The River Center is a multi-agency permitting, outreach, and education center. We have two agencies housed at the River Center that work together to protect and restore the rivers of the Kenai Peninsula, its watersheds, and its fish and wildlife resources:
- KPB Habitat Protection District
- KPB Floodplain Management
- KPB Planning & Zoning
- Alaska Department of Fish & Game - Habitat Section
River Center personnel also work closely with other state, local, and federal offices to further our mission, including: the Kenai Watershed Forum, US Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska State Parks, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and others.
What's Happening at the River Center?
KPB 21.18 Anadromous Waterbodies Appendix Update
The River Center administers the KPB 21.18 Anadromous Waters Habitat Protection District, a 50-foot district adjacent to anadromous waterbodies. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game identifies new salmon-bearing waterbodies annually. The River Center is required to review these new waterbodies and present the proposed changes to the KPB Assembly every three years. At their September 12, 2024 meeting, the KPB Assembly enacted Ordinance 2024-25, which added the below waterbodies to the South District of the KPB 21.18 Appendix.
- Notice of Public Hearing
- List of Adopted Streams
- Interactive Map
- Recently adopted waterbodies are shown in green and yellow
- Currently regulated waterbodies are shown in blue, simply open the Regulatory Zoning layers and turn on the "KPB 21.18 Anadromous Waters" layers
KPB 21.06 FEMA Floodplain Map Update
KPB has been working with FEMA to update the Kenai River's regulatory floodplain maps, also known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps or FIRM's. The preliminary maps were released in January 2023. The final, effective maps must be adopted by the Kenai Peninsula Borough by February 28, 2025.
FEMA Letter of Final Determination (8/28/2024)
Visit the KPB Flood Map Update page to learn more!