Middle Nenana Fish & Game Advisory Committee Opposes Motorized Hunting in Yanert, Intensive Management in 20-C
January 11, 2012
The Middle Nenana Fish and Game Advisory Committee had a meeting on Jan. 9th, in Anderson, to continue the discussion on the Proposals in the Alaska Board of Game Proposed Regulations for 2011/2012. The committee discussed and voted on many proposals (there are 255 of them!) but several of primary concern for DCC were Proposal 213, regarding motorized access for hunting in the Yanert Controlled Use Area – proposed by the Fairbanks Fish and Game Advisory Committee – and Proposals 227, 229 to manage Unit 20 C as an Intensive Management area for high harvest of moose, Proposal 230, to adopt a bear control program in Unit 20-C, Proposal 231, to liberalize trapping of black bears in Unit 20-C, and Proposal 232, to allow the taking of grizzly bears over black bear bait in Unit 20-C.
All of these proposals were unanimously opposed, (with some members abstaining from the vote) by the committee. Read more
Stampede Rec Area, Yanert Non-Motorized Use on Borough Agenda
January 11, 2012
At its January 11 meeting, the Denali Borough Assembly will be considering several resolutions related to important DCC issues. Resolution 12-04 would reinforce support for the bill presently in the Alaska legislature to create the Stampede State Recreation Area (HB 113, SB60). Passing this resolution is important to show continued Borough support for the proposal.
Also on the agenda is Resolution 12-01 in support of retaining the traditional non-motorized hunting in the Yanert Controlled Use Area. Read more
View Nov-Dec DCC News online
December 11, 2011
Our end of year issue covers the controversial Fish and Game issues now before the local Denali Advisory Committee, the work of the Denali Aircraft Overflights Advisory Council, reaction to our comments on the Draft Denali Vehicle Management Plan, Poetry from Louise Gallop, and local projects such as Eva Creek Wind Power and the Neon ecological monitoring site. Click on the link to read the newsletter. Members receive a paper copy in the mail.
Middle Nenana Fish and Game AC – Meets Monday Dec. 12th in Healy
December 11, 2011
- Unit 20C extends north from the boundary of Denali National Park and includes the Stampede Townships
The Middle Nenana Fish and Game Advisory Committee Meeting was rescheduled for Monday, December 12, 2011, at the Tri-Valley School Cafeteria, 6 PM. The Committee, whose meeting last week was held without a quorum, collected valuable local comments opposing Proposal 213, a late season motorized hunt in the Yanert Valley. The comment collected at that meeting will be considered as the Committee develops its position on Proposal 213. There are other proposals to be considered that DCC opposes. Read our most recent alert with more information on this meeting, the proposals, and the agenda.
Important Healy meeting of Middle Nenana Fish and Game AC- Monday Dec 5th
December 3, 2011
The Middle Nenana Fish and Game Advisory Committee will meet this Monday, December 5th, at the Tri-Valley School Cafeteria in Healy. The meeting will begin at 6 PM, with public comments accepted. Agenda Middle Nenana AC – Dec 5th
The Committee will consider and make recommendations on proposals for statewide regulations and for the Interior Region (Region III). The proposals themselves will be up for consideration at the Interior Region Board of Game meeting in Fairbanks in March 2012. Particularly troubling to DCC members is a proposal (Proposal 213) that would open the Yanert Valley, now designated as non-motorized for hunting, to motorized hunting. The proposal, forwarded by the Fairbanks Fish and Game Advisory Committee, is widely opposed in the local community. If you are in the area this coming Monday, please attend the AC meeting and oppose this proposal.
Other troubling proposals (Proposal 227-232) would introduce intensive management, predator control and bear baiting activities into Unit 20c, which touches the northern boundary of Denali National Park and includes the Stampede townships. There is no data to support the scientific need for such activities and we feel they are being proposed (NOT by locals) to forward the “maximum yield” agenda of the current leadership at the Department of Fish and Game.
If you cannot attend the meeting, but would like to leave a comment, you may call or email Nan Eagleson, DCC Board members and Middle Nenana AC member, at surfbird@mtaonline.net, or 907-683-2822.
DCC and Friends of Stampede comment on NEON scientific site
November 30, 2011
To view DCC’s and Friends of Stampede’s comments on this proposed ecological monitoring site near 8 Mile Lake, you may click the links below. Stay tuned to our website for more information on the permitting process for this site. Check our previous post for more information on the purpose of the NEON project and its implications.
DCC NEON Healy Site Comments – November 2011
Friends of Stampede comments on NEON site 11.30.11
Permit for NEON scientific site on state lands near Healy- Comment deadline this Wednesday
November 27, 2011
DCC thanks Friends of Stampede for providing information on this proposed scientific installation, to be situated on state lands near 8 Mile Lake. The proposed site is part of a nationwide network of monitoring sites to be deployed by the National Ecologic Observatory Network (NEON) under the auspices of the National Science Foundation.
