News Release

Katmai National Park and Preserve to Hold Public Meeting in King Salmon

Date: April 10, 2019
Contact: Jason Lux, [phone]

Proposal to temporarily close the Brooks River to motorized vessels.

Katmai National Park and Preserve wants to hear from the public on its proposal to temporarily close the Brooks River to motorized vessels upriver from the new elevated bridge.

A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 6:00 PM at the NPS headquarters in King Salmon, AK. With the recent installation of the elevated bridge over the Brooks River, it is now possible to travel upriver approximately one-half mile with a motorboat to Brooks Falls. Motorboat use above the bridge would disturb the brown bears who concentrate and fish the river in large numbers, interfere with the visitor experience at Katmai where bear viewing and photography are two of the most popular activities, and endanger cultural resources along the river by exposing them to erosive boat wakes.

A temporary closure is needed to prevent negative impacts to unique wildlife viewing opportunities, and to protect the Park’s natural, archeological and cultural resources. The NPS proposes to close the Brooks River to motorized vessels upstream of the new, elevated bridge from June 1 through October 1, 2019. For more information contact Jason Lux at 907-246-2127.