Prince of Wales Island (Alaska)

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For other islands named after the Prince of Wales, see Prince of Wales Island.

Prince of Wales Island is one of the islands of the Alexander Archipelago in the Alaska Panhandle. The island is in the Prince of Wales - Outer Ketchikan Census Area, and is the 4th largest island in the United States (after Hawaii, Kodiak Island, and Puerto Rico) and the 97th largest island in the world

1 Geography and ecology
2 Economy
3 Transportation
4 Communities
5 References

[edit] Geography and ecology

The island is 135 miles (215 km) long, 45 miles (72 km) wide and has an area of 2,577 sq mi (6,675 km²), slightly larger than the State of Delaware.

The island is covered by the Tongass National Forest. It is the main homeland of the Kaigani Haida people, and the only home of the Prince of Wales flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus griseifrons)[1].

[edit] Economy

[edit] Logging

Logging has historically been a mainstay of the collective Prince of Wales economy, however, recently there has been a decline in the industry leaving only a few small-scale sawmills operating. In 1975, Herbert Zieske, Chuck Zieske, and Alan Stein and the Point Baker Association hired Dick Folta of Haines to sue the US Forest Service to prevent logging 400,000 acres (1,600 km²) on the northern portion of the island.

In December 1975, Judge von der Heydt issued a ruling enjoining clearcutting. In March of 1976, Congress responded to the suit by passing the National Forest Management Act which removed the injunction. Subsequently half of the marketable timber was cut on the north end of the island.

[edit] Tourism

Recently, tourism, including sport fishing has gained a strong place in Prince of Wales' economy. Tourism has also increased in part due to the easier accessibility to Prince of Wales Island by the new Inter-Island Ferry Authority.

[edit] Fishing

Commercial fishing provides the foundation of the economy for numerous towns on the island including Craig, Klawock, Hydaburg, Port Protection, and Point Baker. During the summer, trollers and seiners both fish for all five species of Pacific salmon. Longliners bring up halibut and black cod. Dungeness crab and shrimp seasons are open off and on throughout the year. During the winter there are dive fisheries for geoducks, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins.

[edit] Government

Since Prince of Wales Island is almost entirely made up of federal National Forest land, the two ranger districts (Craig and Thorne Bay) on the island provide employment for a number of residents.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Cargo

A few companies provide scheduled barge service from Pacific coast ports to South-Eastern Alaska ports, including those on Prince of Wales island (primarily Craig).

[edit] Public Ferry

[edit] Alaska Marine Highway System

Historically, the Alaska Marine Highway intermittently served the port of Hollis, until the Inter-Island Ferry Authority began regular scheduled service.

[edit] Inter-Island Ferry Authority

After skimpy AMHS schedules, the communities of Prince of Wales Island banded together to create their own ferry service, the Inter-Island Ferry Authority which has two Prince of Wales Island-dedicated vessels obtained from the AMHS in its fleet, currently with year-round daily service between Hollis and Ketchikan; and Summer Monday, Friday & Saturday service between Coffman Cove and Wrangell & Petersburg (via Wrangell); and indirect service via connections with the Alaska Marine Highway to many Alaskan ports, Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and Bellingham, Washington.

[edit] Airports

Klawock Airport (IATA: KLW, ICAO: PAKW, FAA LID: AKW) is the only airport on Prince of Wales island. Three commercial airlines in Ketchikan provide scheduled service to Prince of Wales island. Air taxi or chartered flights are also available from them and other airlines, like L.A.B. Flying Service (Haines).

[edit] Seaplane Bases

FAA	ICAO	Seaplane Base ^[1]
KCC		Coffman Cove
CGA		Craig
HYL		Hollis
HYG	PAHY	Hydaburg
KXA		Kasaan
AQC	PAQC	Klawock
KPB		Point Baker
19P		Port Protection
KTB		Thorne Bay
KWF		Waterfall

[edit] Scheduled Airlines

Airline	Hub(s)	Prince of Wales island Airports
Pacific Airways, Inc	Ketchikan	Craig, Hollis, Klawock, Thorne Bay ^[2]
Promech Air	Ketchikan	Craig, Hollis, Klawock ^[3]
Taquan Air	Ketchikan	Coffman Cove, Craig, Edna Bay, Hollis, Hydaburg, Naukati Bay, Point Baker, Port Protection, Thorne Bay, Whale Pass ^[4]

[edit] Roads

A road system, much of it originally created by the logging industry, spans much of the island and an increasing amount of it is become paved. Only a number of communities on the northern tip of the island are without road access to other Prince of Wales communities.