24 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS

3.3 Issue 2 – Deer Habitat and 

Subsistence Use 

This issue relates to changes in deer habitat including wildlife travel 

corridors and deer winter range. It also includes the availability of deer 

for subsistence. Subsistence is an Alaska concern and a right protected 

by law. This evaluation addresses the potential effects of harvesting 

timber from the northern portion of Kuiu Island on the subsistence use 

of Sitka black-tailed deer. 

3.3.1.1 Units of Measure and Areas of Analysis 

Deer Habitat 

The effects of timber harvest on Sitka black-tailed deer habitat are 

analyzed by comparing changes in deer winter range (using the Forest 

Plan deer model) and by comparing the changes in POG and low 

elevation, high volume habitat by alternative. 

Analysis for acres of deer winter range will include comparisons of 

changes between past, present and reasonably foreseeable future deer 

winter range by alternative. Important deer winter range is derived 

from quartiles which are based on the total acres of Habitat Suitability 

Indices (HSI) within the area of analysis, as directed in the May 25, 

2005 Forest Supervisor’s letter (Cole 2005). The WAA is the 

appropriate scale of analysis to develop HSI values for this project in 

order to compare the quartile analysis with the Forest Plan analysis. 

Analysis for low elevation, high volume habitat will include 

comparisons of changes in acres of habitat between past, present and 

reasonably foreseeable future activities within WAA 5012 as this will 

allow a comprehensive accounting of all activities that may affect this 

habitat and yet be sensitive to potential effects of the proposed 

activities. 

Connectivity 

The removal of existing corridors due to proposed harvest have been 

analyzed. Harvest prescriptions that retain 50 percent or more of the 

original stand were developed to maintain wildlife habitat and travel 

corridors in several alternatives. 

3.3.1.2 Sitka Black-tailed Deer 

The Sitka black-tailed deer was chosen as an MIS because it is an 

important game and subsistence species and is associated with oldgrowth forests. Deer habitat effects were calculated at the WAA level 

following Forest Supervisor direction (Cole 2005). Research 

3.3.1 

Introduction 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 25 

conducted in Southeast Alaska indicates that high-volume, mature 

forests at lower elevations (800 feet or less) are needed to sustain deer 

populations during winters with deep snowfall (Schoen et al. 1985; 

Hanley and Rose 1987; Yeo and Peek 1992). 

Recent work in Southeast Alaska by Doerr et al. (2005) reconfirmed 

deer were selecting high volstrata, low-elevation stands on south 

aspects during periods of heavy snowfall. Large, strong branches of 

mature stands intercept snow and maintain available forage. 

Productive, high volume stands of old-growth forests support the 

largest biomass of herb and shrub forage (Alaback 1982). Deer 

populations are impacted by the combination of deep snow winters and 

large amounts of winter range converted to second growth. Snow 

reduces or eliminates forage availability in young clearcuts. Closed 

canopy, young growth stands provide little forage in all seasons. 

The Sitka black-tailed deer receives the highest sport hunting and 

subsistence use of all terrestrial species in Southeast Alaska. In 

ADF&G’s Game Management Unit (GMU) 3, where Kuiu Island is 

located, deer are extremely important, as all of the communities in this 

region utilize this resource. Maintaining sufficient habitat to ensure the 

continued existence of this species is a priority for the Forest Service. 

Early successional stands provide forage for deer during mild winters 

and the remaining seasons. Sitka black-tailed deer disperse (travel) 

through and use a variety of vegetation communities throughout the 

year, and no specific corridor requirements have been identified. 

Every 20 to 40 years severe winters kill large numbers of deer. On the 

Petersburg Ranger District, this last occurred during the winters of 

1969-72 (Brainard 1996). Cold weather with higher than normal 

persistent snowfall covered forage and caused deer populations to 

decline rapidly. 

The era of heaviest logging occurred between 1970 and 1989 after the 

deer crash. Following these two decades, deer populations continued 

to climb and hunting was reopened in 1992. Deer herds, which crashed 

at the same time on the more heavily logged, roaded, and populated 

Prince of Wales Island, have returned in greater numbers than on 

Kuiu. We therefore assume that factors other than timber harvest alone 

are restricting the deer population on Kuiu from reaching historic 

levels. These additional factors include large populations of black bear 

and wolves. 

3.3.1.3 Productive Old-growth (POG) 

The trees growing in productive old-growth exhibit a wide range of 

diameters, heights, and stand structure characteristics. This habitat 

supports high biological diversity. Table 3-12 displays total acres of 

POG harvested by alternative. 
3 Environment and Effects

26 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Table 3-11. Historic and current POG acres within WAA 5012 and 

the Project Area 

1954 (historic 

condition) 

2006 (existing 

condition) 

Percent change 

from historic to 

existing 

condition 

WAA 5012 

(145,634 acres) 112,677 90,856 -19% 

Project Area 

(46,102 acres) 40,978 30,586 -25% 

Table 3-12. Effects of the proposed alternatives on POG habitata within the 

Project Area (acres remaining after harvest) 

Productive 

Old -growth 

Historical 

Condition 

(1954) 

Alt 1 

 (Current) Alt 2 Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5 

Acres 40,978 30,586 30,109 29,800 29,199 29,378 

High volume strata 21,251 20,863 20,631 20,099 20,322 

Medium volume strata 5,211 5,147 5,078 5,028 4,987 

Low volume strata 650 632 629 620 620 

Percent current POG 

remaining after harvest 100% 98% 97% 95% 96% 

Percent historic POG 

remaining after harvest 75% 73% 73% 71% 72% 

Note: Acres of volume strata harvested in each alternative does not equal the total unit size due to some “non” 

POG acres identified in GIS. These acres may be “holes” of unidentified volume in the GIS layer, or MMI-4 Soils 

(see the Soils and Geology section in this chapter).

3.3.1.4 Low Elevation/High Volume POG 

As discussed above, productive old-growth has different values based 

on volume and location. Low elevation/high volume old-growth is 

some of the most limited and important habitat for several old-growth 

dependent species including marten and goshawk and can serve as 

some of the best deer winter range. 

Table 3-13 displays the total acres of POG below 800 feet harvested 

by alternative and harvest retention. 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 27 

Table 3-13. Acres of High Volume POG below 800 feet Harvested within the 

Project Area 

Alt 1 Alt 2 Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5 

Total acres planned 

for harvest 0 478 786 1,387 1,208 

Acres of high volume 

harvested below 800’ 0 101 82 259 156 

Acres of high volume 

harvested with 50% 

basal area retention 

below 800’ 

0 60 57 112 0 

Acres of high volume 

clearcut below 800’ 0 41 25 147 156 

Percent of total acres 

of high volume 

harvested below 800’ 

0 21% 10% 19% 13% 

Project Area 

Current Condition: 14,481 acres of POG below 800 feet 

Alt 2 Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5 

Acres of Low Elevation/High Volume 

POG remaining in Project Area after 

harvest 

14,380 14,399 14,222 14,325 

Percent acres of high volume 

remaining in Project Area after harvest 99% 99% 98% 99% 

WAA 5012 

Current Condition: 22,956 acres of POG below 800 feet 

 Alt 2 Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5 

Acres of Low Elevation/High Volume 

POG remaining in WAA after harvest 22,637 22,547 21,913 22,259 

Percent acres of high volume 

remaining in WAA after harvest 99% 98% 95% 97% 

3.3.1.5 Effects of silvicultural treatments on deer habitat 

Changes in deer habitat from timber harvest may increase populations 

in the short-run (20-30 years). However, as stands mature, habitat will 

decrease in value over time as a result of plant succession. Several 
3 Environment and Effects

28 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

silvicultural treatments are available to maintain the habitat value for 

deer and other species over time. Pre-commercial thinning, 

commercial thinning, girdling, and pruning may help maintain the 

understory in these stands for a longer period of time. 

