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Chapter 4 ImplementationPage 4-1 Introduct ion

4-1 Proposed Selections and Relinquishments4-7 Land Use Classifications

4-11 Municipal Entitlement4-12 Procedures for Plan Modification and Amendments4-14 Recommendations for Research4-15 Recommendations for Field Staff and Enforcement4-15 Recommendations for Legislative Designation4-16 Recommendations for Additional Access

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Chapter 4

IMPLEMENTATION

Introduction

This chapter describes the actions necessaryto implement the land use policies proposedby this plan. Included are proposed landselections and relinquishments of selectedlands; land use classifications; recommenda-

tions for legislative designations; recommen-dations for field staff and research; and pro-cedures for plan modification andamendment.

Proposed Selections and Reiinquishments

This plan identifies several areas for futurestate land selections and for relinquishment ofexisting state selected lands. These recom-mendations are described below, along withthe reasons for proposing these changes inland status. In general, lands are proposed forselection either to consolidate state landownership and improve the efficiency of stateland management, or because the land hashigh resource values that merit state manage-ment. The selections and relinquishments areshown on the management unit maps in Chap-ter 3, and on Map 4.1.

New State Selections______The state is entitled to select additional landsfor state ownership from vacant, unap-propriated, and unreserved federal lands. Inthe Kuskokwim Area, there are over four mil-lion acres that the state could select. Most ofthis land is in the Kuskokwim Mountains--inthe George River, Crooked Creek, and Owhatdrainages--or in the lowlands of the middleBig River, Tatlawiksuk, Chineekluk, Swift,and Stony river drainages. Most of theselands have low surface and subsurfaceresource values and are not desirable for state

selection. However, there are some landswith high resource values or strategic loca-tions that merit state selection. A total of ap-proximately 448,580 acres in 14 parcels shouldbe selected. Some of these parcels have al-ready been selected by Native corporations. Ifthe state top-files, that is, files a selection onNative-selected land, the state selection wouldattach if the Native selection were relin-quished or rejected.

The total amount of additional land the statemay select is limited. Therefore, final deter-mination of whether more lands will beselected in the Kuskokwim Area will be madethrough a statewide process in which the landsrecommended for selection in this plan areevaluated relative to opportunities for addi-tional selections in other parts of the state.Each parcel is rated as either high, moderate,or low priority for selection within the Kus-kokwim Area.

Parcels proposed for selection are listed belowalong with their acreage, the reason for selec-tion, a reference to the subunit they are lo-cated in, and their priority for selection. Thesubunit descriptions in Chapter 3 state the

Proposed Selections & Relinquishments 4-1

management intent for these lands if they areconveyed to state ownership.

Medfra - Big River-South Fork subunit 4a -- T28S R21E K.R.M. sections 1, 12-15, 22-23,and 26-27 -- approximately 5,860 acres - highpriority. This parcel is Native-selected landon the North Fork of the Kuskokwim Riverdownstream from Medfra. It is surrounded bystate-owned land and is readily accessible byboat and trail along the North Fork. The planrecommends that the state top-file on this par-cel because of the high forestry, habitat, andpublic recreation values of these lands, and inorder to consolidate state ownership in thisarea in the event that the land is not conveyedto the Native corporation.

South Fork Uplands -Big River-South Forksubunit 4a -- T33N R26W S.M. sections 19-21and 28-33 -- approximately 5,760 acres - lowpriority. This parcel is federal land in thelower south Fork Valley. There is no estab-lished access. It adjoins state land on twosides. This parcel is recommended for stateselection because of high habitat value and toconsolidate state ownership.

Big River-Nikolai - Big River-South Forksubunits 4a and 4c - T34N R27W S.M.; T33NR28W S.M.; T33N R30W S.M. sections 19-36;T32N R29W S.M.; T32N R30W S.M. sections1-4, 10-15, 22-27, and 34-36 -- approximately74,880 acres - high priority in west half; lowpriority in east half. These parcels are federallands along Big River and the South Fork westof Nikolai. They are accessible along therivers and the Iditarod Trail. The west half orthis area (subunit 4c) is recommended forselection by the state because of its highforestry, habitat, and recreation values. Theeast half (subunit 4a) is recommended forselection because of potential for long-termgas development for local use and recreationvalues along the Iditarod Trail.

