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Knik River Public Use Area
Management Plan

Adopted September, 2008

For more than a few years, residents near the Knik River and members of the public who recreate on public lands in the Knik River valley have voiced concern over the lack of direct management and law enforcement, and unlawful and dangerous activities occurring in the Knik Valley. Hearing those concerns as well as the concerns of others to continue their traditional recreational uses, legislation was passed designating the Knik River Valley and surrounding public lands as the Knik River Public Use Area (PUA) in 2006. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was directed through that legislation to develop a management plan for the PUA.

Since then, DNR developed the Knik River Public Use Area Management Plan, which was adopted in September, 2008, and that has formed the basis for the management of the state's land uses and resources within the PUA for the last two years. Also adopted were what is termed the 'Phase 1' regulations (11 AAC 96.016), which are intended to manage specific types of uses and activities within the PUA that were not directly related to the plan development process itself but are intended to deal with long-standing public concerns relating to this area. DNR intends to develop 'Phase 2' regulations; these will involve the management of uses and resources that the plan specifically recommended for implementation..

The PUA Management Plan follows. If desired, you can request a CD of the plan through the contact information provided below (RADS). Questions about the plan itself can be directed to Resource Assessment and Development Section in Anchorage. Questions about daily operational issues or Phase 1 and (eventually) Phase 2 regulations should be directed to the Southcentral Region.

For more information about the Knik River Public Use Area, please see this site: http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/krpua/

Resource Assessment and Development
Department of Natural Resources
550 W 7th Ave., Suite 1050
Anchorage, AK 99501 		Phone: 907-269-8534
Fax: 907-269-8915
   
Southcentral Region
Department of Natural Resources
550 W 7th Ave, Suite 900
Anchorage, AK 99501 		Phone: 907-269-8565
Fax: 907-269-8913
Email: david.griffin@alaska.gov

Complete Plan (8 MB)
For convenience, we have broken the plan down into smaller files, below. Many of the map files are rather large. So, we have listed them separately as well.
Map 1-1: Planning Area (500 KB)
Map 1-2: General Land Status (370 KB)
Map 2-1: Recommended Designated Shooting Areas (310 KB)
Map 2-2: Public Use Sites (370 KB)
Map 2-3: Forested Uplands & Un-vegetated Shorelands in Management Units A & C (410 KB)
Map 2-4: Wetlands (1.2 MB)
Map 3-1: Management Units (410 KB)
Map 3-2: Proposed Waterbody Restrictions (350 KB)
Map B-1: Anadromous Streams and Waterbodies (500 KB)
Map B-2: Waterfowl Habitat (470 KB)
Map B-3: Moose Habitat (380 KB)
Map B-4: Dall Sheep Habitat (390 KB)
Map E-1: Proposed Knik River Special Use Areas (500 KB)

Preface (500 KB)
Includes: Cover / Title Page / Adoption Signature Page / Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction and Background - Complete (1 MB)
Includes: Summary of Purpose / The Planning Area / The Public Use Area / Why the Plan Was Developed / How the Plan Was Developed / How the Plan Will be Used / What the Plan Will or Will Not Do / Relationship of PUA Statutes to Other Statutes / Relationship to Other Plans and Agreements
Chapter 1 - Text (150 KB)
Map 1-1: Planning Area (500 KB)
Map 1-2: General Land Status (370 KB)

Chapter 2: Goals and Management Guidelines - Complete (2.5 MB)
Includes: Introduction / Definitions / Overall Management Direction / Access / Commercial Use / Coordination / Facilities / Fees / Fish and Wildlife Habitat / Forestry / Health and Safety / Heritage / Cultural / Materials / Mitigation / Parcel Acquisition / Public Use Sites / Recreation / Subsurface Resources / Trails / Waterbodies
Chapter 2 - Text (180 KB)
Map 2-1: Recommended Designated Shooting Areas (310 KB)
Map 2-2: Public Use Sites (370 KB)
Map 2-3: Forested Uplands & Un-vegetated Shorelands in Management Units A & C (410 KB)
Map 2-4: Wetlands (1.2 MB)

Chapter 3: Management Guidelines, Recommendations, and Public Use Sites for Each Management Unit - Complete (900 KB)
Includes: Introduction / Unit A - Lower Knik Flats / Unit B - Lakes and Wetlands / Unit C - Upper Knik Flats / Unit D - Upper Jim Alpine / Unit E - Upper Friday Alpine / Unit F - Grasshopper Valley / Unit G - Glacier / Unit H - Metal Creek
Chapter 3 - Text (160 KB)
Map 3-1: Management Units (410 KB)
Map 3-2: Proposed Waterbody Restrictions (350 KB)

Chapter 4: - Implementation (80 KB)
Includes: Introduction / General Management of PUA Lands / Access to Public Lands / Trails Management Process / Knik River Special Use Areas / Amendments to Current Area Plans / Land Classification Order / Enforcement / Title 38 Requirements / Authority of Management Plan / Allowed and Prohibited Uses / Proposed Regulations / Fees / Other Lands / Navigable Waterbodies / Coordination with Other Agencies / Procedures for Plan Review, Modification, and Amendment / Recommended Future Studies

Appendices - Complete (3.5 MB)
Appendix A: Glossary (40 KB)
Appendix B: Fish and Wildlife Habitat - Complete (1.6 MB)
Map B-1: Anadromous Streams and Waterbodies (500 KB)
Map B-2: Waterfowl Habitat (470 KB)
Map B-3: Moose Habitat (380 KB)
Map B-4: Dall Sheep Habitat (390 KB)
Appendix C: Proposed Regulations (30 KB)
Appendix D: Trails Management Process (70 KB)
Appendix E: Special Use Area Designation (790 KB)
Map E-1: Proposed Knik River Special Use Areas (500 KB)
Appendix F: Plan Amendments (570 KB)
Appendix G: Land Classification Order (370 KB)
Appendix H: Public Trust Doctrine (20 KB)
Appendix I: Legislation (25 KB)
Appendix J: Implementation of Commercial Use Policy (25 KB)

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