What are the rules? Regulations are designed to protect the natu­ ral, scenic, and wildlife values in the public interest, and to enhance public safety and enjoyment. A general summary of a portion of the Refuge 66SC-39V3 (2,06) XV3 'I<30Z,"S9S (2.06) auoqq regulations follows. For additional details contact: 69966 BqsBjy Tu4opjoS Refuge Manager, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, 6GI3 xo8 P.O. Box 2139, Soldotna, Alaska, 99669-2139. aSnjayj ajqpjJAV puc^Btq iBuayj Hunting and Fishing -Permitted in accor­ H3DVNVW 3Dfl33H 3HX LDVLNOD dance with State and Federal regulations. NOIXVWH03NI 3HCM H03 Firearms may not be discharged within 'A mile of campgrounds, trailheads, buildings, or road­ ways, as well as in the Skilak Wildlife Recre­ ation Area and at the Refuge Visitor Center Complex. The discharge of firearms is permit­ ted only in pursuit of game during respective seasons. Target shooting and fireworks are prohibited. Trapping -Permitted in accordance with State •arnrru aq4 and Federal regulations. A free trapping permit, ui puB AVOU - sareig pauurj ja:naq v. 04 U0]4nqu4uoo trapper orientation training, and furbearer harvest my sat aqBui JJIA\ qoBa os saaanosaa ano {re SUJSBUBUI JO report are required by the State. aaioqa 4sasiA\ aq4 aanssB 04 sqaoM 4uaui4JBdaQ aqx Camping -Camping is permitted in designated •saaanosayq campgrounds along the Refuge road system. Camp­ ing is restricted to 2 consecutive days at Kenai- [Ban4Bjvl jo 4uam4JBdaQ _ s Bai-iainy jo suaaauoo Russian River Access Area, 7 consecutive days at jofeui aaq40 OJB SJIBJJB [Bi.1041.uax pun uBtpuj saamosaj the following campgrounds: Hidden Lake, Upper |Buoj4Baaaaj puB 'qjBd 'puBj 'puauim 'ajijpjiM 'qsjj 'J34BA\ Skilak, Lower Skilak, and Jim's Landing, and 14 con­ JOJ sai4ijiqisuodsaj aisBq sBq aoiaa4uj aq4,Jo 4uaui4JBda(q secutive days in other campgrounds. Camping may aq4 'Aaua§B uoj4BAaasuoa jBdiauiad s uoj4Bj\i aq4 sy not exceed 14 days in a 30-day period. Backcountry Camping -Backcountry camp­ ing is permitted l/t mile back from refuge roads and trailheads. Swan Lake and Swanson River Canoe Route users must register at the trailhead and group size is limited to a total of 15 people. Pets -Must be under the direct control of their owners or handlers. Pets in campgrounds must be on a leash no longer than 9 feet. Personal Property -Unattended personal property must be removed within 72 hours and must have the owner's name and address perma­ nently affixed. Aircraft Use: - • Landing on designated lakes and rivers is per­ mitted. Landing within the canoe system or 3DIAR3S 33na3IA\ CINV HSI3 campground/roadside lakes and those associ­ HOIH3XNI 3HX 30 XN3f\UHVd3C[ ated with hiking trails is prohibited. S3XVXS dSXINfl • Detailed aircraft regulations and maps are available at Refuge Headquarters. See cur­ rent FAA aeronautical charts. Boating -Permitted on all waters of the Refuge. • Motorized watercraft are not permitted within the canoe system lakes, or on portions of the Kenai River. KENAI • Many of the Refuge lakes and waterways have "no wake," "float only," and/or horse­ power limitations. Detailed boating regula­ National tions are available at Refuge Headquarters. Motorized Vehicles -Must be licensed to Wildlife Refuge travel public roads and are prohibited off estab­ lished, maintained roads. Snowmobiles may be per­ mitted by the Refuge Manager only in designated areas from December through April and provided snow depth is sufficient to protect underlying vegetation. Non-Motorized Vehicles -Use of non-motorized wheeled vehicles (e.g. - bicycles, wheelbarrows, canoe carriers, etc.) is permitted only on refuge roads designated for public vehicular access. Firewood -Cutting of trees for campfires on Refuge lands is restricted to dead and down timber The cutting of other timber is authorized by permit only by the Refuge Manager. Fires -In campgrounds, open fires are permit­ ted only in Refuge-provided grates or portable, self- contained, metal fire grills. Peat moss beds allow fires to creep underground and are especially haz­ ardous: Build fires in the backcountry on bare min­ eral soil, make sure every spark of your fire is extin­ guished, and restore the fire area, so no fire scar or trace remains. Permits are not necessary to build campfires; however, fires must be attended at all times. In times of extreme fire danger, fires will not be permitted. BE CAREFUL OF FIRE! Garbage -Must be placed in trash receptacles. If containers are not available, personal garbage must be taken out of the Refuge. Wilderness Uses -Use of motorized equipment including, but not limited to chainsaws, generators, and auxiliary power units, is not permitted within the Kenai Wilderness. Snowmobiles, airplanes, and motorboats are permitted