Big Thorne Project

Introduction

The Big Thorne Project was introduced in 2010 by the U.S. Forest Service to help foster the timber industry in Southeast Alaska. Specifically, the project would allow for the harvest of 6,186 acres of old-growth and 2,299 acres of young-growth in the Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island. The plan would help transition the industry from old growth to young growth timber management and provide 6-10 years of timber supply . Economically, the plan projected providing over 600 annual jobs in logging, saw-milling, transportation, and support businesses. The plan would help to support many local people and businesses. Despite the plan's promise, it was met with much backlash by environmental groups for the threat it posed to the endangered Alexander Archipelago wolf and other wildlife inhabitants on the island. After many appeals by various groups, the plan was still approved with some improvements and is underway currently.

Setting

Prince of Wales is an island located in the southeast region of Alaska. The island is populated with around 6,000 people. The main communities are Hollis, Klawock, Craig, Hydaburg, and Thorne Bay. The island is characterized by lush forests, the Tongass National Forest, mountains, and is surrounded by the ocean . The forests are made up of mostly spruce and hemlock trees and have scattered peatlands or bogs . Through the 20th century, logging was an important staple industry to the economy; however, more recently as the industry has downsized, so have the sawmills to small-scale operations. Additional important industries have included fishing, tourism, and mining .

Climate

The island is located in a maritime climate, characterized by a moist and cool climate during the year. The temperature ranges from 30-50 degrees Fahrenheit. Prince of Wales is also known for its abundant rainfall, receiving between 60 and 220 inches of rain each year. The island is considered a temperate rainforest, which is defined as an area with over 55 inches of annual rainfall and over 10 percent or more of that occurring in the summer season. It is also characterized by its cool, overcast summers with temperatures generally below 61 degrees Fahrenheit, a dormant season of low temperatures, and infrequent forest fires .

Wildlife

The island hosts more endemic endemic plants and animals than any other area in southeast Alaska due to its unique ecosystem. The island has many estuaries, areas where the saltwater from the ocean mixes with freshwater, which are home to a variety of wildlife species. There are peatland areas on the island, which are wet areas covered by layers of sphagnum moss and are saturated with acidic water . Both red cedar and yellow cedar tree species grow here, creating a special forest structure. The island is home to many animal species such as bear, deer, shrew, flying squirrels, northern goshawks, etc. The streams and waterways on the island are also important habitats for various fish, such as dog salmon, and other aquatic species. The Prince of Wales Spruce Grouse is endemic to the island, relying on the area to fly as they are incapable of long-distance flights. Queen Charlotte Goshawk is also endemic to the region and relies on the forest to find proper denning sites and other resources to live.

Wolves

The Alexander Archipelago wolf is another species that is endemic to the region. Wolves are considered “an integral part of a functioning ecosystem in Southeast Alaska” and have been identified as a Management Indicator Species by the Forest Service. Wolves arguably hold economic value as well since they entice visitors, contributing over $1 billion to the Southeast Alaska economy. The Alexander Archipelago wolf population has dropped 75% in the past 20 years. Many mortalities are due to hunting and trapping; however, logging projects also largely affect the species. The Sitka black-tail deer are their primary food source. Logging projects have proven to cause a decline in deer populations, which also affects the wolf populations. Additionally, newfound roads from logging projects pose a threat since they allow easier access to illegal hunting and trapping sites. The species has been under review for the Endangered Species Act [1], but in 2016 was denied by the Fish and Wildlife Service

Appeals on the Project

Though the plan offered much promise, many appeals were made arguing that the United States Forest Service violated the National Forest Management Plan. Proponents argued that the plan unlawfully damaged the Alexander Archipelago habitat on the island and that the forest service has an obligation to sustain and protect the wolves. The Forest Service argued that they were not obligated to do so and only had to protect the wolves “where possible.” There was no set criteria for them to follow. Environmental groups including Trout Unlimited, SEACC, Audubon Alaska, Cascadia Wildlands, and the Alaska Wilderness League all made appeals against the project. There were also individuals who appealed, including Dick Artley and Rebeccan Knight. All of the appeals were rejected, and the project was approved with some modifications.

Finalized Project Plan

After various appeals and rejection of appeals, a finalized Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement was released in 2013. With feedback from various sources, the Forest Service approved alternative 3 with some modifications. The alternative called for the harvest of 6,186 acres, thinning of 2,299 acres of young growth, construction of 10 miles of new roads and 36 miles of temporary roads, the reconstruction of 36.6 miles of existing roads, and the development of 32 acres of rock quarries for road construction and reconstruction.

Project Status

Though the project promised to supply timber at a rate of 15 to 20 million board feet per year, the final sale fell short. Still, it has been one of the biggest federal timber sales in the Tongass within recent years. Viking, the last large mill which was supported by the project, still remains open. The project is still currently active and has been successful with providing timber resources.

References

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