In the past week Mount Redoubt has erupted violently several times, including one that sent an ash plume 65,000 feet into the air and a giant mudflow down the Drift River, but has since quieted down. The most recent eruptions are more frequent, but also lower intensity with a steady ash plume that hasn’t exceeded 20,000 feet. Redoubt has now erupted a total of eighteen times since March 22nd. Ifit continues on this pattern, it appears that Redoubt poses three threats to fishing in the Cook Inlet. These threats are:
- Flooding of the Drift River
- Ash plumes interrupting flights
- Flooding of the Drift River Oil Storage Facility
Drift River Flooding
Much of the threat to the Drift River was covered in a prior post on the eruption’s effect on Alaskan fishing. To summarize, a study showed that the flooding and rechannalization of the Drift River following the collapse of a lava dome was the main effect Redoubt’s 1989 eruption had on fishing in the Cook Inlet areas. The lahar that flowed down the river valley killed young salmon, destroyed their food supply, and reshaped the river by either destroying spawning areas or making them inaccessible to the returning salmon. However, despite the loss of a entire generation of hatchlings and reduced spawning in the river for several years, the study cited couldn’t find a meaningful correlation between this and the fish haul in Cook Inlet.
Flight Disruptions
For anyone planning a sportfishing trip to Alaska however, ash plumes interrupting flights should be a major concern. Even though the eruption has quieted down, a spike in the ash plume to 27,000 feet on March 30th caused Alaska Airlines to suspend all its flights. Currently, the flights are operating on a limited schedule and the status is being updated on an hourly basis. If you do have flights scheduled into Anchorage, you can check their updated state on Twitter.
Drift River Oil Terminal
Mount Redoubt
The most major threat Redoubt poses to the Cook Inlet as a whole isn’t directly Redoubt’s fault, its man made. The Drift River Oil Terminal is situated at the mouth of the Drift River, a mere 23 miles from the volcano. Normally this facility stores crude oil pumped from the areas around Cook Inlet until enough is stored to be emptied by a tanker. Once the eruptions started, operations at the facility were suspended, but it still houses six million gallons of oil. The facility did flood during Redoubt’s 1989 eruption with no ill effects and since then a $20 million berm has been built to protect the facility against flooding and mudslides.
Authorities are playing it safe and are hoping to have the oil pumped from the facility to a tanker set to arrive in the area between April 4 and 6. However, these tanks cannot be completely emptied and about 1 million gallons of oil will end up being left behind. This may then make the tanks more buoyant and susceptible to flooding. The Coast Guard, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and Cook Inlet Pipeline have all established a joint command to deal with any problems as they arise.
Time can only tell what may happen to the Cook Inlet as fishing season approaches. If this eruption continues to follow the pattern of the one in 1989, the most likely effect on sportfishing in the area will be a few cancelled flights and the loss of fishing in the Drift River for several years. However, if there is a more serious eruption or large lahars, the Drift River Oil Terminal may be breached and this would threaten fishing in the entire inlet. The chances of this are small however. If you are planning a trip for this summer, the best advice is to contact any lodges and guides before you book them and inquire about their cancellation policies in the event of your plane being delayed due to ash or a larger eruption preventing you from getting to the area. Find fishing lodges and guides that will be understanding and hopefully flex their schedule or pro-rate your stay if you should be prevented from coming on time.
Related posts: