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Table of Land Ownership in Alaska
FEDERAL PUBLIC LAND PLANNING:
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS)
__________________
STATE PUBLIC LAND PLANNING:
Alaska Dept. of
Natural Resources (DNR)
Division of
Forestry (DOF)
Division of
Mining, Land & Water (DMLW)
Division of Parks
and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR)
Alaska Dept of Fish
and Game (ADFG)
Habitat
Division
Office of the
Governor
Coastal
Management Program (CMP)
_________________
Alaska
Public Lands Information Center
Planning Alaska's
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ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF PARKS AND |
HISTORY
The Parks Division was established in 1959. Since then it has grown to become the largest park system in the United States with over three million acres of park land. The Alaska Constitution, Article VIII, Section 7, permits the legislature to "provide for the acquisition of site, objects, and areas of natural beauty for historic, cultural, recreational, or scientific value. It may reserve them from the public domain and provide for their administration."
In 1959 the Bureau of Land Management transferred 32 parks and campgrounds to the new parks department. All of the parks were less than 640 acres, a maximum size for single use properties at that time without legislative approval. Not until 1966, when the legislature created the Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, did the state have a park greater than 640 acres. Subsequently, the legislature added other major parks, including the Chena River State Recreation Area in 1967; the Chugach State Park, Denali State Park, and Kachemak State Park in 1970; and the Wood River-Tikchik Lakes State Park in 1979. ÊIn 1986, 19 marine park units were added in the Southeast.Ê These additions along with new legislative designations for Shuyak Island State Park, Afognak Island State Park and others plus several administratively-created park units, such as Hatcher Pass East Management Area, bringing the total number of units in the Alaska State Park System to 121 as of February 2001.
State Park
State Marine Park
|State Historic Park
State Historic Site
State Recreation Area
State Recreation Site
Special Management Area
State Trail [State Recreation River]
State [Scientific, Ecological or Educational] Preserve
Each type of unit has a different management direction, ranging from preservation to intensive public use. Parks, historic parks and sites, and preserves are typically toward the preservation end of the spectrum; recreation areas and sites are typically toward the intensive public use end. State trails and rivers vary widely in management direction.
LEGAL BASIS FOR PLANNING
As a division of the DNR the agency plans under authority of Alaska Statute 41.21. Specific management guidelines affecting planning are found within the division's policy and procedure manual.
PLANNING PROGRAM
The division prepares plans at four levels: statewide, regional, park unit, and site. The statewide plan, called the Alaska State Park System: Statewide Framework, establishes the broad goals and management strategies for the park system. The plan includes goals and policies concerning recreation, preservation, cultural heritage, education, tourism, acquisition, planning, development, management, concessions, and visitor information. The statewide plan also describes a method of land use zoning to be used in preparing park unit plans.
The statewide framework is complemented by the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, or SCORP. This plan is required to qualify for and to receive federal funds through the Land and Water Conservation Fund program.
Regional park system plans are based on data for a specific region. This data includes regional issues and concerns, recreation use patterns and preferences, regional resource attributes, public use determinants, and resource capabilities and sensitivities. These plans recommend a program of acquisition, planning, development, and management of the units within the region. Prior to 1982 these plans were prepared as separate documents from the area plans prepared by the Division of Land and Water. One plan, for the southcentral region, was completed as a separate document. Since then, regional recreation plans are completed as a recreation element within the area plans prepared by the Division of Mining, Land and Water.
Park unit management plans are prepared for each unit. Each unit is zoned into lands suitable each of four categories: recreational development, natural, wilderness, and cultural. The allocation of these uses is based on the type of unit and the unit’s special qualities and opportunities. These plans are primarily in-house documents.
Site development plans are then prepared for specific improvements within the unit. These plans, which include a scaled drawing of improvements, are used to guide engineering drawings.
