Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Summary

              Summary
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mission Statement
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working
with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife,
plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the
American people.
National Wildlife Refuge Mission Statement
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to
administer a national network of lands and waters for the
conservation, management, and, where appropriate,
restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their
habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and
future generations of Americans.
—National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997
The comprehensive conservation plan details program planning levels that are
substantially greater than current budget allocations and, as such, is for strategic
planning and program prioritization purposes only. This plan does not constitute a
commitment for staffing increases or funding for future refuge-specific land
acquisitions, construction projects, or operational and maintenance increases.
Cover photos from Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Image Library
Summary
Final Revised
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and
Environmental Impact Statement
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
August 2009
Prepared by:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Region 7
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
2139 Ski Hill Road
P.O. Box 2139
Soldotna, Alaska 99669-2139
Alaska Regional Office
Division of Conservation Policy & Planning
1011 East Tudor Road, MS-231
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
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Thank you for participating in our planning process!
Your comments will help us prepare a better plan for the future of Kenai Refuge.
United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Regional Office, National Wildlife Refuge System-Alaska
Division of Conservation Planning & Policy
1011 East Tudor Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
(907) 786-3357
Dear Reader:
This is a summary of the Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Plan) and Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge that will guide management of the Refuge for the
next 15 years. The Plan revises the Refuge’s original comprehensive conservation plan prepared in 1985.
It outlines five management alternatives, including our preferred alternative, addresses issues raised during
public scoping, and presents our evaluation of the impacts associated with implementing each alternative.
The Plan was published in two volumes. Volume one contains the background, issues, and analysis.
Volume two contains the supporting appendices.
The Plan incorporates changes based on comments received on the Draft Plan. Those comments and our
responses are presented in Volume 2 Appendix D. Most comments required only that we clarify or make
minor corrections to the text. Others were more involved. For example Objective 2.9 was re-written to
remove the population objectives for Dall sheep and mountain goats in response to concerns expressed by
the State of Alaska. Another change was to propose a change in regulations to allow the Refuge Manager
to grant special use permits, for airplane access to normally closed lakes, to successful applicants in the
State’s limited drawing hunt program.
Most people will be unaffected by changes in Refuge management. For example, there will be no changes
to how dog mushing activities can be performed on the Refuge.
Public involvement in the planning process is essential for development of an effective plan. While there
will be no formal public review of this final Plan and EIS, comments on the plan will be considered until
October 19, 2009. Comments should be specific, addressing merits of the alternatives and adequacy of the
analysis. We will consider these comments as we prepare the Record of Decision. The Record of Decision
will complete the comprehensive conservation planning process for Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
You may view the Plan or the Summary of the Plan online at:
http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/planning/plans.htm or obtain a compact disk with both versions.
Comments and requests for copies of the
Plan, the Summary, or a compact disk
with both should be directed to:
Requests for further information about the
Refuge should be directed to:
Peter Wikoff, Planning Team Leader
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1011 E. Tudor Road, MS-231
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 786-3357
Email: fw7_kenai_planning@fws.gov
Refuge Manager
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
2139 Ski Hill Road
P.O. Box 2139
Soldotna, Alaska 99669-2139
Phone: (907) 262-7021
Email: kenai@fws.gov
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Summary
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Summary S-i
Table of Contents
1. Introduction................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Planning for the Future ............................................................................................. 1
1.2. What is a Comprehensive Conservation Plan? ......................................................... 1
1.3. Plan Contents ............................................................................................................ 1
1.4. Planning Context.......................................................................................................2
1.4.1 The National Wildlife Refuge System............................................................. 2
2. Kenai National Wildlife Refuge ................................................................................... 3
2.1. Roots in History ........................................................................................................ 3
2.2. “Alaska in Miniature”...............................................................................................3
2.2.1 Physical Environment ...................................................................................... 3
2.2.2 Biological Environment ....................................................................................3
2.2.3 Human Uses ..................................................................................................... 4
2.2.4 Special Resource Values.................................................................................. 5
2.2.5 Special Designated Areas ................................................................................ 6
2.3. Refuge Vision, Purposes, Goals, and Objectives.................................................... 13
2.3.1 Vision Statement............................................................................................ 13
2.3.2 Refuge Purposes............................................................................................. 13
2.3.3 Refuge Purposes, Goals, and Objectives ....................................................... 14
3. The Planning Process.................................................................................................. 29
3.1. Preplanning ............................................................................................................. 29
3.2. Initiate Public Involvement and Scoping................................................................ 29
3.3. Determine Significant Issues .................................................................................. 29
3.4. Develop and Analyze Alternatives ......................................................................... 30
3.5. Prepare Draft Plan and Environmental Impact Statement ...................................... 30
3.6. Prepare and Adopt a Final Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.................. 30
3.7. Implement Plan, Monitor, and Evaluate ................................................................. 30
3.8. Review and Revise Plan ......................................................................................... 30
4. Significant Planning Issues .........................................................................................31
4.1. Issue 1 – How will the Refuge address large-scale
habitat changes and the use of fire? ........................................................................ 31
4.2. Issue 2 – How will the Refuge manage existing facilities for public use while
ensuring natural resource protection? ..................................................................... 31
4.3. Issue 3 – How will the Refuge enhance wildlife-dependent recreation
opportunities?.......................................................................................................... 31
4.4. Issue 4 – How will the Refuge manage increasing public use to ensure protection
of resources and visitor experience?....................................................................... 31
4.5. Issue 5 – How will the Refuge balance motorized access with protection of
resources and visitor experiences?.......................................................................... 32
5. Alternatives................................................................................................................. 33
5.1. Elements Common to All Alternatives................................................................... 33
5.2. Management Direction Common To All Alternatives ........................................... 33
5.2.1 Beetle Kill Trees/Fire Safety ......................................................................... 33
5.2.2 Cultural Resources Management ................................................................... 33
5.2.3 Existing Oil and Gas Units ............................................................................ 33
Summary
S-ii Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Summary
5.2.4 Integrated Research and Monitoring.............................................................. 34
5.2.5 Kenai River Scenic Float Trip Guides ........................................................... 34
5.2.6 Land Management Training Facility ............................................................. 34
5.2.7 Law Enforcement........................................................................................... 34
5.2.8 Moose Range Meadows Non-Development Easement.................................. 34
5.2.9 Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area.................................................................... 34
5.2.10 Subsurface Entitlements to Minerals ............................................................. 34
5.2.11 Visitor Center................................................................................................. 35
5.2.12 Wildlife/Habitat Restoration.......................................................................... 35
5.3. Alternative A. Current Management ...................................................................... 35
5.3.1 General Management Direction..................................................................... 35
5.3.2 Management Categories................................................................................. 47
5.3.3 Management Direction Identified By Issue ................................................... 48
5.3.4 Funding and Personnel Requirements ............................................................ 52
5.4. Alternative B........................................................................................................... 54
5.4.1 General Management Direction..................................................................... 54
5.4.2 Management Categories................................................................................. 54
5.4.3 Management Direction Identified By Issue ................................................... 54
5.4.4 Funding and Personnel Requirements ........................................................... 64
5.5. Alternative C........................................................................................................... 69
5.5.1 General Management Direction..................................................................... 69
5.5.2 Management Categories................................................................................. 69
5.5.3 Management Direction Identified By Issue ................................................... 69
5.5.4 Funding and Personnel Requirements ............................................................ 73
5.6. Alternative D........................................................................................................... 74
5.6.1 General Management Direction..................................................................... 74
5.6.2 Management Categories................................................................................. 74
5.6.3 Management Direction Identified By Issue ................................................... 74
5.6.4 Funding and Personnel Requirements ........................................................... 82
5.7. Alternative E — The Preferred Alternative............................................................ 83
5.7.1 General Management Direction...................................................................... 83
5.7.2 Management Categories..................................................................................83
5.7.3 Management Direction Identified By Issue .................................................... 83
5.7.4 Funding and Personnel Requirements ............................................................ 90
6. Environmental Consequences.....................................................................................92
6.1. Introduction............................................................................................................. 92
6.2. Definition of Terms ................................................................................................ 92
6.2.1 Impact Type ....................................................................................................92
6.2.2 Duration of Impact.......................................................................................... 93
6.2.3 Intensity of Impact ..........................................................................................93
6.2.4 Context or Scale of Impact ............................................................................. 93
6.3. Key Indicators and Assumptions ............................................................................ 94
7. Evaluation of the Alternatives .................................................................................... 97
7.1. Evaluation Criteria.................................................................................................. 97
8. Summary of Public Comment..................................................................................... 99
8.1. Summary of Issues.................................................................................................. 99
Summary
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan 1-iii
8.1.1 Climate............................................................................................................99
8.1.2 Cultural Resources..........................................................................................99
8.1.3 General Ecological..........................................................................................99
8.1.4 Fisheries/Aquatics.........................................................................................100
8.1.5 General (No Natural Resource) .................................................................... 100
8.1.6 Geology and Minerals................................................................................... 100
8.1.7 Infrastructure.................................................................................................100
8.1.8 Legal and Regulatory (Incl. Process)............................................................ 101
8.1.9 Land Designation and Management ............................................................. 101
8.1.10 Recreation ..................................................................................................... 102
8.1.11 Socioeconomics ............................................................................................ 102
8.1.12 Soil Resources............................................................................................... 103
8.1.13 Transportation............................................................................................... 103
8.1.14 Vegetation and Fire....................................................................................... 104
8.1.15 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ....................................................................... 105
8.1.16 Water Resources ........................................................................................... 106
8.2. Geographic Representation................................................................................... 106
8.3. Organizational Affiliation..................................................................................... 106
8.4. Response Type...................................................................................................... 107
8.5. Response to Comments......................................................................................... 107
9. References................................................................................................................. 108
List of Figures
Figure 1. National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska......................................................................... 2
Figure 2. Location of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge ............................................................ 9
Figure 3. Special Resource Values ......................................................................................... 10
Figure 4. Special Designated Area.......................................................................................... 11
Figure 5. Alternative A (Current Management) - Management Categories ........................... 55
Figure 6. Alternative A (Current Management) - Fire Management...................................... 56
Figure 7. Alternative A (Current Management) - Airplane Access to Lakes in
Designated Wilderness North of the Sterling Highway.............................................. 57
Figure 8. Alternative A (Current Management) - Airplane Access to Lakes in
Designated Wilderness South of the Sterling Highway.............................................. 58
Figure 9. Alternative A (Current Management) - Airplane Access to Chickaloon Flats ....... 59
Figure 10. Alternative B - Management Categories ............................................................... 65
Figure 11. Alternative B - Fire Management.......................................................................... 66
Figure 12. Alternative B - Aircraft Access to Lakes in Designated Wilderness
North of the Sterling Highway.................................................................................... 67
Figure 13.Alternative B - Aircraft Access to Chickaloon....................................................... 68
Figure 14. Alternative C – Fire Management ......................................................................... 75
Figure 15. Alternative C – Airplane Access to Lakes in Designated Wilderness
North of the Sterling Highway.................................................................................... 76
Figure 16. Alternative C – Airplane Access to Lakes in Designated Wilderness
South of the Sterling Highway.................................................................................... 77
Figure 17. Alternative D - Fire Management.......................................................................... 85
Summary
S-iv Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Summary
Figure 18. Alternative D - Airplane Access to Lakes in Designated Wilderness
North of the Sterling Highway.................................................................................... 86
Figure 19. Alternative D - Airplane Access to Lakes in Designated Wilderness
South of the Sterling Highway.................................................................................... 87
Figure 20. Alternative D - Chickaloon Flats Airplane Access ............................................... 88
List of Tables
Table 1. Comparison of the Alternatives Identified by Issue and Management Action......... 36
Table 2. Differences Between Traditional and Minimal Management Under
Alternative A............................................................................................................... 48
Table 3. Summary Comparison of the Effects of Implementing the Alternatives.................. 95
Table 4. Evaluation of the Alternatives Based on Significant Planning Issues ...................... 98
Table 5. Geographic Representation of Response by State .................................................. 106
Table 6. Number of Responses/Signatures by Organizational Affiliation ........................... 107
Table 7. Number of Responses/Signatures by Response Type............................................. 107
Summary Chapter 1: Introduction
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Summary S-1
1. Introduction
1.1. Planning for the Future
This is a summary of the Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
(Plan) for the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (Kenai Refuge, the Refuge). The
Refuge’s original Plan, developed in 1985, provided broad policy guidance and
established long-term goals for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)
management of the Refuge. As directed by Section 304(g) of the Alaska
National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), the Refuge
System Administration Act of 1966 (as amended by the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997), and the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as amended, Kenai Refuge’s Plan is being revised
to guide the management direction of the Refuge for the next 15 years.
