Nome: Sitnasuak acquires 14 miles of Nome River under easement

Sitnasuak Native Corporation now holds 1,700 acres covering 14 miles of the Nome River under permanent conservation easement, shifting historic gold-mining parcels into Alaska Native corporate stewardship with protections for fish, wildlife, and subsistence access.

The corporation acquired the land from The Conservation Fund, according to a June 2, 2026 announcement. The Conservation Fund described the transaction as permanently protecting the 14 miles of riverfront near Nome that had been privately held under historic gold mining claims.

The easement, held by Interior Alaska Land Trust, restricts development while the riverfront parcels remain protected. The conservation easement allows Sitnasuak to manage access, permits, and land use through its Land Department. The acquisition will help protect fish and wildlife habitat, subsistence access for shareholders, and recreational use near Nome, according to the announcement.

The corporation says the acquisition supports community priorities, cultural preservation, and continued access to the river system for future generations. The Conservation Fund said the land would remain permanently conserved while Sitnasuak serves as long-term steward.

The conservation easement places permanent restrictions on development, which could limit Sitnasuak Native Corporation's future commercial or infrastructure options on these riverfront parcels compared to unrestricted fee ownership, according to background material on the transaction.