A national land trust has purchased the 160-acre Cox
homestead property in the upper Chilkoot Valley for donation to the Alaska Chilkat Bald
Eagle Preserve.
The northernmost private land in the narrow valley, the property abuts
the eagle preserve and straddles the headwaters of Chilkoot Lake. Its advertised sale
during the summer prompted environmentalists to seek a prohibition on future subdivision
of properties there.
Planning commission member Kathleen Menke, who supported the
prohibition, this week said she was excited by the purchase she called "a huge
step" toward protecting resources valuable to the community.
"The whole watershed above the lake is just so important to
everything we have below the lake – tourism, salmon fisheries, eulachon, land values.
It all depends on the upper watershed being as pristine as possible."
Brad Meiklejohn, Alaska representative for The Conservation Fund, said
his organization responded to many requests from Haines residents to buy the land. The
fund has made two other donations to the preserve in recent years, buying 115 acres of the
former Reeves homestead downstream from the Cox land in 2000 and a two-acre property along
the Chilkat River at 7 Mile Haines Highway in 2005.
"We had a lot of people say that this piece was important habitat
and should stay in a more or less natural condition. It’s good habitat for bears and
for spawning salmon. The Chilkoot River runs through the middle of it. It would be
difficult to develop over time and there’d be considerable problems from development
up there," Meiklejohn said.
The sale leaves 84 acres of private property above the lake, with
access limited to crossing the lake by boat. Menke said she’d like to see a community
discussion of the upper Chilkoot incorporated into the borough’s comprehensive plan.
Meiklejohn said his group wouldn’t rule out buying the remaining
private acreage. "It might come next. We’re always open to suggestions."
The Conservation Fund, based in Arlington, Va., is a 22-year-old group
dedicated to protecting wildlife habitat and open spaces. It has protected five million
acres nationwide, including 300,000 acres in Alaska, Meiklejohn said.
Seasonal resident J. Moody, who sold the homestead, could not be
reached for comment. Real estate agent Jim Studley brokered the deal.