Revising the Plan allows us to incorporate changing public interests, new
scientific information, and revised management direction.
1.2. What is a Comprehensive Conservation Plan?
In general, a comprehensive conservation plan serves to do the following:
􀂃􈍅 Ensure that the purposes for which the refuge was established and the
mission of the Refuge System are being fulfilled
􀂃􈍅 Ensure that national policy is incorporated into the management of the
Refuge
􀂃􈍐 Provide continuity in refuge management
􀂃􈍅 Ensure that opportunities are available for interested parties to participate
in the development of management direction
􀂃􈍐 Provide a systematic process for making and documenting refuge
decisions
􀂃􈍅 Establish a long-term vision for the refuge
􀂃􈍅 Establish management goals and objectives
􀂃􈍄 Define compatible uses
􀂃􈍐 Provide a basis for evaluating accomplishments
􀂃􈍐 Provide a basis for budget requests
1.3. Plan Contents
The Kenai Refuge’s Plan describes current management (Alternative A) plus
four additional alternatives including the Service’s Preferred Alternative
(Alternative E) for managing the Refuge. Each alternative describes how it
would address management concerns and public issues. The Plan includes a
description of the Refuge’s existing physical, biological, and socioeconomic
environments, and an assessment of the environmental consequences of
implementing each of the alternatives.
Summary Chapter 1: Introduction
S-2 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Summary
1.4. Planning Context
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is:
Working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and
their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
1.4.1 The National Wildlife Refuge System
The National Wildlife Refuge System (System, Refuge System) comprises
more than 96 million acres of Federal lands, which encompass more than 545
national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special
management areas. Alaska contains 16 national wildlife refuges (Figure 1).
These refuge lands contain a wide range of habitats with varied terrain that
includes mountains, glaciers, tundra, grasslands, wetlands, lakes, woodlands,
and rivers. Together, the 16 refuges comprise 76.8 million acres and
constitute about 80 percent of the Refuge System.
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is:
To administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation,
management, and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and
plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of
present and future generations of Americans (National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act, as amended).
Figure 1. National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska
Summary Chapter 2: The Refuge
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Summary S-3
2. Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
2.1. Roots in History
Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Kenai National Moose Range (Moose
Range) on December 16, 1941, for the purpose of “….protecting the natural
breeding and feeding range of the giant Kenai moose on the Kenai
Peninsula, Alaska, which in this area presents a unique wildlife feature and
an unusual opportunity for the study, in its natural environment, of the
practical management of a big-game species that has considerable local
economic value…” (Executive Order 8979).
ANILCA substantially affected the Moose Range by modifying its
boundaries and broadening its purposes from moose conservation to
protection and conservation of a broad array of fish, wildlife, habitats, other
resources, and educational and recreational opportunities. ANILCA also
redesignated the Moose Range as the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
(Figure 2), added nearly a quarter of a million acres of land, and established
the 1.32-million acre (534,349 hectare) Kenai Wilderness.
2.2. “Alaska in Miniature”
2.2.1 Physical Environment
The Kenai Mountains within the eastern third of the Refuge vary in elevation
from 3,000 to 6,600 feet (914–2,012 meters) and are heavily glaciated in
many of the higher elevation areas. The largest glaciated area, the Harding
Ice Field, covers more than 1,100 square miles (2,849 square kilometers) and
lies within the boundaries of both the Refuge and adjoining Kenai Fjords
National Park. Located within the icefield, and on the Refuge, is Truuli Peak,
the highest peak on the Kenai Peninsula at 6,600 feet (2,012 meters).
The Kenai Lowlands make up approximately two-thirds of the Refuge and
contain thousands of lakes and boreal forest covering low hills, ridges, and
muskeg. The largest two lakes on the Kenai Peninsula, Tustumena (73,000
acres [29,542 hectares]) and Skilak (25,000 acres [10,117 hectares]) are on
the Refuge.
The Kenai River is the dominant river system on the Refuge and drains about
2,148 square miles (5,563 square kilometers). Approximately 54 percent of
it’s watershed is on the Refuge, with 37 percent on the Chugach National
Forest and the remainder on State of Alaska or private land. The four major
tributaries providing the most water volume and fish habitat to the Kenai
River system are the Funny, Moose, Killey, and Russian rivers. The
Chickaloon, Swanson, and Kasilof rivers are three other significant systems
contained wholly or mostly within the Refuge.
2.2.2 Biological Environment
More than 175 species of mammals and birds occur on the Refuge during at
least part of the year. ANILCA mandated the conservation of all fish and
wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity but made specific
mention of moose, bear (brown, grizzly, and black bear), mountain goats,
Dall sheep, wolves and other furbearers, salmonids and other fish, and
Summary Chapter 2: The Refuge
S-4 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
waterfowl and other migratory and nonmigratory birds. Bald eagles,
trumpeter swans, and common loons are frequently observed bird species on
lakes and rivers of the Refuge. Slate-colored junco, myrtle warbler, orange-crowned
warbler, Swainson’s thrush, boreal chickadee, ruby-crowned
kinglet, gray jay, alder flycatcher, and American robin are common breeding
landbirds in Refuge forests. Twenty species of fish are documented on the
Refuge with salmon (Chinook, coho, sockeye, and pink) being most
important from ecological, recreational, and off-Refuge commercial
viewpoints. Anglers travel from all around the world to the Kenai area each
year to fish for salmon, trout, and Dolly Varden. No reptiles and only one
species of amphibian is found on the Kenai: the hardy wood frog, which
survives long winters by burrowing into mud that will ultimately freeze for
many months before spring thaw.
Vegetation on the Refuge is diverse and rich, with 484 vascular plants, 97
fungal, 35 lichen, and 90 moss species catalogued to date. Most of the
vegetation falls into a few land cover types; including alpine tundra,
estuarine or riparian areas, black spruce forest and peat bog, hardwood and
mixed spruce–hardwood forest, black spruce forest, and white spruce forest.
Wildfire is an important natural landscape process in forests dominated by
black spruce. Spruce bark beetle and, to a lesser extent, wildfire, are
important natural processes in forests dominated by white spruce.
Avalanches on steep slopes of the Kenai Mountains, receding glaciers, and
drying wetlands in the Kenai Lowlands also continue to influence the
Refuge’s natural landscape.
2.2.3 Human Uses
Approximately 1.2 million people travel through the Kenai Refuge each year
on the Sterling Highway, and an estimated 300,000 visitors spend extended
periods of time on the Refuge enjoying a variety of outdoor activities,
including fishing, camping, hunting, hiking, wildlife viewing and
photography, and canoeing. There are now also more than 50,000 year-round
residents on the Kenai Peninsula.
As the seasons change, so do the dominant human uses of the Refuge.
Intense visitation from visitors enjoying fishing, hiking, sightseeing, and
camping is most obvious in spring, summer, and fall. Hunting occurs
throughout the year but is predominantly a fall activity. When winter snows
come, Refuge users turn to crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing, trapping, ice
fishing, and snowmachine travel once portions of the Refuge have been
opened to such use. Regulations allow for more than half of the Refuge to be
opened to snowmachine use from December 1 through April 30 each winter,
once the Refuge manager has determined adequate snowfall exists to protect
underlying vegetation and soils.
Hundreds of individuals make a portion of their livelihood directly off the
Refuge, predominantly by being permitted guides or outfitters. Thousands of
other Alaskans benefit indirectly as they take advantage of the economic
input of the Refuge’s many visitors. Still others, such as those in the
commercial fishing industry, benefit from the Refuge providing the majority
of the critical salmon spawning and rearing habitat for Upper Cook Inlet
salmon. Finally, oil and gas development within the Refuge has provided a
Summary Chapter 2: The Refuge
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-5
significant number of jobs and economic stability to the Region for nearly
five decades.
2.2.4 Special Resource Values
Public comments received during scoping indicated that people value the
Refuge’s wilderness character, its accessibility, and the role it plays in
conserving fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Some people also mentioned
specific places that they valued (Figure 3), including:
Chickaloon River Watershed and Estuary
The Chickaloon watershed and associated estuary, located on the Turnagain
Arm of upper Cook Inlet, is the major waterfowl and shorebird migratory
staging area on the Kenai Peninsula and the only estuary on the Refuge.
Protection of the Chickaloon Flats was the major reason the Refuge’s
northeastern boundary was extended to include most of the Chickaloon and
Indian Creek watersheds.
Harding Icefield
The Harding Icefield is one of four major ice fields in the United States. Its
glaciers continue to carve valleys through the Kenai Mountains and feed
rivers throughout the Peninsula; as a result of global climate change;
however, the icefield is receding.
Kenai River and its Tributaries
The Kenai River, together with its tributaries—the Moose, Funny, Killey,
and Russian rivers—is the largest drainage system on the Kenai Peninsula.
The Kenai River is important to the entire Refuge ecosystem, including the
Cook Inlet salmon fishery. The Kenai River provides priceless spawning and
rearing habitat for millions of salmon.
Lowland Lakes System
The numerous lakes located throughout the northern lowlands are a unique
geologic feature that provides a variety of aquatic habitats for Refuge
wildlife. The Swanson River and Swan Lake canoe routes are the only
nationally designated trails in the Alaska refuge system and annually provide
thousands of Refuge visitors the opportunity to enjoy this mix of forest and
wetland habitats and their associated wildlife.
Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area
The Skilak Loop area was first recognized as a unique recreation destination
in 1958 when it, along with the Chickaloon Flats and Skilak-Tustumena
Benchland, was removed from potential oil and gas leasing. Today, the
Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area—which contains a variety of habitats,
wildlife species and scenic vistas that are road accessible to Refuge
visitors—is recognized as a special area that provides opportunities for
wildlife viewing, environmental education, interpretation, photography, and
other non-conflicting wildlife-dependent recreation activities.
Summary Chapter 2: The Refuge
S-6 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Tustumena Lake and its Watershed
Tustumena Lake is the largest lake on the Kenai Peninsula and the fifth largest
lake in Alaska. This immense glacial lake encompasses approximately 73,000
acres (29,542 hectares), and its Kasilof River drainage is second only to the
Kenai River drainage in size. Rich in fisheries, wildlife, wilderness, and
historical values, Tustumena Lake is popular with boaters and campers and
provides a gateway, via several Refuge trails, for wilderness hikers and hunters
to the scenic glacier flats and tundra benchlands located nearby. Historic cabins
remain along the lakeshore as a reminder to earlier years of gold mining and
trapping in the area. Tustumena Lake and its tributaries are significant
contributors to Cook Inlet area commercial, recreation, and personal use sockeye
salmon fisheries. Whether visited via boat, horse, airplane, or snowmachine in
winter, the Tustumena Lake area provides scenic outdoor wilderness experiences
to thousands of Refuge visitors each year.
Tustumena-Skilak Benchlands
This unique ecological area lies between Tustumena and Skilak lakes. It
consists of alpine plateaus on the west side of the Kenai Mountains and is
home to Dall sheep, caribou, mountain goat, brown and black bear, and moose.
It is encompassed by the Andrew Simons Research Natural Area and lies
within the Kenai Wilderness established by ANILCA in 1980.
