Arctic grayling and burbot studies at the Fort Knox Mine

by
William Morris
AK Dept. of Natural Resources

Abstract:
Fairbanks Gold Mining Inc. (FGMI) began construction of the Fort Knox hard-rock gold mine in March 1995. As part of the mine project three streams heavily mined since the 1920's were flooded during construction of a water supply reservoir (WSR). Construction of the WSR dam and spillway was complete by July 1996. Once complete a stunted population of Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and a population of small burbot (Lota lota) were captured and remain resident in the new pond. Annual monitoring of the Arctic grayling and burbot populations indicates that both populations shifted dramatically both in number and size composition post construction of the WSR. Stream habitat manipulations have also shown to be an effective tool for enhancing the fish populations dependent on the WSR. Water quality within the flooded WSR has been variable but D.O. has typically been depressed during all seasons.

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