F22AC01699

Eyak Lake lies within the community of Cordova, Alaska. The watershed supports sockeye, pink and coho salmon, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden which support commercial and recreational fisheries of local and international significance.

The Eyak Lake outlet control structure, or "weir," was constructed in 1972 to mitigate the effects of the 1964 "Good Friday" earthquake. The earthquake caused a lake level drop of up to 8 feet, reducing salmon spawning habitat, municipal water supplies, and recreational opportunities.

The existing structure has outlived its lifespan. The sheet piling weir is bent and distended from the force of upstream water, ice action, and time. Rip rap has been placed downstream to hold the structure in place as a stop-gap measure.

A "boat slot" intended for recreational vessel navigation has become difficult and unsafe to use due to angled sheet piling, exposed timbers, and unstable hydraulics. This slot also provided limited upstream fish passage. The weir is currently a seasonal fish barrier.

The proposed project seeks to improve the existing outlet structure to maintain lake levels and associated benefits: near-shore spawning habitat and access to upstream tributaries, full pool for municipal water use and recreation, hydrologic connectivity for wetland health, etc.

A rock ramp will provide grade control and upstream fish passage for all life stages of the five salmonids present. And finally, a safe and easily accessible boater slot will be incorporated.

Copper River Watershed Project

15.658 - Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

FWS Headquarters (HQ) [DOI - FWS]

Fish and Wildlife Service Region 7: Alaska [DOI - FWS]

Cordova, Alaska United States

City-Wide

F-FWS-ES-22-107

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 649% from $657,073 to $4,919,729.