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                             Seward Highway Scenic Corridor Plan
                                                                                                                                                                                                            cfi@
                             for the Municipality of Anchorage
                             by Kramer, Chin & Mayo, Inc.
                                                                                                                                                                                              KENAI
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                      GLU OF ALASKA
                             Anchorage Coastal Management Plan

                             JULY, 1981

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                             Alaska Coastal Management Program

                                                                                                                                                                                           Table of Contents

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Page

                                                                                                                                                                                           BACKGROUND          ..............................                  3
                                                                                                                                                                                               Man's Use   ................................                    5

                                                                                                                                                                                           THE NATURAL SETTING            ......................             11

                                                                                                                                                                                           VISUAL ASSESSMENT          ........................               15

                                                                                                                                                                                           MANAGEMENTPLAN             .........................              19

                                                                                                                                                                                           MANAGEMENTFRAMEWORK                   .................           25

                                                                                                                                                                                           SITE SELECTIONS (Sections/Plans)
                                                                                                                                                                                               Rabbit Creek Rifle Range      ....................            30
                                                                                                                                                                                               Potter Weigh Station   ........................               32
                                                                                                                                                                                               Johnson Trailhead at Rainbow       ................           34
                                                                                                                                                                                               Bird Ridge Trailhead   ........................               36
                                                                                                                                                                                               Bird Creek Wayside     .........................              38
                                                                                                                                                                                               Bird Point  ................................                  40
                                                                                                                                                                                               Avalanche Safe Area    ........................               42
                                                                                                                                                                                               Twenty Mile Boat Ramp       .....................             44
                                                                                                                                                                                               Typical Wayside    ...........................                46

                                                                                                                                                                                           APPENDIX
                                                                                                                                                                                               Inventory of Scenic and Recreational Sites      .......       51
                                                                                                                                                                                               Model Scenic Corridor Legislation     ..............          53
                                                                                                                                                                                               Bibliography     .............................                55

                                                                                                                                                                                           MAPS
                                                                                                                                                                                               Man's Use   ................................                    4
                                                                                                                                                                                               Natural System    ............................                10
                                                                                                                                                                                               Visual Assessment    ..........................               14
                                                                                                                                                                                               Environmental Synthesis     .....................             18

                                                                                                                                                                                           Acknowledgm e-nts

                                                                                                                                                                                           Project Leader:        Barry Quinn
                         The preparation of this report was financed in part through a Coastal                                                                                             Drawings:              Todd Swan, Bonnie Heitsch
                         Zone Management Program Grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce                                                                                                Coordination:          Kristi Farley
                         under the provisions of Section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management
                         Act of 1972, as amended, and the Division of Community Planning,                                                                                                  Editor:                Sheryl Ball
                         Department of Community and Regional Affairs of the State of Alaska.                                                                                              Graphic Design:        Betty Hagernan, Karen Pike

                                                                                                                                        R-10        77]
                                                                                                                      @Lj

                                Background

                                    The Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm has been                                    Turnagain Arm is rimmed by the majestic Chugach Moun-                             o    The Inventory: This section includes data about Man's
                                proposed as a scenic corridor to be managed as a statewide                         tains, rising some 7,000 feet out of the tidelands of Cook Inlet.                          Use, the Natural Setting and the Visual Resources
                                resource. This 40-mile section of highway is one of Alaska's                       The mountains are snow-covered in winter and lush green in                                 Assessment. Man's Use identifies and, describes historic
                                finest scenic and recreational areas. It is a primary attraction for               summer. The coastal rain forest of the Pacific Northwest ex-                               land and water use, land ownership, and the communi-
                                visitors from around the world, and contributes significantly                      tends into the Cook Inlet Basin and provides a variety of                                  ties along the corridor. Existing and proposed scenic and
                                to the state's economy by offering a variety of unique oppor-                      interesting trees and ground cover on both the mountain slopes                             recreational sites are located in the Appendix. The
                                tunities to visiting guests. In 1979, 686,000 tourists spent                       and in the river valleys. A number of creek and river valleys                              Natural Setting identifies fish and wildlife habitats and
                                $179 million in Anchorage alone. Besides visitors from outside,                    cut into the mountain range and add diversity to the landscape.                            categorizes major landscape types. The Visual Resource
                                many Alaskans use this section of the Seward Highway for                           The coastline is rugged, with rock outcroppings interspersed                               Assessment evaluates and describes the scenic potential
                                both scenic and recreational purposes. The corridor not only                       between the coastal marshes and river and creek bottoms. The                               that exists along the corridor.
                                contains an abundance of opportunities for a variety of users,                     intertidal areas are dominated by extreme tides that daily fill
                                but also provides access to the Kenai Peninsula, another primary                   the arm and then ebb, leaving abstract delta formations in the                        o    The Management Plan section is composed of an
                                recreational area.                                                                 mud bottom.                                                                                Environmental Synthesis and a Management Frame-
                                                                                                                                                                                                              work. The Environmental Synthesis is.a compilation of
                                    As the population of Anchorage grows and as fuel prices                            The highway, connecting Anchorage and communities                                      the information found in the inventory. It includes an
                                increase, more people will be using scenic and recreational areas                  beyond with the port of Seward and the Kenai Peninsula,                                    analysis of scenic and recreation opportunities for
                                closer to home. The Turnagain Arm Corridor of the Seward                           follows the northern coast of Turnagain Arm. The Seward                                    each of the five sections of the corridor, and an outline
                                Highway is one of those scenic and recreational areas. It is high-                 Highway was 'built in the late 1940s and is presently being                                of management objectives and recommendations.
                                ly valued, generates jobs and revenues, and will only appreciate                   widened and realigned. This provides an opportunity to in-                                 The Management Framework sets forth the basic
                                over time. The challenge is to protect and conserve the re-                        ventory sites along the highway, as well as assessing the scenic                           concepts of a management plan and describes how to
                                sources within the corridor and in doing so, maintain the value                    and recreational potential. The various levels of governmental                             implement the scenic corridor concept.
                                of this natural asset.                                                             agencies have been prompted to take stock in the future of the
                                                                                                                   highway corridor.                                                                     o    The Sites section of this report illustrates and describes
                                    The scenic corridor is by no means a new concept; in fact,                                                                                                                the conceptual design of ten sites. The sites are either
                                parkways, boulevards, avenues, and other scenic thoroughfares                                                                                                                 newly recommended scenic or recreational waysides, or
                                were planned and built, in Europe and America, long before                         The Seward Scenic Highway Corridor Plan                                                    existing waysides selected for special treatment. There is
                                the advent of the automobile. Over time, the federal govern-                                                                                                                  a Site Plan, Elevation and description for each recom-
                                ment and a number of state governments have developed scenic                           The Municipality of Anchorage District Coastal Manage-                                 mended site.
                                highway programs which incorporated the scenic corridor into                       ment Program designates the Seward Highway from the coastal
                                a national or state system. The National Park Service Blue Ridge                   bluff above Potter Marsh to the Kenai Peninsula Borough as
                                Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina, and the Natchez Trace                      an "Area Meriting Special Attention." The designation is based
                                Parkway in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee are well known                      on the natural values of the corridor, an expanded Seward
                                examples within the federal system.                                                Highway and future community development-and eliminat-
                                    Turnagain Arm is well known for its beauty and its                             ing the potential conflicts between these concepts. In order
                                abundant resources, and has long served as a major transporta-                     to accommodate future development and highway expansion,
                                tion route between the Pacific Ocean and interior Alaska. The                      yet protect the scenic and recreational resources, the munici-
                                arm has supported the progression of man from prehistoric                          pality has proposed establishing the Seward Highway Scenic
                                times to the present; first Eskimos and Indian hunters, then                       Corridor. The Seward Highway Scenic Corridor Plan follows
                                Russian and European explorers arrived, followed by prospec-                       three basic steps necessary to establish and manage a scenic
                                tors seeking gold.                                                                 corridor: it assesses the scenic and recreational potential along
                                                                                                                   the corridor, outlines a framework for managing the corridor,
                                                                                                                   and recommends sites for special consideration within the
                                                                                                                   corridor. These three processes are discussed in detail in this
                                                                                                                   report.

                                                  New Seward Scenic Overlook

                                                  Rabbit Creek Rifle Range
                                                  Potter Marsh Wayside
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                                                    TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR                    Efl CHUGACH STATE PARK                                    STATE LANDS
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                                                    RECREATIONAL SITES                         E@] STATE LANDS-MUNICIPAL SELECTED

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           5

                               Man's Use

                                   Man's activities in Turnagain Arm have been traced as far                     Iditarod Trail: The Iditarod Trail, named after an interior                   Johnson Trail: Once the Alaska Northern Railroad had
                               back as 6,000 B.C. (Antonson and Reger, 1976). An archaeolog-                 mining town, was actually a series of trails that developed in                been purchased, the Alaska Engineering Commission began
                               ical site at Beluga Point has turned up an 8,000-year-old pre-                increments as the need arose to push further into Alaska. The                 improving the route between Kern and Ship Creek town
                               historic record from artifacts which may help explain the                     trail ran between Seward and Nome and is well-known today                     (Anchorage). By 1916 a horse trail had been cleared and im-
                               native migration into the region. It is suggested that Eskimos                as a mining trail used during the gold rush of 1910. A traveler               proved between Indian and Potter. This route became the main
                               inhabited the upper Cook Inlet at least seasonally until 1700                 could get to Anchorage by leaving the Iditarod and traveling                  trail during the 1916-1918 construction period and linked the
                               A.D., when the Tanaina Indians crossed the Alaska Range and                   along Turnagain Arm or by crossing the passes of the Chugach                  construction camps at Potter, Sheep Creek (McHugh Creek),
                               settled in the region (Sumond and Male, 1978). The Tanainians                 into the Ship Creek or Eagle River drainages. Iditarod traversed              Rainbow, Falls Creek and Bird Point. This route was also used
                               were observed in Turnagain Arm when Captain James Cook                        the mountains through the Crow Creek and Indian Creek                         for telegraph communication lines. Today the Johnson Trail is
                               sailed into the area in 1778. During the next century numerous                Valleys.                                                                      partially intact, though covered in some places by the highway,
                               explorers visited the region including Russians, who settled in                                                                                             and is scheduled for rehabilitation and partial relocation as a
                               Alaska and remained until 1867.                                                   Crow Creek Branch: The Crow Creek Branch was opened                       part of the Seward Highway Improvement Project.
                                                                                                             by early prospectors about 1896, and by 1900 the trail was
                                   The coastal areas of Turnagain Arm, as well as the river                  used regularly as a mail route to Knik. The trail followed                        Construction camps, built along the Johnson Trail, were
                               valley and mountain passes in the Chugach Range, have been                    Crow Creek to Crow Pass and then descended Raven Creek                        used during the building of the railroad and abandoned shortly
                               used as travel routes into the interior of Alaska for many years.             into Eagle River and on to Knik.                                              thereafter. The following are the major construction camps
                               One of the first routes used to travel from Prince William Sound                                                                                            along the route.
                               into Turnagain Arm was Portage Pass. This event was recorded                      Indian Creek Branch: This branch of the Iditarod followed
                               in 1794, when Captain George Vancouver, while anchored in                     Turnagain Arm past Bird Creek to Indian Creek Valley, and                         Potter:   In 1916 Potter was established as headquarters
                               Cook Inlet, was visited by a group of Russians who had crossed                crossed the Chugach at Indian Creek Pass into the headwaters                  for the district engineer. Residences, warehouses, a messhall
                               Portage Pass from their settlement on Prince William Sound.                   of Ship Creek. By 1909, roadhouses and mileage points began                   and a number of log buildings formed this temporary communi-
                               In the years to come, Portage Pass, the Kelly Trail and the                   to appear along the Iditarod, including one at Indian Pass.                   ty. The camp was supplied by barges and linked to the other
                               Iditarod Trail (with its Indian Creek and Crow Creek branches)                                                                                              camps by the Johnson Trail. Once the rails had been laid to
                               were all used to travel further and further into the interior.                                                                                              Falls Creek, Potter was abandoned, and headquarters were
                               The following are brief descriptions of these routes.                         The Railroad                                                                  re-established at the end of the section.
                                                                                                                 Railroad history in Alaska began in 1901 with the creation                    Sheep Creek (McHugh Creek): A small camp and field
                               Early Routes                                                                  of the Alaska Central Railroad by John E. Ballaine, a Seattle                 hospital were built at what is now the parking area of McHugh
                                                                                                             newspaper and real estate man. A route between Seward and                     Creek picnic area. The camp and hospital were operated be-
                                   Portage Pass: A foot and sled trail that ran between Passage              Ship Creek was selected and construction began in 1905.                       tween 1916 and 1918.
                               Canal (Whittier) and Turnagain Arm. The trail was used early                  Six years after its creation, the railroad was bankrupt. The                      Rainbow: A supply warehouse, a dock and numerous log
                               on by Eskimos and Indians, and later by Russian settlers and                  Alaska Northern Railroad was reorganized in 1909 and ex-                      buildings were built on a knoll overlooking the cove at Rain-
                               explorers during the 18th and 19th centuries.                                 tended to Kern before construction once again ceased.                         bow. The Alaska Engineering Commission began using Rainbow
                                   The Kelly Trail: In 1897, Luther S. Kelly, an army guide,                     In 1913, after two railroad companies had failed,      Congress           for its headquarters in August of 1918.
                               was ordered to find a summer route between Passage Canal                      authorized President Woodrow Wilson to create and operate                         Falls Creek:   The district engineer was headquartered at
                               (Whittier) and Cook Inlet. The route he established followed                  the Alaska railroad. The Alaska Northern Railroad was pur-                    Falls Creek between December 1917 and August 1918. Horse
                               Billings Creek to Lake Carmen, crossing the pass at the head                  chased for $1.2 million by the Alaska Engineering Commis-                     teams were stabled at this site and were used to move construc-
                               of Twenty Mile River and descended to Glacier Creek Valley.                   sion and was destined to tie Anchorage and Fairbanks to the
                               The route was rugged and never established as a permanent trail.              tidewater ports of Seward and Whittier.                                       tion supplies along the Johnson Trail.

