Water is critically important to all the habitats and species found on Alaska’s Refuges, including Becharof. The Refuge System's Water Resources Branch provides scientific leadership and technical assistance and collects data to quantify ecological water requirements, address physical and ecologic habitat issues, and provide long-term monitoring to assess changes in the hydrologic and aquatic landscape. The Branch’s work to acquire State water rights, in addition to already existing Federal reserved water rights, provides protection of fish and wildlife habitats and the natural biodiversity of aquatic wildlife, and ensures an adequate water supply for refuge purposes and facilities.
With support from our Water Resources Branch, we have an active real-time gage on the Egegik River and are collecting water quality samples and physical water quality measurements at this location.