Upcoming: Sustaining Eyak Lake presentation, 3/30/23

Presentation in Cordova at PWSSC and livestreamed. All the details and links to view can be found here!

Learn more about why this is called a multi-million dollar lake!
Share your knowledge about Eyak Lake Weir!

CRWP and partners have observed the deterioration of the current weir structure at the outlet of Eyak Lake and are interested in being proactive in addressing this aging structure.

Our primary objectives are to improve fish passage up and downstream of where the weir is located, while maintaining current water levels to protect important nearshore spawning sites for salmon, in particular Sockeye, as well as maintain current property lines along the lakeshore.

Weir History

Weir History:

  • 1964 Good Friday earthquake changed Eyak Lake water levels when the surrounding area uplifted by approximately 6 feet.
  • 1972 sheet pile weir was installed at the outlet of Eyak Lake to re-establish the water surface to pre-earthquake levels and keep nearshore sockeye spawning beds submerged.
  • The contract to build the weir was awarded by a State department that no longer exists: the Division of Waters and Harbors.
  • 1978 rip-rap installed on the downstream side of the weir to support the structure in response to undercutting.

Do you have a piece of Eyak Lake Weir history to add? Share it via our Comment Form!

Project Partners

CRWP has convened a great group of partners from 13 organizations to actualize and implement this important project:

  • ADFG
  • Cordova Electric Cooperative
  • City of Cordova
  • DNR
  • DOT
  • DOWL
  • FEMA
  • NOAA
  • Native Village of Eyak
  • PWS Science Center
  • The Eyak Corporation
  • USFS
  • USFWS

Planning Phase 1: 2021

To move this project forward, we completed the following in 2021:

  • Hired an engineer to complete a site survey, geotechnical investigations, and develop concepts for the community to consider. Read the  Eyak Lake Weir Alternatives Analysis here. The preferred alternative is concept 3: Replace in-kind with natural fishway (Pg. 9);
  • Conducted a community survey that had 95 respondents (Thanks!). Survey results are included in the report above.
  • Hosted a workshop with engineers in July to learn more about alternatives. View google slides from presentation here.
    • **To watch a complete recording of the Public Workshop, see the Youtube video below.**
  • Submitted funding proposal to Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council and received $5.7 million for complete design and construction of a new outlet structure.

Planning Phase 2: 2022-2023

  • With the funding official in 2022, CRWP is currently convening stakeholders to work on finalizing the design in 2023.

 

  • Opportunities for Community Inputs:  Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities and as always, please feel free to reach out at any time with thoughts, history, or comments on the Eyak Lake weir structure.

 

 

  • Upcoming: March 30,2023 – 7pm presentation by Kate Morse and Principle Engineer, Euan MacLeod at the Prince William Sound Science Center and live streamed! Hear updates on the Weir project and other Eyak Lake updates. Presentation details here!

 

  • Past Opportunities:
  • Eyak Lake and River Boaters Meeting, Wednesday, 11/9/22 – Meeting Notes

Planning Phase 3: 2024

Stay tuned for updates on the construction and installation phase of the new Eyak Lake weir. The current goal is to implement this phase in 2024.

FAQs

Check out our new FAQ page and let us know if there’s something else we should add.

High Rain Events - September 2022

Contact Ashley Taylor to be added to our email list for updates specific to this project.

0