Action

The Southcentral Regional Land Office is authorizing the temporary restriction to the public of the Kenny and Patti Barber Shooting Range for the purpose of providing firearms safety training for the Division of Mining, Land and Water staff. The closure dates will be as follows:

July 15-16, 2024 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

August 5-6, 2024 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

August 12-13, 2024 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Each of those days the 25-yard shooting range will be closed to the public from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The 100-yard shooting range will remain open for use by the public each of those days.

Background

The Kenny and Patti Barber Shooting Range site easement was created for the purpose of a safe and localized shooting area with the explicit purpose of, “The development of a small-scale rifle range and day use parking area for the benefit of the public’s present and future needs of recreational target shooting within the Knik River Public Use Area.”

Publicly funded ranges are a rare resource to Alaskans and are constantly being used at capacity. Currently, the Kenny and Patti Barber Shooting Range consists of 18 lanes of fire at 100 yards, and 12 lanes of fire at 25 yards. The range is used by the public each and every open day. The shooting range is closed every Wednesday. Usage reports show the range is used most frequently Friday thru Sunday, with Tuesday’s and Thursday’s having the least frequency of use.

Authority

This decision is pursuant to Alaska Statute 38.04.058 (restriction of public access).

Scope

The scope of this decision is limited to the temporary restriction of public access to the 25-yard range to enable firearm safety training for DNR staff that conduct field inspections for management of State lands in remote locations.

Term

The closures will take place on the following dates over the next 60 days:

July 15-16, 2024 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

August 5-6, 2024 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

August 12-13, 2024 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Administrative Record

The administrative record for this action consists of case ADL 230693 and the Knik River Public Use Area Management Plan.

Location

The Kenny and Patti Barber Shooting Range is located approximately 2.7 miles down the Maud Road Extension, Northwest of Jim Lake. It can also be found by GPS grid 61.562775°, -148.931362°. It is located near the western boundary of the Knik River Public Use Area.

Legal Description

Seward Meridian, Township 17 North, Range 3 East, Section 16, containing 7 acres, more or less.

Discussion

Firearm safety training for DNR staff preparing to conduct field work is a requirement that must be completed prior to the use of firearms for wildlife protection.

Decision

In order to minimize conflicts of use and improve staff safety, the Director has decided to temporarily limit public access to the 100-yard range for the duration detailed above. After reviewing the administrative record, the Knik River Public Use Area Management Plan and other relevant information, I find this decision to temporarily restrict public access to the 100-yard range, consistent with the authority granted to me as the Director of the Division of Mining, Land and Water.