Snowmobiles OK; no tundra openings yet

Petroleum News

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Mining, Land and Water said Nov. 14 that snow conditions within the North Slope oil production district are adequate for snowmobile use. The opening applies only to operators with valid off-road vehicle travel permits to operate on state-owned North Slope lands.

For snowmobile travel for the remainder of the 2019-20 winter season, the division said permit holders may designate environmental staff to approve use of snowmobiles without contacting the division’s Northern Regional Land Office, but noted that any snowmobile use must be reported on tundra travel completion reports for the season.

Snow depths and soil temperature criteria have not been met for general winter off-road travel, the division said, adding that snow will be thin in some areas and those areas should be avoided by snowmobiles.

The division said Nov. 15 that it has completed an assessment of snow conditions and soil temperatures on the eastern and western coastal areas and the western portion of the lower foothills.

All tundra opening areas are currently closed, as none of the monitoring stations met the criterion of minus 5 degrees Celsius for soil temperature at 30 centimeters. Snow depths have not been met at any of the monitoring stations.

The division said the target for the coastal areas is 6 inches of snow and soil temperature of minus 5 degrees Celsius at 30 centimeters depth. The target for the foothills areas is 9 inches of snow and the same soil temperature.

- Petroleum News