Physical System Dynamics and
White Phosphorus Fate and Transport, 1994,
Eagle River Flats, Fort Richardson, Alaska
DANIEL E. LAWSON, LEWIS E. HUNTER, SUSAN R. BIGL,
BETH M. NADEAU, PATRICIA B. WEYRICK AND JOHN H. BODETTE
sites to be remediated are critical and their influ-
INTRODUCTION
ence on the whole physical system must be con-
Eagle River Flats (ERF) is an 865-ha tidal flat
sidered.
and salt marsh at the mouth of Eagle River on
Knik Arm, northeast of Anchorage, Alaska (Fig.
1). The tidal flat has been used as an artillery
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
range since the early 1940s. Previous work by
CRREL has shown that an unusually high mor-
Eagle River Flats is one of several estuarine
tality of migratory waterfowl, particularly ducks,
tidal flats and salt marshes in the upper Cook
is attributable to the ingestion of elemental white
Inlet region of south-central Alaska (Fig. 1). Lo-
phosphorus (WP) particles (Racine et al. 1992a,b).
cated at the mouth of the Eagle River, ERF is
White phosphorus particles were
introduced by smoke rounds deto-
nated during military training
0
20 miles
(Racine et al. 1992a, 1993). Particles
0
30 km
Study
Area
of WP are now present in near-
N
surface sediments at numerous lo-
cations in ERF, most notably in
Salt
pond and marsh bottom sediments
R.
Marsh
ka
nus
ta
Ma
where dabbling ducks ingest them
Palmer
during feeding.
Flats
k R.
Kni
This report describes the results
ARM
of 1994 investigations of the physi-
Eklutna L.
Goose
cal component of the Eagle River
Bay
FT. RICHARDSON
Flats ecosystem. These studies in-
R.
Susitna Flats
cluded analyses of the tidal and
Fire I.
Eagle River
Potter
T
Flats
Marsh
Anchorage
LE
river hydrology that are critical for
IN
Chickaloon TURN
AGA
evaluating remedial technologies
IN A
Flats
Trading
RM
K
Bay
O
for WP contamination. Proposed
CO
remedies, which include removal
Prince William
of WP by dredging, in-situ degra-
Redoubt
Sound
Bay
dation by temporary or permanent
i
na R.
Kenai
Ke
drainage and drying of ponds, and
reduced risk by use of covers (pos-
Kalgin I.
Kenai L.
Skilak L.
sibly geotextiles), sedimentation
KENAI PENINSULA
and burial, will affect the ERF
physical ecosystem in largely un- Figure 1. Upper Cook Inlet region, showing ERF and several other estua-
known ways. Studies of specific rine salt marshes (shaded areas).
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