Background
In January 2004, a group of organizations and agencies began working together to create a certification program for Kenai River fishing guides. The Alaska State Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR), Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Kenai River Professional Guides Association (KRPGA) and Kenai Peninsula College (KPC), a community campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage, collaborated in creating the Kenai River Guide Academy®.

In early 2005, the Kenai River Working Group (KRWG) incorporated the Kenai River Guide Academy® program into their recommendations to DPOR for new State Park Regulations. Draft regulations were written and a public hearing was held in Soldotna in January 2006 to listen to comments about this program as well as other changes to Title 11. After the public comment period the regulations moved on to Lieutenant Governors Office for signature. The proposed regulations were signed by Lt. Governor Loren Leman and became effective March 14, 2006.

Purpose
The purpose of the Kenai River Guide Academy® is to educate and train all Kenai River fishing guides in the following areas:
• Regulatory
• Safety
• Guide ethics and behavior
• Habitat and conservation

For more information on the content of the course, contact KRGA Coordinator at KPC at 262-0318 or mlea@alaska.edu. Contact Pam Russell at the Kenai River Center at 714-2471 if you have questions about the Kenai River guide permits.