ex Snow Gulch... The Ex Flume Miles. 13 14 4 2 4 10 1.8 3.5 8 4 4 61,800 38 8 35 7 3 0.75 1.25 38 1903 1902 1901 1901 Feet. 8 10 8 Feet. 4.5 3.37 6.5 Sec- feet. 40 55 55 6 10 6 18 10 80 16 40 Feet. 572 500 445 "742' 590 806 850 445 417 420 408 963 Feet. 500 445 420 445 erals. 478 Buster Creek.. Nome River above main intake. Nugget Divide. do 1907 1905 1906 («) 1907 1904 1906 (a) (a) "*i902" 1902 1903 1907 5 3.5 8-10 ' 6 8 c 4x7 10 d 42 d48 dl8 4 5 G 8 5.28 6 5 3.17 5.28 580 785 785 Distributing laterals. Tunnel Grass Gulch... Cooper Gulch.. New Year Gulch, Anvil Creek. Anvil Creek... Nugget Divide. Anvil Moun- tain. do 432 396 417 Wild Goose Min- - ing and Trad- ing Co.: Seward Pipe, line 3.17 15 10 "5.*3 ' 7 3.17 32 60 70 6 6 4-6 10-12 30 274 Pumping plant. No. 1, below Anvil Creek. Moonlight Res- ervoir. Little Creek . . . Pioneer Mining Co.: South bank . . North bank.. 320 200 a Under construction. b Feet. c Cross section. d Diameter in inches. 76 WATEB SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Ditches between Cape Nome and Cape Rodney, Sevjard Peninsula — Continued. From— To— Length. Date com- pleted. Bot- tom width. Fall per mile. Ca- pac- ity. Elevation. Name. Head. Out- let. United Ditch Co.: Sutton Penny River.. . do Josie Creek Buffalo New Eldorado Creek. Gold bottom Creek. Divining Glacier Creek.. Twin Moun- tain Creek. Last Chance Creek. No. 7, Otter Creek. Head of Flam- beau River. No. 3, below Anvil Creek.. West bank CrippleRiver Buffalo Creek.. Beach Miles. 6 10.5 19 4 9 12 6 2.5 10 4 1 29 2.5 11 4 1905 (a) 1905 1903 1907 (a) 1902 Feet. 20-15 7 4-8 6 14 Feet. 3.12 4.22 4 7.5 Sec- feet. 40 25 28 50 20 10 5 20 18 3 20 16 50 10 Feet. 120 420 870 610 Feet. 90 Highline Miscellaneous: Cedric Campion Peninsula Sunset Creek . . Hungry Creek. Dorothy Creek. Osborn Creek. . Balto Creek . . . Glacier Creek, opposite Snow Gulch. Opposite Snow Gulch. Alpha Creek... Pioneer Gulch.. Mouth 790 580 H y d raulic Co. No rthland 390 Mining Co. Hot Air Price and 175 500 460 Tremper. GoldenDawn. («) 1903 1904 1906 Corson Min- ing Co. Plein Fl ambeau Hastings Creek Little Creek.... Fox Gulch Boer Creek Hastings. Capt. Peter- son. CrippleRiver (a) 1906 8-10 4 4 6 Hydraulic Mining Co. Jour den- Cummings. 1,000 "Under construction. WATER-POWER POSSIBILITIES. Owing to the great value of water in this region for use in working the auriferous gravels but little attention has been given to power development. In various portions of the peninsula there are, how- ever, excellent power sites whose development is feasible from both an engineering and a financial standpoint. The scarcity of fuel makes steam power very expensive, and it is probable that much of the future mining, especially along the tundra back of Nome and along the larger streams, will be carried on by dredging or by some form of elevating in which power will play an important part. With this in view, the attention of capitalists should be directed to the consideration of power possibilities. Work has been begun at Salmon Lake on the construction of a dam. (See p. 54.) The Three Friends Mining Company has started a ditch on Solomon River to develop power for its dredge. Many streams in the Kigluaik Mountains, notably the glacier-fed torrents on their northern slope, are available for developments under a high head. THE KOUGAROK REGION. By Fred F. Hbnshaw. INTRODUCTION. In 1907 the investigation of streams begun the previous year in the Nome region was extended to the Kougarok region. Owing to the large area that had to be covered and the lack of railroad or other transportation facilities only a few regular stations were maintained, and on most of the streams only a few discharge measurements were made. The work was carried on by the writer, who was in this district from July 15 to September 18. In the present report the name Kougarok region is used to include not only most of the Kougarok precinct, but parts of the adjoining Port Clarence and Goodhope precincts. The drainage basin of Kruzgamepa River, though included in the Kougarok precinct, has already been considered with the Nome region, with which it more naturally falls. A summary of the records in this region is combined with one for the Nome region (see p. 95), in order to afford a comparison of con- ditions in the two districts. - DESCRIPTION OF AREA. The Kougarok region lies northeast of the Kigluaik Mountains, in the central portion of Seward Peninsula. It is about 50 miles square, embracing the drainage basin of Kougarok River and parts of the adjoining basins of Noxapaga, Serpentine, and American rivers. Most of this area is comprised in an upland which represents a former level of erosion. The flat-topped ridges of the hills lie at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,600 feet. Several mountain masses rise above the level of the plateau, notably Kougarok, Midnight, and Baldy mountains. Into this plateau the river channels are deeply cut. The streams flow in steep canyons, above which one or more levels of benches can usually be traced. The rivers drain southward into the Kuzitrin, which flows through the broad lowland basin separat- ing this region from the Kigluaik Mountains. 77 78 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. The general slope of the rivers from source to mouth is more uniform than in the Nome region. The fall occurs mostly in riffles separated by pools of slack water. The stream beds are narrower and have shallower gravel deposits than most of the streams south of the mountains. (See PL VIII, A, p. 80.) A large portion of the area, probably 40 to 60 per cent, is under- lain with frozen muck and ground ice, which was observed in some places to have a thickness of 25 to 30 feet. This is covered with moss, and unless exposed by stripping never thaws deeper than a few inches. CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. In general the water supply of the Kougarok region comes from the same sources as that of the Nome region, namely, summer rains, melting of snow, and melting of frozen ground. The difference in rainfall between this area and that south of the mountains is striking. The totals of 2.51 and 2.7.9 inches for Shelton and Taylor, respectivly, are only about one-sixth of the total at Grand Central and only one-third to one-half of those of the other three rainfall stations. (See p. 137.) The Kougarok region is in a measure cut off from the comparatively abundant rainfall of the Nome region by the Kigluaik Mountains. This high and steep range causes most of the moisture from the southerly winds to be precipitated on its southern slope, leaving little to be carried into the region farther north. The northerly winds bring heavy clouds and fog banks from the Arctic Ocean, but they yield little rain. In 1907 there was no rain in this region until the middle of July and very little until a month later, so that the run-off up to August 1 came mostly from melting snow. During the three weeks of ex- tremely low water that followed the water must have been derived from the melting of the ground and the snow banks that still remained, partly from springs, and only to a slight degree from the rainfall. The ground is all frozen muck, and is so protected by moss that it never thaws more than a few inches. There can be no regulation of flow by ground storage, therefore, and the rain finds its way into the streams immediately after it falls. This effect is more marked here than in the Nome region. Thus, on July 24, 1907, the flow of Taylor Creek rose from 10 to 186 second-feet in two or three hours, and four days later had fallen again to about 13 second-feet. But little definite information can be obtained in regard to climatic conditions in former years in the Kougarok region. The last season was one of drought in that region, whereas the water supply south of the mountains was plentiful. The most reliable information that could be obtained was to the effect that the low-water periods of 1900 VATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. VII MAP. MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF GAGING STATIONS AND DITCHES IN KOUGAROK REGION. KOUGAKOK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 79 and 1906 were fully as long and as severe as that of 1907. During the week of August 10 to 16, 1907, the flow at all the gaging stations remained nearly constant, and was probably as low as it would have become had the weather continued dry, as practically all the water must have come from springs and from the melting snow. Whenever there occurs a period of two weeks or more in midsummer without rain, the flow is likely to become as small as in 1907. GAGING STATIONS. The following is a list of the points in the Kougarok region at which gages were established or discharge measurements made in 1907. The numbers refer to PL VII. Gaging stations in Kougarok region. 1. Kougarok River below Washington Creek, Washington Creek, and Irv- ing ditch. 2. Kougarok River at Homestake intake and Homestake ditch. 3. Kougarok River above Taylor Creek. 4. Kougarok River above Coarse Gold Creek. 5. Homestake ditch at penstock. 6. Columbia Creek. 7. Macklin Creek. 8. Homestake Creek. 9. Taylor Creek at North Star intake. 10. Taylor Creek at Cascade intake. 11. Taylor Creek at mouth. 12. North Star ditch above siphon. 13. Cascade ditch. 14. Henry Creek at ditch intake. 15. Henry Creek at mouth. 16. Lincoln Creek at ditch level. 17. Lillian Creek. 18. California Creek. 19. Arctic Creek. 20. Arizona Creek. 21. Coarse Gold Creek. 22. North Fork at Northwestern intake. 23. North Fork above Eureka Creek. 24. Eureka Creek. 25. Windy Creek and ditch. 26. Coffee Creek and ditch. 27. Turner Creek at McKays intake. 28. Boulder Creek. 29. Noxapaga River above Goose Creek. 30. Schlitz Creek. 31. Reindeer Creek. 32. Bryan Creek. 33. Quartz Creek. 34. Bismark Creek. 35. Budd Creek spring. 36. Budd Creek below Windy Creek. KOUGAROK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. DESCRIPTION OF BASIN. Kougarok River drains a large area lying in the central portion of Seward Peninsula and empties into the Kuzitrin about 8 miles above Lanes Landing. It rises southeast of Kougarok Mountain and flows northward, then eastward, and after making a sharp bend to the right flows a little east of south to its mouth. The largest tributaries are Taylor Creek and North Fork from the east, and Henry, Coarse Gold, and Windy -creeks from the west. Of less importance are Washington, Columbia, Macklin, Homestake, Goose, California, 80 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Arctic, Arizona, Louisa, Galvin, and Dan creeks, and Left Fork. Quartz Creek, which empties into the river below those named above, and its tributaries, Coffee, Dahl, Checkers, Carrie, and Independence creeks, have been the most important gold producers of the region, but have a very small run-off except at times of heavy rain. KOUGAROK RIVER BELOW WASHINGTON CREEK. The following measurements were made to determine the water supply available for the ditch of the Irving Mining Company, which is about 200 feet higher than the Homestake ditch: July 27, 4.5 second-feet; August 12, 2.2 second-feet; September 9, 122 second- feet. KOUGAROK RIVER AT HOMESTAKE INTAKE AND HOMESTAKE DITCH. These stations are located about 100 yards below the intake of Homestake ditch (see PL VIII, A), and the sum of their discharges gives the total flow of the river at this point. The gage was read by employees of the Kugarok Mining and Ditch Company. Discharge measurements of Kougarok River at Homestake intake and Homestake ditch, 1907. KOUGAROK RIVER. Date. July 15... Do... July 20... August 9. August 12 August 19 July 15... Do... Do... July 20... July 29... August 12 Gage Dis- height. charge. Feet. Sec.-ft. 1.24 18.0 1.13 6.6 1.08 2.0 .92 3.1 .90 2.2 .92 3.3 Date. August 22 September 1 . . September 4.. September 10. September 11. HOMESTAKE DITCH. Dis- charge. 0.51 11.6 .45 10.2 —.05 .4 .36 8.1 .20 5.7 —.04 1.5 August 19 Do August 22.... Do September 10. .27 .62 .75 .44 7.4 7.3 17.6 23.0 12.0 U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. VIII A. INTAKE OF HOMESTAKE DITCH ON KOUGAROK RIVER. B. HOMESTAKE DITCH, SHOWING SOD WORK. KOTTGAKOK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 81 Daily gage height and discharge of Kougarok River at Homestake intake and Homestake ditch, 1907. July. August. September. River. Ditch. River. Ditch. River. Ditch. Day. 1 6 § 6 Day. A '53 be 3 §> o3 o3 A o3 A o3 A o3 A 03 A A 3 A A A * 1 M bD c3 ' CO of to of m o3 00 O 3 O ft o ft O P A O ft Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. Sec.-ft. 1 0.70 .63 .60 .63 .60 .57 .50 .46 .38 .38 .38 .37 .39 .40 .40 35 31 29 31 29 27 23 21 16 16 16 16 17 17 17 2."i5" 2.10 1.80 '3.50' "i.'so" 2.23 210 230 205 280 500 430 400 270 600 1,240 550 350 270 478 600 19 20 21 '22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Mean 0.90 .84 .82 .82 .75 1.14 1.58 1.20 1.06 .83 .70 .66 .72 54 47 45 45 39 96 200 109 81 46 35 33 37 67.2 1.12 1.08 1.68 2.25 2.22 2.19 2.22 1.99 92 84 229 490 472 454 472 341 280 240 210 360 190 141 160 2 130 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 . ..» 13 14 1.09 1.03 86 75 388 15 Run-off per 16 .98 67 .43 19 380 square mile . .27 - .56 1.55 17.. .90 54 .50 23 270 Run-off, depth 18 .94 60 1.03 75 200 in inches .18 .65 1.15 Note.— Discharges for days when gage was not read were estimated with the aid of a hydrograph. IRVING DITCH. The Irving ditch was built in 1906, and has its intake on Kou'garok River at the mouth of Washington Creek. It extends for 4$ miles along the north bank of the river to a point opposite the mouth of Columbia Creek, where a head of 160 feet is obtained. The following measurements were made of the discharge of the ditch: August 12, 1.8 second-feet; September 9, 12.4 second-feet. . HOMESTAKE DITCH. The Homestake ditch of the Kugarok Mining and Ditch Company was begun in 1905 and completed in 1907. It diverts the water from the upper Kougarok, near Mascot Gulch, and extends along the left bank of the river to a point opposite the mouth of Homestake Creek, having a total length of 7i miles. The water is carried across Macklin Creek in a siphon 843 feet long, of 36 and 34 inch pipe. Above Macklin Creek the ditch is built into the rocky bluffs of close-grained schists and slates for about 1 mile. Below the siphon some ground ice was encountered, and also a large amount of loose rock mixed with ice and frozen muck, which gave much trouble. Nearly half of the length of the ditch had to be lined with sod, some parts requiring both sides and bottom of this material. (See PL VIII, B.) In 1907 a lateral ditch was built to Macklin Creek. It is 6,300 feet long and 4 feet wide on the bottom. 