U.S. Forest Service - Chugach National Forest

10/15/2026

You're welcome! There are worse places to train than stunning Portage Valley 🏞️

10/14/2026

Happy potato harvest!🥔

Last month, the Glacier Ranger District along with Girdwood locals and the Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation harvested potatoes from our gardens. After harvest, the potatoes were donated to the local foodbank to feed the community.❤

Among the potatoes harvested, was the Haida or Tlingit potato - a potato that has been grown along the northwest coast for thousands of years.

10/07/2026

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭 𝟕 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲

The Seward District Ranger, under authority delegated by the Federal Subsistence Board, is extending the restriction on the Unit 7 federal subsistence FC0702 caribou registration hunt to the harvest of bulls only. The restriction was enacted Monday, Aug. 10, 2026 and will remain in effect until Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026, unless rescinded by subsequent federal special action.

Based on aerial surveys conducted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Kenai Mountains Caribou Herd has suffered a significant decline. The State drawing hunt which closed on Sep. 20 was also restricted to bulls only. As of Oct. 7, one bull has been harvested in the Unit 7 federal subsistence FC0702 caribou hunt. The harvest in the State DC001 drawing hunt has not been released.

Full news release here 👇
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r10/chugach/newsroom/releases/unit-7-caribou-registration-hunt-restricted-harvest-bulls-only

09/23/2026

Seward Ranger District (SRD) and Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP) employees implemented a collaborative, cross-jurisdictional fuels project in the Kenai-Kodiak area on Kenai Peninsula Borough lands in Cooper Landing yesterday!

Alaska DFFP first reached out almost a year ago through the All Hands All Lands partnership about a large concentration of slash on borough lands. The slash followed suppression efforts on the Swan Lake Fire in 2019. Its proximity to homes and infrastructure posed a risk to the community.
🔥🦺
Yesterday, SRD, DFFP, Chugachmiut and Salamatof crews began burning the slash with the SRD air curtain burner which minimizes smoke. They expect it to take 2-3 days to dispose of all the slash, reducing this extra fuel load.

This project advances All Lands/All Hands mission to restore local landscapes, protect communities, and improve future wildfire response.

The All Lands/All Hands plan is to ID and prioritize work needed to mitigate impacts of the spruce bark beetle on the Kenai Peninsula. This work is categorized by the four goals and the three guiding principles of the National Fire Plan 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy. The plan was developed by the Kenai Forest, Wildfire Protection, and Fuels Management Coordinating Committee (USDA Forest Service, Kenai Peninsula Borough; the Alaska State Division of Forestry; Chugachmiut Inc.; the USFWS Kenai National Wildlife Refuge; Bureau of Land Management; the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Kenai Fjords National Park; and others). https://www.frames.gov/catalog/6611
Forestry

09/23/2026

09/22/2026

Russian River vegetation management project to resume

Public is asked to watch for signs and keep a safe distance from crews and machinery

The Seward Ranger District, Chugachmiut, and Salamatof crews will resume work this week to reduce hazardous forest fuels in the Russian River Campground. The project will also improve forest health and enhance visitor experiences. Field crews will use chainsaws to cut small trees, snags, brush, and other vegetation.

The team will use an air curtain incinerator to dispose of slash adjacent to the campground in the Schooner Bend area at approximately milemarker 53 of the Sterling Highway. This technology provides an efficient, low pollution alternative to pile burning. It creates a high velocity air curtain that reaches temperatures up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and traps particulates, ensuring complete combustion while reducing emissions and smoke.

Several loops within the Russian River Campground will be affected for approximately 3–4 weeks beginning September 22, 2026. Staff will place clear signs to warn visitors about active work areas. Visitors should stay alert for workers, avoid signed areas and equipment, and follow all posted guidance until the project is complete.

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09/22/2026

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟏 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

The Forest Service will hold public subsistence hearings to evaluate potential impacts on subsistence uses in Alaska of the proposed rescission of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.

𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭. 𝟐𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, 50 Main Street, Ketchikan, Alaska

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭. 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Virtual: Via Microsoft Teams
Call-in number: 202-650-0123, Passcode: 844934670 #

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭. 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Virtual: Via Microsoft Teams
Call-in number: 202-650-0123, Passcode: 844934670 #

𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭. 𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: The Loussac Library, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, Alaska

View the official news release for more information and Microsoft Teams links: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r10/newsroom/releases/forest-service-hold-alaska-subsistence-hearings

09/18/2026

Last week's Belugas Count was an unqualified success! 📝

Thank you to all the partners and everyone who stopped by to scan the Cook Inlet waters for this endangered species! Every observation contributes to supporting their recovery ❤🐳

NOAA Fisheries Alaska Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Bureau of Land Management - Alaska

09/17/2026

𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟎𝟎% 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝
Ignition determined human caused

The wildfire reported on Sep. 14 and visible from the mile marker 74 area of the Seward Highway is 100% contained and controlled.

The Seattle Fire, named after a nearby landmark, has burned less than an acre at the time of containment. The remote location and steep slope made the fire difficult to access, especially with water. However, firefighters from the Chugach NF and the Yukon Fire Crew of the Chugachmiut were able to hike to the fire and construct fire lines. The fire lines held and overnight showers contributed to slowing the burning.

An Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection helicopter stood ready at the Merrill Field Airport to aid in the suppression efforts as needed.

The Chugach NF would like to extend our gratitude to the Chugachmiut and the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection for their support in combating the Seattle Fire.

Fire personnel will continue to monitor the site of the Seattle Fire in the coming days to ensure no heat is present to reignite.

The conditions surrounding the Seattle Fire indicate the ignition was human caused. It is critical to fully extinguish a campfire to prevent human-caused wildfires. Do not build a campfire in dry or windy conditions. When extinguishing a campfire pour water on the fire and drown the embers. Stir the water into the embers, mixing in dirt and sand. Add more water. Hover your hand over the ashes to feel if the embers have completely cooled. If you feel any heat, DO NOT LEAVE IT.

Official news release: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r10/chugach/newsroom/releases/seattle-fire-chugach-national-forest-100-contained

09/16/2026

Firefighter crews from the Chugach National Forest and Chugachmiut are continuing fire suppression efforts on the Seattle Fire.