2.2.5 Special Designated Areas
In addition to refuge status, the “special” status of lands within individual
refuges may be recognized by additional designations, either legislatively or
administratively. Special designation may also occur through the actions of
other agencies or organizations. The influence that special designations may
have on the management of lands and waters within refuges may vary
considerably. Kenai Refuge contains a number of special designated areas
(Figure 4).
Legislative Designations
Kenai National Moose Range State Game Refuge
Alaska Statute 16.20.030 provides that “The land areas now included in the
National Wildlife Refuge System that are cited in this subsection are
designated a State game refuge, and the board shall assign them appropriate
names . . . (8) Kenai National Moose Range. . . .” This legislative action has
resulted in no specific regulations or follow-up actions.
Kenai River Special Management Area
The Kenai River Special Management Area (KRSMA) was formed as a unit
of the Alaska State Parks System by legislative action in 1984. KRSMA
encompasses those State lands and waters within the Kenai River watershed
from Kenai Lake to Cook Inlet. KRSMA is managed by the Alaska
Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks; management
includes administering pubic uses and facilities within the area. Managers
issue permits to guides, operate campgrounds and boat launches, and develop
and enforce regulations to ensure environmental protection and public safety.
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Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-7
KRSMA borders the Refuge and shares with the Refuge many of the same
management objectives and public use responsibilities. While some
jurisdictional issues remain unresolved between the Refuge and the KRSMA,
a cooperative working relationship between staffs has proved successful in
resolving potential management conflicts. The Refuge has a seat on the
KRSMA board, which is an advisory body on State Park management issues
that reports to the director of State Parks and to the Commissioner of Natural
Resources. KRSMA is managed consistent with a management plan that was
first completed in 1986 and revised in 1997.
Kenai Wilderness Area
The 1.32 million acre (534,348 hectare) Kenai Wilderness, which was
originally designated by Congress through the passage of ANILCA in 1980,
consists of three units: the Dave Spencer Unit (187,228 acres [75,768
hectares]), which includes the Swanson River and Swan Lake National
Recreation Canoe Trails; the Mystery Creek Unit (46,086 acres [18,649
hectares]); and the Andrew Simons Unit (1,087,094 acres [439,931
hectares]). The Kenai Wilderness is administered in accordance with
applicable provisions of the Wilderness Act, ANILCA, and other laws and
regulations governing management of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
National Recreation Canoe Trail System
The Kenai Refuge Canoe Trail System was originally constructed in the
1960's for the enjoyment of recreationists seeking a remote wilderness
experience. As use increased in the 1970's, the need was recognized to
formally set aside the system as a unit of the National Wilderness
Preservation System, not only for wilderness recreation, but also to protect
the habitat for wilderness wildlife including trumpeter swans, loons, wolves,
and brown bears. In 1980, the ANILCA created a new wilderness unit
encompassing the Refuge Canoe Trail System. In 1981, the system received
national recognition becoming part of the National Recreation Trails System.
The Kenai Refuge Canoe Trail System is separated into two areas: the
Swanson River and Swan Lake Routes. Both are located in the Refuge's
northern lowland spruce and birch forest habitat. These canoe routes consist
of lakes and rivers connected by water or land portages creating a variety of
trip options.
Research Natural Areas
The Service administers 210 Research Natural Areas (RNAs) on refuges
nationwide, comprising a total of 1,955,762 acres. Kenai Refuge administers
5 of the 16 RNAs designated in Alaska, including the 830,000-acre Andrew
Simons, 10-acre Bedlam Lake, 20-acre Bottinentnin Lake, 20-acre Nikolai
Bay, and 20-acre Skilak Lake units. The current status of the Bottinentnin
RNA is unclear; it may have been partially destroyed or degraded when the
Sterling Highway was realigned.
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S-8 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Administrative Designations
Moose Research Center
The Kenai Moose Research Center (MRC) is a world-renowned, one-of-a-kind
facility and continues to play an important role in the understanding of
the nutritional, physiological, and ecological aspects of moose and other
ungulates. The facility was established in 1966 as a joint effort by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game (ADF&G). The original memorandum of agreement, signed in 1966,
was updated in 2004.
The MRC is located in the Kenai Lowlands in the northern part of the Kenai
Refuge and consists of four one-mile square enclosures, two residence
cabins, a workshop, a generator shed, a gas shed, a small field laboratory,
and a barn and animal handling facility. The MRC was originally established
to conduct research on the nutritional carrying capacity of typical Kenai
Peninsula moose ranges and included research on the nutritional
requirements and physiology of moose, the effects of habitat manipulation
and browsing on moose-range carrying capacity, and the development of
methods for measuring and monitoring moose-habitat carrying capacity.
Research has since broadened to include the development and testing of new
immobilizing drugs on moose, the testing of moose capture and handling
techniques, development of physical and physiological indices of moose
condition and health, and the assessment of the genetic variability and
heritability of physical traits (e.g., antler conformation) of moose. The MRC
has also expanded its nutritional and physiological research to include
caribou and now supports a research herd of approximately 25 animals
derived from Nelchina caribou herd stock.
Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area
The Skilak Loop area was first recognized as a unique recreation destination
in 1958 when it, along with the Chickaloon Flats and Skilak-Tustumena
Benchlands, was removed from potential oil and gas leasing. Today, the
44,000 acre Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area is one of the most heavily used
areas, if not the most heavily used area, of the Refuge due to its close
proximity to population centers, easy access, and diversity of public use
facilities provided in a natural setting abundant with wildlife. Consumptive
and nonconsumptive recreational opportunities are managed for including
camping, cross-country skiing, environmental education, hiking, hunting,
nature photography, sportfishing, and snowshoeing; and the Refuge’s first
administratively designated wildlife travel corridor is found within the area
along the north shore of Skilak Lake. This one-half mile wide corridor, from
Lower Skilak Lake Campground to the outlet of the Kenai River into Skilak
Lake, will be free of development except for the existing Lower Skilak Lake
Campground and Upper Skilak Lake Campground which will remain as
currently designed, and maintained to facilitate continued public use. See the
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area Revised
Final Management Plan for more information...
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Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan- Summary S-9
Figure 2: Location of Kenai NWR
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S-10 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan- Summary
Figure 3: Special Values
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Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan- Summary S-11
Figure 4: Special Designated Areas
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S-12 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Back of figure 4
Summary Chapter 2: The Refuge
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Summary S-13
2.3. Refuge Vision, Purposes, Goals, and Objectives
2.3.1 Vision Statement
Kenai Refuge staff developed the following statement about what they
believe the Refuge will be in the future, considering the mission of the
Refuge System, the specific purposes of the Refuge and Wilderness Act, and
other relevant Service mandates:
Vision Statement
The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge will serve as an anchor for biodiversity
on the Kenai Peninsula despite global climate change, increasing
development, and competing demands for Refuge resources. Native wildlife
and their habitats will find a secure place here, where Refuge staff and
partners work together using the best science and technology available to
ensure that biological health is maximized and human impacts are
minimized.
Visitors will feel welcomed and safe by means of a wide variety of wildlife-dependent
recreation opportunities, facilities, and interpretive and
educational programs that encourage informed and ethical use of the
Refuge’s natural resources. The Refuge will achieve excellence in land,
water, and Wilderness stewardship; and—with careful planning, forethought,
and human determination—an enduring legacy of abundant plant, fish, and
wildlife populations will be ensured for people to enjoy today and into the
future for this phenomenal land we call “The Kenai.”
2.3.2 Refuge Purposes
ANILCA sets out some of the purposes for each national wildlife refuge in
Alaska. It’s purposes for the Kenai Refuge are described in Section 303(4)(B) of
the Act. These purposes set the management priorities for the Refuge.
ANILCA purposes for the Refuge are as follows (unless otherwise noted):
(i) to conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural
diversity, including but not limited to moose, bears, mountain goats, Dall sheep,
wolves and other furbearers, salmonoids and other fish, waterfowl and other
migratory and nonmigratory birds;
(ii) to fulfill the international treaty obligations of the United States with
respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats;
(iii) to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable and in a manner consistent
with the purposes set forth in paragraph (i), water quality and necessary water
quantity within the Refuge;
(iv) to provide in a manner consistent with subparagraphs (i) and (ii),
opportunities for scientific research, interpretation, environmental education, and
land management training; and
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S-14 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
(v) to provide, in a manner compatible with these purposes, opportunities
for fish and wildlife-oriented recreation.
The Wilderness Act of 1964 (Pub. L. 88-577) provides the following purposes
for the Kenai Wilderness Area:
(i) to secure an enduring resource of wilderness;
(ii) to protect and preserve the wilderness character of areas within the
National Wilderness Preservation System; and
(iii) and to administer [the areas] for the use and enjoyment of the American
people in a way that will leave them unimpaired for future use and
enjoyment as wilderness.
2.3.3 Refuge Purposes, Goals, and Objectives
Purpose (i): To conserve the fish and wildlife populations and habitats in
their natural diversity, including but not limited to moose, bear, mountain
goats, Dall sheep, wolves and other furbearers, salmonoids and other fish,
waterfowl and other migratory and nonmigratory birds.
GOAL 1: Research—Increase the Service’s knowledge of fish and wildlife
populations, their habitats, and their interrelationships.
Objective 1.1: Natural Processes/Disturbance Regimes—Continue long-term
monitoring of vegetative responses to fire at: Hakala plots (every 5
years), Fire Monitoring Handbook plots (every 3–5 years), and Forest
Inventory and Analysis plots (every 10 years).
Objective 1.2: Capacity Building―Continue to support the research plans
identified and/or developed by the Interagency Brown Bear Study Team
(IBBST).
Objective 1.3: Natural Processes/Disturbance Regimes—Continue annual
monitoring of snowshoe hare populations on five established sites.
Objective 1.4: Capacity Building—Actively seek to fund at least one
cooperative fire research project every three to five years on the Refuge to
maintain established working relationships with the fire science community
(universities, research stations and other agencies) and to improve the
working knowledge of Refuge fire managers and ecologists in boreal
ecosystems.
Objective 1.5: Biological Inventories—Within two years of the Plan’s
approval, complete the ongoing population assessment of steelhead trout in the
Kasilof River watershed.
Objective 1.6: Natural Processes/Disturbance Regimes—Within two years
of Plan’s approval, establish five permanent stations in peatlands to measure
the annual accumulation rate of peat moss.
Objective 1.7: Supporting Geographic Information System (GIS)
Databases—Within two years of Plan’s approval, develop a supervised
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Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-15
classification of vegetation communities on the Kenai Peninsula from
LANDSAT imagery (30-meter resolution).
Objective 1.8: Supporting GIS Databases—Within two years of Plan’s
approval, complete the archiving of all historical fisheries and limnological
information in a database that will be compatible with the Refuge’s GIS.
Objective 1.9: Capacity Building—Within two years of Plan’s approval,
enhance the Peninsula-wide meteorological station network by increasing the
number and quality of stations in cooperation with interagency partners.
Objective 1.10: Capacity Building—Within two years of Plan’s approval,
develop a Research Natural Area Management Plan. The plan will include
discussions of related policy and law and identify goals and objectives to
incorporate the designated areas on the Refuge into an integrated ecological
monitoring and research program.
Objective 1.11: Supporting GIS Databases—Within three years of Plan’s
approval, complete fuels classification mapping to meet national fire plan
goals for the LANDFIRE, Fire Regime/Condition Class (FRCC), and Fire
Program Analysis (FPA) projects.
Objective 1.12: Biological Inventories—Within three years of Plan’s
approval, complete a population assessment of rainbow trout in the Kenai
River below Skilak Lake.
Objective 1.13: Natural Processes/Disturbance Regimes—Within five
years of Plan’s approval, improve precision by 25 percent on estimates of
historical wildfire rates in black and white spruce.
Objective 1.14: Natural Processes/Disturbance Regimes—Within five
years of Plan’s approval, improve precision by 25 percent on estimates of
historical bark beetle outbreaks in white and Lutz spruce.
