Final Susitna Matanuska land plan adopted

The Susitna Matanuska Area Plan established by Alaska’s DNR is going through its next round of comments.  The final plan has been adopted.

The draft plan received 55 comments from various individuals and organizations.

Planner Ray Burger said in a press release that public input to DNR resulted in new measures to protect recreational access and stream habitat.  Major recreational streams now will have a 200 to 300 foot buffer.

The plan also retains land or easements in areas that could be used for access across the Susitna River. The plan does not determine the location of a bridge.

The plan also identifies seven hundred thousand acres of POTENTIAL new state forest.  The Division of forestry would manage that land.  Another seven hundred thousand acres will be classified as settlement.

Overall, the plan establishes guidelines for 9 million acres of state land in the Susitna river valley and revises the 1985 plan.

Residents can come to the public meeting at Su Valley High School on August 24^th to get their questions answered.  A 20 day period will be underway starting Thursday for anyone who wants to provide reconsideration comments to the Commissioner’s decision to adopt the plan.