Tatlawiksuk - Kuskokwim River subunit 5a -- T22N R38W S.M. sections 1-3, 9-15, - ap-proximately 6,400 acres - high priority. This aparcel of Native selected land along the Kus-kokwim River near the confluence of the Tat-lawiksuk and Kuskokwim rivers. It is adjacentto state-owned land. The plan recommends

the state top-file on this parcel because of itshigh forestry, habitat, and public recreationvalues, and to consolidate state land owner-ship in this area in the event that it is not con-veyed to the Native corporation.

George River - George River subunit l0b --T27N R41W S.M, T27N R42W S.M, T26NR40W S.M, T26N R41W S.M, T26N R42WS.M, T25N R40W S.M, T25N R41W S.M,T25N R42W S.M, T25N R43W S.M, andT25N R44W S.M. sections 1-3, 10-15, 22-27,and 34-36 - approximately 241,920 acres -high priority. These parcels are federal landsin the headwaters of the George and Takotnarivers. They are recommended for selectionby the state because of their high mineralpotential.

Horn Mountains - George River subunit l0b-- T20N R50W S.M, T20N R51W S.M, T19NR50W S.M. sections 1-21 and 28-33; T19NR51W S.M. sections 4-9, 16-21, and 31-33;T18N R51W S.M. - approximately 96,000acres - high priority. These federal lands arerecommended for selection by the state be-cause of their high mineral potential.

Flat - George River subunit l0b -- T27NR48W that portion east of the Iditarod River,and T26N R48W that portion east of theIditarod River —approximately 30,400 acres -moderate priority. These are federal landsrecommended for state selection because oftheir high mineral potential.

Stony River - Stony River subunits 14a and b-- T19N R41W S.M. section 13 and T18NR39W S.M. sections 9, 13-17, and 24 -- ap-proximately 5,120 acres - high priority. Thesetwo parcels are Native-selected lands on ornear the Stony River. They are surrounded bystate-owned lands and are accessible by boatfrom the Stony River. The plan recommendsthat the state top-file on these lands becauseof their high forestry and habitat values, andin order to consolidate state land ownershipin this area in the event that these lands arenot conveyed to state ownership.

Holitna River - Holitna River subunit 15a -T18N R43W S.M. sections 31 and 36; T18NR44W S.M. sections 25 and 36; and T17N

4-2 Proposed Selections & Relinquishments

R43W S.M. sections 13 and 23-26 - ap-proximately 5,760 acres - high priority. Thesethree parcels are Native-selected lands nearthe Holitna River and adjacent to state-ownedlands. The plan recommends that the statetop-file on these lands because of their highforestry and habitat values, and in order toconsolidate state land ownership in this areain the event that these lands are not conveyedto Native ownership.

Fuller Creek - Holokuk-Oskawalik subunit16c -- T19N R34W S.M. sections 1-18,20-27,and 34-36 -- approximately 18,560 acres - highpriority. This parcel is federal land near thecommunity of Red Devil and is accessiblefrom Red Devil by trail. The plan recom-mends selection of this area because of itsvalue for settlement and mining. If conveyedto the state, a portion of the land will be of-fered for sale to provide opportunities forprivate land ownership near Red Devil.

In addition to these proposed selections, thereare several parcels of land in the northern halfthat are currently unavailable for selection be-cause they are within townships that must beconveyed to Doyon under current laws or be-cause they are within a federal withdrawal formilitary purposes. If lands within these areasbecome available for state selection, they arerecommended for selection. They includesmall parcels of Native selections with highsurface values in the following townships:

T23S R29E K.R.M.T24S R28E K.R.M.T26S R24E K.R.M.T27S R23E K.R.M.T28S R22E K.R.M.T28S R26E K.R.M.T29S R13E K.R.M.T31NR35WS.M.T32NR34WS.M.T33NR29WS.M.T34NR28WS.M.T34N R38W S.M.

Road-accessible lands near Tatalina current-ly withdrawn from selection include parcels inT33N R35W and T33N R36W S.M.

Lastly, if additional lands are needed for selec-tion, federal riverfront parcels in the follow-ing townships should be reconsidered forselection. Resource values are lower than inmany parts of the region, but they are on themain river in areas where the state has littleriverfront land. The townships are:

T17NT17NT17NT19NT20NT20NT21N

R52W S.M.R53W S.M.R54W S.M.R44WS.M.R44WS.M.R45W S.M.R47W S.M.