Historic partial harvest treatments (50 percent retention) on the 

Tongass National Forest studied by Deal (2001) show that these 

treatments could provide deer food and habitat better than clearcut 

treatments. The light (1–25 percent basal area) and medium (26–50 

percent basal area) cutting intensity plots did not differ significantly in 

community structure from the uncut plots. Partial harvest stands do not 

show the dramatic rise and fall of blueberry abundance in stands 20 to 

80 years after clearcutting. Deal also noted that the decrease in 

blueberry abundance following partial harvest was small when 

compared to that of clearcutting. Community plant structures in the 

forests of Southeast Alaska appear to be resilient to moderate ranges of 

partial cutting (up to 50 percent basal area removal). Overall, partial 

cutting maintained diverse and abundant plant understories 

comparable to the plant communities typically found in old-growth 

stands (Deal 2001). 

The action alternatives that prescribe uneven-aged silvicultural 

systems would retain a minimum of 50 percent of the basal area. 

These units would retain structure of the existing tree stand and help 

maintain wildlife values including travel corridors. Within the next 50 

years, it is predicted that the deer habitat values in these stands would 

return to what they are presently (Deal and Tappeiner 2000, Deal 

2001). 

3.3.1.6 Deer Habitat Capability Model 

An interagency deer habitat capability model (DeGayner 1996) was 

developed for the Forest Plan to evaluate the potential quality of 

winter habitat for Sitka black-tailed deer. The model was developed as 

a tool to compare the effects of action alternatives to no action, and 

assess future habitat suitability and capability of the WAA (Cole 

2005). The model is a good tool to compare the changes in habitat 

between historic, current, and proposed actions and will be used as 

such in this report. 

The model was updated to use an HSI of 1.0 = 100 deer/mi2 as a 

multiplier based on work by Person et al. (1997). The model calculates 

habitat suitability indices (HSI) based on timber volume strata, aspect, 

elevation, and typical snowfall. High volstrata productive old-growth 

(POG) with south aspects, at lower elevation (below 800 ft.), and in 

low snowfall areas are assumed to provide the best deer winter range. 

This corresponds with recent findings in Doerr et al. (2005). 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 29 

For a more in-depth discussion on HSI calculations see the Wildlife 

Resource Report available in the planning record. For a discussion of 

the reliability of habitat capability models please refer to “The Role 

and Reliability of Habitat Capability Models” (DeGayner 1992, 

available in the Kuiu project planning record). 

The interagency deer habitat capability model was run for WAA 5012 

using the 100 deer/mi2= HSI 1.0 with no predation, as directed by the 

Forest Supervisor’s May 25, 2005 letter, the Annual Monitoring & 

Evaluation Report for FY 2000, and the MOU Agreement No. 

00MOU-111001-026. The model does not differentiate between 

harvest prescriptions, treating all harvest as clearcut. Harvest 

conditions present in 1954 were used to give a general indication of 

the overall habitat quality within the WAA. 

While all HSI values have the capability to support deer to some level, 

the HSI values are generally grouped into four levels or quartiles with 

the highest level (4) having the greatest ability to support deer. This 

quartile is referred to as important deer winter range in this report. 

HSI numbers represent the best available information on deer habitat 

values and were compiled over the years (since deer modeling started 

on the Tongass in 1985) by deer specialists from the Alaska 

Department of Fish and Game, USDA Forest Service, US Fish and 

Wildlife Service and a panel of experts for the Forest Plan working 

cooperatively. 

When habitat in the high quartile is harvested, it moves into a lower 

value, however, it may still be in the high quartile following harvest. 

Low elevation (below 800 feet) on south- and west-facing aspects with 

low snow levels will have an HSI of above 0.60 following harvest. 

That means that this habitat type will be available to deer during 

normal winter snowfall and produces a relatively high food nutritive 

value for deer. During winters with higher than normal snowfall these 

habitat types would not be expected to be available to deer, therefore, 

the model runs will overestimate the effects to deer during those high 

snowfall years. However, at the end of the stem exclusion stage 

(Oliver and Larson 1996) these values drop to 0.02 HSI (pole timber 

clearcuts 26-200 years old), which has a very low food nutritive value 

for deer. 

Table 3-14 shows the HSI values as they are grouped within the 

quartiles for the historic condition, the current condition, and future 

(2046) condition of WAA 5012. The future condition in Table 3-14 is 

the current condition grown out 30 years and does not include 

proposed or reasonably foreseeable future activities. 
3 Environment and Effects

30 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

 Table 3-14. WAA 5012 deer habitat suitability indices – historic 

(1954), current (2006), and future (2046) condition 

Quartile HSI 

values 

1954 

acres 

2006 

acres 

Percent 

change 

2046 

acresb

Percent 

change 

from 

1954 

1 0.01 - 

0.20 

30,536 50,023 +39% 51,778 +41% 

2 0.23 - 

0.36 

32,929 33,393 +1% 31,638 -4% 

3 0.40 - 

0.50 

27,798 21,643 -22% 21,643 -22% 

4

a 0.60 - 

1.0 

35,766 21,971 -39% 21,744 -40% 

a

 The 4th quartile is considered important deer winter range. b

 2046 numbers are based on the current condition with no additional harvests. 

3.3.1.7 Important Deer Winter Range 

As Table 3-15 shows, the acres of important deer winter range have 

been reduced approximately 39 percent (approximately 21,971 acres) 

as a result of previous timber harvest. Important deer winter range is 

defined as the HSI values in the highest quartile as determined from 

the historic (1954) condition. As the stands reach the stem exclusion 

age, which the interagency deer habitat capability model (DeGayner 

1996) assumes will occur 26 years after harvest, deer habitat is 

reduced with the loss of browse. Many of the existing managed stands 

in the Project Area are over 30 years of age, so the modeled decline is 

assumed to have begun to occur. Those stands under 30 years of age 

will show a decline in deer habitat capability within a few years, 

according to the model. In this analysis the year 2046 is used to 

represent the future condition and includes the effects of the proposed 

timber harvest on future deer habitat capability in the WAA. Figure 3-

2 displays the current deer HSI values by quartile in WAA 5012. 

Future declines in deer HSI values from the current condition 

predicted by the Forest Plan deer model are shown for the year 2046 in 

Figure 3-3. 

