Southeast Alaska: Mount Polley remembrance ceremony on Stikine River - One year after Canada’s worst mining disaster – the August 4, 2014 Mount Polley tailings dam collapse in British Columbia – Alaska Natives and First Nations will mark the tragic event with a ceremony in Wrangell to bless the Stikine River, a major transboundary salmon near a newly opened Canadian mine, Red Chris. Red Chris is one of several mines that B.C. is planning to build or reopen in salmon-producing watersheds that drain into Southeast Alaska.

Lower Stikine River
Photograph courtesy US Forest Service

The Wrangell Cooperative Association, a federally recognized tribe, will host the event on August 2. It will take place on Chief Shakes Island in the heart of Wrangell harbor, just south of the mouth of the Stikine. A procession through downtown Wrangell will kick off the day’s activities starting at 1 p.m. A blessing of local waters in front of the historic Tribal House will follow, along with traditional songs from tribal members, and remarks by guest speakers, including Iskut First Nation spokesperson Oscar Dennis, and Mining Team Coordinator Jacinda Mack, who witnessed the Mount Polley disaster first-hand.

A working dinner will follow the ceremony, allowing tribal and government officials, conservation organizations, and concerned community members the opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, and strategize next steps for working together.

“I hope the August 2nd ceremony highlights how concerned people are on both sides of the border about the major risks to the Stikine River and other transboundary rivers from large-scale and risky mine developments in British Columbia,” said Dennis. “I look forward to meeting those in Wrangell who have joined the fight to protect our watersheds.” - More...
Saturday PM - July 25, 2015

Alaska: Historic Iditarod, Flat gold rush townsites saved from recent wildland fires – By the time the 2016 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race rolls around in March, the blackened landscape around the historic gold rush town of Iditarod will be covered in white.

Historic Iditarod, Flat gold rush townsites saved from fire
Photo courtesy BLM Alaska Fire Service

Mushers won’t be able to tell how close a wildfire came to wiping out the checkpoint that bears the race’s name and marks the halfway point in the famed 1,000-mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome.

But on June 21, the 104,183-acre Iditarod River Fire nearly destroyed what is left of the historic site. The fire, started by lightning on June 20, was moving toward the townsite when the Division of Forestry’s McGrath Area Fire Management Office deployed a load of eight smokejumpers from the Bureau of Land Management’s Alaska Fire Service to the area by helicopter.

The smokejumpers immediately went to work, conducting burnout operations linking ponds and river channels surrounding the town. The burnouts robbed the larger fire of fuel, and successfully halted the fire less than a mile from the townsite.

The smokejumpers spent the next three days conducting burnouts and doing site protection around structures, including two buildings that serve as headquarters for race personnel and mushers during the race. The end result is that all the buildings were saved and now stand in an island of green surrounded by miles of charred tundra.

“Thankfully those buildings are still intact,” said Iditarod executive director Stan Hooley. “I saw aerial photographs of the burn and it’s apparent to me they did a remarkable job to protect that area.”

The Iditarod Trail Committee built one of the structures that was saved and refurbished another that the race now uses, Hooley said. Had the buildings been destroyed, it would have meant rebuilding or using tents to house race staff and mushers.

“It’s not like any of the other communities or villages the race passes through, where there might be another building we can use,” Hooley said. One of the most remote checkpoints of the race, Iditarod is located in a vast, roadless area 90 miles southwest of McGrath. “It would have put us in a bit of a box in terms of having to rebuild.” - More...
Saturday PM - July 25, 2015

When NOAA Fisheries marine mammal experts received a call late Monday morning from two Douglas residents that there was a lone seal pup on the beach near Lawson Creek, they responded immediately.

"We arrived on the scene within minutes, and found the pup was in poor condition," said Sadie Wright, wildlife biologist for NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office. "She was lethargic and -thin, and had multiple wounds on her face and upper body, likely from predator attacks."

"When we saw her condition we immediately coordinated with the Alaska SeaLife Center to transport her there for care," said Kate Savage, a veterinarian for NOAA Fisheries. "She was one of a number of seal pups very recently reported abandoned in Southeast. It’s unusual to get pup reports this late in the summer, but it’s been a very unusual marine mammal year in many respects." - More...
Saturday PM - July 25, 2015

Ketchikan: Ketchikan Rotary Clubs Install New Officers - July 1st began the new FY 2016-2017 Rotary year. In Ketchikan there are two vibrant Rotary clubs. Ketchikan Rotary Club was formed in 1925, the 2000th club chartered in Rotary, thus Rotary 2000. In 1987 several Rotary 2000 members decided interest in Rotary activities in Ketchikan had grown enough to merit the formation of a "breakfast club" - and First City Rotary was born. Women were also welcomed into Rotary that year.

Rotary 2000 and First City Rotary inducted woman leaders as Presidents this year. The Rotary Clubs of Ketchikan would like to present the Rotary International theme of the year to Ketchikan, “Be a Gift to the World”.

Rotary 2000 is looking forward to celebrating 90 years of service with a gala cruise planned on August 29th, along with a continued commitment to providing scholarships, conducting the well-attended trunk-or-treat Halloween event, supplying life jackets for the “kids don’t float” program and many other community service events.

First City Rotary is looking forward to revitalizing the Rotary Picnic Shelter at Ward Lake, Youth programs such as, RYLA (Regional Youth Leadership Awards), scholarships for higher education, literacy programs including Dictionaries for 3rd graders and support for Kayhi Interact Club. - More...
Saturday PM - July 25, 2015