City and Borough of Sitka
Coastal Management Plan Update

Project Title: Coastal Management Plan Update
Client: City and Borough of Sitka
Project Manager: Gabrielle LaRoche, LaRoche+Associates
Goal: Strive to retain a local voice in state and federal permitting decisions that affect coastal resources.
Objective: Amend the coastal management plan to conform to new state mandates.

Background. The United States Congress passed the Coastal Zone Management Act in 1972 and offered financial and jurisdictional incentives for states to participate. Five years later, the Alaska State Legislature passed the Alaska Coastal Management Act. Alaska won federal approval of the Alaska Coastal Management Program in 1979. The City and Borough of Sitka Coastal Management Plan was approved in 1989. The Public Use Management Plan was added to the tools for local control in 1997.

In 2003, the Alaska Legislature changed the rules. Now, the Alaska Coastal Management Program requires significant changes in plans like the City and Borough of Sitka Coastal Management and AMSA plans. Sitka must revise its plans by March 2006, or they will lose all effect in the management of coastal resources. LaRoche + Associates will assist Sitka in updating these plans to comply with State mandates.