Management Uni4 t Susitna River Crossing L The dramatic Susitna River1 crossing is a prime recrea- General Description tion area, but the site 's low visual absorption capa- bility demands sensitive development to retain the Management Unit 4 begins 5 1/2 miles northeast high scenic value. of the Susitna River crossing and extends acros e rive th o sapproximatelt r 3 miley s southeas e crossingth f o t . a highlThi s i s y scenic area e anticipatio,th fulf o l f o n The historically and culturally interesting crossing the "Big Su." The road parallels the townsit d min an eDenalf o e e visiblar i e across Susitna River along its west bank until it the Susitna River from within this management L turns sharply easo crost e tone-lane th s , unit. However, due to its distance from the canted bridge over the Susitna. (It is the highway, it is difficult to decipher any de- longest e Denalbridgth n io e Road)e Th . tail in the view without binoculars. The traveler's view e stronglar s y oriented toward Denali Townsite access road intersects with the river, with opportunities to experience the Denali Wild and Scenic Road just east of the Susitna from many varying point f viewo s . the river crossing. The alignment of the road also gives the traveler a sense of anticipation in the east- Other land use and development activities bound direction as there is a dramatic change within this management unit are located on to a mountain landscape along the southern both sides of the river and include recrea- D54 e Clearwateth edg f o e r Mountains. tional homesites, lodges, gravel extraction L 4 Susitna River Crossing Assessment Units D23 — D27 T-1 NORTH 1 0 2 mi. •T-L KEY ^Real-1 -p.Turnout fa. Impact Mitigation Riga 1Propose- d Realignment Rec"1 Kec. -Recreation - Real -1 2iHi. .Greenbelt State Owned Land 1 LJ Federal Land Private Land D55 sites and an airfield. However, no permanent Impact Mitigation: To take appropriate action to mitigate adverse visual impacts resulting structure e visiblar s e froe Susitnth m a River from previous roadside maintenanc d developean - crossing. At present, there are few ment . established recreational facilities neae th r Susitna River crossing. Management Land Ownership& Recommendations Management Responsibility DevelopmenLan& e dUs t (LU)______ Land management within this uni s predomii t - nantly the responsibility of the BLM. There Currently d developmenan e lane th ,us d t activ- are .several (5) private landholdings scattered ities within this unit consiso lodgestw f o ta , along the road, however, all of the land small boat launch site, several recreational immediately e adjacenSusitnth o t at River homesites, material sites and an airfield. It crossin s managei g y BLMb de southwesTh . t appears thae existinth t g private lands have e crossinth ban f o s M k beet asidha gBL se ny b e been developed and any future developcent would as a recreation withdrawal. The DOTPF main- e discretioth e BLMt bth a e ,f o whicn h cur- 0 footain30 ta s right-of-way throughout this rently manage e remainde th e sroadsid th f o r e management unit. lands n planninI e f futurthes.o th e r eus efo g s landsrecommendei t i , d that developmenf o t the scenic and recreational resources be addressed as the highest priority. Other Visual Resource developments such as mining, homesites, com- Management Objectives mercial establishment d materiaan s l extraction shoul e discourageb d d unless they - retaien r o n hance these resource values. e managemenTh t recommendations presenter fo d this unit focus on the themes of retention, en- The overall recommendations for the Denali Wild hancement and impact mitigation. and Scenic Road outline some general consider- ation r sensitivfo s developmentd ean lane us d . Retentio o retaiT n; n those characteristics The following points describe how these manage- which contribute to the particularly high ment actions should be applied to the Susitna scenic resource values and interesting driving River crossing area: experience within this management unit. Enhancement o enhancT : e traveler'th e s under- • Recreational developmen overd t an -(boty da h standing, appreciation and use of this area night use) should be encouraged near the through the development of appropriately sited Susitna River crossin e mosth t s a gappropriat e D56 and designed roadside recreational facilities. land use within this unit. L e lanTh d • adjacenSusitne th o t at River cross- d thaan t g in visible e frorecreationath m l sites shoul e retaineb d r publifo d c recrea- tiona e onlyus l . [ Furthe• r commercia d homesitan l e develop- ment should not be located within view from the Susitna River crossin d shoulan g d respond to the greenbelt recommendations for this unit. i exceptioWite • th h recreationaf o n l homes!tes, federal land disposals shoul e discourageb d d in this unit. L •v -.»,-;.