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KARTA RIVER PROPOSAL. 



DESCRIPTION: Famous for its sockeye runs, a good producer of 

 pink salmon, and nationally )cnown for its steelhead populations. 

 Alaska Fish and Game Department considers Karta to be one of the 

 most productive anadromous fish systems on Prince of Wales 

 Island, and the best producer on the eastern side of the island. 

 Very popular recreation area. High subsistence use. 



HISTORY: Passed by U.S. House of Representatives as wilderness 

 in 1978. Proposed as wilderness by the Forest Service in 1979. 

 Recognized by Alaska Department of Fish and Game as a Class 1 

 Area and as one of the best sport fishing streams in southeast 

 Alaska. Recommended by the State for management as a "natural 

 area" in 1961 and as a protected "undeveloped area" in 1972. 

 Recommended for wilderness designation by Sealaska Corporation in 

 1987. Included in proposed logging ban by the Haida Nation in 

 1987. Supported as priority fish habitat area for protection by 

 United Fishermen of Alaska in 1988. Proposed by Forest Service 

 as a Research Natural Area in 1988. U.S. House of 

 Representatives approved a five year moratorium on logging this 

 area in 1988. 



LAND STATUS: LUD I Release and thus not currently counted in 

 timber base. Located within the KPC 50-year contract area; 

 currently two-thirds of this area have been programmed for timber 

 sales and road building — to be initiated in 1990 and sold/har- 

 vested beginning in 1994. 



ACREAGE: 39,886 acres. 



SCHEDULED TIMBER BASE: 0. 



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