84 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. The water was used during the latter part of 1906 in the bed of the river just above Taylor Creek. A waste ditch was formed by a retaining wall built on one side of the channel, but at times this was overtopped and the workings flooded. The discharge at such times was estimated at 600 to 800 second-feet. During the season of 1907 the water was used on the John L. bench claim, on the right bank of the river below Homestake Creek. A head of about 150 feet is available on this claim. Two stations were maintained on the ditch, at the intake and just above the penstock. The discharge at the intake is given on page 81. The station above the penstock was maintained during the high- water period of 1907, to determine the amount of water used at the' mine. The gage was read by employees of the Kugarok Mining and Ditch Company. Discharge measurements of Homestake ditch above penstock, 1907. Date. Gage height. Dis- charge. Date. Gage height. Dis- charge. August 21 Feet. 1.19 1.49 1.47 Sec.-ft. 9.1 15.6 15.0 August 26 Feet. 1.60 1.74 Sec.-ft. 18.0 Do 21.0 Daily gage height and discharge of Homestake ditch above penstock, 1907. August. September. Day. August. September. Day. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. Gage height. Dis- charge. 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet 1.76 1.70 1.62 1.75 1.54 1.70 1.70 1.70 1.72 1.52 1.74 1.75 1.76 1.76 1.76 1.74 1.76 Sec.-ft. 21.5 20.2 18.4 21.3 16.7 20.2 20.2 20.2 20.6 16.2 21.1 21.3 21.5 21.5 21.5 21.1 21.5 18 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.76 1.68 1.15 Sec.-ft. 21.5 2 19 17.8 3 20 8.4 4 21 1.34 1.48 1.54 1.54 1.60 1.60 1.56 1.58 1.58 1.68 1.70 12.3 15.4 16.7 16.7 18.0 18.0 17.1 17.6 17.6 19.8 20.2 5 22 6 23 7 24 8 25 9 26 10 27 11 28 12 29 13 30... 14 31 16 17.2 19.6 17 TAYLOR CREEK AT NORTH STAR INTAKE. Taylor Creek is the longest tributary of Kougarok River and is larger than the main stream at their junction. It rises near the headwaters of Noxapaga and Goodhope rivers and flows in a south- westerly direction. Its principal tributaries are Midnight, Solomon, Jim, Brown, Rock, and Arizona creeks. Two ditches have been KOtTGAKOK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 85 built on Taylor Creek — the North Star, with its intake about 3 miles above Solomon Creek, and the Cascade, which takes out water about 5 miles farther downstream. The following measurements were made at North Star intake to determine the water supply available for the ditch: July 17, 12 second- feet; July 24, 174 second-feet; August 10,3.8 second-feet; September 13, 94 second-feet. They indicate a discharge of 75 to 90 per cent of that at the Cascade intake; the drainage area is 58 square miles, or 78 per cent of that at the lower point. TAYLOR CREEK AT CASCADE INTAKE. This station was established to determine the total water supply of the two ditches on Taylor Creek. It is located about 100 yards above the diversion dam of the ditch. During August and Sep- tember a part of the discharge of the creek was diverted past the station in the North Star ditch; the amount of this diversion is given on page 87. • The gage was read by employees of the Cascade Mining and Ditch Company. Discharge measurements of Taylor Creek at Cascade intake, 1907. Date. July 17 July 24 July 26 Gage Dis- height. charge. Feet. Sec.-ft, 0.67 16 1.65 186 .93 43 Date. August 10 August 21 August 24 Gage height. Feet. 0.49 1.95 1.30 Dis- charge. Sec.-ft. 4. Daily gage height and discharge of Taylor Creek at Cascade intake, 1907. July. August. September. Day. July. August . September. Day. i be '3 X5 OJ bfi 03 O too u 03 ■3 I 5 be oS O a3 Be si 5 '3 A §P O 3 o3 5 bfi '3 o> be 03 O 6 ■s 5 ■cj bp '3 as P 03 *3 6% m 03 ft® PR >> 'o Oh o 03 . «> a 03 +2 Kugarok Mining and Ditch Co.: Homestake Macklin Branch. .. Kougarok River Macklin Creek.. Reindeer and Schlitz creeks. Kougarok River Taylor Creek. .. do [Henry Creek | Lincoln Creek. . . Coffee Creek Arizona Creek.. Coarse Gold Creek. North Fork Homestake Creek. Main ditch Macklin divide.. Columbia Creek. Arctic Creek Claim 3 1907 1907 (a) 1907 /1907 \1907 1907 (a) (<*) 1904 1905 1907 (a) 1906 1907 1907 (a) 1907 1907 Miles. 7.5 1.2 8 4.4 67 c8 G.25 10.25 3.25 12.25 2 5 6 4 1G 6.5 8 8 Feet. 8 4 5 6 8 10 5.5 6 Feet. 3.17-4.22 4.22 4.22 4.22 3.70 4.22 4.22 3.17 Sec.-ft. 25 5 10 15 40 40 12 15 Feet. 160 Irving Mining Co Taylor Creek Ditch Co.: North Star Cascade Mining and Ditch Co. T. T. Lane Co.: Henry Creek 160 ""266 110 Homestake Creek. Henry Creek in- take. Dahl Creek Benches on river Two-bit Gulch.. 210 Coffee Creek 3-5 4 8 7 " 4 4-5 6 8 9 4 3.17 3.17 4.22 3.17 4.22 4.22 4.22 4.22 3.70 4.22 C. F. Merritt and others. Galvin & Buell 2 25 20 8 8-10 15 20 30 8 185 300 opment Co. Anderson Bros McKaj Hydraulic Min- ing Co. Pittsburg-Dick Creek Mining Co. Ottumwa Gold Min- ing Co. Windy Creek... Turner Creek... j Bryan Creek \Quartz Creek... [Budd Creek [Million Creek. . . Anderson Gulch Goose Creek Dick Creek Bryan Creek di- vide. Below Windy Creek. Windy Creek 150 170 «350 160 o Under construction. b Intake to siphon. c Siphon to Arctic Creek. d Proposed. e Above Bryan Creek ditch. RELATIVE RUN-OFF OF DIFFERENT AREAS. In order to afford a comparison of the run-off conditions in different areas, especially between those north and south of the Kigluaik Mountains, tables have been prepared showing the daily minima and monthly means for 1906 and 1907 in second-feet per square mile for the drainage areas investigated. The streams have been grouped into three classes — (1) those running in the foothills, having southern exposures and but few gulches in which snow is retained into the summer months; (2) streams rising in the mountains, having deep valleys and cirques with northern exposures, where snow is stored and held during the whole summer, and having a much heavier rainfall than streams at lower elevations; (3) streams of the Kougarok region. A study of the following tables shows several interesting points. In general, the nearer the stream lies to the central mountain mass of the Kigluaik Range, the greater is its run- off. The most notable exception to this rule is Hobson Creek. The flow of this stream comes from limestone springs, which are believed to draw some of their water from areas lying outside the surface 96 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-190*7. drainage basin of the creek. North Star Creek, Fox Creek, and Nome River have a smaller minimum than adjoining streams whose basins have a similar character and elevation. This is probably due to their more direct southern exposure. There is a striking difference, both in minimum and mean, between streams south of the mountains and those in the Kougarok region. This is due mostly to the small rainfall north of the mountains. Budd Creek draws all of its flow at low water from springs and so has a much larger minimum than other streams in the vicinity. These tables may be used to estimate the run-off from other streams in Seward Peninsula, but such estimates must be made with extreme caution on account of the great difference in run-off in areas apparently similar. The streams are not given in the order in which the descriptions appear in the text, but are arranged in general from east to west and from higher elevations to lower. Minimum daily flow of streams in Seward Peninsula, 1906-7. STREAMS RISING IN FOOTHILLS. Eleva- tion. Drain- age area. 1906. 1907. Stream. Date. Mini- mum flow. Mini- mum run-off per square mile. Date. Mini- mum flow. Mini- mum run-off per square mile. Iron Creek below mouth of Canyon Creek. Feet. 450 400 800 800 785 590 500 500 700 400 40 120 Sq. miles. 50 51 1.4 .85 2.1 4.3 2.7 2.6 2.1 36 69 19 Aug. 14 Aug. 14 .... . Sept. 10 Aug. 11 June 28 Aug. 19 Aug. 18 July4 Aug. 19 Aug. 19 Sec.-ft. 17.1 44 a 4. 2 .8 6.96 3.3 2.9 10.5 2.2 11.4 Sec.-ft. 0.34 .86 3 .94 .46 .77 1.1 c-4 1.05 .32 Aug. 11-14.. Sec.-ft. 33 Sec.-ft. 0.66 low mouth of Ve- netia Creek. Jett Creek . Sept. 23 2.9 1.3 Copper Creek Nugget Creek David Creek Aug. 10-11.. Sept. 30 2.8 8.3 1.3 1.9 Dorothy Creek Hobson Creek Slate Creek (tribu- tary to Stewart River). Aug. 19 14.3 5.5 Snake River Aug. 12 Aug. 15 77 33 1.1 Penny River Aug. 1 a 36 1.9 1.7 « Lowest measurements obtained; the flow was less on certain dates. b The lowest flow later in 1906 was 3 second-feet, or 1.4 second-feet per square mile, on August 11. cThe flow of Hobson Creek is from large limestone springs whose catchment area may not coincide with the surface watershed. EBLATIVE RUN-OFF OF DIFFERENT AREAS, SEWARD PENINSULA 97 Minimum daily flow of streams in Seward Peninsula, 1906-7 — Continued. STREAMS RISING IN KIGLUAIK MOUNTAINS. Eleva- tion. Drain- age area. 1906. 1907. Stream. Date. » Mini- mum flow. Mini- mum run-off per square mile. Date. Mini- mum flow. Mini- mum run-off per square mile. North Fork Grand Feet. 750 850 925 720 690 455 442 550 550 575 800 770 900 650 A, 5.4 5.4 1.8 2.5 14.6 39 24.4 81 11 11 15 4.4 & 6. 2 2.3 12 Julyl Sept. 15-17.. Sept. 15-17.. Sept. 16-17.. Sept. 16-17.. Sept. 16-17.. Sept. 16-17.. /Aug. 19 and \ Sept. 17. Sept. 16-17.. Aug. 16 Aug. 5 Aug. 3...... Aug. 3 Aug. 10 Aug. 3 Sec. ft. 23 19 3.1 5 47 90 43 } 175 39 17.3 20 9.1 20 2.9 32 8tf.fi. 4.3 3.5 1.7 2 3.1 • 2.3 1.76 2.16 3.5 1.6 1.3 2.1 3.2 1.26 2.7 Sec. ft. Sec. ft. Central River near ditch intake. West Fork Grand Central River at ditch intake. Crater Lake outlet . . Thompson Creek Grand Central River below forks. Grand Central River July 29 Sept. 22-23. . Sept. 22-23. . Aug. 15 28 3.5 5 72 5.2 1.9 2 4.9 belowNuggetCreek. Grand Central River between station below forks and station at Nugget Creek. Kruzgamepa River. . Crater Creek Oct. 5 178 2.2 Fox Creek Aug. 15 16 1.1 Buffalo Creek. Sinuk River Aug. 15 Aug. 7 Aug. 15 a 22 04 a 32 2.7 North Star Creek Windy Creek 1.7 2.7 a Minimum in mid season. & 8.2 after August 1, 1907. STREAMS IN THE KOUGAROK REGION. Kougarok River at Homestake intake. Kougarok River 44 250 74 50 66 340 13 58 Aug. 13 Aug. 9-12... Aug. 14 Aug. 13 Aug. 15 Aug. 16 Aug. 15 Aug. 21 3.2 16 3.9 6.8 9.6 62 .7 25 0.07 .06 above Coarse Gold Creek. Taylor Creek at Cas*- .05 cade intake. Henry Creek at .14 mouth. North Fork above .15 Eureka Creek. .18 Turner Creek .05 Budd Creek .43 35283— irr 218—08- 98 WATEB SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Mean run-off, in second-feet per square mile, at gaging stations, 1906. Station. North Fork of Grand Central River: Near ditch intake At pipe intake West Fork of Grand Central River: At ditch intake At pipe intake Crater Lake outlet Thompson Creek Grand Central River below forks Grand Central River below Nugget Creek Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake Between Grand Central River below the forks and Kruzgamepa River stations . Nome River at Miocene intake Drain- Sq. mi. 5.4 2.3 5.4 2.8 1.8 2.5 14.6 39 81 66 15 July 1-31. 7.05 3.43 July 1-4 and 11-31. a 7. 53 10.3 9.64 10.8 8.20 8.J6 Aug. 1-31. 6.80 11.9 6.02 4.96 6.56 6.64 5.84 a 4. 42 3.20 2.62 3.36 Sept. 1-30. 5.63 4.29 a Approximate. Mean run-off, in second-feet per square mile, at gaging stations, 1907. STREAMS RISING IN FOOTHILLS. Station. Drainage area. July 1-31. July 8-31. August. Sept. 1-30. Sept. 1-23. Jett and Copper creeks Nugget Creek Sq. miles. 2.25 2.1 4.3 2.6 69 19 2. 71 7.49 2^56 4.14 3.16 2.95 3.30 6.58 1.56 3.11 4.27 5.24 4.81 7.35 3.74 STRE AMS RISIl SQ IN KIGLUAIK M DUNTAINS North Fork Grand Central River: At the forks 6.9 2.3 7.7 5.4 2.8 1.8 2.5 81 15 a 6. 2 2.3 12 7.06 8.42 18.9 10.5 9.30 6.29 14.4 10.8 4.14 2.19 5.49 3.61 4.93 9.38 At pipe intake 16.9 20.2 West Fork Grand Central River: At the forks 11.0 11.1 9.43 13.6 16.9 13.0 At ditch intake 9.38 7.32 11.7 9.12 Kruzgamepa River at outlet 6.77 4.81 8.44 6.43 7.62 5.89 3.89 6.55 3.87 5.68 a 8.2 after August 1. STREAMS IN THE KOUGAROK REGION. Station. Drainage area. July 15-31. August. .Sept. 1-20. Kougarok River: Sq. miles. 44 250 74 0.28 .27 .40 0.52 .56 .73 1.80 1.55 Taylor Creek at Cascade intake 1.61 THE FAIRHAVEN PRECINCT. By Fred F. Henshaw. INTRODUCTION. The Fairhaven precinct, comprising a large area in northeastern Seward Peninsula, has been a producer of placer gold since 1901 and promises to be more important in the future. No stream-gaging work has been done in this district, and it has not been visited by any member of the Geological Survey since 1903. The following notes concerning the water supply and the hydraulic ^developments that have been carried on during the last two seasons have been compiled from reliable sources. FAIRHAVEN DITCH. The Fairhaven ditch was built during 1906 by the Fairhaven Water Company . It takes its water supply from Imuruk Lake, the source of Kugruk River. A dam about 500 feet long has been constructed across the outlet of the lake to conserve the run-off. The upper section of the ditch is 17 miles long, the first 8 miles of which is through a lava formation. The water is dropped into upper Pinnell River, and flows down this stream for about 4 miles. The lower section takes the water from Pinnell River on its right bank and extends for 23 miles to Arizona Creek, where a head of 500 feet is obtained. The ditch is 11 feet wide on the bottom and has a grade of 5 feet to the mile. The dam across Imuruk Lake was closed August 16, 1906, and remained so until August, 1907, no water being carried in the ditch in the meantime. The water surface of the lake rose 26 inches during this period. The area of the lake is 30 square miles and that of the drainage basin 99 square miles. The run-off was therefore 41,600 acre-feet, equivalent to 7.9 inches in depth over the entire drainage area. This would furnish 58 second-feet for one year, 210 second- feet for one hundred days, or 263 second-feet for eighty days. The snowfall during the winter of 1906-7 was heavier than usual, so that the water supply for other years may be less than this. The above information was furnished by W. R. Hoffman, who had charge of the construction of the Fairhaven ditch. 