Last Saturday dozens of Haines residents and invited guests rafted the Chilkat River to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Later, at the Klukwan Long House, Haines Mayor Stephanie Scott spoke about the initial controversy surrounding Preserve formation, and local historian Dan Henry recounted that 15 stakeholder groups — including federal and state agencies, miners, loggers, and conservationists — were finally able to agree to a compromise that protected the resources of the 49,000 acre preserve, and at the same time created the much larger Haines State Forest to allow more intensive uses. Henry also quoted former Governor Jay Hammond, who termed the agreement “the crown jewel of collaborative resource management.”
Protecting the eagle preserve’s outstanding wild salmon spawning and rearing habitat that feeds the world’s largest gathering of bald eagles — as well as the communities of Haines and Klukwan, and local and regional economies — is an accomplishment well worth celebrating. It’s also a time to reflect on whether or not the legislative intent and mandate to protect eagles and salmon “in perpetuity” is being met.
Over the past decade, numerous individuals and organizations have been critical of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) — the agency charged with Preserve management — and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) — the agency responsible for managing Preserve fish and wildlife resources. In 2005, Governor Hammond, former ADF&G and DNR commissioners, and commercial fishing and conservation organizations petitioned DNR to implement recommendations made by ADF&G biologists to protect high value salmon spawning and rearing areas from impacts caused by commercial jet boat tours. It was Hammond’s last political advocacy, occurring just days before his death. No management changes were made by DNR.
The Habitat Division moved from ADF&G to DNR and then returned to ADF&G. Many believe that ADF&G was both diminished and increasingly politicized during this time frame. Whatever the cause, protections were weakened for salmon habitat inside the eagle preserve during this period, in spite of the fact that the eagle preserve’s salmon habitat is explicitly protected by state statute, and should be the most protected salmon habitat in Alaska. In 2010 and 2011, seven commercial fishing, sport fishing and conservation organizations took these salmon habitat concerns to the Habitat, Commercial, and Sport Fish division directors, and eventually to the ADF&G commissioner. No management changes were made by ADF&G.
It’s incomprehensible that allowing fully loaded 30 passenger commercial jet boats with twin 150 horsepower engines to run over occupied salmon redds is somehow being protective of preserve wild salmon runs, particularly when studies tell us that even a single pass from a much smaller, less powerful boat can cause egg mortality. Agency promises to study the impacts from these large, powerful boats turned into under-funded, inconclusive studies that indicate damage is occurring, but do not offer the rigorous scientific proof now required by managers. Unproven impacts allow the current “see no evil” approach to continue. This is particularly disturbing because when the ADF&G commissioner signed off on weakened protections for preserve salmon habitat in 2005, he also expressed concerns about “a long-term impact on salmon eggs, rearing juvenile salmon, and salmon spawning and rearing habitat.” Since that time, no one in a position of authority at ADF&G has taken these concerns seriously enough to institute the protective restrictions recommended by current and former ADF&G Haines area biologists.
The 30th anniversary celebration was a lovely event. My hope is that 30 years from now future generations will be able to experience a Preserve with abundant fish and wildlife resources, including opportunities to tend Chilkat River subsistence nets, to catch sport and commercial salmon, and to witness the spectacle of thousands of bald eagles feasting on late runs of salmon. Such a future depends on state agencies fulfilling both the letter and the spirit of the law signed by Governor Hammond in 1982.
• Berland lives in Haines and is an Associate with Rivers Without Borders. She has been an advocate for Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve salmon habitat for more than a decade.
Comments (27)
Add commentWho?
What should we do if we'd like to read the studies or ask questions? Who's in charge at Fish and Game?
Other than "hope for future generations" what can we do to help?
The sky is falling, the sky
The sky is falling, the sky is falling...
Here's my solution - build a great, big, high fence around the whole preserve so no human can set foot there.
Rivers Without Borders is another far left group tied to - get ready, dust - George Soros and The Tides Center!!
Alaska is crawling with these enviro-freaks that, I would say, don't have anybody's best interest in mind, except their own selfish motives and a UN, global agenda - and they're getting rich and guiding our politics in the mean time.
From Riverswithoutborders.org -
To send a check, please make your check out to “Rivers Without Borders/Tides Center” and send it to:
Rivers Without Borders
PO Box 154
Clinton, WA 98236
For those that care to see the wicked web the Tides Center weaves, this lays it out pretty well. I'm always so amazed at the six degrees of separation with these guys. It's creepy...and they're all tied back to the billionaire George Soros.
http://activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/o/225-tides-foundation...
Soooo, no more whining about the Koch Brothers, progressives. I'll put their millions and ethics up against this group anyday.
So Calypso, you'd rather see
So Calypso, you'd rather see them develop and destroy the river and its marvelous salmon runs, and the flocks of eagles etc so that someone can make quick buck?
