Tongass Coast Aquarium - Public and Charitable Use Conveyance Request
Upland Planning and Land Usage as Justification for Site Selections

A total of 28.61 acres is requested for a Public and Charitable Use Conveyance to KGB for the development of the Tongass Coast Aquarium. For discussion purposes, the requested site is divided up into use areas and each is located on the attached Tongass Coast Aquarium Site Use Map. Each use area is a component of the Tongass Coast Aquarium development. The following paragraphs describe the proposed usage of each upland area requested.

U1- Upland Area 1 - Aquarium Center: This is the site for the primary aquarium building and outdoor displays.

U2- Upland Area 2 - Parking: It is anticipated that additional parking beyond the bus de-boarding area located at the main Aquarium facility will be needed to accommodate local residents and independent travelers. Upland Area 1 offers relatively easy access and a gentle slope suitable for the development of the additional parking.

U3- Upland Area 3 - TCA Equipment Supply and Supply Storage: A facility for dry and frozen storage of supplies, equipment, skiffs, circular tanks, janitor supplies, gift shop inventory, lunch counter food storage, and animal food supplies will be accommodated here. TCA intends to maximize the display and visitor space in the waterfront aquarium building by removing storage space and other support components. Upland Area 7 is comparatively level site that can be screened from view with landscaping.

U4- Upland Area 4 - Animal Holding and Quarantine Facility: Aquariums require additional artificial habitat beyond those within the primary facility in order to hold animals prior to their introduction into the display. This is done to prevent the introduction of disease or behavioral problems, and to adapt the animal to the captive environment. Approximately 2000 square feet of holding capacity is needed for this project. Locating the holding facility on Upland Area 3, adjacent to the Research and Education Center will allow for continuous monitoring by the research staff.

U5- Upland Area 5 - Research and Education Center: TCA has a strong commitment to research and education. Upland Area 2 will be used for the development of a facility accommodating the research and education administrative offices and classrooms. It offers an excellent view of George Inlet, access from the proposed parking lot, and a comparatively level site for building.

U6- Upland Area 5 - Research and Education Parking: This area will be set aside for additional parking for the research and education staff and students.

U7- Upland Area 7- Whitman Creek Ravine Overlook and Freshwater Intake Infrastructure: This area is spectacularly scenic with waterfalls and steep, vegetated cliffs, and is anticipated as the finale to a rainforest interpretive trail, located on Upland Area 8, which tells the story of the mountain stream’s importance to the Southeast Alaska marine environment. It is also the source of freshwater intake for the aquarium facility.

U8- Upland Area 8 - Science Camp and Visiting Scientist Housing: This area will include a housing unit for science camp students as well as visiting scientists using the aquarium facilities to conduct research.

U9- Upland Area 9 - Forest Interpretive Trail: Following a corridor along the base of a steep grade, an interpretive trail will be developed. The trail will describe the role the steep forest terrain plays in routing rain and snow-melt run-off carrying nutrients to mountain steams of Southeast Alaska. The mountain streams ultimately empty their cargo of water and nutrients into the sea where they influence the dynamics of our marine organisms and their environment.

U10- Upland Area 10 - Freshwater Holding Tank: To meet domestic water and freshwater display demands as well as fire suppression requirements, a 40,000 gallon storage tank will be needed at this site and elevation.

U11- Upland Area 11- Mariculture Site: The aquarium will be conducting research and site development for the shellfish farming industry. The land based infrastructure for this program will be located on Area 11. The infrastructure will include a building, tanks and other facilities to further the mariculture mission of the project.

U12- Upland Area 12 - Saltwater Interface Area: The aquarium has several potential options for this area. Initially the aquarium will be using this area for its beach interruptive area: tide pools, inter-tidal nature walks, and a beach trail to Whitman Creek. Other future options include access for SCUBA dive tours and a salmon shore-fishing experience for both local residents and visitors, targeting returning spawners. TCA was given an exemption by DNR of the imposition of the 50’ public access easement along TCA’s requested tidelands because TCA argued that their project would increase public access in a more meaningful and useful way. Area 12 is where TCA will create that meaningful public access to the shoreline and tidelands.