Objective 1.15: Supporting GIS Databases��Within five years of Plan’s
approval, complete a high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the
Refuge.
Objective 1.16: Capacity Building—Within five years of Plan’s approval,
re-establish a remote-sensing, lightning detection capability for the Kenai
Peninsula.
Objective 1.17: Biological Inventories—Within seven years of Plan’s
approval, complete a population assessment of lake trout in Hidden Lake.
Objective 1.18: Biological Inventories—Within 10 years of Plan’s
approval, complete a comprehensive inventory of vascular flora, vertebrate
fauna, and selected invertebrate taxa as part of the Long-Term Ecological
Monitoring Program (LTEMP).
Objective 1.19: Capacity Building—Within 15 years of Plan’s approval,
establish a nonprofit research institute to establish and manage research
opportunities on the Refuge.
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S-16 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Objective 1.20: Supporting GIS Databases—Within two years of funding,
convert all historic aerial photography into geo-referenced, orthorectified
digital images.
Objective 1.21: Supporting GIS Databases—Within two years of funding,
complete a spatially-explicit soil survey.
Objective 1.22: Natural Processes/Disturbance Regimes—Within two
years of funding, initiate research to estimate annual variation in marine-derived
nutrient input and assess effects on terrestrial wildlife and habitat.
Objective 1.23: Biological Inventories—Within four years of funding, enter
into cooperative studies, with ADF&G, that may remain necessary to assess
populations of early-run Chinook salmon in the Kenai River. Some of these
tasks are underway or have been completed.
Objective 1.24: Biological Inventories—Within five years of funding,
initiate four weir projects to enumerate anadromous fish populations
returning to the Swanson River, Chickaloon River, Big Indian Creek, and
Little Indian Creek.
Objective 1.25: Natural Processes/Disturbance Regimes���Within five
years of funding, estimate new rate trajectories for the wildfire regime,
spruce bark beetle outbreaks, wetland drying, water budget, carbon budget,
and biota redistribution in response to climate change predictions during the
next 50 to 200 years.
Objective 1.26: Data Sharing — Within two years of Plan approval
complete a list of opportunities for sharing survey and research data with
university, State, and other partners.
GOAL 2: Conservation and Management—Ensure natural diversity and
viability of species, habitats, and ecosystems.
Objective 2.1: Habitat and Population Management—Continue to
develop and maintain partnerships with the public, other governmental
agencies, and private organizations to increase the ability of the Refuge and
those agencies with management responsibilities that overlay the Refuge to
conserve fish, wildlife, and their habitats.
Objective 2.2: Habitat and Population Management—Continue
cooperative and independent efforts to protect and restore riparian habitats
along the Kenai River (including addressing human waste).
Objective 2.3: Habitat and Population Management—Continue to
maintain a rehabilitation program for injured bald eagles, owls, and other
raptors.
Objective 2.4: Monitoring—Continue contributions to regional and national
monitoring efforts, including but not limited to the Christmas Bird Count
(CBC), Alaska Landbird Monitoring System (ALMS), and Breeding Bird
Survey (BBS).
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Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-17
Objective 2.5: Habitat and Population Management—Continue to work
with the oil and gas industry to remediate and restore well pads, pipeline
corridors, and roads to their natural condition within two years of well
plugging and abandonment.
Objective 2.6: Monitoring—At five-year intervals after Plan’s approval or
after a significant natural perturbation, monitor landscape changes of both
vegetation and physical features using pixel-by-pixel change analysis (30-
meter resolution) from supervised classification of LANDSAT imagery.
Objective 2.7: Monitoring—At five-year intervals after Plan’s approval,
assess and report fire occurrence, fire cause, fire behavior, and fire effects
trends using the best available technology to provide fire managers the
information necessary to revise the Refuge’s Fire Management Plan.
Objective 2.8: Habitat and Population Management—Maintain caribou
populations at or below two caribou per square kilometer for 10 years after
Plan’s approval.
Objective 2.9: Monitoring—Maintain Dall sheep and mountain goat their
natural diversity, consistent with natural habitat changes and natural variation
within three count areas (Twin Lakes 355, Indian Creek 356, and Tustemena
Glacier 357)] within Refuge boundaries. The Refuge will coordinate the
establishment of sheep and goat population goals with ADF&G. In addition,
the Refuge will work cooperatively with Chugach National Forest, Kenai
Fjords National Park, and ADF&G to ensure that a Peninsula-wide survey is
completed every three years.
Objective 2.10: Habitat and Population Management—Within one year
of Plan’s approval, initiate a rulemaking process to clearly describe
prohibited actions and any exceptions to the non-development easement held
on much of the Kenai riverfront property in the Moose Range Meadows
Subdivision.
Objective 2.11: Monitoring—Within two years of Plan’s approval, develop an
interagency program to monitor population trends and/or health of wolves,
wolverines, and brown and black bears on the Peninsula.
Objective 2.12: Habitat and Population Management—Within two years
of Plan’s approval, revise the 1995 Fisheries Management Plan.
Objective 2.13: Habitat and Population Management—Within two years
of Plan’s approval, revise the 1996 Moose Management Plan.
Objective 2.14: Habitat and Population Management—Within two years
of Plan’s approval, evaluate historical, current, and potential distributions of
marten and red fox populations in the absence of active management, and
identify possible actions to enhance habitats or populations on the Refuge.
Objective 2.15: Habitat and Population Management—Within three years
of Plan’s approval, complete a Wildfire Monitoring Plan that will include
monitoring purposes, goals, objectives, and proposed activities for wildfire,
prescribed fire, use of wildland fire, mechanical treatments, hazard fuels, and
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S-18 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
wildland-urban interface projects. This monitoring plan will become an
amendment or an appendix to the Refuge Fire Management Plan.
Objective 2.16: Habitat and Population Management—Within three years
of Plan’s approval, initiate development of a restoration and recreation plan
for oil and gas units on the Refuge identified in this and other planning
processes.
Objective 2.17: Habitat and Population Management—Within five years
of Plan’s approval, complete the development of a Terrestrial and Aquatic
Invasive Species Management Plan.
Objective 2.18: Habitat and Population Management—Within five years
of Plan’s approval, use prescribed fire or mechanical treatments to maintain
(condition class 1) or improve (condition class 2 or 3) the condition class on
2,000 to 4,000 acres of non-Wilderness per year in at least three out of the
five years. Use of prescribed fire or mechanical treatments will continue at
that rate until the 1996 Moose Management Plan is revised.
Objective 2.19: Monitoring—Within two years of funding, further expand
the Long-Term Ecological Monitoring Program (LTEMP) to detect spatial
and temporal changes in selected biota, including but not limited to vascular
plant community, breeding landbirds, mesocarnivores, selected insect
assemblages and exotic, invasive, and injurious species.
Objective 2.20: Climate Change—Within one year of Plan adoption,
develop internal policies to emphasize long-term management needs
associated with climate change.
GOAL 3: Resource Assessment—Ensure that the integrity of ecological
systems is protected and unimpaired for future generations.
Objective 3.1: Resource Assessment—Continue and expand research on
abnormal wood frogs to understand the potential cause(s) of their
abnormalities.
Objective 3.2: Resource Assessment—Continue and expand research on
local bird populations to understand the potential cause(s) of bill abnormalities.
Objective 3.3: Resource Assessment—Continue to work with Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) and industry to
monitor, assess, and remediate contaminated sites in existing oil and gas
units.
Objective 3.4: Resource Assessment—Within two years of Plan’s approval,
evaluate current management practices and infrastructure improvements to
ensure that the ecological integrity of the five designated Research Natural
Areas on the Refuge are not compromised.
Objective 3.5: Resource Assessment—Within two years of Plan’s approval,
complete the development of landscape models at two scales (Refuge-wide
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Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-19
and Peninsula-wide) to evaluate the cumulative effects of natural processes
and anthropogenic perturbations on wildlife habitat.
Objective 3.6: Resource Assessment—Within two years of Plan’s approval,
complete a Wildlife Inventory and Monitoring Plan that will include
statistical benchmarks and/or management action threshold for trust,
harvested, and indicator species that are currently monitored. Trust species
include but are not limited to fish, wildlife, and plants on Service lands.
Indicator species include those specifically highlighted in ANILCA and those
chosen for specific research and monitoring programs.
Objective 3.7: Resource Assessment—Within one year of completing an
inventory, develop statistical models to explain how biotic and abiotic factors
affect the distribution of species and communities at the landscape level.
Objective 3.8: Resource Assessment—Within five years of Plan’s approval
and after completion of a Refuge-wide fuels assessment (fire regime and
condition class), develop a project plan to evaluate the fire suppression
history of the Refuge and adjacent lands on the Kenai Peninsula with
emphasis on the suppression of natural ignitions in Wilderness and Limited
Fire Management Option areas.
Objective 3.9: Resource Assessment—Within one year of funding,
establish one air quality monitoring site within designated Wilderness to
measure the concentration of fine (PM 2.5) particles for mass, optical
absorption, major and trace elements, organic and elemental carbon, and
nitrate; and measure the concentration of PM 10 particles for mass.
Equipment and protocols should be consistent with the Interagency
Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) program.
Objective 3.10: Resource Assessment—Within one year of funding, initiate
research to determine the effects of roads within and/or adjacent to the
Refuge on local moose, caribou, and brown bear movements and survival—
specifically, to identify important crossings and/or high collision areas and
recommend appropriate mitigation and management measures.
Objective 3.11: Resource Assessment—Within two years of funding,
determine baseline levels of selected contaminants, specifically
organochlorines, organophosphates, and heavy metals that may have
originated from the nonrenewable resource extraction, long-range
atmospheric deposition, and/or past management practices.
Objective 3.12: Resource Assessment—Within two years of completing
baseline contaminant assessment, initiate research to evaluate uptake of
identified contaminants by selected indicator species (e.g., brown bears,
black bears, sculpins, salmonids).
Refuge Purpose (ii): To fulfill the international treaty obligations of the
United States with respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats.
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S-20 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
GOAL 4: International Treaties—Ensure that Refuge management
practices affecting bird species contribute to the successful
implementation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Objective 4.1: International Treaties—During the 15 years after Plan
approval, continue to seek guidance and context for Refuge management and
scientific actions from regional, national, and international programs and
plans (including but not restricted to the North American Bird Conservation
Initiative [NABCI] and the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna [CAFF],
Area V).
Objective 4.2: International Treaties—Continue to participate in and
support international, national, and regional scientific information sharing,
including making data available on the Refuge Web site, presenting papers at
conferences, and publishing journal articles.
Objective 4.3: International Treaties—Continue to provide information
and permitting services to the public for Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) protected species.
Refuge Purpose (iii): To ensure, to the maximum extent practicable and in a
manner consistent with the purposes set forth in paragraph (i), water quality
and necessary water quantity within the Refuge.
GOAL 5: Water Resources—Ensure natural function and condition of
water resources necessary to conserve fish and wildlife
populations and habitats in their natural diversity.
Objective 5.1: Water Resources—Within two years of Plan’s approval,
evaluate the need to increase the number of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
stations in cooperation with interagency partners.
Objective 5.2: Water Resources—Within two years of Plan’s approval,
develop a prioritized list of culverts, bridges, and other river and/or stream
structures that need to be replaced or modified to restore fish passage and
normal stream function.
Objective 5.3: Water Resources—Within two years of funding, design and
implement a groundwater monitoring program.
Objective 5.4: Water Resources—Within two years of funding, design and
initiate a water quality monitoring program for waters within the Refuge,
including the Kenai and Swanson River watersheds.
Objective 5.5: Water Resources—Within five years of funding, develop a
water budget and hydrologic models for the Refuge’s 10 major watersheds.
Refuge Purpose (iv): To provide, in a manner consistent with subparagraphs
(i) and (ii), opportunities for scientific research, interpretation, environmental
education, and land management training.
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Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-21
GOAL 6: Environmental Education and Training—Natural resource
professionals, students, and the public value opportunities to
increase their knowledge of Refuge ecosystems, issues, and
management practices.
