A bill currently making its way through the Alaska State legislature to create a Susitna State Forest caught the attention of the Talkeetna Community Council at their February meeting on Monday night. SB 159 was introduced by Senator Linda Menard, and would turn 33 parcels totaling more than 7-hundred, sixty-thousand acres of forest west of the Parks Highway into the Susitna State Forest. Menard’s office says the proposed state forest would provide for long term forest management planning. Currently, the lands have been designated as intended for forestry use, and Menards office says the lands may be designated for disposal through agency action.
The Talkeetna Community Council has invited representative from Senator Menard’s office and State Forestry officials to attend the March Council Meeting.
Addsitionally, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly will discuss a resolution in support of SB 159 at their next Regular Meeting on February 21st.
