Knik River Public Use Area
Habitat and Wildlife

The Knik River Public Use Area (PUA) is home to a wide variety of different habitat types including glaciers, ice fields, braided river channels and exposed shorelands, high elevation mountains, alpine and sub-alpine tundra, boreal forests, creeks and floodplains, and a sprawling lakes and wetlands complex. Each of these habit types help to influence the areas rich and diverse fish and wildlife populations. For more information on the different types of fish, birds, and animals found throughout the PUA visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Wildlife Notebook.

Fish that are common to the area include Sockeye salmon (Red), Coho Salmon (Silver), and Chum Salmon. Salmon are anadromous which means that they migrate from saltwater to spawn in fresh water. Resident freshwater species of Dolly Varden and a fish not often seen because of its small inconspicuous markings is the Slimy Sculpin are also found throughout the Knik Valley.

The most popular fishery in the PUA is Jim Creek. Large runs of silver salmon migrate up Jim Creek to reach the streams of the lakes and wetlands complex. These lakes include Mud Lake, Jim Lake, Gull Lake, Swan Lake, Leaf Lake, and Chain Lakes. The expansive lakes and wetlands provide ideal habitat for the rearing of anadromous fish.

The PUA is home to a wide variety of animals including big game, small game, and furbearers. Big game animals found in the area include, Moose, Black Bear, Brown Bear, Dall Sheep, and Mountain Goat. Some examples of small game animals found in the area include Hares, Porcupine, Shrews, and Voles. Common furbearing animals of the area include Beaver, Coyote, Lynx, Marmot, Marten, Mink, Muskrat, Northern Flying Squirrel, Red Fox, River Otter, Weasels, Wolf, and Wolverine.

There are many different kinds of bird species that visit the PUA. A species list of these birds can be found in the "Birds of Jim-Swan" checklist. Some of the more recognized birds seen in the PUA include Trumpeter Swans, Ducks, Eagles, Ravens, Owls, and Accipiters.