Tongass National Forest

Related Links Learn About Watersheds   Did You Know?     Parts of a watershed     Let's explore a watershed     Community watersheds     Community water sources     Vegetation     Soils     Lakes & streams     Fish & wildlife     Processes of a watershed     Climate     Streamflow     Natural disturbance Prince of Wales (POW) Island Watershed management on POW Island

Fish and Wildlife Depend on Healthy Watersheds

Healthy watersheds are essential to the abundance of fish and wildlife on Prince of Wales Island. Alpine areas, muskegs, forests, and streams are home to both resident and anadromous fishes and to large and small wildlife species. While some animals spend their entire life cycle in a relatively small area of the watershed, others animals travel long distances during seasonal or life changes.

Fish are found in lakes, streams, ponds and sometimes even in roadside ditches. Both anadromous and resident fishes live in watersheds on Prince of Wales Island.

Wildlife are in most areas of the watershed and include big animals such as bear, deer, and wolf, small animals such as marten, ermine, and flying squirrel, and many types of birds. The majestic bald eagle is common in most watersheds and is often seen soaring high above the ground or diving for fish along streams or shorelines. The bear generally hibernate in winter and roam the forests and streams during spring, summer and fall in search of berries and fish. Deer roam through much of the forested and open areas and thrive on berry bushes common in the understory vegetation.

Management activities that occur in watersheds can affect the habitats that fish and wildlife call home. By maintaining diversity in the vegetation, large wood in streams, and healthy, functioning watersheds, food and shelter for fish and wildlife will remain abundant.

More and better habitat means more fish and wildlife!!

USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest Accessibility Statement
Last Modified: July 10, 2007