South Kupreanof Roadless Area contains an incredibly rich array of natural systems that serve as essential habitat for numerous wildlife species. Muskeg and small forest stands in the area's wild, rolling lowlands support moose, Sitka black-tailed deer, wolves and abundant populations of black bears. Bald eagles, goshawks, red-tailed hawks, sharp-shinned hawks and great blue herons build their nests in these wildlands, while Castle River and Tunehean, Zim and Kah Sheets creeks-all of which cascade through this roadless area-are among the most prolific salmon streams on the entire Tongass, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Castle River and Tunehean and Kah Sheets, along with Lovelace and Kushneahin creeks (which also run through the area), are eligible for designation as Wild and Scenic Rivers.
The nearly 210,000 acres of South Kupreanof Roadless Area cover most of the southern half of Kupreanof Island, 10 miles west of Petersburg. A good portion of these intact, pristine wildlands will be adversely affected if the proposed Douglas timber sale goes through. That sale will require the construction of 25 to 40 miles of new roads across the currently unscarred landscape to access the 15 to 35 million board feet of old-growth forest that the Forest Service would offer for sale. The agency is also considering construction of two new log dumps that could have devastating impacts on commercial crabbing in nearby Douglas and Totem bays.
