Susitna Matanuska Area Plan
On August 11, 2011 the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) adopted the Susitna Matanuska Area Plan (SMAP) with the date of issuance as August 17. The plan establishes land use designations, management intent and management guidelines for 9 million acres of state land in the Susitna and Matanuska river valleys. This plan supersedes the majority of the 1985 Susitna Area Plan.
A public review draft (PRD) of the SMAP was distributed for a three and a half month period which ended June 4, 2010. A total of 55 individuals and organizations submitted comments. DNR reviewed these comments at length and, based on this review, has revised portions of the PRD. These changes included increased buffers on some major streams; added measures to preserve public access; and boundary changes to a settlement unit around Swan Lake and an agricultural unit on the lower Yentna River.
DNR prepared an "Issue Response Summary" to identify the principal issues raised by the public, provide DNR's response to each, and identify necessary plan changes. Plan changes were compiled in an "Approved Revisions" document which, together with the PRD, form the basis for the final adopted plan. In adopting the plan, the Commissioner also approved Land Classification Order SC-09-002 which classifies land according to the plan's land use designation. Over half of the 9 million acres of state land has been classified for wildlife habitat; about 900,000 for mineral or coal; about 700,000 for settlement; another 700,000 for forest; and the remainder for a variety of land uses including public recreation, agriculture and water resource. This land encompasses the majority of the land in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
All of these documents, including maps and other information, can be found below or by contacting Ray Burger at 269-8534 or ray.burger@alaska.gov
Susitna Matanuska Area Plan
Public Review Draft
All files can be viewed using Acrobat Reader 7 or higher.
Complete Document with Maps
(10 MB)
Note: Color maps (#s 3-3 thru 3-12) are 11 x 17 inches.
Map 3-1: Planning Boundary and Regions
(190 KB)
Complete Text (2.6 MB)
10 Color Plan Maps - Low Resolution
(2.1 MB)
Preface
(45 KB)
Includes: Title Page / Overall Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
(135 KB)
Includes: Introduction and Background / Summary of Purpose of the Plan / Description of the Planning Area / Uplands and Shorelands as Described in This Plan / Update of the Original Susitna Area Plan / Planning Area / How the Plan is Organized / Why This Plan Was Developed / The Mandate / What the Plan Will Do / How This Plan is Used / Public Participation in Planning Process / Process of Plan Preparation / Who Developed the Plan? / Uses and Resources Within the Planning Area / What the Plan Won't Do / Planning Period / Summary of Plan Actions / Management Intent / Land Use Designations / Management Guidelines / Classifications / Summary of Plan Implementation and Modification
Chapter 2: Areawide Land Management Policies
(765 KB)
Includes: Introduction / Agriculture / Coordination and Public Notice / Cultural Resources / Fish and Wildlife Habitat / Forestry / Instream Flow / Material Sites / Recreation and Scenic Resources / Settlement / Shorelands and Stream Corridors / Subsurface Resources / Public Access
Chapter 3: Land Management Policies for Each Management Unit
(1.5 MB)
Includes: Introduction / Plan Structure / North Parks Highway Region / South Parks Highway Region / Petersville Road Region / Sunflower Basin Region / Susitna Lowlands Region / Mount Susitna Region / Alaska Range Region / Glenn Highway Region / chugach Mountains Region / Talkeetna Mountains Region / Legislatively Designated Areas / Navigable Rivers and Lakes
Individual High Resolution Maps (11 x 17 inch)
Chapter 4: Implementation and Recommendations
(105 KB)
Includes: Introduction / State Land Classifications / Relationship of Land Use Designations in the Plan to State Land Classifications / Public Trust Doctrine / Leasing of State Land / Classification Order / Applicability of Plan Designations/Classifications to State Lands not Identified in the Plan Text or Plan Maps / Survivor Designations and Classifications / Alaska Coastal Management Program / Municipal Entitlement / State Land Selections / Mineral Orders / Legislatively Designated Areas / Generally Allowed Uses / Types of Plan Changes
Appendices
(80 KB)
Includes: Glossary / Land Classification Order
2010 Meeting Materials:
Slide Show From Public Review Draft Meetings (6 MB)
Large Maps:
Links to other web sites:
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