** -^ Al• l minin materiad an g l extraction activities should be restricted from locating within view r from the road. .....,, Recreation Development (Rcc) The Susitna River crossing is a major recre- ation focus along the Denali Wild and Scenic With proper site design and landscaping, this unsight- Road. However w visualo a l, s currenha e us t ly gravel pit is the recommended location for camp- e onlth ye are impacd th existinan a n o t g pub- ground and rest area development (Rec - 1). While it lic recreational facility is a small boat is removed fromriverthe bank, siteeasythe has ac- launch ramp on the northeast bank of the riv- cess and good screening potential. s BLwithdrawer ha M e southwesth n t banf o k the crossin r recreationafo g o ln uset bu , developmen t takeye ns ha placet . In order to respond to the existing and future demand for recreational use at the Susitna • The east banks of the crossing have moderate L River crossing, there may need to be several visual absorption capabilities. facilities developed within close proximito t y • The existing boat launch site is well-sited, the river which provide camping sites, scenic but too small and has no off-road pull-out viewpoints, picnic sites, boat launches, river space. acces d hikinan s g trailse followinTh . g • There are no established picnic, camping or development opportunities and constraints toilet facilities near the crossing. have been identified: • Therlargea s i e , former material site approx- imatel 2 mil . ye Denal e riveeth th east a if ro t wese Th Susitnte • th bank f ao s River crossing Townsite road junction s developmenha t I . - po t L have very low visual absorption capabilities. tential as a campsite and day use facility. D57 There Ia snarro w ridgeto pe eas th drivt n o e Pos• t information indicatin locatioe th g f o n side of the Denali Road which leads to a the ridgetop viewpoin e sout th s wel a ho t tl breathtaking viewpoint over the Susitna River. as recreation-related informatioe th r fo n It is unsaf r intensivfo e e o usn e s sincha t i e Susitna River (I.e. fishing, boating, etc.). vehicle turnaround spacd onlan ey limited opportunities for sensitive expansion. A recreation developmen e Susitntth plar afo n Rec-2 Ridgetop Viewpoint: This short drive alone th g River crossing should be prepared, taking top of a very narrow ridge leads to spectacular advantage of the site's outstanding amenities e Susitnth view f o sa River. This viewpoint should be developed In conjunction with the while minimizing facility development. Recre- Rest Area (Rec-l o provid)t e travelers witn a h ational development shoul e restricteb d e th o t d Interpretive site for the Upper Susitna River eas e triver th sid f o ,e wher e visuath e- ab l landscape. Since this s sitextremelha e y limited space for development, rest area facil- sorption capability is highest and existing ities shoul e provideb e drecommende th t a d d landscape alterations are concentrated. rest area site approximatele th 2 mil o 1/ yt e northwest e followinTh . g site development guidelines shoul e appliedb d : Rec-l Rest AreCampgroundd aan e formeTh ; r materials • Prohibit vehicle access on the ridgetop road. site on the east side of the river crossing Provide a small gravel turnout (2-3 cars) at shoul e developeb d a combine s a d d rest ared an a the roadsid d maintaian e nfooa te traith o t l campground. This existing disturbed area now viewpoint. appears to be Sbed as a parking area by recreationlsts at the Susitna River. Site Provid• e interpretive information regarding development and reclamation should include the the Susitna River landscap d wildlifan e t a e following actions: the parking area, leaving the trail unde- velope o experienct d e fulth el e effecth f o t • Construc a vegetatet roadside d th bert a em spectacular panorama. to provide partial screening from traffic. • Regrade the site and establish masses of vegetation withi e sitth ne accordina o t g Rec-3 Boat Launch existine Th : g boat launch site may landscape design scheme. This will provide need to be expanded to provide adequate space some privacy e site' d breath . an p su k expan- to safely back off the boat ramp without siveness. enterin e road f necessaryth gI .