Table 3-15 displays the direct effects of harvest by alternative on 

important deer winter range for WAA 5012. The results indicate that 

the decrease in current deer habitat capability in the WAA would 

range from less than one percent to approximately one percent, 

depending on the alternative selected. Habitat is relatively uniform 

across WAA 5012 and changes at the project level would be very 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 31 

similar to changes at the WAA level. When all existing and proposed 

managed stands have reached the stem exclusion stage by the year 

2046, the model predicts that the cumulative decline in the WAA of 

important deer winter range would be 40 percent for all alternatives. 

This analysis does not include the potential benefits from thinning or 

partial harvest. 

Table 3-15. Direct effects of harvest on important deer winter range in WAA 

5012 by alternative 

Alternative HSI value 0.6 – 1.0 

(Historic acres 35,766) 1 2 3 4 5 

Acres of important deer 

winter range 21,971 21,843 21,841 21,660 21,725 

Percent change from present condition <1% <1% 1% 1% 

Percent change from historic 

to current condition 39% 39% 39% 39% 39% 

3.3.1.8 Hunting 

As discussed earlier, Sitka black-tailed deer inhabit the Kuiu Island 

portion of GMU 3 in low numbers. Severe back-to-back winters in the 

early 1970s reduced the herd numbers drastically and high black bear 

and wolf predation are likely keeping the deer herds from rebounding. 

The deer harvest from Kuiu Island constitutes only three percent of the 

total harvest for GMU 3, with an average of 18 animals harvested 

yearly on an island of approximately 482,102 acres (ADF&G hunter 

surveys). 

On average, 36 percent of the deer were harvested in GMU 3 by 

hunters using the road system, while 47 percent of the deer harvested 

were taken by hunters using a boat for access. The harvest method for 

the remaining 17 percent is unknown (ADF&G hunter surveys). The 

majority of animals taken from the road system were on the Mitkof, 

Zarembo, and Kupreanof (Portage Bay, Kake, and Lindenberg 

Peninsula) road systems. 

On Kuiu Island the majority of boat-based hunting occurs in Port 

Camden, Kadake, and Rocky Pass. The majority road-based hunting 

occurs around Rowan Bay and the inland areas of the island. For more 

information on Sitka black-tailed deer hunting see the Subsistence 

portion of this section and the Subsistence Specialist Report available 

in the Kuiu Project planning record. 
3 Environment and Effects

32 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

3.3.1.9 Productive Old-growth and Connectivity 

Landscape connectivity is the degree to which the landscape facilitates 

or impedes movement among habitat patches or the functional 

relationship among habitat patches (Tischendorf and Fahrig 2000). 

Connectivity does not necessarily mean that old-growth habitat areas 

need to be physically joined for all species, since many old-growth 

associated species across the Tongass can move or be carried across 

areas not in old-growth conditions (Forest Plan FEIS Part 1, p. 3-33). 

However, the Forest Plan also recognizes that for species with limited 

dispersal capabilities, such as lichens, fungi, bryophytes, plants, and 

small-bodied animals, the corridors may be the only linkage between 

habitats and need to function as breeding habitat. In these instances the 

habitat quality of these corridors is of utmost importance. Wider 

corridors are considered to be more effective at facilitating species’ 

movements. A functioning corridor should be continuous, maintaining 

a minimum width along its entire length, and it must also contain 

suitable habitat for the species that are expected to move within it. 

The definition of a corridor and its function can vary according to the 

species that use it. Forested muskeg may act as a corridor for mobile 

species with less affinity to old-growth forest, whereas roads may act 

as corridors for wolves during winter. Productive old-growth stands 

provide corridors for species, such as marten, that avoid open 

landscapes (Suring et al. 1992), and small-bodied animals that are not 

highly mobile (Pardini et al. 2005). 

Old-growth forest habitat within the Project Area occurs in landscape 

patterns of naturally fragmented old-growth forest, muskeg, and 

forested wetlands. The majority of forest types in Southeast Alaska are 

not a continuous sea of “old growth”; many are in different stages of 

stand development and are unaffected by management activities 

(Oliver and Larson 1996, Kramer 1997). 

Past timber harvest activities have resulted in additional fragmentation 

within some of the old-growth habitat areas. In contrast to 

fragmentation from natural disturbance events where broken or fallen 

trees remain to contribute to the overall functioning of the old-growth 

habitat, timber harvest removes much of the wood biomass from an 

area. This old-growth habitat fragmentation, combined with the 

proposed harvest for this project, may have adverse effects on some 

old-growth associated wildlife species. Too much fragmentation could 

make an area unsuitable for some old-growth associated species for 

several decades, and could affect the ability of some species to 

effectively travel between the remaining areas of old-growth habitat. 

Although there are published studies that question the utility of 

corridors for species conservation, a review of these studies suggests 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 33 

 that corridors can be effective, and proposes that inconclusive studies 

have turned out so because of design flaws (Beier and Noss 1998). The 

Forest Plan addresses landscape patterns including connectivity of oldgrowth patches by corridors (Forest Plan Final EIS Part 1, p. 3-20). 

Two important landscape elements, beach and estuary fringe and 

riparian areas, have special importance as components of old-growth 

forest and provide unique wildlife habitats as well as serving as 

wildlife travel corridors. The Tongass has established 1,000-foot 

buffers along beach and estuary fringes and 100-foot minimum buffers 

for fish streams (buffer widths vary on riparian areas by stream 

process groups) where no programmed timber harvest is allowed. 

Travel corridors exist between proposed timber harvest units for this 

project. Depending upon the alternative selected by the Forest 

Supervisor, some corridors would remain following harvest and others 

would be removed. In the units where silviculture prescriptions 

prescribe 50 percent basal area retention, usable corridors would be 

maintained (See Unit Cards in Appendix B). 

3.3.3.1 Alternative 1 

This alternative proposes no new activities in the Project Area. 

Wildlife habitat may decline in current second-growth stands as they 

develop and the understory forage becomes shaded. There would be no 

change in the current road network. 

No POG would be reduced. Old-growth stands would continue to 

support wildlife at their current capability at least until the next 

planning cycle. This area is within a Timber Production LUD and it is 

assumed that it will be harvested at some future time. 

Important deer winter range has been reduced by 39 percent since 

1954 in WAA 5012. No additional acres of deer habitat would be 

harvested with the implementation of this alternative. When previously 

harvested areas develop to the point of stem exclusion, thinning or 

pruning could be applied to increase forage productivity. 

3.3.3.2 Alternative 2 

Alternative 2 proposes harvest on 478 acres. Harvest prescriptions 

include 280 acres of partial harvest with 50 percent basal area 

retention and 197 acres of clearcut. 

Alternative 2 would harvest 388 acres of high volume POG, 64 acres 

of medium volume, and 18 acres of low volume. Of this harvested 

volume, approximately 280 acres would retain 50 percent of the basal 

3.3.3 

Direct and 

Indirect 

Effects by 

Alternative 
3 Environment and Effects

34 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

area. This would provide habitat forage habitat for deer. 

Approximately 197 acres would be clearcut. 

Alternative 2 and Alternative 3 would retain the most low elevation, 

high volume habitat. 

Partial harvest of 60 acres of low elevation, high volume forest would 

retain valuable habitat structures within the harvested areas, including 

some canopy cover and increased forage value for deer habitat. 

