River made less steep for salmon

Ananova:
8/5/07

River made less steep for salmon

A river in Alaska is having its gradient reduced to ease the woes of weary salmon who jump upstream every year.

The project will make a more gradual grade for the salmon to climb as they make their way from the ocean into the Chester Creek River in Westchester to breed.

Russ Oswald, Project Manager of the river gradiant scheme told The Anchorage Daily News: "Next year we're going to reorientate the creek's outflow to help with fish passage. It's going to seem odd all summer to people, but it's the right thing to do, and it will also help with flooding.

"The original system isn't the best for salmon," Oswald continued. "The number of salmon has dwindled in the creek."

But it's not just the up hill jump that's currently putting the tasty pink fish off.

"There's quite a bit of garbage and debris in there,|" conceded Oswald. "We're looking at having someone come in and clean that up."