The Chena River Watershed is one of the "high priority waterbodies through the Alaska Clean Water Actions (ACWA) ranking process because of concerns with water quality. The Chena River, Chena Slough and Noyes Sloughs were listed as impaired (polluted) from petroleum hydrocarbons, oil and grease and for sediment in the early 1990s. Noyes Slough was also listed as polluted from residues (debris or trash)." (dec.alaska.gov) The waters of the Chena River and tributaries provide important habitat to Chinook salmon, chum salmon, and arctic grayling. "Urban run-off is considered the primary source of pollution."(dec.alaska.gov).  The Chena River Watershed also provides water for large mammals.

     There are predators like Grizzly Bears, Black Bears, and Gray Wolves. Other predators and/or omnivores are the Coyote, Red Foxes, Arctic Foxes, We are also home to large prey animals like Moose, Cairbou, and Mule Deer which are very rare (read about them on the link to Alaska Dept Fish and Game).  The mule deer in Alaska are far from there normal range of the Yukon Territory in Canada. The recent uptick in mule deer in the area is believed to be caused by global warming. 

     Small mammals live in the Chena River Watershed as well as many birds.

Some of these animals are Snowshoe Hares, Ground Squirrels, Red Squirrels, House Mouse, Arctic Shrew, and the Red Backed Vole.   Some of the birds

that make their home in the watershed are Ravens, Ptarmigan, Ruffed Grouse, and the Sharptail Grouse, all of these birds are permanent residents.  Some of

the part-time feathered residents are Bald Eagles, Canadian Geese, Trumpeter Swans, Goldeneye Ducks, Bufflehead Ducks, Mergansers, Northern Flicker,  and Boreal owls. 

     The varieties of Fish that we have in our rivers are Chum Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Burbot, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Arctic Char, Whitefish, Arctic Grayling and many others.  The project is also home to what seems like billions of mosquitoes, and knats.  Other insects that live in Alaska and on our project are dragonflies, wasps, hornets, beetles, spiders and many species of butterflies and moths.  For a complete list of the biodiversity in Alaska visit their website.  ADFG's has a wealth of information on Alaska wildlife.