2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 16. Fish and Game › Chapter 20. Protection of Fish and Game; Refuges, Sanctuaries, Range Areas, and Habitat Areas › Article 1. State Game Refuges. › Sec. 16.20.033. Yakataga State Game Refuge.

(a) The following state-owned land and water and all land acquired in the future by the state lying within the parcels described in this subsection are established as the Yakataga State Game Refuge:
(1) Township 20 South, Range 13 East, Copper River Meridian
Section 11: SE1/4
Section 12: S1/2
Section 13
Section 14: E1/2
Sections 22 - 27
Sections 34 - 36;
(2) Township 20 South, Range 14 East, Copper River Meridian
Sections 7 - 12: S1/2
Sections 13 - 36;
(3) Township 20 South, Range 15 East, Copper River Meridian
Sections 7 - 12: S1/2
Sections 13 - 36;
(4) Township 20 South, Range 16 East, Copper River Meridian
Sections 7 - 9: S1/2
Sections 16 - 36;
(5) Township 21 South, Range 11 East, Copper River Meridian
Excluding that portion of Tract A-148 lying north and west of Seal River:
Sections 1 - 2
Sections 3 - 4: North and east of the Seal River and its associated lake system
Section 10: East of Seal River and one mile north of mean high tide line on the Gulf of Alaska
Sections 11 - 12
Sections 13 - 14: above mean high tide line on the Gulf of Alaska;
(6) Township 21 South, Range 111/2 East, Copper River Meridian
Sections 6 - 7
Section 18: Above mean high tide line on the Gulf of Alaska;
(7) Township 21 South, Range 12 East, Copper River Meridian
Sections 13 - 14: S1/2
Sections 23 - 26
Sections 35 - 36: Above mean high tide line on the Gulf of Alaska;
(8) Township 21 South, Range 13 East, Copper River Meridian
Sections 1 - 21
Section 22: W1/2, E1/2 one mile north of mean high tide line on the Gulf of Alaska
Sections 23 - 24: One mile north of mean high tide line on the Gulf of Alaska;
(9) Township 21 South, Range 14 East, Copper River Meridian
Sections 1 - 12
Sections 13 - 15: One mile north of mean high tide line on the Gulf of Alaska
Sections 16 - 18
Sections 19 - 22: One mile north of mean high tide line on the Gulf of Alaska;
(10) Township 21 South, Range 15 East, Copper River Meridian
Sections 1 - 7
Sections 8 - 12: One mile north of mean high tide line on the Gulf of Alaska;
(11) Township 21 South, Range 16 East, Copper River Meridian
Sections 1 - 6
Sections 7 - 12: One mile north of mean high tide line on the Gulf of Alaska.
(b) The Yakataga State Game Refuge is established to protect the
(1) fish and wildlife habitat and populations, including salmon spawning and rearing habitat and critical goat and moose winter habitat;
(2) public uses of fish and wildlife and their habitat, particularly commercial, sport, and subsistence fishing, hunting, viewing, photography, and general public recreation in a high quality environment; and
(3) the use and disposition of other resources when the activities are not inconsistent with (1) and (2) of this subsection.
(c) The department shall permit timber harvest activities in the area east of the Kaliakh River when the activities are not inconsistent with (b)(1) of this section.
(d) The state may not acquire by eminent domain private land that is located within the state-owned land specified in (a) of this section for inclusion in the Yakataga State Game Refuge. The state may acquire private land that is located within the state-owned land specified in (a) of this section by purchase, exchange, or otherwise from willing owners for inclusion in the Yakataga State Game Refuge.
(e) The establishment of the Yakataga State Game Refuge under this section does not impair or alter valid existing rights including pending Native allotment applications, access to set net sites, and access to and from private land located within the Yakataga State Game Refuge.
(f) The department shall allow commercial, sport, and subsistence fishing and hunting within the Yakataga State Game Refuge under regulations of the Board of Fisheries and the Board of Game. The department shall also permit associated support activities when necessary and consistent with AS 16.20.010 - 16.20.080 to support fishing and hunting permitted under this section, including fish buying operations, aircraft support including landing strips, and off-road vehicle use.
(g) Egress and ingress to and from private property within the parcels described in (a) of this section shall be allowed through access corridors established by agreement between the department, the Department of Natural Resources, and the owners of private land involved. The establishment of the Yakataga State Game Refuge does not impair or alter existing rights of access to set net lease sites.
(h) The department shall adopt and may revise a management plan for the Yakataga State Game Refuge.