State posts draft logging plan for Northwest Coffman Timber Sale on Prince of Wales Island

The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection posted a draft Forest Land Use Plan on Oct. 9 for the Northwest Coffman Timber Sale, a logging project on Prince of Wales Island between Grassy Lake and Coffman Cove. The state's public notice does not yet show the plan's full text, maps, operating details or a comment deadline.

A Forest Land Use Plan is required for any timber sale larger than 10 acres. It lays out harvest methods and reforestation plans, according to the division's Timber Management and Sales page.

The Department of Natural Resources issued its final best interest decision for the sale on May 27, authorizing about 365 acres and roughly 7,600 thousand board feet of timber. A request for proposals followed, offering about 7,292 thousand board feet of saw logs to a buyer required to manufacture the wood in Alaska. An earlier preliminary finding used slightly different acreage and volume figures, reflecting separate stages of review.

Access to the sale area runs through the 3030500 road off the Coffman Cove Highway.