Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 207

3.14 Recreation 

The Kuiu Timber Sale Area is in the northern section of Kuiu Island. 

There are three bays within or beside the Project Area boundary: 

Security Bay, Saginaw Bay, and Kadake Bay. Not included in the 

Project Area boundary but potentially affected by the project is Rowan 

Bay where there is a LTF, evidence of a past logging camp, and a 

Forest Service administrative facility. Also outside the Project Area 

but potentially affected by the proposed actions is an existing 

recreation cabin located in Kadake Bay. These are the areas of analysis 

for this section. 

Access to Kuiu Island is by boat or floatplane. Both Rowan Bay and 

Saginaw Bay have LTFs, either of which may be used to transfer logs 

from the Project Area to saltwater. The LTFs also provide access to 

the area road system for visitors arriving by boat to hunt or recreate in 

the area. These visitors may bring all terrain vehicles (ATVs) or street 

vehicles to use on the road system. The road system does not connect 

to any community or ferry terminal. 

To describe, identify, and quantify recreation settings, the Forest 

Service uses the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS). The ROS 

categorizes areas by their activities, remoteness, access, and 

experiences in a spectrum of classes from Primitive to Urban. The 

Project Area has three of the seven ROS classes: Roaded Modified, 

Semi-primitive Motorized, and Semi-primitive Non-motorized (Table 

3-75). The ROS classes are described in detail in the Recreation 

Resource Report found in the Kuiu Timber Sale planning record. 

Table 3-75. Existing Recreation Opportunity Spectrum 

(ROS) Classes within the Kuiu Timber Sale 

Areaa

ROS Class Acres within 

Project Area 

 Percent of Project 

Area 

Roaded Modified 38,837 85% 

Semi-primitive 

Motorized 3,913 9% 

Semi-primitive Nonmotorized 2,996 6% 

Total Acres 45,746 100% 

a

Does not include 356 acres of non-national forest system lands in the 

Project Area.

3.14.1 

Introduction 

3.14.2 

Recreation 

Opportunity 

Spectrum 

(ROS) 
3 Environment and Effects

208 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Table 3-76. Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) class acres in the Kuiu 

Timber Sale Areaa

ROS Class Alt. 1 Alt. 2 Alt. 3 Alt. 4 Alt. 5 

Roaded 

Modified 38,837 38,837 38,858 38,900 38,900 

Semi-primitive 

Motorized 3,913 3,913 3,913 3,913 3,913 

Semi-primitive 

Non-motorized 2,996 2,996 2,975 2,933 2,933 

Total Acres 45,746 45,746 45,746 45,746 45,746 

a

Does not include 356 acres of non-national forest lands within the Project Area.

Since the majority of Kuiu Island is undeveloped, it is primarily used 

for dispersed recreation activities. Viewing scenery and wildlife, 

boating, fishing, beachcombing, hiking and hunting are the primary 

dispersed recreation activities that take place. 

Highly valued areas defined by accessibility, user preferences, and 

presences of certain amenities (scenery, wildlife viewing, and good 

fishing) are termed recreation places. 

Recreation places are specific areas identified by the Forest Plan that 

are used for recreation activities. The ROS setting of a recreation place 

largely determines its attractiveness and utility. The Forest Plan 

direction for recreation places in the Modified Landscape and Scenic 

Viewshed LUDs is to maintain the existing ROS setting. The Forest 

Plan direction in the Timber Production LUD is to seek to minimize 

impacts to recreation places through scheduling and location of project 

activities. When approved activities nearby may result in a change to 

the ROS setting, the impacts should be minimized so that a Roaded 

Natural or other more natural ROS setting is maintained. 

A recreation site is a specific site and/or facility occurring within a 

recreation place. Recreation sites generally refer to specific points like 

anchorages or developed facilities such as recreation cabins and 

trailheads. 

The selection and identification of recreation places and sites was done 

by noting what characteristics or qualities of a site attract and 

influence visitor use. 

3.14.3 

Recreation 

Places and 

Sites 
 Recreation 3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 209 

The following discussion describes, by VCU, the recreation use and 

attractors in each general area near or in the Project Area. Within these 

areas there may be one or more recreation place. 

3.14.3.1 Saginaw Bay – VCU 399 

There are three recreation places within this VCU: the head of 

Saginaw Bay, Halleck Harbor, and the Cool/Ledge Lake area. Saginaw 

Bay itself is outside the Project Area, but an LTF on the south side of 

the bay (within the Project Area) provides access to the road system. 

Most of the activities in this VCU provide Semi-primitive Motorized 

experiences. 

3.14.3.2 Security Bay – VCU 400 

The two recreation places in this area include the head of the bay and 

the shoreline around the bay. Recreational use is generally wateroriented, and secure anchorages exist at numerous points along the 

bay’s shoreline. While Security Bay is outside the Project Area, it is 

being analyzed because of its proximity to the Project Area. 

