Slipper Lake weapons discharge banned Saturday for annual cleanup event

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources will prohibit weapons discharge at a portion of the Slipper Lake Public Use Site from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, to accommodate the annual community cleanup event in the Jonesville Public Use Area.

The temporary restriction covers 3,876 acres in Seward Meridian, Township 19 North, Range 3 East, Sections 9, 16, and 21, located 2.3 miles down Jonesville Mine Road near Palmer. The closure is necessary to protect volunteers participating in the cleanup, according to the department's decision notice. Firearms users will lose access to the designated portion of the site during the seven-hour window.

Alaska News previously reported that the state sought public comments on the proposed restriction in April. The department received five comments during the 30-day notice period, all supporting the temporary closure.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough adopted a management plan for the Jonesville Public Use Area in 2021 that identified safety concerns related to firearms discharge at wetland areas including Slipper Lake, Coyote Lake, and Wishbone Lake.

The Southcentral Regional Land Office issued the decision under Alaska Statute 38.05.035, which authorizes temporary closures of state land for public safety. Any person affected by the decision may appeal to the DNR Commissioner within 20 calendar days of the decision's issuance.

For questions about the closure, contact Candice Snow at the Southcentral Regional Land Office at [email protected] or 907-269-8565.