KMTA Management Plan & Legislation
The resources below outline the framework for carrying out our congressionally mandated work and the legislation that has shaped the Kenai Mountains–Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area.
What is a Management Plan?
National Heritage Areas are typically required to develop a management plan within three years of designation. The plan identifies the region’s significant resources and themes, sets short- to long-term goals, and outlines strategies for carrying out the Heritage Area’s work. It guides the work of the organization responsible for managing the Heritage Area and can evolve as needs, partnerships, and opportunities change. The National Park Service provides assistance as plans are developed to meet federal requirements.
About the KMTA Management Plan
Developed with community input, the KMTA Management Plan provides a framework for how we support partnerships, education, interpretation, recreation, and stewardship across the Heritage Area. It explores the historical themes that make this region distinct and inventories many cultural and natural resources within the Heritage Area. While it provides a foundation for our work, we continue to respond to what our communities need today
Legislative Memo
Outlines the legislative designation process on how our area became a National Heritage Area by the United States Department of the Interior.
Our legislative history memo traces the proposals and actions that led to KMTA’s designation as a National Heritage Area. It offers a closer look at how local efforts moved through the federal legislative process.
The National Heritage Area Act
Signed into law in 2023, the National Heritage Area Act established a consistent framework for National Heritage Areas across the country. It reauthorized KMTA and other existing Heritage Areas for another 15 years and designated seven new National Heritage Areas. This reauthorization helps provide a longer-term foundation for our programs, planning, and partnerships.
