Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification – POA-2026-00395 v1.0 Campbell Lake, Campbell Lake -Gates Lake Waterfront Rehabilitation & Dock Replacement
Department of Environmental Conservation · Notice #225613
What is this notice about?
Some details couldn't be confirmed in the official notice text, so they aren't shown here. Check the official notice.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has received a request to certify that a shoreline and dock project on Campbell Lake in Anchorage will meet state water quality standards. The project would rebuild 62 feet of eroding lakeshore with boulders, add a small rock boat launch, and replace an old floating dock. The public can comment or ask for a public hearing on water quality issues until November 6, 2026.
Why was this notice issued?
Under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), anyone seeking a federal permit for an activity that may discharge into waters of the United States must also get certification from DEC that the discharge will meet the CWA and Alaska Water Quality Standards (18 AAC 70). DEC received a certification request on 10/21/2026 tied to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit application for placing dredged and/or fill material into Campbell Lake.
What action is being taken?
DEC is reviewing the application and will decide whether the project will comply with water quality requirements. DEC may certify the project, certify it with conditions, deny certification, or waive certification. The project would remove loose organic muck from the bank, build a single-row retaining wall with 15–20 cubic yards of clean boulders, place 1.5 cubic yards of crushed rock for a private non-motorized boat launch, and replace a floating dock, including six steel spud piles driven through winter lake ice. Work is planned from 10/15/2026 to 05/31/2027. No compensatory mitigation is proposed; the applicant says stopping erosion and sediment loading will benefit water quality.
Who is involved: Applicant: Mary Gates, 3637 W 100th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99515, (907) 764-7351, jillgates2142@gmail.com. Agents: Arctic Terra, LLC (Mona Widger, monaw@arcticterra.com; Jason Kersten, jason.kersten@arcticterra.com), PO Box 240243, Anchorage, AK 99524, (907) 222-7599. Location: Campbell Lake, Section 14, T. 12N, R. 04W, Seward Meridian, Municipality of Anchorage (parcel 012-421-38-000; 61.130765, -149.94824).
How can the public respond?
Respond byFri, Nov 6, 2026
This deadline has passed.
“On or before the public notice expiration date: November 6, 2026”
Comments or requests for a public hearing must relate to water quality. When emailing, put the Public Notice Reference Number POA-2026-00395 v1.0 in the subject line. Project documents and drawings are available at https://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/, or request copies at dec-401cert@alaska.gov or 907-269-6285. People needing a disability accommodation should contact ADA Coordinator Kristin Mabry (kristin.mabry@alaska.gov, 1-907-334-0884; TDD Relay 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711) at least 3 days before the notice closes.
The notice does not announce any public meeting or hearing.
Key dates
Oct 21, 2026: DEC received the certification request (submission HQS-FMCH-T4MF1)
Oct 22, 2026: Public notice issued
Nov 6, 2026: Public notice expires; deadline for comments or hearing requests
Oct 15, 2026: Planned project start date
May 31, 2027: Planned project end date
Original notice text
Notice of Application for State Water Quality Certification
Public Notice (PN) Date: October 22, 2026 PN Reference Number: POA-2026-00395 v1.0
PN Expiration Date: November 6, 2026 Waterway: Campbell Lake
Any applicant for a federal license or permit to conduct an activity that might result in a discharge into waters of the United States, in accordance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), must also apply for and obtain certification from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that the discharge will comply with the CWA and the Alaska Water Quality Standards (18 AAC 70). The scope of certification is limited to the water quality-related impacts of the activity subject to the Federal license or permit (40 CFR 121.3, 18 AAC 15.180).
Notice is hereby given that a request for a CWA §401 Water Quality Certification of a Department of the Army Permit application, Corps of Engineers’ PN Reference Number indicated above, has been received[1] for the discharge of dredged and/or fill materials into waters of the United States (WOTUS), including wetlands, as described below, and shown on the project figures/drawings. The public notice and related project figures/drawings are accessible from the DEC website at https://dec.alaska.gov/water/wastewater/.
To comment on the project or request a public hearing with respect to water quality, submit comments via (preferred method) DEC website https://dec.alaska.gov/commish/public-notices/ or email to the DEC email address: DEC-401Cert@alaska.gov with the subject line referencing Public Notice Reference Number: POA-2026-00395 v1.0 or on or before the public notice expiration date listed above.