Proposed RelinquishmentsSome tracts of previously selected state landsare isolated from larger blocks of state lands,making them difficult and expensive tomanage. Resource assessment work done toprepare the Kuskokwim Area Plan also indi-cates that some tracts lack resource valuesthat merit state management. Because thestate has selected more land than it is entitledto receive from the federal government, stateselections on inaccessible, isolated tracts ofland with low resource values should be relin-quished. A total of 51,840 acres in three tractsare proposed for relinquishment. There areadditional state-selected lands that meet thecriteria for relinquishment, but due to restric-tions in Sections 906(f) and (g) of the AlaskaNational Interest Lands Conservation Act,most of the selections in the Kuskokwim Areamay not be relinquished.

Tracts proposed for relinquishment are:

North Fork - North Fork subunit 1c - T22SR25E K.R.M. sections 1-3, 10-15, 22-27, and34-36 - approximately 11,520 acres.

Windy Fork - Big River-South Fork subunit4b - T29N R26W S.M. - approximately 23,040acres.

Proposed Selections & Relinquishments 4-3

akeMinchumina

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Summary ofNew SelectionsenaliNat

Park&Preserv

mnoko National Wll

Kuskokwim Area P

6 •__7 |3?e 9 I 10

RelinquishmentsMAP 4.1

Areas Recommended for StateSelection

State-Selected LandsRecommendedfor Relinquishments

NationalWildlife Refug

Kuskokwim Area Plan0 6 12 18 24 30

Scale in Miles

Land Use Classifications

This plan establishes primary and secondaryland use designations for state land in the Kus-kokwim Area. For the plan to be imple-mented on state land, DNR must classify landinto the classification categories in 11AAC 55in a way that reflects the plan intent. Landclassifications are recorded on the state statusplats, and are the formal record of the primaryuses for which each parcel of state land will bemanaged. The plan serves as the final findingby the Commissioner of DNR on land-useclassifications. The primary surface land use

designations in Chapter 3 will be converted toclassifications as shown in Table 4.1, Table 4.2,and Appendix I. Land with a dual classifica-tion for settlement and a retention category,e.g., settlement and public recreation, cannotbe offered for sale unless the land is reclas-sified. Therefore, settlement is the sole clas-sification category for these lands. However,these lands will be managed for both uses asdescribed by the management intent andprimary designations.

Table 4.1 Conversion of Primary Use Designations to Classifications

PRIMARY USE DESIGNATIONS

Forestry, Public Recreation,Wildlife Habitat

Forestry, Transportation,Wildlife Habitat

Forestry, Wildlife HabitatGeneral UseMaterials, Transportation, Water

Resources, Wildlife HabitatMineralsMinerals, Public Recreation,

Wildlife HabitatMinerals, SettlementMinerals, Transportation, Wildlife

HabitatMinerals, Wildlife HabitatPublic Recreation, SettlementPublic Recreation, Wildlife Habitat

Resource ManagementSettlementWater Resources, Wildlife Habitat

Wildlife Habitat

CLASSIFICATIONS

Forest Land, Public Recreation Land,Wildlife Habitat Land

Forest Land, Transportation CorridorLand, Wildlife Habitat Land

Forest Land, Wildlife Habitat LandResource Management LandMaterial Land, Water Resource Land,

Wildlife Habitat LandMineral LandMineral Land, Public Recreation Land,

Wildlife Habitat LandSettlement LandMineral Land, Transportation Corridor

Land, Wildlife Habitat LandMineral Land, Wildlife Habitat LandPublic Recreation Land, Settlement LandPublic Recreation Land, Wildlife

Habitat LandResource ManagementSettlement LandWater Resources Land, Wildlife Habitat

LandWildlife Habitat Land

Land Use Classifications 4-7

Table 4.2 Management Unit Classifications:

Management Unit

Unit 1 • North Fork

Subunit Classifications

Unit 2 - East Fork

Unit 3 - Tonzona

Unit 4 - Big R. - South Fork

Unit 5 - Kuskokwim River

Unit 6 - Nixon Fork

Unit 7 - Innoko River

la1b1c1d

2a2b2c2d

3a

3b

4a4b4c

5a

5b5c5d5e5f5g5h5i5j

6a

6b6c6d

7a

7b

7c7d

Settlement LandWildlife Habitat LandResource Management LandForest Land, Wildlife Habitat Land

