Difference between revisions of "State of the Beach/State Reports/AK/Beach Description"

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Prior to the 2005 ACMP program changes, 33 coastal districts participated in the program to varying degrees, which meant they had district plans with their own enforceable policies that had to be considered in state permitting decisions. As part of the 2005 program changes, the State developed new guidance for local districts that want to participate in the ACMP. Previously, the districts were able to write district policies regarding a use or resource anywhere in their districts regardless of whether or how the subjected use or resource was addressed by another State or federal law. The 2005 ACMP regulations require that district enforceable policies: must relate to the uses and practices identified in the new ACMP regulations; may not address any matters regulated by DEC (i.e. air, land, and water); may not adopt, duplicate, repeat, restate, or incorporate by reference a State standard or other State or federal law; must be clear and concise as to the activities and persons affected by its requirements, and use precise, prescriptive and enforceable language.
 
Prior to the 2005 ACMP program changes, 33 coastal districts participated in the program to varying degrees, which meant they had district plans with their own enforceable policies that had to be considered in state permitting decisions. As part of the 2005 program changes, the State developed new guidance for local districts that want to participate in the ACMP. Previously, the districts were able to write district policies regarding a use or resource anywhere in their districts regardless of whether or how the subjected use or resource was addressed by another State or federal law. The 2005 ACMP regulations require that district enforceable policies: must relate to the uses and practices identified in the new ACMP regulations; may not address any matters regulated by DEC (i.e. air, land, and water); may not adopt, duplicate, repeat, restate, or incorporate by reference a State standard or other State or federal law; must be clear and concise as to the activities and persons affected by its requirements, and use precise, prescriptive and enforceable language.
 
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Five of the 33 districts formally dropped out of the program when the new state standards and guidelines were implemented. At the time of the [http://www.alaskacoast.state.ak.us/OCRM/AlaskaCMP2008.pdf 312 evaluation] in 2007, 14 of the remaining 28 districts had plans that were completed and adopted by the state (Aleutians West CRSA, City of Bethel, Bristol Bay Borough, City of Craig, Haines Borough, City of Hoonah, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, City of Nome, City of Pelican, City and Borough of Sitka, City of Skagway, City of Thorne Bay, City and Borough of Yakutat, and City of Valdez). Fourteen other districts’ coastal management plans were in various stages of completion, including: Aleutians East Borough, the Municipality of Anchorage, Bering Straits CRSA, Bristol Bay CRSA, Cenaliulriit CRSA, City of Cordova, City and Borough of Juneau, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Kodiak Island Borough, Lake and Peninsula Borough, Northwest Arctic Borough, North Slope Borough, and City of Whittier. Five district plans have been/are in mediation due to disagreement between the district and the DNR on issues such as the designation of significant habitat areas and subsistence areas. The legislature’s extended deadline for state approval of the district plans was September 1, 2007. As of early 2008, three district plans were in mediation, one was in review with the ACMP, and the rest were either awaiting NOAA approval or local adoption.
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Five of the 33 districts formally dropped out of the program when the new state standards and guidelines were implemented. At the time of a program evaluation in 2007, 14 of the remaining 28 districts had plans that were completed and adopted by the state (Aleutians West CRSA, City of Bethel, Bristol Bay Borough, City of Craig, Haines Borough, City of Hoonah, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, City of Nome, City of Pelican, City and Borough of Sitka, City of Skagway, City of Thorne Bay, City and Borough of Yakutat, and City of Valdez). Fourteen other districts’ coastal management plans were in various stages of completion, including: Aleutians East Borough, the Municipality of Anchorage, Bering Straits CRSA, Bristol Bay CRSA, Cenaliulriit CRSA, City of Cordova, City and Borough of Juneau, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Kodiak Island Borough, Lake and Peninsula Borough, Northwest Arctic Borough, North Slope Borough, and City of Whittier. Five district plans were in mediation due to disagreement between the district and the DNR on issues such as the designation of significant habitat areas and subsistence areas. As of early 2008, three district plans were in mediation, one was in review with the ACMP, and the rest were either awaiting NOAA approval or local adoption.
 