3.14.3.3 Rowan Bay – VCU 402 

The two recreation places in this VCU include the estuary at the head 

of Rowan Bay, and the anchorage on the south shoreline. A Log 

Transfer Facility (LTF) exists on the north shore of Rowan Bay. An 

adjacent dock provides access to the internal road system for boaters 

and floatplane passengers. There is also a large area that supported a 

major logging camp and sort yard located in the vicinity. Rowan Bay 

is outside of the Project Area boundary, but the LTF in Rowan Bay 

may be used to transport logs with this project, so it is being analyzed 

from a recreation perspective. 

3.14.3.4 Kadake Bay – VCU 421 

The three recreation places in this VCU include Kadake Bay, a portion 

of Kadake Creek, and Gil Harbor. All three are outside the Project 

Area boundary, but because of their proximity to the area and their 

important recreation values (fishing and black bear hunting), they are 

included in this analysis. 

Several outfitters and guides do business on Kuiu Island including the 

at north end where the Project Area is located. The two main 

categories for outfitters and guides are black bear hunting and 

sightseeing. 

3.14.4.1 Black Bear Hunting 

Black bear hunting on North Kuiu Island is an important activity for 

outfitters and guides. Since 2004 eight to ten outfitters and guides have 

had special use permits for this area. Actual Use Reports show the 

number of black bear hunts on northern Kuiu Island ranged from 59-

69 during the 2004-2006 seasons. One hunt constitutes one client who 

3.14.4 

Outfitters and 

Guides 
3 Environment and Effects

210 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

spends any amount of time on National Forest land. Each client pays 

$4,000-6,000 per hunt, so the economic benefits of outfitters and 

guides using North Kuiu are substantial. 

Some outfitters and guides who black bear hunt on North Kuiu also 

take their clients sightseeing, freshwater fishing and hiking on 

National Forest lands. 

While the outfitter/guide use for bear guiding on Kuiu remains well 

below the amount allocated in the 1997 Outfitter/Guide EA, that 

capacity was based on recreation experience, not on the capacity of the 

bear population to sustain hunting pressure. Other factors have limited 

the level of guided black bear hunting on North Kuiu. A decision in 

2001 by the Alaska State Board of Game limited the annual nonresident harvest on Kuiu to 120 black bears per year. The Forest 

Service took complementary action by “freezing” the amount of use 

authorized in special use permits. No new guides have been authorized 

to operate on Kuiu since 2002 and no use increase of authorized guides 

from historical levels has occurred. 

Black bear populations on Kuiu Island appear to be stable after 

ADF&G set harvest limits for nonresident hunters. There is no 

evidence that the black bear population on Kuiu Island is overharvested at this time. However, the Forest Service and ADF&G agree 

that it would be prudent to use a conservative approach in managing 

black bear on Kuiu Island, and will cooperatively monitor the island’s 

harvest and population of black bear. 

In 2000, 17 outfitters and guides held Special Use Permits to guide for 

bear hunting on northern Kuiu Island. The number has decreased since 

then to only 8 in the past 3 years (2005-2007). These businesses are 

generally based out of boats and their clients hunt the shorelines and 

estuaries. Four outfitters and guides have had permits for the Kuiu 

Island road system and use ATVs or vehicles to hunt farther inland. 

The number of hunts on the Kuiu road system decreased from 25 in 

2004 to 13 in 2005 and to 8 in 2006. 

Approximately three percent of successful hunters use vehicles to hunt 

black bear on Kuiu Island. This has ranged from 0 to 14 percent since 

the 1989 hunting season. Using boats and hunting from the beach are 

the most successful means for taking black bear on Kuiu Island (mean 

84 percent, range 73 to 91 percent). 

Although little is known about black bear populations in Southeast 

Alaska, the estimated densities occurring on Kuiu Island seem very 

high. Peacock (2004) estimates the population density on north Kuiu 

Island to be 1.5 bear/km2, which is one of the highest recorded bear 

densities in North America. 
 Recreation 3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 211 

While numbers vary from year to year, the management objectives set 

by Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) for black bear 

harvest in Game Management Unit 3 (GMU 3), which includes Kuiu 

Island, have been met or exceeded. The objectives include an average 

18.5 inch skull size of harvested black bear, with males being 75 

percent of the harvest. On Kuiu Island the average skull measurement 

is 18.6 inches with the harvest being 79 percent male. 

3.14.4.2 Sightseeing 

Guided sightseeing on north Kuiu Island includes small cruise ships 

and tour boats, as well as private boats and yachts. These boats often 

visit the unique fossil bluffs and limestone cliff areas in Halleck 

Harbor and Saginaw Bay. If the clients go ashore for hiking or fishing 

on National Forest Land, the operators are required to get a Special 

Use Permit for that use. There are several outfitter/guides that use 

Saginaw Bay for those activities. 

A few outfitters and guides with special use permits for North Kuiu 

rely exclusively on sightseeing, freshwater fishing and hiking for their 

clients. Also, two kayak outfitter and guides have used the shoreline of 

North Kuiu Island for their trips. 

