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Sitkans turned out in high numbers to comment on the recently released draft content for the Tongass National Forest land management plan (KCAW\/Rose)<\/p>\nSitkans turned out in high numbers to comment on the recently released draft content for the Tongass National Forest land management plan (KCAW\/Rose)<\/p>\n
More than 100 Sitkans turned up at a community listening session earlier this week (4-27-26) to give input on the Tongass National Forest land management plan. For the first time in around 3 decades, the United States Forest Service is in the midst of revising the plan that shapes how the agency makes decisions on the forest. Some pushed back on the methodology and speed, as well as the proposed maps, which include designating parts of nearby Kruzof Island as \u201chigh commercial use.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room was so packed in Sitka\u2019s Harrigan Centennial Hall, that some community members asked organizers to remove a temporary wall on one side to make more space. Folks squeezed in to share their thoughts on the land management planning process for the Tongass National Forest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The draft plan is not out yet- that will be released later this year. But the Forest Service is looking for feedback on some preliminary content. Here\u2019s Deputy Forest Supervisor Barb Miranda:<\/p>\n
\u201cI fully expect that our forest plan will end up not looking anything like the maps up there,\u201d Miranda said. \u201cWe want to hear what you think about these ideas, and we want your reaction to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miranda noted posters lining the walls around the room that illustrate a potential \u201crezoning\u201d of Tongass into fewer management areas. Some of the same designations like \u201cold growth habitat\u201d are still in use, along with\u00a0 some new ones, like \u201ccommunity use\u201d and \u201chigh\u201d and \u201clow\u201d commercial recreation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo how did we come about drawing these lines on a map? It was a geospatial exercise. Commercial recreation was only drawn for towns with large cruise ship docks, and the thought was that maybe we should, maybe, and these are all just conversation starters, maybe we should have some places where you can expect there to be high amounts of commercial recreation,\u201d Miranda said.<\/p>\n
There wasn\u2019t an opportunity to provide public testimony at the event. Instead the audience was asked to share feedback through various surveys and activities set up around the room. Still, during a quick question and answer session after Miranda\u2019s presentation, several community members raised concerns about the content that was shared. Some flagged the map designating parts of nearby Kruzof Island, the location of Mt. Edgecumbe volcano, as \u201chigh commercial recreation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlie Skultka Jr. wanted to know who made that proposal.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy question, who did that? How do we find out who suggested that internally?\u201d asked Charlie Skultka Jr.<\/p>\n
Caroline Hodur reiterated his concerns.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason why it\u2019s so important is that we want to be comfortable with these decisions and who is driving them, because if there are groups who are driving them, that we all kind of know, then we also know that our opinions don\u2019t matter,\u201d Hodur said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd there\u2019s groups that are even higher than the city and the state that are driving this deregulation,\u201d Skultka said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019s that\u2019s why we\u2019re animated, because this is very, very important to us,\u201d Hodur said.<\/p>\n
Miranda said there was no outside influence on how the map lines were drawn.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was just like, \u2018What can we put out there so that you guys can react to something?\u2019 We got you here,\u201d Miranda said. \u201cIf there is a place where\u2026you want protected, then please. That\u2019s what, exactly what we want to hear.\u201d <\/p>\n
Concerns were also raised about how Alaska fisheries were prioritized in the plan material \u2013 and about the speed and methods of the process itself. Tory O\u2019Connell Curran said the maps should be born out of the community first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCould we just make a gray map for each of these communities, redo these community groups, and ask people, like Charlie, to draw the map that he would like?\u201d Curran suggested. \u201cAnd sure you\u2019re going to have disagreements, but the final product of that map will reflect the actual community use and their concerns about fisheries, their concerns about surfing, their concerns about how we\u2019re trying to get by in this changing climate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miranda said they wished that was an option, but they\u2019re on a tight timeline. Linda Behnken pushed back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it true, though, that you are moving this at a faster timeline than you\u2019re required to by law? I mean, this is a rush job, right?\u201d Behnken said. \u201cAnd I think that\u2019s what you\u2019re hearing from communities. You\u2019re pushing this through too fast, and these are huge changes being proposed, and our communities don\u2019t want it changes way, and we certainly don\u2019t want to be rushed through a process that has this big impact on our livelihood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miranda said, \u201cThere are some things that are in our control and some things that are not.\u201d But they want the public involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want you to continue to look over our shoulder, and we\u2019re going to be as transparent as possible,\u201d Miranda said. <\/p>\n
The Forest Service will take comments on the draft plan\u2019s initial content until May 6. The draft plan will be released in November, which will be followed by a 90 day comment window. The final plan will be released next summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n