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| {{Infobox river | {{Infobox river | ||
| | name = Valdez Creek | | name = Valdez Creek | ||
| | native_name = {{native name |
| native_name = {{native name |tfn |C'ilaan Na'}} | ||
| | name_other |
| name_other = | ||
| | name_etymology = | | name_etymology = | ||
| <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | ||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
| | subdivision_name5 = | | subdivision_name5 = | ||
| <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | ||
| | length = {{convert| |
| length = {{convert|15|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref name=tuck>{{cite report |title=The Valdez Creek Mining District Alaska, in 1938 |last1=Tuck |first1=Ralph |date=1938 |url=https://dggs.alaska.gov/webpubs/usgs/b/text/b0897b.pdf |publisher=United States Department of the Interior |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref> | ||
| | width_min = | | width_min = | ||
| | width_avg = | | width_avg = | ||
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| | source1_coordinates= {{coord|63|13|00|N|147|5|16|W|}}<ref name="gnis"/> | | source1_coordinates= {{coord|63|13|00|N|147|5|16|W|}}<ref name="gnis"/> | ||
| | mouth = ] | | mouth = ] | ||
| | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|63|9|38|N|147|29|57|W|}}<ref name="gnis">{{cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System| publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = March 31, 1981| url = {{gnis3|1411618}} | title = Valdez Creek| |
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|63|9|38|N|147|29|57|W|}}<ref name="gnis">{{cite web | work = Geographic Names Information System| publisher = United States Geological Survey | date = March 31, 1981| url = {{gnis3|1411618}} | title = Valdez Creek| access-date = 13 December 2024}}</ref> | ||
| | mouth_elevation = {{convert|2467|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="gnis"/> | | mouth_elevation = {{convert|2467|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="gnis"/> | ||
| | progression = | | progression = | ||
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| }} | }} | ||
| '''Valdez Creek''' ( |
'''Valdez Creek''' (]: {{em |C'ilaan Na'}}<ref name=gnis />) is a small headwater tributary of the ] in the ] of ]. It is also home to several gold mines, one of which was the largest placer gold mine in ] and has seen mining activity since the late 1890s. | ||
| ==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
| The streams headwaters start at Grogg Lake in the Clearwater Mountains, a subrange of the ]. It flows in a general southwesterly direction for about {{convert|15|miles}}<ref name=tuck/>{{rp|112}} until it reaches the Susitna River a few miles north of the ].<ref name=gnis/> From its headwaters, it flows through a glacial valley and it joined by several of its tributaries, but none are longer than 6 miles. The majority of Valdez Creek's drainage area is above the ]. After flowing through a narrow canyon that is {{convert |30-150|ft|abbr=on}} deep, it joins the Susitna River in its broad valley.<ref name=tuck/>{{rp|112}} | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| It is approximately {{convert|160|miles}} north-northwest of ], or {{convert|120|miles}} directly south of ]. It is located nearly halfway between the ] and the ], 60 miles west and 50 miles east, respectively.<ref name=tuck/>{{rp|109–110}} Access to the area is via the Denali Highway, at approximately milepost 81.<ref name=uaa>{{cite report |title=A Review of Non-Native Plants in the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska, and Invasive Plant Management Guidance |last1=Greenstein |first1=Casey |publisher=US Bureau of Land Management |url=https://accs.uaa.alaska.edu/wp-content/uploads/Non-Native_Plants_Valdez_Creek_Mining_District.pdf |access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref>{{rp |5}} | |||
