Officials look out for alleged salmon snagging

MAT-SU — Sightings of ATVs, pickup trucks and motor homes running back and forth across Bodenburg Creek, along with several people illegally snagging salmon near the mouth of the creek, were reported to the Frontiersman via email last week.

Local residents living along Bodenburg Creek allege these illegal actions are happening and that pleas to state enforcement agencies to stop this activity had gone unanswered. Phone calls to the Alaska Wildlife Troopers (AWT) and the Sport Fish and Habitat divisions of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Palmer office revealed that none of these agencies had a record of receiving recent complaints regarding the alleged activities.

Motorized vehicles running up and down or back and forth across the creek in unauthorized locations damage fish spawning or rearing habitat. Illegal salmon snagging further endangers the long-term health of a small, but distinct, salmon population that is popularly used by local residents and tourists because of its accessibility from the Old Glenn Highway.

All three state agencies acknowledged that salmon snagging and illegal motorized crossing of Bodenburg Creek constitute a chronic and longstanding problem. Both the Habitat and Sport Fish divisions routinely post signs near the mouth of the creek explaining where the legal vehicle crossing site is located and that salmon fishing is illegal in Bodenburg Creek. These signs have been vandalized or destroyed shortly after being posted, according to a pair of agency biologists.

The Habitat Division has issued Fish Habitat Permit FH-13-IV-0001-GP, which authorizes the general public to make motorized vehicle crossings of Bodenburg Creek. The permit states: “Ground contact vehicles may cross the flowing waters of Bodenburg Creek only in the section of the creek extending upstream from its confluence with the Knik River to point (sic) 100-feet downstream from where the flowing waters emerge from the shoreline vegetation. No other stream crossings of Bodenburg Creek are authorized.”

These ground contact vehicles can have a curb weight of up to 10,000 pounds. Commercial operators needing to cross the creek must contact the Habitat Division for an individual Fish Habitat Permit prior to commencing their commercial operations.

All salmon fishing is illegal in Bodenburg Creek. The regulation is clearly stated on page 34 of the current 2013 Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet for Southcentral Alaska.

Anyone who sees illegal motorized vehicle creek crossings or observes illegal salmon fishing activity in Bodenburg Creek is urged to report the violations to either the AWT at their Palmer office at 745-4247, or the Mat-Su West AWT office at 373-8305. Callers can also contact the Fish and Wildlife Safeguard Program at (800) 478-3377. Violations can also be reported to the Palmer Sport Fish Division office at 746-6300 or the Palmer Habitat Division office at 861-3200. Both ADF&G division offices routinely pass the reported violation information immediately to the Wildlife Troopers for follow-up.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by emailing sports@frontiersman.com.