The clearcut harvest of 41 acres of low elevation, high volume forest 

would remove the coarse structure from the stands that may take in 

excess of 100-150 years to develop. 

According to deer model predictions, a reduction of less than one 

percent (128 acres) of the historic important deer winter range may 

occur with the implementation of this alternative. The high number of 

acres of important deer winter range remaining after implementation 

(21,843) and the low hunting success on Kuiu (average 18 deer/year) 

indicates that WAA 5012 could support more deer than are currently 

present and that the proposed reduction in habitat should not affect 

deer populations. 

Clearcutting Units 103, 208a, 208b and part of 207 will not remove the 

travel corridors that exist from high to low elevation; however, it will 

reduce the corridor width. Clearcutting Units 416 and 417 will remove 

possible corridor between existing units but will not have an affect on 

corridors from high to low elevation. The remaining proposed units 

(109b, 111, 207, 209, 404, 405 and 415) are located in travel corridors 

where deer travel from high to lower elevations. Within these stands, 

three harvest prescriptions, leaving a minimum of 50 percent of the 

basal area following harvest, will help maintain the travel corridors. 

Deer would unlikely be adversely affected by this alternative since 280 

acres (59 percent of the acres harvested) are in partial harvest 

prescriptions that retain 50 percent of the basal area, which would help 

maintain a natural forest mosaic and retain habitat. Road closures 

would reduce hunter accessibility. The Forest Plan deer model reports 

all units as harvested by an even-aged prescription, so the model 

would overestimate the number of acres of high value habitat removed 

using partial harvest. 

3.3.3.3 Alternative 3 

Alternative 3 proposes harvest on 786 acres. Harvest prescriptions 

include 377 acres of partial harvest with 50 percent basal area 

retention and 409 acres of clearcut harvest. 

Alternative 3 would harvest 620 acres of high volume, 133 acres of 

medium volume, and 21 acres of the low volume. Of this harvested 
6403

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u:/workspace/kuiu_roaded/feis/plots/feis_plots/f3_2deer.mxd 07-09-07 EP

KuiuTimberSale

Figure3-2

DeerWinterRangeCurrentCondition

Keku Strait

00.51234

Miles

Kadake

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3 Environment and Effects

36 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

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6403

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Figure3-3

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iles
3 Environment and Effects

38 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Blank 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 39 

volume approximately 377 acres would retain 50 percent of the basal 

area. This would provide forage habitat for deer. Approximately 409 

acres would be clearcut. 

Alternative 3 would be similar to Alternative 2 in that both alternatives 

would retain the most low elevation, high volume habitat. 

Partial harvest of 57 acres of low elevation, high volume forest would 

retain valuable habitat structures within the harvested areas, such as 

canopy cover and forage value for deer habitat. 

The clearcut harvest of 25 acres of low elevation, high volume forest 

would remove the coarse structure from the stands and may take in 

excess of 100-150 years to reestablish. 

According to deer model predictions, a reduction of less than 1 percent 

(130 acres) of the historic important deer winter range would occur 

with the implementation of this alternative. These reductions in habitat 

are not expected to affect deer populations within WAA 5012. The 

high number of acres of important deer winter range remaining after 

implementation (21,841) and the low hunting success on Kuiu 

(average 18 deer/year) indicates that the WAA could support more 

deer than are currently present, and a reduction in habitat should not 

reduce deer populations. 

This alternative proposes the harvest of a portion of Units 109 and 

207, and all of Units 205, 208, 210, 307, 308, 403, 410 and 416 using 

even-aged prescription. The harvest of these units will not remove 

wildlife travel corridors between high and low elevation. As in 

Alternative 2, Unit 416 will remove a corridor between existing units 

but it maintains the corridor between high and low elevation. 

The remaining units will be harvested using three different 

prescriptions, all leaving 50 percent of the basal area following harvest 

to help mediate this concern. Units 109, 112, 207, 209, 404 and 405 

will occur within the travel corridors between high and low elevation. 

Unit 417, like 416, removes a corridor between existing units but 

maintains the high to low elevation travel corridor. 

Approximately 377 acres (48 percent of the acres harvested) are in 

partial harvest prescriptions that would retain 50 percent of the basal 

area, which would help maintain a natural forest mosaic and retain 

habitat for all the above species. Road closures would reduce hunter 

accessibility. The deer model reports all units as harvested by an evenaged prescription so the results would be even less with a 50 percent 

retention prescription. 
3 Environment and Effects

40 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

3.3.3.4 Alternative 4 

Alternative 4 proposes harvest on 1,387 acres. Harvest prescriptions 

include 399 acres of partial harvest with 50 percent basal area 

retention and 1,026 acres of clearcut. 

Alternative 4 would harvest 1,152 acres of high volume, 183 acres of 

medium volume, and 30 acres of low volume. Of this harvested 

volume approximately 362 acres would retain 50 percent of the basal 

area. This would provide forage habitat for deer. Approximately 1,025 

acres would be clearcut. 

Alternative 4 would harvest the most acres of low elevation, high 

volume POG habitat (259 acres). 

Partial harvest of 112 acres of low elevation, high volume forest would 

retain valuable habitat structures within the harvested areas, such as 

some canopy cover and forage value for deer habitat. 

The clearcut harvest of 147 acres of low elevation, high volume forest 

would remove the coarse structure from the stands and may take in 

excess of 100-150 years to reestablish. 

According to deer model predictions, a reduction of approximately one 

percent (311 acres) of the important deer winter range would occur 

with the implementation of this alternative. This reduction in habitat is 

not expected to affect deer populations within WAA 5012. The high 

number of acres of important deer winter range remaining after 

implementation (21,660) and the low hunting success on Kuiu 

(average 18 deer/year) indicate that the WAA could support more deer 

than currently present and a reduction in habitat should not reduce deer 

populations. 

The clearcut harvest of 1,387 acres in Units 101, 109, 112, 208, 210, 

211, 212, 307, 308, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 409, 410, 412, 416, 418, 

503 and 504 will partially remove travel corridors between high and 

low elevation. The harvest of Units 109, 111, 112, 401, 404 and 405 

will completely remove travel corridors between high and low 

elevation while harvest of Units 416, 418, 503 and 504 will remove 

corridors between existing units. 

The remaining units will be harvested using three different 

prescriptions, all leaving 50 percent basal area to help mediate this 

concern. The partial harvest of Units 207, 209, 414 and 415 will help 

maintain these areas as a viable corridor. 

Of the action alternatives, this one would impact deer habitat the 

greatest since it would harvest the most forest and remove the most 

habitat. However, while there may be some local impacts to 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 41 

 individuals within the population, the population would not be 

adversely affected. 

3.3.3.5 Alternative 5 

Alternative 5 proposes harvest of 1,208 acres, all of which would be 

clearcut harvested. 

Alternative 5 would harvest 929 acres of high volume, 224 acres of 

medium volume, and 30 acres of low volume. Of this harvested 

volume none would retain 50 percent of the basal area. All 1,208 acres 

would be clearcut. 

Alternative 5 would clearcut harvest the most low elevation, high 

volume POG habitat (156 acres) and would not partially harvest any 

units. The coarse structure removed from the stands may take in excess 

of 100-150 years to reestablish. 

