Performance Details
Department of Natural Resources - Mining, Land & Water
Mission
Provide for the appropriate use and management of Alaska's state owned land and water, aiming toward maximum use consistent with the public interest.
Core Services
- Acquire land for the citizens of the State of Alaska.
- Defend and assert state ownership interests.
- Defend access to state land and water.
- Create plans to direct management of state land and water.
- Sell and transfer land into private and municipal ownership.
- Sell and transfer land into private and municipal ownership.
- Issue short and long term authorizations for use of state land and water.
- Provide regulatory oversight for water use, dam safety, unorganized borough platting review, and mine reclamation for entire state.
- Collect revenues from the use and disposal of state land and water.
- Issue short and long term authorizations for use of state land and water.
- Provide regulatory oversight for water use, dam safety, unorganized borough platting review, and mine reclamation for entire state.
- Collect revenues from the use and disposal of state land and water.
- Provide active stewardship of state land and water.
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Performance Detail
| A: Result -Acquire state land entitlement, defend and plan for use of state land. |
| A1: Core Service - Acquire land for the citizens of the State of Alaska. |
Target #1: Acquire land or land interests for conservation, development, or agency needs through land exchanges, direct or indirect purchases, donations, escheatment, and foreclosures.
Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
| A2: Core Service - Defend and assert state ownership interests. |
Target #1: Provide title reports as requested for parcels of state land proposed for land sales, land lease, timber sales, Native Allotments reconveyances, and other development activities.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| A3: Core Service - Defend access to state land and water. |
Target #1: Protect public access by reserving public easements and championing state ownership of navigable waters and submerged lands using administrative remedies, litigation, and asserting the Public Trust Doctrine.
We are also reviewed for potential emerged islands and protecting state ownership interests in navigable waterways. Much of the remaining ANCSA entitlement land is of high interest to Alaskans because it is near or accessed via the road system and affects access to state resources. Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| A4: Core Service - Create plans to direct management of state land and water. |
Target #1: Develop land management plans and classify lands for settlement to support future municipal entitlements and land sales, or in other categories to support other forms of development including agriculture, forestry, and mineral development.
Most land is classified through completion of an area plan while a smaller percentage is classified outside a major planning effort. The classification or reclassification of state lands that results from the adoption of plans varies significantly each year due to the length of time it takes to prepare land use plans, complexity of the issues raised and the public process. There are also often substantial differences in area plans between the acres classified for settlement or other disposal categories depending on the nature and resources of an area. Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| B: Result -An adequate amount of state land is transferred into private ownership and to municipalities for settlement, recreation, development and other uses. Target #1: Sell 200 parcels of land per year. |
Target #1: Sell 200 parcels of land per year.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| B1: Core Service - Sell and transfer land into private and municipal ownership. |
Target #1: Provide Alaskans local governance and use of state land by transferring state land to municipalities under the Municipal Entitlement Act.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #2: Offer 200 parcels of land at auction.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #3: Maintain an inventory of land available over-the-counter.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| C: Result -An adequate amount of state land is transferred into private ownership and to municipalities for settlement, recreation, development and other uses. Target #1: Sell 200 parcels of land per year. |
Target #1: Sell 200 parcels of land per year.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| C1: Core Service - Sell and transfer land into private and municipal ownership. |
Target #1: Provide Alaskans local governance and use of state land by transferring state land to municipalities under the Municipal Entitlement Act.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #2: Offer 200 parcels of land at auction.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #3: Maintain an inventory of land available over-the-counter.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| D: Result -Businesses, individuals, and other entities obtain authorizations necessary for the environmentally sound use and development of state land and resources. |
Target #1: Eliminate backlogged land use applications.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| D1: Core Service - Issue short and long term authorizations for use of state land and water. |
Target #1: Process a minimum of 80% of land use applications received.
Not included in the above numbers are Interagency Land Management Assignments, Cooperative Resource Management Agreements, and trespass cases. DMLW supports other state agencies through the issuance of Interagency Land Management Assignments, and issues Cooperative Resource Management Agreements with municipalities or other entities. These actions require time and attention as well as adjudicatory work. Each new authorization issued creates a new workload of contract administration, assignments, amendments, name changes, sub-lease agreements, billing, monitoring, compliance and close out, all of which is not reflected in these numbers. DMLW expects there to be more applications in future years as the state strives to bring in additional entitlement acres with high development potential each year, as federally approved infrastructure initiatives generate new projects, and DMLW moves to improve tracking and resolution of previously unauthorized uses which could be legitimately permitted. DMLW"s stewardship responsibilities that do not involve issuing an authorization are constant. The substantial amount of time staff spends on these issues takes them away from their duties to process authorizations. FY2025 Received Issued Leases 169 194 Material Sale 51 46 Permits 422 433 Easements 39 52 Target Last Modified: 10/11/2025 |
Target #2: Process a minimum of 90% of new water use applications received.
