A reservation of water for in-stream use is a water right that protects
specific in-stream water uses, such as fish spawning or recreation. It
sets aside the water necessary for these activities and keeps later
water users from appropriating water that may affect the in-stream
activity. This dataset includes those features that are represented by
polygons. This dataset includes additional information extracted from
the Alaska Land Administration System by the Conservation Biology
Institute. Water can be reserved for one or more permissible uses on a
particular part of a stream or lake during a certain period of time.
Under AS 46.15.145, permissible in-stream uses include:
Protection of fish and wildlife habitat, migration, and propagation
Recreation and parks
Navigation and transportation
Sanitation and water quality
A reservation of water for one use may also allow that same water to be
used or reserved for another purpose. For example, a reservation for
recreation may also benefit fish spawning. Like an out-of-stream water
right, an in-stream reservation of water is similar to a property right.
It cannot be abandoned, transferred, assigned, or converted to another
use without approval of the Department of Natural Resources. This shape
file characterizes the geographic representation of land parcels within
the State of Alaska contained by the Instream Flow Reservation category.
It has been extracted from data sets used to produce the State status
plats. This data set includes cases noted on the digital status plats up
to one day prior to data extraction. Each feature has an associated
attribute record, including a Land Administration System (LAS) file-type
and file-number which serves as an index to related LAS case-file
information. Additional LAS case-file and customer information may be
obtained at: http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/las/LASMenu.cfm Those requiring
more information regarding State land records should contact the Alaska
Department of Natural Resources Public Information Center directly.