priorities for legislative and land disposal...

Chapter 4

IMPLEMENTATION

PRIORITIES FOR LEGISLATIVE ANDADMINISTRATIVE DESIGNATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405

TRANSPORTATION PROPOSALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410LAND DISPOSAL SCHEDULE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418LAND TRADES, RELINQUISHMENTS

AND SELECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422PUBLIC RECREATION CAPITOL

IMPROVEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424PRIORITIES FOR INSTREAM FLOW

STUDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427MANAGEMENT PLANNING PRIORITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 429

photograph by Pete Martin

403

CHAPTER 4IMPLEMENTATION

INTRODUCTION

This chapter describes the actions nesessary to implement the land use policies proposed by this areaplan. These actions include proposals for legislative or administrative designation of certain lands; im-provements to the regional transportation system; a twenty-year land disposal schedule; recommend-ed land exchanges, relinquishments and selections; priorities for capital improvements for recreation;land use classifications; priorities for instream flow studies; and a list of possible locations for manage-ment plans. Most of these proposed actions are discussed in more detail in other portions of the plan.For example, proposals for legislative designations are included in the management intent summariesfor the appropriate subregions.

The list of implementation actions included in this chapter is not complete. Each land managementdivision within ADNR and ADF&G will need to prepare detailed regional implementation programsbuilt around the land use designations and guidelines specified in this plan. For example, now thatthe timber land base of the area is defined, the Division of Forestry needs to determine allowable levelsof commercial and personal use harvest, prepare and implement a plan of annual timber sales, anddevelop plans for access improvement and timber marketing.

These implementation actions will be used as a basis for budget preparation including requests forchanges in staff levels and requests for legislative funding of capital improvements, data collection orother actions necessary to implement the plan.

PRIORITIES FOR LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVEDESIGNATION

A number of areas within the Susitna plan are propos-ed for legislative or administrative designation. Thismeans that the plan recommends that the legislatureor governor grant these areas recreational rivers, parks,recreation areas, forests or wildlife refuges, or includethem in the public reserve system. These specialdesignations would serve as official recognition of theoutstanding public values in these areas and of thestate's intent to retain these areas in public ownershipin perpetuity. A legislative or administrative (guber-natorial) designation is recommended when an areaproposed by the plan for long-term retention possessessuch high resource values that:

1. It is clear that the area should remain in publicownership permanently; and/or

2. the nature and value of the resources present re-quire more restrictive management for their protec-tion than is possible under a general multiple useclassification.

A detailed management plan will need to be preparedfor each area once it is legally designated. Issues ad-dressed by management plans will include siting ofpublic facilities (e.g., campgrounds, boat launches),

clarification of the specific types and locations of allow-ed uses in these areas, design of additional means ofpublic access, indentification of areas open and clos-ed to remote cabins, etc. The areas that are proposedfor legislative or administrative designation have beendivided into two priorities. The first priority areas arethose that are either particularly high value areas orappear particularly vulnerable to disruption. The se-cond priority areas are also high value, but it was judg-ed that either their resource values are not as likelyto be in jeopardy without a special designation or thatthey are not quite as valuable as first priority areas.Only the first priority areas are shown on the colored,1:500,000 scale map that accompanies this plan. Firstand second priority areas both are indicated on thedesignation maps in Chapter 3.In most cases the areas proposed for special designa-tion contain multiple resource values, for example,high value fishing and floating rivers running throughtimber lands that are popular for hunting. In thesecases the plan "has not tried to split the proposal withina single area into a portion that is proposed as a stateforest, a portion proposed as a state recreation area,etc. Instead, the plan's rcommendations for specialdesignation extend to the entire block of high valueland.

405

The first priority areas are recommended for legislativedesignation. For second priority areas the plan doesnot distinguish between legislative and administrativedesignations. The decision on the type of designationis left to the legislature or governor.

The areas proposed for special designations aregrouped below according to their priority for legislativeor administrative action. The total area proposed forlegislative or administrative designation is approxi-mately 3.6 million acres. For additional informationon individual proposals, see the appropriate manage-ment unit summaries in Chapter 3.

FIRST PRIORITY AREAS

Recreation River Corridors: Kroto Creek-MooseCreek, Lake Creek, Talachulitna River, AlexanderCreek, Talkeetna River.

Multiple Use Forest, Habitat, Recreation, MiningAreas: Peters Creek, Mt. Susitna, Kashwitna, LakeCreek, Kroto-Kahiltna.

Wildlife Habitat, Recreation Areas: Lower SusitnaYentna; Jim-Swan Lakes, Palmer Hay Flats Addition.

Multiple Use Habitat, Recreation, Mining Areas:Nelchina Public Use Area (core caribou calving area).

tributors to the Cook Inlet commercial salmon fishery.The riparian habitat is also essential for sustenance ofmammalian populations. Moose winter range along therivers is particularly important.

River or Stream Acreage Subrcglon1. Kroto Creek-

Moose Creek

2. Lake Creek

75,000 ac.

64,160 ac.

3. Talachulitna Creek 50,840 ac.

4. Alexander Creek 22,600 ac.

5. Talkeetna River 27,440 ac.

Petersville Rd.subunits 1b & 4aSusitna Lowlandssubunit 11b

Sunflower BasinMgmt. Unit 3;Susitna Lowlandssubunit 7b.

Mt. SusitnaManagement Unit7

Susitna Lowlandssubunit 6d

Talkeetna Mts.subunit 3b; SouthParks Hwysubunits 5b & 6a

TOTAL AREA 240,040 ac.

SECOND PRIORITY AREAS

Trumpeter Swan Nesting Areas: Upper Kahiltna R.,Hayes R., Upper Yentna R.

Wildlife Habitat, Recreation Areas: GunsightMountain, Susitna Lake-Tyone R.

The remainder of this section presents brief descrip-tions of the size and resource values of each of theareas listed above.

Recreational River CorridorsThese waterways are very high priority for legislativedesignation. They are extremely valuable to the region'seconomy and environment. These streams and riversare heavily used by the public for fishing, floating andboating, transportation, and public access to huntingand recreation sites. They attract people from acrossthe nation as well as Alaska residents, and the moneyspent on transportation and river-based recreation isan important source of local income. All five of thesewaterways are anadromous fish streams, supportingpopulations of king, silver, pink, red, and chum salmon,as well as resident fish populations. In addition to sup-porting sport fishing, these streams are major con-

The proposed legislative designation boundaries runapproximately one-half mile landward on each sideof the rivers. With the exception of the Talkeetna River,which is partly in Native ownership, each corridor in-cludes the full length of the river's main stem fromheadwaters to terminus. Within these areas, land andwater would be managed for multiple use, includinghunting, fishing, and other recreational activities;habitat management; timber harvesting and waterquality protection. Timber management activities aresecondary uses in the corridors; they will be design-ed to protect and enhance habitat and recreationvalues and water quality. Land sales would be pro-hibited in these corridors; however, public use cabinsand in some instances commercial recreation facilitieswould be allowed. Mineral entry and coal leasing orprospecting also would be prohibited.

Multiple Use Forestry, Habitat, Recreation,Mining Areas

Five areas proposed for legislative designation containa combination of commercially valuable forest lands,high value habitat, and existing and potential valuefor public recreation. These lands in the Peters Creek,Mt. Susitna, Kashwitna, Lake Creek and Kroto-Kahiltna

406

areas would be managed for multiple use, includingtimber management; habitat enhancement; hunting,fishing and other recreational activites; and, protec-tion of water quality and visual quality. These areaswould be open to mineral efftry and coal leasing andprospecting. Details of each area are given below.

1.Peters Creek - 161,000 acres - PetersvilleRoad subunit la, Sunflower Basin subunit 7b

The proposed Peters Creek special designation isthe most important of the forestry areas proposedby the Susitna Area Plan. The area is accessible fromPetersville Road and the Shulin Lake trail. Accessi-bility makes lands within the proposal suitable fornear term commercial timber management. Theforests south of Petersville Road contain some ofthe most valuable timber in the study area.Numerous state and borough timber sales havetaken place nearby along the Petersville Road. Roadaccess also has contributed to the area's populari-ty for other uses. While the timber north ofPetersville Road and west of Peters Creek is lesssuitable for commercial management, these landsare extremely valuable for wildlife habitat and hun-ting. This proposed multiple use area includes alarge part of the most heavily hunted region in theentire planning area. The scenery along the westernPetersville Road with views to the Peters Hills andAlaska Range also attracts other recreationists forsightseeing, skiing, snowmachining, hiking and cam-ping. Finally, the area surrounds two of the mostimportant anadromous fish streams in the studyarea, in terms of recreation use and riparian habitat— Kroto Creek (see above) and Peters Creek.

