Sockeye salmon draw crowds to the confluence of the Russain and Kenai Rivers.

...and the crowds draw bears.

Refuge Officer Kelly Modla is heading up an expanded effort to work with Refuge visitors in hopes of reducing negative encounters with brown bears around the Kenai Refuge's popular Russian River Ferry Fishing Access. On May 31, Officer Modla and Facilities Manager Art Tovar participated in the annual Stream Watch interagency orientation held at the U.S. Forest Service's Russian River Campground where they met with approximately 52 volunteers, Forest Service staff, and Russian River Ferry and Russian River campground staff.  The Refuge recently officially entered into a more formalized commitment to the Stream Watch program and is dedicated to working with the Forest Service's well established efforts. 

The benefits are far reaching for the Kenai and Russian Rivers with volunteers excited about working together with the Service on such tasks as litter pickup, fence mending, interacting with the visiting public on fish carcass disposal and behavior around bears, to name just a few.  Art did a great job offering up some inspirational words on the volunteerism spirit and their dedication.  All in all the orientation was informal and fun.

The Service purchased a cabinet that will serve as the Stream Watch supply storage cache.  The Russian River Ferry is a concession on the Refuge operated by Alaska Recreation Management.   Volunteers will also be provided a parking/campsite, courtesy of Alaska Recreation Management, similar to the campsite provided at the Russian River campground while volunteers are working.  The program is moving forward and will result in a reduction in the accumulation of fish carcasses which attract the bears to the area.  However the reduction of fish carcasses is only part of the solution.  Much of it remains with education, well thought out signage, and interaction with the angling public in the hopes that they will take a little ownership while they recreate at the Russian River area.  It is indeed a unique area and poses interesting problem solving tactics. 

If you are ever fishing in the Russian River confluence area and are approached by a Stream Watch volunteer, please pay close attention to any suggestions they might make.  It may save you from an unpleasant interaction with one of the Refuge’s larger, furrier species.