The implementation plan includes (1) a summary of relevant fisheries studies in the Susitna River, (2) an overview of the life-history needs for fish species known to occur in the Susitna River, (3) a review of the preliminary results of habitat characterization and mapping efforts, (4) a description of site selection and sampling protocols, (5) development of field data collection forms, and (6) development of database templates that comply with 2012 AEA QA/QC procedures. The implementation plan includes the level of detail sufficient to instruct field crews in data collection efforts. In addition, the plan includes protocols and a guide to the decision making process in the form of a chart or decision tree that will be used in the field, specific of sampling locations, details about the choice and use of sampling techniques and apparatuses, and a list of field equipment needed. The implementation plan addresses how sampling events will be randomized to evaluate precision by habitat and gear type. The implementation plan also helps ensure that fish collection efforts occur in a consistent and repeatable fashion across field crews and river segments.

The overarching goal of this study is to collect baseline data to assist in evaluating the potential Project-induced changes in flow and effects on environmental factors (e.g., temperature, substrate, water quality), and benthic macroinvertebrate and algal communities in the middle and upper Susitna River. This document describes the methods and protocols that will be used to meet this goal.

The overall objective of this technical memorandum is to describe the rationale and basis for the final selection of the focus areas and study sites, and to list those sites, that will serve as locations for conducting detailed instream flow study-related investigations during 2013 and 2014 in both the middle and lower river segments of the Susitna River.

The purpose of this document is to present the Quality Assurance Project Plan for conducting a baseline water quality study of the Susitna River. This Quality Assurance Project Plan provides general descriptions of the work to be performed to collect in-river data, the objectives to be met, and the procedures that will be used to ensure that the data are scientifically valid and defensible and that uncertainty has been reduced to a known and practical minimum. The Quality Assurance Project Plan describes procedures used to prepare for the field effort, conduct field sampling using standard protocols, and post-process field data.

On February 5, 2013, National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission interim comments on the Characterization and Mapping of Aquatic Habitats Revised Study Plan (RSP Section 9.9). Through this document, Alaska Energy Authority responds to these interim comments.