While its members can’t decide if they support designating the Chilkat River as an Outstanding National Resource Water, the Upper Lynn Canal Fish and Game Advisory Committee last week unanimously voted to recommend that the state decide such designations through science-based state agencies rather than the politically-charged Alaska Legislature.
The committee agreed to send a letter to Gov. Bill Walker and the House and Senate chairs asking nominations and designations for Outstanding National Resource Waters – also known as Tier 3 waters – be determined by state agencies that use science as rationale.
“We would hope to see actions affecting the health and welfare of fish and game populations be driven by the principles of sustainability based upon empirical science and kept from the political arena where oftentimes the best interest of fish and game resources take a back seat to political expediency,” the letter said.
Alaska doesn’t have a mechanism for establishing Tier 3 waters, although having one is a federal requirement under the Clean Water Act. Establishing the mechanism was the goal of two bills introduced by Gov. Walker – Senate Bill 163 and House Bill 283 – in the legislature that would make legislators responsible for making the designation.
According to Walker’s press secretary Katie Marquette, Walker withdrew those bills from consideration in April and decided to go back to the drawing board.
“Right now the governor is focused on the special session, and they will revisit the issue when that is done,” Marquette said this week.
The Chilkat Indian Village’s nomination of the Chilkat River for Tier 3 status has generated considerable controversy in the valley since early 2015, prompting an informational meeting with the Department of Environmental Conservation this spring.
Residents have expressed divided opinions on the issue, some voicing concern that the designation would limit area development, and others claiming it would help protect a vulnerable watershed.
Though the issue has eaten up hours at recent advisory committee meetings, last week’s discussion was very limited, said advisory committee member Kip Kermoian.
The letter didn’t specify what state agencies the committee would prefer to handle the nominations and designations, though Kermoian said he personally would like to see a combination of agencies like the departments of Environmental Conservation, Natural Resources and Fish and Game.
“I don’t think there should be one agency that makes the determination,” Kermoian said. “I think it should be based on what knowledge we have about the sustainability of those populations.”
Kermoian said he should have read the letter more carefully, as he doesn’t support state agencies having the only authority to nominate Tier 3 waters. Currently, any person can nominate a water for Tier 3 status.
“Had I been more thorough at looking at it I guess I would have made that comment,” he said.