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Revision as of 14:08, 27 March 2017

Home Beach Indicators Methodology Findings Beach Manifesto State Reports Chapters Perspectives Model Programs Bad and Rad Conclusion


Alaska Ratings
Indicator Type Information Status
Beach Access55
Water Quality23∗
Beach Erosion3-
Erosion Response-4
Beach Fill5-
Shoreline Structures3 5
Beach Ecology1-
Surfing Areas28
Website1∗∗-
Coastal Development{{{19}}}{{{20}}}
Sea Level Rise{{{21}}}{{{22}}}
Special comments:

∗Since the water quality monitoring program in Alaska only exists on a limited basis, the recreational water quality is largely unknown. Only 117 samples were tested for the state in 2013.

∗∗The Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP) is scheduled to sunset at 12:01 AM, Alaska Standard Time, on July 1, 2011 per AS 44.66.030. The Legislature adjourned the special legislative session May 14, 2011 without passing legislation required to extend the Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP). This webpage will be viewable for reference purposes through June 30, 2012. It will then be archived within the Department of Natural Resources. Beginning on July 1, 2011 the website will remain static and there will be no further updates to the content of the former ACMP website. If you have any questions, please contact the DNR’s Commissioner’s Office at 907-269-8400.


Description

Alaska is bounded by two oceans and two seas. Glaciers have carved many large islands from the mainland and retreated to uncover a shoreline with abundant narrow fjords and craggy headlands. Volcanic activity has formed numerous islands. As a result of its varied coastline and its vast extent, the marine shoreline of Alaska measures 44,500 miles (note: the original ACMP document identified the coastal shoreline mileage as 33,904 miles, however, recent Alaska coastline GIS surveys indicates the higher number). The State has a three-tiered coastal zone based on the proximity to the land-sea interface.

The ice-stressed coastal ecosystems of Alaska are unique in the United States, although its diverse coastline includes every ecosystem found in the contiguous states except tropical. Alaska’s fertile continental shelf totals 830,000 square miles, or 74 percent of the nation’s total. Many species of migratory fish, birds, and marine mammals use the islands, estuaries and coastal streams and ponds for breeding, spawning, birthing and resting. Some of the world’s richest commercial fish stocks are found along Alaska’s continental shelf. The unique biophysical character of Alaska’s coastal zone is of national and international scientific and economic value. Its potential oil and gas reserves are among the largest in the world. Nearly all of the minerals classified as strategic by the Federal government, ranging from antimony to zinc, are found in Alaska.

The diverse, and sometimes conflicting, uses of Alaska’s coastal zone present numerous opportunities to balance preservation, conservation, and development of the many coastal resources for future recreation, education, scientific study, conservation, fishing, subsistence use, and oil and gas, mineral, and timber extraction.



Contact Info for the Lead Coastal Zone Management Agency

Randy Bates

Director, Division of Coastal and Ocean Management (DCOM)
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Phone: 907-465-8797
302 Gold Street, Suite 202
P.O. Box 111030
Juneau, AK 99811-1030
Mail Stop: 1030
General Phone: (907) 465-3562
Fax: (907) 465-3075
Email: randy.bates@alaska.gov

Ed Fogels, Director
Office of Project Management and Permitting (OPMP)
Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources
550 W. 7th. Ave., Suite 705
Anchorage, AK 99501-3559
Phone: 907-269-8431
General Phone: 907-269-7470
Fax: 907-269-3981

Joint Pipeline Office

Mailing/Physical:
411 W 47th Ave, Ste 2C
Anchorage, AK 99201


Coastal Zone Management Program

IMPORTANT UPDATE - An agreement to continue the Alaska Coastal Zone Management Program could not be reached during a Special Session in 2011 as the measure failed by one vote in the House before adjournment. As a result, the program ended on June 30, 2011, and the state therefore lost the ability to have local input to the Federal government in important decisions on coastal development projects. Adding to the bad news, a ballot measure to reestablish the Alaska Coastal Program (Prop 2) failed to garner enough votes for passage in Alaska's Primary Election in August 2012.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources formerly oversaw the Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP). The primary authority for the Coastal Program is the Coastal Management Act of 1977. Alaska has/had? a three-tiered coastal zone based on the proximity to the land-sea interface. Local coastal programs may also establish more specific boundaries. While the Coastal Program was originally established under the Coastal Management Act of 1977, between 2003 and 2005 Alaska adopted, and OCRM approved, enforceable policies for the Coastal Program that significantly changed statewide coastal standards and the role of local district governments in the Coastal Program.

