The final hook-up to the City of Soldotna water system was made to the Refuge headquarters building on September 18, 2006.

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge headquarters is now hooked up to City of Soldotna water and sewer systems.  The upgrades came after much expense and many years of failing leach fields, and water that was not potable due to metals contamination.  The contracted project took four months and approximately $2 million to complete entailing over a mile of trenching, lift stations, special pumps, and stub-outs for seven headquarters buildings.  With final re-paving of the office parking lot in the next few days the project's completion will spell the end of the tens of thousands of Refuge visitors needing to rely on bottled water each year, stem contamination concerns to nearby waterbodies from the failing septic system, and hopefully pave the way for the construction of a new visitor center in the near future.