2. Mt. Susitna - 146,000 acres - Mt. Susitnasubunlts 2a, 2b and 2c; Susitna Lowlandssubunit 6e

The proposed Mt. Susitna designation is a variedregion including dense lowland forests, numerousstreams and rivers, and alpine areas. There are vasttimberlands suitable for commercial management.The Mt. Susitna area, which includes lands alongTrail Ridge, is an important moose hunting area andis hunted for trophy specimens of brown bear; it isalso a known brown bear denning area. In addition,Wolverine Creek and the Theodore River runthrough the area and are regionally important ana-dromous fish streams. Present recreational activitycenters around hunting and fishing, but the alpinearea also offers excellent opportunities for hiking andskiing, and the area is likely to be a popular recrea-tional destination (possibly including an alpine skiarea) if road access is provided to the area. Existingaccess is by air, but the area proposed for designa-tion is adjacent to the right-of-way connecting the

Beluga-Tyonek area with the railbelt. There are alsoexisting roads in the Tyonek area that extend near-ly to the western boundary of this area.

3. Kashwitna - 75,000 acres - South ParksHighway Management Unit 12

The proposed special designation in the Kashwitnaarea lies between the Parks Highway and the westernfront of the Talkeetna Mountains. It is an area withvaluable timber for commercial and/or personal usenear to areas with growing populations. In additionto timber resources, the area is important for wildlifehabitat. Much of the lowland region east of the ParksHighway is in private ownership, increasing the valueof this region for moose hunting. Bears also concen-trate along the North Fork of the Kashwitna River.The North Fork, the main stem of the Kashwitna, andSheep Creek all are important anadromous fishstreams that run through the proposed state forest.Finally, the area offers opportunities for other formsof recreation (e.g. skiing, hiking, and snowmachin-ing) that will increase in popularity as access couldbe provided from existing roads in either the CaswellLakes or Bartlett Hills areas.

4. Lake Creek forest lands - 29,000 acres -Susitna Lowlands subunit 7a

The land west of Lake Creek is one of the mostdensely forested regions in the entire study area. Ithas potential for commercial management andvaluable for wildlife habitat, including moose winterrange. The forest lands abut the proposed Lake Creekrecreational river corridor ( see above) and in-clude Yenlo Creek, an anadromous fish stream thatis one of the most important tributaries to LakeCreek. This area is recommended for legislativedesignation in recognition of the high timber andhabitat values even though the remoteness of thesite makes it unlikely that active forest managementwill begin in the near future.

5. Kroto-Kahiltna - 118,000 acres - SusitnaLowlands subunits 5f, Ha & 12b

A large, forested lowland area between Kroto Creekand the Kahiltna River, and along a portion of theYentna River floodplain is proposed for legislativedesignation for long term timber and habitat manage-ment. The area supports extensive stands of com-mercially valuable timber and provides importantmoose winter range. Although currently inaccessibleby road, relatively inexpensive road access could beprovided in the future to link this area to thePetersville Road via Oilwell Road. The value of thisarea for hunting, hiking, snowmobiling and otherdispersed recreation activities is likely to grow

407

substantially in the future as adjacent lands designedlor agriculture, settlement and resource managementare developed.

Wildlife Habitat and Recreation Areas

1. Lower Susitna-Yentna public use area -54,000 acres — Susitna Lowlands, subunits13d, 13e & 14e

Approximately 25,000 acres of extremely valuablehabitat land and associated timber land aroundKroto slough and 21,000 acres along the lowerreaches of the Yentna and Susitna Rivers are recom-mended for legislative designation. The principalgoal of this proposal is the protection of winter rangeessential to several moose populations and criticalnesting habitat for trumpeter swans. Commercialtimber management also would be a primary useis the Susitna River corridor, a secondary use in theKroto Slough area, where swan nesting sites are con-centrated, and a secondary use in the Yentna Rivercorridor where there are few timber lands.

2. Jim-Swan Lakes State Recreation Area —7,600 acres — Glenn Highway subunit 3b

The Jim-Swan Lakes area near Bodenburg Butte isproposed for legislative designation because of theheavy public use of the area's lakes and streams forsalmon and trout fishing, waterfowl hunting, canoe-ing, hiking and winter recreation activities. Use islikely to increase as the population of the surround-ing area grows. Limited timber harvesting may bepermitted in the area if it is consistent with the ma-jor goals of providing recreation, protecting andenhancing wildlife habitat, and protecting visualquality.

3. Palmer Hay Flats Extension - 1,200 acres -Glenn Highway subunit 2a

A small extension is proposed for the Palmer HayFlats game refuge. The refuge is managed primarilyfor waterfowl habitat and hunting. The proposedaddition is a small parcel of land to the east of therefuge at the mouth of the Knik and MatanuskaRivers. This area is valuable waterfowl and moosehabitat and is also important as a visual buffer alongthe Glenn Highway between more developed areasto the north and south. The objective for this areais to provide for protection and enhancement ofwildlife habitat. Other activities, including hunting,other forms of recreation, and timber harvestingwould be allowed when consistent with the habitatmanagement goals for the refuge.

408

4.Gunsight Mountain - 97,000 acres - GlennHighway subunit l ib and lie

Approximately 97,000 acres around GunsightMountain just north of the Glenn Highway issuitable for legislative or administrative designationon the basis of the existing and future public useand recreational opportunities of the area. The areais located at the upper end of the Matanuska Valleyand offers a spectacular combination of rugged torolling mountain terrain with superb views acrossthe Matanuska River towards Lions Head and theChugach Range. Because of its inland location andinteresting topography, the area is particularly suitedtor winter recreation, including excellent cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Summer activitiesinclude popular hikes on Gunsight Mountain,picnicking and sightseeing. Hunting, skiing, snow-mobiling, fishing and other types of recreationcollectively support at least four roadside lodges thatcater to these recreational users. It is also a popularwildlife viewing area, as Dall sheep are often visiblefrom the road. A large portion of the area is withinAhtna Native Corporation selections at present,however, and thus unavailable for immediatelegislative or administrative designation. Public landswithin the area should be retained in publicownership and managed for public recreation andwildlife habitat until the Native selections are eitherconveyed or relinquished and a decision can bemade to designate the whole area or only thoselands in state ownership.

5. Susitna Lake-Tyone River - 138,000 acres -Lake Louise subunits Ib and 3d

The Susitna Lake-Tyone River area is intended toprovide a public recreation area to complement thesettlement lands surrounding Lake Louise. This areaoffers miles of interesting waterways for boating, ex-cellent fishing and hunting, and the water accessroute into the Upper Susitna, McKenzie andGulkana River systems. The area also is used by theNelchina Caribou herd.

Multiple Use Habitat, Recreation, MiningArea: Nelchina Public Use Area - 2.5million acres

Lake Louise subunit 3bGlenn Highway subunit 12aTalkeetna Mountains subunits 2a, 2b

There are currently approximately 25,000 caribou inthe Nelchina Caribou herd — the third largest caribouherd in the state. The herd is centered in the easternand central Talkeetna Mountains. The proposedNelchina public use area would protect the core of

the caribou calving grounds-and a significant portionof the herd's commonly used range.

The proposed Nelchina public use area contains a corearea of a million acres that are critical calving groundsfor the Nelchina herd. This area is a first priority pro-posal for legislative designation for protection ofcaribou habitat, and for other public uses when com-patible with the habitat protection goals (e.g. seasonaluse for hunting, hiking, and other recreationalactivities).

Surrounding the core area are approximately 1.5million acres of less frequently used calving groundsand general caribou range. This area also should beretained in public ownership and managed to protectcaribou habitat, other habitat values, and publicrecreation opportunities. This outer ring is a secondpriority for legislative or administrative action due toits less critical role in the protection of the herd.

Mining presently occurs throughout much of the 2.5million acres in the Nelchina public use area. The plan'sproposals for legislative or administrative designationwould leave the area open to mining and allow forits continuation as one of the area's primary uses.

Swan Nesting Habitat — 80,000 acres

Susitna Lowlands subunits 1b and 3c;Sunflower Basin subunit 6c

Three wetland and floodplain areas are proposed forlegislative or administrative designation to protecttrumpeter swan nesting habitat. These areas along theKahiltna, Hayes and upper Yentna Rivers are criticalto the perpetuation of trumpeter swan populations inthe Susitna Basin. In addition, the riparian lands withinthese proposals provide important winter range forseveral moose populations. Public uses such as hunt-ing, fishing and other recreational activities would bepermitted in these areas when they do not conflict withswan nesting sites. Mining will be permitted in theseareas under guidelines designed to minimize its effecton swan habitat. These areas are thought to have verylow mineral potential.

409

TRANSPORTATION PROPOSALS

Introduction

Transportation planning is a necessary component ofa comprehensive land use plan. The design of an effi-cient regional transportation system will be key toresource development and a major determinant ofland use patterns in the Susitna area.

