All Slope tundra opening areas now closed

All North Slope tundra opening areas on state land were closed to off-road travel effective at 9 a.m. May 16, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Mining, Land and Water said May 16. There is widespread snowpack deterioration, the division said, with swaths of exposed vegetation near infrastructure and scattered exposed vegetation in areas with less development.

In localized areas snow quality may support tundra travel, but snow cover across the North Slope is highly variable, and warm air temperatures and any sun will continue to compromise snowpack.

The division said all off-road travel in progress must be completed within 72 hours - by May 19 at 9 a.m.

The division said DNR would consider extensions on a case-by-case basis where there is adequate snow, but exceptions require prior approval.

In a fact sheet on off-road North Slope travel the division said: "no off-road travel, except for true emergency situations, is permitted for the period from break-up until July 15 due to super-saturated soil conditions and migratory bird nesting."

Summer off-road travel begins July 15 at 6 a.m. unless the division notifies otherwise. Summer off-road travel approval applies only to holders of valid permits who obtain specific project approval and is further limited to vehicles approved by DMLW for summer off-road travel.

- Petroleum News