The Tongass Futures Roundtable working group will meet Thursday and Friday in Ketchikan, and among other issues will discuss negotiations over land trades with the Alaska Mental Health Lands Trust.

The Mental Health Trust was given parcels of land by the state to help fund mental health services in Alaska. Among those parcels is a large portion of Deer Mountain, Ketchikan’s iconic landmark.

The working group includes Tongass National Forest stakeholders, including U.S. Forest Service officials, environmental organizations, tribal leaders, fishermen, and government representatives.

Some Thursday highlights from the two-day meeting’s draft agenda include a report from the Mental Health Lands Trust working group, set for 11:30 a.m.; and an update on Coastal Management Program efforts at 2:30 p.m., provided by Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho.

Friday’s meeting will include a discussion at 10 a.m. of the Southeast Integrated Resource Energy Plan, with a focus on woody biomass; and a review at 1 p.m. of the Tongass Lands Management Plan, presented by Tongass Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole.

The meeting will take place at The Landing. Public comment will be heard both days.

A complete draft agenda is seen below, as well as a link to more information about the Tongass Futures Roundtable group.

http://www.tongassfutures.net/

 

Tongass Futures Roundtable

The Landing

Ketchikan, Alaska

September 13-14, 2012

Draft Agenda

Wednesday, September 12 – AT THE DISCOVERY CENTER NEXT TO THE FEDERAL BUILDING IN KETCHIKAN

1:00 pm                Unrecognized Communities Working Group

Thursday, September 13 – AT THE LANDING BY THE FERRY TERMINAL IN KETCHIKAN

8:00 am                Tongass Haa Aani – Litl’ Tlagaa – Laxyuubm Working Group

10:00  am             Welcome and Introductions

                                Establishment of Quorum

10:45 am              Public Participation (not to exceed 20 minutes, nor more than 5 minutes for any individual, the actual amount of time determined by the number of persons asking to speak divided into 20 minutes)

11:00 am              Report from the Administrative Committee

  1. a.       Actions that led to invalidation of May actions

11:15 am              Membership

  1. a.       Action on applications for new membership

11:30 am              Mental Health Lands Working Group

  1. a.       Report of the working group
  2. b.      Discussion
  3. c.       Roundtable action on working group recommendation        

12:30 pm              Lunch

1:30 pm                Landless Working Group

  1. a.       Report of the working group
  2. b.      Discussion
  3. c.       Roundtable action on working group recommendation        

2:30 pm                Coastal Zone Management – Update – Bruce Botelh

3:00 pm                Collaborative Stewardship Working Group

  1. a.       Report of the working group
  2. b.      Discussion
  3. c.       Roundtable recommendation for further work of group

3:30 pm                Break

3:45 pm                Tongass Transition Framework Update

4:15 pm                Carbon and Ecosystem Services

5:00 pm                Adjourn

 

Friday, September 14

8:00 am                Breakfast

9:00 am                Public Participation (not to exceed 20 minutes, nor more than 5 minutes for any individual, the actual amount of time determined by the number of persons asking to speak divided into 20 minutes)

9:30 am                Roundtable Budget

10:00 am              Southeast Alaska Integrated Resource Plan (Energy Plan for SE Alaska)

  1. a.       Woody biomass
  2. b.      Roundtable action on plan

10:30 am              Tongass Haa Aani – Litl’ Tlagaa – Laxyuubm Working Group

  1. a.       Report of the working group
  2. b.      Discussion
  3. c.       Roundtable recommendation for further work of group

Noon                     Lunch

1:00  pm               TLMP Review – Informational Item – Forrest Cole

1:45 pm                2012 Restoration Project

3:00 pm                Wrap-up and Date and Location for Spring 2013 Meeting

3:30 pm                Adjourn