State and Federal Teamwork Quickly Restores Access to Sourdough Creek Campground and Boat Ramp After Spring Road Washout
Organization:
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
GLENNALLEN, Alaska – A team of federal and state agencies helped the Bureau of Land Management’s Glennallen Field Office restore access to the Sourdough Creek Campground and its popular boat ramp today after spring high waters made the road impassable.
The campground is located at Mile Post 147.5 of the Richardson Highway, and the Sourdough Creek runs along the site. The site’s boat ramp provides access to an isolated section of the Gulkana River prized for its summer king salmon runs, among other uses.
“Everyone involved knows how important this access is,” said Marnie Graham, the bureau’s Glennallen Field Office Manager. “We are grateful for the community’s patience while we worked to find a solution to quickly get people back on their public lands and waters. We are especially grateful to our state and federal partners who understood the urgency and importance of this project and were quick to step up and capably help out.”
BLM staff worked closely with other public entities including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Alaska Department of Fish & Game to acquire necessary permits. Materials were sourced through an expedited and competitive local bidding process. Once gravel and rock were delivered, qualified heavy equipment operators from the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge stepped up to work over the weekend.
The Sourdough Creek Campground bridge is slated for full replacement in 2022. Once next year’s spring high waters subside, a temporary bridge will provide access to the campground and boat launch while construction work happens. Users should prepare for potential interrupted access during the full replacement project.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.