Subgoal 6.1: Environmental Education and Interpretation—Diverse
audiences will have equal opportunity to understand and
appreciate all management programs and support the Refuge’s
efforts to maintain and enhance wildlife populations and habitats.
Objective 6.1.1: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Continue to maintain and develop the partnership with Alaska Natural
History Association (ANHA) and/or other cooperating associations to
provide interpretive and environmental sales products on the natural and
cultural history of Kenai Refuge and surrounding public lands.
Objective 6.1.2: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Continue cooperative efforts with area educators to increase the number of
effective resource conservation education programs focusing on key Refuge
resource issues.
Objective 6.1.3: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within six months of the Plan’s approval and annually thereafter, conduct a
review of the Visitor Service’s operating procedures, outreach information,
and program content.
Objective 6.1.4: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within one year of Plan’s approval, develop and make accessible for public
use a Web-based information system that hosts current and comprehensive
information about the Refuge, its regulations, safety tips, and recreation
opportunities.
Objective 6.1.5: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within one year of Plan’s approval, work with The Friends of Kenai National
Wildlife Refuge to define annual goals and objectives.
Objective 6.1.6: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within two years of the Plan’s approval, hire a permanent seasonal employee
to assist the education specialist and Student Conservation Association
(SCA) conservation associate at the Environmental Education Center and the
Outdoor Education Center.
Objective 6.1.7: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within two years of Plan’s approval, curate objects from historic cabins, and
catalog and manage them properly (including interpretation of the objects).
Objective 6.1.8: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within two years of Plan’s approval, develop an interpretive strategy for
including cultural heritage in the Refuge’s interpretive efforts.
Objective 6.1.9: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within three years of Plan’s approval, develop and increase by 30 percent
outreach materials on Refuge resources that reflect the importance of
responsible management practices.
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S-22 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Objective 6.1.10: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within three years of Plan’s approval, review all interpretive, educational,
and information materials, and update them utilizing state-of-the-art media.
Objective 6.1.11: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within three years of Plan’s approval, form partnerships with the Kenaitze
Indian Tribe and Cook Inlet Region, Inc., (CIRI) to interpret their cultural
history.
Objective 6.1.12: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within three years of Plan’s approval, establish a formal relationship with the
Kenaitze tribe by supporting the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s Susten Camp.
Objective 6.1.13: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within five years of the Plan’s approval, provide the opportunity for at
least 50 percent of central Peninsula kindergarten through sixth grade
students to participate in at least one of the current environmental education
programs focusing on key Refuge resource conservation issues.
Objective 6.1.14: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within five years of Plan’s approval, increase wildlife interpretive programs
such as guided hikes, campfire programs, and wayside exhibits by 50
percent.
Objective 6.1.15: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within five years of Plan’s approval, record the Refuge’s human history,
including but not limited to the Swanson River and Beaver Creek oil and gas
fields and the Russian River Ferry area by finalizing the oral history
collection currently underway.
Objective 6.1.16: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within 10 years of the Plan’s approval, provide a larger variety of
environmental education opportunities, including but not limited to day
camps and after school programs, through the environmental education
program.
Objective 6.1.17: Effective Environmental Education Programming—
Within 15 years of the Plan’s approval, provide the opportunity for at least
20 percent of students in grades 7 through 12 from the central Peninsula
schools to participate in at least one environmental education program on the
Refuge as part of their school’s curriculum.
Subgoal 6.2 Land Management Training—Land managers, scientists,
and other partners learn practices and techniques to study,
manage, and monitor the boreal forest biome.
Objective 6.2.1: Land Management Training—When nominations are
again accepted, establish the Refuge as a designated National Wildlife
Refuge System Fulfilling the Promises Land Management Research
Demonstration Site (LMRD).
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Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-23
Objective 6.2.2: Land Management Training—Annually survey Refuge
staff to identify and nominate potential candidates for the national Technical
Fire Management (TFM) program, a two-year continuing education and career
development program that provides sufficient college credits within a natural
science and fire curriculum to qualify the student in the 0401 job series
(general biology/fire management).
Objective 6.2.3: Land Management Training—Annually, to the extent
practicable, host and/or conduct interagency fire management training
(wildfire, prescribed fire, use of wildland fire, and fire aviation) in
conjunction with fire management projects and/or wildland fire incidents
when possible.
Objective 6.2.4: Land Management Training—Within two years of Plan’s
approval, develop a program that establishes the Refuge as a boreal forest
biome regional training facility.
Objective 6.2.5: Land Management Training—Within three years of
Plan’s approval, develop a step-down management plan for the Stepanka
(Skilak Outlet) Archaeological District to mitigate damage to cultural
resources.
Objective 6.2.6: Land Management Training—Within four years of Plan’s
approval, identify priority areas to survey and begin to support fieldwork in
cooperation with the University of Alaska tribes and other cooperators
conducting cultural resource related studies.
Objective 6.2.7: Land Management Training—Within five years of Plan’s
approval, develop a step-down management plan for the Sqilantnu (Russian
River) Archaeological District to mitigate damage to cultural resources.
Objective 6.2.8: Land Management Training—Within five years of Plan’s
approval, develop interagency agreements with universities and agencies to
use the Refuge as a designated center for research on boreal forest ecology
and management (including global climate change), recreational use of
boreal forest, wildlife, and habitats, and wilderness management.
Refuge Purpose (v): To provide, in a manner compatible with these
purposes, opportunities for fish and wildlife-oriented recreation.
GOAL 7: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Visitors of all skills and abilities
enjoy wildlife-oriented recreation opportunities in safe and secure
settings.
Objective 7.1: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Continue to meet annually
with ADF&G to review State and Federal regulations that affect Refuge
users and to identify actions that may improve opportunities for wildlife-dependent
opportunities.
Objective 7.2: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Annually develop a trail
maintenance plan to review current visitor use and identify maintenance
needs of all foot, ski, water, and horse trails.
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S-24 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Objective 7.3: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Annually review the Kenai
Law Enforcement Plan and institute necessary revisions within one month of
review.
Objective 7.4: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Within two years of Plan’s
approval, patrol and maintain the Canoe Trails Systems weekly during the
intensive visitor use period of May through October.
Objective 7.5: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Within two years of Plan’s
approval, organize the Visitor Services program into three districts (north,
central, and south) for operational efficiency.
Objective 7.6: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Within three years of plan’s
approval, develop a Trail Needs Assessment by reviewing current and
projected visitor use patterns and other appropriate information.
Objective 7.7: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Within three years of Plan’s
approval, make available 75 percent of visitor services staff for full
implementation and operation of all interpretation, education, information,
and recreation programs identified in this plan.
Objective 7.8: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Within three years of Plan’s
approval, place information materials at all trailheads, boat ramps, and
campgrounds, including but not limited to current use regulations; “Leave No
Trace” recreation practices; and bear awareness, fire prevention, and
backcountry safety topics.
Objective 7.9: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Within three years of Plan’s
approval, repair or replace Refuge directional, regulatory, and location signs
as necessary. Signs will be inspected on an annual basis.
Objective 7.10: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Within five years of Plan’s
approval, increase patrol intervals on the Kenai River and all backcountry
areas so that 25 percent of Refuge visitors report seeing and/or talking with a
Refuge employee.
Objective 7.11: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Within five years of Plan’s
approval, post boundary signs every 1,000 feet within one mile of all roads,
trails, winter routes, and right-of-ways within or adjacent to the Refuge.
Boundary signs will be inspected every two years and replaced as needed.
Objective 7.12: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Within 10 years of Plan’s
approval, improve overall recreation-related visitor satisfaction in the Skilak
Wildlife Recreational Area to 90 percent or higher. Recreationists surveyed
will include but not be limited to wildlife viewers, photographers, campers,
and hikers.
Objective 7.14: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Implement Executive
Order 13443 to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting
opportunities and the management of game species and their habitat.
Objective 7.13: Wildlife-Oriented Recreation—Within 10 years of Plan’s
approval, implement the Refuge’s approved law enforcement deployment
Summary Chapter 2: The Refuge
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-25
model. Enforcement officers will patrol frontcountry and backcountry areas
365 days a year.
GOAL 8: Facilities—Visitors and Refuge personnel value and enjoy safe,
well-maintained facilities and quality programs.
Objective 8.1: Facilities—Continue to manage hazardous forest fuels,
especially in the wildland-urban interface where beetle kill trees and other
fuel hazards increase the threat of wildfire to communities or private lands.
Adjacent private lands, inholdings, and Refuge structures will continue to
receive the maximum possible fire protection through interagency
agreements.
Objective 8.2: Facilities—Continue to ensure fulfillment of obligations
associated with maintaining the Moose Research Center as specified in the
2004 Memorandum of Understanding between ADF&G and the Refuge.
Objective 8.3: Facilities—Continue monthly and annual meetings with
industry, ADEC, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to plan plugging
and abandonment of wells; removal or abandonment of pipelines;
remediation of known contaminant sites; and identification of potential
contaminated sites on existing oil and gas units.
Objective 8.4: Facilities—Within two years of Plan’s approval, implement
the programmatic agreement for managing historic cabins.
Objective 8.5: Facilities—Within two years of Plan approval, complete a
wildfire hazard and risk assessment for known historic cabins and cultural
sites; then develop and implement a strategic 10-year plan to mitigate
identified hazardous fuel conditions around cabins and sites where full
protection is selected as the appropriate management option.
Objective 8.6: Facilities—Within three years of Plan approval, construct
two six-bed cabin kits for additional educational group housing at the
Outdoor Education Center.
Objective 8.7: Facilities—Within three years of Plan approval, develop a
Kenai Refuge Sign Plan. The plan will contain location and graphic
information for every sign used on the Refuge and will establish maintenance
and replacement schedules and procedures.
Objective 8.8: Facilities—Within three years of Plan’s approval, complete
and submit to the State Historic Preservation Officer the nomination form to
have the Stepanka Archaeological District listed on the National Register.
Objective 8.9: Facilities—Within five years of Plan’s approval, service all
campground restrooms at least once a week.
Objective 8.10: Facilities—Within five years of Plan’s approval, begin to
patrol, service, and/or restock all frontcountry trailheads with appropriate
information materials daily by Refuge staff.
Summary Chapter 2: The Refuge
S-26 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Objective 8.11: Facilities—Within five years of Plan’s approval, begin to
check, service, maintain, and/or restock all backcountry facilities and trails
with information materials as needed by assigned backcountry staff.
Objective 8.12: Facilities—Within five years of Plan's approval, develop and
implement best management practices to reduce waste, pollution, and energy
inefficiency by 50 percent across all Refuge programs.
Objective 8.13: Facilities—Within five years of Plan’s approval, upgrade
(as appropriate) and increase maintenance of Refuge roads, including but not
limited to grading, snow removal, vegetation and invasive species control,
dust control, and culvert replacement.
Objective 8.14: Facilities—Within five years of Plan’s approval, construct
facilities to house up to 60 summer interns, volunteers, and seasonal
employees, including Kenai Fish and Wildlife Field Office (KFWFO).
Objective 8.15: Facilities—Within seven years of Plan’s approval, construct
a new visitor center with capacity for 150 visitors.
Objective 8.16: Facilities—Within seven years of Plan’s approval, complete a
6,000-square-foot warehouse for storage of Refuge equipment.
Objective 8.17: Facilities—Within one year of funding, renovate the Refuge
laboratory and equip it with new facilities and analytical equipment.
The Wilderness Act Purpose for the Kenai Wilderness Area: To secure
an enduring resource of wilderness, to protect and preserve the wilderness
character of areas within the National Wilderness Preservation System, and
to administer [the areas] for the use and enjoyment of the American people in
a way that will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as
wilderness.
GOAL 9: Wilderness Stewardship—Preserve and where necessary,
restore the character and integrity of Wilderness for present and
future generations.
Objective 9.1: Wilderness Stewardship—Immediately following Plan’s
approval, develop a Wilderness Stewardship Plan for the Refuge.
