Gulkana Hatchery
The Gulkana Hatchery is a state-owned hatchery established in 1973 by the ADF&G Fisheries Rehabilitation, Enhancement and Development (FRED) Division. PWSAC manages and operates the facility for ADF&G under a 20-year professional services agreement at no cost to the state. PWSAC assumed management and operational control of the hatchery in 1993. It is located 260 miles from the Gulf of Alaska at the base of the Alaska Range, near the headwaters of the Gulkana River. The inland hatchery can be found near Paxson, 250 miles northeast of Anchorage and 177 miles south of Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway.
The 1971 discovery of spawning sockeye salmon in several warm water springs, adjacent to the East Fork of the Gulkana River, by ADF&G biologists, first led to the exploration of enhancement possibilities for Copper River sockeye salmon. After two years of water quality sampling and research into the most cost efficient and low maintenance methods of incubation, streamside incubators were determined to be the best approach. In 1973 the first incubator, a 4’x 4’x8’ plywood box was buried along the spring and loaded with 225,000 eggs. With a survival rate of 79% from green egg to fry the first year, significant enhancement at this location was recognized along with the potential for future expansion.
From 1973 to 1980 the hatchery capacity expanded yearly, while continuing to focus on research in sockeye culture and incubator design. During this time, user group demand continued to escalate, while natural production declined. In 1980, with 20 incubators in operation, the emphasis moved from research to production. By 1984, Gulkana became the largest sockeye fry production facility worldwide, with egg takes of 26 million. GH is currently permitted for 36.75 million sockeye salmon eggs annually.
Gary Martinek is the Gulkana Hatchery Manager; he leads a permanent staff of four along with a dedicated seasonal staff of up to 16 people from April to October.
Gulkana I Hatchery Sockeye Salmon Production Summary
| Returning Adults | ||||
| 1973 | 225,800 | 179,311 | 305 | 0.17% |
| 1974 | 1,266,552 | 886,556 | 2,995 | 0.34% |
| 1975 | 1,276,570 | 728,681 | 8,597 | 1.18% |
| 1976 | 1,288,142 | 627,170 | 7,114 | 1.13% |
| 1977 | 1,361,149 | 581,277 | 6,194 | 1.07% |
| 1978 | 1,320,472 | 1,040,563 | 6,594 | 0.63% |
| 1979 | 3,563,568 | 2,446,057 | 12,795 | 0.52% |
| 1980 | 6,228,897 | 5,249,173 | 29,226 | 0.56% |
| 1981 | 9,166,596 | 8,033,217 | 57,225 | 0.71% |
| 1982 | 10,931,889 | 9,782,684 | 83,306 | 0.85% |
| 1983 | 13,033,894 | 10,904,209 | 99,733 | 0.92% |
| 1984 | 26,770,105 | 19,000,532 | 122,606 | 0.65% |
| 1985 | 31,639,816 | 23,585,594 | 197,800 | 0.84% |
| 1986 | 28,694,258 | 22,397,733 | 233,837 | 1.04% |
| 1987 | 33,395,562 | 21,221,745 | 221,122 | 1.04% |
| 1988 | 35,119,881 | 25,755,148 | 214,871 | 0.83% |
| 1989 | 35,906,178 | 25,155,016 | 247,592 | 0.98% |
| 1990 | 30,610,774 | 22,102,411 | 285,295 | 1.29% |
| 1991 | 36,051,683 | 26,032,508 | 381,326 | 1.46% |
| 1992 | 19,293,903 | 13,019,534 | 379,446 | 2.91% |
| 1993 | 35,184,079 | 26,266,840 | 632,757 | 2.41% |