According to deer model predictions, a reduction of approximately one 

percent (246 acres) of the important deer winter range would occur 

with the implementation of this alternative. These reductions in habitat 

are not expected to affect deer populations within WAA 5012. The 

high number of acres of important deer winter range remaining after 

implementation (21,725) and the low hunting success on Kuiu 

(average 18 deer/year) indicate that the WAA could support more deer 

than are currently present and a reduction to habitat should not reduce 

deer populations. 

Harvesting Units 109, 111, 112, 207, 209, 401, 404 and 405 would 

remove travel corridors between high and low elevation, including 

Units 207 and 209 which are identified as important travel corridors in 

Alternative 4. Harvesting Unit 208, 412, 418 and 503 will reduce the 

travel corridors between high and low elevation while the harvest of 

Units 112, 416, 417 and 504 will remove corridors between existing 

units. 

3.3.3.6 Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future 

Timber harvest has occurred on much of the northern portion of Kuiu 

Island. This harvest was mostly to fill the needs of the long-term sale 

program starting in 1968. Kuiu Island was an alternate area for the 

Alaska Pulp Corporation long-term sale. The Kuiu Catalog of Events 

is located in the planning record and was consulted for determining 

cumulative effects. All timber harvest in WAA 5012 from the four 

acres harvested in 1931 to the planned, but unharvested units from 

Crane and Rowan Mountain Timber Sales and Threemile Timber Sale 

EISs have been accounted for in this analysis. All non-harvest 

activities were reviewed for possible impacts to wildlife species as 

well. 
3 Environment and Effects

42 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Most of the previously harvested units have been treated once with 

silvicultural thinning. Wildlife would benefit from the thinning, 

girdling and/or pruning treatment to approximately 1,475 acres of 39-

year-old second-growth stands within the Saginaw watershed. The 

IDT has visited these units and has determined that it would be 

beneficial to prescribe treatments to extend the usefulness of the deer 

and bear habitat. The judicious use of silvicultural treatments can 

extend productive time that harvested units provide suitable habitat. 

Planned Projects 

For the Kuiu Timber Sale action alternatives, an individual timber sale 

or more than one sale over a period of several years, may occur. 

It is reasonable to assume that timber harvest and associated road 

management will continue on Kuiu Island. The current Tongass timber 

sale schedule lists other timber sale projects: 

• Crane and Rowan Mountain Timber Sales ROD was signed June 

1998 and is considered in cumulative effects. Approximately 482 

and 745 acres were considered as reasonable future foreseeable 

harvest within the Project Area and WAA 5012, respectively (refer 

to Changes Between DEIS and EIS section in Chapter 2). 

• Threemile Timber Sale ROD was signed in April of 2004. The 

Threemile Timber Sale will harvest approximately 19.5 mmbf on 

approximately 665 acres and construct 4.2 miles of new NFS roads 

and 4.2 miles of temporary roads. 

Cumulative Effects 

The cumulative effects analysis area for POG and for low elevation, 

high volume POG is WAA 5012. The WAA was selected as the 

analysis landscape scale since it is the same scale used for analysis for 

most MIS and can be used to compare to Forest Plan data. 

Historically, 112,677 acres of total POG were available in WAA 5012. 

That amount has been reduced to 90,856 acres. This is a 19 percent 

reduction (Table 3-11). The action alternatives would reduce POG in 

the WAA by two percent for Alternative 2, three percent for 

Alternative 3, five percent for Alternative 4 and four percent for 

Alternative 5 (Table 3-12). The Crane and Rowan Mountain Timber 

Sales EIS prescribed the removal of additional acres for the WAA. 

Approximately 659 acres of POG, of which 102 acres are low 

elevation, high volume POG, could be harvested within WAA 5012. 
46251

6403

46252

6425

46090

6441

6448

46092

6442

64026409

6409

46098

6415 6427

6412

6414

46420

46101

6425

641

641

0

0

6402

6411

6413

46127

6418 6402

46096

6417

6419

6401

6421

6422

6417

6435

46152

46154

6415

6444

644

64

5

16

46360

46355

6436 6429

6402

6408

6426

6407

6405

6415

6437

642

6

8

447

46360

6446

6404

6428

46094

6443

46021

46091

101

208

503

303

412

109b

302

204

207

414

210

209

416

410 418

205

211 308

409

403

404

111

504

405

417

112

109

208b

401

208a

402

307

415

103c

305a

212

103d

305b

500

1000

2000

1 500

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1 5 00

500

15 00

1000

3000

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500

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500

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500

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50 0

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150 0

1000

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15 00 1500

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2000

1 500

1000

1500

2000

1500

1 500

500

1 000

500

500

500

1500

500

500

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1500

1 5 00

500

500

500

500

2000

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2500

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2000

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800

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800

800

800

800

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800

800

800

800

800

800

800

800

800

800

800

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800

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800

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800

800

800

800

800

800

800

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800

800

800

800

800

800

800

800

800

Saginaw Bay

Security Bay

Legend

Forest Plan OGR

Productive Old-Growth

Coarse Canopy

Unit Pool

Managed Stands

Non-National Forest

Lakes/Saltwater

Roads in Storage (Closed)

Decommissioned Roads

Existing Open Roads

Project Area Boundary

500ft Contour Interval

800ft Contour Interval

Stream Value Class I & II

± c:/workspace/kuiu_roaded/feis/plots/feis_plots/f3_4coarse.mxd 07-09-07 EP

Kuiu Timber Sale

0 0.5 1 2 3 4

Miles

Figure 3-4

Coarse Canopy Forest
44 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS

blank 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 45 

Cumulatively, this would reduce POG in the WAA by less than one 

percent. The Forest Plan predicts that 54 percent of the 1954 POG 

habitat will remain at the end of the rotation in WAA 5012 (Forest 

Plan, FEIS p. 3-387). Analysis shows that WAA 5012 is well within 

this predicted decline. 

Past management activities in WAA 5012 have reduced important deer 

winter range by 39 percent. All action alternatives would reduce 

important deer winter range from the historic condition by less than to 

one percent. The reasonably foreseeable harvest of remaining units in 

the Crane and Rowan Mountain Timber Sales EIS would further 

reduce the important deer winter range in WAA 5012 by an additional 

227 acres (all of which would be harvested by helicopter with 50 

percent of the stand’s basal area remaining), bringing the cumulative 

reduction of high value winter range to between 39 percent for the NoAction Alternative and 40 percent for Alternative 4. 

The Forest Plan predicts that 56 percent of the deer habitat capability 

would remain at the end of the rotation (2095) (Forest Plan FEIS Part 

1, p. 3-373) in WAA 5012. These changes assume all harvest is evenaged. The results should be somewhat less for Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 

because of the partial harvest prescriptions proposed. 

The scoping for this project found that there is concern that timber 

harvest on private lands on both Kuiu and Kupreanof Islands has had, 

or may have, harmful effects to deer populations on Kuiu Island. There 

are very few acres of State or private lands on Kuiu Island. State lands 

include the State Marine Park in Security Bay and two town sites in 

Rowan Bay and No Name Bay. There may be clearing of the Rowan 

Bay site in the future if the State sells lands for a town site. The No 

Name Bay site is part of the over-selection and is low on the priority 

list of lands the State will select. Harvest will most likely not occur on 

the remaining State lands because of the nature of the lands 

withdrawn. 

The Sealaska Corporation owns lands on the northern portion of Kuiu 

in VCU 398. At this time, no harvest has occurred on these lands. 

These are small acreages and are not expected to have much impact to 

wildlife. 

The harvest of private lands on Kupreanof Island around the village of 

Kake is extensive. The Native Corporation completing this harvest has 

followed the State Forestry Practices Act and has cut what is available. 

This large harvest area has had major impacts to deer on Kupreanof 

Island but probably has had little effect to Kuiu populations 
3 Environment and Effects

46 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

With the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation 

Act (ANILCA), the U.S. Congress recognized the importance of 

subsistence resource gathering to the rural communities of Alaska. 

ANILCA (16 USC 31130) defines subsistence as: “The customary and 

traditional uses by rural Alaska residents of wild, renewable resources 

for direct personal or family consumption as food, shelter, fuel, 

clothing, tools or transportation; for the making and selling of 

handicraft articles out of non-edible byproducts of fish and wildlife 

resources taken for personal or family consumption; and for customary 

trade.” 

ANILCA provides for the continuation of the opportunity for 

subsistence uses by rural residents of Alaska, including both Natives 

and non-Natives, on public lands. It also set legislation that customary 

and traditional subsistence uses of renewable resources shall be the 

priority consumptive use of all such resources on the public lands of 

Alaska. Non-rural residents are not provided a preference for the 

taking of fish and wildlife on public lands. 

Kake residents probably use Kuiu Island more than residents of any 

other community in Southeast Alaska. They fish, hunt deer and 

waterfowl, and gather seaweed, medicinal plants, shellfish, and 

berries. Petersburg and Wrangell residents make limited use of the 

Project Area and WAA 5012 for hunting deer and commercial fishing. 

Other nearby rural communities with reported fish and wildlife 

gathering activities in the Project Area and WAA 5012 include Port 

Protection, Point Baker, Port Alexander, and Meyers Chuck. Detailed 

information on these other communities can be found in the 

Subsistence Resource Report available in the planning record. 

3.3.5.1 Kake 

Kake residents harvest a variety of subsistence resources, documented 

in detail through the Tongass Resource Use Cooperative Study 

(TRUCS) (Kruse and Frazer 1988). Households in Kake reported they 

consume an average of 160 pounds of meat and fish annually. The 

subsistence resources most often used are salmon, other finfish and 

deer. In terms of pounds of edible harvest, fish constituted 48 percent 

of the 1996 total harvest (24 percent salmon, 24 percent other fish), 

large mammals 29 percent, marine invertebrates 12 percent, plants five 

percent, and birds less than one percent, and five percent unknown. 

There is a long history of use of the waters near the Project Area by 

Kake residents. The saltwater is heavily used by commercial, sport, 

and subsistence users. The stream locally known as Fall Dog Creek is 

adjacent to the Project Area and is heavily used by Kake residents for 

subsistence fishing and gathering when they are traveling to the Bay of 

Pillars. Most of the large streams on Kuiu Island are used by Kake 

3.3.4 

Subsistence 

3.3.5 

Community 

Subsistence 

Profiles 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 47 

residents, especially in the Rocky Pass area because of the easy access, 

even in inclement weather. These areas are used for hunting, fishing, 

and gathering seaweed. Additional information about Kake regarding 

employment, income, population, and ethnicity can be found in the 

Socioeconomic Specialist report available in the planning record. 

3.3.5.2 Other Community Use 

Residents of Port Protection and Point Baker generally use the 

southern portion of Kuiu Island and the lower reaches of Keku Strait, 

but the Project Area gets some use. Meyers Chuck, Petersburg and 

Wrangell residents make limited use of the Project Area for 

subsistence purposes. 

Summary subsistence harvest information is presented in Table 3-16. 

This table displays the total harvest of terrestrial game species from 

Kuiu Island for regulatory years 1984-2003. Between 1975 and 1991 

Kuiu Island was closed for deer hunting. Most of the subsistence 

harvest on Kuiu Island was by Petersburg and Kake residents. The 

Sitka black-tailed deer is by far the most important species listed in 

this table, followed by black bear and moose. Trapping numbers for 

marten and beaver are relatively small and variable. Local patterns are 

discussed briefly below. The primary subsistence resource of potential 

concern is deer, which will be discussed in more detail. 

3.3.6.1 Direct Effects of the Alternatives 

Detailed analysis of effects of the proposed activities by alternative for 

Sitka black-tailed deer are found earlier in this section and other 

wildlife species can be found by species under the Wildlife section of 

this chapter. 

Sitka Black-tailed Deer 

The subsistence evaluation of deer is based on a comparison of supply 

and demand. The deer habitat capability model was used in this 

analysis for the habitat within WAA 5012. If the demand for deer 

exceeds the supply, then a significant possibility of a significant 

restriction of a subsistence resource exists. 

On Kuiu Island, the subsistence use of WAA 5012 is limited and 

variable. In past years, Petersburg and Kake residents heavily hunted 

Kuiu Island for deer. As a result of severe winters the deer population 

crashed in the early 1970s and the hunting season on Kuiu was closed 

from 1975 to 1991. Since 1992 Kuiu Island has been open to hunting 

with a two-buck bag limit. During the long hunting closure on Kuiu, 

subsistence hunters shifted to Admiralty Island (especially WAAs 

3938-3940) and, to a lesser extent, the northern part of Prince of Wales 

Island, as well as the nearby mainland. When hunting was again 

3.3.6 

Types and 

Amounts of 

Resources 

Gathered 
3 Environment and Effects

48 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Table 3-16. Subsistence harvest of important game species on Kuiu Island 

Year Beaver Otter Wolf Wolverine Deer Marten Black Bear1 Moose 

1984 17 40 0 0 N/A N/A 51 N/A 

1985 18 19 4 0 N/A N/A 66 N/A 

1986 14 5 1 0 N/A N/A 89 N/A 

1987 9 3 4 0 N/A N/A 84 N/A 

1988 11 3 3 0 N/A N/A 118 N/A 

1989 2 0 3 0 N/A N/A 109 N/A 

1990 0 0 0 1 N/A N/A 78 N/A 

1991 6 0 7 0 N/A N/A 77 1 

1992 8 0 3 0 N/A N/A 88 0 

1993 0 11 16 0 11 23 121 0 

1994 9 9 1 0 24 0 111 0 

1995 0 7 8 0 25 51 124 0 

1996 0 6 9 0 22 21 131 0 

1997 0 7 5 0 13 35 165 0 

1998 0 0 8 0 29 15 161 0 

1999 0 0 10 0 18 0 168 0 

2000 1 0 7 0 27 17 166 0 

2001 0 0 3 0 8 0 105 0 

2002 0 0 13 0 17 0 112 1 

2003 0 0 4 0 7 10 121 0 

2004 0 0 0 0 N/A 0 114 0 

Average 4 5 5 <1 19 14 112 <1 

N/A = Harvest records were not available. 

