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slopes of upper Hoonah Sound and Finger River. The proposed 

 multiple use/timber harvest zone would include almost all 

 habitats below 500 ' elevation. Higher volume old-growth 

 forests below 500' elevation are the most valuable deer 

 winter range; old-growth forests above 500' elevation are 

 mostly scrub forest and muskeg with little wildlife value 

 during the winter. Excellent brown bear habitat occurs 

 throughout the proposed area, especially the riparian 

 old-growth forests along the Lisianski River, Goose Flats, 

 and Patterson Creek. Under the SEC proposal crucial bear 

 habitat will be eliminated by the roading and logging of 

 Patterson Creek and Goose Flats. The protection of this 

 area from logging and associated roading may be critical to 

 the long-term maintenance of a healthy brown bear population 

 on Chichagof Island. The proposed multiple use/timber 

 harvest zone also includes all of the forest in the beach 

 fringe zone, which is the most important habitat for bald 

 eagles, river otters, and several forest birds. The 

 proposed no-harvest zone would protect little important 

 wildlife habitat. 



Residents of Tenakee, Haines and Hoonah consider this area 

 to be one of the most reliable for the subsistence harvest 

 of deer. Hoonah residents harvest salmon along the rivers 

 and fish and invertebrates in the estuaries for subsistence. 

 Juneau deer hunters spend around 200 days in the upper 

 Tenakee Inlet area, including the Goose Flats country. 

 Brown bears are also hunted in this area. 



Nutkwa: 



This proposed area includes a portion of southwestern Prince 

 of Wales Island south of the community of Hydaburg. The 

 area provides excellent habitat for black bears, marten, and 

 river otters. It also supports moderate numbers of deer, 

 wolves, and bald eagles. The proposed multiple use/timber 

 harvest zone would remove the most important riparian and 

 upland wildlife habitats from protected status. The 

 proposed no harvest zone would protect important beach 

 fringe habitats along the Nutkwa Lagoon, but little other 

 important wildlife habitat. 



Residents of Hydaburg consider the entire area to be one of 

 the most reliable for their subsistence harvest of deer. 

 They also subsistence fish for salmon and other finfish in 

 the area. Edna Bay residents use the estuarine waters for 

 their subsistence harvest of invertebrates. Ketchikan 

 residents spend around 50 hunter-days harvesting deer in 

 Nutkwa. Black bears are harvested by residents of Prince of 

 Wales Island, Ketchikan, other regions of Alaska and non 

 residents. 



