September 6, 2016
Contact:
Mark Kaelke, Trout Unlimited Alaska, [email protected] or (907) 321-4464
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Southeast Alaska businesses to Forest Service: Kuiu Island old-growth timber sale is a disservice to Alaskans
Business owners and operators say timber sale would negatively impact their businesses
JUNEAU, AK — Today, a group of 28 businesses and organizations including guides, tourism operators, commercial fishermen and conservation organizations delivered a joint letter requesting the Forest Service immediately cease accepting bids on the Kuiu Island timber sale, which puts for sale 23 million board feet of old-growth timber from 866 acres of prime salmon and wildlife habitat in the Tongass National Forest.
“North Kuiu is awesome. For wildlife, fish and for tour companies like the one I worked for. As a guide, places with abundant salmon and wildlife are what we rely on to make our living. North Kuiu's a great place to take guests. Exploring the head of Security Bay to watch rafts of otters while tucking out of the weather, paddling the kelp beds of Bay of Pillars or watching humpbacks bubblenet - excursions around the bays and meadows of Kuiu Island has filled my trip logs with happy reports,” said Simon Darling, Southeast Alaska guide.
The sale runs contrary to recent recommendations made by the Tongass Advisory Committee and would not be allowed under the Forest Service’s own nearly-finished forest plan amendment that promises to make much of the sale area off limits to old-growth logging. Thousands of Southeast Alaskans voiced support for increasing salmon protections during public comment periods for the forest plan amendment, which are slated to go into effect once the forest plan amendment is finalized this fall.
“We are concerned and frustrated that the Forest Service would rush this sale through in the final weeks before its new Forest Plan is finalized,” said Mark Kaelke of Trout Unlimited based in Juneau. “This sale is based on outdated information and is poised to allow 100 percent of the trees, and many jobs along with them, to be exported overseas while the fishing and tourism businesses in the region are hung out to dry. We urge the Forest Service to cancel this poorly-conceived timber sale and work instead to finalize its broadly-supported forest plan amendment.”
The sale is within areas known as the “Tongass 77,” which is a collection of the Tongass’ most productive and valuable salmon and trout watersheds. The Forest Service is using an Environmental Impact Statement that was completed in 2007 to promote this sale, a key point of opposition noted in the sign-on letter, which argues a new economic study should be completed.
###
Trout Unlimited Alaska 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. Follow TU on Facebook or visit us online at tu.org. Learn more about our work to conserve high-value watersheds of the Tongass National Forest for salmon and trout at americansalmonforest.org
Contact:
Mark Kaelke, Trout Unlimited Alaska, [email protected] or (907) 321-4464
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Southeast Alaska businesses to Forest Service: Kuiu Island old-growth timber sale is a disservice to Alaskans
Business owners and operators say timber sale would negatively impact their businesses
JUNEAU, AK — Today, a group of 28 businesses and organizations including guides, tourism operators, commercial fishermen and conservation organizations delivered a joint letter requesting the Forest Service immediately cease accepting bids on the Kuiu Island timber sale, which puts for sale 23 million board feet of old-growth timber from 866 acres of prime salmon and wildlife habitat in the Tongass National Forest.
“North Kuiu is awesome. For wildlife, fish and for tour companies like the one I worked for. As a guide, places with abundant salmon and wildlife are what we rely on to make our living. North Kuiu's a great place to take guests. Exploring the head of Security Bay to watch rafts of otters while tucking out of the weather, paddling the kelp beds of Bay of Pillars or watching humpbacks bubblenet - excursions around the bays and meadows of Kuiu Island has filled my trip logs with happy reports,” said Simon Darling, Southeast Alaska guide.
The sale runs contrary to recent recommendations made by the Tongass Advisory Committee and would not be allowed under the Forest Service’s own nearly-finished forest plan amendment that promises to make much of the sale area off limits to old-growth logging. Thousands of Southeast Alaskans voiced support for increasing salmon protections during public comment periods for the forest plan amendment, which are slated to go into effect once the forest plan amendment is finalized this fall.
“We are concerned and frustrated that the Forest Service would rush this sale through in the final weeks before its new Forest Plan is finalized,” said Mark Kaelke of Trout Unlimited based in Juneau. “This sale is based on outdated information and is poised to allow 100 percent of the trees, and many jobs along with them, to be exported overseas while the fishing and tourism businesses in the region are hung out to dry. We urge the Forest Service to cancel this poorly-conceived timber sale and work instead to finalize its broadly-supported forest plan amendment.”
The sale is within areas known as the “Tongass 77,” which is a collection of the Tongass’ most productive and valuable salmon and trout watersheds. The Forest Service is using an Environmental Impact Statement that was completed in 2007 to promote this sale, a key point of opposition noted in the sign-on letter, which argues a new economic study should be completed.
###
Trout Unlimited Alaska 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. Follow TU on Facebook or visit us online at tu.org. Learn more about our work to conserve high-value watersheds of the Tongass National Forest for salmon and trout at americansalmonforest.org