Hatcher Pass Management Plan - Information and Public Involvement
Proposed Government Peak
Land Exchange
- Preliminary Decision (12/12/2011)
- Map of Proposed Lands for Exchange (12/12/2011)
- Proposed Plan Amendment (12/12/2011)
- Land Classification Order (12/12/2011)
Submit Comments
Preliminary Decision for the Proposed Land Exchange Agreement
Public Information
Management Plan 2010
- Hatcher Pass Management Plan (2010)
- 2010 Principle Recommendations
- 2010 Approved Plan Map
- 2010 Recreational Motorized Area / Comparison Map
Hatcher Pass Special Use Area
- 2011 Proposed Regulations for the Hatcher Pass Special Use
- 1986 DNR Hatcher Pass Regulations
- 1986 Hatcher Pass Special Use Area
Information Resources
Public Involvement
- Public Meetings (None at this time)
Proposed Land Exchange in the Government Peak Management Unit
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a Preliminary Decision to exchange land ownership with the Matanuska-Susitna borough within the Hatcher Pass Management Plan Area. The land exchange involves borough owned land that is located west of the Government Creek within the Government Peak Management Unit and state owned land within the north central area of that management unit as reflected in the 2010 Hatcher Pass Management Plan. The land exchange includes approximately 443 acres of borough owned land and 720 acres of state owned land. The borough and state land are of approximate equal value. All state land proposed in this exchange is currently leased by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (ADL 225965).
Public Notice and Opportunity for Comment on the Preliminary Decision to Exchange Land, Proposed Hatcher Pass Management Plan Amendment and Land Classification Order.
On December 12, 2011, DNR issued Public Notice regarding this Proposed Land Exchange, Map of Land for Exchange, Plan Amendment, and Land Classification Order. Links to these documents are available electronically, above in the Government Peak Land Exchange section on this webpage.
Interested parties are encouraged to review the preliminary decision, proposed plan amendment and related documents and submit any comments they may have.
All comments must be received in writing by February 12, 2012 to ensure consideration.
You may either submit your comments online or in writing using the link provided above or print out the comment form and mail it to:
State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Resource Assessment and Development Section
550 W 7th Ave, Suite 1050
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
OR
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Community Development Department
350 E. Dahlia Avenue
Palmer, Alaska 99645
Fax (907) 745-9635
Or via email to: LMB@matsugov.us.
Please email Philana Miles with any questions or concerns.
Proposed Regulations for the Hatcher Pass Special Use Area
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing to adopt new regulations in Title 11, of the Alaska Administrative Code, 11 AAC 96.014(b). The proposed regulations include the restrictions on motorized recreational use as adopted in the 2010 Hatcher Pass Management Plan.
Public Notice and Opportunity for Comment on the Proposed Regulations
On October 14, 2011 DNR issued Public Notice regarding these proposed regulations.
You can view the Public Notice and proposed regulations on the DNR Hot Topics website. The comment period has ended. The comment deadline was Friday, December 2, 2011.
Plan Adoption
The Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources adopted the 2010 Hatcher Pass Management Plan on November 17, 2010. The Land Classification Order No. SC-09-003 and Mineral Closing Order No. 1107, which implement the plan, were also adopted. This decision affects 294,919 acres of state land within the planning area. The plan was amended, in part, on May 25, 2011 to include a provision for the development of a snowmachine corridor east of the Archangel Road.
The purpose of the 2010 Hatcher Pass Management Plan (management plan) is to provide a basis for decision-making on the management of land and resources on state and borough lands within the plan boundary. It is used by the Division of Mining, Land and Water and the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR) as the basis for overall area management and, by DPOR, in daily operational decisions. Mat-Su Borough land in the Government Peak unit is also affected by the recommendations of the plan.
The management plan covers both the East and West sides of Hatcher Pass (Miles 8 to 37, Hatcher Pass Road), including Independence Mine State Historical Park, Summit Lake State Recreation Site, Bald Mountain Ridge, Government Peak, Mile 16 Ski Run, Archangel Creek, Reed Lakes, Little Susitna River, Craigie Creek, Lucky Shot and Willow Mountain areas. The revised plan includes additional areas of state land which reflects present use patterns.