Objective 9.2: Wilderness Stewardship—Immediately following Plan’s
approval, begin conducting Minimum Requirements Analyses on all
administrative activities in designated Wilderness.
Objective 9.3: Wilderness Stewardship—Within three years of Plan’s
approval, initiate a program to assess and model the natural soundscape of
designated Wilderness and other areas.
Objective 9.4: Wilderness Stewardship—Within five years of Plan’s
approval, initiate research to assess and model motorized and non-motorized
human-wildlife interactions as a result of recreational activities, including
snowmachines, boats, road traffic, campgrounds, and trail use in Wilderness.
Summary Chapter 2: The Refuge
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-27
Objective 9.5: Wilderness Stewardship—Within five years of Plan’s
approval, develop a model that evaluates human-caused disturbances on
wilderness character.
Objective 9.6: Wilderness Stewardship—Within 15 years of Plan’s
approval, identify or purchase inholdings from willing sellers to minimize
landowner conflicts, protect Refuge resources, and provide for priority
recreation activities.
Summary Chapter 2: The Refuge
S-28 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Summary Chapter 3: The Planning Process
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Summary S-29
3. The Planning
Process
The process being used to revise the Plan contains eight steps.
3.1. Preplanning
The first step in the planning process helps the planning team decide whether
the original Plan should be revised or a new Plan developed. For the Kenai
Refuge planning effort, a number of preplanning meetings were held
throughout 2004.
Based on the assessment conducted during preplanning, the team determined
that a revision was necessary and that the Revised Plan would focus on
specific issues that need to be addressed rather than on developing a new
Plan. It was also concluded that new and amended laws (e.g., Refuge System
Improvement Act) and new or revised regulations and policies needed to be
included in the Refuge’s management policies and guidelines.
3.2. Initiate Public Involvement and Scoping
The purpose of this step was to let people know that the planning process
was beginning and to solicit ideas on what issues should be addressed in the
Revised Plan. Formal scoping began with publication of a notice of intent to
prepare an EIS, which was published in the Federal Register on November
26, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 228, pp. 66476-66478).
In December 2003, a planning update, which announced the planning effort
and solicited comments from the public, was mailed to more than 3,100
individuals; local businesses; local, State, and Federal agencies; and
organizations nationwide. This mailing contained information about the
Refuge, the planning process, and some preliminary issues identified by
Refuge staff. The mailing included an optional issues workbook to make it
easier for people to identify their issues and concerns.
Five public open house meetings were held, four in communities on the
Kenai Peninsula and one in the city of Anchorage. One hundred people
attended the meetings. A total of 313 written or telephone responses were
received during the scoping period (December 2003–May 2004). The
responses were reviewed, coded, and analyzed over a three-month period in
spring 2004. More than 50 separate concerns were identified, grouped, and
categorized into six topic areas.
3.3. Determine Significant Issues
To determine the significant planning issues being addressed in the draft
Plan, the planning team reviewed the concerns identified by the public along
with management concerns identified by Refuge staff and those submitted by
the State of Alaska and Federal agencies. Significant planning issues are
those issues for which multiple approaches to resolving the issue will be
evaluated as part of the planning process.
Summary Chapter 3: The Planning Process
S-30 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
3.4. Develop and Analyze Alternatives
The fourth step is to develop alternative approaches to the issues. These
alternatives meet the Refuge’s purposes and goals and comply with the
Service and Refuge System mission. The planning team developed a range of
alternatives that respond to the significant planning issues and eliminated
alternatives that did not meet Refuge purposes or that were outside of the
Service’s ability to implement.
In March 2005, approximately 2,700 postcards were mailed to individuals,
organizations, businesses, and local, State, and Federal government agencies
on the Kenai mailing list to notify them that draft alternatives were available
for public review and comment via the Internet.
The draft alternatives were refined based on comments received from the
planning update. The environmental effects of the alternatives were analyzed,
and the results were presented in chapter 4 of the draft. We evaluated the
alternatives against a set of criteria and presented that discussion in chapter 5
of the draft.
3.5. Prepare Draft Plan and Environmental Impact Statement
The purpose of the fifth step was to produce the draft document. The draft
Plan and EIS contained five management alternatives, including one that
described the continuation of current management (No-Action Alternative)
and one that is currently the Service’s Preferred Alternative (Alternative E).
3.6. Prepare and Adopt a Final Plan and Environmental
Impact Statement
In the sixth step, comments received on the draft Plan and EIS were reviewed
and analyzed. (These comments and our responses to them are presented in
Appendix D of the Plan.) The draft Plan and EIS was modified as needed,
including refining the Preferred Alternative, after which this Final Revised
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Plan) and EIS was published. A 30-day
comment period follows publication, then the Service’s regional director will
issue a Record of Decision (ROD) that describes the alternative that will be
implemented.
3.7. Implement Plan, Monitor, and Evaluate
After the ROD and Revised Plan are distributed, Refuge staff will begin to
initiate any changes called for in the Plan.
3.8. Review and Revise Plan
Agency policy directs that the Plan be reviewed annually to assess the need
for changes. The Plan will be revised when significant new information
becomes available, ecological conditions change, or the need to do so is
identified during the annual review. If major changes are proposed, public
meetings may be held, or new environmental assessments and environmental
impact statements may be necessary.
Summary Chapter 4: Significant Planning Issues
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Summary S-31
4. Significant Planning Issues
Five significant planning issues were identified for consideration during
revision of this draft Plan.
4.1. Issue 1 – How will the Refuge address large-scale
habitat changes and the use of fire?
Members of the general public and the planning team expressed concerns
about the state of the Refuge’s ageing forests and the impacts associated
with beetle kill. Numerous people noted that wildfire was being
suppressed on the landscape and that prescribed fire was being
inadequately used as a management tool to enhance wildlife habitat. In
some cases, prescribed fire was advocated as a tool to protect life and
property by reducing hazardous fuels.
4.2. Issue 2 – How will the Refuge manage existing facilities
for public use while ensuring natural resource protection?
Members of the general public, the State of Alaska, and the planning team
raised concerns about trails, highway pullouts and rest stops, and oil and gas
field infrastructure. Trail-related comments focused on the need for
additional planning, design, and maintenance. The State of Alaska is
specifically interested in developing trails to lakes that support sportfish.
Comments related to highway pullouts and rest stops focused on the need for
additional parking and related rest stop facilities along the Sterling Highway.
Comments related to oil and gas field infrastructure focused on future public
use and restoration of associated roads, bridges, buildings, and pads after
operations close.
4.3. Issue 3 – How will the Refuge enhance wildlife-dependent
recreation opportunities?
Members of the general public, the State of Alaska, and the planning team
identified opportunities to improve wildlife-dependent recreation activities.
4.4. Issue 4 – How will the Refuge manage increasing
public use to ensure protection of resources
and visitor experience?
Members of the general public and the planning team raised concerns about
increasing public use of Refuge resources. There is a sense that Refuge use
has grown substantially since the development of the 1985 Plan and that such
use has affected Refuge resources and visitor experiences. The Kenai River
corridor and the Swanson River and Swan Lake Canoe System were
specifically identified by the public as areas in need of additional
management. The State of Alaska supports the need for additional
development of public use facilities along the Kenai River to address
resource impacts and to minimize public conflicts associated with crowding.
Summary Chapter 4: Significant Planning Issues
S-32 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
4.5. Issue 5 – How will the Refuge balance motorized
access with protection of resources and
visitor experiences?
Members of the general public, the State of Alaska, and the planning team
raised concerns about various motorized access issues on the Refuge.
Comments focused on snowmachines and aircraft. Snowmachine-related
concerns focused on impacts on Refuge resources and visitor experiences,
although a number of stakeholders stated their interest in maintaining access
without additional restriction. Aircraft-related concerns focused on visitor
experience impacts, although some stakeholders and the State of Alaska
stated their interest in modifying the availability of landing sites in the
Chickaloon Flats and Kenai Wilderness of the Refuge.
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Summary S-33
5. Alternatives
This section of the Summary presents five alternatives for managing Kenai
Refuge, including continuation of current management (Alternative A) and the
Service’s preferred alternative (Alternative E).
5.1. Elements Common to All Alternatives
This section identifies some of the key elements that will be included in the
Comprehensive Conservation Plan regardless of the alternative selected.
Each of the alternatives would do the following:
􀂃􈍃 Contribute to achieving the purposes for which the Refuge was
established, as set forth in Executive Order 8979 (December 16,
1941), and section 303(4)(B) of ANILCA
􀂃􈍅 Ensure that rural residents have access to and priority use of Refuge
resources for the purposes of subsistence, as determined by law
􀂃􈍅 Ensure that Refuge management complies with all other Federal laws
and regulations that provide direction for managing units of the
National Wildlife Refuge System
􀂃􈍐 Protect and maintain fish and wildlife in their natural diversity
􀂃􈍍 Maintain opportunities to pursue traditional subsistence activities;
scientific research; and hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent
recreation activities
􀂃􈍍 Maintain most of the Refuge in a relatively undeveloped state
􀂃􈍍 Minimize disturbances to fish and wildlife habitats and populations
􀂃􈍁 Allow public use of the Refuge using traditional access methods,
provided use remains compatible with the purposes of the Refuge
5.2. Management Direction Common To All Alternatives
The following management direction will be implemented regardless of
which alternative is ultimately selected:
5.2.1 Beetle Kill Trees/Fire Safety
Spruce bark beetle outbreaks will not be managed. However, the Refuge will
continue its collaborative interagency efforts to promote wildfire safety and
implement wildfire mitigation principles on Refuge lands, especially in
wildland urban interface areas.
5.2.2 Cultural Resources Management
Cultural resources management will be enhanced through cooperative
research, planning and education efforts, and increased law enforcement
presence.
5.2.3 Existing Oil and Gas Units
Industrial facilities will operate under current State and Federal regulations.
Facility operators will prevent, to the maximum extent possible, releases of
hazardous materials and substances, crude oil, and produced water. Each
facility will have a current oil discharge prevention and contingency plan
outlining procedures for accidental releases. Sampling, remediation, and
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
S-34 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
restoration of contaminated sites will be the responsibility of the company
operating the facility and will occur in consultation with the Service and
ADEC. All sites no longer being used by industry will be sampled for
contaminants to ensure proper disposal of material and to ensure that Refuge
staff or visiting public are not exposed to contaminants if re-use is planned.
5.2.4 Integrated Research and Monitoring
An integrated research and monitoring program will provide opportunities for
scientific research. An enhanced informational infrastructure will be developed,
including a state-of-the-art Geographic Information System, an enhanced air and
water quality and meteorological monitoring network, permanent research study
sites, and a multi-species landscape-level inventorying and monitoring program.
Collaborative research and monitoring opportunities will be pursued through the
development of a Boreal Forest Research, Monitoring, and Management
Training Program (see section 5.3.6 Land Management Training Facility).
5.2.5 Kenai River Scenic Float Trip Guides
Kenai River scenic float trip guides will continue to be limited to no more than
nine permits issued through a competitive bid process, and of which no more
than four would be high volume businesses as described in the prospectus.
Numbers of permits and conditions to reduce crowding would be reviewed and
revised annually before each open bid process. Incidental use permits for
scenic float trips, similar to sportfishing incidental use permits, would continue
to be issued (to include blackout dates and quotas to avoid crowding during
high use periods).
5.2.6 Land Management Training Facility
A Boreal Forest Research, Monitoring, and Management Training Facility will
be developed that provides classroom and field opportunities to learn state-of-the
art monitoring and management methodologies. The facility will be available for
use by Service personnel and other Federal and State agencies, organizations,
and academic institutions. A nonprofit research institute will be created to
promote and coordinate research efforts.
5.2.7 Law Enforcement
Law enforcement presence will be increased Refuge-wide by implementing
the Service’s deployment model.
5.2.8 Moose Range Meadows Non-Development Easement
Regulations will be developed to provide landowners with a clear description
of the affected lands, concise definitions of the easement and its conditions,
and unambiguous language relating to non-development restrictions.