Applicant: N/A, Mary Gates, 3637 W 100th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99515, (907) 764-7351; jillgates2142@gmail.com
Agent: Arctic Terra, LLC, Mona Widger, PO Box 240243, Anchorage, AK 99524; (907) 222-7599; monaw@arcticterra.com.
Agent: Arctic Terra, LLC, Jason Kersten, PO Box 240243, Anchorage, AK 99524; (907) 222-7599; jason.kersten@arcticterra.com.
Project Name: Campbell Lake: Gates-Waterfront Rehabilitation & Dock Replacement
Dates of the proposed activity are planned to begin and end: 10/15/2026 to 05/31/2027
Location: The proposed activity is located within Section 14, T. 12N, R. 04W, Seward Meridian, in the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska. 012-421-38-000. Project Site (Latitude, Longitude): 61.130765, -149.94824.
Purpose: To stabilize an eroding vertical shore bank, eliminate active organic sludge and sediment loading into Campbell Lake, and replace an unsafe, deteriorating floating dock structure to maintain safe private recreational water access.
Description of Proposed Work: Rehabilitation of 62 linear feet of shoreline along Campbell Lake. Work includes selective bucket excavation of loose organic muck along the bank toe (hauled directly offsite), construction of a single-row retaining wall using 15–20 cubic yards of clean 2.5–3.5 ft fractured armor boulders placed against the bank drop without geotextile fabric, and placement of 1.5 cubic yards of clean angular crushed rock for a private boat launch ramp. Secondary work includes replacing an existing floating dock with a low-profile aluminum dock riding on 100% encapsulated half-depth HDPE float shells, composite decking with 1/2-inch gaps, and in-kind replacement of six (6) steel spud piles driven through winter lake ice.
Applicant Proposed Mitigation: The applicant proposes the following mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, and compensate for impacts to waters of the United States from activities involving discharges of dredged or fill material.
• Avoidance:
• Avoids open-water marine equipment and barges by scheduling all spud pile driving during Phase 2 so work occurs from frozen lake ice.
• Avoids synthetic material degradation by eliminating geotextile filter fabric from the boulder wall design.
• Avoids instream heavy-equipment operation by working exclusively from the upland bank edge.
• Minimization:
• Minimizes turbidity by deploying a full-depth floating turbidity curtain around the entire shoreline perimeter.
• Uses clean, washed 2.5–3.5 ft fractured armor boulders and 1.5 CY of clean angular crushed rock for the boat launch, containing zero fine silts or organic dirt.
• Incorporates 1/2-inch spacing gaps in dock composite decking for light penetration and uses 100% encapsulated HDPE half-depth float shells to minimize draft footprint and aquatic displacement.
• Mitigation: Compensatory mitigation is not proposed. Discharge is strictly minimized to 15–20 CY of clean armor rock and 1.5 CY of crushed rock for a non-motorized boat launch across 62 linear feet. Replacing the eroding, un-stabilized bank with clean rock materials and removing loose organic muck stops active sediment loading into Campbell Lake, providing a net benefit to water quality without loss of aquatic function.
After reviewing the application, the Department will evaluate whether the activity will comply with applicable water quality requirements (any limitation, standard, or other requirement under sections 301, 302, 306, and 307 of the CWA, any Federal and state laws or regulations implementing those sections, and any other water quality-related requirement of state law). The Department may certify (or certify with conditions) with reasonable assurance the activity and any discharge that might result will comply with water quality requirements. The Department also may deny or waive certification.
The permit application and associated documents are available for review. To inquire about or request copies of the documents, contact dec-401cert@alaska.gov or call 907-269-6285.
Disability Reasonable Accommodation Notice: The State of Alaska, Department of Environmental Conservation, complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. If you are a person with a disability who may need special accommodation in order to participate in this public process, please contact ADA Coordinator Kristin Mabry, kristin.mabry@alaska.gov, 1-907-334-0884; or TDD Relay Service 1-800-770-8973/TTY or dial 711 at least 3 days prior to the expiration/closure date of this public notice to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.
[1] Reference submission number: HQS-FMCH-T4MF1; Received: 10/21/2026 11:13:05 AM
This summary was written by an AI model (Claude) from the official notice text.
This is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm deadlines and instructions in the official notice. Legal disclaimer.