The use of snowmachines is barred in both the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and areas of the Chugach National Forest, with both citing inadequate snow cover.
In a Dec. 18 order from the U.S. Forest Service and a Dec. 27 news release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Chugach National Forest’s Glacier and Seward Ranger Districts and the refuge were all closed to snowmachine use.
The refuge hadn’t fully opened to snowmachine use this year, because there wasn’t enough snow. On Dec. 1, the refuge opened areas north of the Kasilof River and Tustumena Lake for snowmachining, while southern areas of the Kenai Peninsula remained closed. Now, all areas are again closed.
The forest’s Glacier and Seward Ranger Districts include area from around Cooper Landing to the eastern side of the Kenai Peninsula, south to near Seward and north past Hope and Girdwood. Those areas are all closed “due to inadequate snow conditions and to prevent resource damage.”
Per the National Weather Service, there’s unlikely to be much snowfall in the central peninsula in the immediate future, with “a chance” of snow projected for this weekend in most areas. On the eastern side of the peninsula, snow and rain showers are both forecast throughout the week. South toward Homer, chances for snow are forecast as soon as Thursday, though temperatures are likely to rise and bring rain in the weekend.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