Of the 463 total water authorizations issued in FY2025, DMLW issued 195 water appropriations and 268 temporary water use authorizations. A water appropriation backlog reduction project was begun in FY2022, greatly increasing the rate of authorizations issued. Progress against the appropriation backlog is expected to continue, though at a reduced pace as the remaining casefiles are more complex. Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| D2: Core Service - Provide regulatory oversight for water use, dam safety, unorganized borough platting review, and mine reclamation for entire state. |
Target #1: Maintain current periodic safety inspections on 60% of jurisdictional dams.
The Alaska dam safety regulations require the dam owner to hire a qualified engineer to conduct this inspection and submit a report to the state. In addition, the regulations require the State Dam Safety Engineer to review and approve the inspection reports for these dams. Because the inspection may occur in one fiscal year, and the report may not be submitted, reviewed and approved until the following fiscal year, the measure is based on the date of the visual inspection of the dam by the qualified engineer. All jurisdictional dams are required to have a periodic safety inspection, but not all dams are inspected each year. The inspection interval is dependent on the hazard potential classification of the dam. Class I (high) and Class II (significant) hazard potential dams are typically inspected every three years. Class III (low) hazard potential dams are to be inspected every five years. This creates an inconsistent number of dams due for an inspection each year. The percent of dams in compliance with periodic safety inspection requirements is a general measure of the cooperation of dam owners with the Alaska Dam Safety Program. The Dam Safety and Construction Unit promotes cooperation with the Alaska Dam Safety Program, while balancing enforcement of the dam safety regulations based on the apparent risk from a specific dam. Compliance in any given year is contingent on several factors including the dam owner"s incentive, budget and schedule, as well as weather, project understanding and staff workload. The current goal is to maintain at least 60% compliance with periodic safety inspection requirements, and to ensure that no dams fail by identifying high risk factors for mitigation through the periodic safety inspection process. Dam Safety Staff continues to review and conduct inspections for dams as necessary to help facilitate safe operation of dams. Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #2: Post 100% of new well data received on the WELTS data base web site.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #3: Conduct site inspections on all large mine projects.
Active large mines include Red Dog, Pogo, Fort Knox, Greens Creek, Kensington, Manh Choh, Two Bull Ridge, and Jumbo Dome Mine. During FY2025, work continued to advance exploration projects including Donlin, Palmer, Graphite One, Arctic/Bornite, Flatlands/Terra Energy, Healy Valley and Hoseanna-Emma Creek. Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Target #4: Review plats for unorganized boroughs within the 45 day maximum review time limit per AS 40.15.305(d).
The shortest time for a first review was 20 days, the longest was 42, with an average review time of 30 days for new submittals. For intermediate plat reviews, the shortest time was 4 days, longest was 39, with an average review time of 29 days. No plat exceeded the 45 day limit for maximum review time as described in AS 40.15.305(d). Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
| D3: Core Service - Collect revenues from the use and disposal of state land and water. |
Target #1: Generate $15 million in revenue from fees and sales.
*The reporting methodology has been updated effective from FY2018 onward to reflect all revenues generated by the division, excluding federal grants, inter-agency receipts, bonds, and statutory designated program receipts.* Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| E: Result -Businesses, individuals, and other entities obtain authorizations necessary for the environmentally sound use and development of state land and resources. |
Target #1: Eliminate backlogged land use applications.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| E1: Core Service - Issue short and long term authorizations for use of state land and water. |
Target #1: Process a minimum of 80% of land use applications received.
Not included in the above numbers are Interagency Land Management Assignments, Cooperative Resource Management Agreements, and trespass cases. DMLW supports other state agencies through the issuance of Interagency Land Management Assignments, and issues Cooperative Resource Management Agreements with municipalities or other entities. These actions require time and attention as well as adjudicatory work. Each new authorization issued creates a new workload of contract administration, assignments, amendments, name changes, sub-lease agreements, billing, monitoring, compliance and close out, all of which is not reflected in these numbers. DMLW expects there to be more applications in future years as the state strives to bring in additional entitlement acres with high development potential each year, as federally approved infrastructure initiatives generate new projects, and DMLW moves to improve tracking and resolution of previously unauthorized uses which could be legitimately permitted. DMLW"s stewardship responsibilities that do not involve issuing an authorization are constant. The substantial amount of time staff spends on these issues takes them away from their duties to process authorizations. FY2024 Received Issued Leases 143 110 Material Sale 50 41 Permits 450 423 Easements 30 43 Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
Target #2: Process a minimum of 90% of new water use applications received.
