It is time for sport, commercial, and personal use fisherman to pull together and support the listing of the Kenai River as impaired. DEC has listed the river and the document is out for public comment. They need comments supporting this lisitng and I urge everyone to write a short email supporting them in this action. While it is hard to believe there are those who use the river who do not want it listed as impaired, even with 6 years of data on fuel levels.

DEADLINE for submissions is 5 PM Alaska Time, December 1, 2006.
Send written comments to:
Drew Grant
PO Box 11180
410 Willoughby Ave Ste. 303
Juneau , AK 99801
drew_grant@dec.state.ak.us
Phone: 907-465-5304
Fax: 907-465-5274

Gleaned from an Alaska Internet fishing forum:
The cavalry to the rescue. . .
Gosh, Nerka, don't be too alarmed. True, things look bleak, but I'll bet the in-river commercial fishermen and their advocates will get things back on the right track. I kind of look for KRSA, KRPGA, and the unaligned guides to now advocate for smaller motors, lighter loads, more drift boat days, and fewer trips. Want to bet?

Heck, KRSA's motto used to be, maybe still is, "Think habitat before it's too late." It's not too late, is it?


The beginning of the end?
In all seriousness, I think what we're seeing is the beginning of the end of the unbridled expansion of the Kenai River's sportfishery, especially of the river's commercial sportfishery.

The satire in my post above was intended to illustrate the total inability of the Kenai's commercial sportfishery and its advocates to restrict themselves. Nor should anyone expect them to. Nerka should not find it hard to believe there are some who don't want the Kenai listed as impaired because, in the majority of cases, economics determine ethics. Consider the antebellum South, which committed economic and social suicide trying to preserve the economics of chattel slavery.

I think we're seeing the beginning of serious curtailment of the Kenai's sportfishery for a number of reasons. First, while the Feds may not be holding cards quite yet, they're in the room, looking to getting in the game. The EPA and the Clean Water Act are and will be powerful players. Society in general has less and less tolerance for desecration of the environment in the pursuit of special interests.

Second, the commercial sportfishery, already held in derision by many area residents, will have to increasingly compete with the interests of a burgeoning resident population. Outfits like Lowe's and WalMart aren't coming to town because they think the population is decreasing.

Third, as world fisheries face collapse (see the lead story in today's ADN), Alaska's wild fisheries will assume greater and greater importance in the world's efforts to feed itself.

Much more could be said, but that's how I see it. Were I a young man who depended on the Kenai's sportfishery for my income, I'd be thinking ahead, thinking of guiding bird watchers, hikers, wildlife viewers, and more.
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I miss the KenaiMD in this matter. . . would have thought he'd have some opinions or advice on cleaning up the KeenEye River?