Chenik Lake - Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, Kenai, Alaska

migrated from the lake.
Based on the sockeye smolt samples collected, an estimated 84% (±0.1%) were age 1 and 16%
(±0.8%) were age 2. The average length and weight of age 1 sockeye smolt were 100 mm (±0.8
mm) and 9.0 g (±0.9 g). The average length and weight of age 2 sockeye smolt were 137 mm
(±3.8 mm) and 20.2 g (±1.9 g).
Too few Coho smolt samples were collected to statistically evaluate during the smolt migration.
The 2008 Shell Lake adult salmon escapement was enumerated from 14 July and continued daily
until 3 September. During this time, 2,620 adult sockeye (O. nerka) salmon returned to Shell
Creek.
Based on adult sockeye samples collected, 8.69% were age 1.1, 17.07% were age 1.2, 53.73%
were age 1.3, 1.37% were age 1.4, 0.69% were age 2.1, 13.91% were age 2.2, 4.19% were age
2.3, and 0.34% were age 3.3. Of the returning salmon population, 34% were male and 66% were
female. The average length of adult sockeye population was 511 mm. The average length of
adult sockeye males was 539 mm. The average length of adult sockeye females was 496 mm.
In Spring 2009, an ash plume emitted from Mt. Redoubt was carried north by winds and settled
in the Skwenta and Talkeetna areas. Shell Lake accumulated a heavy fall of ash which resulted
in an earlier than usual ice-out. Based on Shell Lake residents’ reports, ice-out occurred on 14
May and field crew began monitoring on 16 May. The 2009 Shell Lake smolt migration was
enumerated from 16 May and continued daily until 24 June. During this time, an estimated
68,700 (±8,700) sockeye (O. nerka) and 7 coho (O. kisutch) smolts migrated from the lake.
Personnel conducted the 10% sub-sampling procedure to estimate 64%, or 44,120 (±8,700), of
the sockeye smolts were sub-sampled.
Based on the sockeye smolt samples collected, an estimated 94% (±0.01%) were age 1 and 6%
(±0.4%) were age 2. The average length and weight of age 1 sockeye smolt were 101 mm (±0.6
mm) and 10.6 g (±0.3 g). The average length and weight of age 2 sockeye smolt were 149 mm
(±4 mm) and 28.9 g (±2.2 g).
Too few Coho smolt samples were collected to statistically evaluate during the smolt migration.
Water chemistry and zooplankton samples were collected 4 times during 2007, 5 times in 2008,
and 5 times in 2009. A summary of average open water quality characteristics are listed in Table
1. ADF&G provided the analysis.
xii