Of the 519 total water authorizations issued in FY2024, DMLW issued 262 water appropriations and 257 temporary water use authorizations. Applications for temporary water use applications were up considerably from 231 applications in FY2023 to 331 applications in FY2024. Whereas, applications for water appropriations was 174 for FY2024 as compared to 141 in FY2023. A water appropriation backlog reduction project was begun in FY2022, greatly increasing the rate of authorizations issued. Progress against the appropriation backlog is expected to continue, though at a reduced pace as the remaining casefiles are more complex. Target Last Modified: 02/10/2025 |
| E2: Core Service - Provide regulatory oversight for water use, dam safety, unorganized borough platting review, and mine reclamation for entire state. |
Target #1: Maintain current periodic safety inspections on 60% of jurisdictional dams.
The Alaska dam safety regulations require the dam owner to hire a qualified engineer to conduct this inspection and submit a report to the state. In addition, the regulations require the State Dam Safety Engineer to review and approve the inspection reports for these dams. Because the inspection may occur in one fiscal year, and the report may not be submitted, reviewed and approved until the following fiscal year, the measure is based on the date of the visual inspection of the dam by the qualified engineer. All jurisdictional dams are required to have a periodic safety inspection, but not all dams are inspected each year. The inspection interval is dependent on the hazard potential classification of the dam. Class I (high) and Class II (significant) hazard potential dams are typically inspected every three years. Class III (low) hazard potential dams are to be inspected every five years. This creates an inconsistent number of dams due for an inspection each year. The percent of dams in compliance with periodic safety inspection requirements is a general measure of the cooperation of dam owners with the Alaska Dam Safety Program. The Dam Safety and Construction Unit promotes cooperation with the Alaska Dam Safety Program, while balancing enforcement of the dam safety regulations based on the apparent risk from a specific dam. Compliance in any given year is contingent on several factors including the dam owner"s incentive, budget and schedule, as well as weather, project understanding and staff workload. The current goal is to maintain at least 60% compliance with periodic safety inspection requirements, and to ensure that no dams fail by identifying high risk factors for mitigation through the periodic safety inspection process. Dam Safety Staff continues to review and conduct inspections for dams as necessary to help facilitate safe operation of dams. Target Last Modified: 10/11/2025 |
Target #2: Post 100% of new well data received on the WELTS data base web site.
Target Last Modified: 10/11/2025 |
Target #3: Conduct site inspections on all large mine projects.
Active large mines include Red Dog, Pogo, Fort Knox, Greens Creek, Kensington, Manh Choh, and Jumbo Dome Mine. During FY2025, work continued to advance exploration projects including Donlin, Palmer, Graphite One, Arctic/Bornite, Flatlands/Terra Energy, Healy Valley and Hoseanna-Emma Creek. Inspections of placer mines and smaller exploration projects were not included in this reporting. Target Last Modified: 10/11/2025 |
Target #4: Review plats for unorganized boroughs within the 45 day maximum review time limit per AS 40.15.305(d).
The shortest time for a first review was 6 days, the longest was 43, with an average review time of 33 days for new submittals. For intermediate plat reviews, the shortest time was 5 days, longest was 35, with an average review time of 27 days. No plat exceeded the 45 day limit for maximum review time as described in AS 40.15.305(d). Target Last Modified: 10/11/2025 |
| E3: Core Service - Collect revenues from the use and disposal of state land and water. |
Target #1: Generate $15 million in revenue from fees and sales.
*The reporting methodology has been updated effective from FY2018 onward to reflect all revenues generated by the division, excluding federal grants, inter-agency receipts, bonds, and statutory designated program receipts.* Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| F: Result -All state land is unencumbered by unauthorized use, contamination, or waste that makes it unavailable for other public use and development. |
Target #1: Reduce by 5% the total number of identified sites that are encumbered by hazardous waste, contamination, unauthorized use, and other material or appurtenances.
Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
| F1: Core Service - Provide active stewardship of state land and water. |
Target #1: 100% of required mineral reclamation for coal projects is accomplished without significant environmental problems.
Notice of Violation: 0 Issued, 0 Abated, 0 Outstanding Directive: 0 Issued, 0 Terminated, 0 Outstanding The coal program staff closely monitors coal reclamation projects to ensure they meet strict stipulations and standards designed to protect the environment. DMLW inspects coal mining operations and can perform various levels of compliance actions. In severity from least severe to most, a Directive is a warning that tells the company how to fix the problem but allows operations to continue; a Notice of Violation is a monetary fine given when a company fails to meet the directive or there is immediate harm to the environment or public safety; and a Cessation Order stops operations and assesses a daily fine until the issue is resolved. DMLW has taken actions to mitigate or stop potential environmental damage in a way to least impact the commercial ventures. For FY2025, 73 inspections, 0 issues, 0 abated, 0 outstanding. We have had another pretty good year for compliance. Some minor Issues were resolved before enforcement action was taken and needed to be tracked. Target Last Modified: 10/10/2025 |
Last refreshed: 03/13/2026 05:00 pm