Ahtna was the Prime Contractor for this project with the initiative to enhance the infrastructure at Jim’s Landing, a prominent site within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, on behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Jim’s Landing is renowned for its salmon runs and a known destination for its accessibility to the Kenai River featuring a boat launch and public parking area.

The existing infrastructure at Jim’s Landing posed several challenges, including difficulties associated with high water levels, heavy usage for accommodating recreational boaters of various skill levels, and a cramped, challenging-to-navigate parking area. Moreover, the entire site and planned improvement were within a 100-year floodplain and on a vulnerable outer bank of the Kenai River, which is prone to erosion.

Ahtna’s team created an innovative design to address these issues, focusing on enhancing the parking facilities, signage, traffic management, pedestrian flow, riverbank protection, and the replacement of the boat launch pad, all while safeguarding wetland and riparian habitats. Ahtna also constructed a new overflow parking lot as well as vault toilets for public use. Additionally, Ahtna performed an environmental study and assessment. A hydrologic study was conducted to inform the optimal location and orientation of the new boat ramp and a bioengineered bank stabilization solution was designed by engineering team members spanning nearly 600-feet upstream of the ramp. This required a high-level of communication and project coordination with the client and community stakeholders, ensuring that the project not only met the scope of work request but also considered feedback from the local fishing guides who use the boat launch. This project represents a significant effort to revitalize a popular recreational site, combining environmental stewardship, infrastructure enhancement, and effective stakeholder engagement.