Forest Land, Wildlife Habitat LandResource Management LandResource Management LandWildlife Habitat Land

Public Recreation Land, Wildlife HabitatLand

Resource Management Land

Wildlife Habitat LandResource Management LandForest Land, Wildlife Habitat Land

Forest Land, Public Recreation Land,Wildlife Habitat Land

Settlement LandPublic Recreation Land, Settlement LandResource Management LandSettlement LandSettlement LandSettlement LandResource Management LandResource Management LandWildlife Habitat Land

Forest Land, Public Recreation Land,Wildlife Habitat Land

Mineral Land, Wildlife Habitat LandResource Management LandWildlife Habitat Land

Mineral Land, TransportationLand, Wildlife Habitat Land

Forest Land, TransportationLand, Wildlife Habitat Land

Resource Management LandWildlife Habitat Land

Corridor

Corridor

1KAP Classification Order No. SC-88-001 went into effect on March 22,See Appendix I for acreage and primary designations for individual subunits.

1988.

4-8 Land Use Classifications ,

Table 4.2 Management Unit Classifications (cont.)

Management Unit

Unit 8 - Dishna River

Unit 9 - Takotna River

Unit 10 - George River

Unit 11 - Swift River

Subunit Classifications

8a Resource Management Land8b Resource Management Land8c Mineral Land, Wildlife Habitat Land8d Forest Land, Wildlife Habitat Land8e Resource Management Land8f Mineral Land, Public Recreation Land

Land, Wildlife Habitat Land8g Wildlife Habitat Land

9a Resource Management Land9b Wildlife Habitat Land9c Mineral Land9d Forest Land, Public Recreation Land,

Wildlife Habitat Land

l0a Public Recreation Land, Wildlife HabitatLand

l0b Mineral Land, Wildlife Habitat Land

lla Wildlife Habitat Landl ib Resource Management Land

Unit 12 - South Alaska Range 12a

12b12c

Unit 13 - North Alaska Range 13a

13b13c13d13e13f

Unit 14 - Stony River

Public Recreation Land, Wildlife HabitatLand

Resource Management LandResource Management Land

Public Recreation Land, Wildlife HabitatLand

Settlement LandSettlement LandSettlement LandSettlementResource Management Land

14a Forest Land, Wildlife Habitat Land14b Wildlife Habitat Land14c Resource Management Land14d Public Recreation Land, Wildlife Habitat

Land

Land Use Classifications 4-9

Table 4.2 Management Unit Classifications (cont.)

Management Unit Subunit Classifications

Unit 15 - Holitna River

Unit 16 - Holokuk - Oskawalik

Unit 17 - Aniak River

15a Forest Land, Wildlife Habitat Land15b Wildlife Habitat Land15c Water Resources Land, Wildlife Habitat

Land15d Resource Mangement Land15e Settlement Land15f Settlement Land15g Mineral Land, Wildlife Habitat Land

16a16b16c

17a

17b

17c17d17e

Unit 18 - Birch Tree Crossing 18a

Wildlife Habitat LandResource Mangement LandSettlement Land

Forest Land, Public Recreation LandLand, Wildlife Habitat Land

Public Recreation Land, Wildlife HabitatLand

Resource Mangement LandSettlement LandPublic Recreation Land, Wildlife Habitat

Land

Material Land, Water Resources Land,Wildlife Habitat Land

Mineral OrdersThis plan identifies areas where mineral entrystatus will change, including:

1. Areas currently closed to new mineralentry that will be reopened,

2. Areas that will be closed to new mineralentry, and

3. Areas where leasehold location will berequired.

These areas are shown on Map 2.4. To imple-ment these decisions, mineral opening orders,and mineral closing orders were prepared byDNR and were signed by the commissionerwhen the plan was adopted. The final findingfor these orders are in Appendix H. A list ofstreams subject to mineral closure orleasehold location is in Appendix H.

