Although exact numbers are not kept for the Kenai River Festival, Kenai Watershed Forum Executive Director Robert Ruffner said this year’s attendance was likely the best in the event’s 25 year history.
Ruffner: “We can gauge relative how many people come the the event from year’s past. This year we definitely had a higher attendance on Friday by quite a bit and Saturday was about as good of a day as we’ve ever had. I don’t think it was more or less but it was about as many people as we could get in the park at one time.”
He said the volunteers and Kenai Watershed Forum staff cooperated flawlessly to accomplish another festival which aims to remind Alaskans of their responsibility…
Ruffner: “The purpose of the Kenai River Festival from the very first was to really get people to pause before the salmon really come back to the Kenai River in big numbers, and think about what we need to be doing to take care of the river and take care of these fish that are so much a part of our economy and our culture.”
This was Ruffner’s last festival in his role as the Forum’s Executive Director, he plans to retire sometime this year.
He offered words to whomever is in the role for next year’s festival.
Ruffner: “Make sure you take the time to enjoy this resource. We often times put our head down with the work and the mission that we’re trying to accomplish but it’s equally important to go out there, catch a fish, float down the river, do what you need to do to make sure you enjoy the wonderful natural resources that we have here.”
The Kenai Watershed Forum’s Board of Directors is still interviewing potential replacements and no individual has been chosen according to Ruffner.