Salcha River

{{Infobox river | name = Salcha River | native_name = {{native name|taa|Sołchaget}} | name_other = | name_etymology =  | image = SALCHA RIVER CROSSING. THIS VIEW LOOKS NORTHEAST. THE ROUTE WILL BRING THE PIPELINE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, NORTH TO... - NARA - 550576.jpg | image_caption = Salcha River in 1973 | map = | map_size = 300 | map_caption = | pushpin_map = USA Alaska | pushpin_map_size = 300 | pushpin_map_caption = Location of the mouth of the Salcha River in Alaska | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = United States | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Alaska | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = Borough | subdivision_name4 = Fairbanks North Star | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  | length = {{convert|125|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="gnis"/> | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = {{convert|2|mi|km}} from the mouth<ref name="discharge">{{cite web|title=Water-Data Report 2012: USGS 15484000: Salcha River near Salchaket, AK| publisher = United States Geological Survey|url = https://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2012/pdfs/15484000.2012.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate = October 26, 2013}}</ref> | discharge1_min = {{convert|60|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_avg = {{convert|1601|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="discharge">{{cite web|title=Water-Data Report 2012: USGS 15484000: Salcha River near Salchaket, AK| publisher = United States Geological Survey|url = https://wdr.water.usgs.gov/wy2012/pdfs/15484000.2012.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate = October 26, 2013}}</ref> | discharge1_max = {{convert|97000|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}} | source1 = Tanana Hills | source1_location = slightly south of Steese National Conservation Area, northeastern Fairbanks North Star Borough | source1_coordinates = {{coord|65|04|23|N|143|54|58|W|display=inline}}<ref name="gnis"/> | source1_elevation = {{convert|4054|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>Derived by entering source coordinates in Google Earth.</ref> | mouth = Tanana River<ref name="gnis"/> | mouth_location = {{convert|33|mi|km}} southeast of Fairbanks | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|64|28|00|N|146|58|44|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name="gnis">{{cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System| publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = January 1, 2000| url = {{gnis3|1408991}} | title =Salcha River| accessdate = October 26, 2013}}</ref> | mouth_elevation = {{convert|640|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="gnis"/> | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = {{convert|2170|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name="discharge"/> | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} The '''Salcha River''' (Lower Tanana: ''Sołchaget'') is a {{convert|125|mi|km|adj=on}} tributary of the Tanana River in the U.S. state of Alaska.<ref name="gnis"/> Rising in the eastern part of the Fairbanks North Star Borough east of Fort Wainwright, it flows generally west-southwest to meet the larger river at Aurora Lodge,<ref name="DeLorme">{{cite book|title=Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer|publisher=DeLorme|location=Yarmouth, Maine|pages=116, 127–28|edition=7th|year=2010|isbn=978-0-89933-289-5}}</ref> {{convert|33|mi|km}} southeast of Fairbanks.<ref name="gnis"/>

The Salcha drains an area of {{convert|2170|mi2|km2|-1}}, making it the second-largest tributary of the Tanana.<ref name="navreport">{{cite web |url=http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/nav/rdi/salchariver/salchariver_blmnav.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930075606/http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/nav/rdi/salchariver/salchariver_blmnav.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2009|title=Navigability of Salcha River in the Tanana River Region|publisher=U.S. Bureau of Land Management|date=September 29, 2005|pages=6–10|format=PDF|accessdate=October 26, 2013}}</ref> The Trans-Alaska Pipeline crosses under the Salcha approximately {{convert|12|mi|km|0}} east of the mouth of the river.<ref name="DeLorme"/>

==Recreation== Accessible by boat or on foot from the Richardson Highway, which crosses the lower river near the mouth, the Salcha River is a popular sports-fishing stream. The main species are king salmon, caught mostly near the mouth, and Arctic grayling, caught mostly further upstream.<ref name="Alaska Fishing">{{cite book|last=Limeres|first=Rene|author2=Pedersen, Gunnar|title=Alaska Fishing: The Ultimate Angler's Guide|edition=3rd|publisher=Publishers Design Group|location=Roseville, California|year=2005|pages=277–78|isbn=1-929170-11-4|display-authors=etal}}</ref>

Catch and release fishing for Chinook salmon averaging {{convert|20|to|25|lb|kg|0}} can be good on this river. Summer-run chum salmon and fall-run coho salmon also frequent the Salcha, as do smaller numbers of northern pike.<ref name="Alaska Fishing"/>

The '''Salcha River State Recreation Site''' is next to the Salcha River at milepost 323.3 of the Richardson Highway. The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation manages the {{convert|61|acre|ha|adj=on}} site, about {{convert|40|mi|km}} southeast of Fairbanks. Amenities include six campsites, water, toilets, picnic sites, a boat launch, and a public-use cabin. Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are among the possible winter activities near the site.<ref>{{cite web|title=Salcha River State Recreation Site|url=https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/northern/salcharver.htm|publisher=Alaska Department of Natural Resources|year=2013|access-date=October 27, 2013}}</ref> The park is known to be crowded on holiday weekends.<ref>The Milepost, 2018 edition, page 446 {{ISBN|9781892154378}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/salcha.htm Alaska Department of Natural Resources: Salcha River State Recreation Site] *[https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ak/nwis/uv/?site_no=15484000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060 USGS National Water Information System]

Category:Rivers of Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska Category:Rivers of Alaska Category:Tributaries of the Yukon River Category:Tanana Athabaskans