Termination Point trail on Kodiak Island opens to public

KODIAK, Alaska (AP) - Hikers no longer need a permit to trek along the Termination Point trail on Kodiak Island.

The Native Corporation Leisnoi gave the land’s conservation easement to the borough in the spring, KMXT-FM reported (https://bit.ly/2qAkdCO ). This means the land is open to the public, but still owned by the native corporation. The borough just owns development rights.

Funding for the transfer came from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. The nonprofit Great Lands Trust arranged the transfer and funding. It found the area to be impacted by the Exxon oil spill in 1989 and in need of conservation.

“Termination Point almost 20 years ago was identified by the community of Kodiak and then reaffirmed with this prioritization as a high priority valuable piece of property with great habitat, wet lands, coastal shore line and recreation opportunities, which was also an impacted measure, as a high priority to protect with conservation,” said Ellen Kazary, the nonprofit’s executive director.

The borough will essentially take on the role of managing the public use of the land, Kazary said.

The organization is also working on transferring the conservation easement to Long Island.

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Information from: KMXT-FM, https://www.kmxt.org