Land Use Planning
INTRODUCTION
How
Should Alaska Manage Its Land?
When
When Alaska became a state in 1959, it was granted over 100 million acres of land.
The citizens of Alaska became the owners of an area the size of the state of California.
At statehood, the Alaska Legislature charged the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
with the complex job of managing the state-owned lands for the "maximum public benefit."
The range of possibilities for how state land could be used is vast.
Within DNR, the Resource Assessment & Development Section of the Division of Mining,
Land and Water has primary responsibility for land use planning. Planning is a way of sorting through
the possibilities for using state land and choosing those with the greatest benefits for all Alaskans.
Most importantly, planning is a way of making these decisions not only for the public, but with them.
The planning process provides a link between the citizens and the agencies charged with managing their land.
There are statutory requirements for planning as well. AS 38.04.065 requires that state land be classified
through a planning process prior to a sale or lease (excluding oil and gas lease sales and staking of mining claims).
Developing plans for state land is not easy because people have differing ideas of
how state land can best be used. Also, not all desired uses of state land can occur compatibly in the
same place at the same time. Through resource planning, DNR works with the public to determine where
the important resources are and how the land can be used for the maximum public benefit. In the planning
process all resources are considered and evaluated. Wherever possible, guidelines are established
that allow for multiple use. Where irreconcilable conflicts exist, alternatives are developed and evaluated.
TYPES
OF PLANS
Area Plans
- Usually covers large areas (one planning area encompassed
19 million acres of state owned land), but are also developed for areas of 250,000 acres;
- Establish goals, policies, management intent, and guidelines for the use of state land;
- Allocate the use of state land through plan designations;
- Include recommendations to retain or sell land, open or close areas to mineral entry, establish selection priorities or special land use designations, recommend legislative designations, and;
- Take two to three years to prepare.
Management
Plans
- Provide more detailed guidance for special areas (like recreation river corridors) or for a specific resource (like forestry), and;
- Take one to two years to complete.
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PLANS
CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT
Chugach State Park Management Plan (Plan Revision)
This planning effort, initiated in 2008, is expected to take two years to complete;
it will revise the current plan. Among its recommendations will be revised access policies
and trail systems.
Hatcher Pass Management Plan (Plan Amendment)
This plan amendment, which is scheduled to completed in 2009, revises the management
requirements for the Government Peak Subunit, to match with the MatSu Borough SULD.
Chapter 4 (Implementation) is also being revised.
Knik River Public Use Area Management Plan
The Knik River Public Use Area was legislatively designated in 2006 and encompasses approximately
260,000 acres. The plan is currently underway and will be completed in 2008.
North Slope Site Specific Plan
A site-specific plan is currently underway that may classify up to 32,000 acres of the
North Slope. This plan will identify lands that are suitable for conveyance to the
North Slope Borough. The planning process will be completed in 2008.
Northwest Area Plan (Plan Revision)
This revision of the 1989 area plan is expected to be completed in 2008. This revision
will particularly focus on the establishment of designations and management intent for
lands conveyed to the state since 1989 or selected by the state for conveyance.
Southeast Susitna Area Plan (Plan Revision
- revising the entire Willow Sub-Basin Area Plan and a portion of the South Parks Highway Subregion
of the Susitna Area Plan)
This plan was adopted in 1982 and covers approximately one million acres. Since that time, portions
of the planning area have been legislatively designated and management plans for these areas have
been developed. Other areas of general state lands, such as Deception Creek, Kashwitna River and
Fish Creek have also been addressed by management plans. This revision supercedes the current plans.
It will establish specific land use designations for uplands, tidelands and shorelands. The plan
specifies areas to be retained in state ownership, and should be completed in 2008.
Tanana Basin Area Plan (Amendment)
Adopted 1985 and updated in 1991. This plan covers 14.5 million acres of state land in the Tanana
Valley, including the Fairbanks area. This plan includes the Goodpaster River amendment, completed
in 1991. The Denali Borough was incorporated after the plan was adopted. The plan is currently
undergoing a revision to identify a pool of lands that may be conveyed to the borough under the
Municipal Entitlement Act. The plan will also identify settlement areas that could be enlarged.
The planning process should be completed in 2009.
Other Plans
DNR is currently in the process of revising an existing Special Land Designation for rivers in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge.
This process is expected to be completed in 2008.
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FUTURE
PLANNING PROJECTS
Many of the plans for state land are over ten-years old and need revision to address
such issues as changing economies, new public use patterns, development proposals and selection of
lands by newly created municipalities. Planning projects under consideration include the revision
of the Susitna Recreation River Management Plan, Susitna Area Plan, or Prince William Sound Area Plan.
A decision on which revision to pursue is expected in mid-2008.
