Nushagak River

The Nushagak River /ˈnuːʃɪɡæk/[3] (Central Yupik: Iilgayaq) is a river in southwest Alaska, United States. It begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest 450 km (280 mi) to Nushagak Bay, an inlet of Bristol Bay, east of Dillingham, Alaska.

Nushagak River
Nushagak River
Location of the mouth of the Nushagak River in Alaska
Native name	Iilgayaq (Central Yupik)
Location
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Physical characteristics
Source	Alaska Range
Mouth	Nushagak Bay
• location	Bristol Bay
• coordinates	58°47′58″N 158°37′57″W[1]
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	280 mi (450 km)
Basin size	13,400 sq mi (35,000 km2)[2]
Discharge
• location	mouth[2]
• average	35,315 cu ft/s (1,000.0 m3/s)[2]

The Mulchatna River is a major tributary. Other navigable tributaries include the Nuyakuk River and the King Salmon River.

Jet-boats are commonly used to access these tributaries and the upper Nushagak. The Wood River, Iowithla River and the Kokwok River are smaller tributaries.

Fishermen gillnetting on the Nushagak River, 1917

The villages of Portage Creek, Ekwok, Koliganek and New Stuyahok are on the river. The town of Dillingham (Pop. 2,466) is on Nushagak Bay.

The Nushagak River is downstream of the proposed Pebble Mine, whose tailings storage lake would sit at the headwaters of the Koktuli River, one of the Nushagak's tributaries. Villages on the Nushagak are among the major opponents of the proposal.

Five species of Pacific salmon (Chinook, coho, sockeye, chum, and pink) spawn in the river or its tributaries. Commercial, subsistence and sport fishing are important in the area. Most notable is the annual run of king (Chinook) salmon which occurs from mid-June to mid-July. Rainbow trout, northern pike, grayling, burbot, whitefish and Arctic char are also present in the Nushagak. It is estimated that over 50% of the world's production of wild salmon is harvested in the Nushagak River and the Bristol Bay area.