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Tanana Valley State Forest Management Plan

The TVSF Management Plan was last revised in 2025

On May 28, 2025, the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources adopted the Tanana Valley State Forest Management Plan (TVSF MP) in accordance with Alaska Statute 38.04.065. The Intent to Adopt (ITA) Draft of the TVSF Management Plan as modified by the list of Recommended Revisions constitutes the final plan signed and adopted by the Commissioner. The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection is in the process of finalizing the Recommended Revisions and integrating updated maps for the final version of the TVSF MP. Until these final revisions are complete, please use the links below to access the ITA draft and Recommended Revisions. The information and management policy contained in the finalized plan will represent the combined information presented in the ITA draft and Recommended Revisions below.

TVSF MP Intent to Adopt Draft

TVSF MP Recommended Revisions

  • The document above is approximately 26 MB in size and may load slowly. Use the menu below to view individual chapters with maps or text-only versions of each chapter and links to individual maps.

Preface

Includes: Title Page | Preface | Planning Team | Acknowledgements | Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Includes: Purpose of the Tanana Valley State Forest | Purpose of the Management Plan | Relationship to Other Management Plans | Process Used to Develop the Plan

Chapter 2: Forestwide Management Policies

Includes: Introduction | Cultural resources | Water Resources | Riparian and Instream Flow Management | Fish and Wildlife Habitat | Forest Health and Climate Change | Carbon Offset Projects | Hazardous Fuels and Prescribed Fire Management | Grazing and Agricultural Activities | Private Land | Scientific Resources | Subsurface Resources | Timber Management Including Forest Resources Protection | Non-Timber Forest Products | Tourism | Recreation | Trails | Public Access | Transportation

Chapter 3: Management Policies for Each Management Unit

Includes: Introduction | Unit 1: Dugan hills | Unit 2: Lower Tanana | Unit 3: Tatalina River | Unit 4: Chatanika River, Cache Creek, Goldstream Valley | Unit 5: Nenana Ridge | Unit 6: Chena | Unit 7: Salcha | Unit 8: Shaw Creek | Unit 9: Rapid Creek | Unit 10: Gerstle River | Unit 11: Healy River | Unit 12: Tower Bluffs | Unit 13: Porcupine Creek | Unit 14: Tok River

Chapter 4: Implementation

Includes: Agency Land Management Responsibilities | Citizen’s Advisory Committee for the Tanana Valley State Forest | Process for Reviewing Applications for Permits, Leases, Disposals, and Easements | Plan Modification | Forest-wide Implementation Activities | Recommendations for Changes to the TVSF Landbase | Research Needs

Appendices

Includes: A. Glossary of Terms | B. Finding of Incompatibility | C. Mineral Orders | D. Leasehold Location Orders | E. Research Natural Area Report | F. Commercial Forest Types of the TVSF | G. TVSF Land Base History | H. Bibliography

Changes to the updated plan

The management plan revision process provided an opportunity to review and revise the full management plan document. Some changes were made to clarify management concepts or update technical information to reflect developments in land and forest management over the last two decades. In addition to these technical changes, the following changes resulted in substantial adaptations to DOF’s management policy within the TVSF:

  • Added language to allow Carbon offset projects as a potential use within TVSF
  • Added forest health management guidelines
  • Updated information about proposed additions to the TVSF land base

Forest Planning in the State of Alaska

The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) is required by Alaska Statute 41.17.220 to develop a management plan for each state forest. The requirements for management plans that guide the management of resources on state lands are described in Alaska Statute 38.04.005. The planning process is designed to provide the DOF with the opportunity to research, consult expert opinions, and receive feedback from the public on topics of resource use and management within the state forest, including forest and non-forest resources. The planning process openly reviews resource information and seeks public input before long-range decisions are made on state land use issues. The planning process tries to resolve conflicting ideas on land use and lets the public know what choices were made and why. Because the plan is designed to promote multiple use, it establishes rules or guidelines aimed at allowing various uses to occur with minimal conflict.

Supplemental Information