Groundwater upwellings provide stable temperatures for overwinter salmon embryo development and this process may be particularly important in cold, braided, gravel-bed Arctic rivers where rivers may freeze solid in the absence of upwellings. However, limited information is available on the spatial distribution and frequency of these upwellings in core spawning areas, or the relationship between upwellings and spawning salmon habitat use. Moreover, an increase in mining exploration and the effects of climate change have raised concerns about the future of fall chum salmon among local community members and state and Federal fisheries managers. This project was a collaboration between the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Results of this study results provide insights into the characteristics of fall chum salmon spawning habitats in the Arctic, and contribute toward a broader understanding of the habitat needs of high-latitude salmon in a changing environment.
