BLM-Alaska to delay amendment to the Ring of Fire Resource Management Plan

Glacier Bay National Park (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Bureau of Land Management is announcing a delay in the Haines Planning Area Amendment to the Ring of Fire Resource Management Plan. 

 

New scientific information related to mountain goats in the Haines area as well as an increased awareness of Alaska Native cultural values relating to these goat populations has prompted BLM to identify a new proposed alternative for a mountain goat habitat Area of Critical Environmental Concern for portions of the planning area.

 

A final decision on the amendment was expected in early 2014. However, developing a new alternative for public review and comment is expected to delay the amendment for at least a year. 

 

“The BLM is dedicated to ensuring that the most recent scientific findings and cultural information are incorporated into planning efforts,” said Anchorage Field Office Manager Alan Bittner,

 

The Planning Area is located in Southeast Alaska.  Approximately 320,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands are located in two main blocks or parcels; the north block is located northwest of Skagway along the United States-Canada border and the south block is located southwest of the City of Haines along the boundary of Glacier Bay National Park.  The planning area encompasses the cities of Haines and Skagway.

Seeking Applications for Sitka National Historical Park 2012

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Sitka National Historical Park (January 20, 2012): Sitka National Historical Park is
accepting applications now through March 1, 2012, for its summer 2012 Artist-in-Residence
Program. For more than a century, the park has fostered the preservation and perpetuation of
Southeast Alaska Native arts.  The Artist-in-Residence program builds upon that tradition by
offering park visitors and the community an opportunity to see Alaska Native heritage through
the eyes of contributing artists.

Sitka National Historical Park will host two visiting artists skilled in traditional Southeast Alaska
Native arts.  Each residency will last two months, the first beginning in May and the second in
July.  The selected artists will work alongside long-term resident artists Tommy Joseph and
Charlie Skultka.

The selected artists will work in the park’s studio a minimum of 32 hours per week and will be
required to present two 45-minute public presentations.  Housing during the residency will be
provided at no cost and a one-time, taxable award of $750.00 will be offered to each selected
artist.

A panel of professional artists, park staff, and park partners will judge the applicant pool.
Selections are made on the basis of a written statement of purpose for residency and samples of
artistic work.
 
Interested artists may obtain more information and download an application by accessing the
park's website at www.nps.gov/sitk, or by calling (907) 747-0132, or by e-mail
(becky_latanich@nps.gov). If requesting an application by mail, applicants should provide a
complete postal mailing address.  D

Related articles

• 2012 Artists-in-Residence Announced (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Park Celebrates Native American Heritage Month (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Application Period for Summer Seasonal Positions (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• National Public Lands Day Celebrated September 24, 2011 (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Bears of North America Evening Program and Book Signing (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)

PARK CELEBRATES NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

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Sitka National Historical Park- Sitka National Historical Park will offer events and activities this November in honor of Native American 

Heritage Month.

Fun with Formline Youth Art Class

Friday, November 4th

Noted artists Charlie Skultka and Tommy Joseph will host a Formline Art Class after school from 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m at the visitor center.Youth will work with the artists to create and decorate a paper bentwood box, paper totem pole, or paper Eagle or Raven medallion.Participants are encouraged to donate their completed project for temporary display in the "Fun with Formline" art exhibit.To participate in the class, please RSVP to Kelly Smitherman at e-mail us or call 747-0134 before November 3rd.

Salmon Bake

Sunday, November 20th

Please join park staff for a traditional salmon bake and community potluck from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.Haida artist Charlie Skultka will prepare salmon in a beachside pit.We will provide the salmon, but please bring something to share! Please help us by sending an RSVP to Kelly Smitherman at e-mail us or call 747-0134 before November 18th.

Film Series

Saturday, November 12th and November 26th 

Interested in learning about America's diverse indigenous peoples?Come join us for a series of short films from national park units that commemorate the history and traditions of Native American and Alaska Native peoples.

November 12th

9:30 a.m.Pipestone (An Unbroken Legacy)

10:00 a.m. Trail of Tears

12:30 p.m. Destiny at Dawn (Loss & Victory on the Washita)

2:00 p.m.Breath of Life (Salinas Valley Pueblo)

November 26th

9:30 a.m.Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument

10:00 a.m. Canyon Voices (Modern day Navajo occupants of Canyon De Chelly)

12:30 p.m. Their Shots Quit Coming (Battle of Little Big Horn)

2:00p.m. His Spirit is Looking out from the Cave(Ice Age Archeology from On Your Knees Cave on Price of Wales)

Related articles

• National Public Lands Day Celebrated September 24, 2011 (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• New Temporary Exhibits at Sitka National Historical Park (alaska-outdoors.blogspot.com)

Wrangell-St Elias to begin Fuels Project in McCarthy

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Copper Center, Alaska- The National Park Service Eastern Area Fire Management Program in cooperation with the BLM Alaska Fire Service, Southeast Alaska Guidance Association (SAGA), Morrison Construction, and the State of Alaska will implement a hazard fuels reduction project on NPS and adjacent lands south of the University Subdivision in wildland/urban interface near the town of McCarthy, Alaska Aug. 22 through Sept. 30.

The goal of the project will be to create a hazard fuels buffer between the McCarthy University Subdivision and the NPS parklands that will allow for greater public and firefighter safety in the event of a wildland fire.Crews will fell and buck some of the black and white spruce trees in the project area, and slash will be chipped or piled for later burning. Firewood quality wood will be set aside for later transport to a staging area.This mechanical/manual treatment will not be a "clear cut" fuel break, but rather a thinning of fuels in order to keep fire behavior to a more manageable level. Creation of this space reduces the risk of property damage in the event of a wildland fire, improves safety forvisitors and residents and provides a safe area for fire suppression crews to work.

The BLM Alaska Fire Service will be providing one or more 20-person Interagency Hotshot Crews, as well as other logistical support. The Southeast Alaska Guidance Association-a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve lives, lands, and communities in Alaska through Service learning-will be providing an 8-person service corps crew. Morrison Construction is a local forestry, landscaping, and log home construction firm that was contracted by the National Park Service to do a portion of this work. The State of Alaska contributed to the project by permitting the fuel break across State lands.

The interagency effort will result in 60 acres of thinned forest south of the McCarthy Creek Subdivision on a mix of National Park Service and State of Alaska lands. The fire break created with this project will supplementthe natural fuel breaks of the Kennecott River and McCarthy Creek reducing the risk of wildland fire to the local community.

For additional information, visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/wrst/index.htm or contact the park's public Information Officer at 907-822-7223.

You to can be prepared for wildfire.Practice outdoor safety and take steps to make your home Firewise. Visit www.firewise.org for more information.