| 1994 | 36,056,012 | 28,309,027 | 396,439 | 1.40% |
| 1995 | 36,022,942 | 28,850,917 | 346,868 | 1.20% |
| 1996 | 35,492,796 | 30,403,059 | 247,760 | 0.81% |
| 1997 | 35,704,134 | 30,958,683 | 349,515 | 1.13% |
| 1998 | 35,544,780 | 29,374,150 | 357,654 | 1.22% |
| 1999 | 34,955,569 | 20,974,453 | 69,295 | 0.33% |
| 2000 | 13,877,677 | 12,605,539 | 128,291 | 1.02% |
| 2001 | 32,404,544 | 24,497,821 | 387,804 | 1.52% |
| 2002 | 34,888,259 | 24,969,782 | 167,679 | 0.67% |
| 2003 | 35,059,219 | 26,019,038 | 194,710 | 0.75% |
| 2004 | 6,579,875 | 5,577,880 | 92,113 | 1.65% |
| 2005 | 34,685,452 | 18,751,871 | 426,074 | 2.27% |
| 2006 | 34,752,993 | 20,860,000 | 662,350 | 3.18% |
| 2007 | 28,700,000 | 20,640,000 | Age-4: 99,589 | 0.48% |
| 2008 | 31,900,000 | 20,660,000 | ||
| 2009 | 33,090,000 | 20,680,000 | ||
| 2010 | 30,100,000 | 20,640,000 | ||
| 2011 | 34,700,000 |
Gulkana I Hatchery – Paxson Lake Sockeye Salmon Production Summary
Brood Year |
Fry Released |
Total Return |
Fry-Adult Survival |
| 1973 | 79,691 | 135 | 0.17% |
| 1974 | 785,110 | 1,996 | 0.25% |
| 1975 | 627,081 | 7,582 | 1.21% |
| 1976 | 514,922 | 6,080 | 1.18% |
| 1977 | 477,219 | 5,085 | 1.07% |
| 1978 | 940,974 | 5,561 | 0.59% |
| 1979 | 1,105,397 | 9,689 | 0.88% |
| 1980 | 3,388,682 | 14,936 | 0.44% |
| 1981 | 5,985,270 | 38,301 | 0.64% |
| 1982 | 5,470,056 | 58,977 | 1.08% |
| 1983 | 6,162,450 | 55,878 | 0.91% |
| 1984 | 9,261,708 | 66,893 | 0.72% |
| 1985 | 8,588,509 | 91,489 | 1.07% |
| 1986 | 9,905,907 | 88,108 | 0.89% |
| 1987 | 6,204,332 | 92,766 | 1.50% |
| 1988 | 10,105,238 | 68,675 | 0.68% |
| 1989 | 13,298,695 | 106,481 | 0.80% |
| 1990 | 10,522,819 | 128,268 | 1.22% |
| 1991 | 10,563,621 | 125,533 | 1.19% |
| 1992 | 5,296,017 | 133,356 | 2.52% |
| 1993 | 9,485,449 | 191,643 | 2.02% |
| 1994 | 10,917,116 | 124,849 | 1.14% |
| 1995 | 10,717,858 | 43,635 | 0.41% |
| 1996 | 10,899,739 | 41,097 | 0.38% |
| 1997 | 10,283,729 | 108,609 | 1.06% |
| 1998 | 10,198,541 | 118,737 | 1.16% |
| 1999 | 9,342,869 | 51,746 | 0.55% |
| 2000 | 6,526,358 | 41,707 | 0.64% |
| 2001 | 10,517,836 | 122,478 | 1.16% |
| 2002 | 10,009,297 | 68,164 | 0.68% |
| 2003 | 11,084,961 | 93,455 | 0.84% |
| 2004 | 1,874,585 | 23,520 | 1.25% |
| 2005 | 4,053,335 | 69,759 | 1.79% |
| 2006 | 4,860,000 | 141,765 | 2.92% |
| 2007 | 4,660,000 | Age-4: 20,791 | 0.45% |
| 2008 | 4,660,000 | ||
| 2009 | 4,680,000 | ||
| 2010 | 4,660,000 |
Gulkana I Hatchery – Crosswind Lake Sockeye Salmon Production Summary
Brood Year |
Fry Released |
Total Return |
Fry-Adult Survival |
| 1984 | 1,287,042 | 2,188 | 0.17% |
| 1987 | 2,487,396 | 4,229 | 0.17% |
| 1988 | 3,130,373 | 25,967 | 0.83% |
| 1989 | 4,906,005 | 85,806 | 1.75% |
| 1990 | 5,469,759 | 125,046 | 2.29% |
| 1991 | 8,420,351 | 245,184 | 2.91% |
| 1992 | 5,061,968 | 233,252 | 4.61% |
| 1993 | 9,144,382 | 422,852 | 4.62% |
| 1994 | 9,973,600 | 251,081 | 3.38% |
| 1995 | 9,732,911 | 285,248 | 2.93% |
| 1996 | 10,516,107 | 203,166 | 1.93% |
| 1997 | 10,512,299 | 232,757 | 2.21% |
| 1998 | 9,984,392 | 211,145 | 2.11% |
| 1999 | 8,331,080 | 6,094 | 0.07% |
| 2000 | 5,585,665 | 85,869 | 1.54% |
| 2001 | 8,174,754 | 235,205 | 2.88% |
| 2002 | 8,360,966 | 90,602 | 1.08% |
