ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
NOTICE OF PRELIMINARY DECISION FOR LEASE
ADL 104374
Misty Fjords LLC
In accordance with AS 38.05.035, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Mining, Land and Water (DMLW), Southeast Regional Office (SERO) has issued a Preliminary Decision (PD) to authorize a 25-year tideland lease to Misty Fjords LLC for the use of approximately 2.5-acres of state-owned tide and submerged land in Misty Fjords National Monument, Mink Bay, Alaska.
This leasehold area is comprised of approximately 2.5-acres of state-owned tide and submerged lands; adjacent to US Survey (USS) 287 Ketchikan Recording District, within NE ¼ Section 25, Township 78 South, Range 97 East, Copper River Meridian. This leasehold is depicted on Alaska Tideland Survey (ATS) 1454 Ketchikan Recording District, and the development diagram approved by DMLW on June 29th, 2026.
The purpose of this application is for the continued use of a gangway and dock used for moorage of vessels access and to a seasonal, private lodge. The applicant requested a second tract south of the leasehold to moor two wooden gear floats used for outdoor gear storage and skiff moorage. The requested second tract is included in leasehold ADL 104374.
Requested Improvements:
- Wooden gear float #1 – 9-feet x 33-feet
- Wooden gear float #2, floated with eight 36” HDP pipes attached to bottom of float – 25-feet x 50-feet
- Two shore ties – Approximately 220-feet and 120-feet
- Above listed items have previously been installed (seasonally) on state-owned tide and submerged lands; applicant requests to include items within leasehold.
Existing Improvements:
- Metal gangway – approximately 7-feet x 185-feet
- Wooden dock extension – approximately 16-feet x 55-feet
- Main dock – approximately 25-feet x 116-feet
- (1) storage/fish cleaning building on main dock – 12-feet x 28-feet
- (3) standard metal pilings to secure dock
- (9) standard wood pilings to support portion of gangway contained within leasehold
- (1) 4-inch end portion of outfall line exiting into leasehold, approximately 50-feet
Public notice of this PD will be posted on the Alaska Online Public Notices website for 30 calendar days. The public may provide comments to DMLW during that time. Additionally, notice of this PD will be given to adjacent landowners and will be sent to the Post Office in Ketchikan for community distribution.
The public is invited to comment on this PD. Written comments must be received by DNR – DMLW no later than 5:00pm on October 21st, 2026. All comments must be submitted to: DNR – DMLW, Southeast Regional Office by mail at PO Box 111020, Juneau, Alaska 99811-1020 or by email to quinlan.mcclurg@alaska.gov in order to ensure consideration. Please include your current contact information with your comment. In order to establish appeal rights regarding this decision, you are required by law to meaningfully participate in the decision process by commenting on the decision, in writing, prior to the comment deadline. Following the deadline, all timely written comments will be considered, and DNR may modify this decision based on public comments received.
The names and commenters and comments received will be part of the public record.
If DNR determines that public comments in response to this notice indicate the need for significant changes to the decision, additional public notice will be given. If no significant changes are required, the PD, after any necessary minor changes, will be issued as a Final Finding and Decision (FFD). A copy of the FFD, along with instructions on filing an appeal, will be sent to all persons who comment on the PD. Persons who do not submit written comments during the comment period will have no legal right to appeal the FFD.
The Division of Mining, Land and Water reserves the right to waive technical defects in this publication.