Washington Hunter
Well-known member
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Federal officials in Alaska are taking a critical look at recreational offerings in the country's largest national forest, a cost-cutting move that could result in the closure of dozens of cabins unless the public pitches in.
The U.S. Forest Service has launched a five-year plan to meet budget shortfalls at the 17 million-acre Tongass National Forest, a popular travel destination featuring glaciers, wildlife viewing and lush shorelines.
Officials said the agency can't afford to maintain all of the existing recreation sites throughout the Southeast Alaska forest. Thus, it must determine what cabins and other visitor destinations to close, tear down or turn over to commercial operators.
But the public will be closely involved, officials said. They're holding a series of public workshops looking for ideas that could lead to fewer closures.
"There's only so much money to go around. We can't do it all unless we come up with innovative ideas on how to," said Scott Fitzwilliams, recreation staff officer for the Tongass.
It's part of a systemwide effort to counter an $8 billion maintenance backlog in the nation's 155 national forests, officials said.
On paper, the Forest Service is looking at doing away with 45 cabins and nine other sites in the Tongass, including campgrounds and picnic areas. Sites were targeted partly based on low usage, high maintenance needs and accessibility.
But officials emphasized they had to start with a preliminary list of possible ways to offset a $300,000 shortfall for routine maintenance and a $4 million backlog for long-term maintenance needs in the Tongass. Altogether, the Forest Service maintains more than 300 recreation sites, including about 150 cabins and wildlife viewing areas and two major visitor centers.
"This is just cold-hearted professionals taking a look at this," said Pete Griffin, Juneau district ranger. "What's lacking in all this is the public process. That's the missing piece."
Possible options include enlisting volunteers to help with maintenance, increasing user fees and farming out some remote, low-use properties to commercial groups or commercial operators such as sightseeing outfits, fishing and hunting guides or adventure businesses. The present list is not a done deal, officials said.
Any changes generally won't affect most of estimated 600,000 yearly visitors to the Tongass, according to officials.
The plan's flexibility is good news for Alaska's travel industry, including many small businesses in the region that rely on Tongass visitors who pay for day tours, kayaking excursions or transportation to cabins off the road system. Many tour operators were initially outraged by the plan, but their fears have eased after meeting with the Forest Service.
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Federal officials in Alaska are taking a critical look at recreational offerings in the country's largest national forest, a cost-cutting move that could result in the closure of dozens of cabins unless the public pitches in.
The U.S. Forest Service has launched a five-year plan to meet budget shortfalls at the 17 million-acre Tongass National Forest, a popular travel destination featuring glaciers, wildlife viewing and lush shorelines.
Officials said the agency can't afford to maintain all of the existing recreation sites throughout the Southeast Alaska forest. Thus, it must determine what cabins and other visitor destinations to close, tear down or turn over to commercial operators.
But the public will be closely involved, officials said. They're holding a series of public workshops looking for ideas that could lead to fewer closures.
"There's only so much money to go around. We can't do it all unless we come up with innovative ideas on how to," said Scott Fitzwilliams, recreation staff officer for the Tongass.
It's part of a systemwide effort to counter an $8 billion maintenance backlog in the nation's 155 national forests, officials said.
On paper, the Forest Service is looking at doing away with 45 cabins and nine other sites in the Tongass, including campgrounds and picnic areas. Sites were targeted partly based on low usage, high maintenance needs and accessibility.
But officials emphasized they had to start with a preliminary list of possible ways to offset a $300,000 shortfall for routine maintenance and a $4 million backlog for long-term maintenance needs in the Tongass. Altogether, the Forest Service maintains more than 300 recreation sites, including about 150 cabins and wildlife viewing areas and two major visitor centers.
"This is just cold-hearted professionals taking a look at this," said Pete Griffin, Juneau district ranger. "What's lacking in all this is the public process. That's the missing piece."
Possible options include enlisting volunteers to help with maintenance, increasing user fees and farming out some remote, low-use properties to commercial groups or commercial operators such as sightseeing outfits, fishing and hunting guides or adventure businesses. The present list is not a done deal, officials said.
Any changes generally won't affect most of estimated 600,000 yearly visitors to the Tongass, according to officials.
The plan's flexibility is good news for Alaska's travel industry, including many small businesses in the region that rely on Tongass visitors who pay for day tours, kayaking excursions or transportation to cabins off the road system. Many tour operators were initially outraged by the plan, but their fears have eased after meeting with the Forest Service.
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