Jims' Landing Boat Launch Access and Parking Improvements

  The virtual public review and comment meeting was held on May 19 th . The PDF of the PowerPoint presentation is available via this download: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/kFoHDvDDJw The meeting was recorded, and can be viewed here: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/_03leaIElLtviOzljtEJILKfmXbudYwqeMGP2G_GDu0qoTdUcIltpkeFtxSfqGCFQa3mhSBDgKdscxdE.-ZlKwKmChgR4uLua?startTime=1621474267000 Public comments on the draft Environmental Assessment will be accepted through June 19, 2021, and may be submitted by email or mail. Email: jimslanding@pndengineers.com Mail: PND Engineers, Inc. ATTN: Jims’ Landing 1506 W. 36 th Ave Anchorage, AK 99503

 A virtual public review and comment meeting will be held and consist of a review of the project and environmental assessment followed by a comment period. The Public Review and Comment Meeting is intended to serve as part of the NEPA process. Public Meeting: Date: May 19, 2021 Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm AKST or until questions and comments have ended. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84402555712?pwd=dTZkN2tyMXR2WEduZDRISlB2K1F4dz09 Meeting ID: 844 0255 5712 Passcode: 083127 Call-in Information: Meeting ID: 844 0255 5712 Passcode: 083127 Access Numbers: +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

 The Jims' Landing Draft Environmental Assessment document is available via this download: Jims' Landing Draft Environmental Assessment

  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requests comments on the draft Environmental Assessment. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in such a manner that they are useful to the agency’s preparation of the environmental assessment and completion of the NEPA process. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer’s concerns and contentions. A 45-day public comment period will begin on May 5, 2021 and end on June 19, 2021. Public comments on the draft Environmental Assessment may be submitted during the May 19th public meeting, or by U.S. Post or email. U.S. Post: PND Engineers, Inc. ATTN: Jims’ Landing 1506 W. 36th Ave Anchorage, AK 99503 Email: jimslanding@pndengineers.com

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking public comments on the draft Environmental Assessment of the Jims’ Landing Access Improvements project on the Kenai River. The Kenai River is important habitat for spawning salmonids and other fish species. The Service proposes improvements to the Jims’ Landing facility, consisting of transportation access, parking areas, and boat ramp improvements. The Jims’ Landing boat ramp and parking facility is within the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area, which is a component of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. This recreational site offers important recreational opportunities (e.g., boat ramp for boat launch and retrieval on the upper Kenai River) between the Russian River and Skilak Lake. The purpose of this proposed action is to address recreation needs, public safety, and access requirements of Jims’ Landing day use facility by improving the boat launch and retrieval area, and facilitating traffic and pedestrian flow with improved road...

USFWS is renaming this facility from Jim’s Landing to Jims’ Landing to more accurately reflect the origin of the site’s name, named after two men named Jim. Usage of the new name, while unfamiliar, is intentional and at the direction of USFWS.

This post provides a project update, summarizes the initial public scoping phase, and provides information on the project schedule. A virtual public meeting was held on December 8, 2020, and a comment period followed, ending on January 8, 2021. If you were unable to attend the meeting, you can find the recording and meeting summary in a previous blog post. Comments received during the comment period consisted of 21 comments during the meeting, 45 comments received online via the website and comment collector, 5 comments from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge’s Facebook page, and a letter from ANILCA Program Coordinator. All but two public comments were in support of the project, and generally, the comments were in support of Option B and C along with Offsite Parking Option 1. Based on these comments, and in order to minimize impacts to wetlands and riparian areas, Option B will be carried forward with some modifications to accommodate preferable parking, vehicle circulation, and stagi...