As spring approaches, birds will be showing up on the tidal estuary of the Chilkat River and the Chilkoot River. It is important that the people enjoying these riversides keep their dogs close and do not allow dogs to chase wildlife. Thoughtless lack of control of your dog’s behavior comes at the cost of migrating birds getting […]
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Posted inClimate, News
High water temperatures measured last year at Chilkat Lake weir
No harm to salmon reported Temperatures high enough, in theory, to harm fish were measured in 2019 and again last year at the Chilkat Lake weir, along a major thoroughfare for the Chilkat Valley’s sockeye salmon, according to Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Takshanuk Watershed Council data. No obvious damage to salmon was […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
Mayme Nickerson traveled to Klukwan this week from Klawock for the 40-day party for her late husband Donald Nickerson Sr. About 50-60 people attended the gathering at the Klukwan ANS Hall Sunday, bringing favorite dishes to share. Joe Hotch Sr., Smith Katzeek and Ed Warren did much of the speaking. Mayme’s brothers are Marvin, Lawrence and Leonard Willard; her sisters are Arlene Willard and Rachel Hotch. Editors at the Guardian are apparently […]
Posted inNews
2021 sees rebuilding, recovery from disaster, pandemic
Recovery and rebuilding were the watchwords of 2021 as residents navigated life in Haines among the wreckage left by the December storms and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Also in this year’s news, the borough secured a $20 million grant to repair the Lutak Dock, a new borough manager was hired, incidents of bear and human interactions, including […]
Posted inNews, Wildlife
Counts show bald eagles are back after year of disappointment
The council grounds along the Chilkat River are once again animated with bald eagles, after a season of historic quiet. Stacie Evans, science director at Takshanuk Watershed Council, tallied a season-high of 626 birds around Haines on Nov. 9, compared to 279 on the peak day last fall. “I’d say they bounced back,” Evans said. “The numbers […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly Briefs
Two new tours approved This week, the Haines Borough Assembly approved two new tour permits—one for Chilkat River Adventures and one for Alaska Mountain Guides Adventures (AMGA). The Chilkat River Adventures new tour, “Explore Haines ‘On Your Own,’” will coordinate travel for visitors coming over from Skagway on the fast ferry and take them on short tours of Fort Seward and […]
Posted inNews
With Excursion Inlet shut, more boats sell to Haines Packing
Boost expected for fish tax revenues Despite relatively low salmon harvest numbers in the Lynn Canal this season, Haines Packing Company processed 2.5 million pounds of salmon—the most since Harry Rietze took over the plant at Letnikof Cove in 2013. Forty gillnetters, or about two-thirds of the Haines fleet, landed their fish at Letnikof. That’s a 60% […]
Posted inNews
Ole Taug takes home top derby prize amid strong coho run
Ole Taug took home the biggest fish with his 13.6-pound coho and the $1,450 first-place prize during this year’s Haines Sportsman’s Association Annual Coho Derby. This year’s derby, a fundraiser for the Sportsman’s Association scholarship fund, was matched with a strong coho run in the Chilkoot River drawing myriad sport anglers to the lake throughout […]
Posted inWildlife, News
Will the bald eagles return this year?
Last fall, Stacie Evans counted fewer bald eagles around Haines than in any survey since 1986, when counts began. On the peak day in 2020, Evans observed only 279 eagles, down from 1,238 the year before. Two decades ago, peak counts eclipsed 2,000 birds. Evans, who is Takshanuk Watershed Council’s science director, said the survey […]
Posted inNews
Coho derby continues with tie at the top
Haines’ coho derby just crossed the halfway point, and no one is winning. Well, two people are. Robert Jennings and Olen Larson are tied at the top of the overall leaderboard. Both caught silver salmon weighing 13.05 pounds. “I don’t know how we’re going to deal with that. Hopefully someone will just beat it,” said […]