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NFC: Fw: Help Protect South-central Alaska's Roadless Rivers!
Help Protect South-central Alaska's Roadless Rivers!
Comment Deadline: December 14, 2000
Visit http://amriversaction.ctsg.com/index.asp?step=2&item=150 to
take action today!
There are just a few days left to urge the Forest Service to protect
the spectacular free-flowing rivers of southeastern Alaska's Chugach
National Forest as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
and Wilderness Systems. The Service is revising its 10-15 year
management plan for the region, which will determine the level of
protection afforded these pristine rivers until Congress decides
whether or not to provide them permanent protection as wild and
scenic rivers. The final plan will also have a strong influence on
whether or not Congress decides to pass legislation to officially
designate them as wild and scenic rivers.
In its draft management plan, the Forest Service neglects several
outstanding rivers, in particular those of the Kenai Peninsula and
the Copper River Basin, for recommendation as wild and scenic rivers
and/or wilderness. These rivers and others in the region are critical
to the health of the Alaska rainforest. They provide essential
habitat for salmon, which are the basis of the region's commercial
and sportfishing economies, and habitat and migration corridors for
wildlife such as brown and black bear. The Chugach National Forest
will likely be one of two National Forests exempted from a national
policy on roadless areas, therefore the recommendations put forth in
the Plan are critical to ensuring these rivers and their many
outstandingly remarkable values are protected.
Which rivers need wild and scenic river protection?
The four rivers in the Kenai Peninsula/Turnagain Arm region- the
Twentymile River System, Snow River, Nellie Juan River, and Upper
Russian River.. The Forest Service found these rivers eligible for
Wild designation through the inventory process called for by the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act but did not recommend Wild designation. This
portion of Chugach National Forest is on the road corridor, making it
the most heavily populated, heavily used, and heavily threatened area
of the forest.
Sixmile Creek. This river, found eligible for scenic river
protection, is very popular with whitewater enthusiasts and is
accessible by road in numerous places.
Seattle Creek and Resurrection River. The Forest Service neglected to
study these two remarkable rivers for potential designation as wild
and scenic rivers. Seattle Creek, located in a heavily forested
valley, is the only remaining 100% roadless river to drain into
Turnagain Arm. Resurrection River, which drains into Resurrection
Bay, is roadless above Exit Glacier Bridge and contains critical
brown bear habitat and old growth rainforest.
The rivers in the Copper River Delta/Cordova region. The Bering
River, Copper River, Martin River, Bering and Martin Lakes, and
Martin River Slough are all eligible for Wild designation, but the
Forest Service draft plan fails to recommend such a designation. All
provide critical fish and migratory waterfowl habitat and should be
protected as wild rivers. To prevent the threat of road building the
entire region should be recommended for wilderness designation.
Visit http://amriversaction.ctsg.com/index.asp?step=2&item=150 to
help save roadless rivers in southcentral Alaska! Take Action Now!
For more information on Wild and Scenic Rivers, visit
www.americanrivers.org/template2.asp?cat=2&page=267&id=289&filter=-1