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Riparian Management Plan |
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The Tanana Valley Watershed Association has partnered with the
Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission and the Department of
Community Planning to formulate a riparian management plan for the
Borough’s consideration and potential implementation.
A Proposal for Plan Formulation and Implementation
FNSB Planning Commission listening to TVWA's proposal to cooperatively develop a Riparian Management Plan, June 2007. |
The Tanana Valley Watershed Association has partnered with the Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission and the Department of Community Planning to formulate a riparian management plan for the Borough's consideration and potential implementation. The 7,361square-mile Borough encompasses more than 9,000 miles of waterways that would be addressed by the riparian management plan. About 800 miles of these waterways are within the relatively densely populated and developed Greater Fairbanks Area, with an additional 2,500 miles of these waterways within easy access (one-half mile) of roads or navigable watercourses.
Unlike many communities across the country, the Borough's waterways remain mostly unspoiled and free flowing, providing outstanding fisheries, wildlife, recreation, home sites and economic opportunities. As the Borough grows, however, riparian-corridor use along these waterways will increase in both area and intensity. If the Borough does not plan and take action to address these increases, diminished water quality, degraded fish and wildlife habitat, increased erosion, and loss of property and economic opportunities are likely. To protect these important shared resources, a proactive riparian management plan for the Borough seems especially prudent, since the Borough appears poised to repeat the boom it experienced in the 1970's with the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline if a similar natural gas pipeline is constructed.
Over the next several months, please join us as we review the available information for managing riparian corridors, and hold a series of public workshops to consider the options that will work best for our Borough.
Healthy riparian areas are important for streambank stability and for fish and wildlife habitat. The term "riparian," and its closely related terms such as riparian corridor, riparian habitat, riparian vegetation and riparian zone, refer to the transitional area between the aquatic environment (e.g., stream) and the terrestrial environment (e.g., uplands). These areas may be periodically flooded by high water, and in Alaska are typically vegetated with willows, although sedges and cottonwoods may be common in some riparian areas.
Project Timeline
This timeline shows the general sequence for each objective, and will be adjusted from time to time as we proceed.
Presentations
The TVWA is currently meeting with local groups to show why we think
there are problems managing our riparian areas, and to solicit early
comments before we begin offering public workshops to a larger
audience. Every group has offered valuable advice. If your group
would like a presentation,
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Riparian Problems in the Borough and Proposed Process
(Presentation 1, presented to the FNSB Borough Assembly 12/6/07)
Tanana Valley Watershed Association » [465kb .pdf] Soundtrack » [970kb .mp3]*
Development Near Watercourses » [2.1mb .pdf] Soundtrack » [439kb .mp3]
Channel Migration is a Natural Process » [786kb .pdf] Soundtrack » [868kb .mp3]
Problems in the Borough » [2.6mb .pdf] Soundtrack » [2.88mb .mp3]
Process for Developing a Riparian Plan » [983kb .pdf] Soundtrack » [3.35mb .mp3]
*Note, soundtracks need to be played with another program at the same time while viewing a presentation.
Riparian Interests and Concerns*
(Presentation 2, September 2008 to present)
Introduction [1.96 Mb .pps]
We're Growing [4.55 Mb .pps]
Hydrology 101 [0.90 Mb .pps]
Property Loss [3.79 Mb .pps]
Polluted Waterways [9.24 Mb .pps]
Fish & Wildlife [3.73 Mb .pps]
Conclusion [1.04 Mb .pps]
*Note, these are PowerPoint files. If you do not have PowerPoint, download a free viewer here: [PC, Mac].
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Early 2009 – First Public Workshop
Mid 2009 – Second Public Workshop with Draft Plan
Late 2009 – Third Public Workshop with Revised Plan
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The Adopt-A-Stream program is a volunteer based mission coordinated by
the TVWA in partnership with the Fairbanks Stormwater Advisory
Committee. The goal is to get residents and local businesses involved
in monitoring the water quality and fish and wildlife habitat of our
local streams.
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Read more
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TVWA goals include working with residents, local government and agencies to develop stream enhancement plans that will improve the recreational value of these waterways, while maintaining or improving the fish and wildlife habitat values.
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The Tanana Valley Watershed Association has partnered with the
Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission and the Department of
Community Planning to formulate a riparian management plan for the
Borough’s consideration and potential implementation.
|
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Read more
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