Time to upgrade Little Susitna River Road

If my recollection serves me correctly, it was about the mid-1980s when the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility Boat Launch and Campground was built using Department of Fish and Game access funds on the lower Little Susitna River. About that same time, Little Su Access Road (or Little Susitna River Road, as it is also known) was upgraded from a rutted dirt trail that rarely received any maintenance to a mostly dirt road graded a few times during the May, June, July, August salmon fishing season.

Although only about four miles in length, the first couple miles of the road are mostly gravel and fairly well maintained by the state of Alaska on a year-round basis. The remaining portion from the old farm into the public use facility can easily be characterized as mostly dirt that turns into potholes anytime significant rain falls. Rain significant enough to raise the Little Susitna River water level has been falling since the last day of July, and one of my recent nonresident visitors described driving the road as “a splash course through mud and potholes.”

At the end of three days of driving back and forth to fish the lower Little Susitna River, this visitor’s rental vehicle looked like he had taken it mud bogging. How does this reflect on the Mat-Su Valley as a travel destination? Should this be what it takes to visit the area’s most heavily used coho salmon fishery? Why has the road not been upgraded to match the $1 million-plus campground and boat launch facility at its end?

It is interesting how certain state projects like the old Point Mackenzie Farm Project received millions of dollars in funding to upgrade roads throughout the area, including Little Susitna River Road as far as the last farm. In this case, for the sake of one farm, the state upgraded and currently maintains about half the length of Little Susitna River Road on a year-round basis. Those who have driven the road on a regular basis know that very little of the traffic along the road goes to that farm. Most of the vehicle traffic goes on to the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility, where the road provides one of the best access sites to the Susitna Flats State Game Refuge.

The road is used primarily by salmon anglers and fishing guides, but also significantly by big- and small-game hunters, river floaters, campers and state parks employees who work at the facility. Are there any Mat-Su Valley politicians willing to prioritize working toward upgrading this important 25-year-old mud, dirt and pothole-riddled travel route? Are there any anglers, hunters, business owners or other users of the Little Susitna River Public Use Facility willing to communicate to their politicians that this is a priority item?

Water levels challenge

Valley coho fisheries

Coho salmon abundances throughout the Mat-Su Valley have been lower than normal in 2011, and recent heavy rainfalls have significantly raised and muddied waters of the Little Susitna River, Deshka River, Talkeetna River and Susitna River tributary streams. In many cases this has reduced sport angler harvest levels of coho salmon, but anglers have been out fishing in the rain. For some fisheries like the weekend fisheries on lower Wasilla (Rabbit Slough), Cottonwood and Fish creeks, increased water levels may likely increase silver salmon harvest rates.

Fish Creek fishery

Mat-Su Anglers Club President Julie Busch told me last week’s new youth-only fishery had strong participation and the kids seemed to be harvesting good numbers of salmon. Julie’s husband, Greg Busch, attended the event, providing the use of fully rigged club rod and reel outfits for youths who did not have gear. Julie said Greg had such a good time on Saturday that he couldn’t wait to go back and help again on Sunday.

The Fish Creek weekend-only salmon fishery on the lower end of the creek will open to all members of the public Aug. 13-14, and recent coho salmon numbers traveling through Fish Creek Weir indicate there should be a decent number of fish available to be caught — especially on Saturday morning. Fishing hours are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Club news

Julie Busch acknowledged that the club has decided to hold its annual smoked salmon contest during its October meeting rather than September so more people can participate. For more information on how you can participate in this fun and tasty event, contact Busch at 892-7543.

Andy Couch owns and operates Fishtale River Guides (fish4salmon.com), is a Mat-Su Anglers Club member (matsuanglers.org) and member of the Mat-Su Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Sportsmen’s Committee. Email this column at sports@frontiersman.com if you have Mat-Su fishing questions or information readers may find useful.