Annual summary of instream flow reservations and applications [i.e. protection] in Alaska
By: by Christopher C. Estes.
Contributors: Alaska. Division of Sport Fish.
Series: Fishery data series -- no. 97-39.
Publisher: Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish, Research and Technical Services
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Anchorage
Language: eng
Number of pages: 48
Subjects: Stream measurements -- Alaska -- Evaluation.; Fishes -- Habitat -- Alaska.
Other titles: Annual summary of instream flow reservations and protection in Alaska.
Description: This report summarizes instream flow water rights applications and related activities of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) during the eleventh year of the statewide instream flow program. The status of instream flow applications prepared by other agencies and the private sector in Alaska is also reported. Alaskan legislation, regulations, and other activities that influence instream flow protection are identified and reviewed. Between July 1, 1996 and June 30, 1997, instream flow analyses were completed by the ADF&G for five river reaches: Copper River (two reaches), Klutina River, Salmon Creek, and Solomon River. Applications to acquire instream flow water rights (reservations) will be submitted to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for adjudication based on these analyses. Seventy-three applications for reservations of water have been filed by the ADF&G under AS 46.15.145 of the Alaska Water Use Act since 1986. Ten have been granted by the DNR. During 1996 and 1997, DNR initiated adjudication procedures for 17 of the ADF&Gs pending applications as part of an 18-month project (January 1996 to June 30, 1997) to eliminate the DNR backlog for all categories of pre-1996 pending water right applications. As of July 1997, the DNR succeeded in reducing a portion of their backlog. The timeline for tackling the remainder of the backlog of pending administrative actions, instream flow and other water rights applications, including completion of the ADF&Gs partially adjudicated 17 applications has not been established. Federal agencies and the private sector have filed 85 applications for reservations of water under AS 46.15.145. Four of these applications were filed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (one has been granted), seventy-nine by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and two by the private sector. With the exception of one of the pending private applications, the adjudication process has not been initiated by the DNR for the remaining eighty-three pending applications. Two legislatively mandated reservations of water have been granted by the DNR to comply with instream flow protection provisions of the 1992 water sales and export amendments to the Alaska Water Use Act (AS 46.15.035 and AS 46.15.037). The reservations were granted as part of the adjudication process for the Blue Lake water export project in Sitka. Instream flow protection was also achieved through other state and federal mechanisms, but is not reported in detail. An evaluation to identify and select options for reducing the states costs associated with managing water allocation in Alaska was completed by the DNR in 1997. Options ranged from eliminating the Alaska Water Use Act to retaining the status quo. The DNR selected to maintain the status quo for the time being, but, plans to propose regulatory changes in the future.
Notes: "December 1997".

Includes bibliographical references (p. 20-22).

Also issued online.