99 100 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. CANDLE DITCH. The Candle ditch was built during 1907 by the Candle- Alaska Hydraulic Gold Mining Company to furnish water for mining on Candle Creek. It has a total length of 33.6 miles, a bottom width of 9 feet, and a grade of 3.69 feet per mile. The estimated capacity is 35 second-feet. It takes its supply from the western tributaries of Kiwalik River. The present intake of the ditch is on Glacier Creek. The water is carried across Dome Creek in a siphon 2,250 feet long, composed of 28-inch pipe; across Bonanza Creek in 900 feet of 32-inch pipe; and across Eldorado Creek in a siphon 12,100 feet long, composed, of equal lengths of 35£, 37J, and 39| inch pipe. Eldorado Creek will be tapped with a lateral ditch about 6 miles long. An extension 8.1 miles long of 6-foot ditch will be built to Gold Run. It will also be possible to divert the flow from the head- waters of First Chance Creek, a tributary of Koyuk River, over a low divide into Gold Run. The fall obtained is 250 feet at the mouth of Candle Creek and 132 feet at the mouth of Patterson Creek. The surveyed line crosses Candle Creek about 1 mile above the mouth of Willow Creek. Candle Creek was nearly dry during 1907, the flow some of the time being less than half a second-foot. The above information was furnished by W. L. Leland. BEAR CREEK DITCH. A ditch was built in 1907 on Bear Creek, a tributary of the West Fork of Buckland River. It has its intake below the mouth of May Creek, and extends along the right bank to Split Creek, diverting Eagle, Polar, and other small creeks. The ditch has a length of about 6 miles, a bottom width of 6 feet, and a grade of 4 feet to the mile. The head obtained at the lower end is about 200 feet. THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. By C. C. Covert. DESCRIPTION OF AREA. The area known as the Fairbanks district extends about 60 miles to the north of Fairbanks and is from 40 to 50 miles in width. The greater part of the region lies in the lower Tanana basin, but a por- tion to the northwest is directly tributary to the Yukon. Generally speaking, it embraces three divisions — a low, broad alluvial plain, a moderately high plateau, and a mountain mass. / The low, broad plain forms the bottom lands of the lower Tanana Valley, which in this section is divided into several parts by the Tanana and its slough-like channels. The main slough starts near the mouth of Salcha River, about 30 miles above Fairbanks, where it diverts a portion of the Tanana waters. Its course is along the foothills of the plateau to the north, and it receives Chena River about 7 miles above Fairbanks. The plain is swampy in character and is well covered with timber along the banks of the streams. In the vicinity of Fairbanks it has a general elevation of about 500 feet above sea level. The plateau is drained by streams tributary to Tanana River, which flow through rather broad,, unsymmetrical valleys, most of which extend in a northeast-southwest direction. Their bottom lands range in elevation from 500 to over 2,000 feet above sea level, and the dividing ridges are in general 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the stream beds. That portion of the plateau which comes under discussion in this report is drained principally by Little Chena and Chatanika rivers. The upper region of these drainage basins is crosscut by a zigzag range, which separates the Yukon from the Tanana drainage. The mountain mass to the north of this plateau forms what might be termed the apex of the divide between the Tanana and the Yukon drainage basins. It rises to an altitude of 4,000 to 5,000 feet above sea level and its corrugated slopes are drained principally by tribu- taries to Yukon River. All drainage areas tributary to the Tanana are similar in character. The streams have little slope except near their source. Wide, grav- elly beds of a shifting nature and tortuous courses keeping to one 101 102 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. side of the valley are marked characteristics. The channels usually have rather steep banks that form approaches to broad, level bottom lands which extend from 1,000 to 4,000 feet or more before they meet the abrupt slopes of the dividing ridges. The drainage basins are from 4 to 15 miles wide and are well cut up by small tributary streams flowing through deep and narrow ravines. A large portion of the area is covered with a thick turf known as tundra, which is wet, spongy, and mossy and ranges in thickness from 6 inches to 2 feet. In some localities this is meadow like, producing a rank growth of grass and a variety of beautiful wild flowers. Under- neath this tundra ground ice is found in many places, particularly on the northern slopes, where the soil is scanty and there is little timber or other vegetation. The soil of the southern slopes is, for the most part, gravelly clay, underlain by a mica schist which affords suitable ground for ditch construction. When stripped of its mossy covering, the sun rapidly thaws it so that the plow and scraper can be used to advantage. Above an altitude of 2,000 to* 2,200 feet practically the only vege- tation is a scrubby, bushy growth which attains a height of 2 to 4 feet. In general the country below this altitude is timbered by spruce and birch, with scattered patches of tamarack and willow along the banks of the smaller streams. The timber increases in density and size as the river bottoms are approached. There the prevailing growth is spruce, much of which attains diameters of 18 to 24 inches. The Fairbanks mining district lies between Little Chena and Chatanika rivers. It embraces an area of some 500 square miles and extends about 30 miles to the north of Fairbanks, which is sit- uated on Chena Slough nearly 1 2 miles above its confluence with the Tanana. The producing creeks in general rise in a high rocky ridge, of which Pedro Dome, with an elevation of about 2,500 feet, is the center. At least half of the mines are located at an elevation of over 800 feet, and 25 per cent over 1,000 feet, above sea level. The field work during 1907 in the Fairbanks district was carried on from June 20 to September 15. Owing to the lack of adequate funds the work was largely that of reconnaissance. However, the keeping of systematic records on some of the more important streams was made possible through the hearty cooperation of people who were interested. After making a careful study of the general topographic conditions of the mining district and surrounding country, it was decided to establish a few regular stations, at the most convenient points in the larger drainage areas, and study the daily run-off, during the open FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 103 season from records thus obtained." This plan afforded greater opportunity for procuring comparative data than that of covering a larger territory in a less definite way. In this country without stor- age, daily records are an important factor, and such records could not have been obtained over an extended area. Outside of the pro- ducing creeks the country is practically a wilderness, and it is almost impossible to get observations, other than those made on the occa- sional visits of the engineer. No daily or even weekly records in such areas could have been assured and the results obtained from the occasional measurements would have furnished no comprehen- sive idea as to the actual daily run-off of the streams throughout the open season. CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. Stream flow in the Fairbanks district is affected by melting of accumulated snow and ice, summer rains, and melting of ground ice. In this district the break-up begins about the middle of April and the rise in the streams commences about the middle of May and con- tinues intermittently until May 30, or thereabouts, when the maxi- mum discharge occurs. The table on page 109 shows the daily gage height of Chena Slough at Fairbanks during the open season of 1907. A. D. Gassaway, of the Chatanika Ditch Company, estimated the maximum flow of Chatanika River near the mouth of Faith Creek at about 1,250 second-feet and stated that this discharge occurred about May 30. After that date the flow gradually decreased until the minimum stage was reached, about July 10. The precipitation records kept at Fairbanks since 1905 (see table p. 143) show that snowfall in this section amounts to about 40 inches. On account of the frozen ground and the steady cold weather, very little of this snow runs off before the spring break-up. What run-off there is during the winter season, especially in the upper basins, is accumulated in the glacial ice formed in the stream beds. This ice does not entirely disappear before the middle or last of July. There are few data regarding rainfall in this section. Records have been kept at Fairbanks since 1905 and in connection with the in- vestigations of stream flow the Geological Survey established four stations in 1907. The daily and monthly rainfall at these points is given in the tables on pages 140 to 141. A comparison of the 1907 rainfall records throughout Alaska, especially those of the interior, with records previously obtained will show that the season was a comparatively normal one. "For explanation of data and methods of work see p. 9. 104 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. The melting of frozen ground affords a slight additional supply of water to the streams. The frozen muck and ground ice, which carry a large percentage of water, are well protected by a thick coat of moss, through which it is difficult for the heat of the summer sun to pene- trate. As the season advances the imprisoned moisture is liberated through the combined influence of abundant sunshine and frequent warm rains. This gradual thawing of frozen ground is made notice- able not only by the increase of the daily flow of the streams, but also by the condition of the trail and the increased depth to which one sinks when traveling over the tundra. On the northern slope and in the deep canyons, which are protected from the rays of the sun, the frozen ground never thaws more than a few inches, even during July and August, when the sun shines nearly twenty-four hours a day. Owing to the shallow depth to which the ground thaws, the pre- vailing mossy covering affords the only ground storage for rainfall in this country. This covering is filled with seepage from ground thaw and consequently any increase in the water supply, through rainfall, finds its way to the streams in a very short time over the under- ground ice and steep slopes of the drainage basins, causing streams to rise and fall very rapidly. (See iig. 2.) Because of this lack of ground storage the streams depend largely on rainfall for their sup- ply, after the snow and ice have disappeared in the spring break-up. May, June, and July are invariably months of slight rainfall in the interior (see p. 140) and the streams soon reach a very low stage. Yet this is the most important period for the miner. The long hours of daylight and the warm weather afford favorable opportunities for mining and sluicing, but the abundant supply of water needed for this purpose is often lacking. FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 105 Second-feet % £ Sf-//T)c O 1 ^ O ^ - 1 ■ I r ■ i ./ An 5 1 -* 2 5. c. ■ I 1 i ■ "I y 8 1 3 v ■ I 1 1 t i • i <* i ^ > ~4 i q ■ ■ 5 E ■ o E ^ ■ c; _ a i k 1 1 i / ^ ^> CD " 9 J 8 £ ■ I 1 I. 1 ■ ■ ■ i 4 H 5 * 3 , 1 1 i ■ ) ' ! So & ■ 3 Cb . ll 1 ii Co' cv P- rr ^ 1 SI So" ■ S -8 _ i. E > 3 I 5 ' £ ' t-L Co s 1 to c: r *• * 1 Cb 1 I ^ S 3 Ram fall ( inches and hundredths J 106 WATEE SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907, GAGING STATIONS. The following list gives the points in the Fairbanks district at which gages were established or discharge measurements made in 1907. The numbers refer to PI. IX: Gaging stations in Fairbanks district. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. Little Chena River about 2 miles above Elliott Creek. Elliott Creek above mouth of Sorrels Creek. Sorrels Creek above mouth. Fish Creek above Fairbanks Creek. Bear Creek near mouth of Tecumseh Creek. Fairbanks Creek. Miller Creek near mouth. Miller Creek below Heim Creek. Miller Creek above Heim Creek. Charity Creek 1 mile above mouth of Hope Creek. Hope Creek near mouth of Zephyr Creek. Faith Creek at weir near mouth. McManus Creek above Montana Creek. McManus Creek below Montana Creek. McManus Creek 1 mile below Idaho. McManus Creek 500 feet above mouth of Smith Creek. McManus Creek below mouth of Smith Creek. McManus Creek at mouth. Smith Creek below mouth of Pool Creek. Smith Creek above mouth of Pool Creek. Pool Creek above mouth. McManus Creek at weir near mouth. 23. Chatanika River below Faith and Mc- Manus creeks. 24. Boston Creek, elevation 800 feet. 25. McKay Creek; elevation 800 feet. 26. Belle Creek, elevation 800 feet. 27. Crooked Creek near mouth. 28. Kokomo Creek near mouth. 29. Poker Creek near mouth. 30. Poker Creek near elevation 800 feet. 31. Little Poker Creek above mouth. 32. Caribou Creek above mouth of Little Poker Creek. 33. Chatanika River below mouth of Poker Creek. 34. Cleary Creek near Cleary. 35. Little Eldorado Creek above trail to Dome. 36. Dome Creek near Dome. 37. Goldstream Creek at claim 6 below. 38. Fox Creek near elevation 900 feet. 39. Beaver Creek above mouth of East Branch. 40. East Branch Beaver Creek above mouth. 41. Nome Creek 1 mile above mouth. 42. Bryan Creek, elevation 1,800 feet. 43. Trail Creek about 4 miles above mouth. 44. Brigham Creek 1 mile above mouth. 45. Fossil Creek near mouth. LITTLE CHENA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. The southern slope of the divide between the Chatanika and Chena drainage basins, from the headwaters of Smith and Flat creeks to Pedro Dome, a distance of about 25 miles, is drained by Little Chena River and its tributaries, Elliott and Fish creeks. The drainage basin is irregular in shape and has a network of small, ramifying streams with steep, precipitous slopes in their upper drainage. The upper portion of the main stream is also steep, having a fall of 100 to 150 CO MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF GAGING STATIONS IN FAIRBANKS REGION. LITTLE CHENA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 107 feet to the mile. This slope decreases rather abruptly to about 18 feet to the mile in the vicinity of Elliott and Fish creeks. The general course of the stream above the confluence of Fish Creek is through a rather broad, unsymmetrical valley. Below Fish Creek the river takes the center of a deep, narrow channel for about 8 miles to the point where Anaconda Creek, an important tributary from the left, enters. Below this point the valley gradually widens until the stream enters the lowlands tributary to Chena River, into which it empties 6 or 8 miles above the confluence of Chena Slough. Through this slough it discharges its waters into the Tanana near the town of Chena. In the low-water period the stream has a channel width of 30 to 75 feet and flows from side to side of a broad, gravelly bed ranging from 100 to 300 feet in width. The channel is defined by steep, alluvial banks forming the approach to the heavily timbered bottom lands of the river valley which prevail above the confluence of Fish Creek. In the high-water stages the broad river bed is filled to its banks and often overflows them. During this stage the river seeks numer- ous smaller channels that surround heavily wooded islands. The greater part of the drainage basin is well covered with timber, that in the uplands, on the slopes and smaller divides, consisting of spruce, birch, and poplar, suitable only for fuel and cabin purposes. In the lower valleys and creek bottom lands the prevailing growth is spruce, much of which is suitable for milling purposes. The area is invariably covered with the conventional moss, but here and there outcroppings of limestone, mica schist, and gravel are found on the slopes. In the creek valleys the mossy covering is usually underlain with frozen muck and glacial ice. Numerous swamp areas occur near the river banks, and these, together with the heavy growth of timber, make travel very difficult. Gaging stations were established on Fish Creek above the mouth of Fairbanks Creek, on Elliott Creek above the mouth of Sorrels Creek, on Sorrels Creek above its mouth, and on the Little Chena about 2 miles above the mouth of Elliott Creek. Much credit is due Sherman White, the observer, for his faithful work in making approx- imately daily observations at each of these stations. A project is under way to collect the waters from the different tributaries, at an elevation of about 900 feet, and to convey the supply by ditch line to a point in the lower drainage area, on the right bank of the Little Chena, where a fall of nearly 200 feet can be obtained. A portion of the water so collected is to be used in developing electric power for transmission to the producing creeks, and the excess water will be carried by ditch line to Smallwood and Nugget creeks and used for mining purposes. 