Most of the past transportation planning and road con-struction in the Susitna region has focused onupgrading major highways (e.g. the Clenn) or improv-ing road access within and through areas that arealready developed. In contrast to these ongoing efforts,transportation planning in the area plan focuses onthe need for near and long-term expansion of theregional transportation system. Particular emphasis isplaced on identifying improvements that could facili-tate resource development, increase opportunities forpublic recreation and tourism, and open more landfor settlement.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and PublicFacilities is currently studying regional transportationneeds in the Cook Inlet area. Results of this study, ex-pected in late 1985, should be used to help prioritizeand implement the transportation recommendationspresented here.

The remainder of this section has three parts: 1) cur-rent regional transportation projects, 2) routes of possi-ble future roads and locations of other transportationimprovements that could provide future access toresource development, recreation and settlementareas, and 3) a preliminary listing of priorities amongthe projects described in the second part.

Current Regional Transportation Projects

Three major transportation projects currently beingconsidered are described below. The area plan didnot address these proposals; they are listed here to pro-vide background to the general subject of transporta-tion improvements within the Susitna area.

1. Access to the Susitna Hydroelectric Project

Two large hydroelectric dams have been propos-ed at Devils Canyon and Watana located on the up-per Susitna River (See Chapter 3 — Talkeetna Moun-tains Subregion for details). The transportationsystem proposed by the Alaska Power Authoritywould provide access to the Devils Canyon site viaa rail extension from the existing rail line beginningnear Gold Creek. Access to the Watana site is pro-posed via a road from the Denali Highway southto Watana through the Deadhorse Creek drainage.

410

Issues related to this proposed road and rail systeminclude the impacts from the proposed northernroad vs. access from the west, design standards forthe Denali highway (which would be upgraded ifthe northern route is selected), and use of theseroads by the general public during and afterconstruction.

2. Glenn Highway Realignment

The Department of Transportation and PublicFacilities (DOT/PF) is working on preliminary en-vironmental and engineering assessment forupgrading the Glenn Highway from mile 35 nearPalmer to approximately mile 1 35. No schedule hasbeen set for highway construction or more detailedengineering and environmental assessment work. Itis likely that it will be at least 5 years before any con-struction on the route actually occurs.

When construction does occur, DOT/PF engineersexpect the realignment generally to follow the ex-isting road corridor. DOT/PF's major objectives forthe project are to improve road safety whileupgrading the road to enable higher travel speedsand greater traffic volumes. In addition to theseobjectives, the Department of Natural Resourceswants to protect and improve visual quality and im-prove access to existing and proposed settlementand recreation areas along the route. (Refer toChapter 3 — the Glenn Highway Subregion.)

3. Knik Arm Crossing

The Knik Arm crossing has been under considera-tion for at least 15 years. A draft environmental im-pact statement, preliminary engineering study andset of public hearings on this subject were com-pleted during 1984. If the state legislature decidesto fund the project, the crossing is expected to becompleted five years after construction begins. Thecost of the project will depend on the type of struc-ture built. Preliminary costs for one alternative havebeen estimated at $500 million. As this documentgoes to press, the combination of falling staterevenues and the lack of strong public and localgovernment support make it unlikely that the pro-ject will be funded in the 1985 legislative session.

The proposed crossing would tie Anchorage to PointMcKenzie, and provide a route that would shortenthe driving distance between Anchorage and Fair-banks by 30-50 miles depending on which alter-native route is built. Past studies indicate that thecrossing would bring substantial residential develop-ment pressures in the southern portion of theMatanuska-Susitna Borough and perhaps stimulate

other types of economic development, including apossible port and industrial park area.

Possible Road and Trail Routes to beReserved in Public Ownership

The following section identifies a system of road andtrail routes and related transportation improvementsto be retained in public ownership. Eleven packagesof possible access improvements have been identifiedin Petersville Road, Susitna Lowlands, North and SouthParks Highway and Glenn Highway Subregions. Theseaccess improvements are designed to implement theland use decisions made by this plan. They aredepicted on maps on the following pages. Also includ-ed here are a description of several routes where rights-of-way have already been established. These are in-cluded to give a more complete picture of the regionaltransportation system and because several of theseundeveloped rights-of way serve areas that are iden-tified as needing access in the plan.

Most of the routes presented here are intended to beregional transportation corridors, although some morelocalized projects are also included. Most of theseregional routes would provide access to a number ofdifferent public and private land use activities. Formore information on proposed local access projects(for example to a single subdivision) refer to manage-ment intent statements for individual subregions inChapter 3.

By proposing to retain these transportation routes, thisplan is not necessarily proposing the roads actually bebuilt. The major purpose is to protect the option tobuild roads along efficient routes should the time comewhen the benefits of construction outweigh the costs.Another important point is that the locations of theroutes are intended to be quite general; more detailedengineering and environmental work will be neededprior to establishing actual rights-of-way.

l.Shulin Lake

The Shulin Lake package consists of two segments(see map): a southward route following the existingShulin Lake Trail (segment 1a) and a possible routefor extending past Shulin Lake across the KahiltnaRiver into the McDougal, Lake Creek and Kahiltnaland disposals.

Segment la travels southward from Petersville Roadfor roughly twelve miles paralleling Peters Creek toShulin Lake. The route then continues for approx-imately another 8 miles to the Oilwell Road system.Segment la would provide access into the largePeters Creek timber and habitat area recommended

for legislative designation for long-term multiple usemanagement. This route would also provide accessto an area designated resource management con-taining both good timber stands and a large blockof state-owned agricultural soils. (See PetersvilleSubregion, subunits 1a, 1e and Susitna LowlandsSubregion, subunits 9b, 9c.)

Segment 1 b extends 7.5 miles southwest across theKahiltna River from where segment 1a goes pastShulin Lake. This route provides access to remotesettlement areas, to borough- and state-owned landshaving good potential for timber production andsettlement, and to the edge of the Lake Creek cor-ridor. (See Susitna Lowlands Subregion, subunits 7band 8a.) The route also provides a portion of a roadlink with a number of mining areas located furtherwest.

2. Oilwell Road Extension

This package is comprised of improvements toOilwell Road south of Moose Creek. Oilwell Roadfollows a 100' surveyed right-of-way from where itbegins at mile 6.5 of the Petersville Road. The roadextends south across Moose Creek into the AmberLakes area, continues southwest across Kroto Creekthrough state and borough lands, then crosses theKahiltna River and continues to the Yentna River.Much of this route is already constructed. From thePetersville Road to Moose Creek it is a four season,borough maintained road; beyond Moose Creek itcurrently is passable during the summer by fourwheel drive vehicles except where it crosses Krotoand Moose Creeks and the Kahiltna River and a bogjust west of Moose Creek.

The Mat-Su Borough received approximately$100,000 for design and improvements to this road.The borough is hoping to use the funds to buy asurplus bridge to cross Moose Creek. Once thebridge across Moose Creek is complete and theadjacent bog crossed, the existing road would pro-vide access into existing and proposed state andborough settlement areas at Gate Creek and AmberLake. The road also would tie into the southernboundary of the Peters Creek multiple use forestry-habitat area recommended for legislative designa-tion. (See Petersville Road Subregion, subunits 3b,3c, 3f and 1b.)

South of Kroto Creek, the road passes through aanother proposed settlement area and then throughthe northern edge of the Chijuk Creek area — a largeblock of primarily borough land with high poten-tial for forestry, agriculture and a variety of otheruses. Near the Kahiltna River, route la crosses theroute from Shulin Lake.

., ift4i»v ^' jr-f^••arffcfUSfc.*-. . : ! • y <" / A '

RIGHTS-OF-WAYto be reserved forPOSSIBLE FUTUREROADS1 Chulin Lake Routes

? 2 Oilwell Road Extension£ 3 Chijuk Creek Loop

4 Lockwood Lake Loop5 Petersville Road

\ 6 Trapper Creek Routes:f 7 Chase/Larson Lake Routes• 8 Kashwitna Routes^ 11 Beluga-Tyonek Route*---Major Existing Roads

iIIIIIII1I1IIIIIJJ

3. Chijuk Creek Loop 5. Petersville Road

The Chijuk Creek access improvements packageconsists of two north-south routes that loop togetherat their southern ends. On the east side,segment 3acomprises a southernly extension of the OilwellRoad. This segment runs south of Amber Lake andparallel to Kroto Creek. On the west side, segment3b travels north and south parallel to the KahiltnaRiver, tying into the Shulin Lake route. (See Chapter3, Susitna Lowlands Subregion, subunits 9c, Ida,10b, 11a, 11g, 12a, 12c. and 14b.)

The eastern part of the system passes through thecenter of the Chijuk Creek block, providing accessto these borough lands with high value for timberproduction, agriculture, fish and wildlife, and publicrecreation. The remaining length of the proposedright-of-way travels through the Kroto-Kahiltna areathat is recommended for legislative designation asa multiple use forestry and habitat area. Along theway it passes the Parker and Neil Lakes state sub-divisions and other lands proposed for futureresidential and agricultural homestead land sales.

The western route (3b) provides access to thewestern portion of the Kroto-Kahiltna lands discuss-ed above. The loop connecting these two routeswould provide access into the Deshka Flats area —a parcel with agriculture, forest and other resourcevalues designated resource management.

