Department of Land Management

 The Tanana River Floodplain Acquisition Project at Salcha, Alaska

We are pleased to announce the implementation of the Tanana River Floodplain Acquisition Project at Salcha, Alaska.  The Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) is working cooperatively with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the US Department of Agriculture, to implement a voluntary land acquisition project in Salcha, Alaska.  On April 14, 2005, the FNSB Assembly passed Ordinance No. 2004-20-2I authorizing the appropriation of $850,000 from the NRCS to implement this Project.  A 15-day public notice began on May 2 and will extend through May 16, 2005, followed by a 30-day application period beginning on May 17 extending through June 15, 2005. 

The mission of the Project is to reduce the future risk of flood damages to life and property and to restore the floodplain to its normal function.  By allowing landowner’s to voluntarily relocate off the floodplain we can start to achieve this mission, and by retaining the acquired property in public ownership we can prevent any future development and damages.

 How does this Project work?

The Borough and the NRCS have entered into a cooperative agreement, which defines our working relationship and how the program will be implemented.  The federal funds granted to the FNSB from the NRCS will be used to offer landowners fair market value for their homes and property.  An application packet including the Application to Voluntarily Sell Floodplain Property has been sent to all interested property owners within the acquisition area (map) and once submitted will serve as an intent to participate in the Project.  The application does not commit the property owner in any way to future action.  All interested property owners are encouraged to apply.  The application period will end on June 15, 2005.  All applications postmarked by June 15 will be ranked; applications postmarked after that date will be accepted, kept on file and ranked if additional funding becomes available. 

Soon after the end of the application period, the properties will be ranked for priority status based on the established ranking criteria.  All of the properties will be ranked according to the general ranking criteria.  An appointment will then be made, at the property owners convenience, for an on the ground inspection and interview.  The information gathered will be used to further prioritize the properties based on the secondary ranking criteria.   

All applicants will be notified of the priority ranking of their property when the ranking is completed.  The highest priority properties will be processed for acquisition first.  The number of properties to be acquired will be based on the amount of available funding.  Future properties will be processed as further funding becomes available. Future funding for this project will be based on a showing of need.  The more applications we receive, the greater the need, therefore, the higher the potential for future funding.  If you have any interest at all in this project, we encourage you to complete the application and participate in the program. 

Working from the top of the ranked list of properties, an appraisal will be completed, performed by a State-certified, independent Appraiser.  Followed by an offer based on fair market value.  The terms of the acquisition will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis with property owners.  A title company will be used to coordinate the necessary paperwork for each acquisition.  At closing all financial obligations of record will be satisfied and title conveyed to the FNSB free and clear of any liens or encumbrances.  Once the owner has conveyed the property to the FNSB, the FNSB will convey an easement to the NRCS.   The purpose of this easement is to convey sufficient land ownership interests to NRCS to allow the NRCS to restore, protect, manage, maintain and enhance the functional values of the floodplain The FNSB will retain certain ownership rights, which are:

1.     Quiet enjoyment, including the right to grant public access to the easement area that is compatible with floodplain protection;

2.     Vegetative Management;

3.     Floodplain Management;

4.     The right to grant an easement to any federal or state entity to construct, operate and maintain a railroad line within the floodplain easement area;

5.     The right to grant public utility easements and/or dedicating public rights of way required for the maintenance, upgrade and/or realignment of existing road and utilities, including the Richardson Highway and;

6.     The right to grant temporary uses such as agricultural practices or timber harvest as long as those uses do not include the erection of any permanent structures and are consistent with the protection of the floodplain

The final step after title is conveyed will be to remove all improvements and the property allowed to return to its natural state. 

Filling out and returning an application does not obligate the property owner in any way to a course of action.  This project is completely voluntary and the property owners may back out at any time.  If a property owner chooses not to submit an application, their address will be removed from the project mailing list and they will receive no further communication regarding this project.   

If you have questions, concerns or problems about the application, ranking process, ranking criteria, or the project in general, please contact Rod Everett of the NRCS at (907) 479-2657 ext.113.   

Public Meetings have been scheduled for May 9^th, 11^th, and 13^th, 2005 from 7pm to 9pm at the Salcha Senior Center to answer questions about the project, offer assistance with applications, explain the ranking criteria, and what happens next.  Both the NRCS and FNSB staff will be present.  These meetings will be conducted on an informal “walk in” basis and should be very informative.  You are encouraged to drop by, at your convenience, with any questions you may have.