Pot and tobacco taxes advance - page 12 Where are the kings? Despite unprecedented restrictions, Chilkat king run dwindles. Page 3 Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966 Chilkat Valley News Volume XLVII Number 36 Thursday, September 14, 2017 $1 Borough candidates differ on police, Tier 3 protection By Natalie Helms against Tier 3 protection, while Maidy and Haines Borough mayor and assembly Fullerton support it. candidates differed on policing outside Lapham said a Tier 3 designation might the townsite and Tier 3 designation for the have a far-reaching impact on more than Chilkat River at a Wednesday forum at just the fishing industry, and said she was Mosquito Lake School Community Center. not in favor “at this time.” Incumbent mayor Jan Hill and opponent Josephson said it’s important to slow Joanie Wagner, as well as assembly down and think clearly through “something candidates Michael Fullerton, Sean Maidy, of permanence” like a Tier 3 designation. Diana Lapham and Brenda Josephson She said Haines residents she talked to who answered questions from community support the protection do so as a way to stop members up the highway. Assembly a potential mine. candidates Andrew Gray and Stephanie “But what are the other effects?” Scott did not attend the meeting. Josephson asked. Resident Ron Weishahn asked if the Maidy said he is a big fan of Tier 3 candidates were in favor of a Tier 3 because it prevents future mass discharges designation. The state is still working out of harmful materials into the water. He its process to review applications and grant said although agencies allow for an Tier 3 status. “acceptable” amount of chemicals to enter Hill said she was not in favor of a Tier the waterway, it’s still polluting the river. 3 designation because Alaska rivers are “Water is our way of life,” he said. “(The already protected under Tier 2 status. mine) needs to adapt to what we decide.” “I think Tier 3 is extreme,” Hill said. Fullerton said he loves the idea of well- From left: Mayoral incumbent Jan Hill and Joanie Wagner answer questions She said she supports responsible mining paying jobs coming into the valley through during Wednesday’s candidate forum at the Mosquito Lake School Community and thinks Constantine Metal Resources, the mining industry, but is supportive of Center. Natalie Helms photo. the exploration company working in the Tier 3 protection. He said 97 percent of valley, is being responsible. jobs in the mining industry are becoming Alternatively, Wagner said the river automated. “The jobs that we’re thinking “definitely needs” Tier 3 protection. about are a fantasy,” Fullerton said. He Long-awaited studies She said although Constantine is being also noted that there are already record low responsible, they are only “temporary harvests of sockeye salmon. stakeholders.” Resident Scott Visscher asked the meet with mixed reviews “But we don’t know who they’re going candidates their opinion on policing in the to sell it to,” Wagner said. borough, which has been heavily discussed on how to apply data Lapham and Josephson said they were See FORUM page 8 By Natalie Helms studies. The Alaska Department of Fish and “Sometimes there’s subtle effects Game presented its findings from a seven- that aren’t necessarily that obvious,” Morphet seeks to terminate year study on mountain goat habitat, and White said. “Any amount of disturbance three-year study on brown bear denning may have an effect on reproduction or habitat in the Chilkat Valley Sunday and survival.” police service beyond townsite Monday. White said the local goat population The new information will affect decision- is healthy enough to allow for a hunting By Kyle Clayton from the people outside the townsite ‘We making on heliski map revisions. season, but severe winters could cause The Haines Borough Assembly will need service. We need service,’ they’ll be Biologists Kevin White and Anthony increased mortality. discuss later this month whether or not in here and they’ll be telling us exactly Crupi worked to create maps identifying Fish and Game will continue to to direct Haines Borough Police Chief what service they want and how they critical winter habitats for mountain goats monitor the remainder of the collared Heath Scott to stop responding to calls want to pay for it.” and bears, but did not conduct the studies goats until at least 2020 and will then have for service outside the townsite and to Assembly member Ron Jackson said to assess the effects of helicopter traffic. even more complete map data, White said. direct dispatchers to refer all calls from “the police have to be able to respond to Sunday’s presentation was for the Biologist Anthony Crupi has spent the outside the townsite to the Alaska State some things out there by request.” general public, whereas Monday’s was last three Aprils in Haines conducting