4 .Lockwood Lake Loop

This package of routes is an extension of the Chi-juk Creek system described above. Segment 4a isa loop that runs north-south parallel to Kroto Creek,cuts across through the Lockwood Lakes area andthen swingsback to the north, paralleling theKahiltna and Yentna Rivers. Extending access intothis area would open more of the Kroto-Kahiltnamultiple use retention area and, in the south, pro-vide access to the Fish Lakes and Lockwood Lakesareas. These latter areas include several past andplanned state land sales and blocks of borough landwith settlement values. Segment 4b extends furthersouth to link up with a possible bridge crossing ofthe Big Susitna River. (See Susitna LowlandsSubregion, subunits 12a, 12b, 11a, 11g, 13a, 13cand 13f.) The final portion of this access package,segment 4c, is a spur route extending eastwardacross Kroto Creek. This route would provide ac-cess into the Kashwitna Knobs area, a large, con-tinguous block of class II and III soils designated foragriculture. (See Susitna Lowlands Subregion,subunit 14b)

It is recommended that the existing Petersville road,from approximately Gate Creek east, be consideredfor improvement in order to permit greater accessto settlement, forestry, recreation and mining activi-ties. In addition, a spur off this route should alsobe retained in public ownership. This spur followsthe route of an existing trail from the Forks Road-house due west across Peters Creek. This spur routeprovides access into the Lower Cache Creek min-ing area as well as adjacent hunting and timberareas. (See Petersville Road Subregion, subunits 1aand Id, and Sunflower Basin Subregion, subunit 6a,6c, 7a and 7b.)

6. Trapper Creek

This set of proposed improvements is primarilydesigned to provide access into existing agriculturaland settlement areas. It includes several proposedroad routes and also several parking and trail im-provement proposals. These proposed routes andother access projects are of lesser regional import-ance than the projects discussed previously, but areincluded here due to public requests for access im-provements in these areas.

One of these routes, (segment 6a), travels north fromthe Petersville Road near Trapper Creek and wouldenable access to existing and proposed seasonal andyear round settlement areas between Moose Creekand Trapper Creek. This route would also provideaccess into the Scotty Lake agricultural area. Someadditional public recreation opportunities would beopened, although the density of settlement will pro-bably limit opportunities for recreation by non-residents. (See Petersville Road Subregion, subunits5a, 5c, 5d.)

The Kenny Creek right-of-way (Segment 6b)originates approximately 10 miles west of the ParksHighway on the Petersville Road. It is already plattedthrough the existing Kenny Creek State Subdivision.(See Petersville Road Subregion, subunit 2d.)

The Rabideux route (segment 6c) is located betweenthe Susitna River and Rabideux Creek. This areacontains a mixture of state, borough and privatelands including a past state agricultural land sale.There are currently unimproved, short spur roadsextending along the first several miles of both endsof this route. (See Petersville Road Subregion,subunits 7a-7c.)

In addition to retention of possible road routes, two

413

RIGHTS-OF-WAYto be reserved forPOSSIBLE FUTUREROADS

9 North Parks Hwy. Routes

10 Glenn Hwy. Area Routes

possible access-related projects in this area are con-struction of parking areas along the Parks Highwaybetween Trapper Creek and Denali state park. Thisstretch of the Parks Highway is currently used asa departure point for foot and off-road vehicle ac-cess into a number of past state land sales. Lack ofestablished parking facilities leads to unsafe park-ing along the main highway, vandalism and carsstuck in snow or mud. In addition to parkingfacilities, trails from these areas (in most casesalready in use) need to be formally established instate and borough records. (See Petersville RoadSubregion, units 2 and 5.)

7. Chase and Larson Lake

This package of possible improvements consists ofseveral independent segments originating in theChase area and on the Talkeetna Spur Road. Thesesegments would provide access to the ChaseAgricultural Homestead and past remote parcel andsubdivision areas and to Larson Lake.

The Chase Agricultural Homestead project was of-fered in the summer of 1984. The state also offereda large subdivision and several other land sales inthe area. (See South Parks Highway Subregion, unit4.) A system of platted rights-of-way, (segment 7a)runs through this area.) This system includes a plat-ted right-of-way that crosses the Talkeetna Rivernorth of the Satellite Earth Station and connects thesubdivision and the Chase Agricultural homesteadareas with the existing road system.

The other route included in this package (segment7b) primarily would enable access to borough-owned lands adjacent to Larson Lake. The boroughis requesting funding from the legislature for this pro-ject. This road would provide access to public andprivate recreational lands around the lake and en-courage tourism development. Future borough landsales are contingent on the provision of access. Thisroute would also provide access to several small pastand planned state subdivisions and the middle por-tion of the Talkeetna River. (See Chapter 3, SouthParks Highway Subregion, subunit 5c.)

8. Kashwitna

Routes included in this package would provide ac-cess into a large block of state-owned land in theKashwitna and Willow drainages recommended forlegislative or administrative designation for recrea-tion, timber and habitat management. In additionto these uses, access into the area would open landsfor disposal of agricultural homesteads. The first

possible route into this area (segment 8a) extendseast from the Caswell Lakes Subdivision area. (SeeSouth Parks Highway, subunits 12a and 12b.) A se-cond possible route (segment 8b) is located outsidethe Susitna planning area in the adjacent WillowSub-basin. This route would leave the ParksHighway between Willow and Little Willow Creeksand provide access to borough lands with agricul-tural, forestry and settlement potential as well as tothe Kashwitna habitat and timber multiple use area.

9. North Parks Highway

This package includes several small scale possibleimprovements — mostly parking and trai lsdevelopments — to provide or improve access intoseveral settlement areas. These improvements, ifwell designed, could also improve public recrea-tion access. Specific improvements include:

a. Hurricane (North Parks Highway Subregion,subunit 3b) — trail to disposal area including im-provements to the foot bridge across the Chulit-na River and acquisition of public access to bridgefrom the Parks Highway, parking area on ParksHighway.

b. Chulitna Bluffs (subunit 3e) — trail and parking.

c. Hurricane Addition (subunit 3e) — route fromParks Highway into settlement area and foot-bridge across Chulitna River.

d. Public Parking (subunits 3c, 3d) — parking areasalong the Parks Highway to provide public ac-cess into adjacent recreation and hunting areas.

IQjGIenn Highway

Like the possible improvements identified for theNorth Parks Highway area, transportation improve-ments in the Glenn Highway area are generally notof regional significance. Most of these projects aredesigned to provide access to settlement and/orrecreational uses. Specific possible improvementsinclude:

a.Tsadaka Canyon (Glenn Highway Subregion,subunit Id) — possible improvements related toGlenn Highway relocation and timber harvests.

b. Jim-Swan Lakes area (subunit 3b) — acquisi-tion of public rights-of-way, improvements totrails and possible roads.

c. Drill Lake-Fish Lake and Two Rivers Ridgeareas (subunits 5c and 5d) — retention of rights-of-way to planned state subdivision areas.

415

d.Bonnie Lake Area (subunit 7a) — retention ofrights-of-way and corridors for possible roads andtrails related to settlement and recreation use.

e. Matanuska Valley Muose Range (ManagementUnit 6) — a number of possible road and trail im-provements are being considered for this areathrough a management plan currently underway.These improvements are intended principally topermit commercial and personal use timberharvests and habitat enhancement. Improving theexisting Permanente Road is one good option.

f. Long Lake (subunit 8b) — trail and possible roadimprovements within the Long Lake State Recrea-tion Area and proposed expansion of that area.

g. Cascade Creek Homestead (subunit 10e) —parking area and possible access road.

h.Lion Head (subunit 10e) — a short access roadand parking area for planned land disposal area.

access to center ofI. Nelchina River (unit 11 a)area by road or trail.

11 Beluga and Tyonek

This right-of-way is already on the status plats. Thisroute is intended to link the railbelt with land in theTyonek and Beluga area. If coal resources aredeveloped in the Beluga area, the coal would beshipped to markets directly from the Beluga area.(The economic viability of production of Beluga coalis based on its proximity to deep water ports within15 miles of the coal deposits.) The purpose of thisroute, therefore, would be to connect the townsiteor work camp that would accompany coal develop-ment with the Palmer and Anchorage area.

Summary and Priorities of Possible Ac-cess Improvements

The possible access improvements described aboveare intended to provide an overview of the principaltransportation projects that may be needed to imple-ment the plan's land use policies. As explained, therehas not been sufficient public review nor agencyanalysis of the costs and benefits of these projects torecommend that they be funded at this time. The plan-ning team has, however, made a preliminary effort toidentify projects that appear to be most needed. Thesepriorities are not based on detailed cost-benefit analysisand are only included here as a guide to subsequent,more thorough assessment and public review. Forthese reasons, the priorities are presented in 4 generalcategories (1:high — 4:low).

