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Southeast Regional Fish & Game Council 



c/o ADF4G, Division of Boards, P.O. Box 3-2000, Juneau, Alaska 99802 PHONE: (907) 465-41 10 



February 15, 1990 



Advisory Committees 



Angoon 



Craig 



Edna Bay 



Elfin Cove 



Gastineau Channel 



Hydaburg 



Hyder 



Icy Strain 



Kakc 



Ketchikan 



Klawock 



Klukwan 



Pelican 



Petersburg 



Port Alexander 



Silka 



Sumner Straits 



Tenakee 



Upper Lynn Canal 



Wrangcll 



Yakutat 



The Honorable J. Bennett Johnston 



Chairman 



Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 



United States Senate 



SD-364 Dirksen Senate Office Building 



Washington, D.c. 20510 



Dear Senator Johnston: 



The Southeast Regional Fish and Game Council (the Council) Is 

 composed of 21 local state fish and game advisory committees 

 as established by Title VIII of ANILCA and Alaska Statutes 

 Title 16 to advise and recommend management of fish and 

 wildlife resources. The council recently met In Juneau, 

 February 7-9, 1990 and took the following action. Previously, 

 the Council unanimously made the following recommendations: 



1. 450 million annual timber harvest goal: The 45 million 

 board foot annual timber harvest should not be mandated. 

 The mandated figure causes management to compromise true 

 multiple use goals such as fish and wildlife values, 

 subsistence, recreational, and other resources uses. The 

 Forest Service should make the annual cut reflect a 

 combination of true Industry needs, a comprehensive mix 

 of market demand, environmental and other resource 

 protection concerns. We recommend the Forest service be 

 directed to provide permanent habitat protection to 

 sustain and enhance the present populations of fish and 

 wildlife. 



2. 50-year contract: The 50-year timber contracts should 

 be renegotiated to reflect environmental concerns, 

 updated silviculture Information, mitigation for 

 resources impacted by the timber harvest, and local 

 economic needs. 



3. $40 million annual appropriation: The $40 million 

 Tongass Timber Supply Fund should be appropriated for 

 multiple use planning, which includes funding for 

 fisheries, habitat rehabilitation, recreational 

 activities, fisheries enhancement, and pre-commerclal 

 thinning of second growth timber. 



4. Land designations: The Council is not convinced 

 wilderness designation is the best method of protecting 

 high-value recreation, fish and wildlife habitats from 

 logging. We favor legislated lud II designation for 23 

 areas currently listed in legislation. 



