Alaska Natives Blow Up Culverts to Restore Sacred Land

2025-08-17 18:00:21.408

In Alaska's Tongass National Forest, a team of Tlingit forestry workers, alongside the US Forest Service and the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition (SAWC), used 1,200lbs of explosives to remove a culvert blocking a stream. This action is part of a larger effort to restore Cube Cove, a 22,000-acre area recently added to the Kootznoowoo wilderness. The Tlingit people consider this land sacred, and the culverts, remnants of past logging, have disrupted the natural flow of salmon streams. The project aims to undo decades of environmental damage caused by clearcutting, reconnecting streams, and supporting traditional Tlingit practices. The restoration work involves removing 80 culverts and three bridges, restoring habitat, and improving hydrologic function. The project's success is viewed as a model for future conservation efforts, combining Indigenous knowledge with modern techniques. However, the initiative faces challenges with the Trump administration's plans to potentially renew logging efforts in the Tongass, highlighting the ongoing struggle to balance conservation with economic interests.