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YAKUTAT FORELAWD8 PROPOSAL. 



DESCRIPTION: Located on mainland east of City of Yakutat between 

 Glacier Bay National Park Preserve, Wrangell-St. Elias National 

 Park Preserve and Russell Fjord Wilderness Area. A low slope 

 coastal plain which is still uplifting, backed by spectacularly 

 rugged coastal mountains. Numerous major river systems from the 

 mountains to the Gulf of Alaska critically important for fish 

 spawning runs. The most diverse ecosystem in the Tongass, 

 including: extensive sandy beaches along the sea; dune ridges still 

 being built by the Pacific ocean; muskeg, dune and swale 

 ecosystems; raised moraines forested with western and mountain 

 hemlock, sitka spruce and lodgepole pine; and rock wall mountains. 

 Many glacial lakes, glaciers and ice fields. Very important area 

 for commercial fishing and subsistence use. Moose, brown and black 

 bear (including the rare glacial "blue bear" phase), and mountain 

 goat habitat as well as for geese, trumpeter swans and sandhill 

 cranes. Very popular for outdoor recreation. 



HISTORY: Included as one of five areas proposed for v/ilderness in 

 the original H.R. 39. The TLMP in 1979 recognized the area as the 

 single most diverse and productive fish, wildlife, and waterfowl 

 area in the Tongass. The salmon streams, including the Italio, 

 Akwe, and Ustay-Tanis River systems, are highly productive 

 commercial fisheries -- which produce all five species of salmon -- 

 and have been given the highest possible fishery ratings by the 

 Forest Service. Important area for subsistence for the Native 

 Tlingit people of Yakutat. The State of Alaska Department of Fish 

 and Game has classified virtually all of the area as Class I, a 

 classification that requests complete protection from logging and 

 road building for the area. Road building and logging unanimously 



:osed by Yakutat City Council in February 1988. First proposed 

 i.r wilderness by SEACC in 1970. Protection requested by Yakutat 

 Fishermen's Association in 1988. Supported as a priority fish 

 habitat area by United Fishermen of Alaska in 1988. Recommended for 

 wilderness designation by Sealaska Corporation in 1987. 

 Encompasses eight Research Natural Area proposals by Forest Service 

 in 1988. 



LAND STATUS: All forested areas are LUD III, the rest of the area 

 is LUD II. Not in the 50-year contract areas. Current Forest 

 Service plans are to build up to 170 miles of permanent new roads 

 and log a series of tracts in the area beginning after 1989. A 

 small capacity sawmill that has never been operational was built 

 north of Yakutat in the early 1980s. It was sold and slated for 

 dismantling in 1989. 



ACREAGE: 220,278 acres. 



SCHEDULED TIMBER BASE: 3.75 million board feet per year; adapted 

 from Forest Service Yakutat Forelands Management Area Analysis 

 Scoping Statement (3/86), the most up to date analysis available. 



