Skip to main content
Locations/Alaska/Southcentral/Copper River Basin

Copper River Basin

RSS

News from Copper River Basin, Alaska

TrendingNewTimelineMost Read

Why Alaska is giving out-of-staters more kings as the runs falter

Alaska just doubled out-of-staters' king limit in Southeast even as kings struggle elsewhere — because these are treaty-quota ocean fish, and visitors foot much of the state's fishing-budget bill.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Southeast Alaska
Cover image for article: Why Alaska is giving out-of-staters more kings as the runs falter

Washington Man Cited for Keeping Snagged Sockeye on Russian River

A Washington angler got cited for keeping a snagged sockeye on the Russian — where "hooked in the mouth or it's poaching" isn't fussiness, it's how Alaska keeps the run honest.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Russian River, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Cover image for article: Washington Man Cited for Keeping Snagged Sockeye on Russian River

Copper River Kings Hit a Record Low — and Limits Drop

The Copper River's king run is the worst on record, so Alaska is cutting anglers from four fish to one — betting this summer's catch against next year's spawn.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Upper Copper River, Alaska
Cover image for article: Copper River Kings Hit a Record Low — and Limits Drop

Federal rule renames Alaska subsistence bird-harvest region as Ahtna Territory

Federal wildlife officials renamed the Upper Copper River subsistence bird-harvest region as Ahtna Territory and aligned spring and summer harvest dates to match local Indigenous Knowledge.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Copper River, Alaska
Cover image for article: Federal rule renames Alaska subsistence bird-harvest region as Ahtna Territory

Two Things Worth Watching at the Marijuana Board

Alaska's marijuana board meets in Fairbanks, where a license sale comes with baggage and growers renew their gripe that untaxed hemp THC is eating their lunch.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Fairbanks, Alaska
Cover image for article: Two Things Worth Watching at the Marijuana Board

A Senate vote on the federal lands maintenance fund has major Alaska stakes

The Senate is reauthorizing the fund that pays to fix trails and visitor centers across Alaska's federal lands. Murkowski's staff stayed up.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Washington, DC, USA
Cover image for article: A Senate vote on the federal lands maintenance fund has major Alaska stakes

Wasilla man faces assault, evidence-tampering charges in domestic violence arrest

Alaska State Troopers arrested six people in domestic disturbance calls across Mat-Su and near Glennallen on June 12 and 13. • Charges included second-degree assault, third-degree assault, weapon misconduct, and criminal mischief. • Five arrestees were held at Mat-Su Pretrial Facility. One was transported to Glennallen Post. • All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Southcentral Alaska
Cover image for article: Wasilla man faces assault, evidence-tampering charges in domestic violence arrest

JBER seeks contractor for youth sports officials after 6-month gap

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is hiring a contractor to provide certified sports officials for youth programs serving 1,240 games annually across six sports after operating six months without professional officiating.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
Cover image for article: JBER seeks contractor for youth sports officials after 6-month gap

Both cranes on Cordova's Drive Down Dock are out of service at the height of Copper River salmon season

Bad timing for fishing season as Cordova Drive down dock crane is not up to snuff

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Cordova
Cover image for article: Both cranes on Cordova's Drive Down Dock are out of service at the height of Copper River salmon season

Chitina opens full 168-hour dipnet week starting Monday, even as counts run behind projection

Chitina dipnet fishery opens for a full week starting Monday, June 15, despite sonar counts running about 5,600 salmon below projection for early June.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Chitina Subdistrict
Cover image for article: Chitina opens full 168-hour dipnet week starting Monday, even as counts run behind projection

The navigability question that's been simmering since Alaska statehood just got four more answers

The federal government has formally cleared its claim to submerged lands beneath four Alaska rivers and lakes, affirming state ownership in a dispute that has simmered since statehood and will likely take decades more to fully resolve.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska
Cover image for article: The navigability question that's been simmering since Alaska statehood just got four more answers

Hatchery groups cite NOAA Chinook decision as validation

NOAA found Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon do not warrant endangered-species protection, a decision hatchery operators cite as validation of their management but that critics say masks weaker local populations.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska
Cover image for article: Hatchery groups cite NOAA Chinook decision as validation

ADF&G opens Copper River drift gillnet fishery Thursday for 24 hours

Alaska Department of Fish and Game opens Copper River drift gillnet fishery for 24 hours starting 7 a.m. Thursday, June 26, targeting sockeye salmon while monitoring Chinook conservation limits of 21,000 to 31,000 fish.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Alaska
Cover image for article: ADF&G opens Copper River drift gillnet fishery Thursday for 24 hours

Southcentral Foundation offers cultural education classes in June

Southcentral Foundation's Traditional Healing Clinic offers Alaska Native cultural classes in late May and early June, including Ahtna language, traditional food prep, and craft skills like kuspuk sewing in Anchorage.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News4mo ago1 min read
Anchorage
Cover image for article: Southcentral Foundation offers cultural education classes in June

Alaska opens Chitina dipnet fishery despite Copper River run 55% low

Alaska opened the Chitina dipnet fishery for 60 hours starting Friday despite the Copper River salmon run running 55 percent below target for early June, with subsistence fishers already reporting low catches upstream.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Chitina
Cover image for article: Alaska opens Chitina dipnet fishery despite Copper River run 55% low