PROCESS AND PARTICIPATION
The division uses a nine-step process in preparing its regional plans, which are the primary division document presented for public review. Unit and site plans are typically produced in-house with a similar process but with public participation on a case-by-case basis. The nine steps used in preparing the regional plans are:
Step 2. Inventory: evaluate other programs, analysis demand, evaluate land base
Step 3. Evaluate areas using criteria
Step 4. Develop draft recommendations
Step 5. Public and agency review and comment
Step 6. Final recommendations
Step 7. Plan adoption
Step 8. Implement plan
Step 9. Monitor and update
Public participation occurs primarily through meetings held in neighboring communities and through surveys. Brochures are often prepared to explain the planning process and proposed recommendations. A draft plan is made available for public and agency review.
PRODUCT
Each regional plan contains sections dealing with purpose and scope, regional overview, factors influencing participation in outdoor recreation, regional issues, regional role of the state park system, recommendations, and an implementation program.
INTERNET SITES
State Parks Web Site:
Park Plans, several available through the Internet, are discussed at:
Wood-Tikchik State Park Management Plan, is currently being revised.
Information on each park is available at
CONTACTS
For general questions concerning planning within the system contact:
Chief, Field Operations,
Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Department of Natural Resources, 550 West 7th Ave. Suite 1380
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3561 (907) 269-8702
pete_panarese@dnr.state.ak.us
For specific information about a particular unit contact the appropriate regional manager.
Al Meiners
Potter Section House
HC 52, Box 8999
Indian, AK 99540
(907) 345-5014
alan_meiners@dnr.state.ak.us
Northern Area
Anna Plager
4420 Airport Way
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(907) 451-2698
anna_plager@dnr.state.ak.us
Southeast Area
Bill Garry
400 Willoughby
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 465-2481
bill_garry@dnr.state.ak.us
The following area superintendents also have information on current planning:
Dale Bingham, Matsu/Copper Basin Area Superintendent, HC 32, Box 6706, Wasilla, Alaska 99654 (907) 745-8935
Wayne Biessel, Kodiak Area Ranger, 1400 Abercrombie Drive, Kodiak, Alaska 99615 (907) 486-6352
Dan Hourihan, Wood-Tikchik State Park Area Ranger, 550 West 7th Ave. Suite 1380, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3561 (907) 269-8698
STATEWIDE PARK PLANS
Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Also called the Alaska Outdoor Recreation Plan. The last SCORP was completed in 1981 to conform to the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) guidelines. Provides criteria for land acquisition, development funding, and allocation of LWCF grants. SCORP updates were completed in 1987 and again in 1997.
REGIONAL PLANS
Kenai River Special Management Area Plan. Initiated in 1984, completed in 1986. This effort mandated by special state legislation which created the Kenai River Special Management Area (KRSMA). Prepared in cooperation with the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Plan makes recommendations for the Kenai River and for other lands in the river corridor with important habitat values.Ê The KRSMA Plan was updated in 1997 and published as the Kenai River Comprehensive Management Plan in November 1998.
UNIT PLANS
(only major parks are
listed)
Caines Head Recreation Area (5,961 acres). Master plan completed 1984.
Captain Cook State Recreation Area (3,620 acres). Site development plans have been prepared for specific areas.
Chena River State Recreation Area (254,080 acres). Master plan completed 1984.
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve (49,000 acres). Management plan completed in 1985.
Chilkat State Park (6,045 acres). Specific site plans complete.
Chugach State Park (405,204 acres) Master plan completed in 1980, amended in 1988. Trails Plan completed 1986.
Denali State Park (421,120 acres). Plan revised in 1988.
Independence Mine. Master plan prepared 1986.
Kachemak Bay State Park (328,290 acres). Master plan updated in 1988.
Kepler-Bradley Lakes. Master Plan, 1987.
Nancy Lake State Recreation Area (22,685 acres). Revised the Master Plan in 1987.
Shuyak Island. Master plan to draft stage in 1986.
Wood-Tikchik State Park (1,428,320 acres) Plan approved by advisory council in spring 1987. Currently being revised. See web site at: http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/plans/woodtpln.htm
Kachemak Bay State Park and Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park (370,500 acres approx.) Plan adopted March 1995
State Marine Parks: Prince William Sound and Resurrection Bay (32.560 acres) Plan adopted March 1995
