The Observer, September 2004
Community Corner: Citizens’ councils team up at Kenai celebration
by Linda Robinson
On August 28, our council joined the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council in celebrating Kenai’s Industry Appreciation Day. This community picnic was an opportunity for both the citizens’ councils to distribute information about our work.
The city of Kenai and its close neighbor Soldotna are located on the Kenai Peninsula on the glacier-fed Kenai River about three hours from Anchorage by road. Visitors and residents enjoy easy access to salmon, halibut, and trout fishing, and razor clam digging. The Kenai Peninsula Borough is represented on the council by Blake Johnson, and Jerry Brookman of Kenai chairs the council’s Oil Spill Prevention and Response Committee.
The site of modern Kenai was the home of the Dena’ina Indians prior to the 1700s. In 1778, Captain Cook sailed up what would be named Cook Inlet while looking for the Northwest Passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
Kenai was colonized by Russian traders in 1791, becoming the headquarters for the fur and fish trade in the Cook Inlet region. A fort was established in 1868-1870 after Alaska was purchased by the United States. Modern Kenai has a population of approximately 7,166 and is known for its world class king salmon fishing. Industries include oil, natural gas, commercial fishing and tourism.
Soldotna’s first homesteaders were World War II veterans. They either traveled to Kenai and then hiked the eleven miles to Soldotna, or took a train to Moose Pass and traveled overland 70 miles. Soldotna has approximately 4,140 residents with many more living in the area but outside the city limits. It is primarily a residential and service-oriented community with many of its residents working outside the city in oil, gas, mining and commercial fishing.
Places of Refuge
A comment period will open October 1 to gather information on Places of Refuge in Prince William Sound. Since the Sound is widely used for marine commerce, there is always a chance that a leaking or disabled vessel may require a sheltered location with adequate water depth to repair or lighter the vessel. The information gathered will make it easier to decide where to do such repairs with the least effect on the environment.
A working group is compiling documentation that will outline the potential Places of Refuge, including information on habitat, tidal flats, birds, fish and shellfish, marine mammals, water depth and ownership.
For complete information please visit our web site, www.pwsrcac.org, and use the link to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation web site. The intent of this program is to verify the information posted on web sites and to incorporate additional information using local knowledge. The comment period will go to Nov. 15.
On the Road Again
Tamara Byrnes from our Valdez office, recently equipped with a new display, attended the 4th of July Festival and the Goldrush Celebration, both held this summer in Valdez. She also assisted me in Anchorage at the Alaska Oceans Festival held July. This event focused on “our water planet” and had booths and activities from around Southcentral Alaska, including a touching tank brought by the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward and the Department of Fish and Game Moveable Lab.
Upcoming events this fall include the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce meeting in Juneau, Fish Expo in Seattle and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry conference in Portland, Oregon.
FUTURE PROJECT MANAGER? – This young visitor showed up to check out a couple of non-indigenous crab species at the citizens’ council booth during the Alaska Oceans Festival in Anchorage in July.