This identification and prioritization of possible accessimprovements includes both routes for major roadsand more modest improvements that are chieflybeneficial at a particular site.

A list of access projects and priorities is shown below.These priorities are based on a consideration of threecriteria: 1) requests for access improvements bynumerous people over the course of the 3 year publicinvolvement process associated with the plan, 2) thepresence of land disposals, mining, recreational activi-ties or other uses that currently need access , and/or3) land use designations in this plan, such as forestry,agriculture, settlement or recreation, that are likely toresult in the need for improved access in the future.

PRIORITY RATING

KEY: l = hiqh-4 = low_________________

1 .Shulin Lake Access Improvementsa. Shulin Lake Trailb. Kahiltna Crossing

2.Oilwell Road Extension

3.Chi juk Creek Loop Access Improvementsa. East side 2b. West side 2

4.Lockwood Lake Loop Access Improvementsa. Lockwood Lakes 3b. Susitna River access 4c. Kashwitna Knobs access 3

5 . Petersville Road Access Improvementsa. Petersville Road 3b. Cache Creek Trail 4

6.Trapper Creek Access Improvementsa. Scotty Lake 3b. Kenny Creek 3c. Rabideux 2d. Parks Hwy. Parking and Trails 2

7.Chase and Larson Lake Access Improvementsa. Chase Ag Homestead 1b. Talkeetna River Crossing 2c. Larson Lake 1

8. Kashwitna Access Improvementsa. Caswell-Kashwitna 2b. Willow Creeks 1

9. North Parks Highway Access Improvementsa. Hurricane 2b. Chulitna Bluff 1c. Hurricane Addition 3d. Public Parking 3

416

10.Glenn Highway Access Improvementsa. Tsadaka Canyon 5b. Jim Swan Lakes Ic. Drill and Fish Lakes and Two Rivers Ridge 2d. Bonnie Lake Area — 5e. Matanuskd Valley Moose Range 2f. Long Lake .5g. Cascade Creek Homestead 2h. Lions Head 3i. Nelchina River 4

11.Beluga and Tyonek Access Improvements 4

417

LAND DISPOSAL SCHEDULE FOR THE SUSITNA AREA:1984-2004

Introduction

The following section discusses the state land disposalprogram in the Susitna Area for the next 19 years.*The section is broken into three parts. The first partoutlines the general goals that will guide the Depart-ment as it develops its yearly land disposal programin the Susitna Area.

The second part outlines several guidelines that pro-vide specific guidance to the Division of Land andWater Management for meeting the land disposal pro-gram's goals. These guidelines outline how much landthe Department will offer each year, the quality andlocation of that land and how the land disposal areasidentified in the plan relate to the Land AvailabilityDetemination System (LADS) process currently usedby the Department to prepare land for disposal.

The final part contains a comprehensive list of all pro-jects that will be available for disposal sometime inthe next 20 years. It is organized in the following order:past subdivisions to be offered over the counter, pastremote projects to be converted to homestead areas,and new disposal projects (subdivisions, agriculturesales and homesteading areas).

Goals for Land Disposal Program

1. Pace of Land Offerings

The total supply of new land identified in the SusitnaPlan for disposal should be offered in roughly evenincrements over the next 20 years.

2. Offering of Past Projects

The majority of the large stock of land identified fordisposals within the boundaries of past land offer-ings should be offered to the public over the nextfive to eight years. All unsold subdivisions lotsshould be made available over-the-counter. Landwithin past remote parcel areas should be offeredunder the homestead program. After new disposal

The public review dralt of the plan identified disposals for a20 year period. A portion of those disposal areas were offeredfor sale in FY 84. The remaining lands identified for disposalin the plan therefore will be offered over the next 19 years.

areas are initially offered, unsold areas intended fordisposal should likewise remain available for futureover-the-counter offerings.

3. Offering of Quality Settlement Land

The public should have an opportunity each yearto acquire some of the most suitable settlement landthe plan has to offer. As a result, the best new landshould not all be offered in the near term butdistributed over the life of the plan.

4. Diversity of Yearly Offerings

The department should attempt each year to offerland under all of the various state land disposal pro-grams — subdivision, fee-homestead, agriculturalhomesteads and large lot-aliquot part sales.

Guidelines for Disposal Program

1. Amount of Land Offered Each Year

To ensure that the disposal of the new land offeredin the plan is distributed over the 20-year planningperiod, it is necessary to calculate each year thedisposal acreage necessary to maintain an approx-imately even flow of land disposals over the life ofthe plan. This will be done by dividing the net supp-ly of new lands remaining for disposal in the planby the number of years remaining in the life of theplan. Expressed as a formula this calculation is asfollows:

Net Acreage Available for DisposalAnnual _ ______Remaining in Plan________

Offerings Years Remaining in Life of Plan

This calculation provides a general guideline for theappropriate amount of annual sales. Departuresfrom the annual offering level, as calculated above,may be made for administrative purposes as longas the level of annual offerings remains generallyconsistent with the objective of distributing disposalsof new lands evenly over the planning period.However, a decision to offer the new settlementland at a pace that would exhaust the supply priorto the life of the plan will require a plan amendment.

In addition to these new offerings, all past remoteareas identified for conversion to the homesteadingprogram-should be offered within the next five toeight years (see list in Part IV of this chapter). Theseadditions will result in a gradually declining paceof annual offerings over the life of the plan.

418

2. Identification of Additional Land for Sale

If changing social or economic conditions warrantan increase in the amount of land allocated to set-tlement, the plan may be amended. In the eventthis occurs, the Susitna Area Plan, Settlement Ele-ment (DNR, 1985), a background report on landssuitable for settlement within the study area, willbe used to help identify additional lands for disposal.Other relevant information on soils, access, publicpreferences, etc. also may be used to identifysuitable lands. Modifying the land use allocationsin the plan requires public review through the planamendment process outlined in Appendix A-

3. Phasing of Projects

In order to ensure there are high quality offeringsavailable through the life of the plan, and that thereare enough areas available so a project can beoffered each year in the various regions of the Basin,the Division of Land and Water Management willoffer certain projects in phases, rather than all atonce. For example, the Lake Louise settlement areasmay be offered over seven or eight years.

4. The LADS Process

The Land Availability Determination System (LADS)is the process used by DNR to identify, process, andoffer state land for sale to the general public. Allareas identified for settlement in the plan will gothrough the LADS process.

The Susitna Area Plan should help streamline theLADS process since one of the key decisionspreviously made through LADS — the decision onwhether or not a project should be sold — hasalready been made. The LADS process will not ad-dress this issue; rather LADS will be used to involveagencies and the public to address such concernsas parcel layout and design. Through this plan DNRmakes a strong commitment to dispose of the pro-jects identified for sale. Only if new informationshould become available which indicates an over-whelming impact on a resource should any projectbe reconsidered. Such a change will require a planamendment.

5. The Statewide Disposal Plan

In partial fulfillment of the provisions of AS38.04.020, the Department will prepare an annualstatewide land disposal plan. This plan will incor-porate existing area and management plans anddescribe the Department's planned land offeringsin each region of the state. These proposals will bebased on the Department's settlement and landmanagement policies; on land suitability informa-

tion; competing land use values; supply, demandand need for disposal; effects of disposal on otherresources and resource uses; transportation systems;available funds and other factors of regional andstatewide concern.

6. Changes in Net Offerings from Those Identifiedin PlanThe net disposal acreages identified in the plan foreach sale area are estimates only. The actual levelof sales, which may be above or below what isestimated in the plan, will be set on a case by casebasis through the Departments' LADS process.While the availability of more detailed site infor-mation often will result in sales levels different fromthe plan estimates, DNR will strive to oiler landat or near the level estimated in the plan.

7. Selling Areas Identified for Agriculture

The plan specifies whether proposed sales areasshould be used for agriculture or settlement. Dur-ing the LADS process, sales areas will be evaluatedin detail to determine soil characteristics includingthe quality of the sites for agriculture. If a sitedesignated for agriculture land sales proves not tobe feasible for agriculture, the area may be sold forsettlement. Such a decision would either be a minorchange or an amendment to the plan dependingon the significance of the change at a specific site.The minor change/amendment procedure wouldoccur as part of the agency and public review oc-curing through the LADS process.

Because of the limited opportunities for agriculuturein the state and the popularity of agricultural offer-ings, if a site proposed for settlement in the planis discovered to have good potential for agriculture,the disposal may be made for this latter use. Sucha change would follow the same procedure asoutlined in the preceeding paragraph for changesfrom agriculture to settlement.

8. Changes in Project Boundaries.

If during the LADS process the Division of Land andWater Management determines that the boundariesof an area identified in the plan for settlement needrevision, the change will follow the procedures forminor changes or amendments as outlined in Ap-pendix A.

419

List of Land Disposal Projects in theSusitna Area

(N) = New Offering(R) = Reoffering of Past Remote Parcel Area(OTC) = Past Subdivision with Unsold Lots

Available "Over-the-Counter"

NOTE: Includes FY 85 offerings

Nine Mile Additions (N) 6aNine Mile (R) t>aSusitna River (N) 7aMiscellaneous Ag.

