Haines State Forest staff facilitated repairs to a number of upper valley roads that were damaged during the Dec. 2 storms.
State forester Greg Palmieri told the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Advisory Council this week that damages to the Little Salmon River, Clear Creek, Sunshine and Kelsall roads were all repaired.
Council member Rich Chappell commended Palmieri’s work that improved public access.
“He’s restored access to all the forest roads that are important for accessing fish and wildlife resources and for berry picking too,” Chapell said.
Crews also repaired running planks on the Porcupine Bridge.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game commercial fisheries biologist Nicole Zeiser updated the council on fish harvest and estimated escapement. All salmon stocks returns are below the 10-year average, but Zeiser highlighted one bright spot, a late run of sockeye up the Chilkoot River that pushed the returns above the upper escapement threshold.
Council member Bill Thomas asked what the latest American Bald Eagle counts were and if the chum returns impacted eagle populations. Council member Derek Poinsette, who is involved with eagle counts with Takshanuk Watershed Council, said there appears to be an average number of eagles.
“About the last week of October there were a lot more chums in the river and the eagles followed them,” Poinsette said.
Thomas also criticized the mitigation construction around the new highway construction that consists of stands of dead cottonwood trees.
It’s the ugliest sight I’ve ever seen and you’re destroying the scenic view,” Thomas said. “It looks like a fortress out there.”
Thomas said he plans to request at the next meeting that the trees be cut lower to the water.
A Fish and Game staff person said the department was limited to work within the Alaska Department of Fish and Game right of way and that the stands are meant to act as eagle perches. The mitigation work was also planned to create additional summer coho habitat.
“Bill, you are not alone,” said Preston Kroes, Alaska State Parks Southeast superintendent. “A lot of people I talk to, including myself, look at those things and think, ‘Yes. It’s quite an eyesore.’”
The council’s next meeting is scheduled for January.