08/18/19 Upper Kenai River CLOSED

Effective immediately: The Upper Kenai River has been closed from Cooper Landing Boat Launch to Skilak Lake

Background:  A major wildland fire is occurring on the central Kenai Peninsula and extreme fire danger currently exists.  The Swan Lake fire has crossed the Sterling Highway near Jean Lake and is now on the south side of the Sterling Highway heading east.  Kenai National Wildlife Refuge has evacuated Jim’s Landing and the Hidden Lake campground, and closed the Russian River Ferry service. Chugach National Forest has closed the Russian River campground and area public use cabins.  The fire is expected to reach the Kenai River.

The purpose of this closure is to protect public safety by prohibiting any boating on the Kenai River during this fire.  This closure does not apply to persons involved in the official emergency response effort or to monitor the welfare of the public or evaluate potential hazards or damage assessments.  This closure is requested by the Incident Management Team.

The requested action is consistent with 11 AAC 12.335. CLOSURES AND USE MANAGEMENT which allows the Director to close all or a portion of a park to all public use or place restrictions on a use or activity when necessary for public safety or for the protection of natural resources.  This closure will help the Division fulfill our responsibilities to protect the safety of park visitors within the Kenai River Special Management Area.

Order:  This document closes the Kenai River Special Management Area between the Cooper Landing state boat launch and where the river enters Skilak Lake, to all boating activity, effective immediately.

This order will remain in effect until the Director has determined fire activity has diminished and not a risk to public safety. 

Under 11 AAC 12.335 Closure and Use Management, section (e), no person may violate these use restrictions.

A person adversely affected by this decision may appeal this decision, in accordance with 11 AAC 02 to Corri A. Feige, Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources, 550 West 7^th Avenue, Suite 1400, Anchorage, AK 99501-3561.  Any appeal must be received at the above address, or received by being faxed to 907-269-8918, or sent by electronic mail to dnr.appeals@alaska.gov within 20 days after the date of “delivery” of this decision, as defined in 11 AAC 02.040.  A copy of 11 AAC 02 may be obtained from any regional information office of the Department of Natural Resources.  If no appeal is filed before the end of the period specified, this decision is final.  This decision takes effect immediately and will remain in effect until September 30, 2019, unless repealed sooner by Director’s Order.