108 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. The following table gives the horsepower (80 per cent efficiency) per foot of fall that may be developed at different rates of discharge, and shows the number of days on which the discharge and the cor- responding horsepower were respectively less than the amounts given in the columns for " discharge" and "horsepower." Discharge and horsepower table for Little Chena River and tributaries, 1907. Discharge. « Horsepower (80 per cent efficiency) per foot fall. Days of defi- cient dis- charge, July 22 to Sept. 10. Discharge, a Horsepower (80 per cent efficiency). per foot fall. Days of defi- cient dis- charge, July 22 to Sept. 10. Sec.-ft. 66 : 6 8 10 12 7 15 23 Sec.-ft. 154. 14 16 18 20 35 88 176 42 110 198 220 45 132 48 a This includes the flow of Little Chena, Elliott, Sorrels, and Fish creeks. Drainage areas of Little Chena River basin.a Stream and location. Total area. Little Chena River above gaging station Little Chena River from gaging station to mouth of Elliott Creek Elliott Creek above gaging station Sorrels Creek above gaging station Elliott Creek from gaging station to mouth. Total Elliott Creek Little Chena River from mouth of Elliott to Fish Creek Fish Creek above Bear Creek Bear Creek above mouth Fish Creek from Bear Creek to gaging station Fish Creek above gaging station Fairbanks Creek above mouth Fish Creek, Fairbanks Creek to Miller Creek Miller Creek above mouth Fish Creek from Miller Creek to mouth Total Fish Creek Little Chena from mouth of Fish Creek to Anaconda Creek Anaconda Creek above mouth Little Chena from Anaconda Creek to mouth Sg. miles. 79.0 82.6 121.2 127.2 217.4 248.1 291.4 404.6 a From reconnaissance map Yukon-Tanana region, Fairbanks quadrangle. CHENA SLOUGH AT FAIRBANKS. Near the mouth of Salcha River a portion of the Tanana waters are diverted through a sloughlike channel about 50 miles in length, that separates the broad flat lands to the right into two parts. The channel receives the drainage of the plateau to the north and about midway in its course Chena River enters. Below this point the chan- nel is known as Chena Slough. It affords a passageway for the Tanana steamers from its mouth near Chena to Fairbanks, 12 miles above, except in times of low water, when the cargoes are transferred at Chena to the Tanana Mines Railroad. A gage fastened to the highway bridge in Fairbanks is read twice each day during the open season by employees of the Northern Navi- gation Company. LITTLE CHENA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 109 Daily gage height, in feet, of Chena Slough near Fairbanks, Alaska, 1907. Day. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Day. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. 1 5.3 5.2 5.1 4.6 4.0 4.8 5.6 4.8 4.4 4.0 3.9 4.1 4.1 3.9 3.8 3.5 2.4 2.6 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.9 4.0 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.1 3.9 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.5 1.9 1.8 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.8 2.0 2.0 3.3 5.3 4.6 4.3 17 3.6 3.8 3.1 2.6 2.1 2.0 2.8- 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.2 1.3 1.5 2.0 3.0 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.8 3.1 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.3 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.4 3.3 3.1 • 3.1 3.1 3.3 3.1 3,0 2.5 2.2 2.1 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.8 6.1 2 ,18 6.0 3 19 4.8 4 20 4.0 5 21 3.8 6 22 3.9 7 23 4.0 8 24 5.6 5.8 5.6 5.2 4.6 4.1 5.5 5.9 g 25 10 26 11. 27 12. 28 13. 29 14. 30 is. ; 31 16 LITTLE CHENA RIVER ABOVE MOUTH OF ELLIOTT CREEK. A gaging station was established on Little Chena River about 2 miles above the mouth of Elliott Creek July 22, 1907. At this point the channel is from 30 to 50 feet in width during low and medium stages. It has a gravelly bed and is fairly straight for about 100 feet. A stake graduated to feet and tenths was driven near the left side and daily readings were taken. measurements of Little Chena River above mouth of Elliott Creek, 1907. Date. Width. Area of section. Gage height. Feet. Sg.-ft. Feet. 23.5 26.6 0.60 23.5 26.7 .565 40.0 42.2 1.10 33 37.2 1.05 25 28.0 .73 Discharge. July 22.... July 24.... August 4. August 5. August 20 Sec.-ft. 44.2 39.7 113 103 56.7 Daily gage height and discharge of Little Chena River above mouth of Elliott Creek, 1907. [Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 79 square miles.] July. August. September. • Day. July. August. September. Day. 4J 3 bo 3 6 » o3 ■9 s § 5 A ba o3 O of o s ft 5 A t-t o3 ■8 CD s S © bfi 03 o 6 » o3 1 s I of o o3 ■a s | A of o o3 ■3 s 1 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 0.7 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.05 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.0 .9 1.0 .8 .9 .8 Sec.-ft. 53 157 113 113 113 95 104 113 134 113 95 80 95 66 80 66 66 60 60 Feet. 1.0 .9 .9 .8 .9 .95 .95 1.0 "i.'o" Sec.-ft. 95 80 80 66 80 88 88 95 95 95 20 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 "i.'o" .9 .9 "i.'o" 1.0 Sec.-ft. 53 53 53 53 53 73 95 80 80 88 95 95 Feet. Sec.-ft. 2 21... 3 22 0.60 23 42 42 42 42 80 66 53 42 42 * 42 4 5 24 1 .60 25 1 .60 26 90 27 | .80 28 .70 29 .60 30 .60 31 m 6 1 7 . 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 o49.3 .625 .23 85.4 l.CS 1.24 &86 2 15 Run - off per square mile.. Run-ofi, depth in inches 16 1.09 17 18 .40 19 a July 22-31. b September 1 to 10. 110 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. ELLIOTT CREEK ABOVE MOUTH OF SORRELS CREEK. Elliott Creek takes the drainage from the southern slope of Twin Butte Hills, in the Chatanika divide, and flows in a southerly direc- tion, discharging its waters and those of Sorrels Creek, its tributary, into the Little Chena about 4 miles above the mouth of Fish Creek. The drainage area is steep in its upper reaches and well timbered in the creek bottom. The stream flows in a narrow channel, rather deeply cut, and the banks are lined with willow and small spruce. A gaging station was established about half a mile above the mouth of Sorrels Creek July 22, 1907, and regular readings were taken. Discharge measurements of Elliott Creek above mouth of Sorrels Creek, 1907. Date. July 23.... August 5 . August 20 Width. Area of section. Feet. Sq. ft. 9. 5 6. 4 12. 9. 6 10. 1 6. 98 Gage height. Feet. 1.6 1.85 1.615 Discharge. Sec.-ft. 5.1 13.8 7.1 Daily gage height and discharge of Elliott Creek above mouth of Sorrels Creek, 1907. [Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 13.8 square miles.] July. August. September. Day. July. August. September. Day. +3 1 ft % I 1 1 03 1 ft % 3 tt) of O 03 1 ft 2 1 o 6 1 03 f CD 60 o3 O SP ■ 03 .3 ft 4J ■S O) CD o ! S 1... Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet, 1.7 2.1 2.1 Sec.-ft. 9.0 23 23 17.2 12.3 12.3 12.3 12.3 15.6 12.3 12.3 9.0 12.3 12.3 9.0 9.0 9.0 7.4 7.4 Feet. 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7 "i.y Sec.-ft. 12.3 12.3 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 10.0 12.0 20 Feet. Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 "i.y 1.7 1.8 "i."8" Sec.-ft. 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 7.4 9.0 9.0 12.3 12.3 12.3 12.3 Feet. Sec.-ft. 2 21 3 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 9.0 9.0 5.8 5.8 4.1 2.5 4. 5. 1.8 1.8 6 7 8. . 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.7 9... 10... 11.. 12... 31 1.5 14 Mea o5.9 0.43 .16 11.0 0.797 .92 b 10.0 15 Run-off per square mile.. Run-off, depth in inches 16. 0.724 17... 18... .27 19 16.5 a July 22 to 31. b September 1 to 10. SORRELS CREEK. Sorrels Creek, a tributary to Elliott Creek about 3 miles above its mouth, rises in the Chatanika divide, to the west of Flat Creek, and flows westward along this divide for about 5 miles, then, by an abrupt bend to the left, it takes a southerly course for about 6 miles to LITTLE CHENA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. Ill Elliott Creek. The stream flows in a narrow irregular channel, rather deeply cut in the muckhke bottom lands, and is well hidden from view by the masses of spruce and willow along its banks. A gaging station was established on this stream about one-half mile above its mouth July 23, 1907, and regular readings were taken. Discharge measurements of Sorrels Creek near mouth. 1907. ««»• sSSon. Mglt. ' ««*«*. Feet. July 23 11.0 August 5 17. August 20 12. Daily gage height and discharge of Sorrels Creek near mouth, 1907. [Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 21 square miles.] Day. Julv. August. 1 Feet. See.-ft. Feet. 1.1 2 1.4 3 1.4 4 1.5 5 1.35 6 1.3 8 1.3 9 1.4 10. 1.3 11 1.3 12... .. . 1.2 13 1.2 14 1.2 15 1.1 16... 1.1 17 18 19 September. Day. July. August. September. +3 3 -a ■ & § 1 If N "3 1 to 3 1 1 Feet. 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 i.i Sec.-ft. 19.0 19.0 14.7 14.7 14.7 14.7 14.7 14.7 14.7 19.0 ■Feet. 20 Sec.-ft. Feet. 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 "l.T 1.1 1.2 "\.2 Sec.-ft. 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3 12.5 14.7 14.7 Feet. Sec.-ft. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 "".9 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3 14.7 14.7 10.3 10.3 8.2 6.0 19.0 19-0 19.0 19.0 Mea n al0.5 0.500 .19 18.2 616 Run-off per square mile.. Run-off depth in inches 0.867 .762 1.00 .28 a July 22-31. 6 Sept. 1-10. FISH CREEK ABOVE MOUTH OF FAIRBANKS CREEK. Fish Creek rises in the high ridge at the head of Goldstream Creek and flows in a northeasterly direction through an irregularly formed valley. About 14 miles below its source it makes an abrupt bend to the right, flowing around the point of a rather steep divide that sep- arates its drainage from that of the Little Chena, into which it dis- charges about 2 miles below this bend. Its principal tributaries are Solo, Bear, Fairbanks, and Miller creeks, all from the left. These streams are rather steep in their upper courses but rapidly lessen in slope as Fish Creek Valley is approached. Fish Creek has a tortuous course and closely follows the right side of the valley, having a rather broad, marshy bottom land on the left. 112 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. A gaging station was established a short distance above Fairbanks Creek July 22, 1907 (see Pis. IX; XI, B), and regular readings were taken. Discharge measurements of Fish Creek above mouth of Fairbanks Creek, 1907. Date. Width. Area of section. Gage height. Feet. Sq.ft. Feet. 9.5 •10.4 1.00 10.0 12.2 1.00 14.5 17.5 1.55 12.7 14.0 1.35 9.2 9.95 1.00 Discharge. July 21... July 25... August 3 . August 4. August 19 Sec.-ft. - 23.7 24.3 47.8 37.6 20.8 Daily gage height and discharge of Fish Creek above mouth of Fairbanks Creek, 1907. [Elevation, 925 feet; drainage area, 39 square miles.] July. August. September. Day. July. August. September. Day, 55 228 .500 .20 211 .463 .53 428 .939 1.08 954 2.09 2.33 «506 Second-feet per square mile . . 1.1] Depth in inches .68 a Estimated by extending rating curve. 6 June 20 to 30. Note.— The river was frozen over after October 14. c October 1 to 14. 122 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. CLEARY CREEK. Cleary Creek heads to the north of Pedro Dome in a rather low saddle which separates its waters from those of Little Eldorado Creek and which has an elevation of about 1,800 feet. It flows in a north- erly direction for about 3 miles, then, by a gradual curve to the left, takes a northwesterly course to Chatanika River, to which it is tribu- tary from the left about 2 miles below Poker Creek. The creek has an average slope of about 90 feet to the mile through the mining section. It is considered the best producer in the camp. (See PL X.) The pay streak follows the creek channel closely about to claim 15 below. At that point it swings to the left bank, which it follows to the Chatanika Flats. (See PI. XI, A.) Cleary Creek has a drainage area of 10.5 square miles above its mouth. A measurement made July 4 near Cleary gave a discharge of 2.9 second-feet. LITTLE ELDORADO CREEK. Little Eldorado Creek rises on the western slope of Pedro Dome and drains a rather narrow valley between Dome and Vault creeks. It has a steep slope in its upper portion. The average fall of the creek through the mining section is 115 feet per mile. It is about 5 miles long and drains an area of 13.7 square miles. The creek flows in a narrow, rather deep-cut channel, well lined with willows. The pay streak is on the right bank and is located from claim 7 above to claim 4 below. Bed rock ranges from 90 to 122 feet below the surface, with 10 to 80 feet of gravel. The following measurement was made June 26, 1907: Discharge, 0.45 second-foot, elevation, 930 feet; drainage area, 4 square miles; run-off, 0.112 second-foot per square mile. DOME CREEK. Dome Creek rises in the Chatanika divide, opposite Steamboat and Flume creeks, and flows northward into Chatanika River. It is about 5 miles long and drains an area of 13.9 square miles. The creek has an average grade through the mining section of about 70 feet to the mile and good values are found in its upper and lower courses. Discovery claim is located on the right bank near the town of Dome. The creek is being worked on several claims from 7 above to 20 below. The pay streak is on the right bank for practically its entire length. Bed rock ranges from 40 feet below the surface in the upper portion to more than 200 feet below in the Chatanika Flats, near the mouth. Very little water flows in the main channel during the low-water period, a large part of the flow being diverted by numer- GOLDSTREAM CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 128 ous small ditches. A measurement, made June 27, 1907, in a ditch near claim 2 below, gave an approximate discharge of 0.84 second- foot. GOLDSTREAM CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Goldstream Creek flows through a long, narrow valley between the drainage basin of Chatanika River on the right and the Little Chena and Tanana basins on the left. It has a southwesterly direction, paralleling Chatanika River, and drains the central portion of the Fair- banks mining district. The stream flows in a winding course over a sandy, shifting bed. The channel is deeply cut in the alluvial soil that forms the bottom lands. Its length is about 70 miles and it drains an area of 500 square miles. About 40 miles below its source the stream leaves the dividing ridges and for the remainder of its course flows in a zigzag channel across the soft, mucky flats northwest of Tanana River, emptying into the Chatanika from the east. x On either side of the stream is a narrow lowland having a gradual slope toward the dividing ridges. This is covered with the conven- tional