Lower, upper foothills areas remain closed

Petroleum News

Both lower and upper foothills areas on the North Slope remain closed to tundra travel, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Mining, Land and Water said Jan. 27.

All tundra opening areas were sampled Jan. 26, the division said, and staff found that snow depths have improved across the North Slope, but with “significant wind transport evident” and “large drifts along with scour” in known windy areas.

“Wind slab strengthened slightly at most monitoring stations, including the Upper Foothills.”

The Western Coastal Area opened Dec. 16 and the Eastern Coastal Area opened Jan. 4.

Both the Lower Foothills Area and the Upper Foothills Area remain closed to off-road travel.

In the Lower Foothills Area the division said average snow depths have increased, but “typical snow depth patterns have reestablished this season and two sites that are most often the last to meet the required 9 inches, are below that standard.” The division did say that soil temperatures at all monitoring stations have reached the required minus 5 degrees C at a depth of 30 centimeters.

In the Upper Foothills Area, the division said snow measurements have increased moderately at all monitoring stations, but one station remains below the required 9-inch opening criteria and one station remains slightly above the required -5 degrees C.

Division staff will return to the North Slope in early to mid-February to continue monitoring.

- Petroleum News