Homesteads (N) (Misc.)

240 acres600 acres130 acres

520 acres

MGT.PROJECTNORTH PARKS HIGHWAYIndian River Subdivision

(OTC)Antimony Creek (N)Chulitna Bluffs (N)Pass Creek (N)Hurricane Addition (N)

SOUTH PARKS HIGHWAYIndian River West (N)Sherman (N)Curry North (N)McKenzie Creek (N)Whiskers Creek (N)Disappointment Creek (N)Chase 11 Subdivision

(OTC)Talkeetna Bluffs (OTC)Sheep River (N)Bald Mountain Subdivison

(OTC)Talkeetna Foothills (N)Talkeetna Foothills

Extension (N)Montana Creek (N)Caswell Creek Ag.Homestead (N)

PETERSVILLE ROADSchneider Lake (R)Kroto Creek West (N)Tokosha Sales (N)Denali View (R)Swan Lake Subdivision

(OTC)Kenny Creek SubdJvison

(OTC)Safari Lake Subdivision

(OTC)Upper Trapper Creek (N)Amber Lakes Addition (N)Gate Creek South (N)Amber Lakes (R)Trapper Creek Sales (N)Trapper Creek/Glen

Subdivision (OTC)

UNIT

3b3c3e3e3e

la1e1e1e3c4e

5a5a7a

7b7c

7c7e

13b

1c1e2c2d

2d

2d

2d2h3c3c3b5 a

5c

NET AREA (ACRES)LOTS AVAILABLE(APRIL, 1985)

4 lots500 acres540 acres

1,240 acres330 acres

100 acres200 acres120 acres440 acres470 acres

1,040 acres

1 lot1 lot

340 acres

1 lot1,520 acres


3,620 acres

160 acres320 acres


1 lot

73 lots

15 lots1,890 acres

320 acres2,280 acres


14 lots

SUNFLOWER BASINYenlo Hills (R) laDonkey Creek (N) IbMt. Yenlo (N) 5bTreasure Creek (N) 6b

5.590 acres4,.520 acres1,000 acres1,300 acres

SUSITNA LOWLANDSHewitt-Whiskey Remote

(R) 2b 1,450 acresKichatna Addition (N) 2b 1,1 50 acresKichatna Remote (R) 2b 4,040 acresJohnson Creek Remote (R) 2b 6,950 acresShell Hills Remote (R) 2b 2,990 acresHewitt-Whiskey Subd.

& Addn. (OTC) 2c 157 lotsOnestone Lake Subdivison

(OTC) 2c 75 lotsShell Lake North

Subd. & Addn. (OTC) 2c 83 lotsShell Hills Subdivision

(OTC) 2c 153 lotsPorcupine Butte West (N) 3b 1,600 acresSkwentna Station

Subdivition (OTC) 4a 16 lotsSkwentna Flats (N) 4c 90 acresSkwentna Flats Reoffer (R) 4c 1,230 acresSkwentna Flats

Subdivision (OTC) 4e 23 lotsAlder View Subdivision

& Addition (OTC) 5c 62 lotsAlder View Extension (N) 5e 375 acresRabbit Lake/Toms Creek

(N) 6c 240 acresOtter Lakes Subdivision

(OTC) 6f 10 lotsKutna Creek Subdivision

(OTC) 6f 129 lotsTrail Ridge Subdivision

(OTC) 6f 6 lotsShovel Lake East (N) 7c 1,070 acresLake Creek/McDougal

North Remote (R) 8a 5,750 acresKahiltna Remote (R) 9d 5,360 acresParker Lake Subdivision

(OTC) lOb 21 lotsParker Lake Addition (N) lOb 430 acresNeil Lake East (N) 11 f 510 acresKroto West (ag.

homesteads) (N) llg 2,200 acresKahiltna Flats Subdivision

(OTC) 12c 209 lotsKahiltna Flats Addition (N) 12d 670 acresLockwood Homestead (R) 13a 1,000 acresYentna Remote/

Homestead (R) 13a 1,200 acresLockwood Lake

Subdivision (OTC) 13a 11 lots

420

Lockwood East (N)Yentna Uplands (ag.

homestead) (N)Whitsol North (ag.

homestead) (N)Kashwitna Knobs

(agriculture) (N)Moose Creek East (N)

MT. SUSITNAAlexander Creek West

Subdivision (OTC)Lower Sucker Ck. South

(ag. hmstd.) (N)Trail Creek (N)Hiline Lake South (N)Quartz Creek (R)Friday Creek (R)Talachulitna West (N)Canyon Creek (N)Quartz Creek West (N)Canyon Lake

Subdivision (OTC)Coal Creek (R)Sunday Lakes (R)High Mountain Lakes

Subdivision (OTC)Super Cub Subdivision

(OTC)

BELUGAPrimo/Bishop Lake (N)

ALASKA RANGEShirley Lake (N)

LAKE LOUISELake Susitna (N)Lake Louise (N)Lake Louise East (R)

GLENN HIGHWAYTsadaka Canyon (N)Pinnacle Mountain (N)Kings River North (N)Two Rivers (N)Drill Lake (N)Bonnie Lake (N)Monument and Lake

Creeks (N)Bench Lake (OTC)Chugach View (N)Cascade (N)Lions Head (N)Nelchina River (N)

I3c

13g

-13g

14b14c

2d

2e2f

4b5c5c5c5c5c

5d8c8c

8e

9d

2b

la

1b1c2

1e5a5a5c5d7a

lOalOd10elOe10e11a

600 acres

2,860 acres

980 acres

12,000 acres1,000 acres

102 lots

800 acres800 acres600 acres770 acres

1,470 acres2,320 acres


25 lots1,960 acres

600 acres

71 lots

120 lots

1,400 acres

3,330 acres

125 acres1,000 acres4,600 acres



850 acres25 lots


1,565 acres

421

LAND TRADES, RELINQUISHMENTS AND SELECTIONS

Land Trades

It is ADNR's policy that land'exchanges involving statelands or state interests in land be consistent with areaplans. Because the type and location of state landneeded for exchanges varies greatly, depending on theexchange under consideration, area plans generallydo not predesignate specific parcels of land for futureexchanges. When a specific exchange is proposed, thearea planning team will be responsible for identifyingand prioritizing state lands suitable for exchange.

Listed below are presently known land trading needswhich may have to be met from state lands in the Susit-na area.

I.Seldovia Native Association — 19,000 acresstatewide(Kachemak Bay State Park tradeout)

2. Matanuska-Susitna Borough — less than 5,000 acres

(Small stock for tradeout, if necessary, of valuablefish and wildlife or public recreation lands patentedto or selected by borough)

3. CIRI (Subsurface land in Kachemak Bay) - 30,000acres

4. Susitna Hydro Native Lands - 60,000acres affected by the hydro projects

20,000

(Sites for proposed dams, reservoirs and related faci-lities are all in native ownership and will need tobe acquired )

5. Mental Health Lands — unknown

Relinquishments and Selections

The planning team reviewed all state land selectionsin the Susitna area to determine which if any shouldbe rel inquished. The team recommendsrelinquishment of only four townships. Two arelocated in the Alaska Range Subregion (T. 16N, R. 19Wand 20W S.M.), the other two in the Chugach RangeSubregion (T. 16N, R. 11E and 1 2E S.M.). The federalgovernment has recently given the state tentativeapproval to the vast majority of state selections in thearea, including numerous mountain tops, ice fields,and glaciers, and as a result there are very few areasto consider for relinquishment.

The block of federal land adjacent to the DenaliHighway in the northeast part of the planning area isthe only potential candidate tor state selection. Theteam agreed this area should remain in federal

ownership and be managed for public recreation,protection and use of fish and wildlife, and explorationand development of mineral resources.

422

PUBLIC RECREATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

The following section summarizes the priorities ofADNR, ADF&C, and the Matanuska-Susitna Boroughfor capital improvements to improve opportunities forpublic recreation in the Susitna planning area and theWillow Sub-basin. These priorites were prepared inresponse to a request by the Governor in November,1984 for priorities to improve public recreation oppor-tunities throughout the southcentral portion of Alaska.Readers interested in more details of these proposalsshould obtain a copy of the report, SouthcentralRecreation Action Plan (ADF&G and ADNRDecember, 1984). This report is available from the An-chorage offices of either of these Departments.

