Thayer Creek

A small hydroelectric facility that will serve Angoon is being planned in Thayer Creek north of Angoon by Kootznoowoo Inc, the Village Native Corporation.

We recognize the right of Kootznoowoo Inc. to develop the Thayer Creek hydro project as outlined in Alaska National Interest Lands Act (ANILCA). The language in ANILCA is the result of a compromise by the Angoon Native Elders in their support of the creation of the Monument. The Angoon Elders support for the creation of the Monument was based on a sense of trust that the environmental community would allow for this project. Friends of Admiralty Island can not speak for the “environmental community”, but we are committed to honor the Angoon Elders, their trust and their leadership in helping create the Monument.

We know the economic hardships that exist in Angoon and the role that high electric rates contribute towards those hardships. While this project may or may not reduce electrical rates in Angoon the project will be an economic benefit to the community as a source of labor, support and infrastructure and will hopefully result in more dependable and even, in time, cheaper electricity.

We don’t believe this project can be built without some compromise to Monument values. Friends of Admiralty want to see the impacts minimized and adequate mitigation measures agreed to as part of the cost of development.

Mitigation for the disturbances at Thayer Creek could take the form of additional lands being added to the existing National Monument.