3.14.5.1 Direct and Indirect Effects to the ROS 

Very minor changes would occur to the ROS in any of the proposed 

alternatives. Less than one percent of the acres would change from a 

Semi-primitive Non-motorized setting to a Roaded Modified setting in 

Alternatives 3, 4, and 5. No change would occur in Alternatives 1 and 

2 (Table 3-74). 

Alternatives 1 and 2 would have no effects to existing ROS. 

Alternative 3 would change 21 acres from a Semi-primitive Nonmotorized setting to a Roaded Modified setting through the location of 

Unit 210. This alternative would not introduce roads or harvest into the 

Semi-primitive area, but the location of Unit 210 would change the 

conditions and experiences in this part of the Semi-primitive area. 

Alternatives 4 and 5 would change 63 acres of a Semi-primitive Nonmotorized setting to Roaded Modified setting through the location of 

Units 210, 211, and 212. About a quarter acre of Unit 212 would 

actually fall into the existing Semi-primitive area. This overlap and the 

proximity of the other units would change the conditions and 

experiences in this part of the Semi-primitive area. 

3.14.5.2 Direct and Indirect Effects to Outfitters and Guides 

None of the alternatives propose timber harvest or road building within 

any recreation places. The effects to scenery are described in detail in 

the Scenery section. Other effects to the recreation places would be 

temporary (lasting during the duration of the logging activity) such as 

3.14.5 

Environmental 

Consequences 
3 Environment and Effects

212 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

the use of the LTF site at either Rowan Bay or Saginaw Bay which 

would affect recreationists in those areas. 

During timber harvest, log truck traffic and other traffic associated 

with the timber sale would increase and could negatively affect the 

few recreationists and the six outfitter/guides that currently use the 

road system. 

Some currently open roads would be closed after the timber sale is 

complete. Alternatives 2 and 3 propose to close 7.8 and 8.0 miles 

respectively; Alternatives 4 and 5 propose to close 10.5 miles of 

currently open road. For all action alternatives, the longest length of 

road proposed for closure is Road 46096 (3.6 miles), which has road 

cracks and slumps and minor non-catastrophic failures. This road is 

expected to become undrivable in about five years. However, since 

current use of the roads is very low, closure of this road and others is 

not expected to significantly affect recreationists or the four black bear 

hunting outfitters and guides currently permitted to use the Kuiu road 

system. 

The Catalog of Events for Kuiu Island was referenced in determining 

cumulative effects. The area analyzed for cumulative effects includes 

the Project Area plus the larger area on north Kuiu Island that has been 

heavily harvested in the past. Recreation settings on north Kuiu Island 

have changed drastically since timber harvest activities began in the 

1960s (Kuiu Catalog of Past Activities). The area now has numerous 

roads and timber in various age classes. Many of the original Primitive 

and Semi-primitive recreation settings have changed to more 

developed settings. People expect to see timber harvest in the area 

now. New harvest would add to the developed feel of the area, but 

would not be a big change from its current condition. The proposed 

activities for this project would not significantly change the existing 

recreation opportunities. 

Past projects that have enhanced recreation on North Kuiu include the 

Kadake cabin, kayak portage trails and the Bay of Pillars shelter. 

These projects are not within the Project Area itself, but encourage 

people to come to North Kuiu for recreation. The proposed timber 

harvest would not affect these recreation opportunities. 

The remaining unharvested units in the Crane and Rowan Mountain 

Timber Sales EIS could be harvested. Within the Project Area, there 

are two units on Road 6425 near Cool and Ledge Lakes, and four units 

on Road 6402 east of the head of Security Bay. Outside the Project 

Area, but nearby, there are several small units on an extension of Road 

46041 north of Rowan Bay. The proposed activities would not 

significantly affect existing recreation, since roads and harvest units 

already modify the north Kuiu area. The nature of the current 

3.14.6 

Cumulative 

Effects 
 Recreation 3

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 213 

recreation opportunities would remain the same. Outfitter and guides 

are concerned about maintaining the recreation experience for their 

hunts. The proposed timber harvest would add more harvest units to an 

already roaded and harvested area. It would not noticeably change 

their experience from the current condition. 

One of the major recreation activities on north Kuiu Island is black 

bear hunting. The effects of continued logging on black bear are not 

well understood. Changes in habitat and road densities may affect 

black bear numbers within the areas of activity. Reductions to black 

bear populations are not expected from the implementation of any 

alternative. 

The Petersburg Ranger District has developed the Kuiu Island Road 

Analysis, which includes Road Management Objectives (RMOs) for 

all the roads on Kuiu Island. These objectives describe the current 

condition and proposed future maintenance level for each road. The 

long-term plan for many of these roads is to put them in storage, which 

means they would be closed to motorized traffic. Specific dates have 

not been determined yet. Many of the roads planned for storage, 

however, already exclude motorized traffic because they have grown 

closed with alder. Roads in storage would still be accessible by foot. 

Closing roads that are currently drivable could affect those 

recreationists who drive the roads for hunting. This would include 

mostly black bear hunters and outfitter/guides that use the road system. 

At this time, there are relatively few hunters who drive the roads, so 

the effects would not be significant.