The National Park Service is proposing to institute a permit system for visiting the Brooks River corridor at Katmai National Park/Barbara Moritsch file

Public comment is being sought through April 28 on the seasonal Brooks River Corridor permit system at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska that was piloted last year.

Under last year's test, a seasonal permit system was used in the Brooks River Corridor for all activities, except for redfish fishery subsistence activities. The  Brooks  River  Corridor includes the  Brooks River as well as 50 yards from the water on either side along the banks upstream from the elevated bridge and boardwalk. This does not include graveled trails, boardwalks, or wildlife viewing platforms.

The Brooks River is an important habitat for migrating and spawning salmon, is a primary fishing location for Alaskan brown bears, and is enjoyed by visitors for fishing, bear viewing, and photography. The number of bears using the river has been consistently high in recent years and the number of people visiting the Brooks River Corridor continues to increase. This seasonal permit system was developed to learn how many people utilize the corridor every year, while providing an avenue for creating future visitor safety measures that ensure an enjoyable visit, avoid human-bear interactions, and protect natural resources.  

The 2022 pilot permit program greatly enhanced the National Park Service's ability to effectively address management concerns in the Brooks River Corridor, a park release said. Accordingly, the park plans to continue implementing this permit  system going forward.  The  permit  system has already proven to be an important management tool to enhance visitor safety and resource protection and builds upon other actions taken to manage the  Brooks  River  Corridor  within the park’s 1987 General Management Plan.

The park has taken what it learned from the pilot year and developed an updated permit structure for 2023. This year, visitors will need a permit within the Brooks River Corridor from June 15-October 31. Permits can be obtained online starting June 1, 2023, at Recreation.gov and are valid for seven days with a maximum group size of six individuals. Permits can also be obtained at the Brooks Camp Visitor Center. Permits are free but do include a $6 booking fee online and in-person.

Because it is still early in the development of this permit system, Katmai National Park and Preserve is interested, once again, in receiving public comments about the Brooks River Corridor permit system. The public is invited to provide input by visiting this website between March 27 and April 28. The park will also hold public meetings during the open public comment period at the following dates, times and locations:  

• April 3 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Coast Inn Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska.  
• April 4 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Best Western Bidarka Inn in Homer, Alaska 
• April 17 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. at 1000 Silver St, King Salmon, Alaska.