BLOCKED: Reduced access to popular outdoor recreation area sparks controversy

BUTTE— Eklutna Inc. recently placed a row of roadblocks along an access and launch point to Mud Luke, preventing any motorized entry, which makes launching a boat at that area impossible. These roadblocks are essentially an answer to the junk and trash in the area, which is reportedly getting worse in recent years.

For many years and for many people across the Mat-Su Valley, Maud Road has been a popular entry into a spectrum of outdoor activities. It’s also the only way to access the shooting range and the surrounding, a popular destination for camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and so on. The area is well known and well-traveled by duck and moose hunters.

Maud Road is the key entry point into a vast wilderness popular for outdoor sports and recreation but Eklutna Inc., a Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporation and the Knik River Public Use Area, a legislatively designated area managed by the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land, and Water, Southcentral Regional Office. It’s clear that both entities focus heavily on land and animal conservation and both stress safe and legal fun that doesn’t damage the ecosystem.

“Trash clean-up is an ongoing effort but continues to be a problem on Eklutna land. We rely on and appreciate the individuals to obtain access permits because they are our boots on the ground. It is not uncommon to receive calls in regards to house hold trash, large appliances or in this case a burnt car from our permittees,” Noel Aspiras, Real Estate and Land Department Specialist for Eklutna Inc said.

An abandoned and burnt car was left at the Mud Lake access and launch point where the road blocks ultimately ended up. Removing the car was fairly expensive, costing about $6,000 according to Aspiras.

As one winds their way down the Maud Road extension, they will invariably land on the border of Eklutna Inc. for a few miles before returning to public lands and finding the shooting range, parking and access to Jim Lake.

Mud Lake falls under state land but to access it, one must cross Eklutna Inc. private property. According to Aspiras the lands are open to public use, as long as they obtain a free permit. Permits allow access to the Eklutna Inc lands, with a “catch,” Aspiras said. There is no hunting, fishing or ATV’s allowed on the property.

On July 15, Valley resident John Meyer posted to Facebook, “Hey all you duck and moose hunters that use the access to Mud lake down Maud road in the Butte. I have been made aware that access to the whole network of lakes has been blocked off. Hundreds if not thousands of duck and moose hunters use that access every year. I am trying to get everyone involved that I can, raise hell and let it be known that they can’t close down access to Alaska like that. I feel it is absolutely is illegal.”

According to the Alaska Native Claim Settlement Act section 17(b), easements can be reserved across these private lands to access public lands and waters. Since the mid-1970s, ADF&G has reviewed proposed conveyances to Native corporations and recommended public easements to BLM that provide access to public lands and waters. The easements are typically trail and road easements or site easements. Site easements are provided for the public to camp for less than 24 hours, park a vehicle, or change modes of transportation.

With the blocks in place, only those carrying light crafts like canoes can slide past the barricade. This clearly creates an obstacle for hunters and fishers, according to Meyer.

Bill Klebesadel commented on Mayer’s post on July 17, “Still looks open. They’re just blocking the last 50’. I can carry my kayak that far. If everyone would be accountable, like maybe cleaning up after the slobs that abuse the area, maybe they wouldn’t have had to resort to this step.”

On July 16, Meyer commented in the original post’s thread, “So my buddy talked with Eklutna a little bit earlier today. He said they are tired of the garbage just like the rest of us. They felt that they were not getting help from both the public and a few state agencies to help maintain it. There solution for the moment was to block it off. They have tried trail cameras in the past and they have been shot set on fire or simply stolen. Seemed somewhat willing to hear solutions and come up with a plan. No guarantees could be made that it will be opened back up. Hang in there hopefully good things to come. We as a group need to be ready to put our best foot forward and provide that helping hand in taking care of this place if there willing to offer a second chance. I hate cleaning up after people as much as the next guy, until we can get those bad apples caught and dealt with its just going to be the way we have to move forward.”

Travis Jensen is the KRPUA Land Manager. He manages the 260,000 acres public use area within the Knik River basin. He said that state land begins about 300 meters before the Kenny and Patti Barber Shooting Range. A sign on the south side of the road indicates where Eklutna Inc private property ends, and state land begins.

“As adjacent landowners, the Department of Natural Resources and Eklutna Inc work together to address usage issues within the Knik River Public Use Area and the areas that border it,” Jensen said.

It’s clear that the one of the prominent “usage issues” in the KRPUA and Eklutna lands is the steady supply of messes left behind. The junk and trash issue seems to be getting worse each year, Aspiras said.

Meyer spoke to the Frontiersman for an interview on July 21. He is member of the Alaska Waterfowl Association. He plans to have a sit down and brainstorm session with the AWA and Eklutna Inc. to try to come up with a solution to the junk and trash problem, and potential removal of the roadblocks.

“They want to come to an agreement,” Meyer said. “I feel more positive about the way things are developing.”

He said that he’s feeling more hopeful than he did earlier this week and that he understands that the junk and trash was out of control.

“The hunters aren’t the one’s leaving the stuff behind- it’s the kids, the partiers,” Meyer said.

Meyer said that it’s still early to know what will come once he meets with Eklutna Inc, as to what steps to take. He said that the AWA have a history of cleaning up wildlands to ensure the land and animals are sustained. So far, he thinks he, the AWA and other members of the community could get together and do annual clean ups.

“We’re gonna’ keep this area clean,” Meyer said.

Local hunter Chase Allen is among those who uses the area.

"There are very few places to hunt ducks and none are as good as that area. My friends and I used to call it 'ducktopia'" Allen said.

Eklutna Inc places several signs indicated where their land begins. There is a number to call to acquire permits on every sign and according to Aspiras, the signs located where the roadblocks now stand, were like others in the area, have a been taken down and shot out many times. for an access permit at 907-696-2828 or visit www.eklutnainc.com

For more information about the Knik River Public Use Area, visit: http://knikriver.alaska.gov/mlw/krpua