A scoping meeting for the Kenai River Ranch property located off of Funny River Road is scheduled for the evening of January 20.
Kenai Peninsula Parks Superintendent Jack Blackwell said the funds for the master site plans for the over 100 acre parcel were allocated during the 28th Legislative session.
Blackwell: ”The River Ranch property is located along the Kenai River in the Kenai River Special Management Area. It’s located at about river mile 32, approximately 12 miles out Funny River Road on the south side of the river.”
He said that the two meetings will give the public the opportunity to weigh in on how the property should be managed.
Blackwell: “We’ve heard interest from the community that there may be interest in developing a boat launch or perhaps developing more fishing access along the river at that location. These are things that have come up during our initial discussions and we’d really like to hear from the public.”
The property was acquired as part of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill habitat protection program and the Division of Parks along with Alaska Department of Fish and Game are working with that trustee to determine how it should be managed and has invited public input.
Blackwell added that after public comment closes the collaboration should have a master site plan by April of 2015 but the funding did not include development costs, that would be contingent on additional state funding.
The deadline for submitting comments during the scoping period is February 10 and a workshop has been set for 7 – 8:30pm on Tuesday, January 20 at the Kenai River Center where comments can also be submitted. There will also be a meeting in Anchorage on Wednesday, January 21 in conference room 102 of the Atwood Building, located at 550 W. 7th Avenue.
Comments can be submitted online via the project website or sent by mail, e-mail or fax to:
Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1340
Anchorage, AK 99501
fax: 907-269-7506 or e-mail: [email protected].
