Taroka Lake Survey

Shousky, Joseph; Golden, Kevin

On the sixteenth day of the ninth month of the year of Princess Di's death, Joseph A. Shousky and Kevin S. Golden were assigned the auspicious task of surveying the most intriguing lake in the world, Taroka Lake of Kenai Fjords National Park. This lake, located in Taroka Arm just north of Cloudy Cape, captivates the visionary minds of the Kenai Fjords National Park Resource Management team because of its dynamic nature. Of particular interest is the ephemeral stream which allows anadromous fish to enter the loins of Taroka Lake to reproduce. The berm of Taroka lake sits above the lakes water level, thus a continuous outflow stream does not exist. However, anadromous fish are found in abundance in Taroka Lake. Also of interest is a salt water lens found at apparently varying depths. This lens defines the boundary where the lakes fresh water lies above a more dense highly saline lake environment. A depth profile of Taroka lake was obtained by using state of the art GPS and depth sounding equipment, and water samples were obtained using remote deep water collection technology. Using a salt refractometer, the water samples were tested for salinity and specific gravity. Water temperatures and dissolved oxygen content measurements at varying depths were attempted, however equipment failure barred success. A plankton drag was also intended, however extenuating circumstances prohibited its execution. Several trees were also cored in an attempt learn the age of the forest on the beach berm.