BLM Lands

Kobuk-Seward Resource Management Plan

The Kobuk-Seward RMP will provide future direction for 13 million acres of land in northwestern Alaska, including the Seward Peninsula, Nulato Hills, DeLong Mountains, and the Squirrel and Kobuk River valleys.

The planning area is mostly roadless and encompasses 22 remote Alaskan communities. Significant issues to be addressed in the RMP include private and commercial recreation use, off-highway vehicle management, mineral and energy resources, and protection of special areas such as these:

Western Arctic Caribou Herd Habitat
Alaska’s largest caribou herd, the 490,000-member Western Arctic caribou herd, relies upon the public lands within the Kobuk-Seward Peninsula planning area for critical habitat. Approximately 40 communities hunt these animals for food. BLM managed lands in the Nulato Hills provide winter range for the caribou herd while the Liburne Peninsula represents a large portion of the herd’s summer range as well as an important Insect Relief area. These areas are critical in supporting the local subsistence lifestyle.

Kigluaik Mountains
Approximately 50 glacially formed cirque lakes support populations of genetically isolated fish species within the Kigluaik Mountains. These unique Arctic char populations have been identified by BLM as a sensitive species.


The Kigluaik Mountains offer a wide variety of road accessible recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, backcountry skiing, snowmachining, dog mushing, and photographing wildlife. Spectacular vistas of mountain passes and glacial valleys dominate the landscape. Historic gold mining activity is also known to have occurred within the area.

Freshwater Streams
Coastal streams on the Seward Peninsula are significant salmon spawning streams that support the needs of local subsistence users, as well as the activities of sport and commercial fishermen. Large populations of resident fish species, particularly Dolly Varden and Arctic Grayling are also present. Considering the historic human use of lands within the planning area over the past 10,000 years, there is a high likelihood that undiscovered cultural or archaeological remains may be present along these river systems.

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