115 



-7- 



This proposed area includes a portion of northern Chichagof 

 Island from Pt. Adolphus to Port Althorc Pecause of the 

 large intertidal mud flats, riparian old-growth forests, and 

 estuarine habitats, the area supports high numbers of brown 

 bears, bald eagles, marten, river otters, and waterfowl. 

 The lower-elevation old-growth forests provide important 

 deer winter range. The proposed multiple use/timber harvest 

 zone would potentially harvest the critical beach fringe and 

 riparian wildlife habitats in Idaho Inlet, including a large 

 portion of the best deer winter range. The proposal would 

 not maintain wildlife values. 



Residents of Haines, Elfin Cove, Gustavus, Hoonah, Pelican, 

 and Sitka consider various portions of the area to be one of 

 the most reliable areas for their subsistence harvest of 

 deer, including the area available to timber harvesting. 

 Hoonah residents also subsistence fish for salmon along the 

 rivers at the heads of Idaho Inlet and Port Althorp. Juneau 

 deer hunters spend over 800 hunter-days in the area each 

 year, with 59 percent of the deer harvested from the area to 

 be made available for timber harvesting. 



Mansfield Peninsula : 



The proposed area is a small portion if northern Admiralty 

 Island. The Mansfield Peninsula is an important wildlife 

 use area, especially for Juneau residents. Unfortunately, 

 however, the proposed no harvest zone includes only a small 

 portion of the important wildlife habitats. The best deer 

 winter range, along the western slopes of Robert Baron Peak 

 and the drainages into Hawk Inlet, would not be protected. 

 Likewise, important brown bear, marten, river otter, bald 

 eagle, and cavity-nesting bird habitats have not been 

 included in the proposed area. 



Residents of Angoon and Point Baker consider the area to be 

 one of the most reliable for their subsistence harvest of 

 deer. Skagway residents also hunt deer in the area. Juneau 

 deer hunters spend around 2500 hunter-days harvesting over 

 600 deer from the entire Mansfield Peninsula; however, the 

 exact level of hunting pressure within this small area is 

 not known. 



SUMMARY 



The proposed modifications to the Tongass position of the 

 Southeast Conference would remove permanent protection for a 

 substantial amount of valuable fish and wildlife habitat in 

 the areas recommended for protection under the original 

 position. For the most part, the timber harvest proposal 

 targets high volume, old-growth forest at lower elevations 

 and within beach and riparian zones. These areas are also 