                         6

                             Bird Poin t:     In 1914 a roadhouse, workhouse and two                       Kenai Peninsula. Roads also serve Girdwood along Glacier                         in steep sloping areas and 2 1/2-acre sites elsewhere, due to in-
                         cabins formed an overnight stop at the eastern end of the                         Valley and Portage Glacier Visitor Center along Portage Creek.                   sufficient water and marginal soil. Presently, commercial
                         point. A sawmill was added in 1917 to supply the material to                      The old corduroy road at the arm end is now a well-paved                         activity is limited to the Seward Highway Corridor. The Muni-
                         build the causeway leading north around the arm. A construc-                      highway that follows the old Iditarod route into Seward,                         cipality of Anchorage has selected a tract of state land, adjacent
                         tion camp, built about the same time, included a section house                    Sunshine and Hope.                                                               to both the road and residential area, which it plans to keep
                         (which was operated until the 1900s), several log buildings                                                                                                        undeveloped due to wetlands, flood plain and avalanche haz-
                         and tent frames.                                                                      The Seward Highway between Potter and McHugh Creek                           ards. Indian also has a community park and is the trailhead for
                                                                                                           was recently widened and realigned and now includes a bike                       the Indian to Arctic Valley Trail.
                             In addition to the temporary communities and construction                     pathway along the shoulder of the road. This next phase of the
                         camps that grew up along the Johnson Trail, there were also                       Seward Highway Improvement, Phase III, is scheduled to                                Bird Creek: In 1915 Bird Creek was the site of major
                         other historic communities related to the railroad.                               begin this year and will include a bike trail along the shoulder                 sawmill and lumber companies that supplied material to
                                                                                                           from McHugh Creek to Indian Creek where it will join an                          Anchorage and the Alaska railroad. Roadhouses were located
                             Kern: When the Alaska Northern Railroad went bankrupt                         Indian/Bird Creek community bike trail also to be constructed                    in the vicinity of Bird Creek and at Bird Point prior to 1909.
                         in 1909, its tracks had been laid to Kern Creek. Kern remained                    as part of the highway improvement project. Eventually, the                      There are approximately 140 people living at Bird Creek today,
                         the end of the Seward section until the northern line from                        bike trail will extend from Anchorage to Girdwood as proposed                    and they expect an increase to 340 in 20 years. There -are
                         Anchorage was joined in 1918. At that time there was a road-                      in the Municipality of Anchorage's Bike Trail System.                            about 100 acres located along the highway that are available
                         house and a number of out-buildings clustered near the creek                                                                                                       for development. East of the community is a large tract of
                         located some 68 milesfrorn the beginning of the line in Seward.                       The telegraph lines along the old Johnson Trail         have also            state land, selected by the municipality, that is@ intended for use
                                                                                                           been replaced by electrical power lines serving Turnagain Arm,                   as a major regional park. The State Division of Parks operates
                             Portage: Portage was the main stop on the Iditarod and had                    Whittier and the Kenai Peninsula. An old military fuel line that                 the Bird Creek campgrounds and a wayside for fishing adjacent
                         been a part of the old Portage Pass route used by natives and                     supplies the Alaskan military bases with petroleum products                      to the bridge at Bird Creek. Commercial activity is now limited
                         foreign explorers alike. There was a roadhouse, a section house,                  shipped into Whittier parallels the highway, railroad and power                  to the Seward Highway.
                         and several out-buildings that have since been destroyed. The                     lines.
                         buildings that can presently be seen settling into the mudflats                                                                                                         GirdwoodlAlyeska:        Girdwood was named after James
                         were all built after 1947, and were destroyed during the 1964                         The highway, railroad and utility right-of-way often overlap.                E. Girdwood, a Belgian immigrant, who in 1896 explored
                         earthquake.                                                                       The right-of-ways, extend from Potter to Portage where the                       the Crow Creek area and later formed the Crow Creek Alaska
                                                                                                           highway splits and follows the arm into Turnagain Pass. The                      Hydraulic Gold Mining Company. Girdwood, with its log
                                                                                                           railroad and power line follow Placer River,through Johnson                      residences and roadhouse,' was a true frontier settlement and
                                                                                                           Pass.                                                                            was even chosen as a set for the "Cheechakos," a silent, frontier
                                                                                                                                                                                            saga produced in 1923.
                                                                                                           Communities                                                                           Girdwood, today, is a growing community in one of
                                                                                                                                                                                            Alaska's most popular resort/recreational areas. The developed
                                                                                                               Rainbow Va    .fley: A small, community-planned subdivision                  areas are in the Glacier and the Crow Creek valleys, surrounded
                                                                                                                                                                                            by the Chugach National Forest. Alyeska, a fine ski resort,
                                                              TMIL
                                                                                                           of approximately 160 acres.       Due to steep slopes, avalanche                 is located on the western slopes of Mount Alyeska. There are
                                                                                                           hazards, and restricted access, residents have limited the com-                  about 1,000 permanent residents and 1,600 seasonal residents
                                                                                                           munity to 30 homes on (minimum) 5-acre sites. The present                        in the area. There are approximately 2,000 acres of suitable
                                                                                                           population is approximately 25, which is expected to increase                    land for development in the valley. The population is expected
                                                                                                           to 68 in-20 years.                                                               to increase to 2,000 permanent residents and 6,000 seasonal
                                  Transportation Corridor                                                                                                                                   residents over the next 20 years. Presently, there is a school
                                                                                                               Indian: A lone roadhouse once stood where the community                      and a sewer system being built for the community. There are
                                                                                                           of Indian is located today. It marked the beginning of the                       stores, a lodge, restaurants, a library, a community building,
                                                                                                           Indian Creek branch of the Iditarod Trail and sheltered many                     and a fire hall located in the valley.
                         Highway and Utilities Coiiidors                                                   travelers heading north to "gold country." Today Indian
                                                                                                           is a small community of about 100 people, which is expected
                                                              _1L

                             Today the Iditarod and Johnson trails have been replaced                      to double in population in 20 years. There are approximately
                         by the Seward Highway. The highway was built in 1947 con-                         16 developable acres in the Creek Valley, which is mostly
                         necting Potter and Girdwood and tying Anchorage to the                            privately owned. Residents seem to have settled on 5-acre lots

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       7

                                 Ownership and Land Management                                                   Municipality of Anchorage:          The municipality owns
                                                                                                             approximately 2,500 acres along Turnagain Arm. In addition,
                                     Federal Land:     The U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of                substantial amounts of state land have been selected in Indian
                                 Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and' Wildlife Service                    Valley, Bird Valley, and the Girdwood area. The municipally
                                 all manage federally owned land along the Seward Highway                    -selected land is intended for both park land and for conversion
                                 Scenic Corridor. The Chugach National Forest is the largest                 to private ownership.
                                 parcel of federal land in the region. The Bureau of Land Man-
                                 agement has jurisdiction for the townsite of Portage, which                     Private Ownership: Private land along the Seward Highway
                                 extends into the valleys of Placer and Twenty Mile River and                is limited to Potter, Rainbow Valley, Indian, Bird Creek and
                                 Portage Creek. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has joint                 Girdwood/Alyeska. Only 7 percent of the land in the corridor
                                                                                                             is privately owned, while 93 percent is owned by federal, state
                                 management responsibility for the coastal marsh and wet-
                                 lands areas in the valleys at the head of Turnagain Arm. The                or local government. Homesteads and recreational sites were
                                                                                                                                                                                                             10,J
                                                                                                             the first lands in private ownership and more recently, these
                                 joint management agreement also includes the U.S. Forest
                                                                                                                                                                                                   ,17 7n@,t,,
                                 Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the Depart-                large parcels have been subdivided and sold.
                                 ment of Natural Resources. The Alaska railroad also owns and
                                                                                                                 Most of the private land is used for residential development,
                                 manages a 200-foot right-of-way between Potter and Portage.
                                                                                                             though both commercial and residential development can be
                                     State Land: The State of Alaska owns and manages the                    found scattered along the arm. Mining claims can also be found
                                 largest amount of land along the road corridor. Chugach State               along the corridor. A list of 21 of Seward Highway's scenic and             View of Potter Creek from North
                                                                                                                                                                                         (Courtesy: Alaska Railroad Collection, Anchorage Historical and Fine
                                 Park, extending from Potter to Girdwood, is actively managed                recreational sites can be found in the Appendix of this docu-              Arts Museum)
                                 by the Division of Parks, Department of Natural Resources.                  ment. The management responsibility for each site is given,
                                 The Department of Fish and Game manages the Potter Marsh                    as well as location, function, facilities and status.
                                 Wildlife Refuge, a staging and nesting area for migratory water-
                                 fowl. Within the wildlife refuge, the department also manages
                                 the Rabbit Creek Rifle Range, one of the few shooting ranges
                                 in the Anchorage area. The Department of Transportation
                                 and Public Facilities manages and maintains the Seward High-
                                 way right-of-way, which is approximately 300 feet wide.
                                 ADOT/PF is also responsible for a material site in the old
                                 Girdwood area. The Department of Public Safety manages the
                                 Potter weigh station, adjacent to Potter Marsh.
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                                                01

    The Natural Setting

       Turnagain Arm offers one of the most unique and dynamic                                    In the summer, salmon and smelt use the intertidal                                        PLANT COVER
    natural setting in Alaska. The arm is surrouned by the rugged                                 areas to travel into the spawning beds in the upper                                       BEACH RYE GRASS
    Chugach range, with elevations in excess of 7,000 feet. With                                  reaches of the coastal rivers and creeks. Beluga whales                                   SANDWORT
    the exception of the glacial river valley at the eastern end of                               and seals follow the migrations and remain in the
    the arm, the predominant landforms are steep mountain slopes                                  areas while their food source is plentiful. Numerous
    and creek valleys that drop into tidal waters. Silts from the                                 shorebirds and waterfowl use the tidelands for staging
    glacially-fed streams have been deposited in the arm, causing                                 areas on their northern and southern migration.
    a delta formation in the tidelands commonly referred to as "the
    mudflats." The arm, 43 miles long and 3 miles wide, is an
    estuary where high tides mix with glacially-fed creeks and rivers.                                                                                            Beach Strand
    Tides in the arm are some of the highes in the world and                                      BRUSH
    periodically create ten-foot tidal bores and 15-mile-an-hour                                  BLACK SPRUCE
    currents.                                                                                     ALASKA PAPER BIRCH
                                                                                                  WILLOW                                                       3. Beach Strand. This landscape type is the landform
        The natural setting is a key element in determining the                                   BLUEBERRY                                                       closest to the intertidal zone. It is, typically, an early
    scenic quality and recreational potential of any area. For the                                CROWBERRY                                                       stage in beach succession and is characterized by beach
    purpose of this inventory, the natural setting is divided into                                                                                                ryegrass and sandwort growing in sandy silt and soil
    eight landscape types. Landscape types are based on predomi-                                                     GROUNDCOVERS                                 above the tidal zone. The beach strand in Turnagain
    nant landforms, types of vegetation, water forms and wildlife                                                    PITCH GRASS                                  Arm was formed by seismic activity, not by beach suc-
    habitat.                                                                                                         HORNED PONDWEED                              cession-causing the tidelands to be uplifed above the
                                                                                                                     ARROW GRASS                                  tidal zone. This action dewatered the soils and initiated
                                                                                                                     ALKALI GRASS                                 new plant colonization. Vegetation is well established
                                                                                                                     SEDGES                                       in these areas, and birds use the strand for both staging
                              GROUNDCOVER                                                                            RUSHES                                       and nesting.
                              GREEN MARINE ALGAE                                                                     REED BENT GRASS
                                                                                                                     HAIR GRASS
                                                                                                                     LYME GRASS
                                                                                                                     YARROW
                                                                                                                     SHOOTING STAR                                PLANT COVER
    SHIFTING MUD                                                                                                     INDIAN PAINT BRUSH                           LICHENS
    SUBMERGED IN TIDAL                                                                                               MARSH FNE FLOWER                             MOSSES
    FLUXATIONS                                                                                                       BUTTERCUP                                    BEACH GRASS
                                                                                                                     BEACH PEA
    Tidelands

    1. Tidelands. The tidelands are the lower portions of the                                       POORLY DRAINED                                                Coastal Rock Outcroppings
    intertidal are (between low and high tide) where fresh                                          ORGANIC SOILS
    and salt water mix, and where stream and river currents
    carve their way through the glacial silt-formed deltas.                                         Coastal Marsh & Wetlands
    At high tide the area is submerged, and at low tide the                                                                                                   4.  Coastal Rock Outcroppings. There are rock outcroppings
    abstract patterns of channeled mudflats are exposed.                                                                                                          found along Turnagain Arm where steep mountain
                                                                                                 2. Coastal Marshes and Wetlands. The upper portions of           slopes drop into coastal waters. At these points wind
                                                                                                    the intertidal areas are primarily the marshes and wet-       and water erostion have removed or inhibited vegetation,
                                                                                                    lands. These landscape types are formed by tidal intru-       and the bedrock is exposed to the weathering process.
                                                                                                    sion into the outwash areas of rivers and streams and
                                                                                                    by the slow succession of plant life in fresh water
                                                                                                    deltas.