________________________________________Principle Recommendations
The 2010 management plan is a result of a two year planning and public participation process conducted by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW), in consultation with the Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR) and the Mat-Su Borough.
The management strategy recommended in the final plan was based on public testimony provided at public meetings, the review of over 1,400 written public comments, and consultation with DPOR and the Mat-Su Borough, which included an inter-agency on-the-ground assessment. Ultimately, final plan recommendations were based on recreational use patterns, topographic recognition, enforcement capabilities, and public safety concerns.
Overall Management Intent
The overall management intent of the plan is to manage the plan area for recreation purposes, except as noted below. Only facilities and uses compatible with recreation use are to be permitted. The Government Peak unit may be developed for Alpine and Nordic ski facilities. The plan emphasizes different management approaches regarding recreational motorized use for the East Side and West Side, which are generally east and west of Summit Lake, respectively.
Given the importance of mining in portions of the plan area, certain of the management units include mining as a co-designated use and are to be managed for that use as well. This affects the Craigie Creek, Bald Mountain, and Independence units.
Motorized Restrictions - Winter: Archangel/Little Susitna Units
The final plan opens the Reed Creek Valley, east of the Archangel Road, to snowmachine use. The open area terminates at the mouth of Good Hope Creek. The effect of this action is to open up the Good Hope Valley, which has been functionally closed to snowmachine use, and to provide a novice/intermediate snowmachine use area near the Goldmint Parking Lot. This area remains closed during the summer to motorized use. The area north of Good Hope Creek is remains closed to winter motorized use. This recommendation is consistent with the borough's recommendation to DNR.
The plan converts the Archangel Road to a winter non-motorized corridor for a distance of 2.5 miles from the Hatcher Pass Road to the Fern Mine Road. Areas near the road/parking lots at Marmot Mountain and Delia Creek are closed to motorized use. These changes were made to separate motorized and non-motorized uses and thereby promote public safety.
In addition, the boundaries of the 2002 Hatcher Pass Special Use Area (SUA), which follows the Reed Creek and Little Susitna drainages, have been modified to correspond to topographic features, in an effort to make the restricted area more recognizable from the ground and thereby improve enforcement. (Change in the SUA boundaries for this reason also occurs in the Archangel and Independence units.) The total net change in this option (compared to the current motorized closures) is about 345 additional acres are open to winter motorized use, or less than 0.2% of the planning area.
Motorized Restrictions – West Side
There are no recreational use motorized closures on the West Side during the winter.
Motorized Restrictions - Government Peak
This unit is closed on a year-round basis to motorized uses. No motorized corridors are recommended for the Government Peak area. Both the proposed Nordic and Alpine Ski uses are acknowledged, although the development of the Alpine Ski facilities is dependent on the approval of a management plan for this area by the borough and state.
Motorized Restrictions - Summer
East Side: The final plan does not recommend the development of the summer motorized routes on the east side; that use is better concentrated on the West Side. The plan recommends summer motorized use closures in the Archangel and High Glacier Peaks units. The closure in the High Glacier Peaks unit is to protect the current non-motorized forms of recreation that occur there.
West Side: The plan continues the recommendation for the summer closures of the Summit Lake State Recreation Site and Bald Mountain Ridge Habitat Area, which are part of the Hatcher Pass Special Use Area. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game closure of the Willow Mountain Critical Habitat Area is also still valid.
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Current and Previous Management Plans
2010 Hatcher Pass Management Plan Public Review Draft
2010 Hatcher Pass Management Plan Issue Response Summary
2010 Hatcher Pass Management Plan Approved Revisions
2010 Hatcher Pass Management Plan Approved Map
1989 Hatcher Pass Management Plan Amendment
1986 Hatcher Pass Management Plan
Public Meetings
There are no public meetings scheduled at this time.
Agency Contacts
For questions and comments regarding this management plan, and to submit comments via email, fax, or mail, contact:
Philana Miles, Land Use Planner
Department of Natural Resources
Hatcher Pass Management Plan
550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1050
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3579
Email Philana Miles
Phone: (907) 269-8529
Fax: (907) 269-8915
