Katlian Bay Road
Dear Editor: There are a number of problems with the Katlian Bay Road project.
–As a state, we will be taking out a loan to build this road. This is not a good project to go into debt for.
–We are proposing spending at least $16 million on a road that was approved when the state had money. Now we are in a $4 billion budget deficit and are in the process of cutting critical state programs. The timing is not right for such a project.
–The DOT says that the road will increase subsistence and sport hunting and fishing opportunities. However, increased access to Katlian will mean more pressure on Fish and Game, and there would likely be limitations and increased bag limits on coho, steelhead, and mountain goats in the Katlian Valley.
–The road will pass through steep terrain. Maintenance will be expensive and we are facing more budget cuts in future state budgets. If a landslide happens along the road, will the DOT be able to fix it or will we have a partly open road that ends at a landslide?
The Katlian Road project is not a good idea.
Brendan Jones, Board Member,
Sitka Conservation Society
