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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
State, City and Borough Websites in Alaska
Planning Alaska's
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE |
HISTORY
The first refuges in Alaska were set aside in the early 1900s. Major refuges in Alaska prior to ANILCA included the Aleutian Islands Refuge, the Arctic National Wildlife Range, the Clarence Rhodes National Waterfowl Refuge, the Kenai National Moose Range, and the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. In 1966 Congress passed the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act which established the administrative guidelines for the refuge system. At the time of ANILCA the total refuge acreage in Alaska was 22.3 million acres. As of 2000 the total refuge acreage was over 76.9 million acres.
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 provides the legal basis for management of the refuges. The Act directs the Service to ensure that the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of the System are maintained for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. It also states that compatible wildlife-dependent recreation is a legitimate and appropriate general public use of the System. The specific mandate to plan is contained in two sources. The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 provides the basis for refuge planning for those refuges outside of Alaska. ANILCA Section 304 requires the FWS to prepare and from time to time revise a comprehensive conservation plan or CCP for each refuge in Alaska. All Alaska refuge CCPs were completed by 1988. In 1998 the Service began the process of revising those plans.
The FWS prepares plans at three levels: CCP, refuge management plans, and annual work plans. The CCP addresses topics of resource management, visitor use, refuge operations, and development in general terms. Coordinated with this plan are the wilderness review of each area required by ANILCA Section 1317 and an environmental impact statement. The refuge management plans are step-down plans from the CCP and provide more specificity on how programs will be run or natural and cultural resources protected. These may be titled under various headings, such as fishery management plan, wildlife habitat management plan, fire management plan, or public use management plan. The annual work plans identify specific projects to implement the management plans. Each CCP is expected to guide management decisions for from five to 10 years.
The FWS uses a 10 step process for preparation of the CCP's. The steps are:
Step 2. Inventory
Step 3. Formulate management alternatives
Step 4. Analyze management alternatives
Step 5. Evaluation of alternatives
Step 6. Plan selection
Step 7. Publish draft CCP/EIS
Step 8. Public comments
Step 9. Publish final CCP/EIS
Step 10. Issue record of decision
Public participation occurs in most steps, but is strongest in step 1 which involves scoping meetings, during step 5 which involves meetings and workshops to evaluate alternatives, and during step 8 when the public has a 90-day period to review and comment on the draft document. This period often involves public meetings. The amount, timing and level of public involvement is determined by the level of public interest and complexity of the issues being addressed. The specific form of public involvement may vary so as to adapt to differences in planning areas.
A typical CCP includes three major elements: comprehensive conservation plan, environmental impact statement, and wilderness review. The table of contents are organized so that all three studies are completed concurrently. A typical table of contents includes: introduction, affected environment, wilderness review, wild and scenic river eligibility review, management direction, alternatives, environmental consequences, and evaluation of the alternatives. Those refuges with designated wild rivers may also contain wild river management plans as required the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region. http://www.r7.fws.gov/
For the latest information on the Comprehensive Conservation Plan Revision Schedule, see http://www.r7.fws.gov/planning/schedule.html
See also the individual refuges listed below.