in designated areas only. Plant Use -Refuge plants are protected. Har­ vest of wild berries and mushrooms is permitted for personal use only. Commercial and/or Non-conforming Activ­ ities -Cabin construction, peat removal, grazing, and commercial activities or other similar pursuits without a Special Use Permit are prohibited. Many beautiful small lakes can be reached through Sport Fishing-The Kenai River and Russian River are Wildlife: The Promise of Wilderness our canoe system. Two routes have been established; the ideal locations for the fisherman to try lor silver, king, or Swanson River Route and Swan Lake Route. Self- red salmon. King and red salmon inns begin at the end The living and non-living resources of the Kenai service registration is required at the trailhead and of |une and run through July; silver runs occur in August National Wildlile Refuge combine to form a diverse and group size is limited to 15 persons or less. Canoe rentals and September. Pink salmon rim even year in August, complex ecosystem. Each wildlife species occupies an are available locally. More detailed maps and informa­ but are more numerous during even-numbered years. important "niche within the living system. From tidal tion can be obtained from the refuge headquarters. King salmon are the largest salmon, weighing an marsh to the alpine ridge, various natural habitats of the A table indicating trail location, distance, and average of 23 pounds and occasionally attain 80 pounds. Kenai National Wildlife Refuge support a wide variety degree of dilfieultv, is located on the reverse of this bro­ Silver salmon (coho) average 24 inches and weigh about of wildlife including moose, Dall sheep, mountain goat, chure and is keyed to the refuge map. 9 pounds. Soekeve salmon (red), weighing about 7 caribou, coyotes, wolves, brown/grizzly bear, black bear, pounds, are abundant and provide excellent sport trumpeter swans, lynx, wolverine, beaver, many other fishing opportunities where they can be caught in small mammals, and 146 species of resident and migra­ clear water. tory birds. In addition, it is vital spawning ground lor 4 Other freshwater fish to be found in lakes and species of Pacific salmon as well as many resident fish. streams are rainbow trout, arctic char, Dolly Varden char, lake trout, steelhead, kokanee, and grayling. The Dolly Varden char is the most abundant and may be caught in most rivers and many lakes. Below is a list of roadside lakes and the species of fish which may be found in them. c Moose - The outstanding wildlife species for which the 03 O JO E refuge was originally named is the moose. Moose are the (A c c o 3 3 • c O c o O C CO c 03 en en o E o E CO largest antlered deer on earth with the bulls sometimes o o -a 3 TJ 03 E E CO JO 03 03 CO E CO S CO 01 CO CO en 03 O O o 03 _> < en CO o c reaching 1,400 pounds. Calves are born in late May and Name of Lake en en j= > c 0) E J3 3= c e/j O) 03 en >. o CD o JO 3 03 C 03 ">. CO CO Q. > -30 CD c jd [nne and it is common to see cows with calves feeding in B •o c 33 03 O o JO 3 03 CO CO o c7i 0. 00 _! -1 0 en V) • k c o rr a < o JO: the woods or swampy areas near the roads during the Sterling Highway summer months. The bull moose can be dangerous Kenai River * * * * * * * * during the fall and a cow moose with young is very pro­ Jean Lake 140 75 * * * * Upper Jean Lake 50 50 * * * tective. It is wise to be cautious in their presence. Kelly Lake 70 45 * * Petersen Lake 95 50 * * Wolves and Other Mammals - Wolves are found E. Fork Moose R. * * * throughout the refuge but observers often must be con­ Watson Lake 75 16 * * Moose River * * * * * * tent with hearing their howls or seeing their telltale Tustumena Lake 72M 900 * * * * * tracks. Mink, otter, beaver, snowshoe hare, weasel, coy­ Skilak Loop Road ote, lynx, wolverine, muskrat, and squirrel also inhabit Hidden Lake 1920 145 * * * * * * the refuge. Look for beaver lodges and their tree cut­ How Do I Get There? Rock Lake 20 17 * tings along streams and in baekcountry lakes. Lower Ohmer Lake 150 94 * KENAI Travelers to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge are Skilak Lake 24M ? * * * X * X treated to a panoramic drive of 110 miles from Anchor­ Engineer Lake 240 19 * * X Waterfowl - The Chickaloon Flats on Turnagain Arm is Bottinentnin Lake 280 9 age to the refuge, passing through rugged narrow vallevs a popular stopover for many different species of ducks National and along turquoise-colored lakes and rivers. The north­ Swanson River Rd. and geese during their spring and fall migration. Some ern refuge boundary is 20 air miles from Anchorage. Sunken Is. Lake 140 55 * * of the nesting waterfowl commonly seen are green-wing Mosquito Lake 64 43 Airports are located at Kenai, Soldotna, and Homer.