Chilkoot River Corridor Working Group

 

 CHILKOOT RIVER WATERSHED...

The lower Chilkoot River Corridor is located ten miles northwest of Haines, Alaska. This area was the site of the L’Koot Tlingit Native Village and is now utilized by the Chilkoot Cultural Camp Program, and recreationists. Attracting thousands of visitors each year, it is one of the most heavily visited bear watching destinations in Alaska due to the easy access via the Alaska Highway and the Alaska Marine Highway System. This heavy use is resulting in bear-human conflicts.

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 WORKING TOGETHER…
The Chilkoot River Corridor Strategic Planning Project (CRC) was formed in 2000 as a collaboration of the Haines Chamber of Commerce, Lynn Canal Conservation, Inc. and the Chilkoot Indian Association to address these conflicts. The project’s initial goal was to develop and implement a plan for the long range sustainable management of the outstanding natural, cultural, historical, and socio-economic resources of the Chilkoot River Corridor.

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CRC Working Group Mission Statement 

Haines residents, descendants of the Chilkoot area, commercial operators, and government agencies work together to develop and implement management guidelines that protect and sustain the natural, historical, cultural, social and economic resources of the Chilkoot River Corridor for the generations to come.
 

IDENTIFYING ISSUES…
After three years of meetings, the group developed a consensus action plan for preserving the corridor’s rich resources. The plan includes the goals organized here. These goals are the guide for the Alaska Chilkoot Bear Foundation.

Assist Agency

  1. Improve State Agency Ability to Manage Recreational Use

Visitor Education - Issues

  1. Help Visitors Reduce Impacts to the Area by Developing a Code of Conduct to Help Them Self-Monitor

  2. Reducing Overnight Use and Roadside Camping along the CRC- completed

  3. Improve Lakeshore Parking Areas to Better Accommodate Larger Vehicles and Reduce Congestion- completed

  4. Limit Future Impacts of Motorized Use on Chilkoot Lake - completed

Cultural Issues

  1. Minimize Impacts to Chilkoot Historical Resources

  2. Increase Public Awareness of Chilkoot’s Cultural Significance

  3. Support the Continuity of Chilkoot Culture Camp

Wildlife Issues

  1. Reduce Human-Wildlife Conflicts and Monitor and Improve Visitor Activity and Behavior

  2. Conserve Habitat and Scenic Values

  3. Provide Brown Bears Undisturbed Route of Access/Egress to Chilkoot River Feeding Areas

Data Gathering – Research Needs – Future Planning

  1. Identify and Interpret Brown Bear Habitat and Use Patterns to Augment Agency Data Needs and Guide Future Planning and Development Decisions

  2. Utilize Best Available Technology to Monitor Fishery Escapement and Minimize Obstruction to Fish Passage