An obstruction has disconnected Morris Cove from ocean waters, preventing salmon from moving upstream.
Observation by Kayla Nalam:
The creek at Morris Cove is typically connected to the ocean, but there is an obstruction that disconnects the two. This situation has happened before in previous years. Fish such as salmon can't get from the ocean to the creek anymore because of the blockage. There is a possibility that fish will stop returning on the seasons that they run. Water is also overflowing in adjacent areas near the Morris Cove Creek. Is there anything we can do to open up the stream?
Comments from LEO Editors:
This observation has been forwarded to the Alaska Division of Fish and Game Division of Habitat.
Gillian O'Doherty, Habitat Biologist at the Alaska Division of Fish and Game writes:
It's called a bar-built estuary or lagoon. It is from the beach building up so much and so fast in the summer that the river cannot keep a channel open. It has to do with availability of sediment in the littoral cell, river flow and wave patterns. They are very common in some areas and I worked with them a lot in CA.
It'll open up either when there is a big enough river flow or when the winter comes and the beach berm naturally flattens out. There isn't really a good way to make them stay open, people have tried everything from jetties to bulldozers but you are fighting the ocean. A culvert will just drift in in one tidal cycle.
The University of Maine Sea Grant program has an informational sheet on seasonal beach changes that is a good reference.
As to why it happens where it didn't before, either something has changed in the sediment availability or in the flow here and the beach is higher than before or the river is less powerful (due to low rain or people taking water out).
On the bright side these lagoons tend to be excellent rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids, the down side is, as you noted, they can block adult fish early in the season or when rain is low.
I hope that's helpful, there is a lot of information online about these systems too. Let me know if there are any more questions.
Observations From Members 