Title 6 . Governor's Office

Chapter 80 . Guidelines for District Coastal Management Programs

Section 130. Habitats

6 AAC 80.130. Habitats

(a) Habitats in the coastal area which are subject to the Alaska coastal management program include

(1) offshore areas;

(2) estuaries;

(3) wetlands and tideflats;

(4) rocky islands and seacliffs;

(5) barrier islands and lagoons;

(6) exposed high energy coasts;

(7) rivers, streams, and lakes; and

(8) important upland habitat.

(b) The habitats contained in (a) of this section must be managed so as to maintain or enhance the biological, physical, and chemical characteristics of the habitat which contribute to its capacity to support living resources,

(c) In addition to the standard contained in (b) of this section, the following standards apply to the management of the following habitats:

(1) offshore areas must be managed as a fisheries conservation zone so as to maintain or enhance the state's sport, commercial, and subsistence fishery;

(2) estuaries must be managed so as to assure adequate water flow, natural circulation patterns, nutrients, and oxygen levels, and avoid the discharge of toxic wastes, silt, and destruction of productive habitat;

(3) wetlands and tideflats must be managed so as to assure adequate water flow, nutrients, and oxygen levels and avoid adverse effects on natural drainage patterns, the destruction of important habitat, and the discharge of toxic substances;

(4) rocky islands and seacliffs must be managed so as to avoid the harassment of wildlife, destruction of important habitat, and the introduction of competing or destructive species and predators;

(5) barrier islands and lagoons must be managed so as to maintain adequate flows of sediments, detritus, and water, avoid the alteration or redirection of wave energy which would lead to the filling in of lagoons or the erosion of barrier islands, and discourage activities which would decrease the use of barrier islands by coastal species, including polar bears and nesting birds;

(6) high energy coasts must be managed by assuring the adequate mix and transport of sediments and nutrients and avoiding redirection of transport processes and wave energy; and

(7) rivers, streams, and lakes must be managed to protect natural vegetation, water quality, important fish or wildlife habitat and natural water flow.

(d) Uses and activities in the coastal area which will not conform to the standards contained in (b) and (c) of this section may be allowed by the district or appropriate state agency if the following are established:

(1) there is a significant public need for the proposed use or activity;

(2) there is no feasible prudent alternative to meet the public need for the proposed use or activity which would conform to the standards contained in (b) and (c) of this section; and

(3) all feasible and prudent steps to maximize conformance with the standards contained in (b) and (c) of this section will be taken.

(e) In applying this section, districts and state agencies may use appropriate expertise, including regional programs referred to in 6 AAC 80.030(b) .

History: Eff. 7/18/78, Register 67

Authority: AS 44.19.161

AS 46.40.040