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15820000 IKPIKPUK R BL FRY C NR ALAKTAK AK
Most recent revision: 2/16/2012
Revised by: D.A. Vas (UAF)
SPECIAL NOTE.--Prepared by: J.D. Eash (USGS) 3/14/2005 Updated by: J.D. Eash (USGS) 12/11/2008
LOCATION.--Lat 69°46'00.5", long 154°39'40.6" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in SW 1/4 SW 1/4 SW 1/4 sec.21, T.5 N., R.11 W., North Slope Borough, AK, Hydrologic Unit 19060204, (Ikpikpuk River D-3 quad), on left bank, 2 mi downstream from mouth of Fry Creek, 9 mi upstream from mouth of Price Creek, and 70 mi south of Alaktak.
ROAD LOG.--Station is reached by BLM chartered helicopters during summer months and chartered fixed wing aircraft (Piper Super Cub during early October and Cessna 185 or smaller) during winter months.
SITE HAZARD ANALYSIS.--Extreme caution should be exercised during break-up flooding. Ice becomes anchored to the bed during the winter. Warmer spring temperatures produce flow over the top of the ice for several weeks, until the ice releases from the bed and violently rises to the surface. Personal observation is necessary to know when the river is free of ice.
Dry suits should be worn during breakup measurements due to the possibility of the boat
capsizing, cold temperatures during June on the North Slope, and the remote location of the
gage.
DRAINAGE AREA.--1,697 mi2.
ESTABLISHMENT AND HISTORY.--Established June 14, 2002 by R.T. Kemnitz and J. Kostroys of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Maintained from June 14, 2002 to September 5, 2005 by BLM. The USGS assumed responsibility of this station on September 5, 2005 at which time standard USGS gage equipment was installed by J.D. Eash and C.S. Couvillion. The BLM gage structure was replaced with a standard USGS gage house and tripod on July 6, 2006 by J.D. Eash and J.G. Luna. The BLM reassumed responsibility on September 30, 2009 and its running this gauge together with UAF personal.
GAGE.--A Sutron 8210 with GOES Satlink transmitter coupled to two Pressure Systems KPSI pressure transducers with water temperature probes housed in a 2 ft. x 3 ft. aluminum shelter. One transducer is set deep to collect low flows, while the second transducer is set shallow to collect high flows. The upper transducer will be dry most of the year, except during break-up or very high stages. Power is provided by three 100 amp/hour 12v batteries charged by a solar panel and wind generator. DCP antenna and solar panel are mounted to the tripod supporting the gage house. A Thermex air temperature probe, wind speed sensor, wind direction sensor, and a Novalynx tipping bucket rain gage encircled by an alter shield are also coupled to the Sutron DCP. Water surface reference is usually by levels due to the potential movement of RP's. The gage is located on the left bank. The elevation of the instrument shelf within the gage is greater than 100 ft., gage datum.
The pressure transducers, as well as their wiring are each connected to a 1" steel cable. The
lower transducer is attached to an anchor which prevents movement at all but the highest flows. The upper transducer is anchored to the stream bank by a steel fence post. The wiring and cables are buried along the bank and are only exposed at low flows. Neither pressure transducer is removed prior to freeze up in an attempt to collect the most possible data. Damage or loss of the lower pressure transducer by ice is possible during break-up and a spare transducer should be stored on site or carried during the post break-up site visits. Transducer elevations: Lower= 16.45 ft. (approximated on September 5, 2005), gage datum. Upper= 26.28 ft. (July 6, 2006), gage datum.
CONTROL.--The channel is composed primarily of sands and fine gravels, with intermittent areas of bedrock riffles. Banks are very high, in the vicinity of the gage, and will not overflow. The low to medium flow control is a bedrock riffle approximately 150 ft. downstream from the transducers. The control during high flows is the sand/gravel channel and stream bank vegetation. Flow downstream of the gage is in one channel. Control will be ice covered for about seven to eight months during the winter. The channel is fairly straight for about 200 ft. upstream and about 1/4 mi downstream of the gage.
DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS.--Open-water measurements can be made by boat or by wading, depending on river conditions. Boat measurements can be made at the gage. Wading measurements can be made 150 ft. downstream of the gage on the control or a better cross section is located a 1/4 mile upstream of the gage on a small riffle. The location of ice measurements will depend on the availability of appropriate sand bars or frozen lakes for landing a small fixed wing aircraft upon. ADCP measurements should be accompanied with GPS reference due to the possibility of moving bed conditions at most stages. Discharge measurements during periods of ice cover can be made at open leads during early October. Ice measurements in late October or early November will require an ice auger, one auger flight, an extension bar, and 9 ft. of ice rod.
FLOODS.--To be determined.
POINT OF ZERO FLOW.--Approximately 21.4 ft. (September 5, 2005).
WINTER FLOW.--Heavy ice effect during winter. Periods of zero flow are expected during most winter months.
ACCURACY.--Discharge measurements and gage-height record will be fair to good during open water periods, unless the transducer is moving due to high flows or debris. Ice affected periods will be poor.
The University of Alaska is an equal opportunity/equal access employer and educational institution. The university is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.