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Lower Kasilof River Boat Launch Site Investigations Draft Report (17 Mb zipped)
Over the years, the program has helped to open boating and angler access to many Alaskan waters, both fresh and salt, and has made improvements to hundreds of existing access sites. Boating and Angler Access Program fundingLike other states, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Division of Sport Fish receives funding from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (SFR), frequently referred to as the Dingell-Johnson (D-J) Act, or the Wallop-Breaux (W-B) Amendment. This legislation has created a model "user pay/user benefit" program through federal excise taxes and import duties placed on sport fishing equipment, recreational powerboats, and gasoline used in recreational boats. The tax revenue collected by the U.S. Treasury is transferred to the U.S Department of Fish and Wildlife Service, which is the agency responsible for administering the SFR program. Funding restrictionsAccording to federal aid regulations, SFR grants can be approved only if they primarily benefit the recreational boating and sport fishing public. These funds cannot be used for projects that primarily support subsistence, personal use, or commercial fishing groups. Subsistence and personal use fisheries are restricted to Alaska residents only and are therefore not open to the public in the federal sense. In addition, the "methods and means" used in subsistence, personal use, and commercial fisheries - gillnets, set nets, and dip nets - are not allowed in sport fisheries, and are thus not subject to the excise tax that supports the Recreational Boating and Angler Access Program. Other users may use an SFR project, but such use cannot displace recreational boater and sport angler use. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is the only department in state government that is allowed to receive and use SFR funds. Funds require a 25% non-federal match, which is most often met through the sale of sport fishing licenses. To help control program costs, projects are often partnered with other state departments, as well as local governments. Two types of projects: recreational boating and angler access (non-boating)The the Wallop-Breaux (W-B) Amendment to the SFR Act requires that a minimum of 15% of SFR funds allocated to Alaska must be used for recreational power boating access projects. However, there is no such requirement on the use of SFR funds for angler access projects. Funding requests for angler access projects compete directly with other Division of Sport Fish SFR programs, such as research, management, hatchery support, information and education, and habitat restoration. Since a large portion of boating access funds comes from federal taxes on fuel and recreational power boats, project proposals that primarily benefit non-motorized boats (canoes, kayaks, and rafts) or diesel-powered boats do not qualify as recreational boating related projects. However, these proposals may be considered for SFR angler access funding.
Project identificationRecreational access needs are assessed and projects identified by the local Sport Fish Area Management Biologist (AMB) or Access Program staff. The AMB submits a list of project ideas annually to the Access Program Manager, who then reviews and researches the projects to ensure adherence to SFR regulations and Division of Sport Fish Access Program guidelines. Project ideas that meet these criteria are then prioritized based on project validity, need, and funding availability. Other Sources of Information
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Twice as big as Texas yet with fewer roads than Delaware, Alaska presents unique recreational access challenges. Even so, if you've ever fished or boated in Alaska, chances are you used a facility constructed through the Division of Sport Fish Recreational Boating and Angler Access Program.
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