Public Notice: Water Quality Certification of Tamgas Creek Hatchery Facility Upgrades Project in Alaska
Summary
On September 17, 2026, EPA received a request from the Metlakatla Indian Community for a water quality certification for the Tamgas Creek Hatchery Facility Upgrades Project [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District project number POA-2021-00583].
Section 401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act requires applicants for federal permits and licenses that may result in discharges into waters of the United States to obtain certification that the discharge will comply with applicable provisions of the Clean Water Act. Where no state agency or Tribe has authority to give such certification, EPA is the certifying authority. In this case, the proposed project is within the Metlakatla Indian Community; therefore, EPA is the certifying authority for this proposed project.
According to the application, the Metlakatla Indian Community proposes to impact wetlands and waters in order to upgrade the Tamgas Creek Hatchery facility by improving fishway performance, brood holding, brood handling, and egg collection processes. The project is located in and adjacent to Tamgas Bay in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska (latitude 55.0576, longitude -131.5123).
EPA is requesting comments on its Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification for this proposed project.
Project description
The Metlakatla Indian Community proposes to impact approximately 0.13-acre below the high tide line by excavating approximately 2,000-3,440 cubic yards and discharging approximately 5,600 cubic yards of fill material. The project will remove the existing fish ladder and replace it with a new 120-foot by 55-foot serpentine fish ladder below the high tide line. The new ladder first step would be at an elevation of 0.0 feet, instead of the current one located at +14.0 feet.
The existing fill material would be removed and repurposed for the construction of the new serpentine ladder. The new structure would use full-length vertical slots in alternating weir baffles to provide additional brood holding volume, create resting pools, and enable fish to ascend the fishway gradually at their preferred swimming depth.
A copy of the application is available upon request by contacting Caroline Pierce (pierce.caroline@epa.gov), 206-553-5780.