Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

The Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve was created by the State of Alaska in June of 1982. The preserve was established to protect and perpetuate the world's largest concentration of Bald Eagles and their critical habitat. It also sustains and protects the natural salmon runs and allows for traditional uses provided such uses do not adversely affect preserve resources. The Preserve consists of 48,000 acres of river bottom land of the Chilkat, Kleheni, and Tsirku Rivers. The boundaries were designated to include only areas important to eagle habitation. Virtually every portion of the preserve is used by eagles at some time during the year. The river "flats" of the Chilkat River along the Haines Highway between miles 18 and 24 are the main viewing area for eagle watchers and considered critical habitat in the preserve. Bald eagles are attracted to the area by the availability of spawned-out salmon and open waters in late fall and winter. The natural phenomena responsible for five miles of open water on the Chilkat River during freezing months is called an "alluvial fan reservoir". The Tsirku fan, which is a fan-shaped accumulation of gravel, rock, sand, and glacial debris, at the confluence of the Tsirku, Kleheni, and Chilkat Rivers acts as a large water reservoir. During the warmer spring, summer and early fall seasons, water from snow and melted glacial ice flows into the alluvial fan. The fan receives water faster than it can flow out, creating a huge reservoir of water. When winter arrives, cold weather sets in and surrounding waters freeze. However, water in this large reservoir remains form 10 to 20 degrees (F) above surrounding water temperatures. This warmer water "percolates" into the Chilkat River and keeps it from freezing. Five species of salmon spawn in these and other nearby streams and tributaries. The salmon runs begin in the summer and continue on through late fall or early winter. The salmon die shortly after spawning and it is their carcasses which provide large quantities of food for the eagles. This combination of open water and large amounts of food bring large concentrations of eagles into the Chilkat Valley beginning by early October and lasting through February.

For more information on Alaska State Parks we suggest you visit the Alaska State Parks web site.

More Alaska Parks
Big Delta State Historical Park, Caines Head State Recreation Area, Chena River State Recreation Area, Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, Chugach State Park, Denali National Park, Denali State Park, Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park, Gates Of The Arctic National Park, Glacier Bay National Park, Independence Mine State Historical Park, Kachemak Bay State Park, Katmai National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai River Special Management Area, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Kobuk Valley National Park, Lake Clark National Park, Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, Shuyak Island State Park, Totem Bight State Historical Park, Wood-Tikchik State Park, Wrangell - St Elias National Park, Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve

Source: Alaska State Parks.

[graphic version Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve]