Notice of Applications for Reservation of Water
Harris River; Reach A – LAS 26462; Reach B – LAS 29903; Reach C – LAS 29904; Reach D – LAS 29905;
Point E – LAS 29906; Reach F – LAS 29907; Point G – LAS 29908
Pursuant to AS 46.15 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, notice is hereby given that seven applications, with priority dates of June 1, 2007, were received from the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99518, to reserve water within Harris River, near Hollis, Alaska, for the purpose of maintaining specified instream flow rates to protect fish and wildlife habitat, migration, and propagation. The Department of Natural Resources is adjudicating these applications for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game for Harris Creek and applies to five reaches and two points within the river and its floodplain: Reach A – begins at the river mouth at mean lower low water (NOAA Chart 17426, 1990) river mile 0 and extends upstream to just below the confluence with Anadromous Waters Catalog (AWC) stream number 102-60-10800 at river mile 1.3; Reach B – begins just upstream of Reach A and extends upstream to the boundary between Township 74S Range 83E and 84E at river mile 2.4; Reach C – begins just upstream of Reach B and extends upstream to just below the confluence with AWC stream number 102-60-10820-2013 at river mile 8; Reach D – begins just upstream of Reach C and extends upstream to just below the confluence with AWC stream number 102-60-10820-2027 at river mile 13.3; Point E – is located on the mainstem just upstream of the confluence with AWC stream number 102-60-10820-2027; Reach F – begins at the downstream end of AWC stream number 102-60-10820-2013 and extends upstream approximately 0.5 miles to the boundary between Township 74S Range 83E Sections 17 and 20; Point G – is located at the downstream end of AWC stream number 102-60-10820-2027. These applications are for the following location, time periods, and flow rates:
Said portions of Harris River are located within Township 74 South, Range 84 East, Sections 7, 8, 17, & 18; Township 74 South, Range 83 East, Sections 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, & 20; Township 73 South, Range 83 East, Sections 29, 30, & 32. All within the Copper River Meridian, Ketchikan Recording District, First Judicial District, State of Alaska.
Requested Flow Rates (cubic feet per second):
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
| Reach A Flow Requests (cfs) | 120 | 120 | 135 | 298 | 385 | 260 | 122 | 105 | 192 | 460 | 328 | 290 |
| Reach B Flow Requests (cfs) | 90 | 90 | 100 | 217 | 280 | 210 | 105 | 84 | 150 | 345 | 250 | 230 |
| Reach C Flow Requests (cfs) | 55 | 55 | 61 | 132 | 171 | 128 | 64 | 51 | 92 | 210 | 153 | 140 |
| Reach D Flow Requests (cfs) | 13 | 13 | 14 | 30 | 39 | 29 | 15 | 12 | 21 | 48 | 35 | 32 |
| Point E Flow Requests (cfs) | 6.3 | 6.3 | 7 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 7.4 | 5.9 | 11 | 24 | 18 | 16 |
| Reach F Flow Requests (cfs) | 12 | 12 | 13 | 28 | 36 | 27 | 14 | 11 | 20 | 45 | 33 | 30 |
| Point G Flow Requests (cfs) | 5.4 | 5.4 | 6 | 13 | 17 | 13 | 6.3 | 5 | 9 | 21 | 15 | 14 |
A reservation of water is an appropriation of water that remains within the stream or lake for any one or a combination of four purposes authorized by statute; protection of fish and wildlife habitat, migration, and propagation; recreation and park purposes; navigation and transportation purposes; or sanitary and water quality purposes. Holders of water rights junior to established senior water rights, including reservations of water, may be unable to divert or withdraw significant amounts of water for consumptive use when stream flows fall below granted flows or water levels. Further information about these applications may be obtained from the Division by contacting Kimberly Sager at (907) 269-2033 or by email at kimberly.sager@alaska.gov.
Within 15 days of publication or service of notice, persons may file written objections, stating the name and address of the objector, and any facts tending to show that rights of the objector or the public interest would be adversely affected by the requested reservations. Objections must be submitted in writing by email (kimberly.sager@alaska.gov), fax (907-269-8904), or delivered to the Department of Natural Resources, 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1070, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3514 by April 29th, 2015, before 5:00 PM to be considered. Similarly, comments that might otherwise assist the Division in its determination of the public interest pursuant to AS 46.15.080(b) are also requested and must be received by the above deadline. Any facts tending to show that the rights of any person or the public interest would be positively affected must also be submitted in writing as directed above.
Persons who have interest in tracking the status of these requested applications may request notification of the Department’s final decision by writing to the Department at the above address.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources complies with Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. The State is prepared to accommodate individuals with disabilities by providing aids when requested. Individuals with audio impairments who wish to respond to this notice by telephone may call the Departments Public Information Center in Anchorage between the hours of 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, M-F at TDD #269-8411.
The right is reserved to waive technical defects in this publication.
Kimberly Sager, Natural Resource Specialist