| ⚫ | Valdez Creek has cut its present channel through deep gravels and has intrenched itself in the underlying schist bed rock.<ref name="Brooks1909">{{cite book|last=Brooks|first=Alfred Hulse|title=Mineral Resources of Alaska: Report on Progress of Investigations in 1908|url=https://archive.org/details/mineralresource00sgoog|edition=Public domain|year=1909|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|pages=–}}</ref> | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| Disappointed by failures of prospecting around ] on the ], W.G. Jack and his party followed the Susitna River to its headwaters, the first recorded non-natives to do so. Gold was reportedly first discovered by the party at a creek called "Galina" by the natives in the area. His party named the creek "Swollen Creek" after the healthy mosquito population that lived in the area that had given them numerous bites that became swollen.<ref name=dessauer>{{cite report |title=An Historical Resource Study of the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska-1977 |last1=Dessauer |first1=Peter |last2=Harvey |first2=David |publisher=US Bureau of Land Management |date=March 1980 |url=https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00000042/00001/thumbs}}</ref>{{rp|17–18}}<ref name=balen>{{cite report |title=Executive Summary of the Bureau of Mines Investigations in the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska |last1=Balen |first1=Michael |publisher=US Bureau of Mines |url=https://dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/id/24854 |access-date=13 December 2024 |date=1991}}</ref>{{rp|6}} However, they were forced to abandon the area due to low provisions and looming winter.<ref name=dessauer/>{{rp|18}} | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| Placer deposits were rediscovered on August 15, 1903, by Peter Monahan's party, and it was renamed to Valdez Creek, in honor of their hometown of ].<ref name=balen/>{{rp|6}} This set off a minor gold rush in 1904, but due to a lack of promising claims, most prospectors left that fall to return to Valdez.<ref name=dessauer/>{{rp|21–22}} | |||
| ⚫ | Mining was restricted at the time to two localities on the stream—Lucky Gulch and the vicinity of Discovery claim at the mouth of Willow Creek. A hydraulic plant was installed on Valdez Creek below Willow Creek in 1908 with about 120 men engaged in mining on Valdez Creek during that summer,<ref name=Brooks1909/> and around 20 men were permanent residents. Wages were reported as $1/hour, 3 times the normal wage for labor in ]. Food was regarded as exceptional as vegetables were grown in the summer and fish and game were plentiful.<ref name=dessauer/>{{rp|26}} | ||
| The first permanent buildings in the area were built in 1913. By 1917, it was a self-sufficient mining community named "McKinley", likely due to proximity with the then-named ], with a ], ], ], and more. It was later renamed to "Denali" on August 4, 1922, reflecting the native name of Denali.<ref name=dessauer/>{{rp|25, 35–36, 39}} | |||
| Transportation to the area before 1917 depended on the season, but both trails started at Valdez. The summer route started below ] at Bear Creek to "flat country" then went northwesterly for around {{convert |130|mi}}. The winter route followed the ] then down the Maclaren River, which provided good conditions for sled transport. Fred Moffit noted that a few supplies arrived from ] via the ] and ]. Once the ] was built, a more direct route from ] was used. A minority of prospectors used the ] out of ] to ], then followed previously established trails to Copper Center.<ref name=dessauer/>{{rp|23–25}} | |||
| In the summer of 1977, two miners from Talkeetna bulldozed the Denali townsite area, fearing further restrictions on mining after a ] team visited the former town to do a historical study and assessment.<ref name=dessauer/>{{rp|84–86}}{{primary source inline|date=December 2024}} | |||
| The Denali Mining Company operated mines in the area from 1979 to 1983, and the Valdez Creek Joint Venture took over in 1984. A few years later, ] Mining Company succeeded the previous group.<ref name=uaa/>{{rp|7}} In 1992, the main open pit mine was the largest ] in North America.<ref name=epa>{{cite report |title=Site Visit Report: Valdez Creek Mine |url=https://archive.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/web/pdf/placer3.pdf |publisher=US Environmental Protection Agency |date=1992 |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>{{rp|1–2}} Between 1984 and 1995, it was the largest gold mine in Alaska in 11 of those 12 years, however it closed in September of that last year.<ref name=mil>{{cite report |title=Alaska's Mineral Industry 1996 |last1= Swainbank |first1=R.C. |last2=Bundtzen |first2=T.K. |last3=Clough |first3=A.H. |last4=Henning |first4=M.W. |publisher=Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys |date=1996 |edition=51 |url=https://dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/id/2650 |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>{{rp|17, 25}} | |||