Alaska's coastal zone is home to many important industries, including seafood processing, oil and gas development, mining, and timber harvesting. Its potential oil and gas reserves are among the largest in the world. Nearly all of the minerals classified as strategic by the federal government are found in Alaska. The coast also supports a rich cultural heritage with its many Native Alaskan tribes who rely on the state's natural resources for subsistence living. The long-term prosperity of these coastal cultures depends upon a healthy environment.

The Office of Project Management and Permitting (OPMP), formerly known as the Division of Governmental Coordination (DGC), is located in the Department of Natural Resources. OPMP was the lead agency for coordinating the Alaska Coastal Management Program. OPMP is the lead agency for state participation in implementation of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). OPMP is coordinating the Coastal Impact Assistance Program and when needed, coordinates the State's position on special resource management issues.

Due to Alaska's immense size, much of the authority to carry out CZMA programs was delegated to coastal districts.

The Alaska Coastal Management Act [AS 46.40.210(2)] allows for the formation of coastal districts in areas that contain a portion of Alaska's coastal area. Coastal districts can be formed either by local governments or, in areas outside the boundaries of local governments, by coastal resource service areas (CRSAs).

Within organized cities or boroughs, coastal management is the responsibility of the city council or borough assembly. Local officials usually integrate coastal management with other planning authorities and may implement it through land use regulations and other local planning techniques.

CRSAs give people living in rural Alaska the opportunity to affect the management of their coastal resources. However, the coastal management programs of CRSAs can only be implemented through participation in the State consistency review process.

Prior to the 2005 ACMP program changes, 33 coastal districts participated in the program to varying degrees, which meant they had district plans with their own enforceable policies that had to be considered in state permitting decisions. As part of the 2005 program changes, the State developed new guidance for local districts that want to participate in the ACMP. Previously, the districts were able to write district policies regarding a use or resource anywhere in their districts regardless of whether or how the subjected use or resource was addressed by another State or federal law. The 2005 ACMP regulations require that district enforceable policies: must relate to the uses and practices identified in the new ACMP regulations; may not address any matters regulated by DEC (i.e. air, land, and water); may not adopt, duplicate, repeat, restate, or incorporate by reference a State standard or other State or federal law; must be clear and concise as to the activities and persons affected by its requirements, and use precise, prescriptive and enforceable language.

Five of the 33 districts formally dropped out of the program when the new state standards and guidelines were implemented. At the time of a program evaluation in 2007, 14 of the remaining 28 districts had plans that were completed and adopted by the state (Aleutians West CRSA, City of Bethel, Bristol Bay Borough, City of Craig, Haines Borough, City of Hoonah, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, City of Nome, City of Pelican, City and Borough of Sitka, City of Skagway, City of Thorne Bay, City and Borough of Yakutat, and City of Valdez). Fourteen other districts’ coastal management plans were in various stages of completion, including: Aleutians East Borough, the Municipality of Anchorage, Bering Straits CRSA, Bristol Bay CRSA, Cenaliulriit CRSA, City of Cordova, City and Borough of Juneau, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Kodiak Island Borough, Lake and Peninsula Borough, Northwest Arctic Borough, North Slope Borough, and City of Whittier. Five district plans were in mediation due to disagreement between the district and the DNR on issues such as the designation of significant habitat areas and subsistence areas. As of early 2008, three district plans were in mediation, one was in review with the ACMP, and the rest were either awaiting NOAA approval or local adoption.

Footnotes

  1. Bernd-Cohen, T. and M. Gordon. "State Coastal Program Effectiveness in Protecting Natural Beaches, Dunes, Bluffs, and Rock Shores." Coastal Management 27:187-217. 1999.
  2. Bernd-Cohen, T. and M. Gordon. "State Coastal Program Effectiveness in Protecting Natural Beaches, Dunes, Bluffs, and Rock Shores." Coastal Management 27:187-217. 1999.


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