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PRESS RELEASE:  Forest Service to repeal roadless areas protections on the Tongass National Forest

10/28/2020

 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Contact: Austin Williams, Trout Unlimited, (907) 227-1590 or awilliams@tu.org  

Forest Service to repeal roadless areas protections on the Tongass National Forest  

JUNEAU, AK — An announcement expected tomorrow by the U.S. Forest Service says the agency will repeal the Roadless Rule on the Tongass National Forest, opening previously-protected lands containing rare, old-growth trees to industrial clear-cut logging and construction of expensive and highly-subsidized logging roads. Removing the Roadless Rule from the Tongass is the most extreme of six alternatives considered by the Forest Service. 
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The move comes despite overwhelming public comment in support of the rule (see page 2) and its long-standing protections for fish and wildlife on more than 9 million acres of the Tongass.  
 
“Make no mistake, this decision is all about opening up old-growth forest to clear-cut logging in an effort to prop up an outdated and highly-subsidized logging industry,” said Austin Williams, Alaska Director of Law and Policy for Trout Unlimited. “Renewable energy, community infrastructure, mining, and transportation projects would have proceeded under any of the six alternatives considered. This decision only makes sense if your primary goal is to clear cut more old-growth forest.”  
 
The Forest Service reports every single project proposed in a roadless area in Alaska had been granted an exemption and allowed to move forward, typically within a matter of weeks. These projects include mining projects, energy and utility projects, transportation roads, and community infrastructure development. (see page 6).  


In public meetings on the proposed repeal last fall, southeast Alaskans overwhelmingly testified in opposition to the repeal. Nearly all the testimony reiterated the importance of the rule’s benefits to local fisheries and related jobs.  

“Communities, fish, wildlife, tourism, subsistence, and recreation have thrived in the Tongass with the Roadless Rule in place, and it’s a disgrace to see logging special interests win out over the wishes of Alaskans and the long-term health of the region,” said Williams. “Fish, wildlife, and recreation are the future for southeast, not some half-baked plan to give away and cut down the best remaining stands of old-growth forest.”  
  
The Tongass produces more salmon than all other national forests combined, and supports fishing and tourism industries that account for more than 26 percent of local jobs in the region. Science shows clear-cut logging pollutes streams, and harms salmon and deer populations. More than 30% of all instances where Tongass roads cross fish streams (1,120 crossings in total) fail to meet state or federal standards for fish migration, impeding salmon and trout from nearly 250 miles of important spawning and rearing habitat. 

The record of decision will be noticed in the federal register Thursday.


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 Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization. In Alaska, we work with sportsmen and women to ensure the state’s trout and salmon resources remain healthy far into the future through our local chapters and offices in Anchorage and Juneau. Learn more about our work to conserve key areas of the Tongass National Forest at www.americansalmonforest.org 

Repealing the Roadless Rule Makes no Sense

10/26/2020

 
by Austin Williams, Trout Unlimited Alaska's Director of Law and Policy
As early as this week, the U.S. Forest Service will announce it is exempting the Tongass National Forest from the Roadless Rule, and in the process removing protections for more than 9 million acres of the nation’s top salmon-producing forest.  This will be the latest effort by politicians catering to a failing old-growth logging industry that refuses to adapt to the changing global economy, fails to recognize the Tongass is much more valuable for its wild salmon than as a source of timber for foreign markets, and that persists only because of massive government subsidy.
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With any luck, this short-sighted decision won’t be on the books for long.
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​My introduction to the Tongass was as a Forest Service employee on Prince of Wales Island—where industrial logging’s heyday was its most intense and most severe.  I’ve slogged through more than my fair share of clear cuts—where logging stretched onto such steep slopes it caused landslides that caved into and smothered salmon spawning streams, where roads were constructed and maintained so haphazardly they diverted entire streams out of their natural channel, and where once-cut landscapes grew back with stunted trees so dense the forest was entirely uninhabitable for wildlife like deer.  One memorable logging road I surveyed was so derelict it failed to have a single functioning culvert despite crossing numerous salmon streams.  
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These examples are not extraordinary or a thing of the past.  As of March of this year, more than 1,100 bridges and culverts across fish streams on the Tongass failed to meet state or federal standards for fish migration.  These failed bridges and culverts impede fish access to nearly 250 miles of salmon and trout streams. 
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Yet, despite the spiderweb of tangled roads crisscrossing the landscape, causing erosion and sedimentation that clogs salmon streams, blocking fish migration, and costing taxpayers many millions annually to construct and maintain, this upcoming decision sets the stage to prolong and extend the mess into some of the few remaining unspoiled landscapes in southeast Alaska.
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Take Action
More than 96% of public comments on this proposed decision favored keeping the roadless rule in place.  See Page 2.  In some Alaska communities, every single comment submitted to the Forest Service wanted roadless areas protected.  Tribes, small business owners, hunters and anglers, subsistence users, scientists, and people from all walks of life spoke up in favor of fish, wildlife, beautiful scenery, and for putting an end to unsustainable clear-cut logging of our best remaining old-growth forest. 
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Recognizing how unpopular clear-cut logging of old-growth forest has become, some individuals have taken to claiming this decision isn’t about logging at all.  Don’t buy what they’re selling.  
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Great American Outdoors Act

