The Land Protection team kicked off 2024 with a backcountry flight patrol of the Ahtna Region near Glennallen. During the winter, it can be very difficult to access a majority of the region other than by air, so the team took advantage of this opportunity to patrol and scout out summer project areas.

Their flight departed from Gulkana Airport, covering various high-use areas. Bison sightings and river conditions were documented from Klutina to Chitina, including frozen areas and potential access points for no trespass signing. This area is historically susceptible to backcountry trespassing, and the team is pleased to get ahead of the issue this year through aerial observations. Notable wildlife tracks were also observed along this route and seen as a good sign by the team.

The pilot flew over the Glennallen Fuel Break to assess the project’s access points and help the team plan for the mechanical treatment of the area, and then continued with investigations into more high-use areas. The team then surveyed various summer project areas including Haley Creek, C’enK’one’ Bene’, and Canyon Creek Research Camp. Conditions were assessed for potential hazards, such as canyon wall failure at the request of a hydrologist. A few other observations were along potential flood areas, pipeline projects, erosion in the Simpson Hill and Tazlina village area, and observations over the old Tazlina Laundromat Brownfield site.