Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Chena River Vegetation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Staff: Army Corps proposes limited vegetation clearing near Moose Creek Dam; commission declines formal comment
Summary
The Army Corps asked for input on clearing vegetation in six discrete areas of the Chena River Lakes flood-control project to allow dam inspections; staff found no mapped historic resources in the immediate areas and commissioners opted not to submit a formal comment.
City planning staff briefed the commission on an Army Corps of Engineers Section 106 consultation letter seeking input on vegetation clearing around the Chena River Lakes flood-control project outside North Pole.
Staff said the Corps determined the proposed work would have "no adverse effect" and described six discrete treatment areas where trees and brush less than 6 inches in diameter would be masticated, using tracked equipment with mulchers and other attachments to enable required dam-safety inspections. Removed material smaller than 6 inches would be chipped, with remaining wood staged in lay-down piles for public firewood use, staff said.
Staff reported they reviewed the Corps’ area of potential effect (APE) maps and found no state-mapper-listed historic resources inside the APEs, though some mapped resources are in proximity. Staff identified a nearby site known colloquially as the "Shoebox" site (a 1978 recording of former cabins and vehicle finds) as the closest noted resource, and asked commissioners whether they knew of additional local resources to raise with the Corps.
After brief discussion and a few clarifying questions, commissioners agreed no formal response was warranted; staff said they would convey an informal thank-you to the Corps for the opportunity to review.
No formal action or vote was taken on the Corps proposal during the meeting.