                                                                                                    These areas are characterized by the grasses, rushes
                                                                                                    and sedges and by the abundance of birds and wildlife.
                                                                                                    Wetlands and marshes are the most important habitat
                                                                                                    for shorebirds, ducks, geese, swans and cranes, sup-
                                                                                                    porting their seasonal migration and providing nesting
                                                                                                    areas during the spring and summer months. In addition,
                                                                                                    these areas provide year-round habitat for smaller
                                                                                                    animals, protection and food sources for fish, and offer
                                                                                                    a variety of plants and wildflowers for the interested
                                                                                                    observer.

                                      12

                                                                                                                                                                                       Steep Brushy Slopes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         1pW                                                                                                                                                                                                   W P

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           2p-15 TO
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Steep Brushy Slopes

                                            Forested River Valley                                                                                                        6.    Steep Brushy Mountainsides. These areas are character-                                                                     Steep Forested Slopes.
                                                                                                                                                                               ized by dense, open deciduous brush on steep mountain
                                            5.     Forested River Valley. The forested river valleys are                                                                       slopes. The brush ranges from dense willows along
                                                   the primary upland areas along Turnagain Arm. These                                                                         streams to dense alders above timberline. Brushy areas                                                                  7.    Steep Forested Mountainsides. The forest mountain-
                                                   areas are part of a coastal forest system-an extension                                                                      occur between treeline and alpine tundra, and along                                                                           side is similar to the forested valley, with the exception
                                                   of the rainbelt forests of the Pacific Coast-and are                                                                        both floodplains and avalanche paths.                                                                                         of slope and elevation. Forested mountainsides contain
                                                   composed primarily of Sitka spruce and western hem-                                                                         Steep brushy mountainsides provide excellent habitat                                                                          mountain hemlock and Sitka spruce, with interspersed
                                                   lock. Mountain hemlock, poplar, cottonwood and birch                                                                        for mountain goats and Dall Sheep, as well as smaller                                                                         low-to-moderately dense brush.
                                                   are also present in these valleys.                                                                                          animals and birds. Dall Sheep prefer relatively dry alpine                                                              8.    Cultural Modification. Cultural modification describes
                                                   Forested river valleys provide good habitat for moose,                                                                      areas associated with steep cliffs and grassy meadows                                                                         landscape types that have been changed by man. Any
                                                   black bear, and occasionally brown bear in the summer.                                                                      which provide grasses, lichens and sedges for food                                                                            one of the seven natural landscape types can be changed
                                                   A variety of smaller animals and birds can be found                                                                         sources. Mountain goats prefer rocky alpine areas in                                                                          or modified. The modifications range from cabin sites
                                                   throughout the forests. The rivers flowing through these                                                                    the summer and timberline in the winter. Their diet                                                                           on brush mountainsides to communities (and the neces-
                                                   valleys support resident populations of rainbow trout,                                                                      consists primarily of grasses and herbs.                                                                                      sary roads and powerlines) such as Indian and Bird
                                                   Dolly Varden and spawning salmon and Hooligan in                                                                                                                                                                                                          Creek found in forested valleys.
                                                   the summer.

                                                                         VISUAL ASSESSMENT

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                                         Legend
                                                                                                                                                                           1Y
                                                 UNIQUE NEAR VIEW                              CULTURAL MODIFICATION
                                                                                                                                                                         - int
                                                 COMMON NEAR VIEW

                                                 MIDDLEGROUND

                                                 BACKGROUND

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          15

                                Visual Assessment

                                    In Turnagain Arm, landform, water and vegetation combine                                                                                                       Weekday use of the scenic corridor is relatively constant
                                to create some of the finest scenery in Alaska. The task of                                                                                                        and limited to commuting local residents and occasional
                                determining the visual resources of any area is complex, but                                                                                                       tourists and recreational users.
                                in an area such as Turnagain Arm, where grandeur and beauty
                                predominate, the task becomes a challenge of distinguishing                                 FORM                                  lckqround                    e   Weekend use of the corridor increases in the warmer
                                between the most spectacular views.                                                                             7EXTURE                                            months and is made up of both tourists and recreational
                                                                                                                  TE XTU P-E                                                                       users.
                                    The purpose of a visual resource inventory is to identify                                       FORM                COLOR. Milddl"mund
                                                                                                                      W             UNE
                                and understand the scenic resources, to determine their value,                        Z                                                                        *   Tourists or sightseers use the scenic corridor more than
                                and to serve as a basis for a management program that protects,                                                      TEKTURF_                                      recreational users.
                                conserves and enhances the resources, or that mitigates negative
                                impacts upon the resources. The following is a description of                                                                   FbreqrmAnd                     *   Weekend use of the highway involves a significant
                                the methodology that is used to inventory the visual resources                        M K@CT U RE                                                                  number of both tourists or sightseers and recreational
                                along the Seward Highway Scenic Corridor. This methodology                                                                                                         users destined for areas beyond Turnagain Arm.
                                was adapted from a combination of approaches, but most                        following categories are used to describe the range of scenic
                                resembles the U.S. Forest Service National Forest Landscape                   quality evident on Turnagain Arm.                                                The type of user, the user volume, and the apparent attitude
                                Management Technique, 1974, and the Bureau of Land Manage-                                                                                                  of the tourist, recreational user and local resident has led to
                                ment System for Visual Resource Management, 1975.                                *    Unique: Areas where a variety of landforms, vegeta-                   the conslusion that there is a high level of visual sensitivity
                                                                                                                      tive patterns and water create an unusual or out-                     and a significant concern for changes in the visual character
                                    To identify and describe the visual resources in     Turnagain                    standing scenic quality.                                              of the area.
                                Arm, these steps were followed:
                                    1. Evaluate the scenic quality.                                              0    Common: Areas whose features contain a variety of
                                    2. Determine the visual sensitivity.                                              form, line, color and texture, but which tend to form a               Distance Zones
                                    3. Identify distance zones.                                                       common visual pattern throughout.
                                                                                                                                                                                               "Near," "middle" and "distant" describe three zones that
                                                                                                                 e    Minimal: Areas whose features have little change in                   characterize distance relationships.
                                                                                                                      form, line, color and texture.
                                Scenic Quality                                                                                                                                                 Near: The foreground, extending zero to one-half mile
                                                                                                                 As   illustrated on the visual inventory map, there is both                   from the view, is an area that can be seen with clarity and
                                    The natural diversity of a landscape provides the greatest                unique  and common scenic quality along Turnagain Arm. No                        simplicity, and provides impressions of details (color
                                potential for high scenic quality. Diversity is a function of the             areas reflect the minimal category.                                              intensity, texture)
                                relationship between landform, water and vegetation that
                                creates visual patterns, which are composed of:                                                                                                                Middle: The middle ground extends from one-half to
                                                                                                              Visual Sensitivity                                                               five miles. In the middle ground parts of the landscape can
                                    �   Form: the shape of an object                                                                                                                           be seen to join together (mountains become ranges, trees
                                    e   Line: horizons, silhouettes, man-made development                        Visual sensitivity refers to a relative degree of user interest               become forests). Man-made changes are revealed as con-
                                    �   Color: hue (red, green) and value (light, dark)                       in the visual resources. The users in Turnagain Arm are the high-                flicts with the landscape or blending comfortably into the
                                    �   Texture: coarseness of visual surface                                 way user, the recreational user and the local residents. The pro-                scenery.
                                    To  determine scenic quality, an area or landform such as                 cess of determining visual sensitivity involves sampling the user                Distant: The background zone extends from five miles
                                a mountain range is selected and rated for diversity according                attitudes and evaluating the volume of use.                                      to infinity. Landform surfaces will loose detail distinctions
                                to both landscape components (landform, water and vegeta-                        Due to budget and time restrictions, an in-depth survey                       and emphasis will fall upon outlines or edges. Landform
                                tion) and visual patterns (form, line, color and texture). Also               sampling user attitudes was not possible. But discussions with                   against landform will provide line and values, with the
                                taken into consideration in the rating are the influences of                  local residents, highway and recreational users and government                   skyline the strongest line of all.
                                adjacent scenery, scarcity and cultural modifications. The                    agencies did generate the following impressions:

                                        Rabbit Creek Rifle Range

                                                                          ENVIRONMENTAL SYNTHESIS

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                                                                                                                                                                 INS,
                                                                                        -11

                                                                                                                               Bird Point

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                                          Legend
                                                                                               SITES RECOMMENDED FOR FURTHER
                                                 WATER                                         CONSIDERATION
                                                                                                                                            AVALANCHE HAZARD
                                                 RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY                      COASTAL MARSHES & WETLANDS            M ROCK SLIDE HAZARD
                                          El LIMITED RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY                  TIDELANDS

                                                 SCENIC/RECREATIONAL SITES
                                                                                               PRIVATE LANDS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       19

                               Management Plan
                                   The inventory of the scenic, natural and man-made re-                    Section 1, Old Seward Highway
                               sources allows for the careful examination of each part of the               to Potter Creek                                                                            SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL SITES
                               complex system along the Seward Highway Scenic Corridor.
                               Once the components have been thoroughly examined, they                          The Seward Highway enters the scenic corridor on the                       Mile             Site                        Type
                               are again combined in -a synthesis to form a more accurate                   coastal bluff overlooking Potter Marsh. The highway immedi-
                               picture of the complex whole. The intent of the synthesis is to              ately descends into the wetlands of the Potter Point State                     0.3    New Seward Highway Scenic           Scenic
                               consider scenic and recreational opportunities along the corri-              Game Refuge and continues on level terrain to the end of the                          Overlook
                               dor, identify management objectives, and make specific                       section at Potter Creek. The highway shares a right-of-way with
                               management recommendations.                                                  the Alaska Railroad and due to the elevated tracks, highway                    0.5    Rabbit Creek Rifle Range            Recreational
                                   The Seward Highway Scenic Corridor, for the purpose of                   views of Turnagain Arm are somewhat obstructed. The coastal                    0.6    Potter Marsh Wayside                Scenic
                               this plan, has been divided into five sections. Each section is              wetlands are the major landscape type, and the Chugach Range
                               defined by common characteristics and all sections, though                   beyond offers mainly steep, forested mountainside.                             1.0    Potter Marsh Wayside                Scenic
                               similar, are different from one another. The following is a short
                               description of each section.                                                     Scenic Potential: The scenic resources in this section are                 1.5    Potter Marsh Wayside                Scenic
                                                                                                            primarily the summer near view of Potter Marsh and the year-
                                   Section 1: This section extends from the intersection of                 round distant views from the coastal bluff and the Potter                      2.6    Potter Marsh Nature Center          Scenic/Recreational
                                   the old Seward @ and new Seward highways, (mile 0), to                   Section House. In summer, the wetlands provide intense color,
                                   Potter Creek, (mile 3.0). The three-mile section of road                 contrast and bird activity. In winter, the marsh loses its color               2.9    Potter Section House                Scenic/'Recreational
                                   bisects the Potter Marsh Wildlife Refuge and contains a                  and becomes dormant. Distant views from the bluff are of
                                   concentration of proposed recreational facilities.                       Tumagain Arm with the Chugach Range as a backdrop, the                         3.0    Johnson Trailhead at Potter         Recreational
                                                                                                            coastal wetlands at Potter and the tidelands along the coast.
                                   Section 2: From Potter Creek, Section 2 extends beyond
                                   the McHugh Creek Wayside to mile 7.4. This section coin-                     Recreational Potential: There is a wide variety of recreation            and at the same time, the Potter Point State Game Refuge
                                   cides with the recently completed Phase II of the Seward                 opportunities within this section of the corridor. The recrea-               remains a sensitive waterfowl habitat. Four existing scenic and
                                   Highway Improvement Project.                                             tional sites are primarily concentrated at the beginning and at              recreational sites are scheduled for improvements to increase
                                                                                                            the end of this section. The municipality's proposed coastal                 user capacity, and four new sites are proposed which will attract
                                   Section 3: Section 3 extends from McHugh Creek to                        trail, running 25 miles from Ship Creek, enters the corridor                 additional users.
                                   Avalanche Gate at mile 20.5. Section 3 coincides with Phase              below the proposed new Seward overlook. Once joining the

