The health of the Susitna River system is important. The Susitna River system is comprised of dozens of tributaries and streams that serve as spawning habitat for a variety of fish species. The Susitna-Watana Hydro team is building on extensive studies from the 1980s and undertaking an unparalleled fisheries study program in order to thoroughly understand potential project impacts on fish and salmon.

The project is located 184 miles upriver from Cook Inlet and 22 to 32 miles upstream from Devils Canyon, a narrow, highly-turbulent section of river that serves as a natural impediment to migrating salmon.

Fish studies are underway throughout the Susitna River–from the upper river, downstream to the mouth at Cook Inlet. The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) environmental team studies include potential project impacts to habitat, fish distribution and abundance, productivity, genetic baseline data and more.  Work also includes multi-year collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.

AEA will continue to work with state and federal agencies to ensure that salmon and other fish habitat are adequately protected. This is not only a requirement for licensing the project, but it’s also the commitment of AEA and the state.