Troopers. Borough Manager Debra Schnabel geared toward stakeholders on borough aerial surveys to locate bear dens and Assembly member Tom Morphet asked about the recent Government committees and within the heliski industry. predict preferred denning habitat. After made the motion after former borough Affairs and Services Committee Since 2010, 73 goats were captured observing 90 bear dens and creating a assembly member George Campbell recommendation to continue providing and marked with GPS radio collars that map similar to the mountain goat data, requested he do so. emergency services, monitor the monitored locations for their three-year he predicted that about 15 percent of The motion comes after the Alaska activities, collect data and to look at it lifespan. Using over 190,000 recorded prime bear habitat overlaps areas where State Troopers removed its patrol from again in six months. locations, observations of preferred terrain heliskiiers are permitted. Haines last winter. Morphet said he didn’t agree with the and probability equations, Fish and Game Bear physiology changes drastically Since then, Haines police have been committee’s recommendation because “I biologists created maps of habitat where while hibernating. Brown bears can responding to emergency calls outside don’t think it represents the public will mountain goats are most likely to be. lose up to half of their body mass and the townsite, the service area where in this case. I think it represents the will Fish and Game discovered that because their body temperature, metabolism they are funded to operate. of the government.” of Haines’ transitional climate, 25 percent and heart rate drops. They enter the den Borough staff has since drafted an Assembly member Heather Lende of goats spend their winters at high between November and January and exit ordinance that would expand police said she agreed but acknowledged an elevation, 35 percent at medium elevation between February and May. Crupi said services borough-wide, pending voter argument Scott made during the recent and 40 percent at low elevation. Heliskiiers disturbances between 1 and 2 kilometers approval. The ordinance has drawn committee meeting. Scott said nobody often ski peaks at high elevation, sometimes away can cause bears to burn through opposition from community members is asking for police service because on north-facing slopes. their reserves faster than intended and who live outside the townsite along police are responding to calls outside the Goats prefer rugged terrain, cliffs and cause poor body condition, which in turn with fire and medical volunteers whose townsite on an emergency basis and so steep slopes that get a lot of sunlight. White negatively impacts reproduction. budget would be folded into the larger the need isn’t apparent. said mountain goats are habitat specialists Southeast Alaska Backcountry police service area. Scott said at that time his department that can be “particularly sensitive to Adventures owner Scott Sundberg said “The reason I want to do this is has received 213 calls for service outside disturbance.” about 15 percent of the mountain goat and because this is going to bring this the townsite during the past year, 51 of White said mountain goat behavior bear map, superimposed on one another, issue to a head faster than anything,” which they’ve responded to. could be affected if the animals are being will continue to be a conflict between Morphet said. “If we stop providing The assembly will discuss the issue consistently disturbed within 1,500-2,000 conservationists and the heliski industry. that service and there’s a hue and cry again at its Sept. 26 meeting. meters, according to data from the Northern Wild Sheep and Goat Council and other See GOAT page 12 Page 2 Chilkat Valley News September 14, 2017 To list an event in Save the Date, phone 766- Letters to the Editor Save the Date 2688 or email [email protected]. Thursday, September 14 Haines People for Peace. Thanks to cross-country supporters “Resilience” film-showing about a national Friday, September 22 movement to prevent childhood trauma, Haines High School Volleyball Home Thank you to everyone who helped make the home cross-country 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the library. Sponsored by Big Game against Thunder Mountain HS, meet a success. Many of the athletes, coaches and fans from other Brothers Big Sisters of Haines. continues Saturday, Sept. 23 in Karl Ward communities commented on how much they enjoyed the event. In Sunday, September 17 particular, thank you to the Chilkoot Indian Association for creating Gymnasium. Call Tiana at 766-6700 to be a Meet and Greet Assembly Candidate referee. and sharing the beautiful boardwalk across from the high school. Brenda Josephson, noon-3 p.m. at Haines Also thank you to Dark Horse Construction and Tony Malone for Senior Center.