                                   -
                                   III of the Seward Highway Improvement Project, scheduled                 scenic corridor, the bike route continues along the highway                      Objective: Section I should be planned and developed in
                                   to begin in the fall -of 1981, and includes the communities              shoulder as far south as Girdwood. The Rabbit Creek Rifle                    such a way as to protect and enhance the inherent natural
                                   of'Rainbow Valley, Indian and Bird Creek.                                Range is also located below the coastal bluff. It is one of the              values along the corridor, while taking advantage of the scenic
                                                                                                            few facilities of this kind in the municipality and serves a large           and recreational opportunities.
                                   Section 4: Section 4 extends along the       avalanche slopes            number of enthusiasts.
                                   of the Chugach Range to the intersection of the Alyeska                                                                                                   Recommendations:
                                   Road at mile 27.9. This section generally coincides with                     At the end of this section there are additional proposed
                                   Phase IV of the Seward Highway Improvement Project.                      recreational sites: the Potter Nature Center, the Potter Sec-                    1.  Designate Section I as a "sensitive area" within the
                                                                                                            tion House and the Johnson Trailhead at Potter Creek are all                         scenic corridor; identify the levels of government
                                   Section 5: Section 5 extends to the limits of the Muni-                  intended to provide both active and passive recreational                             and the agencies responsible for the area, and form an
                                   cipality of Anchorage at Ingram Creek, mile 40.2. This                   opportunities.                                                                       inter-agency planning team.
                                   section includes the valleys along Twenty Mile., Placer
                                   River and Portage Creek.                                                 I   Management Considerations: This section of the Seward                        2.  The inter-agency planning team should develop a
                                                                                                            Highway offers a variety of opportunities. Its most attractive                       cooperative management plan that guides public and
                                                                                                            feature is the predominant landscape type, the coastal wetlands.                     private development, while protecting the natural
                                                                                                            Proximity to Anchorage and a number of scenic and recrea-                            scenic and recreational values along the scenic corridor.
                                                                                                            tional opportunities makes this section a potential high use area,

                          20

                               3. Minimize conflicting and incompatible uses along the                                                                                                             Borrow Area Treatment                    Abandoned Road
                                   corridor.                                                                                  SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL SITE                                                                                  Treatment
                                   a.   Design the Rabbit Creek Rifle Range improvements                       Mile               Site                                 Type                                                                                      Bellfot-e
                                        to be compatible with the game refuge, and the pro-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            .. .... ....
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Fill
                                        posed new Seward Highway scenic overlook.                              6.4       McHugh Creek picnic area              Recreational                                        TMR@

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ...................
                                   b. Relocate the Potter weigh station to allow for the                                                                                                                             I I @ 1                11:
                                        proposed Potter Nature Center.                                             Management Considerations: Scenic opportunities             in Sec-                                       Tbor
                                                                                                               tion 2 are limited by common near views, and recreational
                               4.  Stabilize and revegetate the following areas:                               opportunity is limited to the McHugh Creek area. The Seward
                                                                                                               Highway improvement project has left a number of visual dis-
                                   a. Cut and fill slopes                                                      tractions that would be mitigated by rehabilitation, including
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Fiii
                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mle,
                                   b. Highway shoulders                                                        wayside development.
                                   c. Elevated slopes forming the railroad bed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             .............
                                   d. Erosion areas                                                                Objective: Rehabilitate and enhance the scenic corridor
                                                                                                               in Section 2, while maximizing the limited scenic and recrea-                                                                                           ......
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Good
                                                                                                               tion opportunities.
                          Section 2, Potter to McHucrh Creek
                                                                    ,W_-                                           Recommendations:
                               Once past Potter Creek, the scenic corridor winds south-                            1. Relocate the weigh station to the old road section at                        Section 3, McHugh Creek to
                          east along Turnagain Arm. The highway overlooks the tide-                                    mile 3.3. This site is close to Anchorage and will easily                   Avalanche Gate
                          lands and above are the steep forested slopes of the Chugach                                 accommodate the requirements of a weigh station.
                          Mountains. The landscape generally remains constant, with                                                                                                                    The scenic corridor winds its way east from McHugh Creek
                          only slight variations occurring on the land side. the coastline                         2.  Select and design scenic waysides from the waste                            along Turnagain Arm to the Avalanche Gate. Along this @3-
                          is rocky with scattered rock outcroppings. This three and one-                               material sites and old road sections, at intervals of                       mile corridor are a variety of scenic and recreational oppo'r-
                          half mile section of road, recently widened and realigned,                                   approximately one mile.                                                     tunities that make this section the most popular of all. The
                          parallels the Alaska Railroad.                                                                                                                                           landscape varies from forested river valleys at Indian and Bird
                               Scenic Potential: The scenic potential in Section 2 is                              3.  Rehabilitate the waste sites and old road sections not                      Creek to steep brush mountains around Falls Creek. There are
                          related to the unique distant views of the Chugach Mountains                                 selected for waysides.                                                      moose and bear found in the river valleys, and sheep and goats
                          on the south side of Turnagain Arm. The near views are interest-                                                                                                         found along the steep slopes. This section contains three of the
                          ing steep mountain slopes, but lack diversity until the end of                           4.  Reshape borrow pits       and construction roads according                  four communities found along Turnagain Arm. The Seward
                          the section where the corridor enters the McHugh Creek Valley.                               to natural topography.                                                      Highway in this section is scheduled for widening and realign-
                                                                                                                                                                                                   ment beginning in the fall of 1981, which will improve -the
                               There are a number of modifications from the highway                                5.  Enhance the entrance      to the McHugh Creek picnic area                   safety of the highway and at the same time increase scenic
                          improvement project that have created visual distractions along                              by arranging existing     rocks and adjusting the drainage                  and recreational sites along the corridor.
                          this section. An inventory of waste material sites and old road                              pattern.
                          sections identified ten locations prime for rehabilitation and                                                                                                               Scenic Potential: Unique, near views are found at Beluga
                          enhancement. Presently these sites are used for scenic viewing,                          6.  Stabilize and revegetate the following areas:                               Point, Rainbow and along the Indian-to-Bird Creek portions
                          but not even the most basic facilities are provided.                                                                                                                     of the corridor. The common, near views lack landscape diver-
                                                                                                                       a.  Waste material sites                                                    sity, but are still important resources, due to potential sheep
                               Recreational Potential: With the exception of McHugh                                    b.  Old road sections                                                       and goat viewing. Unique, middle views exist from the corridor
                          Creek picnic area, the recreational potential is limited to beach                            c.  Cut and fill slopes                                                     to the tidelands and into the steep forested mountainsides of
                          walking. McHugh Creek picnic area provides access to both the                                d.  Road shoulders                                                          Indian and Bird Creek valleys. Middle views of the uplands
                          Johnson Trail and McHugh Creek Trail. It offers a rest and                                   e.  Borrow pits                                                             along the corridor are rare and dependent upon creek and
                          picnic area close to Anchorage and is heavily used during the                                f.  Erosion areas                                                           river valleys cutting through the Chugach Mountains.
                          warmer months. Views of the arm, at higher elevations than
                          normally found at roadside, are also available from the public
                          area.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   21

                                      Recreational Potential: Existing recreational use in this                         and to accommodate user demand, while protecting and en-                              arm, continuing until it drops into the Glacier Creek Valley at
                                  section of the corridor is the highest found at the arm, and                          hancing the inherent values of the area and the communities                           Girdwood. The main landscape type along this section of the
                                  with the proposed improvements to the Seward Highway, the                             along the corridor.                                                                   corridor is steep brushy mountainside, an ideal habitat for
                                  opportunities will increase significantly. The coastline, Johnson                                                                                                           mountain goats. The steep slopes lack mature vegetation due to
                                  Trail, the Indian branch of the old Iditarod Trail and the Bird                           Recommendations:                                                                  heavy avalanching. Over 50'percent of the slopes in this section
                                  Ridge Trail provide walking and hiking enthusiasts with ample                                                                                                               are avalanche paths that cross the corridor and make traveling
                                  opportunities. Presently, there is camping at Bird Creek, which                           1.  The Seward Highway improvement project will                                   hazardous during the winter. This section of the Seward High-
                                  will be increased when the Bird Creek Regional Park is de-                                    eliminate two high-use waysides serving an important                          way is scheduled for improvement after Phase III is completed.
                                  veloped. There are also existing or proposed waysides at Beluga.                              recreational area. Relocate and develop a site plan for
                                  Point, Rainbow, Windy Corner, Falls Creek and Bird Ridge.                                     Bird Ridge Wayside and Bird Creek Wayside that pro-                              Scenic Potential: The near views prior to Bird Point are
                                  The communities of Indian and Bird Creek enjoy a park adja-                                   tects and enhances natural values while it accommodates                       restricted by vegetative screening along the corridor. After
                                  cent to Indian Creek that was constructed by local residents.                                 present and future use.                                                       Bird Point, near views of the alpine meadows and brushy
                                                                                                                                                                                                              slopes dropping into the arm are unique to this section of
                                                 SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL SITES                                              2.  Establish guidelines for development to protect and                           the corridor. Middle and distant views are also excellent from
                                                                                                                                maintain the natural, scenic and recreational values                          the higher elevations along the mountain slopes. On a clear
                                    Mile                 Site                                       Type                        along the corridor. The guidelines should apply to:                           day, a highway traveler can see well into Portage Valley. If a
                                                                                                                                a.   Site design including setbacks, entrances, vegetative                    blue hue is evident, then Portage Glacier can be seen at its best.
                                                                                                                                     screening, etc.                                                          Alyeska Mountain, the entrance to Turnagain Pass, and Bird
                                     8.0          Beluga Point                                Scenic                            b.   Junk disposal and removal                                                Point in its entirety can be seen from the higher elevations
                                                                                                                                c.   Vegetation removal                                                       of this section.
                                      9.9         Johnson Trailhead at Rainbow                Recreational                      d.   Signing
                                                                                                                                e.   Utilities                                                                   Recreational Potential: The recreational potential of this
                                   11.3           Windy Corner                                Scenic                                                                                                          section is somewhat restricted due to the steep slopes and
                                                                                                                            3.  Develop an     open   space and recreational plan for the                     limited land area. At one time the Iditarod Trail traversed these
                                   12.-6          Falls Corner                                Scenic                            communities of Indian and Bird Creek that provides                            slopes, leading to Indian Pass and the interior of Alaska. Today
                                                                                                                                opportunities for Turnagain Arm residents and is                              the trail is grown over or covered by the Seward highway.
                                   13.2           The Grotto                                  Scenic                            compatible with the objectives of the scenic corridor.                        Unique recreation opportunities exist at Bird Point, the ava-
                                                                                                                                (This need was identified by Turnagain Arm residents                          lanche slopes, and at the beach strand opposite old Girdwood.
                                   15.2           Indian Community Park                       Recreational                      and included in the Turnagain Arm Comprehensive                               Bird Point is both rock outcroppings and coastal marsh, located
                                                                                                                                Plan.)                                                                        in the seaside of the scenic corridor. The point is a large area,
                                   16.0           Bird Ridge Wayside                          Recreational                                                                                                    capable of accommodating a variety of uses, if sensitively
                                                                                                                            4.  Stabilize and revegetate the following areas:                                 planned and developed. The avalance slopes provide access in
                                   16.7           Bird Creek Wayside                          Recreational                                                                                                    the summer to the higher elevation alpine tundra areas, and
                                                                                                                                a.   Waste material sites                                                     the beach strand in the Glacier Creek wetlands provides a
                                   16.9           Bird Creek Campground                       Recreational                      b.   Old road sections                                                        unique landscape and interesting waterfowl habitat. The areas
                                                                                                                                c.   Cut and fill slopes                                                      around Glacier Creek and its tributaries, Crow Creek and Cali-
                                        In addition to major scenic sites, there are 15 scenic way-                             d.   Road shoulders                                                           fornia Creek, though outside the corridor, are mentioned
                                   sides planned for this section..                                                             e.   Borrow pits                                                              because of their present recreational use. Alyeska, Alaska's
                                                                                                                                f.   Erosion areas                                                            largest resort, used by a variety of recreationalists both in
                                      Management Considerations: There are unlimited scenic                                                                                                                   summer and winter, is in this area.
                                  and recreational opportunities in this 13-mile section. A full
                                  range of views and a variety of trails, wildlife and unique recrea-                   Section 4, Avalanche Gate to Girdwood                                                             SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL SITES
                                  tional areas generate the highest use in the corridor. Along with
                                  scenic and recreational use, two growing communities are                                  After crossing the valley floors of Indian and Bird Creek,                         Mile                 Site                                     Tyi)e
                                  located in the Indian and Bird Creek Valley floors.                                   the corridor rises gently along the slopes of Penguin Mountain                        21.7          Bird Point                                   Recreational
                                      Objective: Section 3 should be planned and developed to                           and then descends to Bird Point. The highway skirts the rock
                                  take full advantage of the scenic and recreational opportunities                      outcroppings at Bird Point, and again,        .climbs high above the                  27.9          Glacier Creek Wetlands                      Scenic