moss, and in the lower portion of the valley, where it widens, has numerous lakes and swamps. The bottom land has been well covered with timber, but this has disappeared ' o make way for railroad and mining enterprises, which make the upper portion of the valley a scene of activity. The dividing ridges on either side are well timbered with spruce and birch and rise about 1,000 feet above the stream bed. About 12 miles below the source, the southern ridge has a low saddle over which the Tanana Mines Railroad from Fairbanks enters the mining district. The upper portion of the valley is drained by Pedro and Gilmore creeks, which join to form Goldstream Creek near Gilmore, about 12 miles north of Fairbanks. Pedro Creek, the right fork of Goldstream Creek, is about 6 miles long and has a fall of 100 to 200 feet to the mile in its upper course. About 3 miles from its source Twin Creek, _ a tributary from the right, enters. Here, in 1902, gold was first found in the Fairbanks district, by Felix Pedro. Below this point the creek has a grade of about 80 feet to the mile, which gradually grows less as it approaches Goldstream Creek. Along Pedro Creek the pay streak follows the stream channel closely and bed rock is from 10 to 30 feet below the surface. On Goldstream Creek the pay streak is along the right bank about to claim 10 below and then swings to the left bank, which it fol- lows about to claim 22 below. Farther than this, it has no!: been 124 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. definitely located. The depth to bed rock ranges from 20 to 60 feet. Gilmore Creek, the left fork of Goldstream Creek, has shown small values and very little work is in progress. The creek has a fairly good grade and drains an area of 11.8 square miles. There are numerous small tributaries to Goldstream Creek from either side. Those from the right are Fox, Gold Run, Big Eldorado, O'Connor, and Cache creeks. Those from the left are Engineer, Butter, Spear, Nugget, Straight, and Allen creeks. Prospecting and more or less mining is done on nearly all these creeks. They average from 4 to 12 miles in length and drain small areas. On the upper portion of Goldstream Creek and along Pedro Creek several small ditches have been built to divert the water for sluicing. The largest one is that owned by the Goldstream Ditch Company. The cost of construction was about $6,500. It is about 2 miles in length and has a fall of about 7 feet to the mile. It diverts water from claim 6 below, along the left bank of Goldstream Creek, sup- plying several mines at the rate of $2 per hour per sluice head, which ranges from 60 to 80 inches of water. A measurement made June 28, 1907, in the lower end of a flume near the intake to this ditch gave a discharge of 10.8 second-feet. GOLDSTREAM CREEK AT CLAIM 6 BELOW. On account of the unfavorable condition of the channel of Gold- stream Creek and the numerous small ditches that divert the flow, it was impossible to secure a good location for a gaging station. However, a gage was established near the lower line of claim 6 below, a short distance above the intake to the Goldstream ditch, June 20, 1907, and a reading was taken twice each day by John L. Meder. The water diverted by a small ditch a short distance above the gaging station is not considered in the table of estimates. Several measure- ments made in this ditch gave an average discharge of 1.5 second-feet. Discharge measurements of Goldstream Creek at claim 6 below, 1907. t)ate. Width. Area of section. Gage height. Discharge. June 21 Feet. 11.3 12.4 Sq. ft. j Feet. 8.1 1 1.00 10. 3 1 - 31 Sec-feet. 10.8 Juno. 28. . . 21.1 U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 213 PL. XI A. LOWER CLEARY CREEK. B. GAGING STATION ON FISH CREEK. BEAVER CREP]K DRAINAGE BASIN. 125 Daily gage height and discharge of Goldstream Creek at claim 6 below, 1907. [Elevation, 870 feet; drainage area, 28.6 square miles. ] June. July. August. September. October. Day. A be "3 A 03 SP 03 o 6 be U ■a s bp A be 03 o o5 1 5 I 3 A 03 bo o3 o ? If A g 5 A be "53 A 03 o? o 03 be s A be '3 A o ft Length of record. Central Circle Fairbanks Fort Egbart Fort Gibbon.... Kechumstuk North Fork 0.80 1.05 1.99 1.01 .54 .46 .70 .90 1.01 0.24 .29 .58 .39 .49 .11 .39 .26 .67 1.31 .52 .93 1.37 .46 .12 .18 .67 .46 0.70 .67 .11 .18 .10 .22 .40 .03 ,54 0.73 .83 .36 .66 .50 1.24 1.66 .42 .97 3.56 .54 1.26 1.23 .74 1.51 2.33 1.04 .86 3.11 1.77 2.16 1.98 2.80 1.87 2.13 2.04 1.85 1.85 2.33 1.98 1.73 3.04 1.77 2.04 2.66 1.77 0.52 1.69 1.56 1.95 1.05 1.20 1.52 1.60 1.82 0.70 1.15 1.37 1.93 .85 .62 .42 .82 1.60 0.80 .30 .92 .72 .52 .22 .52 1.19 1.12 0.35 .51 .88 .38 .50 .21 .29 .33 1.10 14.67 11.65 14.10 13.53 11.59 9.55 12.58 11.96 13.77 Yrs. 1 1 1 i 2 1 1 5 Mos. 7 22 18 37 33 18 13 Rampart Dawson 17 18 Note.— Values for the different months are averages of all observations for that month. In the column headed "Year" is given the total of these averages. Amounts given for the winter months, October to March, represent melted snow, and as a rule are taken as one-tenth of the snowfall. Purington a publishes a summary of the rainfall data previous to 1903 as compiled by Cleveland Abbe, jr. These tables show not only the marked variation in rainfall along the coast, but the varia- tions between the rainfall of the coast and that of the interior. A record for thirteen years and eleven months at Juneau shows a yearly average of 93.1 inches, and one for fifty- two months at Eagle gives an average of 11.4 inches. A similar table compiled from records obtained subsequent to 1902, at stations in the interior, gives a range from 9.55 inches at Kechumstuk to 14.67 inches at Central. This table also shows that the heaviest precipitation occurs during the period from June to September, inclusive, and that the months of April and May are usually months of least precipitation. For the source of the data in this table see pages 142 to 149, inclusive, in this report. The following tables show the daily and monthly rainfall at stations near Fairbanks: a Purington, C. W., Methods and costs of gravel and placer mining in Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geol. Sur- vey No. 263, 1905, page 48. METEOEOLOGICAL RECORDS FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 141 Daily rainfall, in inches , at stations near Fairbanks, 1907. Janu- ary. Febru- ary. March. April. May. June. July. Day. Fairbanks. Fair- banks. Cleary. Fair- banks. Sum- mit Road House. Cleary. Faith Creek. 1 0.05 .22 .16 .35 .35 .04 1 2 0.05 0.02 3 0.04 ; 0.09 4 '"6." 03" .04 5 0.15 .09 .11 .07 .04 6 I 0.30 ' .06 7 .35 .01 .30 .09 .14 8 .36 .75 .20 9 .04 0.15 10 .15 .05 .50 .12 .22 .47 .09 .32 .03 11 .16 .04 .07 .17 .21 .07 .03 .17 .40 .17 .05 .02 .05 .14 12 13 .06 .03 14 (a) .20 .30 .05 .30 .05 .24 .03 .24 .13 ""'.19 .20 .01 .15 .05 15 .. 0.03 .02 .18 .10 .02 .01 .19 .28 16 .11 17 1 .01 18 .80 .40 .10 .09 19 20 .14 . 13 21 .02 22 .01 23 .20 .05 r ":;::: \ 24 .25 .18 .05 .22 .15 .02 .27 .23 25 .20 26 .12 .07 .31 27 0.01 .41 .42 28 .08 .23 .30 29 .13 .01 '"".12 .13 .06 .12 31 Total . 6 3.30 33.0 6.86 8-6 6 2.42 24.2 6.03 .30 .35 1.47 c.84 1.51 2.71 2.55 1.87 August. September. October. Novem- ber. Day. Fair- banks. Sum- mit Road House. Cleary. Poker Creek. Faith Creek. Fair- banks. Cleary. Poker Creek. Fair- banks. Poker Creek. Poker Creek. 1 0.72 .01 1.27 .06 1.17 .12 0.49 .19 0.02 2 Tr. 3 ... 4 .09 .20 .03 .11 .15 .15 .10 .02 0.18 ' .03 0.08 .14 0.10 Tr. Tr. .10 .20 .05 .09 .23 .50 .25 Tr. 0.05 .30 .10 08 6 .13 .27 .07 .42 .11 .04 .22 0.05 .24 "".'is" .02 .05 .23 .71 .12 .11 .22 -------- .80 .01 .02 .01 Tr. .63 .88 8 .01 9 .46 .08 .33 .05 .17 .30 .20 .10 10 10 11 .25 03 12 13 .01 14 .03 15 .09 .07 .04 .22 .27 .85 .70 .10 Tr. 16 :::::::: .01 .01 .07 17 ...... .. .09 "'.05' 18 m 19 .20 .13 20 L... .15 .15 .16 .37 .01 .15 "'."52" .23 .40 .13 .27 .15 21 '"".05' .19 .04 .20 .13 .03 "\"i6" .11 .09 .13 .13 .02 .13 .04 .15 '".is ""."is" .36 .03 22 23 24 .18 12 25 26 27 1 1 28 .26 .13 "".22" .02 .15 .09 .54 .13 .30 .47 .20 .15 29 .13 .35 .50 """39" .30 .04 30 31 Total. Snowfall . . . 1.81 3.27 2.88 1.40 3.00 3.58 3.82 3.70 6 2.44 24.4 1.70 24.0 . .25 3.30 1 i 1 ! i a Drifting. 6 Taken as 10 per cent of the snowfall. c June 25 to 30. 142 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. SUMMARY OF RECORDS SINCE 1902. All meteorological records obtained at stations in Alaska up to 1902 have been compiled by Abbe. a The following tables complete the record of precipitation to 1907, inclusive. The values for 1903 to 1905 for Weather Bureau stations have been taken from the annual report of the Chief of the Weather Bureau. Those for 1906 and 1907 were obtained from the original records through the courtesy of the Bureau officials. The snowfall is given only for 1906 and 1907. For these years the amount of rainfall and melted snow is given in the first line and the snowfall in the second line. Most of the amounts given for the winter season in the previous years represent melted snow, and many of them have been taken as one-tenth of the observed snowfall. The water equivalent of snow- fall varies considerably, and in general is probably somewhat less than this proportion in Alaska. In many parts of Alaska the snowfall is accompanied by wind and piles up in the form of drifts in sheltered places. This renders the accurate measurement of the quantity of snow very difficult, and many of these records can therefore be re- garded as only approximate. The locations of all rainfall stations are given on PL XII. Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska.b D. BLACK POINT. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. [Latitude, 64° 51'; longitude, 165° 16'.] Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual. 1907 . 2.62 1.94 2.85 3.26 1. CENTRAL. [Latitude, 65° 33'; longitude, 145° 49'.] 1906. f 0.56 1 6.1 f 1.04 tio.o 0.06 1.0 .42 4.0 0.05 1.4 2.57 24.0 0.47 4.7 .93 8.0 0.86 2.0 .57 1.5 4.91 4.82 1.85 0.52 0.70 7.0 0.80 8.0 0.35 4.0 15.95 34.2 2.21 1.40 1907 H. CLEARY. • [Latitude, 65° 05'; longitude, 147° 2&.] 1907 1 2.55 2.88 3.82 1 2. CHISTOCHINA. [Latitude, 62° 36'; longitude, 144° 44'.] 0.05 f .26 i 2. 5 / 2.80 128.0 0.02 .60 6.0 ' .20 2.0 0.08 .30 3.0 .80 8.0 0.00 Tr. 0.48 .00 0.90 .81 Tr. 1. 50 3.19 1.78 0.40 3.20 1.48 2.21 2.01 3.11 2.07 5.0 1.0 1.34 6.0 0.03 I .50 ! 5.0 I 0.20 .75 1.80 18.0 13.49 35.5 a Abbe, Cleveland, jr., Prof. Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 45, 1906, pp. 189-200. V Numbers and letters refer to PI. XII. WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. X!! U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. XII MAP OF ALASKA, SHOWING LOCATION OF RAINFALL STATIONS. SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS SINCE 1902. Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. 3. CIRCLE. [Latitude, 65° 50'; longitude, 144° 4'.] 143 Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual. f 0.75 9.5 .63 8.2 1906 { f i. 02 t 8.5 0.57 7.8 0.28 3.25 0.15 0.29 1.36 2.79 1.73 1907 4. COAL HARBOR, UNGA ISLAND. [Latitude, 55° 20'; longitude, 160° 38'.] 1903 1904 1905 3.90 2.00 0.17 / 2.33 t 5.8 f 5.65 \ 3.5 7.32 0.12 9.05 5.43 1.9 0.20 1.2 1.90 0.66 1.20 6.46 4.2 1.43 Tr. 2.26 1.89 18.92 • Tr." 7.99 12.75 2.77 1.83 6.76 3.27 Tr. 4.59 2.05 1.23 4.44 1.01 3.66 4.22 1.75 3.18 3.64 4.17 2.20 4.28 5.29 3.73 2.95 3.42 2.52 2.07 3.03 4.44 2.52 2.82 9.25 3.52 7.3 4.69 2.00 4.64 2.87 2.25 42.52 26.74 64.36 1906 1.88 4.71 4.90 5.84 5.83 Tr. 1907 5. COPPER CENTER. [Latitude, 61° 58'; longitude, 145° 20'.] 1903 x904 1905 1906 1907 0.05 0.06 0.40 Tr. 0.60 1.38 0.99 1.16 1.34 1.71 0.20 0.75 .67 .22 Tr. 0.24 .92 1.11 1.80 2.09 .73 .48 .36 .68 .29 1.01 .20 Tr. .48 .50 1.35 .72 1.94 .97 .94 .97 f 1.14 117.2 .19 .69 .36 .43 1.19 2.14 .69 .37 .84 .99 .35 2.8 9.2 3.0 Tr. 8.5 6.0 {:::::: .60 .30 .36 1.14 .97 .71 .25 1.35 .80 .35 6.0 3.0 11.5 8.0 3.5 8.63 9.30 9.37 9.38 46.7 6. FAIRBANKS. [Latitude, 64° 50'; longitude, 147° 44'.] 1904 1.10 1.20 12.0 .65 6.5 .35 3.5 2.00 0.60 5.1 1.15 11.5 .59 5.9 f 0.92 19.1 / 1.75 \17.5 ] 3.30 \33.0 0.50 5.0 .37 3.7 .86 8.6 0.05 .5 .33 3.3 2.42 24.2 0.20 2.0 .10 1.0 .03 .30 2.63 0.86 1905 1906 0.36 1.05 2.82 1.50 .25 .30 0.6 2.44 24.4 10. 63 45.1 1907........ .35 1.47 1.51 1.81 3.58 18.71 99.9 L. FAITH CREEK. [Latitude, 65° 17'; longitude, 146° 23'.] 1907. 1.87 3.00 2.97 7. FORT EGBERT. [Latitude, 64° 45'; longitude, 141° 10'.] 1903 0.58 0.81 0.54 0.12 1.38 .33 .54 0.57 1.95 .51 2.40 1.52 2.54 0.97 2.72 1.28 2.97 3.38 .01 1905 2.96 1.71 4.6 1.12 13.0 0.93 .51 8.5 .40 4.0 0.68 .07 1.0 1906 f 1.45 \ 2.0 .14 1.0 .21 2.0 2.19 11.0 .00 1907 .25 .15 .40 .55 1.89 1.48 1.98 1.45 144 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. 8. FORT GIBBON. [Latitude, 65° 12'; longitude, 152°.] Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual. 1903 0.37 .08 .37 / .65 \ 6.0 / 1.26 \12. 6 0.73 .55 .47 .20 2.0 1.14 .35 Tr. .30 3.0 .53 5.0 0.23 .09 ' Tr." 0.16 .22 .84 1.00 0.38 .33 1.50 1.76 1.95 4.90 ""3.'80" 3.02 0.48 .35 0.22 .39 0.33 .07 1.10 .99 9.9 • .03 1.5 Tr. 0.70 .18 .27 2.7 1904 1905 8.88 1906 a. 50 a 5.0 1.22 12.0 1907........ .30 2.58 2.31 2.32 4.0 a October 7 to 31. 9. FORT LISCUM. [Latitude, 61° 27' 30"; longitude, 146° 27' 34".] 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 10.42 6.80 3.63 fl2. 53 [97.6 f 1.75 117.5 13.60 .52 5.73 1.83 13.5 10.14 95.0 4.72 .10 7.17 7.54 103.2 6.04 63.0 3.87 4.50 2.96 4.20 31.6 2.23 .68 7.02 1.36 .5 4.05 3.24 2.26 3.83 4.01 2.83 4.29 5.61 3.49 7.12 11.25 6. 44 8. 62 12.45 7.96 9.85 8. 46 4. 11 10.61 11. 6.62 5.62 9.61 9.16 2.20 3.99 6.06 10.37 7.75 8.61 7.50 6.75 .5 57.5 63.5 16.77 7.94 7.13 10.4 38.1 51.95 10. FORT YUKON. [Latitude, 66° 34'; longitude, 145° 18'.] 1903. '. . 0.62 .69 1.09 .93 ~6.~8o' 0.34 3.08 0.35 4.60 0.77 2.40 1.70 1.30 0.26 0.38 1904 1.67 E. GRAND CENTRAL. [Latitude, 64° 58'; longitude, 165° 14'.] 3. 61 7. 19 5. 06 11. HOLY CROSS MISSION. [Latitude, 62° 16': longitude, 159° 50'.] 1906 0.78 .55 3.5 1.26 4.49 0.39 0.22 1.52 2.95 1.97 3.73 3.22 5.39 2.47 3.56 0.11 .38 0.90 .51 1.02 f 2.08 115.5 1907 12. JUNEAU. [Latitude, 58° 19'; longitude, 134° 28'.] 1903 11.31 7.29 3.09 3.74 7.84 4.96 3.03 2.0 3.10 6.74 6.50 1.58 1.44 10.40 2.96 1.34 2.26 8.15 1.93 3.58 5.45 4.04 7.85 3.21 6.94 9.20 "3*68' 1904 9.34 12.74 12.30 8. 36 15.49 12.27 7.0 4.58 8.5 8.89 10.32 2.17 1905 2.83 f 4.35 {-.'is' 3.08 1.57 '8.~88~ 5.90 .56 Tr. 2.74 1906 3.93 3.40 6.88 17.03 11.19 3.0 1907 SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS SINCE 1902. 145 Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. KATALLA. [Latitude, 60° 11'; longitude, 144° 31'.] Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual. f 7.70 2.0 4.85 8.29 14.95 11.41 12.34 25.62 1.25 12.44 ! 1907 { 15.5 i 13. KENAI. [Latitude, 60° 32'; longitude, 151° 19'.] 1903 . 0.83 .46 .29 f .30 t 5.5 f .68 t 5.0 2.18 .29 ,92 .10 1.0 .61 15.5 0.44 .02 .57 1.24 10.2 .67 8.8 0.67 .34 .46 .17 3.0 .04 Tr. 0.54 Tr. .84 .29 1.16 .87 .84 .57 2.48 2.44 1.06 4.41 3.78 3.50 6.26 2.95 2.72 4.01 .78 1.41 0.77 1.71 2.92 1.74 Tr. 1.66 2.7 0.78 .48 2.16 .39 7.8 0.18 .66 1.41 1.16 10.0 16.53 1904 1905 1906 14.78 18.51 14.73 37.5 1.24 2.31 5.49 10.00 1907 14. KECHUMSTUK. [Latitude, 64° 07'; longitude, 142° 20'.] 