10/22/2020

 
The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) passed in August, and we can’t be more excited about what that means for the public use areas we use and love in the Tongass National Forest! The Great American Outdoors Act permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation fund, meaning improving recreation areas, creating more jobs, and increasing protections for fish and wildlife areas. With more time spent cooped up indoors, and desperate for fresh air after endless Zoom meetings, there could be no better time to celebrate the projects that are coming our way!  ​
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Atop the list of exciting projects in store for Alaska are trail, cabin and campground projects. These recreation infrastructure projects are all desperately needed on the Tongass. A sample of what’s included for National Forests in Alaska include: Yakutat Cabin Maintenance, Juneau Ranger District Strike Team, Pack Creek Trail Reconstruction and Thayer Lake Shelter Repairs, and the El Cap Recreation Area improvements.  

For Southeast Alaskans, marine access and transportation for guiding, fishing, hunting, subsistence, and getting to and from other communities is essential. GAOA funding will be used to address deferred maintenance issues on multiple docks and marine facilities, gangways, pads and piers throughout the Southeast Alaska region.  
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As you know, an alarmingly large number of the culverts and bridges on the Tongass fail to meet applicable standards for fish passage. More than 30% of all instances where forest roads cross fish streams on the Tongass—1,120 instances in total--fail to meet applicable standards for fish migration and disturb fish access to nearly 250 miles of salmon and trout streams! Poorly maintained or degraded forest roads make travel difficult or dangerous, increase erosion and degrade nearby streams, block fish passage and migration, and are expensive to maintain.  This is one of the main reasons we are excited about road improvements being added to the priority with new GAOA funding.  

It’s no surprise that outdoor recreation and recreation access is on the rise and continues to be one of the most important public services provided by the Forest Service. We are excited about the variety of maintenance and infrastructure projects that are planned for the Tongass.    

New Film: ANADROMOUS WATERS premiers October 22!

10/19/2020

 
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We're excited to tell you about an amazing new project we have been working on!
This Thursday, we will launch a short-film telling the story of ongoing work to find undocumented - thus unprotected - wild steelhead in the Tongass National Forest. ANADROMOUS WATERS, will be released as part of Trout Unlimited's "Science Week," and we have plenty of online events leading up to it. 

History of the Project:

In Southeast Alaska, there are over 5,000 anadromous watersheds. Of that, only 325 are recognized as supporting annual runs of steelhead. The “officially recognized” part is key, as this means inclusion in the ADF&G Anadromous Waters Catalog (AWC).

​If a species isn’t included in the AWC for a particular water body, there are no protections afforded that species, and therein lies the issue: to conserve steelhead and their habitat in a water body not listed as supporting them in the AWC, proof of their existence needed to be carefully and accurately documented.
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Trout Unlimited has worked to increase the number of officially recognized anadromous streams by using community science – going to select Tongass 77 watersheds and surveying the area for steelhead.

Join us next week as we share this amazing story of discovery and what comes next.

