ADF&G Seeks Comments on Draft Management Plan for Dude Creek Critical Habitat Area

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) is seeking public comment on the Dude Creek Critical Habitat Area (CHA) draft management plan. The management plan and subsequent regulations will be used by department staff to guide management actions and authorize appropriate activities in the critical habitat area through Special Area Permitting.   

The draft plan presents management goals for the CHA and identifies policies to be used in determining which activities are compatible with the protection of sandhill cranes and other fish and wildlife, their habitats, and public use of the CHA.   The Goals and Policies of the management plan will be adopted by reference into regulation.   Proposed policies may be revised prior to adoption based on public comment. ADF&G will conduct a separate regulatory review for the regulatory adoption, after the management plan is finalized.  

This draft is substantively similar to the public review draft of the Dude Creek CHA management plan released in June 2011.  While the substance of the policies and goals has not changed, some were rewritten for clarity.  A “Fire Management” Policy was developed and added to address the department’s actions in a potential wildland fire response. Updates were also made in the Resource Inventory to reflect new information. Maps were edited to be more useful.  

The draft plan is available for public review and comment through: December 11, 2015. Copies and more information are available on the department website at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=habitatoversight.specialareas  at ADF&G offices in Anchorage and Douglas.  Additional copies for review will be at Gustavus Public Library and Esther Greenwald Library in Hoonah.   

Written comments may be emailed to dfg.hab.specialarea@alaska.gov or mailed to:

Dude Creek CHA Management Plan
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Division of Habitat
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518-1565

Department:      ADF&G
Category:          Public notice
Sub-Category:   Public comment
Location:          Southeast, Statewide
Project/Regulation#:      N/a
Publish date:     10/30/2015
Archive date:     12/12/2015