| 2003 | 8,359,115 | 90,362 | 1.08% |
| 2004 | 3,703,295 | 68,593 | 1.85% |
| 2005 | 10,017,211 | 338,248 | 3.38% |
| 2006 | 10,000,000 | 489,894 | 4.90% |
| 2007 | 9,980,000 | Age-4: 72,200 | 0.72% |
| 2008 | 10,000,000 | ||
| 2009 | 10,000,000 | ||
| 2010 | 10,000,000 |
Gulkana I Hatchery – Summit Lake Sockeye Salmon Production Summary
Brood Year |
Fry Released |
Total Return |
Fry-Adult Survival |
| 1979 | 1,340,660 | 3,106 | 0.23% |
| 1980 | 1,860,491 | 14,290 | 0.77% |
| 1981 | 2,047,947 | 18,924 | 0.92% |
| 1982 | 4,312,628 | 24,329 | 0.56% |
| 1983 | 4,741,759 | 43,856 | 0.92% |
| 1984 | 8,451,782 | 53,725 | 0.64% |
| 1985 | 14,999,085 | 95,648 | 0.64% |
| 1986 | 12,491,826 | 145,729 | 1.17% |
| 1987 | 12,026,642 | 124,127 | 1.03% |
| 1988 | 12,004,491 | 120,229 | 1.00% |
| 1989 | 6,445,011 | 55,305 | 0.86% |
| 1990 | 6,109,833 | 31,982 | 0.52% |
| 1991 | 7,048,536 | 10,608 | 0.15% |
| 1992 | 2,661,549 | 12,838 | 0.48% |
| 1993 | 7,637,009 | 18,261 | 0.24% |
| 1994 | 7,418,311 | 20,090 | 0.27% |
| 1995 | 8,400,148 | 17,984 | 0.21% |
| 1996 | 8,987,213 | 3,497 | 0.04% |
| 1997 | 10,162,655 | 8,149 | 0.08% |
| 1998 | 9,191,217 | 27,772 | 0.30% |
| 1999 | 3,300,504 | 11,455 | 0.35% |
| 2000 | 493,516 | 715 | 0.14% |
| 2001 | 5,805,231 | 14,348 | 0.25% |
| 2002 | 6,599,519 | 8,913 | 0.14% |
| 2003 | 6,574,962 | 10,893 | 0.17% |
| 2004 | -0- | -0- | |
| 2005 | 4,681,325 | 18,067 | 0.39% |
| 2006 | 6,000,000 | 30,691 | 0.51% |
| 2007 | 6,000,000 | Age-4: 6,598 | 0.11% |
| 2008 | 6,000,000 | ||
| 2009 | 6,000,000 | ||
| 2010 | 5,980,000 |
Gulkana I Hatchery – Ten Mile Lake Sockeye Lake Production Summary
Brood Year |
Fry Released |
Total Return |
Fry-Adult Survival |
| 1973 | 99,620 | 169 | 0.17% |
| 1974 | 101,446 | 999 | 0.98% |
| 1975 | 101,600 | 1,015 | 0.99% |
| 1976 | 112,248 | 1,034 | 0.92% |
| 1977 | 104,058 | 1,109 | 1.07% |
| 1978 | 99,589 | 1,033 | 1.04% |
Gulkana II Hatchery Sockeye Salmon Production Summary
Brood Year |
Green Eggs |
Fry Released |
Total Return |
Fry-Adult Survival |
| 1987 | 309,822 | 185,631 | 316 | 2.86% |
| 1988 | 1,073,296 | 765,447 | 2,842 | 3.71% |
| 1989 | 516,048 | 828,613 | 7,762 | 0.94% |
| 1990 | 802,607 | 765,902 | 8,180 | 1.07% |
| 1991 | 1,282,018 | 1,047,110 | 15,015 | 1.43% |
| 1992 | 1,785,509 | 1,174,000 | 25,979 | 2.21% |
| 1993 | 1,786,531 | 1,546,000 | 34,394 | 2.22% |
| 1994 | 1,916,757 | 1,428,778 | 18,508 | 0.44% |
| 1995 | 1,820,220 | 1,524,038 | 9,574 | 0.63% |
| 1996 | 1,857,946 | 1,386,627 | 4,107 | 0.30% |
| 1997 | 1,804,409 | 1,306,116 | 5,658 | 0.43% |
| 1998 | 1,803,042 | 1,353,295 | 3,278 | 0.24% |
| 1999 | 1,781,755 | 1,362,926 | 8,126 | 0.60% |
| 2000 | 1,762,071 | 1,343,976 | 9,433 | 0.70% |
| 2001 | 1,75,735 | 1,404,849 | 15,773 | 1.12% |
| 2002 | 1,818,878 | 1,275,033 | 7,858 | 0.62% |
| 2003 | 1,569,645 | 1,323,511 | 6,936 | 0.52% |
| 2004 | 1,323,551 | 1,433,480 | 9,331 | 0.65% |
| 2005 | 1,798,430 | 1,470,585 | 19,205 | 1.31% |
| 2006 | 1,435,097 | 1,140,000 | 22,418 | 1.97% |
| 2007 | 1,750,000 | 1,340,000 | Age-4: 3,993 | 0.30% |
| 2008 | 1,750,000 | 1,340,000 | ||
| 2009 | 1,750,000 | 1,330,000 | ||
| 2010 | 1,750,000 | |||
| 2011 | 1,750,000 |
