Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska

October 6, 2011 Newsletter

It’s been about two months since the last SAA Newsletter. I hope you’ve made the transition from summer to fall. It’s been a busy two month for SAA, with appearances at the International Fly Tackle Dealer show in New Orleans as well as a pair of focused outreach trips to Colorado and New Mexico. It is very apparent that support for the Bristol Bay campaign is as strong as ever within the fly fishing industry. And the trips to Colorado and New Mexico were tremendous – meeting a lot of existing supporters and gaining some great new allies in what’s shaping up to be one of the fishing & hunting conservation battles of our lifetime.

Below you will find some of the highlights from the past two months. As always, there’s much more found at the Latest News page on the SAA site. But first, you need to know about an exciting series of events coming later this month to a handful of cities across the country.

Save Bristol Bay Road Show

The road show will begin on Monday, October 17 in Seattle and conclude on Tuesday, November 1 in New York City. In between, over the course of two weeks, we’ll be taking our message to five other cities. Join us for food, drinks, and a screening of the award-winning documentary, Red Gold, as you learn more about the fight to Save Bristol Bay. Plus you can…win cool gear…enjoy wild salmon from Bristol Bay…and meet Alaskan fishermen. Visit www.SaveBristolBay.org/RoadShow to RSVP! Get anyone who doesn’t know about Bristol Bay and Pebble Mine to come to these events.

Bristol Bay: “Save Our Salmon” Initiative Vote in Lake & Peninsula Borough

This week, residents of the Lake & Peninsula Borough cast votes to determine whether or not to allow permits for mining operations of greater than 640 acres that would result in “significant adverse impacts” on any salmon stream in the borough. This vote was fought every step of the way by the Pebble Partnership, in the courts and through a barrage of misleading advertising. Results should be announced later this month. In the meantime, coverage leading up to the vote can be found all over the SAA Latest News page. A few particularly interesting pieces are from the Anchorage Daily News and the Alaska Dispatch.

Bristol Bay: U.S. Senator from Washington State Urges EPA Action

Bristol Bay: Lawsuit Likely Headed to Alaska’s Highest Court

A Superior Court Judge in Anchorage has sided with the State of Alaska in a lawsuit which challenged the constitutionality of the exploratory permits which the Pebble Partnership has been operating under. There is a high likelihood this case will be appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court.

Bristol Bay: Why It Should Be Protected – Video Testimonials

Check out the Save Bristol Bay channel on YouTube. We’re recording short clips from all kinds of supporters at events in Alaska and across the country. Commercial fishermen, chefs, and sport fishing industry leaders tell you in their words why we need to save Bristol Bay. SAA recorded many of the clips from industry heavyweights at the International Fly Tackle Dealer show last month. Also, be sure to check out the lengthier video on the Pebble Partnership’s impacts on the land from just the exploratory work being conducted.

© Ian Davis – Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures

Tongass National Forest: Miscellaneous News Wrap Up

• A recently retired USFS research fisheries biologist and an owner of a salmon marketing business in Southeast Alaska teamed up on a great opinion editorial in the Juneau Empire about the value of intact watersheds and salmon to Southeast Alaska and the Tongass National Forest.
• A U.S. Appeal Court has overturned four logging projects in the Tongass.
• The Juneau Empire reports on the visit to Southeast Alaska by a high-ranking USDA official to discuss transitional management of the Tongass National Forest.
• Here’s a story about a tremendous successful restoration project in the Tongass National Forest that was years in the making.
• The October issue of the Alaska Journal of Commerce reports on Sealaska Corporation’s performance during the down economy, including mention of the controversial Sealaska lands bill currently in Congress.

Random Alaska Stuff

• The latest edition of Brian O’Keefe’s online Catch magazine features a photo essay on Alaska float trips. It’s the first in a series of Alaska photo essays, so keep an eye on future editions. There are also a few great Alaska images under the “Red” photo essay section.
• Of all places, the National Enquirer ran something about the proposed Pebble Mine. Of course, it was very Palin-centric, but it certainly will reach a lot of people who’ve never heard of this issue before.
• A new fly fishing movie from the makers of Drift and Rise is coming soon. Check out this clip from SAA supporter Confluence Films’ upcoming feature Connect. The movie includes a segment on pike fishing in Alaska.
• Halibut catch allocation plan divides sport and commercial fishermen on the Kenai Peninsula, reports the Anchorage Daily News.
• The Alaska Dispatch reports that world markets and local opposition are causing investors to be skittish on the proposed Pebble Mine project and the companies that comprise the Pebble Limited Partnership.

Donate to SAA – Support the Fight for Fishing and Hunting in Alaska

SAA is grateful for the generous support of individuals, businesses, and foundations. Your donations allow SAA to continue to work on efforts to protect prime fishing and hunting habitats in the Last Frontier for the benefit of current and future sportsmen and women. Make your donations online at the secure SAA donation page; all amounts are accepted and appreciated! For donations of the following amounts, please indicate what item you’d like to receive in the “comment” box on the donation page.

INVENTORY REDUCTION OFFERS $15 – Save Bristol Bay SAA t-shirt (7 L and 3 XL available) $15 – Equilibrium short film DVD (9 copies available) $20 – Red Gold documentary DVD (several dozen on hand) $20 – Salmon in the Trees book (4 copies available)

Thanks for whatever you’re able to contribute to help secure a future for fishing and hunting on Alaska’s public lands!

Thanks for caring about Alaska conservation. Your support and actions will ensure a future for Alaska’s fish and game and for coming generations of sportsmen and women to enjoy them.

Scott Hed
Director – Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska

SAA Director Scott Hed with Carmen Galvan (center), winner of the Sage fly rod drawing
and representatives of Far Bank Enterprises at the International Fly Tackle Dealer show.

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