Plan Overview

The MSB designed this plan as an inventory, for the purpose of classifying parcels as "material lands" and to update its material resource inventory.

Nominated parcels had to meet three criteria:

• be within one mile of an access corridor (road, rail, or water);
• contain commercial quantities of sand and gravel; and
• be economically feasible to develop.

The Borough's core area west of Palmer was excluded from the study area.

After nomination, each parcel was researched to meet the Borough's classification process, including a preliminary best interest finding. Only existing information was specified for use on the project, including maps, records, and tables; no field work such as drilling or excavation was planned.

TCA developed the GIS base, with approximately 580 initial parcels (2003), using existing information (maps, aerial photographs, plats), and conducted limited field verification of all parcels that were accessible by road or trails.

All parcels are considered to have high potential for sand and gravel materials, but final development should be based on actual test drilling, core sampling, and confirmation of gravel presence.

Plan Justification

In the spring of 2004, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to prepare a sand and gravel asset management plan.

Northern Econom ics, Inc. teamed with Tom Crafford & Associates (TCA) to provide both geological and economic services related to the resource. The team's proposal was successful, and a notice to proceed was issued in July.

This draft report, coupled with the Geographical Information System (GIS) files on a compact disk (CD), presents project results. This gravel asset management plan identifies parcels that contain commercial quantities of sand and gravel and that are socially and economically feasible to develop.

This is the first phase of the project; MSB staff will issue notices to community councils and other adjacent landowners. Responses will be incorporated into the final project report.