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Projects
Management of the Tongass National Forest follows the guidance of the Tongass Land Management Plan, first completed in 1979 and most recently modified in 2016. The plan incorporates an adaptive management strategy, and has been reviewed and amended a number of times over the years. Forest Plan updates reflect changing conditions, information and requirements, to provide for long-term resource sustainability as well as the economic and social needs of the public.
Projects are planned, with help from stakeholders, to foster the continued health of the forest and to provide commodities and experiences to people who depend on, live surrounded by, and visit our largest national forest, as well as people throughout the nation.
All currently active proposed projects are listed quarterly by ranger district in which they will take place on the schedule of proposed actions (SOPA). These projects are not listed on this page and can only be seen on the SOPA. Projects in the planning process all have contact people to help you participate if you so wish. Some also post draft documents for review. For most projects, you can add yourself to the mailing list and sometimes comment on the projects right from the links in the SOPA.
Once decisions have been made, they are posted electronically and can be accessed through the SOPA. Decisions on appeals of or objections to district-level projects are also posted, as are decisions on forest-level appeals and objections.
To view our Appeals Responses, please visit the Forest Service Appeal Response page for the Tongass National Forest.
To view our Objection Responses, please visit the Forest Service Objection Response page for the Tongass National Forest.
Forest Mailing List: Are you interested in the projects and activities that happen on the Tongass National Forest? Would you like to learn more and maybe share your recommendations or concerns? You can now sign up to receive email updates for any or all current and future Tongass National Forest management projects being analyzed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). To access Forest mailing lists, click the link below and provide your email address.
Use this link for more detailed instructions on how to sign up for Tongass project mailing lists.
Other
- Proposed Recreation Fees Information and Comment Page
- Long-Term, Sustainable Cabin Management Strategy
- Thorne Bay Basin Integrated Resource Management Project (TBB IRMP)
- Ross Adams Mine Cleanup Project
- Outfitter/Guide Best Management Practices Agreement
- Prince of Wales Landscape Level Analysis Project (POW LLA)
- Shoreline II Outfitter/Guide Project Implementation
Due to the fact that some of these files are so large, you may find it useful to right click and download or save the document(s) off to your own computer.
Quick Links
Tongass National Forest Current and Recent Projects
Developing Proposal
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Cannon Beach Cabin Construction
Proposal to convert a primitive campsite within the Yakutat Beach Recreation Area into a public use recreation cabin site.
Under Analysis
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Alaska Roadless Rule Repeal
Final rule repeals the 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule, reinstating application of 2001 Roadless Rule on the Tongass NF. A Determination of NEPA Adequacy was completed to utilize Final Environmental Impact Statement for 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule.
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False Bay Cabin New Construction
Construct a new recreation cabin at False Bay, on Chichagof Island, approximately 25 miles from Hoonah Alaska on FS Road 8530. Proposed features include: cabin, vault toilet, woodshed, picnic table/fire ring, parking area, access trails and buoy.
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Greens Creek Surface Exploration
Proposal to authorize HECLA Greens Creek Mining Company to explore for mineral deposits, including silver, zinc, lead and gold rich volcanogenic massive sulfide mineralization for up to 1 year at the Greens Creek Mine on Admiralty Island.
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Gull Cove Waterline Extension
Applicant is proposing a 900-foot extension of four-inch diameter high-density polyethylene above ground water transmission pipeline on National Forest System lands to serve private property at Gull Cove, Idaho Inlet.
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Harbor Mountain Cabin
The Sitka Ranger District proposes Harbor Mountain Recreation Area improvements, including constructing a public use rental cabin. Cabin with deck, outhouse & picnic site and well as access routes are proposed.
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Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company Surface Exploration 2024-2028
Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company proposes to extend their surface exploration authorization by five years and incorporate new areas of interest.
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Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (MGVC) Kooteeyaa Project
Installation of five wooden totems at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in developed areas. Totems would be as tall as 50 feet with concrete footings up to 6 feet in diameter. The totems would represent several Tlingit and Haida clans.
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Revilla 2024 Pre-commercial Thinning
Silvicultural treatment of young-growth stands to achieve various management objectives such as altering wildlife habitats and patterns of use, improving riparian area health, improving climate resiliency, and promoting timber production.