5.2.9 Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area
The 44,000-acre Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area, where special restrictions on
hunting and trapping apply, will be managed to provide enhanced opportunities
for wildlife viewing, environmental education, interpretation, and photography.
5.2.10 Subsurface Entitlements to Minerals
Any new development where subsurface entitlements exist or in the Birch
Hill Oil and Gas Unit would be designed and constructed to have the least
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-35
negative environmental impact possible. Once exploration and/or production
ceases, all industrial roads, pipelines, and other related facilities will be
completely removed and the area restored.
Industry would be required to investigate, and if necessary, test suspected
contaminated sites to confirm the existence and identity of contaminates and to
remediate and restore the sites as necessary. Remediation and/or restoration
would be to standards agreed upon by ADEC, BLM, Service, and the site owner
or operator.
5.2.11 Visitor Center
A visitor center with the capacity to serve 150 visitors will be constructed in
the headquarters area.
5.2.12 Wildlife/Habitat Restoration
Ongoing methods for assessing the distribution and status of multiple species
at the landscape level to ensure against local extirpation of wildlife will
continue. New trajectories for species distributions and abundance due to
global climate change and changes in natural processes (wildfire and spruce
bark beetle rates) will continue to be modeled. Exotic, injurious, and invasive
species will be eliminated, controlled, or minimized through development of
a comprehensive step-down management plan. Research will be promoted
that evaluates possible endemism in flora and fauna, particularly brown bear
and wolverine. Marten and red fox populations will continue to be evaluated
in the absence of active management, and restoration opportunities will be
identified and implemented as appropriate.
5.3. Alternative A. Current Management
This alternative, the “no-action alternative,” describes current and future
management of the Refuge assuming present actions and initiatives are carried
forward. It provides the baseline against which to compare the action
alternatives (Alternatives B–E).
5.3.1 General Management Direction
Management of the Refuge would continue to follow the 1985 Kenai National
Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan (USFWS 1985a) and Record
of Decision (USFWS 1985b) as amended by subsequent step-down management
plans. The majority of the Refuge (76%) would continue to be managed to
protect wilderness values. This includes the 66.4% of the Refuge which is
designated Wilderness and the 9.7% of the Refuge which is classified Minimal
management. The lands in Minimal management have been recommended for
Wilderness designation. Fish and wildlife management outside Wilderness
would continue to focus on species of special interest such as moose, wolves,
trumpeter swans, and salmon. Populations of predators would be maintained at
relatively natural levels in relation to prey. Hunting, fishing, and trapping would
continue to be allowed consistent with State and Federal regulations.
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan Summary S-36
Table 1. Comparison of the Alternatives Identified by Issue and Management Action
Alternative A
(Current Management)
Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Alternative E
(Preferred Alternative)
Issue 1: How will the Refuge address large-scale habitat changes and the use of fire?
Management Categories:
Intensive
Management
54,500 acres (2.7%)1 Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative A
Moderate
Management
179,000 acres (9.1%) 204,000 acres (10.3%) Same as Alternative A 49,450 acres (2.5%) in
Mystery Creek area retained
during the life of the Alaska
Pipeline project. These lands
would convert to the
Minimal management
category after the life of the
project
Same as Alternative D
Traditional
Management
189,000 acres (9.6%) 0 Same as Alternative B Same as Alternative B
Same as Alternative B
Minimal
Management
196,000 acres (9.7%) 360,000 acres (18.1%) 385,000 acres (19.3%) 514,550 acres (25.9%) during
the life of the Alaska Pipeline
project; 564,000 acres
(28.4%) after the life of the
project.
Same as Alternative D
Designated
Wilderness
1,320,500 acres (66.4%) Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative A Same as Alternative A
Use of Fire as a Management Tool:
Use of fire allowed to
improve habitats for select
wildlife species. Prescribed
fire allowed in the Intensive,
Moderate, Traditional, and
Use of fire allowed as the
principle management tool to
improve wildlife habitats,
reduce hazardous
accumulations of wildland
Use of fire allowed as the
principle management tool to
improve wildlife habitats,
reduce hazardous
accumulations of wildland
Use of fire allowed as the
principle management tool to
improve wildlife habitats,
reduce hazardous
accumulations of wildland
Same as Alternative D
1
Note: Acreage percentages are based on Service lands within the Refuge Boundary. State and private ownership within the Refuge is approximately 2.5%.
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-37
Alternative A
(Current Management) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Alternative E
(Preferred Alternative)
Minimal management
categories, though its use
would be limited in the
Minimal management
category. Use of wildland
fire allowed in the Moderate,
Traditional, Minimal, and
Wilderness management
categories.
fuels, and maintain or restore
natural fire regimes.
Prescribed fire allowed in the
Intensive and Moderate
management categories. Use
allowed in the Minimal
management category but
only on lands not adjoining
designated Wilderness. Use
of wildland fire allowed in
the Minimal and Wilderness
management categories.
fuels, and maintain or restore
natural fire regimes.
Prescribed fire allowed in the
Intensive, Moderate, and
Minimal management
categories. Use of wildland
fire allowed in the Intensive,
Moderate, Minimal, and
Wilderness management
categories, but use would be
emphasized in the Minimal
management category and
the default management
action in designated
Wilderness.
fuels, and maintain or restore
natural fire regimes.
Prescribed fire allowed in the
Intensive, Moderate,
Minimal, and Wilderness
management categories,
though its use in Wilderness
would only be allowed under
specific conditions. Use of
wildland fire allowed in the
Intensive, Moderate,
Minimal, and Wilderness
management categories, but
use would be the default
management action in the
Minimal and Wilderness
management categories.
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
S-38 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Alternative A
(Current Management) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Alternative E
(Preferred Alternative)
Issue 2: How will the Refuge manage facilities for public use while ensuring natural resources protection?
Swanson River Oil and Gas Unit:
Most industrial roads would
be removed and the sites
restored, though some may
be retained for possible
public and administrative
uses. Most facilities would
be removed and the sites
restored, though some would
be retained for possible
public and administrative
uses. Camping facilities
would not be provided, and
bicycles would not be
allowed.
All industrial roads (except
Swanson River Road) would
be removed and the sites
restored. All pipelines and
associated fixtures would be
removed and the sites
restored. All facilities would
be removed and the sites
restored. Camping facilities
would not be provided, and
bicycles would not be
allowed.
Some industrial roads would
be removed and the sites
restored, though most would
be converted to trails for
pedestrian and horse use. All
pipelines and associated
fixtures would be removed
and the sites restored. All
facilities would be removed
and the sites restored. Up to
five primitive camping
facilities would be provided
for walk-in use only, and
bicycles would not be
allowed.
Some industrial roads would
be removed and the sites
restored, though most would
be retained and maintained
for public and administrative
uses. Most pipelines and
associated fixtures that have
not adequately revegetated
would be removed and the
sites restored. In cases where
more environmental damage
would occur by removing
pipelines than by leaving
them in place, pipelines
would be cleaned, capped,
and left in place. Most
facilities would be removed
and the sites restored, though
some would be retained for
administrative uses. Up to
two developed campgrounds
would be provided, and
bicycles would be allowed on
roads and trails.
Same as Alternative D
Beaver Creek Oil and Gas Unit:
Most industrial roads would
be removed and the sites
restored, though some may
be retained for possible
public and administrative
uses. Most facilities would
be removed and the sites
restored, though some would
be retained for possible
All industrial roads (except
Marathon Road) would be
removed and the sites
restored. All pipelines and
associated fixtures would be
removed and the sites
restored. All facilities would
be removed and the sites
restored. Camping facilities
Some industrial roads would
be removed and the sites
restored, though most would
be converted to trails for
pedestrian and horse use. All
pipelines and associated
fixtures would be removed
and the sites restored. All
facilities would be removed
Some industrial roads would
be removed and the sites
restored, though most would
be retained and maintained
for public and administrative
uses. Most pipelines and
associated fixtures that have
not adequately revegetated
would be removed and the
Same as Alternative B
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-39
Alternative A
(Current Management) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Alternative E
(Preferred Alternative)
public and administrative
uses. Camping facilities
would not be provided, and
bicycles would not be
allowed.
would not be provided, and
bicycles would not be
allowed.
and the sites restored. Up to
two primitive camping areas
would be provided for walk-in
use only, and bicycles
would not be allowed.
sites restored. In cases where
more environmental damage
would occur by removing
pipelines than by leaving
them in place, pipelines
would be cleaned, capped,
and left in place. Most
facilities would be removed
and the sites restored, though
some would be retained for
administrative uses. Up to
one developed campground
would be provided, and
bicycles would be allowed on
roads and trails.
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
S-40 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Alternative A
(Current Management) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Alternative E
(Preferred Alternative)
Contaminated Sites:
Industrial facilities would be
required to operate in
compliance with all applicable
Federal and State
environmental statues and
regulations. Known
contaminant releases are to be
cleaned up in a timely manner,
and areas no longer in use are
to be restored .
Same as Alternative A, plus
industry would be required to
investigate, and if necessary,
test suspected contaminated
sites to confirm the existence
and identity of contaminates
and to remediate and restore
the sites as necessary to
acceptable standards agreed
upon by ADEC, BLM, the
Service, and the site owner or
operator.
Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B.
Mystery Creek Access Road and Alaska Pipeline Corridor:
Maintenance of the
unimproved access road
would be conducted by
ENSTAR during the life of
the pipeline project. Public
use registration would not
be required. Public vehicle
use of the access road and
pipeline corridor north to
Chickaloon Bay would be
allowed from start of moose
hunting season
(approximately August 9)
until snow cover.
Pedestrian, horse, and
snowmachine use would be
allowed. Bicycle use would
be allowed approximately
August 9 until snow cover.
After the life of the project,
the access road and pipeline
corridor would be restored.
Maintenance of an improved
access road would be
increased and conducted by
ENSTAR during the life of
the pipeline project. Road
improvements would
facilitate public access,
enhance public safety, and
ensure environmental
protection. Public use
registration would be
required at points of entry.
Public vehicle use of the
access road and pipeline
corridor north to Chickaloon
Bay and southwest to the
East Fork of the Moose River
would be allowed from July
1 through November 30.
Pedestrian, horse, and
snowmachine use would be
allowed. Bicycle use would
be allowed generally from
Maintenance of an improved
access road would be
conducted by ENSTAR
during the life of the pipeline
project and would continue
to provide for a backcountry
experience. Road
improvements would be
limited to those necessary for
public safety and
environmental protection.
Public use registration would
be required at points of entry.
Public vehicle use of the
access road and pipeline
corridor north to Chickaloon
Bay and southwest to the
East Fork of the Moose River
would be allowed from
August 9 through November
30. Pedestrian, horse, and
snowmachine use would be
allowed. Bicycle use would
Maintenance of the
unimproved access road
would be conducted by
ENSTAR during the life of
the pipeline project. Public
use registration would not be
required. Public vehicle use
of the access road and
pipeline corridor would not
be allowed. Pedestrian,
horse, and snowmachine use
would be allowed. Bicycle
use would not be allowed.
After the life of the project,
the access road and pipeline
corridor would be restored,
and a trail would be provided
for pedestrian and horse use
only.
Same as Alternative C except
after the life of the project,
the access road and pipeline
corridor would be restored,
and a trail would be provided
for pedestrian and horse use
only.
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-41
Alternative A
(Current Management) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Alternative E
(Preferred Alternative)
May 1 through November 30.
Public use and/or restoration
opportunities would be re-evaluated
after the life of the
project.
be allowed approximately
August 9 through November
30. Public use and/or
restoration opportunities
would be re-evaluated after
the life of the project.
Trail Maintenance and Planning:
The development of new
trails would be allowed in all
management categories
except Wilderness.
Maintenance decisions would
continue to be driven by
availability of funding.
In addition to those
conditions in Alternative A:
Develop a trail needs
assessment that identifies and
prioritizes construction
and/or maintenance needs
and construction standards
for a variety of trails.
Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B.
Ski Hill Road:
Maintenance of the graveled
road conducted by
ADOT&PF. Pedestrian,
bicycle, and vehicle use
allowed.
Maintenance of the graveled
road conducted by the
Service. Pedestrian, bicycle,
and vehicle use allowed.
Maintenance and road
improvements conducted by
the Service. The northern
section of the road would
remain graveled and open to
pedestrian, bicycle, and
emergency vehicle use only.
The southern section of the
road would be improved and
hard-surfaced, and open to
pedestrian, bicycle, and
public vehicle use.
Maintenance and road
improvements conducted by
the Service. The northern
section of the road would
remain graveled and open to
pedestrian, bicycle, and
emergency vehicle use only.
The southern section of the
road would be improved and
hard-surfaced for public
vehicle use, and a trail would
be constructed in the road
right-of-way for pedestrian and
bicycle use.
Same as Alternative D.
Sterling Highway Pullout (milepost 62.5):
Maintenance not conducted,
and public use facilities not
provided.
Develop a formal rest stop at
MP 62 through a cooperative
effort with ADOT&PF.
Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B.
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
S-42 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Alternative A
(Current Management) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Alternative E
(Preferred Alternative)
Issue 3: How will the Refuge enhance wildlife-oriented recreation opportunities?
Personal Collection of Natural Resources:
Personal collection of
berries, mushrooms, and
other edible plants, and/or the
collection of shed antlers
would not be allowed.
Personal collection and use
of unlimited quantities of
berries, mushrooms, and
other edible plants; and up to
eight naturally shed moose or
caribou antlers per person per
year would be allowed.
Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B.
Christmas Tree Harvesting:
Harvesting one black or
white spruce tree no larger
than 20 feet in height per
family per year between
Thanksgiving and Christmas
Day for personal use would
be allowed upon general
announcement.
Amend Refuge-specific
regulations to allow for
harvesting one black or white
spruce tree no larger than 20
feet in height per family per
year between Thanksgiving
and Christmas Day for
personal use.
Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B. Same as Alternative B.
Issue 4: How will the Refuge manage increasing public use to ensure resource and visitor experience protection?
Swanson River / Swan Lake Canoe System:
Public use registration would
be required. Maximum group
size would be limited to 15
individuals without a special
use permit. Dispersed
camping would be allowed
but may not exceed 14 days
in any 30-day period.
Public use registration would
be required, and enforcement
would be increased.
Maximum group size would
be limited to 15 individuals
without a special use permit.
Dispersed camping would be
allowed but may not exceed
14 days in any 30-day period.
Conduct a Limits-of-
Acceptable Change (LAC)
framework with stakeholders
to guide future management
actions.
Public use registration would
be required. Maximum group
size would be limited to 15
individuals without a special
use permit. Dispersed
camping would be allowed
but may not exceed 14 days
in any 30-day period.
Dispersed campsites would
be monitored and evaluated
regularly using standard
protocols. Management
actions may be implemented
as needed. Regulations
All visitors would be
required to register via a
reservation system.
Maximum group size would
be limited to 15 individuals
without a special use permit.
Camping would be allowed
in designated sites only.
Regulations requiring the use
of outhouses provided at
designated campsites would
be adopted.
Same as Alternative C.
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-43
Alternative A
(Current Management) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Alternative E
(Preferred Alternative)
requiring appropriate
disposal of human waste
would be adopted.
Upper Kenai River (Russian River to Skilak Lake):
Non-guided public use would
be allowed without restriction.
Sportfishing guides would be
required to have special use
permits. Permits would be
limited to 20 issued. Each
permit would allow 10 starts
per week with no more than 4
starts per day. Additional
restrictions may be imposed if
demand for commercial
recreational services
increases. State-licensed
sportfishing guides not having
Refuge special use permits
may be issued incidental use
permits for as many as three
trips per year subject to
quotas and blackout dates.
Dispersed camping would be
allowed but may not exceed
14 days in any 30-day period.
Camping would not be
allowed within one-quarter
mile of the Sterling Highway.
Work cooperatively with
stakeholders to modify, as
needed, existing management
agreements or plans (or
develop new ones) to address
Upper Kenai River crowding
issues related to non-guided
public use. Sportfishing
guides would be required to
have special use permits.
Permits would be limited to
20 issued. The timing of
boats and starts for each
permit would be managed
beyond current levels. State-licensed
sportfishing guides
not having Refuge special
use permits may be issued an
incidental use permit for as
many as one trip per year
subject to quotas and
blackout dates. Dispersed
camping within 100 yards of
the Kenai River would be
limited to 24 hours within
any 14-day period. Camping
would not be allowed within
one-quarter mile of the
Sterling Highway.
Implement a public process
to restrict or redirect non-guided
public use for the
Upper Kenai River if more
than 25% of anglers surveyed
(outside of the confluence
area) report difficulty in
finding an uncrowded fishing
spot. Sportfishing guides
would be required to have
special use permits. Permits
would be reduced to 18
through attrition and issued
competitively. Each permit
would allow 10 starts per
week with no more than 4
starts per day. Additional
restrictions may be imposed
if demand for commercial
recreational services
increases. State-licensed
sportfishing guides not
having Refuge special use
permits may be issued
incidental use permits for as
many as three trips per year
subject to additional quotas
and blackout dates beyond
current levels. Dispersed
camping within 100 yards of
the Kenai River or within
one-quarter mile of the
Sterling Highway would not
Implement a limited permit
program to address non-guided
public use. A public
rulemaking process would
provide stakeholders an
opportunity to provide input
on the program. Sportfishing
guides would be required to
have special use permits.
Permits would be reduced to
15 through attrition and
issued competitively. Each
permit would allow 10 starts
per week with no more than
4 starts per day. Additional
restrictions may be imposed
if demand for commercial
recreational services
increases. The Incidental Use
Permit Program for State-licensed
sportfishing guides
not having Refuge special
use permits would be
eliminated. Dispersed
camping within 100 yards of
the Kenai River plus
camping within one mile of
the inlet or outlet of the
Kenai River and Skilak Lake
would be limited to 48 hours
within any 14-day period.
Camping would not be
allowed within one-quarter
Same as Alternative C.
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
S-44 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Alternative A
(Current Management) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Alternative E
(Preferred Alternative)
be allowed. mile of the Sterling Highway.
Middle Kenai River (Skilak Lake Downstream to the Refuge Boundary):
Non-guided public use would
be allowed without
restriction. Sportfishing
guides would be required to
have special use permits.
Permits would be issued
without limit.
Non-guided public use would
be allowed without
restriction. Following the
conclusion of the Kenai
River-wide guide limitation
process, evaluate the need to
implement a Refuge-specific
permitting process for guided
sportfishing.
Non-guided public use would
be allowed without
restriction on the number of
users until a Limits-of-
Acceptable-Change (LAC)
planning process is
completed with stakeholders
(See 2.1.9.3 Issue 4).
Sportfishing guides would be
required to have special use
permits. Permits would be
limited to the number of
existing permittees, current
permittees would be
“grandfathered” in for a
limited time following
regulatory changes.”
Non-guided public use would
be managed by a limited
permit program. A public
rulemaking process would
provide stakeholders an
opportunity to provide input
on the program. Sportfishing
guides would be required to
have special use permits.
Permits would be limited to
20 through a competitive
selection process, and
management of the timing of
boats and/or starts would be
initiated.
Same as Alternative C.
Issue 5: How will the Refuge balance motorized use with resource and visitor experience protection?
Airplane Access to Lakes Located in Designated Wilderness:
Airplane access would be
allowed on 46 lakes in
designated Wilderness.
Airplane access would not be
allowed from May 1 through
September 30 on any lake
where nesting trumpeter
swans and/or their broods are
present except on two lakes
in designated Wilderness—
Scenic Lake, located within
the Dave Spencer unit of the
Kenai Wilderness, and
Windy Lake, located within
the Andy Simons unit of the
Airplane access would be
allowed on 45 lakes in
designated Wilderness, plus
an environmental assessment
would be conducted to
determine the amount of
airplane use and any
associated impacts on Refuge
resources, recreation
opportunities, and
Wilderness values. Airplane
access would not be allowed
from May 1 through
September 30 on any lake
where nesting trumpeter
Airplane access would be
allowed on 50 lakes in
designated Wilderness.
Airplane access would not be
allowed from May 1 through
September 30 on any lake
where nesting trumpeter
swans and/or their broods are
present except on two lakes
in designated Wilderness—
Scenic Lake, located within
the Dave Spencer unit of the
Kenai Wilderness, and
Windy Lake, located within
the Andy Simons unit of the
Airplane access would be
allowed on 59 lakes in
designated Wilderness plus
one additional lake. Airplane
access would not be allowed
from May 1 through
September 30 on any lake
where nesting trumpeter
swans and/or their broods are
present except on five lakes
in designated Wilderness—
Scenic, King, and Bird lakes,
located within the Dave
Spencer unit of the Kenai
Wilderness; Windy and
Same as Alternative A.
Except: The Refuge will
propose a rule change that
could allow the Refuge
Manager to issue access
permits to successful
applicants in the State’s
limited drawing hunt
program. (See 2.1.9.3
Issue 5)
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan S-45
Alternative A
(Current Management) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Alternative E
(Preferred Alternative)
Kenai Wilderness, where the
closure would be May 1
through September 10.
swans and/or their broods are
present except on two lakes
in designated Wilderness—
Scenic Lake, located within
the Dave Spencer unit of the
Kenai Wilderness, and
Windy Lake, located within
the Andy Simons unit of the
Kenai Wilderness, where the
closure would be May 1
through September 10.
Kenai Wilderness, where the
closure would be May 1
through September 10.
Harvey Lake, located within
the Andy Simons unit of the
Kenai Wilderness; plus one
lake outside of designated
Wilderness—Beaver Lake—
where the closure would be
May 1 through September
10.
Airplane Access to Chickaloon Flats:
Wheeled airplane access
would be allowed year-round
within designated areas,
including three upland
landing zones, a designated
beach landing zone, and the
unmaintained Big Indian
Creek airstrip. Floatplane
access would be allowed on
6.5 miles of the Chickaloon
River.
Wheeled airplane access
would be allowed on 21
square miles of the
Chickaloon Flats area that
are unvegetated and the Big
Indian Creek airstrip
(minimal periodic
maintenance). Floatplane
access would be allowed on
6.5 miles of the Chickaloon
River.
Wheeled airplane access
would be allowed on 21
square miles of the
Chickaloon Flats area that
are unvegetated and the
maintained Big Indian Creek
airstrip. Floatplane access
would be allowed on 6.5
miles of the Chickaloon
River.
Wheeled airplane access
would be allowed on 21
square miles of the
Chickaloon Flats area that
are unvegetated and the
maintained Big Indian Creek
airstrip, an additional 6.8
square miles of the flats from
September 1 to December 15
(or to coincide with future
waterfowl hunting seasons).
Floatplane access would be
allowed on 6.5 miles of the
Chickaloon River.
Same as Alternative B.
Snowmachine Access:
Snowmachines would be
allowed in designated areas
from December 1 through
April 30 if the Refuge
manager determines there is
adequate snowcover.
Snowmachines would be
allowed in designated areas
from December 1 through
April 30 if the Refuge
manager determines there
is adequate snowcover.
Studies with stakeholders
would evaluate the effects
of use on Refuge resources
Snowmachines would be
allowed in designated areas
from December 1 through
April 30 if the Refuge
manager determines there is
adequate snowcover except
certain zones within
designated areas may be
opened earlier or later,
Snowmachines would be
allowed in designated areas
when the Refuge manager
determines there is adequate
snowcover; certain zones
within designated areas
would be opened earlier or
later depending on local
snow conditions. Studies
Same as Alternative B.
Summary Chapter 5: Alternatives
S-46 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Final Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Alternative A
(Current Management) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D
Alternative E
(Preferred