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. 0.90 .36 4.0 .12 2.0 0.10 .05 .5 .20 3.0 0.05 .06 1.0 .27 4.0 0.40 .27 5.0 Tr. 1.80 .20 1.3C 12.0 0.83 1.58 1.61 2.03 2.23 .40 3.25 0.94 1.48 2.51 2.14 0.64 2.16 .51 .49 2.0 0.30 1.18 .31 4.3 .72 9.0 0.03 .36 .29 .5 .40 4.0 0.23 .20 .20 3.0 9.01 11. 11 18.3 15. KILLISNOO. [Latitude, 57° 22'; longitude, 134° 29'.] 1903 1904 1905 4.05 4.30 1.90 f 6.90 \31.0 J 1.40 114.0 2.4" 1.25 2.80 2.70 1.5 9.55 31.5 0.20 1.20 2.60 .90 6.15 1.35 2.20 5.15 2.55 1.75 L25' 0.75 3.35 1.20 2.85 1.15 4.60 1.60 3.80 2.30 2.30 4.30 4.90 3.10 7.70 "'4.' 70* 12.45 8.20 4.10 8.40 3.65 9.20 8.40 9.55 4.0 5.00 8.55 7.75 2.50 10.0 43. 75 53.75 1906 53.60 46.5 1907 1.70 7.0 1.35 1.60 3.85 3/05 4.65 6.85 8.57 16. LORING (FORKNAM HATCHERY.) [Latitude, 55° 36'; longitude, 131° 37'.] 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. 5.18 [21. 66 [19.5 [ .53 115.0 13.19 13. 03 4. 19.2 [24.2 2.05 16.53 8.56 7.27 11.65 24.52 4.2 7.76 15.80 9.46 5.59 4.30 9.68 .84 10.09 5.23 7.97 5.26 4.99 1.15 12.71 15. 21 9.75 20.20 14.07 17.28 10.14 26.01 17.94 20.49 20.09 31.90 28.49 21.57 24.55 1.0 20.01 25. 92 8.41 7.5 161. 24 164. 45 31.2 17. MINE HARBOR. [Latitude, 55° 45'; longitude, 160° 40'.] 1903 2.36 3.00 6.61 .49 1.00 .29 2.25 1.42 2.59 .81 1.01 1.30 2.51 3.'. . 4.78 5.10 3.97 2.60 5.92 1904 35283— irr 218—08 10 146 WATER SUPPLY. IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. A. NOME. [Latitude, 64° 30'; longitude, 165° 24'.] Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual. f Tr. 2.38 2.50 1.02 0.93 0.32 1.91 20.8 1906 { J 2.64 \25.2 1.46 13.9 3.37 28.8 0.10 1.12 1.31 2.08 2.68 1.41 .16 .06 1907 18. NORTH FORK. [Latitude, 64° 30'; longitude, 142° 10'.] 1905. 1906. 1907. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. 0.70 7.0 15.5 0.50 5.0 3.0 0.10 1.0 .27 3.0 0.80 8.0 Tr. 1.34 4.0 2.74 i.92" 2.69 i.57 1.91 1.01 3.19 72 2.00 5.0 0.42 3.2 1.40 12.0 0.50 .55 4.5 .20 2.0 0.20 .38 4.5 16.74 11.69 8.20 10.63 76.0 ? 3.26 L 3.0 16.60 11.56 .94 8.48 100.0 0.72 12.51 5.34 39 2.15 25.0 13.55 9.10 7.54 17.0 10. ).51 4.42 10.75 12.' 99 16 67 9.12 17.70 21.76 15.57 29.15 13.24 9.66 29.64 17.08 3.0 13.16 17.0 23.44 19.05 12.81 8.56 39.0 12.59 33.2 19. NUSHAGAK. [Latitude, 58° 56'; longitude, 158° 24'.] 1904. 2.29 4.52 4.16 1.66 Tr. 0.56 1905 0.20 1.45 0.40 0.40 2.51 2.75 3.84 C. OPHIR CREEK (CLAIM 15). [Latitude, 64° 59'; longitude, 163° 39'.] 1906 Tr. 3.57 1.91 20. ORCA. [Latitude, 60° 35'; longitude, 145° 40'.] 21. PETERSBURG. [Latitude, 56° 49'; longitude, 132° 56'.] 1904 1 9.20 4.46 2 33 10.76 15.33 12.89 13.89 1905 7.17 3.03 i.95 22. POINT BARROW. [Latitude. 71° 17'; longitude, 156° 40'.] 1903 0.20 Tr. 0.10 .37 0.10 0.74 1.43 0.09 Tr. 0.05 1904 0.40 0.30 1 1 K. POKER CREEK. [Latitude, 65° 08'; longitude, 147° 28'.] f ... 1.40 3.70 1.70 24.0 0.25 3.30 1906 { 1 SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS SINCE 1902. 147 Summary of records of precipitation at stations. in Alaska — Continued. 23. RAMPART. [Latitude, 65° 30'; longitude, 150° 15'.] Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. Ju'y. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual. 1905 1.33 .15 1.99 1.86 2.19 2.40 1.70 .59 1.20 .61 1.43 .95 10.2 .55 6.3 0.33 .33 3.5 1906 / 6.63 i 7.2 f 1.17 \12.0 a 08 2.0 .44 4.5 0.17 1.8 1.17 12.8 0.04 .5 .02 .25 0.40 8.21 25.2 .44 1.64 2.29 3.38 2.52 .65 1907 1907. B. SALMON LAKE. [Latitude, 64° 54'; longitude, 164° 56'.] f Tr. 4.92 3.33 3.26 0.81 1.56 18.0 1 1906 1907 2.31 i. 79 3.65 2.26 1 F. SHELTON. [Latitude, 65° 13'; longitude, 164° 48'.] 0.71 1.33 0.47 24. SITKA. [Latitude 57° 03'; longitude 135° 19'.] 1903 1904 1905 1906 6.61 10.36 3.82 J 7.25 \ 8.3 / 2.36 \10.0 8.68 .43 4.78 1.89 '3.55' 4.2 2.57 3.04 4.21 1.58 6.0 1.75 10.5 4.25 3.39 7.52 10.64 3.65 3.80 2.44 3.46 0.90 3.22 2.25 3.34 2.85 5.95 2.83 7.45 3.90 3.74 7.38 4.66 5.80 13.27 8.80 5.78 14.52 10.38 7.03 15.22 6.50 8.78 11.37 15.59 14.97 8.13 11.21 6.61 1.0 75.20 74.49 73.64 83.47 15.3 2.16 3.84 3.66 4.66 12.60 15.75 11.77 12.13 .70 1907 25. SKAGWAY. [Latitude, 59° 28'; longitude, 135° 20'.] 1903 1904 2.08 1.44 1.44 Tr. 1.14 1.16 0.43 .33 1.14 .57 Tr. .47 Tr. 0.48 2.31 1.27 3.55 1.10 .84 1.11 .37 0.56 .97 .10 2.63 0,02 1.07 .16 2.11 2.08 .18 2.14 2.26 1.41 2.80 2.67 1.30 9.99 5.35 2.17 5.58 1.60 6.28 3.25 6.47 3.35 24.54 1905 2.21 .33 3.0 { 1906 3.0 / .46 \ Tr. 4.85 Tr. 1.08 .92 1.98 2.47 5.87 4.23 10.0 1907 26. SUMMIT. [Latitude, 62° 55'; longitude, 143° 48'.] 1 1.19 \11.0 1 1.80 U8.0 0.46 5.0 .10 2.0 1.04 12.0 .70 7.0 1.26 13.0 .40 1.02 5.0 .80 4.0 4.25 a 0.03 0.12 0.07 0.74 14.0 0.49 7.0 1906 1907 2.15 1.40 14.0 a August 19 to 31. G. SUMMIT ROADHOUSE. [Latitude, 65 a 02'; longitude, 147° 26' ] 1907. 2.71 3.27 148 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. ■27. SUNRISE. [Latitude, 60° 54'; longitude, 149° 35'.] Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual. 1904 1905 1906 1.69 2.12 / 2.18 130. 7 / 2.05 17.5 0.13 1.93 .29 3.7 1.93 29.0 0.28 1.64 3.63 33.9 5.08 3.41 1.17 3.8 1.41 2.0 1.01 .84 2.35 1.36 2.46 1.05 1.40 1.84 5.02 4.46 3.70 2.33 1.86 1.54 9.35 4.36 6.67 5.0 6.03 14.2 2.37 9.47 3.87 15.0 7.32 31.4 8.31 8.48 2.30 25.5 6.78 19.7 37.98 40.66 32.00 117.6 1.30 .74 4.62 2.29 4.45 1907 28. TANANA CROSSING. [Latitude, 63° 24'; longitude, 143° 24'.] 1904 | 0.76 .14 0.78 .37 0.89 2.95 1.06 0.15 1.40 0.10 ( .60 0.90 1905 0.24 .30 6. 6s 6. is .00 Tr. 0.00 1906 G. TAYLOR. [Latitude, 65° 42'; longitude, 164° 48'.] 1907. 0.i 0.! 1.17 29. TEIKHELL. [Latitude, 61° 23'; longitude, 145° 18'.] 1904 0.05 1.31 1.87 26.2 .56 9.0 0.75 .04 .58 5.5 .07 Tr. 0.40 Tr. .25 Tr. .80 0.79 .80 1.39 1.53 1.05 2.70 2.00 1.02 .72 1.21 1.41 .62 1.5 1.20 2.82 1.48 2.90 11.0 0.90 4.90 3.52 35.8 2.95 2.34 .36 6.2 1905 1906 0.98 J 2.50 125.0 / .37 \ 4.5 0.49 .20 2.0 1.81 21.4 15.82 17.61 113. 2 .68 8.20 2.00 1907 30. TYONEK. [Latitude, 61° 03'; longitude, 151° 10'.] 1903 1904 1905 1.95 1.07 3.91 .26 0.45 1.01 0.69 1.59 2.62 5.69. 2.76 1.15 0.64 0.53 22.99 1.27 1.00 .92 1.67 3.19 3.10 1.04 12.5 i. 24 1.38 14.0 f .65 \16.0 J 1.96 \21.0 .49 7.0 1.32 26.0 1.66 33.0 .77 20.0 .24 2.0 .39 2.96 2.95 1906 2.86 6.39 3.05 5.76 3.48 4.7 1907 31. UDAKTA (DUTCH HARBOR). [Latitude, 53° 54'; Longitude, 166° 32'.] 1905 4.69 1.14 1.73 3.56 3.39 3.10 3.46 2.29 5.00 7.91 13.78 5.38 8.28 5.76 1906 f 3.09 f'8.'76' 9.46 4.0 2.49 12.19 3.07 6.82 63.77 4.0 2.93 2.97 5.39 i. 27 2.11 3.25 7.79 1.0 1907 32. WOODY ISLAND (KODIAK ISLAND). [Latitude, 57° 40'; longitude, 152° 25'.] 1903 1904 1905 4.74 3.63 4.80 I 2.50 \13.0 f 1.00 12.0 8.10 4.'96" 8.60 4.66" 26.0 0.39 Tr. 2.60 3.50 7.0 Tr. Tr. 4.61 3.68 1.70 3.80 4.92 3.35 2.70 5.10^ 7.80 2.26 3.10 4.70 4.38 1.36 2.10 4.79 4.89 "i.*56" 7.95 4.63 1.80 6.70 6.27 4.84 7.50 5.10 Tr. 8.70 3.30 5.20 8.00 3.20 3.5 7.70 4.5 8.29 3.24 2.42 65.54 1906 1907 -. .61 6.30 5.20 3.50 3.70 9.00 6.5 5.5 56.21 38.0 SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS SINCE 1902. 149 Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. 33. DAWSON.a [Latitude, 64° 05'; longitude, 139° 28'.] Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual. 1901 0.94 .86 .50 1.71 .25 .92 .85 1.32 3.32 1.11 2.14 1.93 1.20 1.93 1.64 2.38 1.47 1.66 2.51 1.46 1.28 1.17 1.17 2.41 1.01 3.52 1.14 2.34 2.25 .92 1.25 .36 1.84 .47 4.09 1.10 1.10 .45 .80 .24 1.55 2.60 1.55 .80 .65 1.45 1.24 .93 1902 1.73 .50 .82 .23 1.26 1.53 0.20 1.35 .32 1.30 .51 .34 "6.'60' .20 .40 .22 .88 0.50 .60 .57 .94 .42 .23 0.46 .39 .96 .97 2.00 1.06 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 13.01 12.00 15. 37 12.08 34. WHITE HORSE .a [Latitude, 60° 46'; longitude, 135°.] 1905 1906 1.72 .55 .55 0.00 .75 .52 0.18 "i."45* 0.10 .20 .75 0.15 .07 .27 0.20 1.78 3.03 3.30 3.33 5.10 0.92 1.39 1.63 2.10 .50 .86 1.50 .30 .26 1.20 1.10 .90 0.30 .20 11-67 1907 35. ATLIN.a [Latitude, 59° 45'; longitude, 133° 46'.] 1905 1.06 .78 .58 0.48 1.45 .82 1.55 2.55 .51 0.76 .88 1906 1.37 ="99 0.72 2.18 Tr. .55 6.69" 0.25 .34 i.74 .32 1.62 .42 6.7i 1.48 1907 a These data were furnished by the Canadian Meteorological Service. INDEX. A. Page. Abbe, Cleveland, jr., on climatic con- ditions in Alaska___ 133 on rainfall records in Alaska 142 Acre-foot, definition of 9 American River drainage basin, de- scription of 93-94 Arctic Creek, discharge of 90 Arizona Creek and ditch, discharge of 90 Arizona Creek ditch, description and discharge of 90 Atlin, rainfall records at 149 Aurora Creek, discharge of 64 B. Bear Creek, description and dis- charge of 112 Bear Creek ditch, description of 100 Beaver Creek drainage basin, de- scription of 125-127 miscellaneous measurements in 127 Belle Creek, description and dis- charge of 119 Bismarck Creek, description and dis- charge of 93 Black Point, Campion ditch at__ 35-36, 70 Miocene ditch at 26-27, 70 rainfall records at 137, 138, 142 Blocker and Sayle ditch, descrip- tion and discharge of 90 Boston Creek, description and dis- charge of 118 Boulder Creek, discharge of 92 Brigham Creek, discharge of 127 Brooks, A. H., on climatic provinces of Alaska 133 administrative wor*k of 8 Bryan Creek (Beaver Creek drain- age) above East Branch, discharge of 127 Bryan Creek (Serpentine River drainage), discharge of 92-93 Budd Creek, description and dis- charge of 93-94 Buffalo Creek, description and dis- charge 22 C. California Creek, discharge of 90 Campion ditch, description of 35 discharge of, at Black Point- 35-36, 70 Page. Candle ditch, description and dis- charge of 100 Canyon Creek, discharge of 58 Caribou Creek, discharge of 120 Cascade ditch, description and dis- charge of 87 Cascade intake, Taylor Creek at, discharge of 85-86 Cedric ditch, description of :__ 64 discharge of, above penstock 65, 70 seepage from, measurements of 65 water available for 65 Central, rainfall records at 140, 142 Charity Creek above mouth of Hope Creek, discharge 115 Chatanika River, description and discharge of 121 discharge of, diagram showing 105 near Faith Creek, storage table for 132 near junction of Faith and Mc- Manus creeks, description and discharge of 117-118 discharge and horsepower ta- ble for 118 Chatanika River drainage basin, de- scription of 114-115 stream measurements in 115-123 Chena Slough at Fairbanks, descrip- tion and discharge of 118-109 Chistochina, rainfall records at 142 Circle, rainfall records at 140, 143 Clara Creek, Miocene ditch at 27-28, 70 Cleary, rainfall records at 140, 141, 142 Cleary Creek, description and dis- charge of 122 Climatic conditions on Seward Pe- ninsula 134-139 Coal Harbor, Unga Island, rainfall records at 143 Coarse Gold Creek, description and discharge of 88-89 Kougarok River above, descrip- tion and discharge 82-83 Coarse Gold ditch, description of 89 Coffee Creek, discharge of , — 90 Columbia Creek, discharge of 90 Cooperation, acknowledgment of 8-9 Copper Center, rainfall records at 143 Copper Creek, description and dis- charge of 49-50 Copper and Jett creeks, combined discharge of 51 151 152 INDEX. Page. Copper, Nugget, and Jett creeks, wa- ter available from, for hy- draulicking placers 71, 72 Copper Creek branch of Miocene ditch, discharge of 35 Covert, C. C. ; The Fairbanks dis- trict ___ 101-132 work by 8 Covert, C. C, and Fred F. Henshaw ; " Introduction " to report- 7-12 Meteorological records 133-149 Crater Creek, description and dis- charge of 57 Crater Lake, storage capacity of 52 Crater Lake outlet, discharge of 44-45 Cripple River drainage basin, de- scription of 64 discharge measurements in 64-65 Crooked Creek, description and dis- charge of 119 Current meters, use of 11 D. Dahl Creek, water available for, at elevation of 300 to 350 feet 91 Daisy Swift Creek, discharge of 64 Data and methods, explanation of — 9-12 David Creek, description and dis- charge of, at Miocene ditch intake 22-23 discharge of, compared with that of Nome River at Miocene ditch intake 22-23 David Creek ditch, description and discharge of__ 32-33, 70 Dawson, rainfall records at 149 Deep Creek, reservoir site near 115 Dick Creek, discharge of 92-93 Discharge measurements, methods of making 10-12 Discovery Creek, discharge of 58 Ditch and pipe lines, Nome region 72-76 Fairbanks district 130-131 Kougarok region 94-95 Dolan and McFadden ditch, dis- charge of 90 Dome Creek (Chatanika drainage), description and discharge of 122-123 Dome Creek (Kruzgamepa drainage), discharge of 58, 59 Dorothy Creek, description and dis- charge of 23 Dorothy Creek siphon, Miocene ditch above 35 East Branch Beaver Creek, above mouth, discharge of 127 Eldorado Creek, discharge of 58 Eldorado and Flambeau River drain- age basins, description of_ 69 Page. Elliott Creek, description of 110 discharge of, above mouth of Sor- rels Creek 110 Little Chena River, above mouth of 109 Equivalents, list of 10 Eureka Creek, discharge of 90 F. Fairbanks, Chena Slough at 109 rainfall records at 140, 141, 143 Fairbanks Creek, description and dis- charge of 112-113 Fish Creek above mouth of_ 111-112 Fairbanks district, comparative run- off of different areas in 128 ditch lines in, surveys for 130-131 gaging stations in, list of 106 rainfall records in 139-141 topography and drainage of 101-103 water storage in 131-132 water supply of, conditions af- fecting 103-104 development of 1__ 129-130 measurements of 106-128 water-power possibilities in 131 Fairhaven ditch, description of 99 Fairhaven precinct, water supply of 99-100 Faith Creek, description and dis- charge of 115 Faith Creek Camp, rainfall records at 140, 141, 143 Faith and McManus creeks, junc- tion of, Chatanika River near 117-118 Fall Creek, discharge of 60 Fish Creek above mouth of Fair- banks Creek, description and discharge of 111-112 Flambeau and Eldorado River drain- age basins, description of_ 69 Float measurements, methods of making 11 Fort Egbert, rainfall records at 140, 143 Fort Gibbon, rainfall records at__ 140, 144 Fort Liscum, rainfall records at 144 Fort Yukon, rainfall records at 144 Fossil Creek, discharge of 127 Fox Creek, description and discharge of '_ 125 G. Gages, installation and use of 12 Gaging stations, in Fairbanks dis- trict 106 in Kougarok region 79 in Nome region IS Glacier Creek, discharge of 60 Snake River above 68-<»9 Gold Run, description and discharge of 48 lake at head of, storage capacity of 52 INDEX. 