The Jonesville Public Use Area (JPUA), located in Sutton near milepost 61 of the Glenn Highway, is a popular outdoor recreation area for both residents and visitors. The area is being negatively affected by overuse, misuse, and general lack of planning. Additionally, the lack of any developed recreation amenities such as a campground, restrooms, shooting range, and trash receptacles is creating a public health hazard due to the amount of human waste, trash, and random shooting.

In October 2018, Community Development Department Staff began supporting a Sutton Community Council subcommittee (Jonesville Public Use Area Management Plan Committee) with drafting a management plan for the Jonesville Public Use Area.

The management plan was drafted following the general outline and state planning processes used for the State Knik River Public Use Area Management Plan. This was in accordance with guidance provided by Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff. The Jonesville Public Use Area is a State Legislatively Designated Area that encompasses 14,574 acres of state-owned land and 40-acres of borough-owned land. The DNR has indicated they do not have sufficient staff or funding to draft a management plan for the JPUA at this time. The intent is for the Borough Assembly to adopt the plan under MSB 15.24.030(B). Once the Assembly adopts the plan, Alaska Statute 38.04.065(d) allows for the DNR Commissioner to adopt the plan.

After an extensive public process including numerous Committee meetings, multiple scoping meetings, and public review and comment period, in fall of 2020 the draft JPUA Management Plan was completed.  The Plan was presented before the MSB Parks, Recreation and Trails Advisory Board and the MSB Planning Commission.  Resolutions of support were received from both PRTAB and the Planning Commission.  In January 2021, an Ordinance was brought before the MSB Assembly seeking adoption of the plan.  The Assembly chose to postpone the Ordinance to allow for additional public dialogue.

In response to the feedback received at the Assembly meeting, the Jonesville Public Use Area Management Committee chose to revisit and revise the Plan. Since February, the committee has held nearly 30 public meetings to allow for additional public dialogue and to make changes and edits to the Plan.  Numerous comments and suggestions have been submitted by members of the public. Each comment and suggestion has been thoroughly reviewed by the Committee. Where applicable, the public comments and suggestions were incorporated into the document. While the overall intent of the Plan has remained the same throughout the process, the Plan has essentially undergone a rewrite.

Revisions and edits to the Plan have been completed and a new draft has been compiled. Ultimately, the updated Plan will be presented to the Assembly, but before going back to the Assembly, will be presented to the Sutton Community Council, the Parks, Recreation, and Trails Advisory Board, and the Planning Commission. There will be opportunities for additional public discussion at all of these meeting. Below is a tentative schedule for when the Plan will be presented.

• Parks, Recreation & Trails Advisory Board
  • October 25, 2021
  • November 22, 2021

• Sutton Community Council
  • October 27, 2021
  • November 24, 2021

• Planning Commission
  • Introduction on November 15, 2021
  • Public Hearing on December 6, 2021
    
    
• MSB Assembly
  • Introduction on December 7, 2021
  • Public Hearing on December 21, 2021

For additional information or if you would like to comment on the Plan, you may contact Joe Metzger, Land Management Specialist, by phone 907-861-7863 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..