• The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes at Sunset, from the Griggs Visitor Center

    Katmai

    National Park & Preserve Alaska

Research Permits

Alagnak Wild River (ALAG)
Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve (ANIA)
Katmai National Park and Preserve (KATM)

Research conducted on lands managed by the National Park Service (NPS) is valuable to park managers, educators, and the larger scientific community. We appreciate your interest in working on these lands. The NPS Organic Act articulates that our "purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such a manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." The following guidance helps ensure that research is conducted in a sensitive and safe manner that is mutually beneficial for all.

Permit Requirement and Timeline

A Scientific Research and Collecting Permit is required to conduct research or collect specimens on all NPS lands. Researchers are encouraged to contact the research coordinator early in the planning process to discuss proposed work and streamline the permitting process.

Research Coordinator: Whitney Rapp, 907-246-2145, e-mail us

The permitting process can take up to 90 days. Applications for summer field work should be submitted by March 31.

To aid in the preparation of a successful application, researchers should first review the following documents:

If your research requires exceptions or special conditions to any of the above documents, please ensure that you communicate those needs with the research permit coordinator.

Permit Application Process

Application Review Process
The review process is designed to ensure that park resources and users are not unduly affected by the proposed research. An interdisciplinary team will evaluate applications to determine potential impacts in several areas, including:

The following criteria are among those used to evaluate research proposals:

 
Research Permit Flowchart
The process for obtaining a research permit.
 

Maps to Help with Planning for Research

Wilderness areas

  • Alagnak - no areas are in wilderness
  • Aniakchak - areas in Aniakchak are suitable for wilderness; however, no map is currently available
  • Katmai - showing designated wilderness, additional areas are suitable for wilderness

Lands Managed by NPS

  • Research Permit and Reporting System Research Permit and Reporting System

    To submit an application, please go to the Research Permit and Reporting System (RPRS). Read More

  • Research in Wilderness Research in Wilderness

    Considerations for conducting research in wilderness areas. Read More

Did You Know?

Did You Know?

Mt. Martin is just one of five active volcanoes in Katmai National Park.  Mt. Mageik, Trident, Novarupta, and Mt. Katmai are the other four active volcanoes in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.