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ADOPTED PLANS
Area Plans
Bristol Bay Area Plan Revision
Adopted April 2005. This area plan completely revised the 1984 plan. Covers 19 million
acres of state lands. The associated 1990 Nushagak and Mulchatna Rivers Recreation
Management Plan was also revised and adopted in April 2005. The purpose of revising
the plan was to identify a pool of lands that could be conveyed to the three boroughs
formed in the region since 1984, and to update the original plan to reflect changed
land ownership and new resource/habitat information. The revised plan also classified
tidelands south of the Alaska Peninsula.
Central/Southern Southeast Area Plan
Adopted November 2000. Includes 3.3 million acres of state tidelands and submerged lands
and 160,000 acres of uplands. The planning area extends from Cape Fanshaw (North of Petersburg)
south and east to the Canadian border, excluding Prince of Wales Island.
Copper River Basin Area Plan
Adopted November 1986. Covers 3.3 million acres of state land in the Copper River drainage.
Juneau State Land Plan
Adopted January 1993. Covers 26,000 acres of state uplands and 400,000 acres of state tidelands
within the City and Borough of Juneau, and proposed annexation area on Admiralty Island.
Kenai Area Plan
Adopted in January 2000. This plan addresses 2.1 million acres of state uplands within the Kenai
Peninsula Borough and 2.6 million acres of state owned tidelands and submerged lands along the Outer
Kenai Peninsula and in Cook Inlet. Policies for state land in the Caribou Hills were adopted in April
1993 and revised in January 2000.
Kodiak Area Plan
Adopted in 2004. This plan addressed state-owned uplands, shorelands, tidelands and submerged
lands in the Kodiak Island Borough.
Kuskokwim Area Plan
Adopted March 1988. Covers 16 million acres of state land in the middle and upper Kuskokwim River
drainage.
Northern Southeast Area Plan
Adopted in October 2002. This plan includes state tidelands, submerged lands and uplands from
Glacier Bay south to Prince of Wales Island, including Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof islands.
The planning process revised the original Haines-Skagway Area Land Use Plan, Chilkat Bald Eagle
Preserve Management Plan and the Haines State Forest Management Plan.
Northwest Area Plan
This area plan covers about 14 million acres of state owned and state selected land in the
northwestern part of Arctic Alaska. Adopted in 1989 this plan is being revised (2008) to
incorporate new state land and state land selections, and new information on coal, mineral
and wildlife (caribou) resources.
Prince of Wales Island Area Plan
Originally adopted in 1983 and extensively revised in 1998, this plan covers about 70,000 acres
of state-owned and state-selected land throughout Prince of Wales Island. In 2008, the southwest
area of the island was revised and incorporated into the Prince of Wales Island Area Plan as an
Amendment.
Prince of Wales Island Area Plan Amendment
(Inclusion of the Southwest Prince of Wales Island Area)
Adopted in May 2008. The Amendment incorporates the revised southwest area into the 1998 Prince of Wales
Island Area Plan. The plan Amendment covers more than one-million acres of state land mainly
consisting of tidelands and submerged lands.
Prince William Sound Area Plan
Adopted June 1988. This plan is for 850,000 acres of state land and most of the tidelands and
submerged lands in Prince William Sound.
Susitna Area Plan
Adopted April 1985. Covers 9.5 million acres of state land. This plan is in need of revision
in order to provide better guidance for management of land retained in state ownership. In 1982,
an area plan was completed for the Willow Sub-Basin, a portion of the Susitna Basin.
Tanana Basin Area Plan
Adopted in 1983 and partially revised in 1991. This plan encompasses 14.5 million acres of state
owned land and 1.7 million acres of federal land selected for conveyance to the state. Note that
Tanana Valley State Forest Management Plan covers the state forest, although this plan must be
consistent with certain components of the area plan.
Turnagain Arm Management Plan
Adopted October 1994. Includes over 23,000 acres of state selected land in Girdwood and Bear Valley,
and 25,000 acres of tidelands and submerged lands in Turnagain Arm. This plan was coordinated with
planning for the Municipality of Anchorage's Girdwood Area Plan.
Upper Yukon Area Plan
Adopted in February 2003. Includes state lands near Eagle, along the Taylor Highway, and in the
Fortymile River region. The planning area covers roughly 2.5 million acres of state land, and
about 1.5 million acres of state-selected land.
Willow Sub-Basin Area Plan
This area plan, adopted in 1982, covers the Palmer/Wasilla, Knik/Pt. MacKenzie, and Willow/Kashwitna
areas of the southeast Susitna valley. It is largely out of date and is currently (2008) being updated;
see Southeast Susitna Area Plan.
Yakataga Area Plan
Adopted in 1995, this plan addresses approximately 451,000 acres of state uplands, plus tidelands and
submerged lands totaling 933,000 acres along the Gulf of Alaska and Icy and Yakutat bays. After the
plan was adopted, the municipal entitlement to the City and Borough of Yakutat was increased to 21,500
acres. The plan underwent an amendment in 2004 in order to identify a pool of land that could be conveyed
to the city and borough.
Management Plans
Dalton Highway Master Plan
A plan for economic development, public safety, and natural resource management along the Dalton Highway,
completed in 1998.