Proposed improvements are divided into twocategories: land acquisit ions and fac i l i t iesdevelopments. A table on each of these subjects ispresented below:

Project

Proposed Land Acquisitions

Features and BenefitsApprox.Cost ($)

1. Cottonwood Creek

2. Kashwitna Landing

3. Wasilla Creek4. Little Willow Cr.

5. Neil Lake

6. Moose Creek

7. Nancy Lakes

Fishing and hunting nearWasilla; 9,000 fishing days/yr;important hunting area

Boat launch on lower SusitnaRiverCoho fishery access, huntingAccess from Parks Highwayto popular fishing areaFloatplane access to KrotoCreek (Deshka River)Road access for fishing andboatingAcquisition of inholdings fortrail system

40,000($212,000/yr.

operatingbudget

500,000

180,000180,000

200,000

250,000

2. Park and Recreation Facilities (Non-Riverine)

Approx.Project Features and Benefits Cost ($)a. Independence Mine

Historic Siteb. Public Cabins in

Parks and OtherRecreation Areas

( . Park Signs

Enhance historic structures

Construct and/or repair 14cabins for public use

Visitor information

600.000

225.000

1. 55.000Ktnlevvidei

Proposed Facilities Developments1. River Related Facilities

Project Features and BenefitsApprox.Cost ($)

a. Willow Creek StateRecreation Area

b. Little Susitna R.

Major southcentral fishingand camping site50 parking units and boatlaunch

c. Talkeetna Boat Launch Campground, public access,launch

d. Kepler-Bradley Lakes

e. Sheep Creek

Fishing, boating, other publicrecreation: barrier-free publicaccessTrails, fishing accessible1 ironiParks Highway

7,735,000

400,000

173,000($10,000/yr

operatingbudget)500.000

200,(XX)

423

LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS

MANAGEMENTUNIT/SUBUN1T CLASSIFICATION(S)

North Parks Highway Subreglonla (private land)1b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat2a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat2b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat3a (private land)3b Settlement3c Settlement/Public Recreation3d Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat3e Settlement

MANAGEMENTUN1T/SUBUNIT CLASSlFlCATiON(S)

South Parksla1b1cId1eIflg1h2

3a3b3c4a4b4c4d4e4f

5a5b5c5d6a6b7a7b7c7d7e8a8b8c9a9b9c9d

lOalOb1112aI2b

12c13aI3b14aI4b

424

Highway SubregtonSettlementSettlementReserved UsePublic Recreation/Wildlife HabitatSettlement(Borough Land Bank)Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat(railroad land)Forestry/Public Recreation/WildlifeHabitatPublic Recreation/Wildlife Habitat(Borough Land Bank)SettlementPublic Recreation/Wildlife Habitat(Borough Land Bank)AgricultureSettlementSettlementPublic Recreation/WaterResources/Wildlife HabitatMinerals/Public Recreation/WildlifeHabitatSettlementPublic Recreation/Wildlife HabitatSettlement(Borough Land Bank)Public Recreation/Wildlife HabitatPublic Recreation/Wildlife HabitatSettlementSettlementSettlementPublic Recreation/Wildlife HabitatSettlementAgriculture(private land)Settlement(Borough Land Bank)(private land)Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat(private land)(private land)Public Recreation/Wildlife HabitatForestry/Wildlife HabitatForestry/Wildlife HabitatForestry/Public Recreation/WildlifeHabitatForestry/Wildlife Habitat(private land)Agriculture(Borough Land BanklPublic Recreation/WaterResources/Wildlife Habitat

Petersville Roadla

1b

1cIdle2 a

2d2e2f

2h3a

3b3c3d3e3f3g4a

4bSa5b5c5d5e6a6b6c6d

6e7a7b7c

7d

7e7f

SubreglonForestry/Public Recreation/WildlifeHabitatPublic Recreation/WaterResources/Wildlife HabitatSettlementPublic Recreation/SettlementSettlementForestry/Public Recreation/WildlifeHabitatPublic RecreationSettlementSettlement(Borough Land Bank)(university land)Public Recreation/WaterResources/Wildlife HabitatSettlementPublic Recreation/WaterResources/Wildlife HabitatSettlementSettlement(university land)(Borough Land Bank)SettlementPublic Recreation/Wildlife HabitatPublic Recreation/WaterResources/Wildlife Habitat(private land)SettlementPublic RecreationSettlement(private land)(university land)Settlement(Borough Land Bank)Water Resources/Wildlife HabitatForestry/Public Recreation/WildlifeHabitat(private land)SettlementAgriculturePublic Recreation/WaterResources/Wildlife HabitatForestry/Public Recreation/WildlifeHabitat(Borough Land Bank)(private land)

Sunflower Basin Subreglonla Settlement1b Settlement2 Minerals/Wildlife Habitat3 Public Recreation/Water

Resources/Wildlife Habitat4 Water Resources/Wildlife Habitat5a Wildlife Habitat5b Public Recreation/Settlement/Wildlife

Habitat6a - Water Resources/Wildlife Habitat6b Settlement6c Water Resources/Wildlife Habitat7a Minerals/Public Recreation/Wildlife

Habitat7b Forestry/Public Recreation/Wildlife

Habitat

MANAGEMENTUNIT/SUBUNIT CLASSIFICATION(S)


Susitna LowlandslaIb2a2b2c2d

2e2f3a

3b3c4a4b

4c4d4e5a

5b5c5d

5e5f

6a6b

6c6d

6e

6f7a

7b

7c8a8b9a9b9c9d

lOa

lOb

lib

lielidlie11f1'g12a12b

12c12d13a

SubrcgionWater Resources/Wildlife HabitatWater Resources/Wildlife HabitatPublic Recreation/Wildlife HabitatSettlementSettlementPublic Recreation/WaterResources/Wildlife HabitatPublic Recreation/Wildlife HabitatResource ManagementForestry/Water Resources/WildlifeHabitatSettlementWater Resources/Wildlife Habitat(private land)Forestry/Water Resources/WildlifeHabitatSettlement(Borough Land Bank)SettlementForestry/Water Resources/WildlifeHabitatResource ManagementSettlementPublic Recreation/Settlement/WildlifeHabitatSettlementForestry/Water Resources/WildlifeHabitatWater Resources/Wildlife HabitatResource Management/(Borough LandBank)SettlementPublic Recreation/WaterResources/Wildlife HabitatForestry/Public Recreation/WildlifeHabitatSettlementForestry/Public Recreation/WildlifeHabitatPublic Recreation/WaterResources/Wildlife HabitatSettlementSettlementResource ManagementPublic Recreation/Wildlife Habitat(Borough Land Bank)Resource ManagementSettlementForestry/Public Recreation/WildlifeHabitatSettlementForestry/Water Resources/WildlifeHabitatPublic Recreation/WaterResources/Wildlife HabitatPublic RecreationSettlementSettlementWildlife Habitat/Water ResourcesAgricultureResource ManagementForestry/Public Recreation/WildlifeHabitatSettlementSettlementSettlement

(Susitna Lowlands Subreglon cont.)13b Forestry/Public Recreation/Wildlife

Habitat13c Settlement13d Water Resources/Wildlife Habitat13e Public Recreation/Water

Resources/Wildlife Habitat13f (Borough Land Bank)13g Agriculture14a Water Resources/Wildlife Habitat14b Agriculture14c Settlement14d (private land)14e Forestry/Water Resources/Wildlife

Habitat

Mt. Susitna Subrcgion1 Susitna Game Flats Wildlife Refuge2a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat2b Forestry/Public Recreation/Wildlife

Habitat2c Forestry/Wildlife Habitat2d Settlement2e Agriculture2f Settlement2g . (Borough Land Bank)3a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat3b Settlement3c Resource Management3d (private land)3e (Borough Land Bank)3f Forestry/Public Recreation/Wildlife

Habitat4a Forestry/Public Recreation/Wildlife

Habitat4b Settlement4c (Borough Land Bank)4d Resource Management (Borough Land

Bank)5a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat5b Public Recreation5c Settlement5d Settlement6a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat6b Coal6c Resource Management7 Public Recreation/Water

Resources/Wildlife Habitat8a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat8b Resource Management (Borough

Land Bank)8c Settlement8d Settlement9a Water Resources/Wildlife Habitat9b Settlement

lOa (private land)lOb (Borough Land Bank)

Beluga SubrcgionlaIb2a2b2c

2d

(private land)Water Resources/Wildlife HabitatWildlife HabitatSettlementResource Management (BoroughLand Bank)(private land)

425



(Beluga Subregion cont.)2e3a3b3c3d3e

3t

Wildlife HabitatCoal/Oil and Gas/Wildlife HabitatReserved UseOil and Gas/Settlement(private land)Forestry/Oil and Gas/WildlifeHabitat(Borough Land Bank)

Alaska Range Subregionla Settlement1b Wildlife Habitat/Public Recreation1c Wildlife Habitat1d Minerals1e Reserved UseIf Water Resources/Wildlife Habitat1g (National Park and Preserve)

Lake Louise Subregion1a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat1b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat1c Settlement2 Settlement3a Wildlife Habitat3b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat3c Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat

Gienn Highway Subregionla Public Recreation1b Reserved Use (Plant Materials

Center)Public Recreation (rest of subunit)

1c Reserved UseId Settlement (S'/i of section 35)

