Watersheds support numerous impressive wildlife communities, but perhaps the most sensational are migratory birds. Here in the Upper Lynn Canal, a dramatic scene unfolds in the spring each year, the magnitude of which can be seen, smelled, and heard throughout the valley. The mud and sand flats at the Chilkat River estuary are a major migratory stopover site […]
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Eulachon run returns to Chilkoot River
Eulachon have returned to the Chilkoot River after two years of a lackluster turnout. Environmental DNA and mark-and-recapture data collected by the Chilkoot Indian Association suggest a population of around 4.7 million eulachon on the Chilkoot this year, field technician Meredith Pochardt said. The average eulachon run is around eight million fish, she said. The […]
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Watershed Weekly “People of the light”
It’s late April in the upper Lynn Canal, and that means the saak are coming! The snow is melting and spring winds kick up dust storms on the newly exposed flats of the lower Chilkat River. Many refer to these cold winds, dust storms, and the frequent passing of snow and rain squalls as “hooligan weather.” Saak […]
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Chilkat, Klehini listed as endangered on national conservation group report
The Klehini and Chilkat rivers were identified as “America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2023,” according to American Rivers, a national conservation organization. The Klehini and Chilkat rivers were nominated by the Chilkat Indian Village and regional and local conservation organizations including Alaska Clean Water Advocacy, Lynn Canal Conservation, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and Rivers Without Borders. American […]
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Duly Noted
Joe Hotch, who served Klukwan for decades as a political, cultural, and spiritual leader, died Tuesday morning at Mount Edgecumbe Medical Center in Sitka. He had been transported there following an apparent heart attack last week. Hotch was 92 and was among the last fluent Tlingit speakers in the Chilkat Valley. His tenure as village president included […]
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Planning commission denies cease-and-desist appeal
An order from the borough manager to cease and desist heliport operations at Airkat Airpark was delivered to George and Lynnette Campbell last month. The private airstrip at 26 Mile of Haines Highway was ordered to shut down until a conditional use permit (CUP) was granted. The Campbells appealed the action to the borough’s planning commission on […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
Hazel Englund celebrated her 100th birthday this Saturday among 30 family members and friends who came from Skagway to Arizona to celebrate her big day. Family of Hazel’s who made the trip included great granddaughter Kyrstin O’Daniel, grandchildren Cari and Kolin O’Daniel, Valerie Zimbrich, Darren and Brett Englund, and Mikki Chandler (with husband Donny and their daughter Shelby). Other family members were Hazel’s daughter Jo Kauffman, nieces Glorianne Anderson (with husband Chris and their […]
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Assembly reverses heliport decision
The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday night reversed the planning commission’s decision to grant a conditional use permit (CUP) for a Chilkat River Adventures heliport at 24 Mile Haines Highway. The assembly voted 5-1 with Debra Schnabel, Ben Aultman-Moore, Cheryl Stickler, Gabe Thomas, and Tyler Huling in favor and Jerry Lapp in opposition to reversing the decision. The assembly reconsidered the approval of Chilkat River Adventures co-owner […]
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Hearing granted over Palmer wastewater permit
A state administrative law judge will hear concerns raised by the Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan (CIV) and environmental groups about a plan to discharge mining wastewater into the Klehini River watershed. Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC)commissioner Jason Brune late last month approved a request from Earthjustice — a law firm representing CIV and five environmental […]
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Assembly to reconsider 24-Mile heliport CUP
Following consideration of five appeals, the Haines Borough Assembly stepped back from a planning commission decision last week to authorize a new heliport at 24 Mile Haines Highway. The assembly voted 4-2 to rehear River Adventures’ conditional use permit (CUP) application for the heliport, which had been approved for one year’s heliski season. Ben Aultman-Moore, Gabe Thomas, Debra Schnabel and Tyler Huling supported the […]