Scarce Snow Leads to Off-Road Vehicle Restrictions on Matanuska-Susitna State Game Refuges
- ADF&G Press Release

Sam Cotten, Commissioner
P.O. Box 115526
Juneau, Alaska 99811-5526


Press Release: March 4, 2016

Contact: Joe Meehan, State Refuge Coordinator, Palmer, (907) 267-2281

Scarce Snow Leads to Off-Road Vehicle Restrictions on Matanuska-Susitna State Game Refuges

(Palmer) — Despite flurries today over parts of Southcentral Alaska, a lack of snow in the lower Matanuska and Susitna Valleys has led to off-road vehicle use restrictions (including snowmachines and ATVs) on three popular state game refuges. Goose Bay and Palmer Hay Flats state game refuges are currently closed to all off-road vehicles, and use in the Susitna Flats State Game Refuge is limited.

State regulations generally require at least 12 inches of snow cover and sufficient ground frost to operate off-road vehicles within the refuges. Exceptions to these restrictions in the Susitna Flats refuge include the Enstar Gas Pipeline right-of-way and marked trails to Figure Eight Lake and Flat Horn Lake which require only sufficient ground frost to prevent the penetration of or disturbance of the soil surface or plant roots. These conditions are currently not met on the Figure Eight Lake Trail which remains closed as does much of the remainder of the Susitna Flats refuge. It is the responsibility of the operator to assure these conditions are met in the area they wish to operate.

Street vehicles are always prohibited off-road in the refuges unless otherwise allowed by permit. These restrictions are intended to protect important fish and wildlife habitats.

Detailed information regarding off-road vehicle use on refuge lands is provided at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=uselicense.gpareas.

For questions about the current restrictions, contact State Refuges Coordinator Joe Meehan at (907) 267-2281 or joe.meehan@alaska.gov.