410 



of the open, unprotected area. Each year the fishermen must 

 spend the time and money to bring new material from Yakutat 

 in order to remake their temporary camps. This expense 

 could be reduced if the Park Service would allow the 

 fishermen to leave their tents up in the winter. While the 

 fishermen are confined to the windy spit, the Park Service 

 required the commercial guides bringing raft trips down the 

 Alsek River to set up their camps in an area where the 

 fishermen traditionally picked strawberries. As a result, 

 the strawberries are no longer available for the fishermen 

 or their families. It is very difficult for the fishermen 

 from Yakutat to have to struggle annually with the Park 

 Service over the newest rules and regulations while trying 

 to make a very modest living fishing. If the Yakutat 

 Forelands east of the Dangerous River are subjected to these 

 types of regulations where the primary thrust of the 

 regulators is not to protect the commercial fishing or use 

 of fish and wildlife for the local community, then one of 

 the last primary areas for the residents of Yakutat will be 

 taken from them. 



The other primary area is the Situk drain 

 in the Forelands east of the Dangerous River. 

 Situk drainage is not affected by the proposed 

 the Situk drainage will probably be flooded wi 

 years so that it will be many years before it 

 provide sustenance and a commercial base to Ya 

 the Hubbard Glacier closes off Russell Fjord, 

 will flood out the Situk River, washing out pa 

 forest, destroying fish spawning areas, and ot 

 changing the Situk drainage in a dramatic way. 

 happens, the residents of Yakutat who rely on 

 drainage for their commercial fishing will hav 

 other areas. As a result, the Yakutat Forelan 

 Dangerous River to Dry Bay, will have to suppo 

 fishermen displaced by the flooding of the Sit 

 The only limit which should be placed on this 

 human demand for the resources in the Yakutat 

 between the Dangerous River and Dry Bay should 

 required to sustain and enhance the fish and w 

 area so they can provide a sustainable harvest 

 residents of Yakutat. 



age, which is 

 Although the 

 legislation, 



thin a few 



can again 



kutat. When 



Russell Fjord 



rts of the 



herwise 

 When this 



the Situk 



e to look for 



ds from the 



rt the 



uk drainage. 



increased 



Forelands 

 be the limits 



ildlife of the 

 for the 



IV Conclusion 



Attached to this statement for your information are 

 copies of the resolutions of YKI passed February 2, 1990 and 

 the City passed February 20, 1990. 



In conclusion, the City of Yakutat and Yak-Tat Kwaan, 

 Inc. request that the Yakutat Forelands between the 

 Dangerous River and Dry Bay: 



