Quote of the Call : “No place stays special by accident” – Chris Beck
On the call :
Haley Johnston, Chris Beck, Arianna Lapke, Jillian Schuyler, Jessie Schoonover, Erica Drahozal – ISP , Niccole Williams, Faith Grant, Neal Schoenfelder, Mark Browning, Sean Williams, Ricardo contreras, Jeromy Grant, Ben McLuckie,Clay good, Basia Trout, Stephanie Harold
Sustainable Trail Development Strategy
We were joined by Haley Johnston and Chris Beck of Alaska Trails (https://www.alaska-trails.org/). They are working with the Forest Service to create a trail plan for the Tongass. This is a brand new process and Hoonah was their first stakeholder meeting! These meetings will be ongoing and they are looking for help from community members and agencies. Here are three questions that guided our meeting :
- What stakeholders want to participate in trail building and funding?
- Where do they need to be built and maintained?
- What are communities priorities and sensitivities around trail building?
Some takeaways from our discussion
- There will be many more conversations about this trails strategy. This is only the start
- Concerns heard from community : potential for litter, conflict in developing trails that are used by hunters, accessing resource areas that are considered exclusive, bear safety, hurting sensitive habitats like muskegs, concerns of overcrowding and management of tourism, concern over scale of tourism in town
- Asks about trails : build trails with educational components, build trails that community members can walk to, build a trail to a beach or waterfall (have a destination), build long-distance trail, asks that trails be for local use only but also that trails provide economic opportunities for local business, build a trail to a mountain top alpine area
- Specific trail areas heard : road towards Freshwater Bay that is currently closed could be repurposed (first left after beaver ponds), spasski trail, trail connection at Neka to go from beach-> over alpine -> down to the cabin.
- Future steps : one-on-one interviews, expanding the reach of this discussion to other community members, getting a better cross-section of concerns around sensitivities
Next Steps
This is on the start. If you are reading this and think to yourself “I would love a new trail”, “I know where maintenance is needed” or “I have concerns” now is the time to speak up! These conversations will be happening through the summer, the time is ripe to chime in!
Give Haley (haley.johnston@alaska-trails.org) and Chris your thoughts here :
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nDMqMmMdFgCBpoMQ7x2O7-KqHinj3ABouNBxAkoUkA8/edit?usp=sharing
To view a map of Hoonah with Roads go here :
Fishing Derby
Neal Schoenfelder from USFS let us know that the Fishing Derby is being planned for this year! There are lots of covid precautions being put into place but keep your eyes out for that in May or early June!
Raw Notes
The sections above summarize the raw notes below.
Forest service is trying to create a trail plan for the tongass. What stakeholders want to participate in trail building and funding? Where do they need to be built and maintained?
What trails are valued? What trails need work?
Currently reaching out to stakeholders.
Chris Beck – Has been working for the Trails program for awhile. Statewide trail initiative. In reality it was railbelt. Seward and Juneau work.
Haley Johnston, Chris Beck, Arianna Lapke, Jillian Schuyler, Jessie Schoonover, Erica Drahozal – ISP , Niccole Williams, Faith Grant, Neal Schoenfelder, Mark Browning, Sean Williams, Ricardo contreras, Jeromy Grant, Ben McLuckie,Clay good, Basia Trout, Stephanie Harold
Project started in 2020. Did an assessment of trends and use and trails in Tongass.
Identifying stakeholders. Tribes. Trail workers. Tourism operators.
Will be a series of conversations gong into the summer. One one right now and then switching to groups.
Trends, thoughts and hopes for Trails in Hoonah.
Partnerships are key for trail development
Talking about all types of Trails.
How does changing Trails and trail designation impact the use pattern. Any commercial use pattern would be regulated and permitted.
How are visitors using trails in our community?
Arianna – a lot of folks who don’t have vehicles need access. Creating them close to town.
Jessie Currently visitors don’t know where trails are
Mark – “don’t go on the trails”, be bear safe. That was the message that he heard a lot. Eploring ecosystems as part of trail development
Chris – What’s going on for communities right now?
Mark Increasing job opportunity – increasing opportunities for trail guides.
Reviewed the Spasski Trail map
Mark – there’s lots of bear activity.
Jeromy – have seen people way out the road. Helicopter tours at burnt point.
Mark – trails out the road that give access to a water front and a beach. Coupling access with trail building.
Sean – Trail development use signs for conservation of resources. Types of adverse impacts.
Types of concerns : litter, recycling nearby, maintenance, educational signs of muskegs, there’s a network of local trails where people have adopted trails and there is erosion
Mark Another issue around environmental impacts : there are so many resources. Be careful of that.
Trails : be careful for crowding. Guiding groups. Tourism BMP
Neal – NEPA clearance for trails . That would account for traffic and the number people.
Something to alpine.
Neal – Talked to Mayor about the fishing derby. May 15th to the end of June. Waiting to hear back from the City on any money that might be available. Tracking down fishing rods . In April might need some help to start organizing things. There will be changes from a covid perspective. No BBQ. Can do a packed lunch. Minimize groups.
Mark – starting herring fishing derby.
Suitable route to get to tree line?
Stephanie – trail pas the Freshwater bay beaver ponds. There some in
Follow-up. No place stays special by accident.
If there was a collective vision for Hoonah recreation what is it?
- Love to see a robust trail system for local residents – Jessie. A robust easy to access network
- A robust trail system for locals. Diverse ecosystem where folks have access to multiple areas
- Connection of trails – multiday trails.
- Mark – trails that are accessible to tourists. What type of people do people want?
- Most are cruise ship
- Stephanie – cruise ship growth in community. Long term effect : money into community.
- Sean – in the process. “we don’t want to have trails development” or we want exisiting trails.
- Wukukook creek is getting a boost already.
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