Deception Creek Land Use Plan (to be
superceded with approval of the Southeast Susitna Area Plan)
Former capital site, was not included in Susitna or Willow Sub-Basin Area Plans. Will be revised along
with the Southeast Susitna Area Plan in 2008.
Denali to Wrangell – St. Elias
An inventory of visual and recreational resources along the Denali, Richardson and Edgerton highways between
Denali and Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks. Includes management recommendations, completed in 1982.
Fish Creek Management Plan(to be included in the
Southeast Susitna Area Plan)
Primary issues concern agricultural disposals, currently being revised; the borough is currently leading a
planning effort to revise this plan.
Hatcher Pass Management Plan
Primary issues are recreation, mining, wildlife and ski area development, completed in 1986 and amended in 1989.
An amendment to this plan is scheduled to occur in 2008.
Kashwitna Management Plan (to be superceded with
approval of Southeast Susitna Area Plan)
Primary issues addressed include forestry, wildlife and access. The plan will be revised along with the Southeast
Susitna Area Plan in 2008.
Matanuska Valley Moose Range Management Plan
Access, habitat management and mining are concerns, completed in 1986.
North Access Visitor Facilities Study
A cooperative study between the National Park Service and DNR exploring options for campgrounds, trails
and visitor facilities on the north side of Denali National Park. Completed in 2004.
Nushagak and Mulchatna Rivers Recreation Management Plan
Guidelines for recreation use on the Nushagak and Mulchatna rivers within the Bristol Bay region.
A component of the Bristol Bay Area Plan, revised in 2005.
Scenic Resources Along the Parks Highway
An inventory of visual resources along the George Parks Highway, and management recommendations.
Completed in 1981.
Susitna Basin Recreation Rivers Management Plan
A plan for six rivers, completed in 1991.
Susitna Forest Guidelines
Guidelines for forest management and timber access, completed in 1991.
State Park and State Forest Management Plans
The DNR Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation has prepared land use plans for all
of the larger units of the State Park System. In recent years, several State Park and State Forest
plans have undergone revision. The Kenai River Management Plan was first completed in 1986 and was
completely revised in 1997. A management plan for Wood-Tikchik State Park, first completed in 1987,
was revised in October 2002. A management plan for the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve originally
completed in 1985 was revised in October 2002. A management plan for the Chena River Recreation Area
was developed in 1984 and amended in 2006. The Denali State Park Management Plan first adopted in 1989
was revised in 2006. A management plan for Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park was completed in 2006.
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/plans/softcopy.htm
A management plan for the Tanana Valley State Forest, prepared by the Division of Forestry,
was originally adopted in 1988, underwent a complete revision, and was completed in 2003. The Haines State
Forest Management Plan was originally completed in 1986 and was completely revised in 2002. As a component
of all these management plans, regulations were developed during or shortly after plan adoption to ensure
implementation. http://www.forestry.alaska.gov/stateforests.htm
State Critical Habitat Area, Refuge & Sanctuary plans
The Department of Fish and Game prepares land use plans for these areas, in consultation with the Department
of Natural Resources. Planning processes for the McNeil River State Game Refuge and Sanctuary as well as
the Izembek State Game Refuge are currently underway.
PLANNING PROCESS
STEP 1 - Identify Issues
Hold public meetings to identify issues and concerns in the planning area.
STEP 2 - Gather Information
Throughout the planning process collect information about natural resources, present and past land use, land
ownership, and the local economy.
STEP 3 - Prepare and Evaluate Land Use Alternatives
Describe possible choices for managing state land based on public interests, local resources, and state policies.
Describe the effects of each choice on goals for the management of an area.
STEP 4 - Prepare Draft Plan
Create a draft plan that reflects resource values and public and agency goals. The agencies review the first
draft and settle any land use conflicts that remain, or propose the best alternatives for public review.
STEP 5 - Public Review of Draft Plan
Hold public meetings to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the draft plan and to identify parts
that need to be changed.
STEP 6 - Prepare Final Plan
Review agency and public comments and revise the plan. Prepare the plan for publication.
STEP 7 - Approve Plan
The Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources approves and signs the plan.
STEP 8 - Implement Plan
The plan guides management decisions for state lands in the planning area.
Almost all the plans listed above can be viewed in this Resource Assessment and Development
Section web site.
Plans in print can also be purchased at the above address in
Suite 1260 or at the DNR Division of Mining, Land, and Water regional offices in Fairbanks and Juneau.
For a list of the plans in print and a price list, click here.
Plans developed by the DNR Division of Parks can be viewed at their web site at:
www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/plans
Plans developed by the Division of Forestry can be viewed at:
http://www.forestry.alaska.gov/resources.htm
For
more information on plans for state lands contact:
Department
of Natural Resources
Division of Mining, Land & Water
Resource Assessment & Development Section
550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1050
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 269-8534
fax: 269-8915
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Div. of Forestry Plans
