All tundra areas closed for travel

All four tundra areas on the North Slope remained closed to travel as of Nov. 18, according to the first seasonal report from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

Although recent cold weather has been pushing soil temperatures toward the target for off-road activities and temporary road construction, snow cover remains a problem.

For the purposes of monitoring tundra conditions, the Northern Regional Office of the state Division of Mining, Land and Water, in Fairbanks, divides the North Slope into four areas: Eastern Coastal, Western Coastal, Lower Foothills and Upper Foothills.

In the two coastal areas, the division requires snow depth of six inches and soil temperature of minus 5 C at 30 centimeters (approximately 1 foot). In the foothills, the division requires snow depth of nine inches and soil temperature of minus 5 C at 30 centimeters.

As of the Nov. 18 Off-Road Travel Status Report, the Eastern Coastal area had an average snow depth of 5.49 inches and soil temperatures between minus 1.7 C and minus 0.1 C; the Western Coastal area had an average snow depth of 5.39 inches and soil temperatures between minus 3.6 C and 0 C; the Lower Foothills area had an average snow depth of 4.75 inches and soil temperatures between minus 2.8 C to minus 0.5 C; and the Upper Foothills area had an average snow depth of 5.20 inches and soil temperatures between minus 1.8 C to minus 0.2 C.

The required snow depths have been reached at two of the 20 monitoring North Slope stations- one in the Eastern Coastal area and one in the Western Coastal area- although “snow quality is generally poor with very low densities,” according to the report.

The division expects to release its next Off-Road Travel Status Report around Dec. 5.

- ERIC LIDJI