Ground cold, but Slope tundra still closed

All North Slope tundra areas are currently closed, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources said in a Dec. 18 update. What is holding back tundra opening for off-road travel is lack of adequate snow cover, the department said.

Required soil temperatures have been met in the Eastern Coastal, Western Coastal and Lower Foothills areas, but soil temperatures remain above required minimums in the Upper Foothills area.

DNR said that in each of the tundra opening areas “about half of the stations have met snow depth criteria at this time. Snow depth variability is high with scoured areas of bare tundra to deep wind ridges.”

The snow depth target for coastal areas is 6 inches of snow and the soil temperature target is minus 5 degrees C at a depth of one foot. The Foothills areas require 9 inches of snow and minus 5 degrees C at about one foot depth.

DNR said that due to the low snow it suggests that companies “consider methods for capturing snow, such as snow fences and/or pre-packing travel routes, or amending routes with snow or ice chips ahead of working equipment.”

- KRISTEN NELSON