Public Lands Seige

​While we would much prefer to be working on stream restoration projects, supporting sound fish management practices, and highlighting Alaska’s great fish resources, unfortunately, we’re seeing several attacks to Public Lands in the Tongass that need our attention. With the development agenda of our Governor, President, and U.S. Senators in play, that kind of work will have to take a backseat to speaking up to uphold past conservation gains and minimize future losses of fish and wildlife habitat and public lands access on the Tongass. 

Alan Corbett

​“Logging, as currently practiced and planned in southeast Alaska, has the potential to significantly and permanently alter large amounts of wildlife habitat. Wildlife species which are adapted to use existing habitat my decline and associated recreational and subsistence uses may be substantially reduced.”

​- Alaska Department of Fish and Game
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Brandon Hill

Any one of the current issues below would be significant individually, but taken together, you can see there’s no hyperbole behind us saying that public lands on the Tongass are under attack like no other time since the pulp mill days. We need your voice now more than ever to protect our Forest against these threats.  

• Repeal of the Roadless Rule – This would allow greatly expanded logging and construction of new logging roads on 9.5 million acres of the forest. The proposed rule is likely to come out soon we we’ve started collecting public comments here. To learn more about the Roadless Rule, check out previous blog posts here. 

 

• Prince of Wales Timber Sale – The Forest Service issued its final decision to authorize 235 million board-feet (mmbf) of old-growth logging and 421 mmbf of young-growth logging over a 15-year period. This is the largest timber sale on the Tongass in decades. Logging activities, which are harmful for fish and wildlife habitat, will occur on Prince of Wales and the surrounding islands.

 

• Central Tongass Timber Sale – The Forest Service is proposing to authorize 150 mmbf of old-growth logging and 80 mmbf young-growth logging over a 15-year period. Logging would occur in the areas surrounding Wrangell, Kake, and Petersburg. Click here to learn more and comment.

 

• Karst Amendment – Public comment just closed on a proposal to expand young-growth logging into new areas with sensitive limestone geology, referred to as “moderate-vulnerability karst” areas. If you’ve never heard of Karst, the gist of it is that it produces big trees and productive fish streams. This measure would allow new young-growth logging on more than 1,100 acres on Prince of Wales Island, among other areas on the forest. The Forest Service plans to finalize the amendment this fall.

 

• South Revillagigedo Timber Sale – Proposes logging 5,500 acres of old-growth forest and 1,000 acres of young-growth forest near Ketchikan. The public comment period will open later this year.

 

• Legislation to privatize new sections of the Tongass – New legislation is likely to be introduced in U.S. Congress any day that could have huge consequences for public lands in Alaska. Prior versions of the bill would have created 5 new Native corporations and privatized 115,200 acres from the Tongass. Privatizing public lands removes access, conservation measures that protect fish, wildlife and trees, as well as opening the door to development that can negatively impact adjacent public lands.

Here are a few things you can do to help.  We have tried to make them as easy and painless as possible for you:

1. Comment on the actions above individually using the links provided above.
2. Write and submit personal comments on the Roadless Rule using the portal. 
3. Spread the word on any of the issues you think your friends may also be concerned about.
4. Let us know if you have any questions about these action items, or how you can personally get involved. We are always happy to speak with you.

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