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Kenai River Small Parcels

The Council pursued acquisition of strategic parcels nominated by willing sellers along the Kenai River. The Kenai River is an increasingly popular recreational destination for tourists, sport fishers, boaters and others. These diverse uses threaten to degrade fish spawning and rearing habitat on the Kenai River. In addition, development of these parcels threatens important wetland habitat that serves as a filtering system for upland runoff and an important source of nutrients and materials essential to the welfare of the Kenai's fishery resources. Pink salmon and Dolly Varden spawn along the banks of the Kenai. The many sloughs and wetlands provide rearing and overwintering habitat for Dolly Varden, chinook, and coho salmon. Sockeye salmon also migrate and rear along the banks of the Kenai. Recreation use on the Kenai is high and very much dependent upon the health of the fisheries resources injured by the Exxon Valdez oil spill, particularly sockeye salmon and Dolly Varden. Kenai River parcels of note include:

The Kobylarz parcel has approximately 1100 feet of river frontage on Big Eddy at mile 14 of the Kenai River, one of the most popular fishing areas on the river. Pink salmon and Dolly Varden spawn in the river adjacent to the parcel and sockeye salmon migrate and rear along the banks of the river. The parcel also provides excellent rearing and overwintering habitat for Dolly Varden, chinook and coho salmon. Acquisition of this parcel has addressed an ongoing trespass use by fishermen attempting to gain access to Big Eddy.

The Mansholt parcel has approximately 100 feet of river frontage and is strategically located adjacent to the Kobylarz parcel in the Big Eddy area of the river. The property supports a spring fed slough and riparian wetlands providing rearing habitat for coho and chinook salmon. Pink salmon and Dolly Varden spawn in the river adjacent to the property and the parcel provides overwintering habitat for Dolly Varden. The property provides pedestrian access to the Big Eddy fishing hole.

The Cone parcel located near the mouth of the Kenai River has an extensive high valued tidal marsh supporting intertidal/subtidal resources. Hundreds of thousands of waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors use this area for feeding, nesting, and staging. 31 The Girves parcel is located near mile 19 of the Kenai River just outside the city of Soldotna and experiences high levels of trespass use resulting in erosion of the riverbank. Acquisition of this parcel has allowed active management of access to protect and reestablish riparian habitat.

The Salamatof parcel also contains two documented bald eagle nests and provides key river otter habitat, including denning areas and concentrated latrine sites. The Roberts/Shilling parcel is located on the Kenai River adjacent to the Kenai Peninsula Visitors Center in Soldotna. It has approximately 644 feet of river frontage and experiences high levels of sportfishing use. Acquisition of this parcel allowed for the development of elevated grate walks designed to manage sportfishing and recreational access and reestablish and protect riparian habitat.

The Patson parcel is located at mile 24.5 just outside the City of Soldotna on the south side of the river approximately 2.5 miles down Funny River Road. The parcel contains approximately 1,500 linear feet of river frontage. Acquisition of this parcel close to the City of Soldotna provided an opportunity to protect riparian habitat and provide managed access as appropriate close to town.

The River Ranch parcel is located near Mile 32 of the river and provides access to the river from Funny River Road on the southern side of the river. It was developed primarily as a horse and cattle ranch and removal of livestock has allowed riparian vegetation to reestablish and provide additional fish habitat.

The Kenai Natives Association package contains habitat important to bald eagles for feeding during the fall and winter as they congregate in this area to feed on the late silver salmon run. This parcel also contains significant archaeological resources including the Stephanka Village site. This package and the surrounding Kenai National Wildlife Refuge lands possess high value wilderness characteristics.