Fish Creek (Douglas Island, Juneau, Alaska)
Encyclopedia
Fish Creek is a river
on Douglas Island
in the City and Borough of Juneau
, Alaska
, United States. Its origin is Cropley Lake
, and it flows into Fritz Cove
, a part of Stephens Passage
. It is 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the city of Juneau.
The Treadwell gold mine
used water from Fish Creek as early as 1885. The Treadwell Ditch, constructed in 1889, brought water sixteen miles from the river to the mines.
J. Peters of the United States Geological Survey
reported the name in 1902, and it was entered into the Geographic Names Information System
on March 31, 1981.
American Dipper
s were noted nesting near the river in May 2010.
Fish Creek also refers to a historical settlement at the mouth of the stream. Homestead claims were filed in 1880, and a school was established in 1936.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
on Douglas Island
Douglas Island
Douglas Island is a tidal island in the U.S. state of Alaska, just west of downtown Juneau and east of Admiralty Island. It is separated from mainland Juneau by the Gastineau Channel. The Juneau-Douglas Bridge, connecting the island with Juneau, provides a two lane road to and from the island and...
in the City and Borough of Juneau
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, United States. Its origin is Cropley Lake
Cropley Lake
Cropley Lake is an alpine lake in the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, United States. Located on Douglas Island, it is southwest of Table Top Mountain, and southwest of the city of Juneau. Cropley Lake is the source of Fish Creek.-History:...
, and it flows into Fritz Cove
Fritz Cove
Fritz Cove is a bay on the northwestern coast of Douglas Island in the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska, United States. Lying in Stephens Passage, it is northwest of the city of Juneau....
, a part of Stephens Passage
Stephens Passage
Stephens Passage is a channel in the Alexander Archipelago in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Alaska. It runs between Admiralty Island to the west and the Alaska mainland and Douglas Island to the east, and is about 170 km long...
. It is 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the city of Juneau.
The Treadwell gold mine
Treadwell gold mine
The Treadwell gold mine was the largest mine of the Alaskan Panhandle and, in its time, the largest gold mine in the world. During its operation from 1881 to 1922 over 3 million troy ounces of gold were extracted. The mine was owned and operated by John Treadwell , from whom it derives its name...
used water from Fish Creek as early as 1885. The Treadwell Ditch, constructed in 1889, brought water sixteen miles from the river to the mines.
J. Peters of the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
reported the name in 1902, and it was entered into the Geographic Names Information System
Geographic Names Information System
The Geographic Names Information System is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer...
on March 31, 1981.
American Dipper
American Dipper
The American Dipper , also known as a Water Ouzel, is a stocky dark grey bird with a head sometimes tinged with brown, and white feathers on the eyelids cause the eyes to flash white as the bird blinks. It is 16.5 cm long and weighs on average 46 g...
s were noted nesting near the river in May 2010.
Fish Creek also refers to a historical settlement at the mouth of the stream. Homestead claims were filed in 1880, and a school was established in 1936.