Source: Meucci 2005 

1

 Numbers include sport hunting harvest. 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 49 

allowed, the low numbers of deer and their availability did not 

persuade hunters to return to Kuiu Island. The deer population is 

slowly growing, but it is not advantageous enough at this time for most 

hunters to spend their time or energy hunting on Kuiu Island. 

Subsistence use areas and the levels of harvest were estimated from a 

variety of sources. Data compiled from the ADF&G shows the average 

number of deer harvested on Kuiu Island since 1992 when the season 

reopened was 18, with a range of 7 to 29 animals harvested. In 

contrast, the average for Kupreanof is 174, with a range of 90 to 373. 

On Mitkof Island the average is 139 with a range of 64 to 232 during 

the same period. 

ADF&G estimated hunter demand on Kuiu Island to be 68 deer, based 

on estimated annual harvest during the years 1960-1968. These years 

represent the demand before the deer population crash in the early 

1970s. The minimum number of deer needed to support that demand 

indefinitely is 10 times that demand, or 680 deer. This is well within 

the capability of the WAA and is therefore considered a sustainable 

harvest. 

However, testimony from the Crane and Rowan Mountain Timber 

Sales EIS, Threemile Timber Sale EIS, and the Kuiu Timber Sale EIS 

subsistence hearings indicated that the subsistence hunters did not 

always accurately report their location when they were successful at 

hunting deer. So while both information from the Forest Plan “Deer 

Harvest Map” and Chapter 3: Subsistence and Communities as well as 

Tongass Resource Use Cooperative Study (TRUCS) (Kruse and Frazer 

1988) has been used, it is recognized that this information may not be 

entirely accurate. The following information reflects the testimonies of 

subsistence hunters from Kake: 

• The Organized Village of Kake feels the 1960s deer use figures 

(from ADF&G) substantially underestimate what the use was in 

those years, and thus this carries over into underestimating current 

and future demand. Several declarations from Kake residents attest 

to their remembrance of deer taken from Kuiu during the 1950s 

and 1960s. These residents recall that more than 30 deer were 

taken by them or their families alone, and others estimate around 

80 for an extended family to more than 100 for Kake people. 

• Kake residents have pointed out that their recent (since 1975) 

reliance on Admiralty Island for deer hunting is not their 

preference, and that as the Kuiu herds increase more of their 

hunting will shift back to Kuiu Island. Kake residents on average 

(based 1993 to 1995) take about 250 deer annually (TLMP 

Revision FEIS, Appendix H, p. H-76, based on 75 percent of their 

harvest being 185 deer). If all of these deer were harvested from 

Kuiu Island the minimum number of deer needed to support that 
3 Environment and Effects

50 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

demand would be 2,500. Table 3-17 shows that WAA 5012 alone 

would be able to meet this demand in all alternatives if the deer 

density were at the carrying capacity. At the present time, the deer 

numbers are still recovering and the recovery is slow due to the 

high black bear and wolf predation on the island. 

All action alternatives would result in a reduction of deer habitat 

capability. Alternatives 2 and 3 would result in a less than one percent 

decline in deer habitat capability. Alternatives 4 and 5 would result in 

a one percent decline in deer habitat capability in WAA 5012. WAA 

5012 has the habitat capability sufficient to meet the State of Alaska’s 

population objectives (680 deer) including the hunter demand for the 

people of Kake (2,500 deer). 

Table 3-17. Deer habitat capability (deer/mi2) for WAA 5012 by alternative 

1954 Alt 1 Alt 2 Alt 3 Alt 4 Alt 5 

Deer density (deer/mi2) to 

support wolf and hunter 

demand for WAA 5012 

37 29 29 29 29 29 

Deer density (deer/mi2) to 

support wolf and hunter 

demand for Kuiu

Biogeographic Province 

37 34 34 34 34 34 

 % Change from current condition <1% <1% 1% 1% 

Moose 

ADF&G harvest records show that moose is not an important 

subsistence species on Kuiu Island because only two moose have been 

harvested in the past 15 years. 

Black Bear 

The black bear is an important subsistence animal in Southeast Alaska. 

In GMU 3, where Kuiu Island is located, the bear is important to 

resident and nonresident hunters. There is concern about the Kuiu 

Island black bear population and what will happen if timber harvest 

continues on the island at its projected rate. Outfitter/Guides are now 

advertising their hunts on Kuiu Island as a “World Class Trophy Hunt” 

and are able to command higher prices because of the large bear 

population and the large size of the individual animals. 

Concern was expressed over the potential competition between 

subsistence hunters and nonresident hunters. As a result, the State of 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 51 

Alaska limited nonresident bear harvest on Kuiu Island to120 bear per 

year in 2001. 

Black bears use a variety of habitat types for forage, denning, and 

cover. Saltwater and freshwater influence zones are of ecological 

importance to bear. None of the alternatives are expected to result in 

any restrictions to subsistence harvest of black bear (see the Recreation 

section in this chapter).

Furbearers 

Past subsistence hearings have indicated that most marten trapping is 

by local area residents. Very few people travel to Kuiu Island to hunt 

or trap from other communities in Southeast Alaska. 

No significant subsistence restrictions on marten are anticipated from 

any of the action alternatives. See the Management Indicator Species 

section in this chapter for more information on harvest within units of 

high value marten habitat. 

Fish and Shellfish 

Application of Forest Plan riparian standards and guidelines and road 

construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) would be expected to 

minimize the risk of impact to fish habitat and fish populations. Stream 

buffers are specified for all proposed harvest units. Refer to the unit 

cards in Appendix B for descriptions of stream buffers and water 

quality BMPs. All action alternatives would result in road crossings 

across fish streams; however, the effects to fish populations from these 

proposed activities should be minor. Refer to the Fisheries section of 

this chapter for additional information on stream crossings proposed 

for this project. 

There are no expected measurable effects on shellfish populations for 

all action alternatives. With the exception of the use of the Saginaw or 

Rowan Bay LTFs, all proposed activities are located in the uplands, 

away from shellfish populations. Use of either LTF would present the 

greatest potential for adverse impacts to shellfish, but mitigation 

measures specified in the permits for the LTF should reduce these 

potential effects. 

Subsistence fishing and shellfish harvesting in or near the Project Area 

are not likely to be affected by the proposed activities for this project. 

As discussed above, the distribution and abundance of these resources 

should not change as a result of this project, and any changes in access 

or competition for these resources should be minor and of limited 

duration. 
3 Environment and Effects

52 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

Upland Birds and Waterfowl 

Upland game birds, such as grouse, are found throughout the Project 

Area. 

Waterfowl nesting and breeding areas are adjacent to the Project Area. 

Saginaw, Security, and Rowan Bays all provide resting, nesting, and 

feeding habitat for waterfowl throughout the year. Rocky Pass, to the 

east of the Project Area, provides excellent habitat for waterfowl. 

Upland birds do not seem to be affected by increased road access. The 

amount of upland bird habitat unaffected by the proposed projects will 

support the current populations. Beach, estuary, and riparian buffers 

would retain habitat for waterfowl. The Forest Plan Standards and 

Guidelines for waterfowl buffers would be applied if necessary to 

protect nesting or breeding waterfowl. 

