Knik River Public Use Area Management Plan
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Knik River Public Use Area Management Plan Adopted September 2008 Modified September 2012 Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Mining, Land and Water Resource Assessment and Development Section Knik River Public Use Area Management Plan Adopted September 2008 Modified September 2012 Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Mining, Land and Water Resource Assessment and Development Section SARAH PALIN, GOVERNOR o 400 WILLOUGHBY AVENUE JUNEAU, ALASKA 99801-1796 PHONE: (907) 465-2400 FAX: (907) 465-3886 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES o 550 WEST 7TH AVENUE, SUITE 1400 ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 99501-3650 OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER PHONE: (907) 269-8431 FAX: (907) 269-8918 The Commissioner ofthe Department ofNatural Resources adopts the Knik River Public Use Area Management Plan (Management Plan) as the basis for the management of state land and water within the Public Use Area (AS 41.23.230) under the authority AS 41.23.190, and for those state lands that are included within the plan boundary but not within the boundary established by AS 41.34.230. In addition, I hereby also adopt this Management Plan as the Land Use Plan for the Public Use Area under the authority of AS 38.04.065 and 11 AAC 55.010-55.030. The Management Plan supersedes the Susitna Area Plan and the Prince William Sound Area Plan for the area covered by the Management Plan. The Department ofNatural Resources will manage state land and water within the plan boundary consistent with the Management Plan under the authorities of AS 38.04.065 and AS 41.23.190, and will classify these lands consistent with the Management Plan. ~ Commissioner Date Department ofNatural Resources "Develop, Conserve, and Enhance Natural Resourcesfor Present and Future Alaskans. " Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction and Background Summary of Purpose ............................................................................................................ 1 - 1 The Planning Area ............................................................................................................... 1 - 1 The Public Use Area ............................................................................................................ 1 - 1 Why the Plan Was Developed ............................................................................................. 1 - 2 How the Plan Was Developed ............................................................................................. 1 - 7 How the Plan Will be Used .................................................................................................. 1 - 7 What the Plan will or Will Not Do ...................................................................................... 1 - 8 Relationship of PUA Statutes to Other Statutes .................................................................. 1 - 9 Relationship to Other Plans and Agreements ...................................................................... 1 - 9 Chapter 2: Goals and Management Guidelines Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2 - 1 Definitions............................................................................................................................ 2 - 1 Overall Management Direction ............................................................................................ 2 - 2 Access .................................................................................................................................. 2 - 3 Commercial Use................................................................................................................... 2 - 5 Coordination ........................................................................................................................ 2 - 6 Facilities ............................................................................................................................... 2 - 8 Fees ...................................................................................................................................... 2 - 9 Fish and Wildlife Habitat ................................................................................................... 2 - 10 Forestry .............................................................................................................................. 2 - 15 Health and Safety ............................................................................................................... 2 - 17 Heritage/Cultural................................................................................................................ 2 - 23 Materials ............................................................................................................................ 2 - 25 Mitigation ........................................................................................................................... 2 - 27 Parcel Acquisition .............................................................................................................. 2 - 29 Public Use Sites ................................................................................................................. 2 - 31 Recreation .......................................................................................................................... 2 - 35 Subsurface Resources ........................................................................................................ 2 - 43 Trails .................................................................................................................................. 2 - 45 Waterbodies ....................................................................................................................... 2 - 48 i Chapter 3: Management Guidelines, Recommendations, and Public Use Sites for Each Management Unit Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 3 - 1 Unit A – Lower Knik Flats .................................................................................................. 3 - 5 Unit B – Lakes and Wetlands ............................................................................................ 3 - 13 Unit C – Upper Knik Flats ................................................................................................. 3 - 19 Unit D – Upper Jim Alpine ................................................................................................ 3 - 23 Unit E – Upper Friday Alpine ............................................................................................ 3 - 27 Unit F – Grasshopper Valley ............................................................................................. 3 - 31 Unit G – Glacier ................................................................................................................. 3 - 33 Unit H – Metal Creek ......................................................................................................... 3 - 35 Chapter 4: Implementation Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 4 - 1 General Management of PUA Lands ................................................................................... 4 - 1 Access to Public Lands ........................................................................................................ 4 - 1 Trails Management Process ................................................................................................. 4 - 2 Knik River Special Use Areas ............................................................................................. 4 - 2 Amendments to Current Area Plans .................................................................................... 4 - 2 Land Classification Order .................................................................................................... 4 - 3 Enforcement ......................................................................................................................... 4 - 3 Title 38 Requirements .......................................................................................................... 4 - 4 Authority of Management Plan ............................................................................................ 4 - 4 Allowed and Prohibited Uses ............................................................................................... 4 - 4 Proposed Regulations........................................................................................................... 4 - 4 Fees ...................................................................................................................................... 4 - 5 Other Lands .......................................................................................................................... 4 - 5 Navigable Waterbodies ........................................................................................................ 4 - 8 Coordination with Other Agencies ...................................................................................... 4 - 9 Procedures for Plan Review, Modification, and Amendment ............................................. 4 - 9 Recommended Future Studies ........................................................................................... 4 - 10 ii Appendices Appendix A: Glossary.......................................................................................................