Calypso
"Alaska is crawling with these enviro-freaks," maybe it is crawling with a lot of other kinds of "freaks" as well.
@kpaw - no... I'm just
@kpaw - no...
I'm just skeptical whenever these environmental groups start writing letters and stirring the pot and crying foul. There's always an agenda and it's usually way overblown and meant to frighten and scare the average citizen.
My motto is - always look behind the curtain.
wally - google enviro freaks
wally - google enviro freaks and there are over 3 million hits. I didn't make the moniker up!
If you Google "Calypso
If you Google "Calypso douche" you get 16.9 million hits.
I didn't make the moniker up!
Yes, former Governor Hammond,
Yes, former Governor Hammond, former ADF&G and DNR commissioners, and commercial fishing and conservation organizations are some crazy whacko enviro-freaks, for sure.
And an agenda of being generally concerned about not protecting critical salmon spawing habitat, and specifically concerned with 30 passenger commercial jet boats with twin 150 horsepower engines, is even more insane.
*Sarcasm Off*
Good grief, man. The letter merely highlights concerns raised and recommendations made by reasonable people to state agencies responsible for oversight of fish & wildlife habitat, that the concerns and recommendations have not been addressed by those state agencies, and hopes for the future enjoyment and use of fish and wildlife resources.
Indeed - follow the money
Activistcash.com is funded by the Center for Consumer Freedom, which lobbies on behalf of the fast food, alcohol, and tobacco industries.
Hmmmm....they ALWAYS tell the truth, especially those tobacco companies!
As for the Koch brothers...they recently funded (along with some other donors) a large climate study that concluded not only is the earth warming outside of the limits of historical variance, but that such warming is a direct consequence of human activities.
Let me see...will Calypso scream "Criticize the messenger because you can't contradict their facts" (unless, of course, she is dismissing something scientific, in which case she asserts it is not necessary for her to "dignify" such a liberal source and easily ignores facts), or will she scream that the Koch brothers fund many things and can't directly control or be associated with the end results or where the funds ultimately end up, which makes her point regarding Soros moot. (I still haven't figured out why Soros is such a bad guy to neo-cons. He's rich and apparently does what he wants - that's their entire mantra!)
Dust
That is some seriously inconvenient information. Let the mental gymnastics ensue.
I do have one question, though. I read an article on NewsBusters (it was the first article that popped up when I googled it) and it said the study leader's "unbiased" research has been largely discredited by climate "realists" around the world.
How accurate is that statement? My initial reaction is that it's crap because of the fact they used the word "realists" instead of scientists. Doesn't seem like a innocent mistake.
fisherwoman44...
"what can we do to help?"
Quit gillnetting in Lynn Canal.
Remove the fish wheels and subsistence nets from the Chilkat River.
Prohibit large rubber rafts on the Chilkat.
Prohibit people from walking on or near the banks of the chilkat river.
How's that?
Calypso
No one, including me, said anything indicating that you came up with the term "enviro-freaks." You seem to get bent out of shape with any question.... my question was, perhaps there are other "freaks" besides "enviro-freaks" in Alaska.
I think I may have found a "non-enviro-freak" in Alaska... would that upset you?? Or is that "dark matter" in your world? That the only "freaks" are those concerned about the environment.
Come on dust - you're not
Come on dust - you're not that dense.
Other than Soros being a communist and manipulating currencies and wrecking the Malaysian and British economies, he's the bomb!
Be careful what you wish for...
And I'm not buying that Soros just doesn't know where his millions in donations "end up". That's funny. The Tides Foundation is a huge money laundering scheme. The left is good and crocked that way.
I suppose you're a fan of Van Jones too? He's deeply involved in the Tides Foundation. And he's also a self described communist.
But just go on making fun of and mocking those that disagree with you. It's really a great strategy to bring people over to your side.
I love it wally, how you take
I love it wally, how you take a sideways, snarky jab at me or whomever then come back playing the unknowing, innocent victim! We're seeing right through you!
Right on,Calypso !
Keep up the good work......and thanks!
Calypso
Now here's an old Mafia type offer you can't refuse.
Let's you and I go out searching for "freaks," just like some scientists have been looking for the elusive "Higgs Bosan" among atomic sub particles.
We might be able to uncover "enviro-freaks," "exploitation-freaks," "political-freaks" "killer-freaks" and all kinds of "freaks" in the world's human population. We might even uncover the elusive "I have all the answers-don't question me- anyone else is wrong, freak."