Chitina dipnet fishery opens Friday for 60 hours

Alaska Fish and Game cut the Chitina dipnet salmon opening to 60 hours this weekend after sonar counts fell 30,412 salmon short of forecast, triggering an automatic reduction under state management rules.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Chitina
Cover image for article: Chitina dipnet fishery opens Friday for 60 hours

Canoe capsizes on Tolsona Lake; rescue raft overturns; all reach island safely

A canoe capsized on Tolsona Lake near Glennallen on May 29, a rescue raft overturned, but all occupants wearing life jackets reached an island safely and were picked up by troopers and fire crews with no injuries reported.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Tolsona Lake, Glennallen
Cover image for article: Canoe capsizes on Tolsona Lake; rescue raft overturns; all reach island safely

DOT&PF lifts weight limits on Dalton, Elliott highways; dozens of Interior roads still restricted

Elliott and Dalton highways lifted all seasonal weight limits Friday. • Parks, Richardson, Glenn, and Alaska highways returned to summer permitting. • Dozen Interior roads remain restricted to 50 to 100 percent of legal axle load.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska
Cover image for article: DOT&PF lifts weight limits on Dalton, Elliott highways; dozens of Interior roads still restricted

Chitina dipnet fishery tentatively set for June 10; low rivers and ice flows could delay opening

Alaska Department of Fish and Game tentatively set the Chitina Personal Use dipnet fishery to open June 10, but low river levels and ice flows from Miles Lake could delay the opening pending sonar salmon counts in early June.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna River Basin
Cover image for article: Chitina dipnet fishery tentatively set for June 10; low rivers and ice flows could delay opening

Eye Guys to visit 10 Alaska communities in June for AlaskaCare retiree exams

The Eye Guys will visit 10 Alaska communities June 1-28 to provide free comprehensive eye exams for AlaskaCare retirees covered under VSP vision benefits. Call (907) 376-3917 to schedule.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
Alaska
Cover image for article: Eye Guys to visit 10 Alaska communities in June for AlaskaCare retiree exams

DEED seeks Interior, Northwest parents for migrant education council

Alaska's education department seeks two parents from Interior and Northwest regions by May 31 to join the council that guides the migrant education program for students whose families move for seasonal work.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News4mo ago2 min read
Alaska
Cover image for article: DEED seeks Interior, Northwest parents for migrant education council

UAF glaciology program returns to McCarthy for eighth summer

UAF Tom Sawyered 28 young folks who will now be spending 11 days out on a glacier.

Maggie AlaskaNewsby Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
McCarthy, Alaska
Cover image for article: UAF glaciology program returns to McCarthy for eighth summer

Ice Flows Delay Miles Lake Sonar, Chitina Dipnet Season in Limbo

Ice flows are delaying Miles Lake sonar equipment, pushing the Chitina dipnet season opening to a tentative June 10 noon start pending sonar data on salmon passage.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna Management Area
Cover image for article: Ice Flows Delay Miles Lake Sonar, Chitina Dipnet Season in Limbo

Alaska DOT imposes four-tier weight limits on Northern Region roads

Alaska DOT limits truck weights on Northern Region roads starting May 21 due to spring thaw. • Restrictions range from 50 to 100 percent of legal axle load depending on road condition. • Major highways like Parks Highway stay at full weight, while rural roads drop to 50 percent. • Elliot and Dalton highways exempt from seasonal limits.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Northern Region, Alaska

Alaska House passes Native corporation reinstatement bill after Senate changes

Alaska House voted 36-3 to accept Senate changes to HB 126, allowing involuntarily dissolved Native corporations to reinstate as the same legal entity rather than transfer assets to a new corporation.

Walter AlaskaNewsby Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min read
Alaska
Cover image for article: Alaska House passes Native corporation reinstatement bill after Senate changes

Deadhorse Airport fence project reaches 3,500 feet of installation

Crews installed 3,500 feet of fence at Deadhorse Airport. • Work continues on 24 Northern Region road and bridge projects. • Travelers should check 511 for ongoing construction delays.

Alaska Newsby Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago4 min read
Northern Alaska

Late breakup delays Chitina dipnet season; salmon run expected late

Chitina dipnet season tentatively opens June 10, delayed by late ice breakup and expected late salmon passage at Miles Lake sonar.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna Area

Alaska House passes fisheries tax credit expansion unanimously

Alaska House unanimously approved a bill extending a tax credit for seafood processors through 2037 and expanding it to all fish species, aiming to help the industry during poor market conditions.

Bill AlaskaNewsby Bill AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
Juneau, Alaska

House panel advances retirement savings program for private workers

Alaska House panel advanced a bill to create a state-run retirement savings program for private workers at small businesses, with automatic enrollment at 5 percent of pay and no cost to employers.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News5mo ago3 min read
Juneau

Upper Copper River king salmon fishery requires new permit in 2026

King salmon anglers in the Upper Copper River must get a free individual permit this season and report any fish 20 inches or longer by August 31.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Alaska

McCarthy Road opens for season with difficult conditions, 35 mph advisory

McCarthy Road opened May 8 for the season with a 35 mph advisory due to soft shoulders, potholes, and rough conditions on the 60-mile gravel route to McCarthy and Kennicott.

Alaska Newsby Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
McCarthy, Alaska