AN OP ED
Ballot Prop. 1 Covers
Salmon The Law Misses
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is first in a series of op-ed commentaries for and against Ballot Proposition 1 that the Sentinel will publish in this space in the days before the Nov. 6 election.
By TIM TROLL
We Alaskans have been bombarded with road signs, television spots, internet ads, and corporate testimonials about how we don’t need Proposition 1 to protect salmon because Alaska law is good enough. Wrong.
This multi-million dollar media campaign obscures one crucial fact: according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game only a “fraction” of the waters salmon use are protected by Alaska law. So, even if the law is good enough it doesn’t apply to most of our salmon habitat.
From the early days of statehood the Commissioner Fish and Game has been charged with the obligation to specify the waters “important” for the survival of anadromous fish that are to be protected by Alaska law. This duty is embodied in Title 16 and is currently discharged through the Anadromous Waters Atlas and Catalog maintained by Fish and Game. Salmon are anadromous fish because their life cycles have both a freshwater and saltwater phase. The Catalog specifies the waters protected by Alaska law. Waters not listed receive little or no protection. The Department says on its website that the Catalog specifies “almost 20,000” waters, but . . . “based upon thorough surveys of a few drainages it is believed that this number represents a fraction of the streams, rivers, and lakes actually used by anadromous species. Until these habitats are inventoried, they will not be protected under State of Alaska law.”
In the early days waters important for salmon were generally inventoried by Fish and Game biologists using their experience in the field, their best professional judgment and common sense. However, the Department has since imposed stringent rules that now make it extremely difficult and prohibitively expensive to add to the inventory of salmon habitat in the Catalog.
For a salmon stream, river or lake to warrant inclusion in the Catalog today a “qualified person” must travel to that water body, physically observe or capture at least two salmon, and fill out a nomination form complete with GPS coordinates and photographs. Given that most of our unspecified inventory of salmon habitat is off the road system, helicopters are often required for access.
Over the last decade our non-profit land trust helped assemble teams of biologists and local Alaska Natives and raised money to send them into the remote regions of Bristol Bay to survey, find and document salmon habitat for inclusion in that Anadromous Waters Atlas and Catalog. We undertook this effort out of fear that development proposed for the region was moving forward without any concern whether affected streams were eligible for legal protection. When we began in 2008 Fish and Game was not funded or directed to survey waters in Bristol Bay that were affected by potential development.
I was fortunate to participate in several surveys. To my astonishment salmon were found in narrow tundra streams barely a foot wide, in creeks choked with alder, above beaver dams and even on top of the proposed Pebble mine deposit. Equally surprising were the streams found with bank-to-bank spawning sockeye that were not listed in the Catalog.
Salmon were found in roughly 75% of the locations we sampled. These surveys were expensive – upwards of a million dollars. Most of the money paid for helicopter time, fuel and field support. By our calculations it conservatively cost $1,000 for every mile of salmon habitat we added to the Catalog. Money spent to prove the obvious – in Bristol Bay most of the rivers, streams and lakes are used by salmon. If we hadn’t looked these waters could still be unprotected.
If nothing changes it will take many millions of dollars and, at the current pace, more than a century before Alaska law reaches all the waters entitled to protection. So, regardless of whether our laws are adequate to protect salmon, the system for applying those laws is broken. We should ignore this issue no longer.
A key provision of Proposition 1 (Stand for Salmon) is the creation of a presumption that most of Alaska’s waters should be considered anadromous unless proven otherwise - a reversal of the current presumption used by the state. Establishing a presumption simply reflects reality. Creating a presumption does not itself create new protections. It simply makes sure we don’t overlook salmon streams that should be protected.
The presumption in Proposition 1 provides an inexpensive means and a reasonable assurance to all Alaskans that salmon using rivers, streams and lakes that have not been documented by ADF&G will also be protected by Alaska law. It’s a common sense approach.
Opponents to Proposition 1 argue that proving salmon are not present in a stream, is difficult. But imagine how much more difficult it is for the salmon to prove they are present. Our salmon cannot speak for themselves, but we can speak for them. Vote Yes on Proposition 1.
–––––
Tim Troll is executive director of the Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust, organized in Dillingham in 1999. His brother is Ketchikan artist Ray Troll, well known for his salmon art and fishy humor.
Governor Election
Dear Editor: The NEA-Alaska Political Action Committee on Education has voted unanimously to endorse Mark Begich for Alaska governor. As NEA-Alaska President Tim Parker said this morning, “Mark Begich has been a fierce advocate and proud supporter of public education in Alaska and he understands the needs of Alaska students. There has never been a starker contrast between two candidates and their vision for public education than exists between Mark Begich and Mike Dunleavy.”
