Lynn Canal Conservation has filed a complaint with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation on what they contend are jet boat violations in no wake zone on the Chilkat River.
The Haines-based organization based its complaint on 27 photos taken of Chilkat River Adventures jet boats over approximately a month during July and August. The photos show what Lynn Canal Conservation said are “medium to large size wakes” in the no wake zone through the Sheep Canyon Lake Access Channel.
Sheep Canyon’s no wake zone was created to minimize erosion and to minimize impacts to spawning and rearing habitat, according to a DNR stipulations report.
Lynn Canal’s complaint calls into questions River Adventures permit to operate in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
Karen Hess with Chilkat River Adventures, Inc. responded to the complaint.
Hess said River Adventures continues to be in communication with State Parks.
“We operate under the guidelines of the permit that we obtain from Parks,” Hess said. Hess said the division will do a thorough investigation of LCC’s allegations “as they should do. River Adventures always adheres to the guidelines that we are permitted for and until the investigation is complete.”
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
LINK
Stipulations for Commercial Use Opertations within Alaska Chilkat
www.dnr.alaska.gov/parks/permits/soueast11/chilkatbaldeaglestip11.pdf
Comments (18)
Add commentReally?
Jet boats have been operating on that river since jet boats were invented. There has never been any measurable erosion that could be attributed to human activity of any kind. Just for perspective's sake one needs to understand that millions and millions of tons of silt are eroded from the banks of this river through a ongoing natural process that has been going on throughout recorded history. So much silt has been eroded that in the 1920's and 1930's fishing boats regularly traveled up the Chilkat river and tied up to the bank at four mile Haines highway and now cannot safely get as far as pyramid island. This represents the filling of a box four miles long and more than a mile wide with at least five feet of silt, a small percentage of the silt that has washed downstream during that time, the rest having remained suspended in the water and traveling many more miles before dropping out of the water and settling to the bottom of Lynn Canal.
It's a park dammit!
That's all this is. Another example of how the greenies want to kill all business in the great Alaska Park. In reality they could care less about whether their argument is true or not. Their aim is to make it too expensive to do business in the state for small mom and pop, to large multinational corps. And it's a strategy that has worked well for them for at least three decades. Tried and true. They will sue next if they don't get their way with the permit fight.
It's a park dammit!
That's all this is. Another example of how the greenies want to kill all business in the great Alaska Park. In reality they could care less about whether their argument is true or not. Their aim is to make it too expensive to do business in the state for small mom and pop, to large multinational corps. And it's a strategy that has worked well for them for at least three decades. Tried and true. They will sue next if they don't get their way with the permit fight.
Permit
So they have a permit that stipulates a no-wake zone. And based on this article, it appears that there's ample evidence that they've been routinely violating that permit.
Don't think it's an issue? Don't like 'greenies'? Tough. The State issued a permit. The permittee is obligated to follow it. Or not do business there.
Yank their permit. It's called 'consequences'.
...bye, bye ,boats...
..if you weren't so noisy and rude to other river users you might even be allowed to stay. Behave like a good boy and see what happens...and oh yes, we don't care about your livelihood...
You're a funny guy Rough!
LMFAO!
This is critical spawning and
"greenies want to kill all business in the great Alaska Park"
this is all about the greenies, really?? good grief.
This is one of the most productive salmon rivers in the northern Panhandle. All five species spawn in the Chilkat. The river is critical to spawning and rearing salmon, but the above posters of the "Alaskan Dead Heads" crowd, just can't seem to think that far ahead.
Sockeye salmon originating in
Sockeye salmon originating in Chilkat Lake contribute significantly to the Lynn Canal commercial drift gillnet fishery. Chilkat Lake has produced annual commercial sockeye salmon harvests as high as 168,000 in 1986, with an average harvest of about 85,000 fish from 1976 to 2007. In addition to the commercial harvest, sockeye salmon originating from Chilkat Lake are also taken in the Haines area subsistence fishery. Reported subsistence harvests in Chilkat Inlet and Chilkat River averaged approximately 6,700 sockeye salmon from 1990 to 2004.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game manages Chilkat Lake sockeye salmon according to a biological escapement goal of 70,000 to 150,000 fish. For inseason management, ADF&G relies on a lower Chilkat River fish wheel project, while a final escapement is determined based on Chilkat sonar site counts.
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=sonar.site&site=11
Karen and Don Hess are the
Karen and Don Hess are the same people that couldn't see anything wrong with "air-injecting" herring so they would float to attract eagles.
These two have sued to block protections for Alaskan fisheries. I think they should move back to Oregon.
triadef
I can see that you are a bit revved up about this, but at least keep your senses about you. Chilkat Lake is down river from the Hess' operation; no nexus. As you most likely know, LCC has been out to get the Hess' for a long time (20+ years). I am suprised that LCC is giving it another run after the legal action 5 years back when they told that their concerns were frivolus and that DNR was no longer going to adjudicate claims by LCC regardig the Hess'.
With your closing remark; maybe you should go back to somewhere yourself.
Years of legal action but
Years of legal action but their is no connection?
"We just want to run our business. You shouldn't have to worry about someone putting you under the microscope when you are trying to run a business," said Karen Hess, who also is president of the Haines Chamber of Commerce.
The Hesses sure have a hell of an attitude don't they.
Jet boats
@Latitud58 - Have you ever heard, "innocent until proven guilty"? It's been proven in court they're are following all guidelines approppriated.
@Longtime - it's ignorant people like you that don't take the time to realize that the jet boats recently upgraded to 4 stroke engines to cut noise pollution... But I'm sure your vehicle is oh so quiet. You should care about their livelihood because believe it or not your indirectly/directly involved with income profited and redsitrbuted into the community.
@Tridef - Who are you? Are you running for any political office placement? In the 20+ years that Chilkat River Adventures has been operating have the salmon spawning grounds depleted? Do you have factual evidence that its because of CRA. I ask that look into all facts before you make a statement. As for the air injection..they were never found guilty. Now move on... How long have you lived in Alaska? Maybe you should move back to where you came from. Mr. Hess has lived in Alaska since he was 19, I would consider him local.
@highflyer - Check your facts... Mrs. Hess hasn't been on the Chamber of Commerce for 5-6 years.
Girl73
Read my post again:
"And BASED ON THIS ARTICLE, IT APPEARS that there's ample evidence..."
Note that I caveated my statement due to the source. If Hess demonstrates his innocence, good for him. If not, yank his permit. It's really pretty simple.
alaska girl 73
...we can do without all the low paying jobs they bring in...it would be nice if they were gone and peace and quiet returns...just how do they contribute to anything besides being a menace to a lot of people and lining their pockets with money..oh I forgot, they buy gas and pay property tax..
@Lat
You would be foolish to base anything on an article found in the Empire...Reporting standards are way way too low there.
Amazing...
@ Latitude - Again your ignorance is not becoming of you. Low paying jobs? Do you even know what they pay their employees? You might be surprised. IF you are/were from Haines you would know they contribute more than what you speak. IF your from Haines...I'm sure what they've spent in that town has paid your measly salary numerous times over. As for them being a menace...I would think your comments are more of a menace. They surely don't line their pockets...have you every heard of overhead...it tends to be high when you have people/organizations like LCC always trying to prove a point just to get their name to be heard. I would love to sit down and debate these facts with you but I think that I might be lowering my standards.
Move along minon move along....
@Latitude58 - This article has evidence presented to them from LCC, that's not factual until proven in court. Let the games begin.
@AH HA...I couldn't agree more.