All tundra travel is closed for the season

Federal and state agencies have closed all winter off-road tundra travel north of the Brooks Range for the season.

On May 5 the Bureau of Land Management closed overland tundra travel in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. And on May 9 the Alaska Department of Natural Resources closed the eastern and western coastal areas of state land. The upper foothills area of state land closed on May 3 while the lower foothills area has remained closed all winter because of insufficient snow cover.

DNR says that, while snow quality can be good in localized areas, the snow cover is now very variable. And air temperatures are continuing to warm, with clear skies enabling the sun to compromise the snow pack. The agency says that summer off-road travel may commence on July 15 for operators with appropriate permits for the use of vehicles approved for off-road use on the tundra.

Unlike the state, which sets opening and closing dates for tundra travel based on parameters for ground temperatures and snow cover, BLM issues federal off-road permits for NPR-A on a case-by-case basis, using performance based standards for protecting the tundra. But, while BLM’s approach does not require the agency to set any specific start date for winter tundra travel, the agency’s regulations do require the agency to set an end-date, by which off-road operations must finish for the season.

- ALAN BAILEY