The extraordinary East Kuiu Roadless Area complex (Camden, Rocky Pass and East Kuiu roadless areas) encompasses an extensive and intricate coastline where estuaries, coves and bays outline the rich old-growth forests of Kuiu Island. These protected waterways and anchorages provide wonderful opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation. Accordingly, they attract diverse recreational users, including guided kayak expeditions and boaters. And all three roadless areas are within the traditional territory of the Kake Tlingit, who -- as they have for generations -- use the shoreline and abundant fish and wildlife habitat for subsistence hunting, fishing and gathering purposes. The many cultural sites within the complex include villages, temporary camps, portage trails, fish traps, petroglyphs and culturally modified trees.
Vast tidal flats make the estuaries of East Kuiu Roadless Area an ideal home for black bears and a productive fishery for wild Pacific salmon. The Salt Lagoon-Seclusion Harbor portion of the complex combines freshwater and saltwater to create habitat for waterfowl, fur-bearing animals, marine mammals and bald eagles, whereas the rich Camden ecosystem harbors the Sitka black-tailed deer, moose, beaver, river otter, marten, wolf and black bear. Rocky Pass, essentially a scenic saltwater river that separates Kupreanof and Kuiu islands and is on a major international waterfowl migration route, provides some of the most important waterfowl habitat in Southeast Alaska.
As with the Windham-Port Houghton Roadless Area, the Forest Service removed portions of the East Kuiu Roadless Area complex from the Tongass timber base in 1999. The Forest Service's proposed timber sale in Threemile Arm, however, will adversely affect all three East Kuiu roadless areas. After the timber industry lawsuit did away with the 1999 protections, the agency also revived an old proposal for a major sale in No Name Bay complete with associated road construction-the heart of East Kuiu Roadless Area.
The Organized Village of Kake (the local tribal government) opposes this timber sale and all logging within its traditional territory.
.jpg "Seclusion Bay, East Kuiu Roadless Area, Tongass National Forest, AK. Lighthawk photo.")
