The revision process is designed to include considerations from members of the public, regional and local Alaska Native corporations, industry representatives, and other interest groups. Throughout this process, opportunities for public comment will be shared here and through the State of Alaska Online Public Notice platform.

Public Meetings

Opening meeting – May 8, 2024

Planning Process Update – October 9, 2024
The update meeting on October 9 is intended to provide an update on the planning process and review the results of the public surveys released throughout the summer

• HSF Purpose & Terminology
• HSF land classification maps
• Recreation Survey Summary
• Subsistence Survey Summary
• Broad Forestry Survey Summary
• Forest Projects Survey Summary

A schedule of public meetings can be found below, and will be updated as more meetings are planned for the future.

Date	Purpose	Location	Join Online
Initial Public Meeting May 8, 2024 6:30–8:00pm	-Introduce HSF and forest management -Introduce Carbon market in Alaska -Outline amendment process -Q & A Session	Lobby, Chilkat Center for the Arts	This meeting has already occurred.
Amendment Update and Survey Summary Meeting October 9, 2024 6:30-8:00pm	-Update progress with plan amendment -Discuss results of public surveys released throughout the summer -Identify dates of future meetings and/or release of plan draft for public review	Lobby, Chilkat Center for the Arts 1 Theater Dr. Haines, AK 99827	This meeting has already occurred.

Surveys

Throughout the summer, a series of surveys will be posted here.  Surveys will address topics that are relevant to the scope of this amendment and will be released in the first week of May, June, July, and August.  These surveys will remain open for submissions through Monday, September 30, 2024.  Comments submitted through the survey and interactive map products will contribute to the discussion analysis of the subject topics for tabular presentation during the fall public meeting.  The comments are anonymous and will be used for statistical analysis only.

The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection would like to hear your thoughts on topics including:

Survey 1: Recreation

Survey 2: Subsistence Use

Survey 3: Broad Forestry Topics

Survey 4: Forest Projects

Interactive map

View the map below of the Haines State Forest. This map displays active forest roads, unit and subunit boundaries, and land classifications. An “Edit” option allows users to mark locations and add text comments to those points. This tutorial describes how users can add information to the interactive map.

Public Comment

After the initial meetings and surveys throughout the summer, a draft will be released for public review and the plan will be open for public comment for at least 30 days. Share your feedback when the amended plan draft is released for public review.

Make Your Comments Count
Here is a link to a brochure created by DNR’s Division of Mining, Lands, and Water explaining how your comments can be most valuable to reviewers.

Comments must be submitted in writing, and may be submitted by email to dnr.dof.haines@alaska.gov

Or by mail to

Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection
ATTN: Forest Planning
500 W 7th Ave. Ste 1450
Anchorage, AK 99501-3566

Recordings of public meetings held during the amendment process will be posted here as meetings occur. A schedule of past and upcoming meetings can be found in the How You Can Participate section of this website.

Haines Opening Meeting (May 8, 2024)

Scoping Period Review Informational Meeting (October 9, 2024) - video coming soon
View the meeting Transcript

The Haines State Forest contains 260,000 acres managed by the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection that include the watersheds of the Chilkoot, Chilkat, and Ferebee rivers within its boundary. Located in a transition zone between the wet coastal climate and the dry, cold interior, the Forest provides suitable conditions for a diversity of plants and wildlife. The rugged topography ranges from sea level to over 7,000 feet.

The Forest is composed mostly of two forest types: western hemlock/Sitka spruce, and black cottonwood/willow. Lodgepole pine and paper birch occur as minor species throughout the Forest.

Haines State Forest is managed for multiple use under the sustained yield principles of AS 41.17. Multiple use management may include a mix of timber harvest, recreation, mining, traditional uses, fish and wildlife habitat protection, or tourism. Levels of use depend on the resources present in an area. Sustained yield management places responsibility on the State of Alaska to ensure that the management of our forests guarantees perpetual supplies of renewable resources and serves the needs of all Alaska for the many products, benefits, and services obtained from them.

The current management plan for the Haines State Forest was last amended in 2002.

See the 2002 Haines State Forest management plan

State of Alaska Land Management Planning

The planning process is designed to ensure participation by the public and government agencies, to provide opportunities for review and amendment of the plan. An outline of the planning process is provided below.

• Identify Issues: In some cases, an amendment occurs in response to an administrative directive, either from the Governor or the DNR Commissioner. Other times, DOF draws on the experience of Haines State Forest resource forester, local expertise, and public insight to identify ways that a current plan is not able to effectively guide management decision-making for a State Forest. In this case, DOF has been directed by the Commissioner of DNR to amend the Haines State Forest management plan.
• Determine necessary level of revision: Based on the proposed changes to the plan document, DOF decides whether an amendment, minor change, or special exception is the best process for capturing those changes. An amendment is an edit that “permanently changes the forest management plan by adding to or modifying the basic management intent for one or more of the units or subunits, by changing allowed or prohibited uses, guidelines, or policies” (HSF Management Plan, 2002). Due to the insertion of language describing Carbon Offset Projects, the current process is an amendment.
• Announce amendment intentions with the public.
• Prepare draft plan: Create a draft plan that reflects resource values, as well as public and DOF goals. DOF and other agencies review the first draft and settle any land use conflicts that remain or propose the best alternatives for public review.
• Agency review of draft plan: DOF collaborates with other agencies including Department of Natural resources (DNR) Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation; DNR Division of Mining, Land and Water; and Alaska Department of Fish and Game Habitat and Restoration Division in the amendment process. A draft of the management plan is shared with these agencies for review before it is made available to the public.
• Adjust plan content based on agency comments.
• Public review of draft plan: The draft plan is released for public review. Public meetings are held to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the draft plan and to identify parts that need to be changed. Public review drafts are open for comment for at least 30 days.
• Prepare issue response summary: Agency and public comments are reviewed, and the draft plan is revised as necessary. The final plan and Issue Response Summary are prepared for public review.
• Prepare the plan for publication: Review agency and public comments and revise the plan.
• Approve plan: The Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources approves and signs the plan.
• Implement plan: The plan guides management decisions for lands within Haines State Forest Resource Management Area.

Or email dnr.dof.haines@alaska.gov