Author: kfskadmin

The boat launch ramp at Banana Point on southern Mitkof Island could see some bigger upgrades with federal and state funding in the next few years. The ramp could become a more important connection between Petersburg and Wrangell in lieu of a frequent and dependable ferry link. State legislators for the two Southeast towns say they hope to secure state money to expand the facility. Joe Viechnicki reports.

The US Forest Service is planning for the sale of up to 91 million board feet of timber on or near the Wrangell island road system over the next decade or longer. The agency is now gathering initial public comments on the project. Wrangell residents have mixed feelings. Some see it as an opportunity to support small, value-added mills while protecting areas that are important for recreation and tourism. Others say the forest service should offer more timber to attract local investment from larger timber companies.

The city of Petersburg has finished up work on a mile-long trail construction project from Sandy Beach Park to City Creek. The trail winds through the forest on city land in the Sandy Beach subdivision and has already seen improvements thanks to several Eagle Scout projects. The earlier upgrades included clearing the length of the trail and construction of a bridge and troll house crossing the creek at Sandy Beach. The latest work was paid for by a 26,750 dollar grant from Seatrails, a non-profit devoted to building and promoting land and water trails around the region. Joe Viechnicki spoke with Parks and Recreation director Ryan McFarland about the latest work.

Law makers representing Petersburg say they will focus on the state budget, transportation funding and other local issues during the upcoming first session of the 27th Alaska Legislature. As Joe Viechnicki reports, Petersburg’s Senator and Representative have different priorities for 2011.

Commercial salmon trollers in Southeast Alaska have seen a better catch this winter season. Trollers have landed 12-thousand 700 king salmon in Southeast, three months into the season. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s regional troll management biologist Pattie Skannes says overall it’s been a pretty good season. She says the catch is running ahead of last year and the five-year average by roughly 55 percent and it's also slightly ahead of the 10 year average for this time of the season. The winter season opened in early October and can remain open through April, unless the fleet catches 45,000 kings before that date. Last year’s total winter harvest topped 42-thousand Chinook. Skannes says the number of trollers out fishing has been up this winter. Typically, trolling effort slows down in the middle part of the season and ramps back up again in March and April. The price for troll caught king salmon has remained strong this winter, averaging six dollars and 68 cents a pound for the season. Most recently the price is averaging seven dollars and 60 cents a pound. Skannes says 79 percent of the regional winter harvest to date has come from three districts.