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Thorne Bay Basin Integrated Resource Management Project
This project would improve wildlife habitat, provide commercial young-growth harvest opportunities, implement riparian and road restoration activities in the project areas, as well as to provide support for employment and economic growth.
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Tongass National Forest Land Management Plan Revision
Land management plan revision for the Tongass National Forest under the 2012 Planning Rule.
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Towers Arm Cabin Outhouse Replacement
Remove existing outhouse and replace with a new one that includes a removable basket system and a leach field. Materials would be brought to and from the site by boat via salt water. Materials would be hand carried on site (no mechanical equipment).
Analysis Completed
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Cube Cove Restoration
Following the purchase of 22,890 acres, the District proposes to restore and preserve wilderness character in the Cube Cove portion of the Kootznoowoo Wilderness through re-establishing hydrologic function.
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Greens Creek North Extension Project
Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company proposes to extend the existing dry-stack tailings disposal facility and incorporate waste rock co-disposal techniques in a northward direction for additional tailings and waste rock storage capacity.
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Maybeso Potable Water System Replacement
Replace the potable water system for several Forest Service administrative buildings and a small school. Includes improvement of water reservoir, channel spillway and filtration treatment system.
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Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Facility Improvements
Constructing facility improvements within the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area to accommodate anticipated visitor growth.
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Muri Creek Restoration
Place about 150 trees within the stream channel, along stream banks and within the 88-acre floodplain of Muri Creek to reduce erosion and improve fish habitat. Implementation would use heavy equipment on approximately 1,200 feet of stream channel.
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Nemo Road Stabilization
Approximately 5 miles of FS Road 6265 (Nemo-Skip Loop Road) & associated culverts will be repaired. Current wood waste road base will be replaced with more stable gravel surface, as well as other activities associated with road stabilization.
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Pavlov Valley Timber Sale
The proposed silvicultural treatments include individual tree selection or small groups of trees (uneven-aged management) retaining 60-70% of the residual stand basal area.
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Thomas Bay Young Growth Timber Sale
Proposal to supply about 19 million board feet of young-growth timber from 800 acres, reconstruct temp rds, maintain NFS rds and evaluate potential terrestrial and/or aquatic habitat restoration and improvement activities in or near the project area.
On Hold
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Angoon Bays Ecotourism
Initially allocate 17 percent of the summer season visitor capacity, equivalent to 840 service days, to outfitters and guides in the project area. Adaptive management in future years could increase allocation to 50% of summer capacity.
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Breiland Slough Cabin Replacement
Proposal to replace the existing Breiland Slough public use recreation cabin and improve access to the site.
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Continuation of Zarembo Minerals Plan of Operations 2023 to 2024
Proposal to continue authorizing exploration activities by Zarembo Minerals Co. on Zarembo Island until July 2023. Activities to continue include surface exploration and drilling, use of a closed spur road, and onsite storage of drilling equipment.
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Deer Lake Coho Rearing Facility Permit Re-Issuance (NSRAA)
Re-issue special use permit for coho rearing facility- run by NSRAA
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Hidden Falls Fish Hatchery Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Re-Issue of special use permit for a salmon hatchery run by Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association.
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Higgins Test Project
Test Project testing
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Millrock Exploration Corp - Apex El Nido Project
The activity for the Apex-El Nido Exploration project entails conducting hard rock exploration through diamond core drilling. It is anticipated a maximum of 15 holes will be drilled in the 2022 season.
Cancelled
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2024 Herbert Gold Project
The 2024 Hebert Gold Project surface exploration.
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Anan Lake Cabin Decommission
Proposal to decommission and remove Anan Lake public use cabin at Anan Lake by dismantling and burning burnable material on site. Non-burnables would be removed by helicopter. Cabin would be replaced by construction of Highbush Cabin on Wrangell Is.
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Angoon-Mitchell Bay Ecotourism Environmental Assessment (formerly Outfitter and Guide EA)
We aim to strike a balance between subsistence use resources, wilderness resources, tourism, and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), Section 506 (a)(3)(E). We propose allocating 2388 service days to outfitters and guides.
