Revisions to Water Management Regulations

Scoping Period Extended to November 29, 2024

View the Scoping Notice on Alaska Online Public Notices View the Supplemental Notice on the Alaska Online Public Notice System View the Second Supplemental Notice on the Alaska Online Public Notice System

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR, Department) is considering updating the regulations implementing AS 46.15.145 Reservations of water: 11 AAC 93.141, 11 AAC 93.142 (Content of application), 11 AAC 93.143, 11 AAC 93.144, 11 AAC 93.145 (Adjudication of applications), 11 AAC 93.146 (Issuance of a certificate of reservation of water), and 11 AAC 93.147 (Review of a reservation of water).

The Department is undertaking this scoping process to ask the public for their ideas and suggestions before the Department undertakes the task of drafting any specific proposed regulations for public review. Written input must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 30, 2024. At such time DNR undertakes revisions to these regulations, there will be an additional timeframe to provide comments on the proposed regulations.

What information is DNR requesting?

The purpose of this notice is to ask the public for their input before the Department undertakes the task of revising the reservation of water regulations. Specifically, the Department is interested in ideas that will provide an efficient, consistent, and cost-effective water reservation process to encourage the development of state water for its highest and best use consistent with the public interest.

The public is encouraged to provide specific wording to be changed, added, or removed from the current reservation of water regulations. When providing information, please be as specific as possible. For example, if the information is from a published study, please provide a copy of the study or a complete reference citation so DNR staff can obtain a copy for consideration.

Specifically, we invite the public to respond to the

• 11 AAC 93.142 (Content of application)
  • Should additional information be required to justify the need for a reservation of water?
  • What types of data and methodology?
• 11 AAC 93.146 (Issuance of a certificate of reservation of water)
  • Should only State resource agencies, such as DNR or Alaska Department of Fish and Game, hold the certificate of a reservation of water?
  • Who should hold a certificate of a reservation of water?
• 11 AAC 93.147 (Review of a reservation of water)
  • Are the review requirements clear and adequate?

How will DNR use the information I provide?

The Department will carefully review all input, including responses to the above prompts, received during this scoping period. Information provided to the Department will be subject to inspection, copying, and distribution as public records under Alaska Statute 40.25.110 - 40.25.220. Do not include information that is not appropriate for public consumption.

At such time DNR undertakes revisions to these regulations, there will be an additional timeframe during which the public may provide comments on the proposed regulations.

How do I submit information or feedback to DNR?

Send Information by mail to:

Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Division of Mining, Land & Water
Program Support Section
550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1070
Anchorage, AK 99501-3579

Or via the DMLW Comment Portal

Or by email to: dnr.water.regulation@alaska.gov

Public Involvement

DNR hosted a public meeting on August 12, 2024, from 4:30-6:30 pm at the Atwood Conference Center Room 102/104 in Anchorage (Robert B. Atwood Building, 550 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501).

The meeting included a brief presentation by DNR followed by a question-and-response session with the public. After there was an opportunity for participants to submit feedback.