                         22

                             Management Considerations: The scenic corridor between                   boundary and then ascends the Ingram Creek Valley toward                         Management Considerations: The potential scenic and
                         the Avalanche Gate and Girdwood has a number of scenic and                   Turnagain Pass. The predominant landscape types in this section              recreational opportunities that exist in this section are under-
                         recreational opportunities that are underdeveloped and under-                are tidelands, coastal marsh and wetlands interspersed with                  developed and underutilized. Scenic opportunities along the
                         utilized. The steep slopes limit the land area and make winter               coastal forests. The river and creek valleys contain an abund-               corridor and recreational opportunities along the variety of
                         use hazardous due to avalanches. Excellent 1800 views exist,                 ance of birds and wildlife and their waters contain resident                 creek and river valleys could be developed to relieve other sec-
                         easily seen when traveling in either direction. Views, combined              trout and spawning salmon in summer.                                         tions of the corridor and generally expand recreation in close
                         with the highest elevations along the highway, make this section                                                                                          proximity to Anchorage.
                         of the corridor unlike any of the others.                                        At Girdwood the railroad crosses the highway to the upland
                                                                                                      side and continues to the end of the arm, where it divides into                  Objective: Section 5 should be planned and developed to
                             Objective: Section 4 should be planned and developed to                  two routes. One route, following Portage Creek, tunnels                      exploit the unique scenic and recreational opportunities, while
                         take advantage of the unique scenic and recreational oppor-                  through the Chugach Range to the Port of Whittier. The other                 protecting and enchancing the inherent value along the corridor.
                         tunities, while avoiding hazards and protecting and enhancing                route, following Placer River Valley to Johnson Pass, continues
                         the inherent values along the corridor.                                      to the Port of Seward. The overhead utility lines cross from the                 Recommendations:
                                                                                                      uplands into the tideland where they continue and parallel
                             Recommendations:                                                         the Johnson Pass route of the railroad.                                          1.  Establish guidelines for development at Girdwood and
                                                                                                                                                                                           Portage to protect and enhance the natural, scenic and
                             1. Identify and reestablish the Iditarod Trail between                       Scenic Potential: The near views along the corridor are very                     recreational values along the corridor. Guidelines should
                                 Indian and Girdwood.                                                 good, with the exception of common landscape around Kern.                            apply to:
                                                                                                      The quality of the middle and distant views outweighs the
                             2.  Establish a typical wayside (see Sites) associated with              effects of common landscape at any point in Section 5. The                           a.  Site design including setbacks, entrances, vegetative
                                 the new Avalanche Gate.                                              tideland and coastal wetlands of Glacier, Peterson and Portage                           screening
                                                                                                      creeks and Twenty Mile and Placer rivers offer unique land-                          b.  Junk and disposal ordinance
                             3.  Develop a master plan      for Bird Point that provides              form and vegetation. The valleys of these creeks and rivers                          c.  Vegetation removal
                                 scenic and recreational opportunities at a unique seaside            also cut deep into the Chugach Range, exposing broad forested                        d.  Signing
                                 site.                                                                valleys, glaciers and generally remarkable middle and distant                        e.  Utilities
                                                                                                      views.
                             4.  Design and develop two typical waysides for scenic use                                                                                                2.  Relocate or screen the overhead utility lines now
                                 in summer along the avalanche slope.                                    Recreation Potential: At present, the recreational potential                      located in the tidelands and beach strand.
                                                                                                      in this section is minimal and limited to the creeks and rivers.
                             5.  Design and develop a year-round scenic wayside at the                Twenty Mile and Placer rivers are navigable by canoes and river-                 3.  Develop a typical wayside at Kern Creek.
                                 avalanche safety zone.                                               boats. Tidal influences occur as far up river as six miles. These
                                                                                                      areas are used in summer for fishing and camping, and in winter                  4.  Develop a master plan for Twenty Mile River Basin
                             6.  Stabilize and revegetate the following areas:                        for snowmobiling. River access is undeveloped, though the U.S.                       recreation area.
                                                                                                      Forest Service maintains two waysides at Placer River and is
                                 a. Old Avalanche Gate                                                considering building a boat ramp at Twenty Mile River. Portage                   5.  Develop a small boat ramp to provide access up the
                                 b. Old road sections                                                 Creek and Valley are used both in summer and winter.                                 Twenty Mile River Valley.
                                 c. Cut and fill slopes
                                 d. Road shoulders                                                                 SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL SITES                                       6.  Develop a typical wayside at Ingram Creek as an
                                 e. Borrow pits                                                                                                                                            entrance to the Municipality of Anchorage and the
                                 f. Erosion areas                                                                                                                                          scenic corridor.

                                                                                                       Mile               Site                                 Type

                         Section 5, Girdwood to Ingram Creek                                          36.7          BLM Overlook                            Scenic

                             Section 5 of the corridor extends 12 miles from Girdwood                 39.2         U.S. Forest Service Wayside               Recreational
                         across several creek bottoms and river deltas to the end of Turn-
                         again Arm where, in the early part of this century, a causeway               39.7         U.S. Forest Service Wayside               Recreational
                         and corduroy road carried travelers to their destination. The
                         corridor continues along the arm to the end of the municipal

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                25

                                   Management Framework

                                       The management framework evaluates and outlines the                              2.  Protect the public investment in highways and roads.                                 The second definition requires legislative authority for
                                   critical elements necessary for devising a management plan.                              The public investment in roads is to be protected from                           designating scenic corridors and provides for both a local
                                   In researching and developing this section, both the Corridor                            such activities, land uses, signs, etc. which may destroy                        and a state scenic highway system.
                                   Plan and a broader state-wide scenic highway system were                                 the integrity of the road, its capacity for traffic and its
                                   considered. The framework creates the basis for a locally                                visual qualities,                                                                        "The scenic highway system is comprised of those
                                   managed scenic corridor, but could easily be applicable to a                                                                                                                      sections of the state highways, roads and streets desig-
                                   state-wide scenic highway system. Legislation creating the                           3.  Attract visitors to the state by conserving the natural                                  nated by appropriate authority according to criteria
                                   Connecticut Scenic Corridor System is included in the Appen-                             beauty of areas adjacent to highways, and provide access                                 established by the legislature, which provide outstanding
                                   dix for the reference of the reader.                                                     to outstanding visual experiences representative of the                                  visual resources and/or give access to recreational
                                                                                                                            state's variety of landscape resources and cultural attrac-                              facilities.
                                       The following are the basic elements in a scenic corridor                            tions. This goal seeks to support the tourist industry.
                                   plan and are used to outline this section.                                           4.  Provide recreational opportunities within the highway                            Safeguarding the Scenic Corridor
                                       *   Goals for the scenic corridor.                                                   corridors and access to the state's abundant recreational
                                       *   A definition of the scenic corridor.                                             resources.                                                                           Without adequate protection the natural, scenic, historic
                                                                                                                        5.  Aid the expansion of environmental education through                             and recreational values along the corridor may decline as a
                                       *   Safeguarding the scenic corridor.                                                public and private recreation and resource management                            result of future development. In the case of the Seward High-
                                                                                                                            programs. This goal stresses the educational potential of                        way Scenic Corridor, it is important to remember that 93 per-
                                       *   Rehabilitation and enhancement along the scenic                                  a system in terms of making the resources of the state                           cent of the land along the highway is publicly owned. Private
                                           corridor.                                                                        more significant and meaningful.                                                 ownership is limited to the communities of Rainbow Valley,
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Indian/Bird Creek, Girdwood and Portage and comprises only
                                       o   Managing the scenic corridor.                                                6.  Protect natural and cultural heritage corridors of the                           seven percent of the highway frontage. Publicly owned land is
                                                                                                                            state. This goal considers the importance of natural corri-                      less likely to receive unacceptable modifications than privately
                                       0   Implementing the scenic corridor concept.                                        dors related to highways as the Coastal Management Pro-                          owned land, and yet, land management agencies responsible
                                                                                                                            gram seeks to protect the state's coastline from misuse.                         for the corridor have differing objectives and a variety of
                                                                                                                        7.  Protect the coastal resources of the state while increasing                      proposals that could have negative impacts.
                                   Goals for the Scenic Corridor                                                            public access to the coastline. This refers specifically to                          To protect the corridor, it is necessary to identify a
                                                                                                                            the goals of the Alaska Coastal Management Program.                              management zone and to develop the appropriate controls.
                                       When establishing a scenic corridor           or scenic highway                                                                                                       The management zone, the area to which the management plan
                                   system, it is important for the managing agencies and the                                                                                                                 applies, can be broken into the inner zone or foreground and
                                   users to formulate the goals they want the scenic designation                                                                                                             the outer zone or middle ground. One simple and cost-effective
                                   to accomplish, to be used as the basis for future management                         A Definition for the Scenic Corridor                                                 approach to controlling activities along the corridor is to work
                                   policies. The following goals are taken from other scenic cor-                                                                                                            within the highway right-of-way or the foreground. Often,
                                   ridor plans or studies and are offered as the range of alterna-                          As with the statement of goals, the definition of a scenic                       by working within the right-of-way, the entire corridor can
                                   tives for consideration.                                                             corridor is an important element in a management plan. Two                           be effectively managed. The following are good examples:
                                                                                                                        definitions have been included for consideration. The first
                                   1.  Promote the health, safety, welfare, convenience and                             is a broad definition allowing the designation of a scenic cor-                          *   A screen of trees and shrubs can permanently block
                                       enjoyment of public travel on highways and roads of the                          ridor by a local level of government.                                                        from view objectionable modifications to the landscape
                                       state. This broad goal is so stated to justify the use of                                                                                                                     and undesirable views.
                                       police power. This goal is from Washington State's legisla-                              "Scenic corridor means that portion of highways,
                                       tion enabling establishment of scenic areas.                                             roads or streets which provide outstanding visual re-                            0   In heavily forested areas, careful timber harvesting can
                                                                                                                                sources and/or recreational opportunities."                                          open "windows" which greatly extend the depth of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     the field of vision.

