Recreational Angler Access Projects
Southcentral
Finger Lake State Recreation Site
Description
Finger Lake is a State Recreation Site (SRS), which is managed and maintained by State Parks. The site is located on a 47-acre parcel, approximately 6.5 miles west of the city of Palmer off Bogard Road. The site contains the Alaska State Parks Headquarters for the entire Matanuska-Susitna-Copper Basin Area. The SRS provides the only public road to the lake and offers access to sport fishing, boating and canoeing. Finger Lake has received annual stocking by the ADF&G since 1953. It is the largest stocked lake in the Matanuska-Susitna valley and continues to provide excellent, year-around, angling opportunity. However, facilities for disabled anglers and boaters were very limited at the Finger Lake SRS. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible fishing opportunities were lacking for sport anglers wishing to try their luck along the shoreline. Though rainbow trout fishing in the vicinity of the boat launch was very popular, fishing on and around the boat loading dock was discouraged due to user conflicts and safety concerns associated with heavy boating use and vehicle traffic during the busy summer months.
Location
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Purpose
The objective of F-13-D-84 was to install a floating fishing dock separated from the boat launch area and to connect the fishing dock to the parking lot and boat launch area with an accessible trail.
Outcome
The accessible trail and fishing dock has improved access to the lake for anglers with disabilities and those who do not have boats. It provides the opportunity to fish without the problem of negotiating the soft soils along the lakeshore. Since the dock extends off shore, it gives anglers who cannot wade access to deeper water. The trail and dock has provided a good alternative for those individuals wanting to fish from the boat loading dock, thus helping to reduce user conflicts and congestion in the boat launch area and improving the situation for both anglers and boaters.