The Haines Borough has gained more than 3,000 acres in a land grant from the state.
Signed into law in late June by Gov. Sean Parnell, the bill grants 3,167 acres to the borough.
“It’s wonderful news. This is something that has been in the works for many years,” said borough manager Mark Earnest.
Earnest said work by the borough and state legislators steered it into borough ownership.
“It’s just a good deal for the borough,” said state Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, who said the land was initially headed to a land program run by the University of Alaska.
The land includes 1,358 acres in the southern Lynn Canal by the Lynn Sisters, 908 acres in Excursion Inlet, 615 acres near the Katzehin River, 321 acres in William Henry Bay and more than 600 acres on the east side of the Lynn Canal between the Katzehin River and north of Yeldaga Creek, near Mount Sinclair.
Earnest said the borough will research the holdings and develop a management plan for the acreage, but has no plans at the moment.
Assembly member Jerry Lapp said he is pleased with the acquisition and that he hopes to see a borough property land sale within the year. “We’ve been trying to get to do that,” for years.
Lapp said some of the recently acquired acres could be developed for remote recreation sites or cabins.