                                       26

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Overlooks can be constructed, road segments relocated,
                                                                                                                                                    TABLE I                                                                                                                                                       and spur roads added to obtain a desired change in the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  depth of the corridor visible from the roads.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Ease of
                                                Mechanism                                     Effectiveness                                           Cost                                        Administration                                        Comments                                            Controlling activities in the middle ground is more diffi-
                                       Wider-than-usual right-of-way                     Could be most effective, but                      Cost would be very high,                            East to administer because                        Private property owners                             cult and costly, particularly when acquisition of privately
                                                                                         the area would need to be                         probably prohibitive                                control would be obsolete                         would probably resent "ex-                          owned land is involved.
                                                                                         very limited                                                                                                                                            cessive" acquisition by gov-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ernment
                                       Outright acquisition of either                    Very effective if authorized                      Costs could be burdensome,                          No special problems of                                                                                       There are basically two approaches to controlling activities
                                       inner or outer zones of corri-                    aid permitted by courts                           even prohibitive                                    administration except con-                                                                            within the management zone. Control may be exercised by
                                       dor                                                                                                                                                     testing some antagonism                                                                               using police power without compensation or by purchasing the
                                                                                                                                                                                               against public authority
                                                                                                                                                                                               "being in the real estate                                                                             land or the desired easements. Table 1 is a simple chart illustrat-
                                                                                                                                                                                               business"                                                                                             ing the effectiveness, costs and ease of administration of speci-
                                       Fee acquisition and leaseback                     Very effective                                    Very costly and requires                            May be difficult to sell                          Facilitates maintenance;                            fic mechanisms to protect the scenic corridor. In summary,
                                                                                                                                           large capital outlays which                         property owners on the idea;                      keeps the corridor "alive"                          the. potential mechanisms available for safeguarding the scenic
                                                                                                                                           are later repaid in part                            extends the public domain
                                                                                                                                                                                               considerably                                                                                          corridor are as follows:

                                       Acquisition of scenic or con-                     Could be quite effective if                       Cost would be reasonable                            No particular difficulties ex-
                                       servation easements                               right kind of easement                            in some cases, considerable                         cept one of educating the                                                                                    *     Wider than normal rights-of-way
                                                                                         acquired                                          in others, especially in or                         public
                                                                                                                                           close to urban areas; costs                                                                                                                                      9     Outright acquisition
                                                                                                                                           in these instances might be so                                                                                                                                   *     Fee acquisition and leaseback
                                                                                                                                           great that outright acquisi-
                                                                                                                                           tion would be more                                                                                                                                               0     Acquisition of scenic or conservation easements
                                                                                                                                           reasonable                                                                                                                                                       *     Zoning at the local level
                                       Zoning at local level                             Not very effective-only as                        No cost except that of                              Same difficulties as those                        Generally, not a very happy                                e     Zoning at the state level
                                                                                         effective as zoning is; subject                   administering the program                           associated with zoning today                      solution                                                   *     Scenic highway corridor reservations
                                                                                         to pressure                                                                                           and maybe a few more
                                                                                                                                                                                               because this would be a new                                                                                  e     Special conservation or corridor districts
                                                                                                                                                                                               application                                                                                                  *     Comprehensive planning
                                       Zoning at state level                             Hardly ever has been used-                        No costs other than adminis-                        Administration would be                                                                                      *     Restrictive covenants
                                                                                         its legal fate is largely un-                     trative costs                                       subject to the same detail
                                                                                         known; if politics were kept                                                                          as local zoning
                                                                                         out of administration, might                                                                                                                                                                                       After examining the various approaches to designating the
                                                                                         be reasonably effective, but
                                                                                         it is essential that it be done                                                                                                                                                                             management zone and protecting the corridor, the following
                                       Scenic highway corridor                           If sustained in courts as                         No costs except costs of                            Once the notion is clearly                        Well worth a try                                    recommendations are made.
                                       reservation (state level)                         a valid exercise of police                        administration of program                           defined there should be no
                                                                                         power, could be reasonably                                                                            difficulties of administration;                                                                              Management Zone:                       Designate both an inner and outer
                                                                                         effective; would require a                                                                            in fact, large areas could
                                                                                         new legal concept; would                                                                              be so regulated with a mini-                                                                          management zone for the scenic corridor. The inner zone
                                                                                         have none of legal or                                                                                 mum of public effort                                                                                  should coincide with the Seward Highway ri t-of-way. The
                                                                                         popular encumbrances of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       gh
                                                                                         zoning                                                                                                                                                                                                      right-of-way is approximately 200 feet wide and includes the
                                       Special conservation or                           Could be one of the most                          Would be negligible, only                           No significant problems of                        Offers considerable promise                         entrances, parking areas and in some cases, the structures for
                                       corridor districts                                effective, but would be a                         costs of administration                             administration                                                                                        most of the private land development adjacent to the highway.
                                                                                         broad new application of a
                                                                                         relatively new device                                                                                                                                                                                       The outer zone should extend an additional 200 feet beyond
                                       Comprehensive planning                            Would be effective if the                         Generally, only costs would                         Usual problems, which may                                                                             the right-of-way. The 200-foot designation includes an entire
                                                                                         device is applied in its best                     be those of administration,                         be many, of a comprehensive                                                                           lot-width of privately owned land and includes most of the
                                                                                         and broadest connotations                         unless acquisition mechan-                          planning approach                                                                                     proposed sites and improvements on publicly owned land.
                                                                                                                                           isms are considered part of
                                                                                                                                           this process as they might be                                                                                                                             The entire management zone should be approximately 600 feet
                                       Restrictive covenants                             Could be helpful in a small,                      None, except small costs to                         Handled privately, perhaps                                                                            wide, depending upon right-or-way width.
                                                                                         limited area, but should hard-                    property owners                                     under government auspices
                                                                                         ly be relied on for an entire
                                                                                         scenic road project; is more
                                                                                         of a supplement, particularly
                                                                                         in urban areas

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                27

                                       Control: The Municipality of Anchorage should adopt                              problems or rehabilitation needs. This is the first step in a                        Managing the Scenic Corridor
                                  an enabling ordinance establishing the Seward Highway Scenic                          rehabilitation program. When the needs have been identified,
                                  Corridor. This mechanism, effectively used by state govern-                           the problem areas should be prioritized to treat the most                                The Municipality of Anchorage is the only level of govern-
                                  ments, is also appropriate for local government. Anchorage,                           critical areas first.                                                                ment with the powers and jurisdiction to implement and
                                  as a unified municipal government, has planning powers along                                                                                                               manage the entire scenic corridor. If a statewide scenic highway
                                  the Seward Highway, and as a coastal management district,                                 Visual problems and rehabilitation needs are generally                           system is created, the Seward Highway Scenic Corridor should
                                  requires state and federal government to be consistent with                           identified in the Environmental Synthesis section of this report.                    become part of it, with management responsibility reverting
                                  municipal plans. The ordinance establishing the scenic corridor                       Recommended approaches are also included in the same section                         to the state.
                                  should include the following:                                                         to treat problems along the corridor. A general inventory has
                                                                                                                        revealed:                                                                                The municipality should encourage the various state and
                                       I . Require an approved       site plan for any new structures                                                                                                        federal agencies with land management responsibilities along
                                           and major alterations within the inner zone.                                     1.  Ninety percent of the problems that exist today are                          the corridor to participate in a management team that would
                                                                                                                                within the inner zone or highway right-of-way.                               essentially oversee and guide the development of the corridor.
                                       2.  Require authorizations for any public facilities, utilities,                                                                                                      The management team should be composed of members from:
                                           recreation sites, etc., within the management zone.                              2.  A majority of these problems exist due to              activities
                                                                                                                                undertaken by local, state or federal government.                                9   Municipality of Anchorage
                                       3.  Require an approved site plan for vegetation removal                                                                                                                  *   Alaska Department of Transportation and Public
                                           in the inner zone except for general maintenance.                                3.  Stabilization and revegetation will alleviate most of the                            Facilities
                                                                                                                                problems that exist along the corridor.                                          e   Alaska Division of Parks
                                       4.  Establish restrictions and guidelines for junk disposal                                                                                                               9   Alaska Department of Fish and Game
                                           and removal within the management zone.                                          Visual distractions associated with private development                              0   Alaska Department of Public Safety
                                                                                                                        are always difficult to treat. On one hand, homesites and busi-                          0   The Alaska Railroad
                                       5.  Establish a signing standard for the management zone.                        nesses carved out of the wilderness often look unsightly to the                          0   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
                                                                                                                        observer who is used to the order of an urban setting. By the                            0   U.S. Forest Service
                                       In determining the safeguards appropriate for the corridor,                      same token, wrecked cars, defoliated areas, and trash-found                              *   Bureau of Land Management
                                  the single most important factor is the amount of privately                           along the highway-detract from the scenic resources of the
                                  owned land to be affected. In the case of the Seward Highway,                         area. For future development, a review and approval of the                               The management team should be formalized with a co-
                                  the private land adjacent to the corridor is minimal in compari-                      site plan will guarantee that standards are met. For existing                        operative management agreement and should be embodied with
                                  son to the amount of publicly owned land.                                             development, it is possible to control future improvements                           the responsibility for:
                                                                                                                        within a site, or to order unsightly cars and trash to be removed
                                       The ordinance should also establish a         process for the pur-               as part of the ordinance establishing the scenic corridor. But a                         1.  Establishing goals for the scenic corridor.
                                  chase of scenic or conservation easements in the inner zone                           landowner cannot be forced to rehabilitate or improve his                                2.  Formulating policies to guide development of the
                                  where private property abutts the Seward Highway, if the                              property to meet standards set for the corridor, and it would                                corridor.
                                  highway right-of-way is not sufficient to control activity affect-                    be unfair or unreasonable to make such a request. Instead,                               3.  Developing a cooperative management plan for the
                                  ing the quality of the corridor. Based upon experience in                             the municipality, in conjunction with the managing agencies                                  scenic corridor.
                                  other states, the cost of easements is estimated at 20 percent                        in a particular part of the corridor, should provide incentives                          4.  Recommending action on both public and private
                                  of the assessed land value.                                                           or grants for improving problem areas.                                                       development proposals to the municipal assembly.

                                                                                                                            An excellent opportunity for improving privately owned                               The permit system within the municipality should be used
                                  Rehabilitation and Enhancement                                                        sites at Rainbow, Indian and Bird Creek exists at present as                         to  implement the regulations and controls outlined in the
                                                                                                                        part of the Phase III Seward Highway Improvement Project.                            ordinance creating the scenic corridor.
                                  along the Corridor                                                                    An approach would be to get landowners involved in entrance
                                                                                                                        and site design within the right-of-way to be funded and con-
                                       Once a management program is developed and safeguards                            structed as part of the highway project. This opportunity will
                                  have been established to protect the existing values along the                        also occur again in the future as the highway improvements
                                  corridor, an inventory should be undertaken to identify visual                        continue along the arm.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         OME

                       30

                                                                                               Rabbit Creek Rifle Range
                                                                  lug
                                                         ....................
                                                                                                   The 57-acre Rabbit Creek Rifle Range was opened in 1953
                                                      vo.,
                                                                                               and was operated by the Alaska Range Association, a sport-
                                                                                               men's organization, under authority of the Recreational and
                                                         ANCHORAGE                             Public Purposes Act which mandates recreational use in per-
                                                                                               petuity. In 1980 the rifle range was purchased by the Alaska
                                                                                               Department of Fish and Game, the agency responsible for man-
                                                                      Girdwood                 aging the adjoining Potter Point State Game Refuge. A master
                                                                                               plan and management scheme, which includes both the rifle
                                                                         Kom
                                                                                               range and the wildlife refuge, is being prepared at this time.
                                                                           Portage
                                                                                                   The rifle range is located at Mile .5 in Section I of the
                                                                                               Seward Highway Corridor. Adjacent to the range are the pro-
                                                                                               posed New Seward Highway Scenic Overlook, a series of turn-
                                                                                               outs along Potter's Marsh, and a proposed Coastal Trail. Adja-
                                                                                               cent uses and the proximity to the Potter Point State Game
                                                                                               Refuge warrants that the rifle range be given special con-
                                                                                               sideration. This site plan offers a concept that improves the
                                                                                               safety and function of the range, while blending the site,
                                                                                               to the extent possible, into the natural setting, thereby in-
                                                                                               creasing the compatibility with the adjacent uses.

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                        32

                                                                                                       Potter Weigh Station

                                                                                                           The Potter Weigh Station, located at Mile 2.6 on the Seward
                                                                                                       Highway, services truck traffic between southcentral. Alaska
                                                                                                       and the Kenai Peninsula. The present site, at the intersection
                                                              ANCHORAGE                               .--of the old and new Seward highways adjacent to Potter Marsh,
                                                                                                       has been identified for the proposed Potter Marsh Nature
                                                                                                       Center. The center is intended to be a major facility for support
                                                                            Girdwood                   activities and interpretive programs related to the wildlife re
                                                                               Kom                     fuge. In addition, renovation of the historic Potter Section
                                                                                 Portage               House and a new trailhead for Johnson Trail at Potter Creek
                                                                                                       are also proposed as auxiliary uses.

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                         34

                                                                                                         Johnson Trailhead at Rainbow

                                                                                                             The proposed realignment of the Seward Highway will
                                                                                                         bypass both the entrance to the community of Rainbow Valley
                                                                                                         and the Johnson Trailhead. As part of the Seward Highway
                                                               ANCHORAGE                                 improvement, the old highway and the Indian Creek culvert
                                                                                                         will be removed and regraded to match the existing contours.
                                                                                                         This improvement will define and separate the entrance to the
                                                                                                         commun
                                                                             Girdwood                             ity and the Johnson Trailhead, which is considered
                                                                 :x..
                                                                                                         highly desirable by local residents.
                                                                        XV:      Kern
                                                                                   Portage                   The new entrance to Rainbow Valley will be protected from
                                                                                                         through traffic and a schoolbus turnout will provide a safe loca-
                                                                                                         tion to drop off school children. Parking will also be provided
                                                                                                         to accommodate parents picking up their children and can also
                                                                                                         be used by visitors to the community.

