What it means to be “Wilderness” at Cube Cove

Posted on July 21st, 2022 in Wild Issues
Cube Cove

 

The Forest Service (FS) is proposing a massive “restoration” project in the Cube Cove area of the Kootznoo Wilderness in Alaska. Much of the 23,000-acre area was logged and roaded prior to the FS purchasing it in several acquisitions over the years. Cube Cove has been recovering for more than 20 years with great success and will continue to recover without human meddling. However, the FS is proposing the following actions over two to five years—using heavy equipment, chainsaws, helicopters, and motor vehicles:
  • 500 acres of tree cutting and removal along streams
  • 700 acres of tree cutting and removal along lakes
  • A temporary bridge for heavy equipment
  • Removal of three bridges, culverts, and roads in 50 places
  • Placing large woody debris in three stream stretches
  • Likely other work since there was no time to complete a survey before this final public comment period.

    The agency’s massive “restoration” program using heavy equipment is inappropriate for Wilderness. The agency failed to even consider any wilderness-compatible solutions to restoring more natural conditions at Cube Cove, including allowing nature to continue to reclaim the area over time. Additionally, the FS has effectively shortened public comment opportunities by issuing a combined scoping document proposed action that is essentially the same pre-scoping information, leaving many unanswered questions, including what alternatives, if any, will be analyzed. At the least, the Forest Service needs to analyze a wilderness-compatible plan if it chooses active restoration, such as one that uses non-motorized hand tools rather than chainsaws and heavy equipment.


Photo: USFS