Created in 1990 by Senator Bettye Fahrenkamp and Rep. Mike Davis
Patchwork of designated areas encompasses nearly 2000 acres (all state land) between the Steese Hwy to the east, Sheep Creek Rd to the West and south of Goldstream Rd
Ever expanding network of trails that can connect you from the steese hwy to minto flats
Future section of the 100 mile loop trail and a proposed connector to the Skyline trail system.
Big Eldorado Creek Trail and Tanana Valley Rail Road Trail are the two biggest
All uses are statutorily allowed in the area
Sec. 41.23.150 (c) …the commissioner shall allow uses within the Goldstream Public Use Area, including but not limited to horseback riding, hiking, mining, all terrain vehicle driving, bicycling, dog sledding, cross-country skiing, skijoring, snowmachining, camping, and other traditional public uses of fish and wildlife populations such as fishing, hunting, trapping, viewing, and photographing of moose, trumpeter swan and other waterfowl, otter, beaver, mink, muskrat, and fox.
The state passively manages the GPUA and there are no financial costs incurred by this area. Its trails are maintained by volunteers throughout the year. There is no financial
Sec. 41.23.150 (d) The Goldstream Public Use Area is open to mineral entry
Sec. 41.23.160 (c) The commissioner may not restrict fishing, hunting, or trapping rights allowed under a regulation of the Board of Fisheries or the Board of Game within the Goldstream Public Use Area.
Sec. 41.23.160 (d) The commissioner shall allow access to the Goldstream Public Use Area by motorized or nonmotorized means of transportation to private land, interests in private land, and for hunting, fishing, trapping, mining, and recreational purposes in a manner that is compatible with purposes specified in AS 41.23.140(1) - (2). Existing trails remain open to public use.
Senator Thomas will be pre-filing a bill to repeal the sunset date so we don’t have to go through this again in another 20 years. He must move the bill through both bodies of the legislature, which is always a hard task and now has the added pressure of having to do it this session before the sunset date kicks in. We are looking to build as much community support behind this effort as possible to show its importance to Fairbanks.
And some more info for your review.
http://www.snowtravelers.org/files/bill_copy_repeal.pdf - Copy of Repel Bill
http://www.snowtravelers.org/files/GPUA_map.pdf - Map of the area in question
Brief facts on the Goldsteam Public Use Area
Moderator: john