Ken Rice, Chief of Refuge Planning
Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region
1011 East Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99503-6199
(907) 786-3502
Ken_W_Rice@fws.gov
COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLANS
Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge (3,500,000 acres)—CCP completed in 1985. This CCP is being combined with the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge CCP and is currently being revised. A Draft CCP and EIS should be available for public review in spring 2001. The revised plan will include a wilderness review and revised direction to the Public Use Management Plan. Contact: Daryle Lons, Refuge Manager, PO Box 277, King Salmon, AK 99613. (907) 246-3339. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/ap/index.html
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (19,049,236 acres)—CCP complete 1987. Includes wilderness review and wild river management plans for the Ivishak, Upper Sheenjek, and Wind Rivers. The CCP is scheduled to be revised by 2012 Contact: Richard Voss, Refuge Manager, 101 12th Avenue, Room 236, Fairbanks, AK 99701. (907) 456-0250. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/arctic/index.html
Becharof National Wildlife Refuge (1,200,000 acres)—CCP completed in 1985. This CCP is currently being revised and combined with the Alaska Peninsula CCP. A Draft CCP and EIS should be available for public review in spring 2001. The revised plan will include a wilderness review and revised direction to the Public Use Management Plan. Contact: Daryle Lons, Refuge Manager, PO Box 277, King Salmon, AK 99613. (907) 246-3339. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/bec/becnwr.html
Innoko National Wildlife Refuge (3,850,000 acres)—CCP complete 1987, includes a wilderness review. Fisheries management plan completed. The CCP is scheduled to be revised by 2007. Contact: Bill Schaff, Refuge Manager, PO Box 69, McGrath, AK 99627. (907) 524-3251. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/innoko/innwr.html
Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (320,893 acres)—CCP completed 1985, includes wilderness review. Fisheries management plan currently under review. The CCP is scheduled to be revised by 2005. Contact: Rick Poetter, Refuge Manager, Box 127, Cold Bay, AK 99571. (907) 532-2445. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/izembek/iznwr.html
Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge (1,430,000 acres)—CCP complete 1987. Includes wilderness review. The CCP is scheduled to be revised by 2004. Contact: Bob Schulz, Refuge Manager,, 101 12th Avenue, Room 262, Fairbanks, AK 99701. (907) 456-0329. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/kanuti/r7kanwr.html
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (1,970,000 acres)—CCP complete 1985. Includes wilderness review. The CCP is scheduled to be revised by 2004. Contact: Robin West, Refuge Manager, 2139 Ski Hill Road, Soldotna, AK 99669-2139. (907) 262-7021. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/kenai/index.html
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge (1,865,OOO acres)—CCP completed in 1987. Includes wilderness review. The CCP is currently being revised. A draft CCP and EIS should be available for public review by fall 2001. Contact: Michael Getman, Acting Refuge Manager, 1390 Buskin River Rd., Kodiak, AK 99615. (907) 487-2600. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/kodiak/kodnwr.html
Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge (3,550,000 acres)—Final CCP was completed in 1987. Includes wilderness review. The CCP is scheduled to be revised by 2009. It will be combined with the Nowitna CCP. Contact: Eugene Williams, PO Box 287, Galena, AK 99741. (907) 656-1231. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/koyukuk/kynwr.html
Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge (1,560,000 acres)—Final CCP was completed in 1987. Includes wilderness review and the Nowitna Wild River Management Plan. The CCP is scheduled to be revised by 2009. It will be combined with the Koyukuk CCP. Contact: Eugene Williams, PO Box 287, Galena, AK 99741. (907) 656-1231. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/nowitna/nownwr.html
Selawik National Wildlife Refuge (2,150,000 acres)—Final CCP was completed in 1987. Includes wilderness review and Selawik Wild River Management Plan. The CCP is scheduled to be revised by 2007. Contact: Leslie Kerr, Refuge Manager, PO Box 270, Kotzebue, AK 99572. (907) 442-3799. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/selawik/selnwr.html
Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge (700,000 acres)—Final CCP was completed in 1987. Includes wilderness review. The CCP is scheduled to be revised by 2009. Contact: Ed Merritt, Refuge Manager, PO Box 779, Mile Post 1314 Alaska Highway, Tok, AK 99780. (907) 883-5312. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/tetlin/tetnwr.html
Togiak National Wildlife Refuge (4,105,000 acres)--Final CCP completed 1987. Includes wilderness review. The CCP is currently being revised. A draft CCP and EIS should be available for public review by fall 2001. Contact: Aaron Archibeque, Refuge Manager, PO Box 270, Dillingham, AK 99576. (907) 842-1063. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/togiak/tognwr.html
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge (19,160,000 acres)--Final CCP was completed in 1988. Includes a wilderness review and the Andreafsky Wild River Management Plan. The CCP is scheduled to be revised by 2005. Contact: Michael Rearden, Refuge Manager, PO Box 346, Bethel, AK 99559. (907) 543-3151 http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/yd/ydnwr.html
Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (8,630,000 acres)-- Final CCP was completed in 1987. Includes wilderness review and Beaver Creek Wild River Management Plan (lower portion). The CCP is scheduled to be revised by 2009. Contact: Ted Heuer, Refuge Manager, 101 12th Avenue, Room 264, Fairbanks, AK 99701. (907) 456-0440. http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/yf/r7yflat.html
