It’s looking like a lousy king salmon year and it’s too early to know much about sockeye returns, but the Haines fishing fleet is harvesting a solid return of hatchery chums. “Everyone’s bringing in enhanced chums,” said Wyatt Rhea-Fournier, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Lynn Canal (District 15) area management biologist for commercial fisheries. “They are […]
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Posted inThank You Letters
Thanks for helping student rafters
Many thanks to Rainbow Glacier Adventures for the generous donation of a rafting trip to our students as a wonderful culmination of a year of studies about the Chilkat River. Joe Ordóñez and Edie Granger floated the idea and took care of logistics, while Dave Tinnes and Nate Anderson paddled us down the river safely and […]
Posted inNews, Timber
University approves moving ahead with Haines timber sale
The University of Alaska Board of Regents has directed staff to proceed with negotiations for a timber sale in the Haines area, with final contract terms expected to come to the board for approval in late July or August. Allowing for permitting and work-plan approval by state regulatory agencies, the earliest timber harvesting could start […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Who has our best interest in mind?
As a professional woodworker, I realize that trees have to be cut down and metals need to be mined for me to do my job. But I don’t support cutting down thousands of trees for export or mining copper upstream of where our salmon are spawning. The Chilkat River has produced food and jobs for thousands of […]
Posted inNews
Chum price, run forecast looks good for fishermen
Commercial fishermen can expect an average sockeye return and a high chum price this season, according to Alaska Department of Fish and Game commercial fisheries biologist, Wyatt Rhea-Fournier. “It’s probably not going to be any surprises this year. Low king salmon, average sockeye salmon,” Rhea-Founier said. Fish and Game has instituted some of the most […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
In the end, it’s not worth the risk
I grew up in New Jersey and have lived in Haines for five years. I bought my home in Haines 10 years ago after my first visit to this beautiful and unique place of the world. You can’t catch fish in most of the rivers in New Jersey, can’t live near any river that does […]
Posted inNews
Triathlon participation hikes in second year
With the cut-off still three weeks away, participation in the Chilkat Challenge Triathlon is nearly double that of last year’s inaugural event. About 100 people from Anchorage, Haines, Whitehorse, towns across Southeast as well as Seattle, Vermont and South Carolina have signed up for the 37-mile paddle, run and bike race. “It’s really getting to […]
Posted inNews
Eulachon make big splash again this year
Little silver fish turned the Chilkoot and Chilkat rivers black during last week’s spring eulachon run. Takshanuk Watershed Council Executive Director Meredith Pochardt said an estimated 8.5 million eulachon, a smelt also known as hooligan or candlefish, made it up the Chilkoot River. “Last year there were 13 million fish which was a mega run, […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Debris disposal raises questions
Considering the contentious issues and sensitive conversations regarding the Chilkat River and the valley, as a whole, it would seem a discerning choice that Alaska Division of Parks would not exercise an option like dumping debris into the Chilkat River; unfortunately, that is what has happened. A recent clearing project at the 19.5-mile Council Grounds Eagle Interpretive Area, […]
Posted inNews, Local News, Klukwan
Board asks Klukwan to pull nets during king peak
In an attempt to save king salmon, a local advisory committee considered asking Klukwan subsistence fishermen to pull their nets out of the Chilkat River during the peak of the Chinook run. Instead of official action, however, the request will come from individual members. Upper Lynn Canal Fish and Game Advisory Committee member Ryan Cook said at an April 26 meeting […]