In short, Senator Begich has a detailed plan to protect and fully fund public education for our future generations. He has the support and respect of educators because of his demonstrated commitment to the Alaskan values of equity and preparation for what is yet to come. His opponent is so disengaged from education issues that he did not even bother responding to the NEA-Alaska questionnaire.
I am well aware that there are many people with complicated feelings about this particular race. I earnestly believe that most Alaskans value our public schools and the students and educators within them. Please join me in voting for Mark Begich, the only candidate who has a demonstrated record of supporting our students and our schools.
Stephen Courtright
President, Teachers Education
Association - Mt. Edgecumbe
Drug Disposal
Dear Editor: On Saturday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the HOPE (Healthy Organizations, People and Environments) Coalition in partnership with the Sitka Police Department, Public Health, Harry Race and White’s Pharmacies, and Sitka Counseling will be holding a Prescription Drug Take- Back Event at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
All members of the community are encouraged to bring their unwanted, unused or expired medications to the event for free disposal. By disposing of the medications, we reduce the potential for the medications to get “into the wrong hands.” The number one place youths get prescription medications not prescribed to them is at home and then through friends.
Free medication disposal bags for “in-home use” will also be available at the event as will information on various drugs and prevention related materials.
Alaska and Sitka are not immune to the impacts of various drugs. Recent data from the Alaska State Troopers indicate drug trafficking in Alaska is becoming a greater cause for concern. Increasing demand for illegal drugs is growing, while state and local law enforcement resources are declining.
Captain Michael Duxbury of the Alaska State Troopers indicates law enforcement is seizing never-before-seen levels of drugs. From 2016 to 2017, the amount of heroin intercepted by law enforcement doubled. And those seizures represent only a small sample of drugs in the state.
The current focus on the opioid epidemic in Alaska has overshadowed the fact that methamphetamine is still a big issue and growing. Duxbury indicates there was a five-fold increase in the amount of methamphetamine seized this last year.
Alcohol is still a major issue in our city and state and remains the most prevalent substance of abuse for both youths and adults contributing to death of Alaskans. State Public Health data indicate alcohol-related causes of death were double that of opioids and methamphetamine combined. Alcohol is often used in combination with other drugs and can increase the effects of those drugs leading to health related issues and death.
Duxbury said drugs reach the state and move through it by many avenues, including airports, harbor ports and the mail. The use of the internet to order and ship drugs is becoming more prevalent.
Removing unused and expired prescription medications from Sitka homes is one way we all can do our part to reduce access to these drugs.
Working together through coalition building can increase our capacity to respond to the misuse of drugs and their social and health related consequences.
Loyd Platson-HOPE Coalition
Senior Tax
Dear Editor: I encourage all senior citizens in Sitka to look at the language of the ordinance that you voted for in the last election on Oct. 2, 2018. It says now therefore be it enacted by Assembly of the City & Borough of Sitka that the Sitka General Code Chapter 4.09 100.Y entitled Exemption for persons who have reached the age of 65.
I would like to thank all the people of Sitka who voted for this and we won by 509 votes, same as a few years ago when they took it to the people of Sitka and then we won too. Maybe now they will leave the Seniors alone for a while.
Also a big thank you to Stephan Morse who did all the work with me in getting it on the ballot. This was a combined effort to get the job done.
Shirley Robards, Sitka
Donations
Dear Editor: I’m Kerry MacLane’s daughter Laurel. I am the momma of the youngest grandbaby, Emerson, and helping Kerry resettle in Missoula, Montana. Kerry had been thrilled to call Sitka his home for the last 10 years or so, and I’m lucky enough to have been able to visit your sweet fishy/wet community. As you are possibly aware, Kerry has been struggling with other health problems for some time, and he has recently also suffered a heart attack for which he was flown to Seattle for treatment and surgery.
Myself, my husband, and my brother are on his support team to help him rehabilitate and get situated here. We’re asking for financial help to help get his stuff moved down to MT via Go Fund Me. We would appreciate any help Sitkans could offer. I’m reminded as I write this of my dad’s numerous volunteer hours through the food network, the sustainable energy council, and the Alaska Native Brotherhood among others, I’m sure.
https://www.gofundme.com/get-kerry-home-to-montana
Thanks for sharing this with the Sitka community.
Laurel Sears
