Authorities are gearing up for dipnetting season in Kenai, which begins on July 10 and goes through July 31. A personal use fishery was designated by the state for the Kenai River within the City of Kenai. Residents from across the state partake in the event, which sees dramatically increased road and foot traffic to the city of Kenai. As a result, authorities are gearing up and working together to prepare when Alaskans take on the water.
Kenai Fire Chief Tony Prior told KSRM that the Kenai Fire Department, the Nikiski Fire Department, and the Kenai Police Department worked together last week during a Rescue Boat Operator class to prepare for dipnetting season:
“We just want to be prepared for any event that happens out in the river or in the inlet so that we’re prepared for a boat rescue, which’ll tie in pretty good with our triannual that we have to do an FAA full scale drill, which will be a water rescue drill this year coming in October. It’s perfect timing to get this class in.”
Chief Prior adds:
“The patrols that we do they’re basically for the no wake zone. Basically, where the cannery lodge is all the way up on that bank that borders VIP subdivision is the area of concern because it has those high banks and of course the property of the homeowners up there. When we have a tide that’s above 20 feet. That is when we do the boat patrols so two hours before till two hours after high tide on that. That’s when we do the boat patrols to enforce the no wake zone. It’s just a presence to be out there to make sure that boaters know on that side of the river, which is river left as we call it, as you’re coming downriver looking on the left side where VIP homeowners and subdivision is, that’s where we don’t want boaters to be going super-fast causing the wake that it erodes the bank. Any tide above 20 is what we’ll be patrolling for.”
