Viewpoints
Roads on Gravina
By Mike Salee
March 24, 2007
Saturday
In response to the comment that Mr. Vickery "should have
been there in the beginning not there when it's almost done",(Gravina
Views,Sitnews 3/19/07),Tongass Conservation Society has been
there.
Here are part of the Addenda to TCS's (December 1998) comments
on DNR's Central/Southern Southeast Area Plan (pertaining to
the DNR parcel currently being logged on Gravina).
"K41: In this parcel
DNR appears to be following the same model of management used
by the USFS: Grand scale roading, clear cutting, catering to
large corporate interests---an over-optimistic management scheme
that depends upon unsustainable liquidation of old growth and
wilderness habitat along with overcapitalization to pay for the
high production tools and associated job skills necessary to
carry out that management scheme. The philosophy is: We have
these high production tools. Therefore let's tailor sales to
accommodate the tools. The downside: People grow dependent upon
an unsustainable source of income and as a result, wildlife,
aesthetics, water quality, soil health, forest diversity, and
non-targeted species all decline.
I crossed this parcel on foot over thirty years ago during one
of several hikes across Gravina. I was surprised to see a flying
squirrel in some higher volume woods near Crater Lake at the
extreme north corner of this parcel.
TCS recommends selective helicopter logging only, if any logging
is done. No roads. Trails and undeveloped recreation should be
encouraged. Continuous monitoring of any helicopter logging is
essential to ensure slash, tops and other waste is properly disposed
of, not left scattered along the lands under or near the route
of overflight as it was when LP helicoptered its timber from
Granite Creek on the Cleveland Peninsula."
For those who think that roads will improve subsistence opportunities
I'd suggest going to www.subsistence.adfg.state.ak.us/
and perusing some of the Subsistence Technical Papers under the
Publications tab. You might also check out what the Forest Service
wrote about Environmental Consequences under the Environment
and Effects section of the Gravina Island Timber Sale FEIS v.1
Mike Salee
Ketchikan, AK
Received March 23, 2007 - Published March 24, 2007
About: "Part time to full
time resident of Gravina for 50+ years. Current member and former
board member of Tongass Conservation Society."
Note: Comments published
on Viewpoints are the opinions of the writer
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
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