Anchor River
Overview

Anchor River Sonar and Weir Site Overview

The department has been monitoring Anchor Chinook runs since 1962. Since installing the Anchor River sonar and weir site in 2004, our understanding of Anchor River Chinook Salmon has grown immensely. Prior to 2004, we relied on helicopter surveys to monitor trends in Chinook escapement, and coho escapement was not monitored at all. 

The current Anchor River program, which counts salmon using sonar and a video weir, has for the first time provided information about the absolute number of spawning fish. Among the 15 sonar sites throughout the state of Alaska, the Anchor River site is unique in its combined use of ARIS, the latest generation of fisheries sonar technology, and a floating resistance-board video weir. At this site, both technologies complement each other perfectly.