“Idlughetnu”

Eklutna people thrived on abundant runs of all 5 species of salmon until 1929 when a hydroelectric dam was built near the village that severed fish passage. A second dam at the outlet of Eklutna Lake was also originally built in 1929 and has been updated several times, with a hydro power project completed in 1955. Currently no water spills over the Eklutna Lake Dam down the river except during floods. A 4.5-mile bypass tunnel is used to divert water from the lake to the power plant. Of the water diverted, 90% is diverted to the Knik River for hydro power while 10% is diverted for Anchorage drinking and waste water, effectively blocking the remaining 14 miles of Eklutna River from its water source. The hydroelectric facility was transferred from the federal government to a consortium of three electric utilities in 1997. The agreement managing this transfer required the new owners to mitigate damage caused by the dam within 30 years of transfer. Consultation for the mitigation program must begin by 2022, with implementation of the mitigation program to begin by 2027. The electric utilities began consultation on the mitigation study plan in 2018. That same year The Conservation Fund used Army Corps of Engineers compensatory mitigation resources collected statewide to remove the abandoned lower dam. This project deconstructed the 68-foot barrier and accumulated sediment that prevented salmon reaching the lake. NVE and other agencies have argued that rehabilitation of the river will require water from the lake, but as yet the power companies have not found creative technical solutions to return even a nominal amount of water to the Eklutna.

Eklutna River salmon populations are depressed by low river flows due to the diversion of water for power generation. NVE is working with multiple agencies and non-profit organizations to restore the river and increase salmon populations. NVE Tribal Council has designated a River Committee to assist in tribal decisions on the river and the NVE Land and Environment Department has been researching the river with partners such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Pacific University, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

In September 2021, water was released from the upper Eklutna Dam, wetting a dry river channel. This event was not only symbolic to NVE’s River Restoration efforts, but had a large cultural significance as well. Staff members were able to film the water release in the dry section of river. This video is a computation of the short videos and still pictures of the water release.

Eklutna River Assessments, Planning, and Restoration

NVE Land and Environment Department has conducted river flow monitoring, adult salmon counts and salmon habitat assessments, removed an illegal dump from the river canyon, and developed restoration recommendations. More information on the studies NVE Land and Environment Department has performed can be found on the links below:h

Eklutna River Spawning Survey 2022 Report

Eklutna River Minnow Sampling 2022 Report

NVE Fish Study 2002-2003 (125.9 KiB)