No measurable effects on bird populations are expected from any of 

the action alternatives. 

Upland birds and waterfowl are a small percentage of the foods 

harvested by subsistence users. The activities proposed for this project 

should not change the distribution, abundance, or use of upland birds 

or waterfowl in the Project Area. 

Marine Mammals 

Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines for protection of marine 

mammal habitat would be followed and none of the alternatives is 

expected to negatively impact marine mammals. No significant 

possibility of a significant restriction to the subsistence use of marine 

mammals is expected under any alternative. 

Food Plants 

Subsistence plant foods consist of a variety of species. Some of the 

most sought after types include kelp, seaweed, goose tongue, 

mushrooms, and berries. Roads and previous timber harvest areas 

within the Project Area are excellent berry harvest locations since 

many berry species thrive on open, exposed slopes (Alaback 1982). 

However, since Project Area roads are not connected to any 

community, little competition for plant foods is anticipated. None of 

the alternatives is expected to negatively affect subsistence plant 

gathering for food. Reasonably foreseeable effects of the action 

alternatives on the abundance and distribution of food plants would be 

minimal. 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 53 

3.3.6.2 Access 

The primary modes of access include boats, foot travel, cars, and allterrain vehicles. The existing road system on Kuiu Island does not 

connect directly to any other road systems or the Alaska State Ferry 

System, so only minimal impacts due to road use are expected. 

Access by boat and foot would not be restricted by any of the action 

alternatives. Access to areas along the beach fringe would not change. 

Road construction and reconditioning of existing roads may 

temporarily increase access in the Project Area, but this effect would 

be minimal and the increased access would end when logging is 

completed and the roads are returned to storage condition or 

decommissioned. Proposed road management objectives would keep 

motorized access below its current levels. 

3.3.6.3 Competition 

Kake is the only rural community that relies heavily on Kuiu Island for 

a substantial portion of its subsistence food needs. As reported earlier, 

deer hunting has moved mostly to Admiralty Island, which increases 

the competition for deer at that location with other rural communities 

and sport hunters. It also changes the historic use of Kuiu Island. 

Most furbearer trapping comes during the winter months and is done 

from a boat. Kuiu Island is remote and few trappers are able to reach it 

reliably during the trapping season. There is no longer a year-round 

logging camp and much of the recreational trapping that occurred 

when this camp was occupied has stopped. 

Competition for upland birds and waterfowl should not be affected by 

any of the proposed activities. The number of hunters in the area may 

temporarily increase during active logging operations, but long-term 

competition would be reduced by road closures and the difficulty in 

accessing the area during the spring and fall months when these 

animals are normally harvested for food. 

None of the action alternatives should have any effect on competition 

between rural and non-rural residents since none of the alternatives 

would change the existing access patterns to other communities. 

Potential conflicts among user groups for subsistence resources would 

not vary by alternative. 

The Catalog of Events for Kuiu Island was referenced in determining 

cumulative effects. Projects considered include the following: 

• Forest Service Timber Sale EISs: Threemile Timber Sale EIS 

(outside Project Area), and Crane and Rowan Mountain Timber 

Sales EIS (within the Project Area), 

3.3.7 

Cumulative 

Effects 
3 Environment and Effects

54 • Chapter 3 Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS 

• Other Forest Service programs such as the provision of personal 

use wood, 

• Timber offered by other landowners (private, State of Alaska, 

Mental Health Trust), and 

• General population dynamics. 

According to model predictions, WAA 5012 can meet the State of 

Alaska’s objectives for a deer population to meet current hunter 

demand for all alternatives and meet the Kake subsistence needs as 

testified to by residents of Kake. 

In recent years, intensive timber management has taken place on 

Native Corporation and National Forest System lands adjacent to Kake 

further reducing the winter habitat capability of the nearby areas to 

support deer, and increasing the need of Kake subsistence users to 

travel further distances to harvest deer. With the deer populations still 

low on Kuiu Island, hunters have been traveling to Admiralty Island, 

which is an increased risk to the hunters, as the distance is further and 

Fredrick Sound can be dangerous to cross during the winter months. 

Finally, looking into the future, the current habitat capability is 

estimated to decline by about two percent over the next 30 years. 

The analysis for this project indicates that for any action alternative, 

the proposed timber harvest, in combination with past and reasonably 

foreseeable future timber harvest, will not likely result in a significant 

possibility of a significant restriction of subsistence resources. 

The Forest Plan addressed the long-term consequences on subsistence 

and concluded that full implementation of the Forest Plan may result 

in a significant possibility of a significant restriction to subsistence use 

of deer due to the potential effects of projects on the abundance and 

distribution of deer, and on competition for deer (Forest Plan ROD, p. 

24). At this time this restriction is not anticipated in the reasonably 

foreseeable future for the following reasons: 

• The Forest Plan analysis was based on full implementation of the 

Forest Plan by 2095. Forest Plan FEIS (p. 3-373) predicts that 

WAA 5012 will retain 56 percent of the 1954 deer habitat 

capability (compared to 80 percent in 1995). These projections 

were made using the assumption that the Forest Plan would be 

implemented in its entirety (most harvest completed using evenaged management, clearcutting). 

• To date, planned timber harvest on Kuiu Island has had less impact 

on wildlife habitat values than predicted because modified 

prescriptions have reduced the use of clearcutting as the major 

method for cutting trees. 
Issue 2: Deer Habitat and Subsistence Use 3 

Kuiu Timber Sale FEIS Chapter 3 • 55 

• The Forest Plan assumed an 18 percent increase in community 

population growth for each of the first two decades and a 15 

percent increase for each of the next three decades (Forest Plan 

FEIS Part 2, p. 3-528). 

• Populations in Southeast Alaska have actually declined an average 

of three percent between 1995 and 2003. 

Given the above rationale, it is likely that this restriction, if it occurs, 

would occur somewhat later than predicted. 

At some time in the future, if projected human population increases 

occur, and as habitat degradation (reduced deer habitat capability) 

increases, the demand for deer for all hunters (subsistence plus sport) 

may well exceed supply. At that time, a restriction on sport hunting 

may be required to ensure the availability of adequate subsistence 

resources needed by rural communities (Forest Plan FEIS Part 2, p. 3-

625). Until that time, cumulative effects on subsistence use patterns of 

Kuiu Island by rural residents are expected to remain unaltered. 

Cumulative effects from past actions, the proposed action, and 

reasonably foreseeable future activities within WAA 5012 are not 

expected to result in a significant restriction of subsistence uses of 

Sitka black-tailed deer, black bear, moose, furbearers, marine 

mammals, upland birds, waterfowl, salmon, other finfish, shellfish, or 

other foods. 

Based on the habitat modeling and subsistence deer harvest reported 

by the ADF&G, the Federal Subsistence Program, and the Forest Plan, 

the current level of subsistence deer harvest (1992-2005) can be 

achieved for any of the alternatives within the WAA. 

Subsistence hearings were held in Petersburg on March 16, 2006 and 

in Kake on March 21, 2006; written comments were accepted. Three 

people testified in Petersburg and one person testified in Kake. 

3.3.8 

Conclusions 

and Findings