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Central Tongass Project
The CT Project will consider potential young- and old-growth timber harvest, opportunities for sustainable recreation, watershed restoration, fish/wildlife habitat improvements and other forest management activities of local community interest.
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Continuation of Motorized Equipment Authorizations in Wilderness
Continue to issue temporary motorized authorizations for chainsaws and winches for the next five years (CY 2022-2026) within the Stikine-River valley bottom of the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness. Cancelled because it fell under a prior NEPA decision
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Continuation of Tent Platform Special Use Authorizations
Continuation of 5 existing temporary tent platforms with their associated outhouses & 15 previously approved tent platform sites for the next 5 years (CY 2022-26) in the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness. Cancelled because it falls under previous decisions
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Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts Microsales/Green Tree Small Sales
The proposed project would authorize commercial salvage timber harvest of dead or downed trees resulting from natural causes, and timber harvest where salvage harvest and/or green tree harvest is compatible with the Land Use Designations (LUDs).
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Earl West Shelter Construction
Proposal to construct a picnic shelter at the Earl West Recreation Site at the log transfer facility (LTF).
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Harbor Mountain/Gavan Hill Trail Reconstruction
Relocate and reconstruct the Gavan Hill portion of the Harbor Mountain/Gavan Hill trail near Sitka, Alaska. Much of the 1.4-mile segment is currently in poor condition with drainage problems, erosion, exposed roots, and failing structures.
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Highbush Lake Cabin Construction
Propose to construct a public use cabin at Highbush Lake on Wrangell Island. This cabin would replace the proposed decommission of the Anan Lake Cabin with another lake setting cabin to meet the intent of the Tongass Sustainable Cabin Strategy.
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Koenitzer-Hoonah Area - Mineral Materials Permit
Removal of 5,000 pounds of fossiliferous limestone and or marble rock to be used for sculpting.
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Lake Osprey Hydropower, Little Port Walter NMFS Marine Station Special Use Permit
Issue new special use permit for re-construction and use of an existing hydropower facility at Little Port Walter NMFS Marine Station
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Long Lake Public Use Recreation Cabin
Construct a new public use recreation cabin on the Wrangell Island road system near the Long Lake Trailhead.
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Mackinnon - Idaho Inlet water transmission pipeline permit
Authorize a Special Use Permit to install and maintain approximately 1,000 feet of 2 inch polypropylene waterline to serve a private residence near the mouth of Idaho Inlet.
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Outfitter Guide camp reconstruction in Dry Bay
Alsek River Adventures proposes to remove the existing improvements, 850 sq ft, and construct new facilities, 1600 sq ft, including flush toilets, showers, laundry, pump house, generator shed, kitchen, and bunkhouses with a boardwalk connecting them.
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Road Access Project
Proposal to approve an application for Transportation & Utility Systems & Facilities for NFS road access, construction, and/or reconstruction on NFS lands (1.97 acres) on Prince of Wales Island near the community of Thorne Bay.
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Sal Creek Cabin and Trail EA
Construct a cabin with young growth and access trail in the Sal Creek area.
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Sitka Ranger District Lakes Outfitter/Guide Access Project
Determine if outfitting and guiding services could be authorized on National Forest System lands on the Sitka Ranger District accessed by interior lakes on Baranof and Chichagof Islands using fixed-wing aircraft.
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Sitka Ranger District Salvage Sales
Salvage of dead/hazard trees for commercial use on less than 2 acres. No new roads will be constructed.
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South Revilla Integrated Resource Project
The Forest Service is proposing a multi-year project involving a variety of timber harvest, road construction, watershed restoration and recreation activities.
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Turn Island Overlook Public Recreation Use Cabin
Construct a new public use recreation cabin on the Wrangell Island Road System at Turn Island Overlook.
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Twin Mountain II Timber Sale
The Proposed Action would offer for harvest about 30.3 million board ft of timber from approximately 1,848 acres in the Staney and Red Bay areas within the Thorne Bay RD, along with road construction, reconstruction, maintenance and decommissioning.
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Upper Salamander Recreation Site Public Use Cabin
Construct a public use recreation cabin on the Wrangell Island road system at the Upper Salamander Recreation Site Parking Area.
Project Archive
Some of our older projects can be accessed in our Project Archive.