| Reclamation efforts were started after the closure of the mine, and Cambior Lake was created at the site of the old pit mine. However, during these efforts, invasive plants were introduced to the area, including ] and ]. Other invasive plants like ], ], and others were noted on nearly the whole length of the creek when plant surveys done in 2014.<ref name=uaa/>{{rp|10–14}} | |||
| Up to 2012, a total of over 530,000 oz have been produced from the Valdez Creek area, with the vast majority of the gold being placer deposits. Despite being actively mined since the start of the 20th century, the ] for the gold has not been found as of 2023<ref name=suhey>{{cite thesis |title= Exploring Competing Gold System Models in the Valdez Creek Region, Clearwater Mountains, Alaska |last=Suhey |first=Jane |degree=MSc |date= December 2023 |publisher=University of Alaska Fairbanks |url=https://scholarworks.alaska.edu/handle/11122/14973}}</ref>{{rp|7–12}} and mineral surveys suggest that there is high potential for more gold in the area.<ref name=avalon>{{cite report |title=Geologic Report RB04EXE-1: Executive Summary Report for the Rainbow Hill Project, Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska |author=Avalon Development Corporation |date=23 August 2004 |publisher=Avalon Development Corporation |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1023109/000113717104001167/georeport.htm |access-date=20 December 2024}}</ref>{{rp |iv, 33}} | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| Line 71: | Line 91: | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| {{Alaska-river-stub}} | |||
Latest revision as of 12:10, 21 December 2024
River in Alaska, United States| Valdez Creek | |
|---|---|
  Location of the mouth of the Valdez Creek in Alaska | |
| Native name | C'ilaan Na' (Tanaina) |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| District | Matanuska-Susitna Borough |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Grogg Lake |
| • location | Clearwater Mountains, Hayes Range |
| • coordinates | 63°13′00″N 147°5′16″W / 63.21667°N 147.08778°W / 63.21667; -147.08778 |
| Mouth | Susitna River |
| • coordinates | 63°9′38″N 147°29′57″W / 63.16056°N 147.49917°W / 63.16056; -147.49917 |
| • elevation | 2,467 ft (752 m) |
| Length | 15 mi (24 km) |
Valdez Creek (Dena'ina: C'ilaan Na') is a small headwater tributary of the Susitna River in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is also home to several gold mines, one of which was the largest placer gold mine in North America and has seen mining activity since the late 1890s.
Geography
The streams headwaters start at Grogg Lake in the Clearwater Mountains, a subrange of the Alaska Range. It flows in a general southwesterly direction for about 15 miles (24 km) until it reaches the Susitna River a few miles north of the Denali Highway. From its headwaters, it flows through a glacial valley and it joined by several of its tributaries, but none are longer than 6 miles. The majority of Valdez Creek's drainage area is above the tree line. After flowing through a narrow canyon that is 30–150 ft (9.1–45.7 m) deep, it joins the Susitna River in its broad valley.
It is approximately 160 miles (260 km) north-northwest of Valdez, or 120 miles (190 km) directly south of Fairbanks. It is located nearly halfway between the Richardson Highway and the Alaska Railroad, 60 miles west and 50 miles east, respectively. Access to the area is via the Denali Highway, at approximately milepost 81.
Valdez Creek has cut its present channel through deep gravels and has intrenched itself in the underlying schist bed rock.
History
Disappointed by failures of prospecting around Sunrise on the Kenai Peninsula, W.G. Jack and his party followed the Susitna River to its headwaters, the first recorded non-natives to do so. Gold was reportedly first discovered by the party at a creek called "Galina" by the natives in the area. His party named the creek "Swollen Creek" after the healthy mosquito population that lived in the area that had given them numerous bites that became swollen. However, they were forced to abandon the area due to low provisions and looming winter.
Placer deposits were rediscovered on August 15, 1903, by Peter Monahan's party, and it was renamed to Valdez Creek, in honor of their hometown of Valdez. This set off a minor gold rush in 1904, but due to a lack of promising claims, most prospectors left that fall to return to Valdez.