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                       36

                                                                                                Bird Ridge Trailhead

                                                                                                    The widening of the Seward Highway, part of the proposed
                                                                                                realignment and improvement project, will eliminate the present
                                                                                                parking area for the Bird Ridge Trail. A proposed new site has
                                                                                                been identified and will be developed during the highway con-
                                                          ANCHORAGE
                                                                                                struction. The site plan provides for a parking area accom-
                                                                                                modating 16 cars, and a new trail to connect the trailhead with
                                                                                                Bird Ridge. The parking area will be constructed to approxi-
                                                                       Girdwood
                                                                                                mate the elevation of the new highway, will be paved and have
                                                                          Kom
                                                                                                appropriate signs. A vegetative screen will provide a buffer
                                                                            Portage             between the highway and the parking area.

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                       38

                                                                                                   Bird Creek Wayside
                                                                     log
                                                          . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-
                                                                                                       The existing parking area at Bird Creek will be significantly
                                                                                                   reduced in size by the proposed widening and realignment of
                                                                                                   the  Seward Highway. A new site for a wayside to support
                                                           ANCHORAGE                               activities along the creek has been planned and will include
                                                                                                   parking on the bluff above the creek and a picnic area at the
                                                                                                   present parking lot.

                                                                         Girdwood
                                                                                                       The parking area will accommodate over 50 vehicles in a
                                                                            Kem                    rectangular configuration. The lot will be situated to maintain
                                                                              Portage              the maximum existing vegetation to provide a pleasant, natural
                                                                                                   setting and screen the area from view.

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                         40

                                                                                                         Bird Point

                                                                                                             Bird Point has long been recognized          for its scenic and
                                                                                                         recreational value. The site is a mixture of forest, rock out-
                                                                                                                     nd tidal flats which provide a variety of landscape
                                                                                                         cropping a
                                                                                                         types  and  outstanding views. It is one of the few seaside sites
                                                               ANCHORAGE
                                                                                                         within the   Seward Highway Corridor with a land area large
                                                                                                         enough for a moderate scale of recreational development.
                                                             XV,

                                                                             Girdwood
                                                                                                             The conceptual site plan for Bird Point includes a major
                                                                                 Kern
                                                                                                         regional interpretive center and parking area, a train stop and
                                                                                   Portage               passenger facility, and a series of interpretive nature trails
                                                                                                         and viewpoints. It is based on the recommendation that the area
                                                                                                         be developed to accommodate a variety of scenic and recrea-
                                                                                                         tional needs, and yet be protected to maintain the inherent
                                                                                                         values which make Bird Point a unique site.

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Avalanche Safety Zone

                                                                                                                                                                                                       b,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   At Mile 23 an a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              valanche safety zone offers winter and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        summer viewing of the eastern end of Turnagain Arm. The
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        views are excellent from this elevated site and span from Bird
                                                                                                                                                                              ANCHORAGE                                                                                                                 Point to Portage Glacier. It is recommended that a cantilevered
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        view deck be provided to maximize the viewing potential, with
                                                                  ........... .                                                                                                                                                                                                                         a rock retaining wall for safety. The conceptual site plan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        illustrates the deck, parking, and view potential.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          od

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                        44

                                                                                                  Boat Ramp at Twenty-Mile River

                                                                                                Twenty-Mile River is the route most boaters and bikers use
                                                                                                 to enter the vast Twenty-Mile River Valley, an undiscovered

                                                                                                  recreational area.

                                                                                                      Access to Twenty-Mile River is from an area which lies
                                                                                                  between the highway bridge and the Alaska Railroad crossing.
                                                                                                  This site is unimproved, with a rip-rap dike separating the
                                                                        Girdwood
                                                                                                  parking area from the water. The dike represents an obstacle

                                                                                                  for boaters, and makes improvements to the site impractical

                                                                                                  due to cost.

                                                                                                      A new access has been selected and is recommended as a
                                                                                                  site for a boat launch, because it is accessible and does not
                                                                                                  present any major engineering problems. It is intended to be
                                                                                                  used until a road is constructed into the river valley, allowing
                                                                                                  boat access in an area less affected by tidal fluctuations. The
                                                                                                  boat ramp would provide car and trailer parking and storage
                                                                                                  and a latrine. The area between the ramp and the road would
                                                                                                  be screened with indigenous, mature trees and low brush.

                                                                                                   Twenty-Mile Boat Ramp - Section

                                   0      50             150 FT.

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                       46

                                                                                                      ]Entrance to the Municipality

                                                                    ZY                                  The following typical turnout is recommended for the
                                                                                                      entrance to the Municipality of Anchorage from the Kenai
                                                                                                      Peninsula at Ingram Creek and for the points along the corridor
                                                           ANCHORAGE                                  where new turnouts are recommended. At Ingram Creek (Tern
                                                                                                      Wayside), the turnout is intended to serve as a site marking the
                                                                                                                               -should incorporate a unique entrance
                                                                                                      municipal boundary and
                                                                                                      s                            This site is an excellent place for
                                                                         Girdwood
                                                                                                      ign and regional landmark
                                                                            Xem                       observing Arctic-terns. The pulloff will also provide parking for
                                                                                                      general viewing and a vegetative screen between the site and
                                                                               ]Portage
                                                                                                      general highway traffic.

                                                                                                        Tern Wayside establishes a* standard for any new turnouts
                                                                                                      along the corridor and was designed to meet minimum re     .quire-
                                                                                                      ments and reflect good engineering and landscape design
                                                                                                      practices within a scenic corridor.

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               51

                                    Inventory of Scenic and Recreational Sites
                                        1.   Site:               New Seward Scenic Overlook.                                           Facilities:         Nature Center, viewing decks, bike                              8.   Site:               Beluga Point Wayside.
                                             Location:           Mile 0.3, seaside.                                                                        trail and parking lot.                                               Location:           Mile 8.0, seaside.
                                             Management                                                                                Status:             Proposed, Coastal Trail System, Muni-                                Management
                                             Responsibility:     Municipality of Anchorage.                                                                cipality of Anchorage.                                               Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.
                                             Function:           This scenic site provides distant views                          5.   Site:               Potter Section House.                                                Function:           This archaeological site dates back
                                                                 of Cook Inlet and of the entrance to                                  Location:           Mile 2.9, seaside.                                                                       6,000 years and will serve as a scenic@
                                                                 Turnagain Arm, and middle views of                                    Management                                                                                                   wayside with interpretive information.
                                                                 Potter Marsh Wildlife Refuge.                                         Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.                                      Facilities:         Interpretive program, 33-car parking
                                             Facilities:         Parking lot, interpretive program and                                 Function:           This historic site contains a facility                                                   area.
                                                                 viewing deck.                                                                             that will serve as a Chugach State Park                              Status:             Proposed, Chugach State Park Master
                                             Status:             Proposed, Coastal Trail System, Muni-                                                     Visitor Center and park ranger office.                                                   Plan.
                                                                 cipality of Anchorage.                                                Facilities:         Section House, viewing platform, rest-
                                                                                                                                                           rooms, picnic area.                                             9.   Site:               Johnson Trailhead at Rainbow.
                                        2.   Site:               Rabbit Creek Rifle Range.                                             Status:             Existing, with planned restoration and                               Location:           Mile 9.9, landside.
                                             Location:           Mile 0.5, seaside.                                                                        relocation.                                                          Management
                                             Management                                                                           6.   Site:               Johnson Trailhead at Potter Creek.                                   Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.
                                             Responsibility:     Alaska Department of Fish and Game.                                   Location:           Mile 3.0, landside.                                                  Function:           This recreational site will provide for
                                             Function:           This recreation site offers a variety         of                      Management                                                                                                   parking and access to the Johnson
                                                                 opportunities to shooting enthusiasts,                                Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.                                                          Trail.
                                                                 under the supervision of a rangemaster.                               Function:           This recreation site will establish the                              Facilities:         Trailhead sign, latrine, bulletin board
                                             Facilities:         A pistol range, .22 caliber rifle range,                                                  northernmost end of Johnson Trail                                                        and parking area.
                                                                 large-bore rifle range, a skeet range, and                                                and will provide parking and access to                               Status:             Proposed, Chugach State Park Master
                                                                 parking lot.                                                                              the trail.                                                                               Plan.
                                             Status:             Existing with planned improvements.                                   Facilities:         Trailhead sign, bulletin board, latrine
                                                                                                                                                           and parking lot.                                                10. Site:                Falls Creek Wayside.
                                        3.   Site:               Potter Marsh Waysides.                                                Status:             Proposed, Chugach State Park Master                                  Location:           Mile 12.6, landside.
                                             Locations:          Mile 0.6, 1.0, 1.5, landside.                                                             Plan.                                                                Management
                                             Management                                                                          7.    Site:               McHugh Creek Picnic Area.                                            Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.
                                             Responsibility:     Alaska Department of Fish and Game.                                   Location:           Mile 6.4, landside.                                                  Function:           This recreational site will provide
                                             Function:           These scenic sites offer near views of a                              Management                                                                                                   access to Falls Creek Trail and to the
                                                                 waterfowl staging and nesting area and                                Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.                                                          Johnson Trail.
                                                                 a coastal wetlands habitat.                                           Function:           This recreation site provides picnicking                             Facilities:         Trailhead sign, latrine, bulletin board
                                             Facilities:         Parking lot and viewing area.                                                             in a primary scenic and recreation area.                                                 and a parking area for 10 to 15 cars.
                                             Status:             Existing with planned improvements.                                                       Access to both Johnson Trail and                                     Status:             Proposed, Chugach State Master Plan.
                                        4.   Site:               Potter Marsh Nature Center.                                                               McHugh Creek Trail is available from
                                             Locations:          Mile 2.6, landside.                                                                       this site.
                                             Management                                                                                Facilities:         Thirty picnic sites, parking, toilets and
                                             Responsibility:     Municipality of Anchorage.                                                                trailhead signs.
                                             Function:           This recreation and scenic site will                                  Status:             Existing.
                                                                 provide interpretive information about
                                                                 the wetlands ecosystem, while offer-
                                                                 ing near-views of the waterfowl staging
                                                                 and nesting area.

                           52

                                11. Site:                The Grotto Wayside.                                            15. Site:                Bird Creek Regional Park.                                       18. Site:                Glacier Creek Wetlands.
                                     Location:           Mile 13.2, landside.                                                Location:           Two miles north of mile 16.7 along                                   Location:           Mile 27.9, seaside.
                                     Management                                                                                                  Bird Creek, landside.                                                Management
                                     Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.                                     Management                                                                               Responsibility:     Municipality of Anchorage.
                                     Function:           This scenic site will offer near views of                           Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.                                      Function:           This recreational area will provide
                                                         interesting vegetation and a waterfall                              Function:           This 2,265-acre regional park is in-                                                     interpretive opportunities as          well as
                                                         cascading down a rock face.                                                             tended to provide camping, picnicking                                                    viewing of the wetlands ecosystem.
                                     Facilities:         Small paved parking area.                                                               and to meet general recreation needs.                                Facilities:         Interpretive program.
                                     Status:             Exists, but will be partially destroyed                             Facilities:         Forty to fifty camping sites, restrooms,                             Status:             Proposed, Municipality of Anchorage
                                                         during Seward Highway Improvements.                                                     water.                                                                                   Coastal Management Program.
                                                         Planned for reconstruction.                                         Status:             Proposed, Chugach State Park Master                             19.  Site:               BLM Overlook.
                                                                                                                                                 Plan and Municipality of Anchorage
                                12. Site:                Indian Community Park.                                                                  Park and Recreation Plan.                                            Location:           Mile 36.7, landside.
                                     Location:           Mile 15.2, seaside.                                                                                                                                          Management
                                     Management                                                                         16.  Site:               Bird Creek Campground.                                               Responsibility:     Bureau of Land Management.
                                     Responsibility:     Municipality of Anchorage.                                          Location:           Mile 16.9, seaside.                                                  Function:           This scenic site provides near and
                                     Function:           This recreation site provides for or-                               Management                                                                                                   middle views of the Twenty Mile
                                                         ganized sports and serves both Indian                               Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.                                                          wetlands.
                                                         and Bird Creek.                                                     Function:           This recreational site provides camping                              Facilities:         Viewing platform, interpretive pro-
                                     Facilities:         Baseball field with backstop.                                                           and picnicking close to Anchorage,                                                       gram, and parking.
                                     Status:             Existing, with planned improvements.                                                    with a variety of unique views of the
                                                                                                                                                 Turnagain Arm and the local surround-                           20.  Site:               Placer River Waysides.
                                13.  Site:               Bird Ridge Trailhead.                                                                   ings.                                                                Location:           Mile 39.2 and 39.7, landside.
                                     Location:           Mile 16.0, landside.                                                Facilities:         Twenty-four camping sites, 14 picnic                                 Management
                                     Management                                                                                                  sites, toilets, drinking water and a                                 Responsibility:     U.S. Forest Service.
                                     Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.                                                         shelter.                                                             Function:           These waysides provide access to
                                     Function:           This recreation site will provide both                              Status:             Existing, but proposed exclusively as                                                    Placer River.
                                                         access and parking for Bird Ridge                                                       a picnic site when Bird Creek Regional                               Facilities:         Parking area.
                                                         Trail.                                                                                  Park is developed.                                                   Status:             Existing.
                                     Facilities:         Trailhead sign and parking area for 15
                                                         vehicles. .                                                    17.  Site:               Bird Point Natural Area.                                        21.  Site:               Tern Wayside.
                                     Status:             Existing, but must be relocated due to                              Location:           Mile 21.7, seaside.                                                  Location:           Mile 40.2, landside.
                                                         Seward Highway improvements.                                        Management                                                                               Management
                                                                                                                             Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.                                      Responsibility:     U.S. Forest Service.
                                14.  Site:               Bird Creek Wayside.                                                 Function:           This recreational and scenic area will                               Function:           This scenic wayside will provide near
                                     Location:           Mile 16.7, landside.                                                                    provide interpretive and viewing oppor-                                                  views of the wetland at Ingram Creek
                                     Management                                                                                                  tunities.                                                                                and distant views of the Chugach
                                     Responsibility:     Alaska State Division of Parks.                                     Facilities:         Interpretive program, restrooms, bulle-                                                  Range. It will also serve as'a gate to the
                                     Function:           This wayside will provide a picnic area                                                 tin board, parking.                                                                      Municipality of Anchorage.
                                                         and parking for people using Bird Creek                             Status:             Proposed, Chugach State Park Master                                  Facilities:         Parking area.
                                                         for fishing and recreation. It will also                                                Plan.                                                                Status:             Proposed, U.S. Forest Service.
                                                         serve as a trailhead for Bird Creek
                                                         Trail.
                                     Facilities:         Picnic area, latrine, bulletin board, and
                                                         parking lot.
                                     Status:             Existing, but must be relocated due to
                                                         Seward Highway Improvement.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           53