4-10 Municipal Entitlement

Municipal Entitlement

The municipal entitlement act (AS 29.65) es-tablishes the state land classificationcategories that may determine amunicipality's general grant land entitlementand that are available for transfer to amunicipality. Under existing laws, the size ofa municipality's entitlement is 10 percent ofthe vacant, unappropriated, unreserved(VUU) land in the municipal boundaries, notto exceed 20 acres per capita. In the Kuskok-wim Area, there is abundant land in the VUUcategories. Entitlement will probably belimited by population rather than land clas-sification.

The Kuskokwim Area Plan has classified thestate land within the planning area boundaries(see Land Use Classifications in this chapter).Classifications have been made on the best in-formation available during the planningprocess at the scale appropriate to the plan-ning effort, generally 1:250,000. These clas-sifications are broad and have not consideredwhether the lands should be available fortransfer to municipalities incorporated in thefuture. Many of the lands are classified incategories that would not be available fortransfer, including Wildlife Habitat Land andMineral Land. However, settlement ofmunicipal entitlements is a high priority of thedepartment and the current classifications willnot preclude consideration of parcels of landfor reclassification and transfer to amunicipality.

When an area incorporates under state law, itmay select state land within its boundariesthat, except for classification, otherwise meetsthe definition of vacant, unappropriated, un-reserved land under AS 29.65. When suchlands are selected, the Departments ofNatural Resources and Fish and Game will doa more detailed, site-specific analysis of theresource values of the selected lands. Thisanalysis may result in a change in the designa-tion and classification of all or part of the par-cel under consideration to a classification thatis available for transfer. Changes in designa-tions and classifications will require planamendment and reclassification before theselection may be approved.

For example, river corridor lands that are clas-sified Wildlife Habitat/Public Recreation arenot available for transfer. A more detailedreview of habitat values may show that partsof the corridor are suitable for local manage-ment either because the resource values donot merit state retention or because the landis not essential to the overall management in-tent for the area. Where this is the case,reclassification of part of the land may berecommended to allow for land transfer.Transfer to a municipality will not be ap-proved until the recommended changes havebeen publicly reviewed through the amend-ment and reclassification processes.

Municipal Entitlement 4-11

Procedures for Plan Modification and Amendment

The land use designations, policies, im-plementation actions, and managementguidelines of this plan may be changed if con-ditions warrant. The plan will be updated pe-riodically as new data and new technologiesbecome available and as changing social oreconomic conditions place different demandson state land.

Periodic Review. The plan will be reviewedat least once every five years to determine ifrevisions are necessary. An interagency plan-ning team will coordinate this review at the re-quest of the Commissioner of DNR. The planreview will include meetings with all inter-ested groups and the general public. A meet-ing of the Kuskokwim Area Plan advisoryboard also will be held annually to review planimplementation.

Amendments. The plan may be amended.An amendment adds to or modifies the basicintent of the plan. Changes to allowed orprohibited uses, policies, guidelines, and someimplementation actions constitute amend-ments. Amendments must be approved by theCommissioner of DNR. Amendments re-quire public notice and consultation with af-fected agencies. Amendments may requirepublic meetings if the Commissioner decidesthe level of controversy warrants it. Amend-ments may be proposed by DNR, other agen-cies, or the public. Requests for amendmentsare submitted to the Southcentral RegionalOffice of the DNR Division of Land andWater Management (DLWM) in Anchorage.

The following actions are examples of changesthat would require an amendment:

0 A proposal to close an area to new mineralentry

° Allowing a use in a subunit where it is cur-rently prohibited, unless provisions for ex-ceptions are contained in the plan

0 Offering land for sale in an area designatedfor retention or reclassifying to allow selec-tions by a municipality.

The Director of the Division of Land andWater Management determines whether aproposed revision constitutes an amendmentor just a minor change.

Minor Changes. A minor change is one thatdoes not modify or change the basic intent ofthe plan. Minor changes may be necessary forclarification, accuracy, consistency, or tofacilitate implementation of the plan. Minorchanges are made at the discretion of theDirector of DLWM and do not require publicreview. Minor changes may be proposed byagencies or the public. Requests for minorchanges are submitted to the SouthcentralRegional Office of DLWM. The director willnotify other agencies when minor changes aremade. Affected agencies will have the oppor-tunity to comment on minor changes follow-ing notification; the comment period may beprovided through existing interagency reviewprocesses for associated actions. If the agen-cies disagree with the regional manager'sdecision, the decision may be appealed to theDirector of DLWM, and the director'sdecision may be appealed to the Commis-sioner of DNR.

