Legislature(2003 - 2004)
02/02/2004 03:30 PM Senate RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HCR 10-RESTORATION OF RIPARIAN HABITAT
CHAIR SCOTT OGAN announced HCR 10 to be up for consideration.
REPRESENTATIVE KELLY WOLF, sponsor, said HCR 10 basically
supports habitat throughout the state of Alaska. He explained:
Residents of Alaska are dependent on the fisheries
resource of the state for consumptive uses and a
source of income as well as enjoyment of fishing.
Riparian habitat is a vital key to maintaining the
fisheries as a healthy resource. State and federal
agencies are charged with keeping Alaska's waters
clean, fishable and drinkable.
The state benefits by partnering with non-profit
organizations. Local community involvement helps
promote the awareness, stewardship and public
education about this riparian habitat. Support from
private organizations and corporate funding sources
for restoration projects will help the state find new
sources to restore riparian habitat.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF said that Alaska, with a nearly $28 billion
Permanent Fund that owns stock in 2,000 American and 1,000
overseas corporations, is in a unique position to encourage
corporations to work with community groups and non-profit
organizations throughout Alaska to help protect one of Alaska's
greatest resources.
SENATOR GEORGIANNA LINCOLN arrived at 3:35 p.m.
SENATOR KIM ELTON pointed out that this resolution has a
resolve clause and asked why it is not addressed to anyone, like
the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), for instance.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF replied that getting state and federal
agencies to work together has always been a contentious
enterprise. The idea he is putting forward is that organizations
and communities can take it upon themselves to encourage
cooperation.
SENATOR ELTON retorted, "The way you encourage people is to let
people know what you've said and we're not doing that. I find it
odd."
CHAIR OGAN asked Senator Elton if he wanted to offer an
amendment.
SENATOR ELTON replied that at this point, he might inadvertently
leave out someone who should be notified.
CHAIR OGAN asked Representative Wolf if he would consider an
amendment. He indicated that he would and he would start by
including all federal and state agencies that are responsible
for resource management.
SENATOR DYSON supported Senator Elton's remarks and felt that
because of the tenor of the resolution, all the advocacy groups
should be included, too.
SENATOR WAGONER inserted that the Kenai River Center might have
a complete list of relevant groups.
SENATOR SEEKINS wanted to know the scope of what is considered
to be riparian habitat.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF replied:
Riparian habitat is an area that remains wet through
the normal tidal change and the issue of habitat...is
that that is affected by [indisc.] mean high and down
below. Watershed is from the top of the mountain to
ordinary high water.
SENATOR RALPH SEEKINS said the resolution doesn't refer to the
watershed, but the streams and the marshes that feed into the
streams.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF agreed.
SENATOR SEEKINS asked him for an example of a habitat
restoration practice that would be beneficial to anadromous fish
streams.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF replied that restoration techniques have
been around for a hundred years and vary from Indonesian coconut
fiber logs to straw logs and burlap soil bags, replanting of
compatible vegetation, willow wraps, sod layers and more.
SENATOR SEEKINS asked if anything in habitat restoration
conflicts with other uses of the water column, i.e. rafting,
canoeing, boating, etc.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF replied that 555,000 angler days occur on
the Russian River annually and the U.S. Forest Service has built
elevated walkways to allow access to and along the river. The
most common restoration technology for simply directing traffic
is just planting willows along the walkways.
SENATOR SEEKINS said the City of Fairbanks just had a hearing on
a proposed Department of Natural Resources (DNR) management plan
for the Upper Chena River, which limited the number of boats and
restricted certain historical accesses to the river and other
recreational activities. He asked since the Upper Chena is an
anadromous fish stream, would his proposal interfere with
historical uses.
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF replied no and explained that habitat
restoration is a method of restoring what has been damaged.
State agencies are very attuned to the fact that people live
there, too.
SENATOR SEEKINS noted that the meeting on the Upper Chena was
probably one of the most contentious and well-attended meetings
he had seen in years.
CHAIR OGAN said that HCR 10 would be held for further work.
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