Map of proposed site.
NEON has applied to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources for a permit to install the site on the upper Stampede Road, about a half mile south of the road. The plan of operations states that the installation will be temporary, 5-7 years, but the site will need electric power and the applicant has asked that power lines be installed to the site. This would involve construction of power lines either up the Stampede Road or through some part of the Panguingue Creek subdivision. Locals are reasonably concerned regarding the long-term implications of this single-purpose utility construction into an undisturbed area. Possible moving of the site to an area closer to existing power lines has been suggested. Some have asked for continued extension of comments to allow representatives of NEON to come to the borough and explain the project.
We urge you to comment to DNR regarding this permit application. Check the NEON website for additional information, see the Friends of Stampede website, where a variety of materials are linked and concerns documented.
Comments to DNR are due this Wednesday, September 30th, to AJ Wait at the Division of Mining, Land and Water: aj.wait@alaska.gov. You may call Mr. Wait for more information at 907-451-2777.
Mission of the Project (from NEON website): The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) will collect data across the United States on the impacts of climate change, land use change and invasive species on natural resources and biodiversity. NEON is a project of the U.S. National Science Foundation, with many other U.S. agencies and NGOs cooperating.
NEON will be the first observatory network of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales over multiple decades. The data NEON collects will be freely and openly available to all users.
Middle Nenana Fish and Game Advisory Committee to meet in Healy
November 22, 2011
On Monday, December 5, 2011, the local Fish and Game Advisory Committee, the Middle Nenana Fish and Game Advisory Committee, will meet in Healy at Tri-Valley Community Center. Locals who are familiar with this group are encouraged to attend the meeting. The group will consider Fish and Game proposals to be considered by the Alaska Board of Game at their Interior Meeting, upcoming in March 2012. Concerning proposals would..
1. Introduce motorized hunting into the Yanert Valley east of Denali National Park.
2. Establishing intensive management and predator control for wolves and bears in Unit 20c, which borders Denali Park on the north.
For more information on these issues, contact us at mail@denalicitizens.org. If you are in the area, attend this meeting and speak out.
May-June DCC News highlights Annual Meeting, Vehicle Management, Wolf Census, Redistricting, Trash pickup on Stampede Road
July 1, 2011
Our May-June 2011 Newsletter, now at press, provides an eclectic mix of articles.
A cover article on our recent Annual Meeting provides pictures and a recap of this popular event.
“A New Vehicle Management Plan for Denali – will it be better?” by Nancy Bale, provides some history behind the move to change how buses and other vehicles are allocated in Denali Park. The EIS for this plan is expected any day.
“Board of Game considers allowing motorized Hunting in the Yanert,” by Anne Beaulaurier, reviews the recent proposal before the Alaska Board of Game to add a late season motorized hunt and details the local opposition.
“Gas Bullet Line Skirting Denali NP would be largest project on Continent,” by Cass Ray, discusses this mammoth effort that remains at the planning stages, for now.
Other interesting articles appear, on the massive changes to the Denali area’s voting district, the Parks Highway interpretive plan, the Stampede Road Cleanup, and more.
For an online version of the newsletter, click the link below.
May-June 2011 DCC News
Friends of Yanert seek to retain non-motorized hunt
May 25, 2011
A group of concerned citizens has submitted a proposal to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game arguing to retain the Yanert Controlled Use Area. This special area, where only non-motorized hunting is allowed, has been in place for decades and includes the entire valley of the Yanert River, east of Denali National Park. A recent proposal by the Fairbanks Fish and Game Advisory Committee sought to open the Yanert to motorized hunting after September 30th every year. The Friends of Yanert proposal lists several reasons why such a change would reduce the quality of the resource and probably would not solve any problems, either. The proposal will not be considered until March 2012. To read the proposal, click the link below.
Friends of the Yanert proposal to Retain Non-Motorized Area
Support Tangle Lakes State Wildlife Refuge
April 3, 2011
Our good friends at the Copper Country Alliance have made a smart and benefiical proposal to establish a State Wildlife Refuge in a portion of the Tangle Lakes Watershed. This is country at the eastern end of the Denali Highway that many of us have visited and enjoyed, great for water recreation, hiking and berry picking. Have a look at the Tangle Lakes website for more information, and check out DCC’s latest alert for what YOU CAN DO to advocate for this Refuge.
Jan-Feb 2011 DCC News
February 28, 2011
This edition of DCC News features DCC Annual Board Retreat, meeting with DNR Commissioner Dan Sullivan, Susitna Dam project, and energy related articles.