Special Exceptions. Exceptions to theprovisions of the plan may be made withoutmodification of the plan. Special exceptionsshall occur only when complying with the planis excessively difficult or impractical and an al-ternative procedure can be implemented thatadheres to the purposes and spirit of the plan.An example of a special exception is apreference right granted under AS 18.05.035where the Director determines such an actionis necessary to correct an injustice and will notsignificantly affect the intent of the plan.

DNR may make a special exception in the im-plementation of the plan through the follow-ing procedures:

4-12 Plan Modification & Amendment

1. The Southcentral Regional Manager ofDLWM shall prepare a finding thatspecifies the following:

0 The extenuating conditions that require aspecial exception.

0 The alternative course of action to be fol-lowed.

0 How the intent of the plan will be met bythe alternative. This may incorporate intoa finding under AS 38.05.035.

2. Agencies that have responsibility for landuses with primary or secondary designationsin the affected area will be given an oppor-tunity to review the findings. If the agenciesdisagree with the regional manager's decision,the decision may be appealed to the Directorof DLWM, and the director's decision may beappealed to the Commissioner of DNR. Ifwarranted by the degree of controversy, thecommissioner may hold a public meetingbefore making a decision.

Plan Modification & Amendment 4-13

Recommendations for Research

Birch Tree Crossing Material Site. Theriver bar at Birch Tree Crossing has beenheavily used for material extraction for over30 years. Concerns have been raised that therate of gravel extraction may exceed the rateof redeposition, causing erosion of uplandproperties, degrading fish and wildlife habitat,and deteriorating water quality. In order forDNR, ADF&G, the U.S. Army Corps of En-gineers, and other affected agencies and land-owners to address these concerns whenreviewing permit applications and proposedmaterial sales, they should conduct a coopera-tive study that provides necessary backgroundinformation on rates of deposition, erosionpatterns, and the effects of material extractionon fisheries and drinking water.

Preferred Material Sites. In order to mini-mize conflicts between material extraction ac-tivities and other surface resources and landuses, preferred material extraction sitesshould be identified in and along the Kuskok-wim River. Preferred sites should be iden-tified by a study group consisting ofrepresentative from DNR, ADF&G, theDepartment of Transportation and PublicFacilities, Calista Corporation, and the Kus-kokwim Corporation. Identified sites shouldinclude sites feasible and prudent for com-munity use. Results of this study would beused by state agencies when reviewing permitapplications and requests for material sales.

Fisheries. The middle and upper Kuskok-wim basin provides spawning and rearinghabitat for a large percentage of the salmonthat support the commercial fishery in Com-mercial Fisheries Districts 1 and 2. Data onanadromous fish habitat, stock assessment,and spawning studies are insufficient tomanage this fishery optimally. The planrecommends allocation of funds for the fol-lowing research:

0 Stock assessment of salmon particularly re-lated to escapement and enumeration.

0 Surveys to identify spawning and rearinghabitat for anadromous fish in the planningarea.

8 Spawning studies principally in the Kus-kokwim, Holitna, and Hoholitna drainages.

0 Continued funding of the Kogrukluk weirand Aniak sonar site.

Aniak River Survey. The Aniak drainage at-tracts fishermen from around the world for itssport fishing. The Aniak supports the farthestnorth rainbow fishery in Alaska. Fishermenare also catching char, grayling, king, and sil-ver salmon. Other wildlife and recreationresources along the Aniak include scenery,diversity of plant life and wildflowers, photog-raphy, and opportunities to see lynx, bear, wol-ves, and moose, as well as to experience awilderness setting.

Local residents also use several techniques forfishing including drift and set nets, fishwheels,rod and reel, and hooking through the ice inwinter. The drainage is also used by local resi-dents and communities along the Kuskokwimfor hunting, trapping, berry picking, and per-sonal-use timber. Because of the importanceof the Aniak for all these uses as well as itsrainbow fishery, which is at the northern Limitsof the species range and more susceptible tooverharvest, leases for commercial recreationfacilities are prohibited along the Aniak. Inaddition, permit applications for guide sites ortent camps and campsites will be consideredon a case-by-case basis.

