Susitna-Matanuska Susitna-Matanuska Area PlanArea Plan

(Revising a majority of the (Revising a majority of the

1985 Susitna Area Plan)1985 Susitna Area Plan)

State of AlaskaState of AlaskaDepartment of Natural ResourcesDepartment of Natural ResourcesDivision of Mining Land and WaterDivision of Mining Land and WaterResource Assessment and DevelopmentResource Assessment and Development

Presentation RoadmapPresentation Roadmap• What is an area plan and why it’s needed? • What area is encompassed by the SMAP?• How and why is the 1985 SAP being revised?• What does an Area Plan do and not do?• What is the process and how does the public

participate?• We want to hear from you – comments,

questions, and concerns

Area Plan DefinedArea Plan Defined

• A land use plan that establishes the basis for decision making on land use and resources for state lands and waters within a specific geographic area.  It deals with the allocation of land uses and the use of state resources, except for oil and gas resources, which are controlled by a different statute.

Why Have an Area Plan?Why Have an Area Plan? State area plans are a requirement under Alaska Statue (AS

38.04.065)

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) needs them for management of state land and its resources

Planning provides a way to sort through the numerous possibilities of using state land

Provides the opportunity for the public to participate in decision-making, at the policy level, for state lands and waters

SMAP Acreage SummarySMAP Acreage Summary

OwnershipApproximate

Acreage

State 9,000,000

Federal 2,000,000

Municipal 220,000

MHT, UA, Native Corp. 200,000

Other Private 100,000

Reasons for Plan RevisionReasons for Plan Revision Existing area plan is over 20 years old

Changes in land ownership patterns

Outdated and inappropriate land classifications

Need to revise the plans so they can be used more effectively by DNR in its management of land and resources

Revision of 1985 Susitna Area PlanRevision of 1985 Susitna Area Plan• The 1985 SAP encompassed the Susitna and Matanuska drainages (all of

the Mat-Su Borough is within the plan boundary)

• The 2000 Kenai Area Plan superseded the southwest portion of the SAP (that portion within the Kenai Peninsula Borough)

• The Southeast Susitna Area Plan (SSAP) is a revision of the Willow Sub-Basin Plan and a portion of the Susitna Area Plan.

• This Susitna-Matanuska Area Plan (SMAP) addresses the majority of the SAP

• A future planning effort will deal with land in the Denali Block (state selections in the upper Susitna drainage accessible from the Denali Highway) and Lake Louise

What the Area Plan DoesWhat the Area Plan Does Serves as the basis for management decisions on

state land and waters

Provides management intent, land-use designation and

management guidelines for specific geographic regions

Allocates land uses and thereby resolves land use conflicts• Designates areas for active use (Forestry, Settlement,

Material sites)• Designates areas for protection (Habitat, Water

Resources, Public Rec)

Identifies land to be retained or disposed

What the Plan Does What the Plan Does NotNot Do Do

• Apply to federal, Borough, University, Mental Health Trust, Native or other private lands

• Apply to Denali State Park, Susitna Rec. Rivers, public use areas (except classifications)

• Address allocation, regulation, or harvesting of fish and wildlife stocks

• Address site specific issues (boating, camping, hiking, fishing, ATVs)

• Regulate “Generally Allowed” uses on state land

Examples of Generally Allowed UsesExamples of Generally Allowed Uses

• Hiking, skiing, travel by horse or dog sled

• ATV or Recreational vehicle use

• Landing aircraft• Brushing of trails • Hunting, fishing,

trapping• Recreational gold

mining

• Picking berries or mushrooms

• Using dead wood for fires and cooking

• Temporary camps of less than 14 days

• Placing buoys, docks, or boat haulouts for upland owners

Land DesignationsLand Designations

• All land designations allow for multiple use

• A range of possible uses within planning area includes:– Fish and wildlife habitat and harvest– Recreation (dispersed and site specific)– Minerals and Materials– General Use– Forestry – Agriculture– Settlement

• The plan sorts possibilities and designates principal uses

Land Use DesignationsLand Use Designations Agriculture(Ag) – Land that is suitable for present or future

agricultural development

Forestry(F) - Land that is, has been or will be forested and is suited for long-term forest management

General Use(Gu) – Land that contains one or more resource values, none of which is of sufficiently high value to merit a primary designation.

Habitat(Ha) – Designation applies to areas of fish and wildlife habitat used during sensitive life-history stages

Materials(Ma) – Sites suitable for extraction of materials.

Public Facilities-Retained(Pr) – sites reserved for specific infrastructure to serve state interests

Land Use Designations (cont.)Land Use Designations (cont.)

• Public Rec-dispersed(Rd) – applies to areas where recreation is dispersed and widespread

• Public Rec-public use site(Rp) -Areas of concentrated recreation

• Settlement(Se) – Land under state ownership which is suitable for sale, leasing or permitting to allow private recreational or residential use

• Water Resources(Wr) – Land that is of important water sources, watersheds, or hydropower. In this plan it also includes wetland areas, the intent of which is to maintain in an undisturbed state

• Mineral (Mi) – commercial quantities of minerals believed to exist

The Planning ProcessThe Planning Process• Resources are mapped• Land issues are identified from meetings with

agencies and the public• Land use designations and management

direction are formulated by region• A draft plan (PRD) is presented to the public• Revisions may be made in response to public

comments• The Final Plan is adopted and a Land

Classification Order is Issued

Public InputPublic Input

• Public input is sought throughout the planning process

• There is an official comment period following the Public Review Draft

• We want comments anytime

How To Provide CommentsHow To Provide Comments

• Ray Burger

• Department of Natural Resources

• 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1050

• Anchorage, AK 99501

• Tel: 269-8533 Fax: 269-8915

• Email: ray.burger@alaska.gov

• Website: dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/planningdnr.alaska.gov/mlw/planning