Reserved Use (Section 36)le Public RecreationIf (Borough Land Sank)Ig (private land)Ih Water Resources/Wildlife Habitatli (private land)2a Wildlife Habitat2b (private land)2c Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat2d Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat2e (private land)3a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat3b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat3c (private land)3d Public Recreation4a (private land)4b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat5a Settlement5b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat5c Settlement5d Settlement5e (private land)5f Public Recreation/Water

Resources/Wildlife Habitat6a Coal/Forestry/Wildlife Habitat6b (private land)7a Public Recreation/Settle-

ment/Wildlife Habitat

(Glenn Highway Subregion cont.)7b Public Recreation/Water

Resources/Wildlife Habitat8a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat8b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat8c Public Recreation/Water

Resources/Wildlife Habitat9a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat9b (private land)

10a Settlement10b Public Recreation/Wildlife HabitatlOc Public Recreation/Water

Resources/Wildlife HabitatlOd SettlementlOe SettlementlOf Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat10g (private land)11 a Settlementlib Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat1 le (private land)11d (private land)11e Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat12a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat12b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat

Talkeetna Mts. Subregion1a (private land)1b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat1c Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat2a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat2b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat3a Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat3b Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat3c Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat3d Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat

Chugach Mountains Subregionla Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat1 b Reserved Use1c Public Recreation/Wildlife HabitatId Public Recreation/Wildlife Habitat

426

PRIORITIES FOR INSTREAM FLOW STUDIES

Studies are needed to determine where instream flowreservations are necessary for maintenance of thewater quality and quantity_upon which human, fishand wildlife uses of waterways within the Susitna Basinare based (see Chapter 2, Instream Flow). Priorities forinstream flow studies are listed below. Recommenda-tions for study priorities are determined by:

1. The merits of the stream for human use and fish andwildlife habitat, including

a. Values of the stream for fish, especiallyanadromous fish,

b. Existing and potential recreation value, and

c. Water quality.

2. The vulnerability of the stream to disturbance andthe likelihood that such disturbance will occur inthe near future.

Based on these criteria, the following streams havebeen identified as candidates for instream flow studies.

First priority: Major recreational and anadromous fishstreams. These waterways were identified by the plan-ning team as the most important clearwater streamsin the study area for their fisheries, riparian habitat andpublic use. Many of these streams are boatable, andmost currently receivers,000 fishing days per year.

a. Alexander Creekb. Chijuk Creekc. Chuitna Riverd. Chunilna Creek (Clear Creek)e. Friday Creekf. Gate Creekg. Goose Creekh. Kroto Creekj. Lake Creekk. Little Susitna River (Willow Sub-basin)I. Montana Creek

m. Moose Creek (Petersville Rd. 4a/SusitnaLowlands 11b)

n. Peters Creeko. Sheep Creekp. Talachulitna Riverq. Thursday Creekr. Trapper Creek (Susitna Lowlands 14a)s. Willow Creek (Willow Sub-basin)t. Yenlo Creek

Second priority: Important recreational andanadromous fish streams adjacent to existing or pro-posed development areas. These streams currentlyreceive > 500 fishing days/year.

a. Beluga Riverb. Caswell Creekc. Chakachatna Riverd. Cottonwood Creeke. Donkey Creekf. Fish Creek (Su Lowlands 1c, 1e)

g. Fish Creek (Su Lowlands 13a)h. Indian River (S. Parks Hwy. la, 1 b, 1g)i. Ivan Riverj. Kashwitna Riverk. Kichatna RiverI. Larson Creek (Larson L. outlet)

m. Lewis Rivern. Little Willow Creeko. Lower Sucker Creekp. Nikolai Creekq. Prairie Creekr. Quartz Creeks. Red Creekt. Seventeenmile Creeku. Sunshine Creekv. Theodore River

w. Unnamed tributary to Fish Lake (South ParksHighway 9a)

x. Whiskers Creek

Third priority: Other anadromous fish streams adja-cent to existing or potential development areas.

a. Anderson Creekb. Answer Creekc. Birch Creek (S. Parks Hwy. 9a,9c)d. Bishop Creekt. Byers Creekf. Chickaloon Riverg. Chulitna River (Middle Fork)h. Coal Creeki. Deep Creek

*j. Drill Creekk. Gold CreekI. Happy River

m. Honolulu Creekn. Johnson Creeko. Kings Riverp. Lane Creekq. Little Honolulu Creekr. McKenzie Creeks. Moose Creek (Glenn Hwy. 5b,6a)

*t. Olson Creeku. Queer Creekv. Question Creek

These streams are in the vicinity of potential Beluga coal fielddevelopment. Instream flow studies would likely be undertakenas part of planning for coal development.

427

vv. Rabideux Creekx. Sawmill Creek

*y. Threemile Creek*z. Trail Creekaa. Trapper Creek (Petersville Rd. 2b, 5a, 5c, 7e)bb. Troublesome Creekcc. West Fork Coal Creek

Fourth priority: Other streams adjacent to existingor proposed development areas. These streams do nothave known anadromous fish runs.

rivers art- boatable except the Kahiltna River, and allare very important for recreation and fish and wildlifehabitat.

a. Chulitna River (Main Fork)b. Kahiltna Riverc. Matanuska Riverd. Skwentna Rivere. Susitna Riverf. Talkeetna Rivere. Yentna River

m.n.o.P.q-r.

Cascade CreekEureka Creek (Glenn Hwy. 11 a, 11b, 11c)Glacier Creek (Glenn Hwy. lOb)Granite CreekGravel CreekHardage CreekKutna CreekLake Creek (Glenn Hwy. 10a)Little Nelchina R.Mendeltna CreekMonument CreekMuddy CreekNelchina RiverNinemile CreekPossum CreekPurinton CreekSnag CreekUnnamed tributary to Sockeye Lake from theNWUnnamed tributary to Baldy Lake

t. West Fork Moose Creek

Fifth Priority: Anadromous fish streams in areasdesignated resource management. Near term (5-10years) development is less likely in these areas.

a. Clear Creek (Mt. Susitna 4a, Susitna Lowlands 6a,6b, 6d)

b. Deep Creek (Mt. Susitna 4a, Susitna Lowlands 6a,6b)

c. Toms Creek

Sixth Priority: Major glacial rivers that generally arenot vulnerable to disturbance except from majorprojects. If such projects are undertaken on these rivers(e.g., the Susitna hydroelectric project) appropriatestudies will accompany project planning. All of these

These streams are in the vicinity of potential Beluga coal fielddevelopment. Instream flow studies would likely be undertakenas part of planning for coal development.

428

MANAGEMENT PLANNING PRIORITIES

The lands and waters within the Susitna planning areathat most require additional, more detailed planningare listed below. They are not listed in any order ofpriority within or between the categories. In someareas, such as the proposed legislative designations,comprehensive interagency management plans anda broad public involvement process will be needed.In other sites, for example, the smaller settle-ment/retention areas, an abbreviated planning processmay suffice. This shorter process could focus onsmaller areas and/or fewer issues, and would requireless extensive agency and public involvement.

Mixed settlement and retention areas

North Parksa rea:1. Antimony Creek-HurricaneHighway subunit 3c.

2. Northern and eastern Petersville Road area:Petersville Road subunits 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7.

3. Lake Louise area: Lake Louise subunits 1a and 1c.4. Bonnie Lake area: Clenn Highway subunit 7a.

Areas proposed for legislative designation

1. Recreation river corridors: South Parks Highwaysubunits Sband 6a; Petersville Road subunits 1band4a; Sunflower Basin Management Unit 3; SusitnaLowlands subunits 6d, 7b and lib; Mt. SusitnaManagement Unit 7; Talkeetna Mts. subunit 3b; andWillow Subbasin Little Susitna Corridor subunit.

2. Multiple use forest lands: South Parks HighwayManagement Unit 12; Petersville Road subunit 1a;Sunflower Basin subunit 7b; Susitna Lowlandssubunits 5f, 6e, 7a, 11a and 12b; Mt. Susitnasubunits 2a, 2b and 2c; and Willow SubbasinKashwitna subunit.

3. Jim-Swan Lakes habitat/recreation area: GlennHighway subunit 3b.

4. Lower Susitna-Yentna habitat/forestry/recreationarea: Susitna Lowlands subunits 13d, 13e and 14e.

5. Nelchina public use area: Lake Louise subunit 3b;Clenn Highway subunits 11d, lie and 12b; andTalkeetna Mts. subunits 2a and 2b.

Areas recommended for legislative or ad-ministrative designation

1. Suistna Lake-Tyone River habitat/recreation area:Lake Louise subunit 3d.

2. Trumpeter swan nesting habitat: Sunflower Basinsubunit 6c and Susitna Lowlands subunits 1b and3c.

3. Cunsight Mt. habitat/recreation area: GlennHighway subunits l lband lie.

Areawide transportation and trails plan

I. Comprehensive plan for trails, roads, airstrips andother transportation and access improvementsthroughout the planning area.

429

priorities for legislative and land disposal...

Documents