State still needs operator for Susitna Landing

Things are still slow here in the Valley with king salmon fishing. I understand a handful of fish were caught on the Deshka River in the last few days and a few more on the Little Susitna River. I have also heard a rumor that one or two kings were caught at the Eklutna Tailrace. I suspect Andy Couch’s column will have more information on the status of catching kings in the valley right now because Andy and company were the folks catching most of the fish mentioned above.

I heard from a good friend who has years of experience running riverboats on the Big Susitna that the waters of the Big Su are quite low. He mentioned a trip he made the other day from Deshka Landing to the Willow where he touched bottom three times. For this guy to touch bottom that often in his boat along that section of river means there just isn’t much water flowing at the moment. If this weather ever really warms up and turns into summer and the glaciers start melting, there will be plenty of water. Right now, be careful and expect the probability of getting stuck if you take your boat out onto the Susitna River.

I contacted the Fish and Game, Sports Fish Division, Boating Access folks a couple of days ago to inquire about the status of getting a private concessionaire under contract to operate Susitna Landing. Ron and Marilyn Wilson, owners of Ron’s Riverboat Service, a sportsfishing guide service on the Susitna River and its tributaries, operated Susitna Landing for the better part of 15 years before Ron suffered a stroke around Christmas 2008. As a result, the Wilsons had to give up the contract to operate the landing and they have closed Ron’s guide business.

The boat launch and camping facility at Susitna Landing belong to Fish and Game and the Wilsons had the operations contract. When they were forced to leave because of Ron’s medical situation, Fish and Game tried to award a new contract for operating the facility. Because of the somewhat short timeline between Ron’s stroke and the ability to get a new operator under contract, there were no viable responses from the private sector to operate the site for the 2009 season. Fish and Game was forced to hire seasonal staff to run things through that boating season and the 2009/2010 winter snowmachining season as well. Having a presence onsite 24/7 was also necessary for security reasons to protect the recent improvements made to the structures and grounds of the facility.

Fish and Game tried this past winter to secure a private sector operator for the facility. They did not receive a viable proposal, so once again Fish and Game will operate Susitna Landing with state employees through the 2010/2011 season. The employees running Susitna Landing are doing a fine job and I applaud their efforts; however, it would be nice to eventually get a concessionaire on site so that the store can be reopened and other services made available to the public.

A private operator can provide a convenience store with items like snacks, soda, fishing tackle, loaner life vests, firewood and ice, for examples. Marilyn also made a mean cup of espresso on the machine the Wilsons had in the store. Ron was a Kodiak marine dealer and provided engine and outdrive services as well as oil and filters, gas filters, impellors and other items necessary to maintain the myriad of riverboats operating out of that facility. Ron was also the only licensed and bonded boat towing service on the Susitna and he was regularly called upon to deliver parts and/or tow stranded boaters back to the landing.

The state can maintain and run the basic facility, providing boat launch capabilities and renting camping spaces. They are not set up, nor can they be able, to provide all the other amenities mentioned above because of the nature of a government agency taking in revenues of this nature. Plus, Fish and Game has no desire to compete with the private sector by selling fishing gear and food items. Sometimes you don’t appreciate what is available until it is no longer there for you to use.

We mentioned some time ago about work being done at the Palmer Hay Flats around Reflections Lake and the vandalism done to an informational kiosk. The work continues and plans are in place to install a 95-foot pedestrian bridge that will complete the mile looping trail around the lake. This installation is scheduled to happen today at approximately 10 a.m.

A media notice was sent out with the hope of encouraging newspapers and, I suspect, the TV stations in Anchorage to come out and take some pictures or shoot some video and report on the progress of the work. Because of the nature of the scheduled work, I sincerely doubt the public will be allowed in the vicinity for liability reasons. That’s why the notice was sent to the media — to come take some photos so the public can see what’s being done.

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