Regional Forester Beth Pendleton will retire in April after eight years in the position.
Timber
Deep snowpack a good sign for midsummer fire season
The frozen ground gives crews at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge a good opportunity to do preventative work that will help later on during the height of fire season.
U.S. Forest Service chief resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations
Tony Tooke’s resignation, which is effective immediately, came days after PBS NewsHour reported that the U.S. Agriculture Department was investigating sexual misconduct complaints against him.
Forest Service chief, Murkowski hear from Tongass stakeholders
Sen. Lisa Murkowski and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke heard panelists say they need more access to the forest: through roads, through less-cumbersome permitting, through whatever means. They want access.
Forest Service official says fighting Lower 48 wildfires is cutting into Alaska forest services
“We’ve seen 8,000 positions across the agency that we have essentially shifted from either providing services, forest management (or) recreation management to fire suppression,” said U.S. Forest Service Associate Deputy Chief Chris French.
State leads new efforts to restore Roadless Rule exemption
There have been numerous attempts recently to sidestep U.S. Forest Service management of the Tongass National Forest.
State agencies provide stopgap timber for Southeast industry
The state just sold timber from its Southeast Alaska forest to the region’s largest mill. It’s part of a multi-agency effort to keep the area’s logging industry alive. But some say it’s time to let it go.
Southeast’s year: Taku sold, Chinooks crash, mines petitioned and a Tongass turnaround
Southeast Alaska saw some major trends and events in 2017. They ranged from cruise ship passenger increases to budget decreases to labor battles to murder investigations.
Tongass in Transition: Wolves and logging both cut into Prince of Wales deer
This deer season has been the worst in recent memory for a lot of hunters on Prince of Wales Island. Large-scale industrial logging has damaged important winter habitat, and some locals believe a rapidly growing wolf population is also devouring the deer.
Four Alaska firefighters dispatched to battle California blazes
Four Alaska wild fire professionals are working on blazes in southern California. Alaska Division of Forestry spokesman Tim Mowry said the Alaskans deployed south have special skills.