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Results of Community SurveyCompiled by Greg Streveler and Meadow Brook Number of Surveys Distributed: 290. Surveys were sent to every box holder and could also be picked up at Gusto, Beartrack and the Dray. Number of Surveys Returned: 80 (27% response rate) Do you support maintaining the right to hunt, gather, or recreate on Mental Health Trust lands? Yes 74; No 2 Do your support Gustavus presenting a proposal to the MHT (through the Trust for Public Land) suggesting areas that the community would like to obtain easements on or purchase outright? Yes 71; No 3; Need more information 1 If the Trust for Public Land found money to purchase conservation easements on MHT lands, are you in support of the easements being entrusted to either:
Overall Importance of this area or parcel for continued community use:
Most frequent comment: Hiking/skiing trails, especially trails to beach and hiking along beach. Hunting/Gathering/Subsistence: berry picking Recreation: high community use for recreation Habitat: Moose, bear, wolves and waterfowl use this area, safe corridor for wildlife in center of town Mental Health: closest beach with no noise Scenic/Open Space: undeveloped beaches are town's greatest asset, open space in center of town, beaches in GST are unique in SE Alaska--flat, open, long sandy, this is what we see from small boat harbor and from boats in Icy Strait, defining view of GST Comments on specific parcels within Central Beach: 1049--high importance (2 responses), view to and of the beach, wildlife habitat.
Most frequent comment: hiking/skiing trail, especially trail to beach and beach walk to Pt. Gustavus and Bartlett Cove Hunting/Gathering/Subsistence: moose hunting, foraging, berry picking, especially on W bank of river; bird hunting, beachcombing Wildlife Habitat: buffer for Dude Creek crane habitat, moose use including calving, waterfowl and shorebird use including nesting, bear use, wolf use, wildlife corridor especially along river, wildlife use high along sloughs, Upper Good River and this parcel form N-S corridor for wildlife and humans on this side of GST Scenic/Open Space: Scenic beauty of parcel and scenic beauty from parcel, keep beaches public, most important areas to protect are parcels along Good River and Salmon River. Comments on individual parcels within Good River West: 0930--high importance (4 responses) low importance (1 response), H, R, W, S, hiking/skiing trail to beach, view; 0980-- H, R, W, S; 0975-- R, W, M, S
Most frequent comment: hiking/skiing/running/biking/ATV access to beach and along beach Hunting/Gathering/Subsistence: moose hunting, waterfowl hunting, berry picking in meadows Recreation: camping at the "Retoot" campsite (2nd most frequent comment), accessible for disabled and elderly, Wildlife Habitat: moose use, coyote use, best remaining coyote habitat in center of town, wolf use, important for migrating trumpeter swans and geese, bird nesting, wooded area between beach and settlement critical connecting habitat for animals Scenic/Open Space: undeveloped beach is major factor in scenic beauty of GST Other comments: piece W of Glen's ditch less important, keep beachfront parcels undeveloped and that will increase value of back parcels Comments on specific parcels within Glen's Ditch East: 1047--low importance (1 response), 1046--high importance (2 responses), H, R, W, S; 1044--high importance (1 response), H, R, W, S, 1045--high importance (1 response), R, W, M, S.
Most frequent comment: hiking/skiing access to beach and along beach, esp. beach walk to Pt. Gustavus/Bartlett Cove by hikers and school children Hunting/Gathering/Subsistence: back parcels important for hunting and moose habitat, highbush cranberry picking Recreation: can hike from this parcel to Park without seeing development, beachside parcels more important for recreation Wildlife Habitat: moose use, completes Dude Creek crane habitat ecosystem, wolf use, bear use, wildlife corridor, bird use especially waterfowl Scenic/Open Space: important scenic backdrop for Icy Strait Other comments: watershed, keep beachside parcels undeveloped and that will increase value of back parcels, people who ranked this parcel medium priority believed it is not as important as beaches closer to town Comments on specific parcels in Dude Creek West: 995-- 994--, 999--, 998-- R, W, S.
Most frequent comment: important wildlife habitat and corridor for bears, moose, waterfowl and wolves Hunting/Gathering/Subsistence: moose hunting, waterfowl hunting Recreation: hiking/skiing access to beach and Park Service lands, easy access from town Scenic/Open Space: beachfront viewshed, open space Other comments: lighter community use than parcels closer to town Comments on specific parcels in Rink Beach: 1039--public hiking, access to NPS lands; 1043--R, W, M, S; 1042--R, W, S; 1041-- R, W.
Most frequent comment: hiking/skiing trail along Good River linking two parts of Gustavus Hunting/Gathering/Subsistence: berry picking Wildlife Habitat: riparian corridor for large mammals, extension of Dude Creek crane habitat, moose use, wolf, marten, mink use, snipe nest in wet meadows, nesting habitat for eagles, murrelets and song birds, this parcel and Good River W form only N-S corridor on this side of town. Other comment: E portion most important, especially parcel 0969--magical place
Most frequent comment: defining view of central Gustavus riparian meadows and Icy Strait. Recreation: only hiking/skiing access to river and to beach in center of town, would like trail to Icy Strait along river, birdwatching, which may be affected by development Habitat: waterfowl use, moose use Scenic/Open Space: open space along river Other comments: eroding banks should not be developed, eroding banks will determine the fate of this parcel, already development on both sides of river--suitable for 5 acre lots, small but key river parcel, community has sought to obtain this parcel for years, very valuable to community
Most frequent comment: important for salmon fishing and woodcutting. Hunting/Gathering/Subsistence: berry picking especially blueberries, hunting Recreation: hiking/skiing/biking/ATV riding on old logging roads, public access to river, Wildlife Habitat: important salmon spawning area, wildlife corridor and habitat especially for bears, moose, wolves and birds Scenic/Open Space: greenbelt along river Other comments: W portion used as woodlot and E portion along Salmon River important to keep undeveloped, would be good to keep community woodlot in town, oldest forest in town Comments on specific parcels in Upper Salmon River: 1037--large trees, bountiful wildlife habitat; 1028--32--37-- need more land open to the public along Salmon River, good hiking, watershed, M, W, R, S; 0925--26-- high importance (1response), medium importance (1 response), low importance (1 response), W; 0925--used for existing woodlot; 0926-- good for future woodlot; 0927-- low importance (1 response).
Most frequent comment: moose use and moose hunting Hunting/Gathering/Subsistence: berries Wildlife Habitat: wolf, bear, bird and porcupine use, wildlife corridor, varied plant habitat Scenic/Open Space: excellent views of Fairweather Mountains, beautiful open area, open area will become more valuable as community grows Other comments: ROW for power line and access road may go through part of this parcel Parcel 0935: Recreation (2 responses), Wildlife Habitat (2 responses). Comment: only "nonprivate" land in the subdivision. Parcel 0974: Recreation (1 response). Comment: only "nonprivate" land in the subdivision. Parcel 0931: no comments.
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