The following described area is established as the Chilkat River Critical Habitat Area:

The areas encompassed by a boundary beginning at a point identical with the north corners common to Sections 1 and 2, Township 29 South, Range 56 East, Copper River Meridian, Alaska; thence west a distance of 500 feet along the north boundary of Section 2; thence south along a line parallel to the west boundary of Section 2, Township 29 South, Range 56 East, Copper River Meridian, a distance of approximately one mile to the south boundary of Section 2; thence east a distance of approximately 500 feet to the southeast corner of Section 2; thence south along the east boundary of Section 11, Township 29 South, Range 56 West, Copper River Meridian crossing the Tsirku River, to the first point of intersection with a meander line 500 feet upland from the line of mean high water on the south bank of the Tsirku River; thence easterly along said meander line to its first point of intersection with a western boundary or the northerly extension of the western boundary of U.S. Survey 786; thence to the northwest corner of U.S. Survey 786; thence east 2,640 feet to the northeast corner of U.S. Survey 786; thence south along the east boundary to U.S. Survey 786 to its intersection with the section line common to Sections 17 and 20 of Township 29 South, Range 57 East, Copper River Meridian; thence east along said section line to its first point of intersection with a meander line running 500 feet upland from the mean high water mark on the west bank of the Chilkat River; thence meandering in a southeasterly direction along a line 500 feet upland from the mean high water mark on the southeast bank of the Chilkat River to its first point of intersection with the section line common to Sections 21 and 28 of Township 29 South, Range 57 East, Copper River Meridian; thence east along said section line to the corner common to Sections 21, 22, 27 and 28, Township 29 South, Range 57 East, Copper River Meridian; thence north along section lines to the point of intersection with the Haines Highway right-of-way; thence northwesterly along the southwest boundary of said highway right-of-way to the point of intersection with the north boundary of Section 6, Township 29 South, Range 57 East, Copper River Meridian; thence west along section lines to the point of beginning, comprising 4,800 acres, more or less.