AK SCR9

Creates the Taku River Task Force as a joint legislative task force composed of eight members including the Senate District B senator, representatives from House Districts 3 and 4, the fish and game commissioner or designee, and four public members representing recreational property owners, commercial fishermen, transportation businesses, and non-consumptive users.

Task force duties include reviewing biological data on Taku River fish and game resources, monitoring industrial vessel traffic in cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies, determining how to protect Taku River resources while allowing recreational uses, and recommending public policy options.

Taku River fisheries generate over 400 jobs and more than $25,000,000 in annual economic activity from commercial and recreational fishing and related activities.

Task force meetings are open to the public and must submit findings to the legislature by December 1, 2011, with the task force terminating on January 31, 2012.

Addresses concerns that industrial transportation systems on the Taku River could damage river habitats, degrade water quality, and disrupt ice cover that are critical to salmon spawning and rearing.