Support rivers over highway traffic
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TweetAll of us who live in Haines realize what an amazing place it is. Our air is sweet, our rivers clean, and how lucky we are to drive out the highway and view 40 eagles in a tree not 20 feet from the highway.
As the new comprehensive plan moves forward, I hope that many groups can work together to keep everyone’s best interest at heart: our children, our health, the elderly, our wildlife and our subsistence way of life along our highway and road systems. There is major concern with mine exploration now underway and talk of a mega dock with steep terrain on one side, and sensitive salmon spawning and rearing channels on the other.
Our small highway simply won’t support the increased haul truck traffic without having a huge impact on humans, wildlife and our right to a clean, healthy river valley. Being heavier than air, toxic emissions from truck exhaust are pushed downward, settling into a ground-level ozone layer (yes, it’s a real measured thing), entering our lungs and into our waters, affecting all of the ecosystems over time.
Our bald eagle preserve is world-renowned. Two of Haines’ major rivers are now listed by ‘’American Rivers’’ as among the 10 most endangered in America.
Hundreds of haul trucks will be detrimental and we won’t get a second chance. Please check out Safe Haines Highway’s analysis of the potential impacts of increased trucking at our public library.
Carrie Kinison