In order to prevent overuse of the rainbowfishery, and so that the rainbow trout popula-tion can be managed for optimal use by sub-sistence and recreation users, the ADF&GSport Fish Division should conduct annualsurveys to determine rainbow population andharvest levels.

4-14 Recommendations for Research

Recommendations for Field Staff and Enforcement

The emphasis of this plan is on multiple use.The plan relies on existing laws and regula-tions as well as new guidelines to make asmany uses compatible as possible. To ensurethat these measures are effective, and todevelop public confidence in the state's abilityto manage for multiple use, they must be en-forced. Examples of actions where fieldwork,monitoring and enforcement are likely to beneeded include land sales, remote cabin per-mits, leases for commercial recreationfacilities, materials sales, timber harvests, andmining permits and leases.

DNR will take appropriate action against un-authorized uses of state land. Priorities forsuch action will be determined by theavailability of funding and the severity of theimpact of the unauthorized use on significantsettlement activities, public recreation, orother public uses of state land or on public ac-cess.

DNR puts a high priority on monitoring andenforcing compliance with stipulations onleases, permits, and sales and taking actionagainst unauthorized activities in those situa-tions where activities have a high probabilityof creating significant negative impacts toother important resources or uses. Field staff-ing and funding are currently inadequate toenforce the laws and guidelines on all 16 mil-lion acres of state land in the planning area.The department's ability to enforce willdepend on its budget. The Department willcontinue to reflect these priorities formonitoring and enforcement of its budget re-quests. The plan recommends that addition-al funds be dedicated to enforcementactivities to support implementation of thenew and continuing land managementprograms in the Kuskokwim area.

Recommendations for Legislative Designation.

One area in the planning region is proposedfor special legislative designation. The planrecommends that the legislature considerdesignating lands along the Holitna andHoholitna rivers as a state Public Use Area.The Public Use Area would comprise ap-proximately 850,000 acres. It would includethe lands in subunit 15a and some adjacentportions of 15b and 15c that are rated A-2("special value habitat") in the Fish andWildlife Element (Kuskokwim Area Plan -Fish and Wildlife Element, ADNR, May,1987).

These lands contain the most productivemoose habitat and salmon spawning streamsin the Kuskokwim basin. They also supportconcentrations of brown bear, waterfowl, andfurbearers. This area is nationally known forsport hunting and fishing, and is one of themost intensively used areas in southwest Alas-

ka for subsistence harvests. The timberlandsalong the Holitna and Hoholitna rivers aresome of the most productive in the Kuskok-wim basin. They are presently used for fuel,lumber, and logs for personal use, and havethe potential for commercial harvesting.

Legislative designation would officially recog-nize the outstanding habitat and forestryvalues of this area, and grant much more cer-tainty that these lands will be kept in publicownership and available for public use in per-petuity. Legislative designation can also serveas a basis for requesting funds for more activemanagement of the lands and fish and wildlifepopulations in this area. The plan can onlyrecommend that this area be established; thedecision to establish a Public Use Area mustbe made by the legislature.

Field Staff & Enforcement 4-15

The intent for the Public Use Area is tomanage the lands for multiple use, with em-phasis on protecting fish and wildlife habitat,providing for human use of fish and wildliferesources, and promoting forest managementand use. Other activities will be allowedwhenever consistent with these purposes.These lands would not be available for sale orexchange, except for an exchange to resolve

land claims at Nogamut. (see description insubunit 15a management intent). The publicuse area will be managed by ADNR under amanagement plan prepared jointly with theDepartment of Fish and Game. Lands withinthe Public Use area will remain open to newmineral entry except for those streambedsidentified for closures in subunits 15a, 15b,and 15c.

Recommendations for Additional Access

Maps of existing legal access were reviewed todetermine where additional access is neededto ensure future use of valuable resources onstate lands. Of particular concern are areaswith moderate to high surface and subsurfacevalues on state-owned and state-selectedlands, and proposed disposals. In addition,protection of existing transportation routesbetween population centers is a goal of theplan. In general, no additional access isneeded where there are existing or previouslyproposed 17(b) easements, state omnibusroads, navigable rivers, or trails across publiclands. Additional access routes, are not listedif they would not meet BLM's requirementsfor 17(b) easements. Areas needing addition-al legal access are listed below.

