Northern Lights on the Tongass - by Russel Wicka, Forestry Technician,
Yakutat Ranger District
Welcome to the Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest national forest. The Tongass covers most of Southeast Alaska surrounding the famous Inside Passage and offers unique chances to view eagles, bears, spawning salmon, and the breath-taking vistas of “wild” Alaska. Hike or take a sled-dog ride on aglacier, stroll along boardwalk trails, fish in streams or the ocean, or relax at a remote cabin.If spying some truly wild wildlife is on your bucket list, visit the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau, Anan Wildlife Observatory in Wrangell, Fish Creek Bear Viewing Area in Hyder, or Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area on Admiralty Island, or immerse yourself in native culture at the stunning Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, located just steps away from the cruise ship docks in downtown Ketchikan.
The Forest Service is planning to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze a variety of resource management actions to implement over a 15-year period. The Central Tongass project area encompasses National Forest System (NFS) lands and lands of other ownership, as authorized by other land owners, within the Petersburg and Wrangell Ranger Districts (3.7 million acres) to facilitate integrated and economical projects across all lands. Other than for invasive treatments, Wilderness will not be considered for resource management actions. The project area includes, but is not limited to, Mitkof, Kupreanof, Kuiu, Wrangell, Zarembo and Etolin Islands and the Alaska mainland.
The purpose of the POW LLA Project is to improve forest ecosystem health on Craig and Thorne Bay Ranger Districts, help support community resiliency, and provide economic development through an integrated approach to meet multiple resource objectives. The proposed action will be developed through extensive public involvement to meet the Purpose and Needs for the project, with activities that will occur over the course of 10 to 15 years. Input from the tribes and the public will help determine the location and types of activities, and how extensively they will occur across the landscape.
Yakutat youth had the opportunity to go on a hike along a fishing access trail, visit a stream to learn about fish habitat, practice fly casting, tie flies, and even dissect a squid.
Eight people from Hydaburg completed stream habitat assessment training on May 11 put on by Kai Environmental, Hydaburg Cooperative Association, the Forest Service and Spruce Root.
Ward Lake Outdoor School Week was a grand success, teaching approximately 200 fifth and sixth grade students from seven different Ketchikan schools about the Forest using outdoor activities
Imagine a coastal rainforest, wet, mossy, teeming with life, and intact. Pull on your rubber boots, we are going on a hike to get to know the Tongass National Forest.
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