The proposal includes creating new wetlands at the 26-mile pond. (Takshanuk Watershed Council)
A local environmental group is aiming to enhance a pond near the Klehini River bridge, off of the Haines Highway. The proposal would create new habitat for fish and other wildlife.
The pond sits near the bridge, about 26 miles out the highway.
Derek Poinsette is the science director at the Takshanuk Watershed Council.
“We are working on a plan to create wetlands on the north shore of the pond, that’s now just kind of a big barren gravel pad,” says Poinsette.
Takshanuk is working with the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Alaska State Parks.
“It will turn an area that basically is not wildlife habitat or fish habitat of any kind right now. And it will become habitat for rearing salmon,” says Poinsette. “They’re rearing coho salmon in that pond. They’ll use some of that zone for birds. Probably the occasional moose will wander out there. Basically that’s the idea, is to turn an area that is not habitat, into an area that is good wildlife and fish habitat.”
Poinsette says that work will pay for the project. The Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition wants to fund it through the Southeast Alaska Mitigation Fund.
“The wetland creation itself is what’s going to fund the project,” says Poinsette. “It’s going to go into a system where the credits for the habitats that will be created will be sold to developers to use as their required mitigation for development projects.”
But, the proposal also aims at improving the pond for recreational activities.
“As part of that project, we’d like to develop a picnic area and perhaps a shelter and even a toilet,” says Poinsette. “Fire rings and maintain the swimming access.”
The pond is about eight acres. Much of it lies within the bounds of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.
“So anything that we end up doing there, it will have to be supported by state parks and by the Bald Eagle Preserve advisory committee, and those folks,” says Poinsette. “And they’ll be partners and advisors and all that through the whole project.”
The groups are currently looking for feedback on the proposed plans.
“We primarily need comments from people who use the pond for recreation, to give us their input of how big the parking area should be, should there be vehicle access right to the lakeshore,” says Poinsette.
He encourages anyone with ideas or comments to get in touch with the Watershed Council. If the plans move forward, the work may start in the spring of 2019.
I cant believe we want a park there which has rules that prohibit certain lifestyles. there are a few questions in my mind . 1 who will maintain this park when we have parks that literally no maintence is done on ie mosquito lake , also this is one of the spots fire trks draw water to fill tankers in the time of emergency , you can build fires there now. birds already land there . also is the water safe for swimming / diving remembering some one died out there from diving! lets not install something a few people want and quit wasting taxpayer dollars on a few and instead what is for the good of the whole community . also remember the best environmentalist are fishermen and hunters . the next step is remove the old bridge from there and call it good. I believe this needs to go to the borough assy for approval , also the public on where and who money is paying for this, nature takes care of itself always has and always will I say no to the park and remove the old junk and leave it ALONE . I WANT TO SEE THE COMPLETE PLAN WITH FUNDING SOURCES INCLUDED . THNAK YOU BRIAN
I’ve been out waking around and I’ve noticed that there is no end to ‘habitat’ around here. I respect Derek and Takshanuk Watershed Council, but this sort of ‘feel good’ environmentalism is good for nothing except soothing a guilty conscience. If you want to say that this area is a public eyesore and could be made more appealing, that’s fine and true, but why pretend you are helping the environment?
The lies you tell to yourself damage your spirit more than anything else.