The Haines Assembly is holding a special meeting this week to discuss what the borough manager has called a “politically motivated” proposed timber sale. The University of Alaska is offering 400 acres of Haines-area land for timber harvest. The land is located on the Chilkat Peninsula and abuts many residential properties.
Timber
State-federal agreement awards Ketchikan company second-growth timber sale
A Ketchikan company has been awarded a $2.6-million sale of second-growth timber on an island in Southeast Alaska. The state of Alaska prepared and awarded the contract for logging on federal land on Kosciusko Island under an agreement with the federal government.
Federal court upholds contentious ‘roadless rule’ for national forests
A federal district court has sided with conservationists fighting to preserve the U.S. Forest Service’s “roadless rule” that limits road building in national forests. Alaska conservationists opposed to expanded logging in Tongass National Forest hailed the ruling as a victory.
University offers 400 acres on Chilkat Peninsula for timber sale
The University of Alaska is offering up 400 acres of its Haines-area land for timber harvest. The timing of the university’s decision was motivated by a conversation happening at the local level. The Haines Planning Commission is considering whether to restrict resource extraction in the Mud Bay area.
Wildfires pop up near Chisana and Tanana
Recent warm, dry weather in the interior has resulted in two late season wildfires. State Forestry reports sending fire fighters last night to a 1-acre blaze, located about a hundred miles northeast of Glennallen, near Chisana.
Western wildfires endanger beloved sites at national parks
A 20-square-mile blaze burned the historic Sperry Chalet in Glacier National Park last week. In California’s Sierra National Forest, an ancient grove of sequoias was scorched, but the trees survived.
Walker signs SB 88, Mental Health Trust land exchange
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker was joined in Ketchikan on Thursday by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, state Sen. Bert Stedman and state Rep. Dan Ortiz to sign a bill accepting a land trade between the U.S. Forest Service and Alaska Mental Health Trust.
Gov. Bill Walker visits Ketchikan for Blueberry Arts Festival
Gov. Bill Walker came to Alaska’s First City on Saturday to experience this year’s sun-filled Blueberry Arts Festival. He is attending fairs and festivals around Alaska in place of scheduling the governor’s picnics that have been traditional for the past few years.
Caterpillars spike around lakes and rivers near Aleknagik and Dillingham for second year
Visitors to Wood-Tikchick State Park were greeted by an unusual sight this summer. Alders that are normally dense, green and leafy were bare.
Afognak Island elk study looks at balancing logging with game management
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game and its partners, including Kodiak area Native corporations, are at the beginning of a two-and-a-half year, $1.8 million study of elk and bears on on Afognak Island to help balance game management and logging.