Or we may end up with nothing more than the fact that other people see things differently, have a different point of view, have some facts and evidence that you or I don't have. But wouldn't it be fun for you and I to go out and check reality, walking hand in hand, knowing that we will be fair and objective about whatever we find in the real world?
calypso,
"Alaska is crawling with these enviro-freaks that, I would say, don't have anybody's best interest in mind, except their own selfish motives and a UN, global agenda - and they're getting rich and guiding our politics in the mean time."
Alaska was the most liberal state in the union until the PFD arose. Then the real freaks from Oklahoma showed up with twelve kid families to collect on this free money offer. Now Alaska is a majority conservative state, but without the money, you can guess what Alaska would return to... so who's the selfish ones? Conservatives, who are only here for money... or liberals, who were here when the state was broke?
You can say what you want about "enviro-freaks" but without them, Alaska would just be another texas.
wmolson, are you intending to reason with calypso?
The same calypso who blames environmentalists for Juneau's methamphetamine problem?
The same calypso who thinks moderates are one doobie away from worshipping satan?
You might instead try a large, wooden dowel.
See, wally, the problem is
See, wally, the problem is after you make fun of me and my posts, you've got nothing left. You never dispute my facts.
I'm not so much interested in "a point of view" when you and whomever (I'm talking to you dust and p) just ignore the facts I've laid out. Discussions have to have something to go back and forth on. Not just put downs. It's kind of like calling someone a racist - end of discussion.
I don't really understand your "I have all the answers-don't question me- anyone else is wrong, freak" sentence. I don't profess to have all the answers but I try to back up what I think with facts and reasoning. Just because you don't agree, you resort to calling me a know-it-all. Perhaps it's because you don't have strong enough convictions for your "point of view" so all you can do is mock.
Think about it...
calypso,
"See, wally, the problem is after you make fun of me and my posts, you've got nothing left. You never dispute my facts. "
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, you have to present facts first, you moron.
Calypso
My problem is that "facts" are supposed to have some relationship to reality. They are not things one can find on internet sites promoted by special interests.
I would certain contest your "facts" if they are verifiable and can be tested by others to be "true" in the sense that they are not just speculations by others. If, I find that your "facts" are verifiable, have been tried and tested by other, I might have to agree with your explanation or interpretation of these "facts."
Sorry, Calypso but I didn't dispute your facts, I simply did not find any verifiable facts to disputer.
Calypso
I am quite sure, that you, like myself, don't like to "eat crow" and have student, or someone from a "juried journal" point out that I have been wrong, ignorant or mis-informed.
Today, in the Empire, I saw an article by Mr. Nowlin saying in so many words "Yes, I screwed up years ago in my early life. Now let's get on with the real reason I am running for office."
You see, sometimes people have to admit they are not perfect, don't know everything, that their views or opinions may be or may have been erroneous, or what they did was kind of stupid at the time.
That is when folks can get down to an honest, fair, open discussion and debate over issues, beliefs and opinions. I think people have to defend themselves in the public forum, but at times one may have to admit- I'm not perfect nor do I have all the answers.
@wally - life is but an
@wally - life is but an illusion...back into the clouds you go!!
Calypso
Life is but an illusion... back into the clouds you go..... Great!
Of course it is not an answer, not a reply to a question, no just "Back into the clouds you go". Nice metaphor, but certainly not an answer.
As you float off into the clouds of your world, can I join you see what your illusion is like??
Wouldn't it be kind of a wild scene if some day you and I sat down over a cup of coffee at Safeway or some where and openly and freely disagreed with each other in a rational, reasonable way our differences and points of view, and what we consider "facts" that can be debated.
I'm afraid that will never happen. I am ready to sit down, face to face with a person, as I did for decades with students, and come away with a greater understanding of things and even having to admit I was ignorant, didn't know things, or interpreted things wrongly....
We can't all go "into the clouds" some day we have to come down to the real world on planet earth where we all live.
Wow, he's been hanging around
Wow, he's been hanging around the library quite late today. There must be somebody at the Glory Hole he doesn't want to see.
I guess since it's not such a great day for hanging out on the dock, one may as well sit in the library.
Calypso
"I don't profess to have all the answers but I try to back up what I think with facts and reasoning."
[filtered word]!!!!
Why should any of us believe ANYTHING you post, given that you will reverse it within 10 seconds, not to mention you post such gems as "The Founding Fathers gave us the two-party system"?
Okay - if Soros knows where every penny he doles out ends up, we can assume the Koch brothers do the same. What are you doing with the results of their climate work that show human being affect climate?? (No worries - I'm not expecting an answer that has merit, thought, integrity, or any basis in fact or personal accountability.)
Colorado - I'm not familiar with the article you mentioned, but you are correct - I'd be highly suspicous of anyone who used the word "realists" instead of scientists. The gentleman who headed the study was traditionally a climate skeptic who felt there were problems with some of the foundational work. After his own work was completed, he refers to himself as a converted skeptic.