CIRI sells Killey River acreage for fair value while upholding values of conservation and stewardship
CIRI recently closed on the sale of land on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Known as the Killey River land, it is situated at the confluence of the Killey and Kenai Rivers. The land is now owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Approximately 3,910 acres will be owned and managed by USFWS as part of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and approximately 380 acres will be owned and managed by DNR in alignment with the Kenai River Special Use Area.
The Killey River land transaction is the result of a unique alliance among CIRI, an Alaska-based trustee council, the State of Alaska and the federal government. The decision to sell the land was made after extensive review and consideration by the CIRI Board, which strives to balance the interests of current and future generations of Shareholders while maximizing growth and revenue. All parties are aligned in their collective mission to protect critical lands and waters, provide greater access to nature, strengthen local economies and enhance climate resiliency.
The Killey River land represents one of the longest stretches of undeveloped land along the Kenai River. Since the health of the Kenai River and its salmon runs are intertwined, it is crucial that land along the riverbank remain undeveloped. Alaska Native people rely on subsistence fishing for sustenance and to maintain their cultural traditions. While the Killey River land is now managed by USFWS and DNR, CIRI and Tribal access for investigating and preserving cultural resources remains a priority.
The sale of the Killey River land was part of a phased transaction that included a previous exchange and sale of other CIRI lands on the Kenai Peninsula, and which helped facilitate what is often referred to as the Cooper Landing bypass project. Selecting an alternative route to the existing Sterling Highway was controversial and took years to accomplish due to the sensitivity to the area’s cultural sites, salmon habitat, community concerns and the need to improve highway safety. A realigned Sterling Highway would avoid much of the congestion surrounding the Russian River campground and ferry. Once constructed, it would also greatly improve driver and pedestrian safety.
The route eventually settled upon, deemed the Juneau Creek Alternative, diverts traffic away from the river and reduces potential negative impacts. However, the Juneau Creek Alternative required critical acreage necessary for the highway realignment to be freed of its wilderness designation.
CIRI and the federal government recognized this need and believed a congressional settlement of CIRI’s land selection issues would be the vehicle to accomplish both party’s goals. CIRI’s newly acquired lands, freed from their wilderness designation, were a critical step in the construction of the Juneau Creek Alternative.
Having been personally involved in making and managing CIRI’s Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) land selections for many years, I know CIRI does not take the sale of our ANCSA land lightly. Careful consideration is given by CIRI management and the Board for any sale of land, especially in the case of sale of the Killey River land.
CIRI recognized early on that our original land selection was in jeopardy of being denied due to the intense desire to maintain public ownership. CIRI viewed this as an opportunity to strategize and settle our land selections in a broader way that honors CIRI’s rights to land under ANCSA, while at the same time providing benefits for the greater Alaska community. While it may have taken decades to get to this point, we can be proud of CIRI’s resilience and our contribution to the stewardship of lands through conservation and the preservation of culture and history, all while receiving a fair value for the sale. I believe this makes the Killey River land sale a win-win for all involved.
