SMAP draft released for comment

The state of Alaska has recently released its draft Susitna Matanuska Area Plan, not to be confused with the Borough’s Natural Resource Management Plan that is now under review.

The S-M-A-P affects over 9 million acres of state land in the Susitna River Valley.  It designates primary uses on state land and covers most state lands in the Mat Su Borough, with the exception of Hatcher Pass, the Denali Highway and the Knik River Area.

The plan revises the original document from 1985 and classifies land and its uses.  Those designations include public recreation, agriculture, coal, water resources and forestry.   Some of the land will be designated for settlement land and will provide land for future state land sales.  The plan will also affect what lands will be used for public recreation and what lands might be mined and logged.

A draft plan is on the internet at the DNR website under the mining, land and water planning documents.  Local libraries will have paper copies by next week.

Public meetings are schedules throughout March in Skwentna, Talkeetna, Trapper Creek, Sutton, Glacier View, Willow, Anchorage and Wasilla.  The first meeting will be in Skwentna on March 18^th.

Public comments on the plan are due May 5^th.