                                 iviodel Scenic Corridor Legislation
                                     Legislative proposal to create a state-wide scenic corridor                   a.   Prohibits, within the scenic corridor, uses of land clearly          An Act Establishing a Scenic
                                 system. The act creating a scenic corridor system proposes the                         incompatible with the preservation of scenic values.                 Environmental Corridor System
                                 following:                                                                             These uses are billboards and junk yards.                                Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
                                 I   Designates an initial scenic corridor system and provides a                                                                                             in General Assembly convened:
                                     mechanism for adding future corridors to that system.                         b.   Pen-nits the Commissioner of Environmental Protection
                                                                                                                        to review proposed commercial and industrial develop-                    Section 1. The general assembly finds that the growing
                                     A corridor is defined as the area with one-half mile of the                        men ts within the scenic corridor to ensure they will not            population, expanding economy and changing technology of
                                     right of way of such routes or between such route and a                            have a substantial adverse effect on the scenic and en-              the state have had a profound impact on the scenic, historic and
                                     ridgetop, whichever is less, The Commissioners of Trans-                           vironmental qualities of the corridor.                               environmental resources of the state which are now recognized
                                     portation and Environmental Protection are given the                                                                                                    as finite and precious. These resources include, but are not
                                     authority to designate additional routes. This authority is                        Most damage to scenic and environmental values is done               limited to, upland pastoral landscapes, upland wooded land-
                                     intended to cover additional routes that may be constructed                        by unregulated or poorly regulated commercial and in-
                                                                                                                                                                                             scapes, deep river valleys, traprock ridge zones, and pastoral
                                     as well as possible extension of the system to those routes                        dustrial establishments such as filling stations, motels,            river valleys. These scenic, historic and environmental resources,
                                     designated in the report as Locally Significant Scenic Roads.                      and restaurants. Allowing the review of proposed addi-               especially along local, state and interstate highways, have con-
                                                                                                                        tional establishments of this type will ensure that they
                                 2.  Provides a comprehensive program for the preservation of                           are sited and designed to do the least possible damage to            tributed greatly to the state's economic and spiritual develop-
                                     the scenic resources of the designated corridors.                                  scenic values. It is specifically provided that no project           ment by encouraging Connecticut residents to remain here, by
                                                                                                                        disapproval by a local planning or zoning commission                 attracting to the state permanent and part-time residents,
                                                                                                                                                                                             tourists, commerce, industry, and cultural and educational
                                     Simply calling a route scenic does not in itself protect it.                       may be approved by the Commissioner, thus retaining                  facilities. These resources have also contributed to maintaining
                                     In fact, it might actually increase development pressure                           primary authority at the local level.
                                                                                                                                                                                             and increasing the general level of property values in the com-
                                     along the route and    thereby contribute to the destruction
                                     of its scenic quality, The comprehensive preservation pro-                    c.   Requires local planning or zoning commission to de-                  munity. Therefore, the general assembly hereby declares that
                                     gram recommended seeks to balance the responsibility                               velop regulations to protect the corridors from resi-                the policy of the state of Connecticut is to conserve, preserve,
                                     of the state to take    decisive action to protect its unique                      dential developments which would have a substantial                  improve and protect its scenic and environmental resources in
                                     scenic and historical  resources against the desire to main-                       adverse effect on scenic or environmental values,                    order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people
                                     tain a strong local role in decision-making on land-use                                                                                                 of the state.
                                     issues. Toward this end the legislation                                            The Commissioner of Environmental Protection is                          Section 2. For purposes of this Act the terms listed below
                                                                                                                        directed to issue guidelines to such local commissions to            shall have the following meanings:
                                         Joint Study into the Creation, Establishment and                               guide their efforts and to review the resulting regula-
                                         Designation of a Scenic Corridor, System, Connecti-                            tions to ensure that they will effectively protect such                  (a) "scenic, historical or environmental resources" shall
                                         cut Department of Transportation and Department of                             corridors. Here again, the primary responsibility for                        mean upland pastoral landscapes, upland wooded land-
                                         Environmental Protection, January, 1972.                                       protecting the system is at the local level. Only if local                   scapes, deep river valleys, traprock ridge zones, and
                                                                                                                        regulating is ineffective will the state step in to protect                  pastoral river valleys.
                                                                                                                        the state-wide interest in preservation of the unique
                                                                                                                        values along these routes.                                               (b) "billboard" shall mean any advertising sign except
                                                                                                                                                                                                     (1) signs advertising the primary activity conducted
                                                                                                                                                                                                     on the premises on which they are located; (2) signs
                                                                                                                                                                                                     advertising the sale or lease of the property on which
                                                                                                                                                                                                     they are located,

                          54

                              (c) "junk yard" shall mean any land or building which is                        (b) The Commissioners of Transportation and Environ-                           The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may ex-
                                  used for the storage, collection, salvage, processing or                        mental Protection are hereby given the authority to                    empt certain classes of industrial or commercial establishments
                                  conversion of used or discarded material. The use of                            designate additional highways or sections of highways                  from the requirements of this section upon a finding that they
                                  land for open storage of two (2) or more motor vehicles                         as scenic highways upon a joint finding that the corridor              are unlikely to have an adverse impact on the scenic, historic
                                  no longer in safe operating condition shall be deemed a                         through which such highways pass consists of scarce                    and environmental resources of the corridor.
                                  junk yard.                                                                      scenic, historic or environmental resources that con-
                                                                                                                  tribute to the economic and social well being of the                       In no case shall a permit be issued under this section to
                              (d) "commercial or industrial establishment" shall mean                             people of Connecticut.                                                 permit a use prohibited by local law or regulation.
                                  any facility used for the production, sale or exchange
                                  of any goods or service including but not limited to                        Section 5. No person or firm shall erect or maintain any                       This shall not apply to any establishment existing at the
                                  gasoline stations, restaurants, motels, factories, quarries,            billboard or junk yard within any scenic corridor established                  effective date of this Act except in the case of substantial modi-
                                  sand and gravel pits and automotive sales lots.                         under this Act. This shall not apply to billboards or junk yards               fication of that establishment.
                                                                                                          existing at the effective date of this Act.
                              (e) "residential development" shall mean any alteration of                                                                                                     Section 7. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection
                                  the land for residential purposes including but not                         Section 6. No person or firm shall erect, modify or main-                  is hereby directed to develop and issue guidelines to munici-
                                  limited to dwelling houses, trailer parks or campsites.                 tain any commercial or industrial establishments within any                    palities requesting them to develop or amend zoning or other
                                                                                                          scenic corridor established under this Act without obtaining a                 regulations which respect to residential developments within
                              Section 3. There is hereby established a scenic and           en-           permit from the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.                      scenic corridors so that such developments will have the least
                          vironmental corridor system. Such a "scenic corridor" shall                     in deciding whether, or under what conditions, to issue a permit               feasible adverse impact on the scenic, historic and environ-
                          mean all lands and waters within one-half mile of the right of                  under this section, the Commissioner of Environmental Pro-                     mental values of the corridor. In the event a municipality does
                          way of highways designated, under Section 4, as scenic high-                    tection shall take into account the following factors:                         not establish such regulations by December 31, 1972, the Com-
                          ways or between such highways and a ridgetop, whichever is                                                                                                     missioner of Environmental Protection is hereby directed and
                          less.                                                                               (a) The impact of the establishment on the          scenic and             authorized to adopt regulations reasonably designed to preserve
                                                                                                                  environmental values of the corridor and the state;                    and protect the scenic and environmental values of the corri-
                              Section 4.                                                                                                                                                 dors from residential developments.
                                                                                                              (b) Methods of minimizing any adverse impact of the
                              (a) The following highways are hereby found to have scarce                          establishment including but not limited to setbacks,                       Section 8. Violations of the provisions of this Act or of
                                  scenic, historic and environmental values contributing                          screening and improved landscape and architectural                     regulations adopted under this Act shall be punishable by fines
                                  to the social and economic well being of the citizens of                        design;                                                                not to exceed $500 per day.
                                  the state of Connecticut and are hereby designated as
                                  scenic highways.                                                            (c) The hardship imposed on the landowner in light of                          Section 9. The Commissioner of Environmental Protec-
                                                                                                                  alternative uses which might be made of the land;                      tion may bring actions to enjoin violation of any provision of
                                                                                                                                                                                         this Act or any regulations issued under this Act.
                                                                                                              (d) The public need for the establishment in relation to
                                                                                                                  existing or potential establishments of a similar nature.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           55

                                                                                                        Bibliography

                                                                                                        Alaska Division of Parks, Department of Natural Resources.               Municipality of Anch orage- Historic Landmarks Preservation
                                                                                                        1980. Chugach State Park Master Plan.                                    Committee. 1980. Preservation and Reuse of the Potter Section
                                                                                                                                                                                 House. Anchorage.
                                                                                                        Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. 1975. Visual Impact
                                                                                                        Engineering- Visual Assessment Principles, Procedures and                Municipality of Anchorage-Planning Department. 1979.
                                                                                                        Application.                                                             Turnagain Arm -Comprehensive Plan. Anchorage.

                                                                                                        Burns, Tony. 1980. Anchorage Coastal Management Plan,                    Smith, Clyn. 1971. "Easement to Preserve Open Space Land."
                                                                                                        Management Program. Municipality of Anchorage, Planning                  Ecology Law Quarterly, Vol. 1, 728-748.
                                                                                                        Department.
                                                                                                                                                                                 State of Washington, Department of Highways. 1976. Highway
                                                                                                        Carberry, Michael E. 1979. Patterns of the Past: Anchorage's             Advertising Control-Scenic Vistas Act of 1971. Bulletin
                                                                                                        Heritage Resources. Anchorage: Historic Landmarks Preser-                M22-95 (HR).
                                                                                                        vation Committee.
                                                                                                                                                                                 U.S. Department of the Interior-Bureau of Land Management.
                                                                                                        Connecticut Department of Transportation and Department                  1975. System for Visual Resource Management. Washington,
                                                                                                        of Environmental Protection. 1972. Joint Study into the                  D.C.
                                                                                                        Creation, Establishment and Designation of a State-Wide Scenic
                                                                                                        Highway System.                                                          U.S. Department of Agriculture -Forest Service. 1974. National
                                                                                                                                                                                 Forest Landscape Management-Roads. Handbook No. 483.
                                                                                                        Jones & Jones,   et. al. 1977. Esthetics and Visual Resource             Washington, D.C.
                                                                                                        Management for   Highways. Federal Highway Administration,
                                                                                                        U.S. Department of Transportation. Seattle.                                                        1974. National Forest Landscape
                                                                                                                                                                                 Management-The Visual Management System. Handbook
                                                                                                        Jones & Jones, et. al. 1974. "Highway Reservations and Land-             No. 462.
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                                                                                                                                                                                 Williams, Norman Jr. 1968. "Legal Techniques to Protect and
                                                                                                                                                                                 Promote Aesthetics Along Transportation Corridors." Buffalo
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                                                                                                                                                                                              Kramer, Chin & Mayo, Inc.
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