Follow us on Instagram for daily event updates: America's Salmon Forest.
  • INSTAGRAM LIVE with @TroutUnlimited and @AmericanSalmonForest on Thursday at 2 pm AKST
    • If you've never watched an Instagram live event before, we are hosting the events in partnership with the Trout Unlimited page. Navigate to the @troutunlimited account using the search magnifying glass icon. At the top left of the profile, click the circle image with the logo. It will prompt you to select, "View Story" or "Watch Live Video" The "live" conversation will remain posted for 24 hours if you miss it. But if you join during the conversation, you can participate by asking questions or leaving comments in the box at the bottom of your screen.
  • FILM PREMIERE on Thursday at 3 p.m. AKST on our YouTube channel as we release our new film, ANADROMOUS WATERS, by Josh Duplechian from Trout Unlimited.
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10 Reasons Why the Roadless Rule Should Stay in Place

10/16/2020

 
​Clear cut logging the Tongass’ old-growth trees affects fish, wildlife and the landscape on many levels, and that is why the Roadless Rule should stay in place on the Tongass. 
Take Action to Keep the Roadless Rule

Here are 10 reasons why: 

1. Recreation. 

​Outdoor recreation opportunities are endless in the Tongass. Areas within the Tongass National Forest are public lands, and they can be enjoyed by everyone. The forest provides high quality hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, camping, skiing, the list goes on…

2. Salmon, Trout and Steelhead. 

Fish need trees. Salmon, trout and steelhead depend on the clean fresh water flowing through river systems. With more roads comes more sediment in watersheds, and with less trees, comes less shade and habitat for rearing. 

3. Road Building is Expensive.

With backlogs of roads that already demand repair and maintenance, the industry cannot keep up with the demand of additional new road maintenance. Creating new roads while we cannot pay to fix existing ones does not make sense. 

4. Economics. 

​The fishing and tourism industries contribute more than $2 billion annually to Southeast Alaska’s economy. The timber industry is unsustainable and heavily subsidized, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade. Industrial logging accounts for less than 1% of Southeast Alaska’s jobs while harming the fishing and tourism industries that account for 26% of all regional jobs. 

5. Oil, Gas, and Mineral Development.

Oil, gas, and mineral exploration and development is allowed under the Roadless Rule. The Forest Service has approved every single request for such projects in roadless areas in Alaska. 

6. Community Development. 

Community development projects such as highway projects, community infrastructure, and energy projects are also allowed under the current Roadless Rule. 

7. Scenery. 

The Tongass is a lush, wild, a beautiful place that visitors and locals want to enjoy. Tourists do not travel to see massive clear-cuts where forested areas once stood. Visitors come to Southeast Alaska to see the wild landscapes and wildlife. 

8. Wildlife and Bird Habitat. 

Wildlife including deer, bear, and birds thrive in high canopy areas. The Tongass provides prime habitat for migratory, breading, and winter habitat. Reducing or damaging fish and wildlife habitat by cutting down trees on an industrial scale eliminates food sources, reduces available shelter from threats and predators, and ultimately diminishes populations.  After heavily logged areas reach the closed canopy stem exclusion state, the area becomes essentially a desert to wildlife. 

9. Local Support. 

​A majority of Alaskans support the Roadless Rule, which conserves undeveloped lands in our National Forests. Overwhelmingly, voters support efforts to protect salmon, the salmon industry, and high-value salmon streams in the Tongass such as those included in the Tongass 77. Maintaining the Roadless Rule and preventing industrial clear-cut logging is the best way to do this.

10. Climate. 

The Tongass’ trees absorb more carbon than any other U.S. Forest, which in turn works to slow climate change and keeps habitat intact. 
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All photos by Brandon Hill
Take Action Today

​In less than 10 days the U.S. Forest Service could release its final decision and fully repeal the Roadless Rule on the Tongass National Forest. Speak up today and tell federal decision makers that you want the Roadless Rule intact on the Tongass. 
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AMERICA'S SALMON FOREST 

is a coalition of sport, commercial, and subsistence fishermen, business owners and operators as well as private citizens working together to conserve high-quality salmon and trout spawning and rearing habitat in the Tongass, America's largest national forest.

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