158 Page. Gold Run, storage capacity required to maintain given dis- charges of 53 Gold Run, Grand Central River, and Thompson Creek, storage capacity required to main- tain given discharges of 53 Gold Run, Thompson Creek, and up- per Grand Central River, water available from, for hydraulicking placers 71, 72 Goldstrenm Creek at claim 6 below, description and discharge of 124-125 Coldstream Creek drainage basin, de- scription of 123 Goose Creek, Noxapaga River above_ 92 Grand Central, rainfall records at 137, 138, 144 Grand Central ditch, description and discharge of 31-32, 70 Grand Central River, discharge of, below Nugget Creek 47 discharge of, below the forks 46 diagram showing 17 Grand Central River drainage basin, description of 38 storage posibilities in 52—53 stream measurements in 30-52 Grand Central River, North Pork of, description and .discharge of 38-41 Grand Central River, Thompson Creek, and Gold Run, storage capacity required to maintain given dis- charges of 53 Grand Central River, upper, water available from, for hy- draulicking placers 71, 72 Grand Central River, West Pork, de- scription and discharge of 41—44 Grand Union Creek, discharge of 50 Grouse Creek branch of Miocene ditch, discharge of 35 II. Harris Creek, discharge of 90 Henry Creek, description and dis- charge of 88 Henry Creek ditch, description of 88 Henry and Lincoln creeks, discharge of ___ 88 Henshaw, Fred F. ; The Pairhaven precinct 09-100 The Kougarok region 77-98 The Nome region 13-76 work by 8 Henshaw, F. F., and C. C. Covert, " Introduction " to report- 7-12 Meteorological records 133-149 Henshaw, Fred P., and J. C. Hoyt, on water supply of Nome region 15 Page. Hobson Creek, description and dis- charge of 23-24 discharge of, at Miocene ditch intake 24 below Manila Creek and di- versions 24 limestone springs in basin of 23 Miocene ditch near 28-29, 70 Hobson Creek branch of Pioneer ditch, discharge of 70 Hobson Creek branch of Seward ditch, discharge of 70 Holy Cross Mission, rainfall records at 144 Homestake Creek, discharge of 90 Homestake ditch, description and discharge of 80, 83-84 Homestake ditch intake, Kougarok River at 80-81 Hope Creek, discharge of, near mouth of Zephyr Creek 115 Charity Creek above mouth of 115 Hoyt, J. C, work by 8 Hoyt, J. C, and Henshaw, Fred F., on water supply of Nome region • 15 Hydraulic mining, methods of 14-15 I. Imuruk Basin drainage, streams tributary to, discharge of_ 59-60 Irene Creek, discharge of 64 Iron Creek, description and dis- charge of 57-58, 59 Iron Creek and tributaries, dis- charge of 58-59 Irving ditch, description and dis- charge of 83 J- Jessie Creek, discharge of 64 Jett Creek, description and dis- charge of 50-51 Jett and Copper creeks, combined discharge of 51 Jett, Copper, and Nugget creeks, water available from, for hydraulicking placers 71, 72 Jett Creek ditch, description and dis- charge of 30-31, 70 discharge of, compared with that of Nome River at Miocene intake 51 Josie Creek, discharge of 64 Juneau, rainfall records at 144 K. Katalla, rainfall records at 145 Kechumstuk, rainfall records at 140, 145 Kenai, rainfall records at 145 Killisnoo, rainfall records at 145 Kokomo Creek, description and dis- charge of 119-120 154 INDEX. Page. Kougarok region, gaging stations in 79-94 hydraulic development in 94 topography and drainage of 77-78 water supply of 77-95 conditions affecting 78-79 Kougarok River, description and discharge of, above Coarse Gold Creek 82-83 description and discharge of, ahove Taylor Creek 82 at Homestake ditch intake 80-81 discharge of, below Washington Creek 80 Kougarok River drainage basin, de- scription of 79-80 ditches in, water available for, in 1907 90-91 mean weekly water supply of, in 1907 91 miscellaneous discharge meas- urements in 90 Kruzgamepa River, discharge of, at Salmon Lake 55-57 Kruzgamepa River drainage basin, description of 54-55 discharge measurements in 55-59 L. Lillian Creek, discharge of 88 Limestone springs, effect of, on run- off 17 Lincoln Creek, description of 88 Lincoln and Henry creeks, discharge of 88 Little Chena River, description and discharge of, above mouth of Elliott Creek _: 109 Little Chena River and tributaries, discharge of, diagram showing 105 discharge and horsepower table for 108 Little Chena River drainage basin, description of 106-108 drainage areas of 108 Little Eldorado Creek, description and discharge of 122 Little Poker Creek, discharge of 120 Loring (Forknam hatchery), rainfall records at 145 M. McKay Creek, description and dis- charge of 119 Macklin branch of Homestake ditch, discharge of 90 Macklin Creek, discharge of 90 McManus Creek, description and dis- charge of : 116-117 McManus and Faith creeks, junction of,Chatanika River near. 117-118 McMonagle ditch, discharge of 90 Meteorological records 133-149 Page. Methods and data, explanation of 9-12 Miller Creek, description and dis- charge of il3 Mine Harbor, rainfall records at 145 Miner's inch, definition of 9-10 Miocene ditch, discharge of, above Dorothy Creek siphon 35 discharge of, above and below Hobson Creek 28-29, 70 above Snow Gulch 35 below the Ex 30 ' at Black Point 26-27, 70 at Clara Creek 27-28, 70 at flume 29-30, 70 at miscellaneous points 35 Copper Creek branch of 35 David Creek branch of__ 22, 70 Grand Central branch of 70 Grouse Creek branch of 35 Jett Creek branch of 70 seepage measurements on 33-34 Miocene ditch flume, construction of, over glacier 74 Miocene ditch intake, David Creek at 22-23 Hobson Creek at 24 Nome River at 17, 19-21, 51 Nugget Creek at, discharge of 50 Miocene ditch system, description of_ 24-26 Morning Call Creek, description and discharge of 51—52 N. Nome, barometric records at 139 rainfall records at '. 136, 137, 138, 139, 146 snowfall at 16 temperature records at 138 Nome Creek (Fairbanks district), discharge of 127 Nome region, climatic conditons in_ 16, 135 ditches in, discharge of 70 list of 75-76 gaging stations in 18-69 limestone springs in 17 pipe lines and ditches in 72-76 placer mining in 14-15 rainfall in 15-16, 136, 138 snowfall in 16 topography and drainage of 13-14 water-power possibilities in 76 water supply of, conditions affect- ing 15-17 Nome River, discharge of, above Miocene ditch intake 19-21 at Miocene ditch intake, discharge of, compared with that of David Creek 22 discharge of, compared with that of Jett Creek ditch 51 discharge of, diagram showing 17 at Pioneer intake 21-22 INDEX. 155 Page. Nome River, water available from, for hydraulicking placers— 70, 72 Nome River drainage basin, descrip- tion of __— 18-19 ditches in 19, 75-76 gaging stations in 19-37 North Fork, rainfall records at 140, 146 North Fork of Grand Central River. See Grand Central River, North Fork. North Fork [of Kougarok River], de- scription and discharge of _ 89 North Star Creek, description and discharge of 62-63 North Star and Windy creeks and Sinuk River, water avail- able from, for hydrau- licking placers 71, 72 North Star ditch above the siphon, description and discharge of * 86 North Star intake, Taylor Creek at__ 84-85 Noxapaga River above Goose Creek, discharge of 92 Noxapaga River drainage basin, de- scription of 91-92 miscellaneous measurements in 92 Nugget Creek, description and dis- charge of 49-50 Grand Central River below 47 Nugget, Copper, and Jett creeks, water available from, for hydraulicking placers 71, 72 Nushagak, rainfall records at 146 O. Okdurok ditch, discharge o 90 Ophir Creek (claim 15), rainfall rec- ords at 136,146 Orca, rainfall records at 146 P. Pass Creek, discharge of 59 Pedro Creek, description of 123 Penny River at Sutton ditch intake, discharge 66-67 Penny River drainage basin, de- scription of 66 Petersburg, rainfall records at 146 Pilgrim River. See Kruzgamepa. River. Pioneer ditch, description of 37 discharge of, at Hobson Creek branch 70 at Nome River intake 21-22, 70 Pioneer ditch intake, Nome River at_ 21-22 Pipe lines and ditches 72-75, 94-95, 130-131 Placer mining, in Fairbanks region. 102, 129 in Kougarok region 94 in Nome region 14-15, 70-72 Point Barrow, rainfall records at 146 Poker Creek, Chatanika River below mouth of , 121 Page. Poker Creek, description and dis- charge of 120 rainfall record at 140, 141, 146, 147 Precipitation records in Alaska, sum- mary of 142-149 Price current meter, view of, plate showing 10 Purington, C. W., on rainfall data of Alaska 140 Q. Quartz Creek, description and dis- charge of 93 R. Rainfall records in Alaska, sum- mary of 142-149 Rampart, rainfall records at 140, 147 Reindeer Creek, discharge of 92 Richards, Raymond, work by 8, 15 Rock Creek, discharge of-^. 59 Run-off in inches, definition of 9 \ S. Salmon Lake, description of 53-54 flow into and out of, measure- ments of 54 Kruzgamepa River at, discharge of 55-57 rainfall records at 16, 136, 137, 138 storage capacity of 53-54 Schlitz Creek, discharge of 92 Second-feet per square mile, defini- tion of 9 Second-foot, definition of 9 Seepage, from Cedric ditch 65 from Miocene ditch 33-34 from Seward ditch 36 Serpentine River drainage basin, measurements in 92-93 Seward ditch, description and dis- charge of 36-37 discharge of, at Nome River in- take 70 Hobson Creek branch of 70 seepage from 36 Seward Peninsula, climatic condi- tions in 134-139 relative run-off in different areas of 95-98 water-supply investigations in_ 13-100 Shelton, rainfall records at__ 137, 138, 147 Sinuk River drainage basin, de- scription of 60 discharge measurements in 60-64 Sinuk River, upper, discharge of 60-61 Sinuk River, Windy and North Star creeks, water available from, for hydraulicking placers 71, 72 Sitka, rainfall records at 147 Skagway, rainfall records at 147 Slate Creek (Cripple River drain- age), discharge of 04 156 INDEX. Page. Slate Creek ( Kruzgamepa River drainage), discharge of_l_ 59 Slate Creek (Sinuk River drain- age), description and dis- charge of 63 Smith Creek, discharge of 59 Snake River above Glacier Creek, discharge of 68-69 Snake River drainage basin, de- scription of 68 Snow Gulch, discharge of 60 Solomon River drainage basin, de- scription of 69 miscellaneous measurements in — 69 Sorrels Creek, description and dis- charge of 110-111 Elliott Creek above mouth of 110 Springs, stream flow derived from — 17 Stewart River, description and dis- charge of 63 Storage possibilities, on Grand Cen- tral River headwaters 52-53 Storage reservoirs, Fairbanks dis- trict 131KL32 Summit, rainfall records at 147 Summit Roadhouse, rainfall records at 140,141,147 Sunrise, rainfall records at 148 Sutton ditch at intake, discharge of_ 70 Sutton ditch intake, Penny River at — 66-67 T. Tanana Crossing, rainfall records at_ 148 Taylor, rainfall records at 137, 138, 148 Taylor Creek, description and dis- charge of, at North Star intake 84-85 discharge of, at Cascade intake — 85-86 at mouth 86 Kougarok River above 82 Teikhell, rainfall records at 148 Thompson Creek, description and dis- charge of 49 Thompson Creek, Gold Run, and Grand Central River, stor- age capacity required to maintain given discharges of 53 Page. Thompson Creek, Gold Run, and up- per Grand Central River, water available from, for hydraulicking placers 71, 72 Trail Creek, discharge of 127 Turner Creek at McKay intake, dis- charge of 92 Tyonek, rainfall records at 148 U. Udakta (Dutch Harbor), rainfall records at 148 Upper Oregon Creek, discharge of 64 V. Velocity, methods of measuring 11-12 W. Washington Creek, discharge of 90 Kougarok River below, discharge of 80 Water-power possibilities, in Fair- banks district 131 in Nome region 76 White Horse, rainfall records at 149 Willow Creek, discharge of 59 Windy Creek, description and dis- charge of 61-62,90 Windy Creek ditch, discharge of 90 Windy and North Star creeks and Sinuk River, water availa- ble from, for hydraulick- ing placers 71, 72 Woody Island (Kodiak Island), rain- fall records at 148 Y. Yukon-Tanana region, rainfall rec- ords in 140 Bee also Fairbanks district. Z. Zephyr Creek, Hope Creek near mouth of, discharge of 115 RECENT SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. [Arranged geographically. A complete list can be had on application.] All of these publications can be obtained or consulted in the following ways: 1. A limited number are delivered to the Director of the Survey, from whom they can be obtained, free of charge (except certain maps), on application. 2. A certain number are delivered to Senators and Representatives in Congress for distribution. 3. Other copies are deposited with the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C, from whom they can be had at prices slightly above cost. 4. Copies of all Government publications are furnished to the principal public libraries throughout the United States, where they can be consulted by those interested. GENERAL. The geography and geology of Alaska, a summary of existing knowledge, by A. H. Brooks, with a section on climate by Cleveland Abbe, jr., and a topographic map and description thereof, by R. U. Goode. Professional Paper No. 45, 1906, 327 pp. Placer mining in Alaska in 1904, by A. H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 18-31. The mining industry in 1905, by A. H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 4-9. The mining industry in 1906, by A. H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 19-39. Railway routes, by A. H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 10-17. Administrative report, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on progress of investigations of mineral resources of Alaska in 1904: Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 13-17. Administrative report, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on progress of investigations of mineral resources of Alaska in 1905: Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 1-3. Administrative report, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on progress of investigations of mineral resources of Alaska in 1906: Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 11-18. Notes on the petroleum fields of Alaska, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 128-139. The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the Bering River coal deposits, by G. C. Martin. Bulletin No. 250, 1905, 64 pp. Markets for Alaska coal, bv G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 18-29. The Alaska coal fields, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 40-46. Methods and costs of gravel and placer mining in Alaska, by C. W. Purington. Bulletin No. 263, 1905, 362 pp. (Out of stock; can be purchased from Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C, for 35 cents.) Abstract in Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 32-46. Geographic dictionary of Alaska, by Marcus Baker, second edition by J. C. McCor- mick. Bulletin No. 299, 1906, 690 pp. Administrative report, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on progress of investigations of mineral resources of Alaska in 1907. Bulletin No. 345, pp. 5-17. The distribution of mineral resources in Alaska, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on progress of investigations of mineral resources of Alaska in 1907. Bulletin No. 345, pp. 18-29. The mining industry in 1907, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on progress of investiga- tions of mineral resources of Alaska in 1907. Bulletin 345, pp. 30-53. Prospecting and mining gold placers in Alaska, by J. P. Hutchins. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 54-77. Water-supply investigations in Alaska in 1906-7, by F. F. Henshawand C. C. Covert. Water-Supply Paper No. 218, 1908, 156 pp. Topographic maps. Alaska, topographic map of; scale, 1: 2500000. Preliminary edition by R. U. Goode. Contained in Professional Paper No. 45. Not published separately. Map of Alaska showing distribution of mineral resources; scale, 1:5000000; by A. H. Brooks. Contained in Bulletin 345 (in pocket). Map of Alaska; scale, 1:5000000; by Alfred H. Brooks. i II RECENT SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. In preparation. Methods and costs of gravel and placer mining in Alaska, by C. W. Purington. Second edition. SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA. Preliminary report on the Ketchikan mining district, Alaska, with an introductory sketch of the geology of southeastern Alaska, by Alfred H. Brooks. Professional Paper No. 1, 1902, 120 pr>. The Porcupine placer district, Alaska, by C. W. Wright. Bulletin No. 236, 1904, 35 pp. The Treadwell ore deposits, by A. C. Spencer. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 69-87. Economic developments in southeastern Alaska, by F. E. and C. W. Wright. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 47-68. The Juneau gold belt, Alaska, by A. C. Spencer, pp. 1-137, and A reconnaissance of Admiralty Island, Alaska, by C. W. Wright, pp. 138-154. Bulletin No. 287, 1906, 161 pp. Lode mining in southeastern Alaska, by F. E. and C. W. Wright. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 30-53. Nonmetallic deposits of southeastern Alaska, by C. W. Wright. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 54-60. The Yakutat Bay region, by R. S. Tarr. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 61-64. Lode mining in southeastern Alaska, by C. W. Wright. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 47-72. Nonmetalliferous mineral resources of southeastern Alaska, by C. W. Wright. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 73-81. Reconnaissance on the Pacific coast from Yakutat to Alsek River, by Eliot Black- welder. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 82-88. Lode mining in southeastern Alaska in 1907, by C. W. Wright. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 78-97. The building stones and materials of southeastern Alaska, by C. W. Wright. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 116-126. Copper deposits on Kasaan Peninsula. Prince of Wales Island, by C. W. Wright and Sidney Paige. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 98-115. Topographic maps. Juneau Special quadrangle; scale, 1: 62500; by W. J. Peters. For sale at 5 cents each or $3 per hundred. Topographic map of the Juneau gold belt, Alaska. Contained in Bulletin 287, Plate XXXVI, 1906. Not issued separately. In preparation. Physiography and glacial geology of the Yakutat Bay region, Alaska, by R. S. Tarr, with a chapter on the bed-rock geology by R. S. Tarr and B. S. Butler. The Ketchikan and Wrangell mining districts, Alaska, by F. E. and C. W. Wright. Berners Bay Special map; scale, 1:62500; by R. B. Oliver. (In press.) Kasaan Peninsula Special map; scale, 1: 62500; by D. C. Witherspoon and J. W. Bagley. CONTROLLER BAY, PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, AND COPPER RIVER REGIONS. The mineral resources of the Mount Wrangell district, Alaska, by W. 0. Mendenhall. Professional Paper No. 15, 1903, 71 pp. Contains general map of Prince William Sound and Copper River region; scale, 12 miles = 1 inch. (Out of stock; can be purchased from Superintendent of Documents for 30 cents.) Bering River coal field, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 140-150. Cape Yaktag placers, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 88-89. • Notes on the petroleum fields of Alaska, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 128-139. Abstract from Bulletin No. 250. The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the Bering River coal deposits, by G. 0. Martin. Bulletin No. 250, 1905, 64 pp. Geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska, by W. C. Mendenhall. Profes- sional Paper No. 41, 1905, 133 pp. Copper and other mineral resources of Prince William Sound, by II. S. Grant. In Bul- letin No. 284, 1906, pp. 78-87. Distribution and character of the Bering River coal, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 65-76. RECENT SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. Ill Petroleum at Controller Bay, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 89-103. Geology and mineral resources of Controller Bay region, by G. C. Martin. Bulletin No. 335, 1908, 141 pp. Notes on copper prospects of Prince William Sound, by F. H. Moffit. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 176-178. Mineral resources of the Kotsina and Chitina valleys, Copper River region, by F. H. Moffit and A. G. Maddren. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 127-175. Topographic maps. Map of Mount Wrangell; scale, 12 miles = 1 inch. Contained in Professional Paper No. 15. Not issued separately. Copper and upper Chistochina rivers; scale, 1: 250000; by T. G. Gerdine. Contained in Professional Paper No. 41. Not issued separately. Copper, Nabesna, and Chisana rivers, headwaters of; scale, 1:250000. D. C. Wither- spoon. Contained in Professional Paper No. 41. Not issued separately. Controller Bay region Special map; scale, 1: 62500; by E. G. Hamilton. For sale at 35 cents a copy or $21.00 per hundred. General map of Alaska coast region from Yakutat Bay to Prince William Sound; scale, 1: 1200000; compiled by G. C. Martin. Contained in Bulletin No. 335. In preparation. The Kotsina-Chitina copper region, by F. H. Moffit. Chitina quadrangle map; scale, 1:250000; by T. G. Gerdine and D. C. Witherspoon. \ COOK INLET AND SUSITNA REGION. The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the Bering River coal deposits, by G. C. Martin. Bulletin No. 250, 1905, 64 pp. Coal resources of southwestern Alaska, by R. W. Stone. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 151-171. Gold placers of Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, by F. H. Moffit. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 90-99. Mineral resources of the Kenai Peninsula; Gold fields of the Turnagain Arm region, by F. H. Moffit, pp. 1-52; Coal fields of the Kachemak Bay region, by R. W. Stone, pp. 53-73. Bulletin No. 277, 1906, 80 pp. Preliminary statement on the Matanuska coal field, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 88-100. A reconnaissance of the Matanuska coal field, Alaska, in 1905, by G. C. Martin. Bulle- tin No. 289, 1906, 36 pp. (Out of stock; can be purchased of Superintendent of Documents for 25 cents.) Reconnaissance in the Matanuska and Talkeetna basins, by S. Paige and A. Knopf. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 104-125. Geologic reconnaissance in the Matanuska and Talkeetna basins, Alaska, by S. Paige and A. Knopf. Bulletin No. 327, 1907, 71 pp. Topographic maps. Kenai Peninsula, northern portion; scale, 1:250000; by- E. G. Hamilton. Contained in Bulletin No. 277. Not published separately. Reconnaissance map of Matanuska and Talkeetna region; scale, 1:250000; by T. G. Gerdine and R. H. Sargent. Contained in Bulletin No. 327. Not published separately. Mount McKinley region; scale, 1:625000; by D. L. Reaburn. Contained in Profes- sional Paper No. 45. Not published separately. ALASKA PENINSULA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. Gold mine on Unalaska Island, by A. J. Collier. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 102-103. Gold deposits of the Shumagin Islands, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 100-101. Notes on the petroleum fields of Alaska, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 128-139. Abstract from Bulletin No. 250. The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the Bering River coal deposits, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 250, 1905, 64 pp. Coal resources of southwestern Alaska, by R. W. Stone. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 151-171. The Herendeen Bay coal field, by Sidney Paige. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 101-108. IV RECENT SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. YUKON BASIN. The coal resources of the Yukon, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. Bulletin No. 218, 1903, 71pp. The gold placers of the Fortymile, Birch Creek, and Fairbanks regions, by L. M. Prin- dle. Bulletin No. 251, 1905, 89 pp. Yukon placer fields, by L. M. Prindle. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 109-131. Reconnaissance from Circle to Fort Hamlin, by R. W. Stone. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 128-131. The Yukon-Tanana region, Alaska; description of the Circle quadrangle, by L. M. Prindle. Bulletin No. 295, 1906, 27 pp. The Bonnifield and Kantishna regions, by L. M. Prindle. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 205-226. The Circle Precinct, Alaska, by Alfred H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 187 F 204. The Yukon-Tanana region, Alaska; description of the Fairbanks and Rampart quad- rangles, by L. M. Prindle, F. L. Hess, and C. C. Covert. Bulletin No. 337, 1908, 102 pp. Occurrence of gold in the Yukon-Tanana region, by L. M. Prindle. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 179-186. The Fortymile gold placer district, by L. M. Prindle. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 187-197. Water supply of the Fairbanks district in 1907, by C. C. Covert. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 198-205. Topographic maps. Fortymile quadrangle; scale, 1:250000; by E. C. Barnard. For sale at 5 cents a copy or $3 per hundred. Yukon-Tanana region, reconnaissance map of; scale, 1:625000; by T. G. Gerdine. Contained in Bulletin No. 251, 1905. Not published separately. Fairbanks and Birch Creek districts, reconnaissance maps of; scale, 1: 250000; by T. G. Gerdine. Contained in Bulletin No. 251, 1905. Not issued separately. Circle quadrangle, Yukon-Tanana region; scale, 1:250000; by D. C. Witherspoon. Contained in Bulletin No. 295. Not issued separately. In preparation. Water-supply investigations in Alaska, 1906 and 1907, by F. F. Henshaw and C. C. Covert. Water-Supply Paper No. 218, 1908, 156 pp. Fairbanks quadrangle map; scale, 1:250000; by D. C. Witherspoon. Contained in ' Bulletin No. 337, 1908. Rampart quadrangle map; scale, 1:250000; by D. C. Witherspoon. Contained in Bulletin No. 337, 1908. Fairbanks Special map; scale, 1:62500; by T. G. Gerdine and R. H. Sargent. SEWARD PENINSULA. A reconnaissance of the Cape Nome and adjacent gold fields of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, in 1900, by A. H. Brooks, G. B. Richardson, and A. J. Collier. In a special publication entitled "Reconnaissances in the Cape Nome and Norton Bay regions, Alaska, in 1900," 1901, 180 pp. A reconnaissance in the Norton Bay region, Alaska, in 1900, by W. C. Mendenhall. In a special publication entitled "Reconnaissances in the Cape Nome and Norton Bay regions, Alaska, in 1900." A reconnaissance of the northwestern portion of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. Professional Paper No. 2, 1902, 70 pp. The tin deposits of the York region, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. Bulletin No. 229, 1904, 61pp. Recent developments of Alaskan tin deposits, by A. J. Collier. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 120-127. The Fairhaven gold placers of Seward Peninsula, by F. H. Moffit. Bulletin No. 247, 1905, 85 pp. The York tin region, by F. L. Hess. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 145-157. Gold mining on Seward Peninsula, by F. II . Moffit. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp, 132-141. The Kougarok region, by A. H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 164-181. RECENT SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. V Water supply of Nome region, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 1906, by J. C. Hoyt and F. F. Henshaw. Water-Supply Paper No. 196, 1907, 52 pp. (Out of stock; can be purchased of Superintendent of Documents for 15 cents.) Water supply of the Nome region, Seward Peninsula, 1906, by J. C. Hoyt and F. F. Henshaw. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 182-186. The Nome region, by F. H. Moffit. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 126-145. Gold fields of the Solomon and Niukluk river basins, by P. S. Smith. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 146-156. + Geology and mineral resources of Iron Creek, by P. S. Smith. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 157-163. The gold placers of parts of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, including the Nome, Council, Kougarok, Port Clarence, and Goodhope precincts, by A. J. Collier, F. L. Hess, P. S. Smith, and A. H. Brooks. Bulletin No. 328, 1908, 343 pp. Investigation of the mineral deposits of Seward Peninsula, by P. S. Smith. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 206-250. The Seward Peninsula tin deposits, by Adolph Knopf. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 251-267. Mineral deposits of the Lost River and Brooks Mountain regions, Seward Peninsula, by Adolph Knopf. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 268-271. Water supply of the Nome and Kougarok regions, Seward Peninsula, in 1906-7, by F. F. Henshaw. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 272-285. Topographic maps. The following maps are for sale at 5 cents a copy, or $3 per hundred: Casadepaga Quadrangle, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500; by T. G. Gerdine. Grand Central Special, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500; by T. G-. Gerdine. Nome Special, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500; by T. G. Gerdine. Solomon Quadrangle, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500; by T. G. Gerdine. The following maps are for sale at 25 cents a copy, or $15 per hundred: Seward Peninsula, northeastern portion of, topographic reconnaissance of; scale, 1:250000; by T. G. Gerdine. Seward Peninsula, northwestern portion of, topographic reconnaissance of; scale, 1:250000; by T. G. Gerdine. Seward Peninsula, southern portion of, topographic reconnaissance of; scale, 1:250000; by T. G. Gerdine. In preparation. Water-supply investigations in Alaska, 1906 and 1907, by F. F. Henshaw and C. C. Covert. Water-Supply Paper No. 218, 1908, pp. 156. Geology of the area represented on the Nome and Grand Central Special maps, by F. H. Moffit, F. L. Hess, and P. S. Smith. Geology of the area represented on the Solomon and Casadepaga Special maps, by P. S. Smith. The Seward Peninsula tin deposits, by A. Knopf. NORTHERN ALASKA. A reconnaissance from Fort Hamlin to Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, by way of Dall, Kanuti, Allen, and Kowak rivers, by W. C. Mendenhall. Professional Paper No. 10, 1902, 68 pp. A reconnaissance in northern Alaska across the Rocky Mountains, along the Koyukuk, John, Anaktuvuk, and Colville rivers, and the Arctic coast to Cape Lisburne, in 1901, by F. C. Schrader and W. J. Peters. Professional Paper No. 20, 1904, 139 pp. (Out of stock; can be purchased of Superintendent of Documents for 40 cents.) Coal fields of the Cape Lisburne region, by A. J. Collier. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 172-185. Geology and coal resources of Cape Lisburne region, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. Bulle- tin No. 278, 1906, 54 pp. Topographic maps. Fort Yukon to Kotzebue Sound, reconnaissance map of; scale, 1:1200000; by D. L. Reaburn. Contained in Professional Paper No. 10. Not published separately. Koyukuk River to mouth of Colville River, including John River; scale, 1:1200000; by W. J. Peters. Contained in Professional Paper No. 20. (Out of stock.) Not published separately. o 35283— irr— 218— 08 11 L '09 i A M