Mining was restricted at the time to two localities on the stream—Lucky Gulch and the vicinity of Discovery claim at the mouth of Willow Creek. A hydraulic plant was installed on Valdez Creek below Willow Creek in 1908 with about 120 men engaged in mining on Valdez Creek during that summer, and around 20 men were permanent residents. Wages were reported as $1/hour, 3 times the normal wage for labor in Seattle. Food was regarded as exceptional as vegetables were grown in the summer and fish and game were plentiful.
The first permanent buildings in the area were built in 1913. By 1917, it was a self-sufficient mining community named "McKinley", likely due to proximity with the then-named Mt. McKinley, with a general store, post office, hydroelectric plant, and more. It was later renamed to "Denali" on August 4, 1922, reflecting the native name of Denali.
Transportation to the area before 1917 depended on the season, but both trails started at Valdez. The summer route started below Gulkana at Bear Creek to "flat country" then went northwesterly for around 130 miles (210 km). The winter route followed the Gulkana River then down the Maclaren River, which provided good conditions for sled transport. Fred Moffit noted that a few supplies arrived from Fairbanks via the Nenana River and Broad Pass. Once the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail was built, a more direct route from Paxson was used. A minority of prospectors used the Copper River and Northwestern Railway out of Cordova to Chitina, then followed previously established trails to Copper Center.
In the summer of 1977, two miners from Talkeetna bulldozed the Denali townsite area, fearing further restrictions on mining after a Bureau of Land Management team visited the former town to do a historical study and assessment.
The Denali Mining Company operated mines in the area from 1979 to 1983, and the Valdez Creek Joint Venture took over in 1984. A few years later, Cambior Mining Company succeeded the previous group. In 1992, the main open pit mine was the largest placer mine in North America. Between 1984 and 1995, it was the largest gold mine in Alaska in 11 of those 12 years, however it closed in September of that last year.
Reclamation efforts were started after the closure of the mine, and Cambior Lake was created at the site of the old pit mine. However, during these efforts, invasive plants were introduced to the area, including smooth brome and alsike clover. Other invasive plants like foxtail barley, common dandelion, and others were noted on nearly the whole length of the creek when plant surveys done in 2014.
Up to 2012, a total of over 530,000 oz have been produced from the Valdez Creek area, with the vast majority of the gold being placer deposits. Despite being actively mined since the start of the 20th century, the mother lode for the gold has not been found as of 2023 and mineral surveys suggest that there is high potential for more gold in the area.
See also
References
- ^ "Valdez Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. March 31, 1981. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Tuck, Ralph (1938). The Valdez Creek Mining District Alaska, in 1938 (PDF) (Report). United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Greenstein, Casey. A Review of Non-Native Plants in the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska, and Invasive Plant Management Guidance (PDF) (Report). US Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ Brooks, Alfred Hulse (1909). Mineral Resources of Alaska: Report on Progress of Investigations in 1908 (Public domain ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 157–.
- ^ Dessauer, Peter; Harvey, David (March 1980). An Historical Resource Study of the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska-1977 (Report). US Bureau of Land Management.
- ^ Balen, Michael (1991). Executive Summary of the Bureau of Mines Investigations in the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska (Report). US Bureau of Mines. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- Site Visit Report: Valdez Creek Mine (PDF) (Report). US Environmental Protection Agency. 1992. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- Swainbank, R.C.; Bundtzen, T.K.; Clough, A.H.; Henning, M.W. (1996). Alaska's Mineral Industry 1996 (Report) (51 ed.). Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- Suhey, Jane (December 2023). Exploring Competing Gold System Models in the Valdez Creek Region, Clearwater Mountains, Alaska (MSc thesis). University of Alaska Fairbanks.
- Avalon Development Corporation (23 August 2004). Geologic Report RB04EXE-1: Executive Summary Report for the Rainbow Hill Project, Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska (Report). Avalon Development Corporation. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
63°09′38″N 147°29′57″W / 63.1606°N 147.4992°W / 63.1606; -147.4992
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