There are a variety of ways additional legal ac-cess can be established. Techniques includeproposing 17(b) easements, acquiring access,or relocating existing 17(b) easements. Thebest technique will vary from site to site andcan be identified only through more detailedexamination of individual sites. The list belowidentifies only the need for additional access,not the technique for providing it or thedescription of detailed routes.

1C. Munsatli Ridge - Sischu Mountains-General Use - Low Resource Values - Legal

access may be needed across T21S R26EK.R.M. just south of Stone Mountain if thisoverlapping Native and state selection is notconveyed to the state. The existing trail con-nects Telida to the Sulukna River drainage

which has moderate to high fish and wildlifevalues.

5b. Appel II - Primary use Settlement - If thesouthern portion of this subunit is conveyed tothe state and is offered for settlement, theslough immediately south of the subunit maybe the only form of legal access to the southernfour sections. If the slough is not navigable,an alternate form of access may be necessaryto the Kuskokwim River.

5d. Candle Hills - Primary use ResourceManagement - Road access to the northernedge of this subunit is uncertain without a sur-vey of the Takotna - Sterling Landing Road.If this subunit is conveyed to the state, if adecision is made to offer this area for settle-ment, and if the surveyed road does notprovide legal access to the subunit, accessfrom the road will be needed. Access may alsobe necessary if minerals are to be developed.Winter access across the sloughs to thesoutheast of this subunit which access thenavigable portion of the Kuskokwim Riveralso is desirable.

5f. Selatna- Primary use Settlement - Ac-cess is available to this subunit along thenavigable portions of the Selatna River evenif the northern half of this subunit, which is anoverlapping selection, is not conveyed to thestate. However, in order to provide improvedaccess to the southwestern portion of thisproposed disposal, access may also be neededalong the unnamed stream with its mouth near

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the east end of Nunivak Bar (T28N R35WS.M. section 19).

10b. George River/ Horn Mountains -Primary uses Minerals and Wildlife Habitat -The Horn Mountains have been proposed asa state selection. If this land is conveyed tothe state, access to the Kuskokwim River maybe needed. Until the townships are surveyed,it is unclear whether the state land in T18NR50W S.M. section 31 is state owned andprovides access to the river. If the corner ofthis township does not provide access, otherpotential routes to the Kuskokwim River areacross Native-selected land in T19N R50WS.M. section 36 and T17N R51W S.M. sections19 and 20.

15e. Sleetmute North - Primary use Settle-ment - This subunit is an overlapping state andNative selection. If the lands within this sub-unit are conveyed to the state, and if a disposalis scheduled, additional access may be neces-sary. This proposed disposal has a 17(b) ease-ment which connects with the village ofSleetmute, but there is no legal access fromthe south or east. The corner of T19n R43WS.M. section 25 in this subunit is an overlap-ping state and Native selection and may be onthe navigable portion of the KuskokwimRiver. However, bluffs along the river maymake it an impractical point of access if thissection is conveyed to the state. Anotherpotential access point is the corner of T19N

R43W S.M. section 13 in this subunit which isan overlapping state and Native selection andmay include an old oxbow of the KuskokwimRiver near the mouth of Inowak Creek. If theoxbow is in this section and if it is navigable,no other access may be needed. If subunit 15eis conveyed to the Native corporation, legalaccess may be needed along the cat trail thatis used to reach mining claims on the southand east forks of the George River. There arealso moderate wildlife habitat resource valuesalong the George River.

16a. Kiokluk Mountains - Primary useWildlife Habitat - Access may be neededthrough the Holokuk Canyon in T16N R51WS.M. and T15N R51W S.M. The upperHolokuk and Chineekluk rivers, and the Kiok-luk, Chuilnuk, and Buckstock Mountains con-tain numerous mining claims and moderate tohigh wildlife habitat values. Additional legalaccess may not be necessary if the section ofthe Holokuk passing through the canyon isdetermined navigable at the time it is con-veyed.

16c. Fuller Creek- Primary uses Settle-ment and Minerals - If this land is conveyedto the state and offered for sale, and if ad-jacent Native-selected lands in T19N R44WS.M. are conveyed to the Native corporation,an easement will be needed on the existingtrail through the Native-selected land.

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