Seasonal Closure of the O'Malley River Area in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

Resumen

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to limit public access, occupancy and use of a portion of the O'Malley River drainage and adjacent lands bordering Karluk Lake and O'Malley Lake within the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). Public use of a parcel of land and water consisting of approximately 3,955 acres will be restricted from June 25 through September 30 annually to individuals participating in a refuge-sponsored bear viewing program. This seasonal closure is necessary to prevent incompatible conflicts between people and brown bears at an important bear concentration area, during the season when conflicts and impacts on bears are most prevalent. It is intended to control increasing human use of a very important bear concentration area so that human uses in the area remain compatible with refuge purposes. Research and experience have clearly demonstrated that control of human activity in major bear concentration areas is necessary to avoid conflicts between people and bears. Organized bear viewing programs elsewhere in Alaska have proven highly successful in reducing conflict to an acceptable level while maintaining quality public use opportunities. This acti