Heavy winds earlier this month caused several trees to fall near Zarembo Island’s popular public access point. One tree tore through the causeway that connects the dock to the island. Another barricaded a dirt ramp often used to load and offload vehicles at the beach landing.
The nearby island is a hot spot for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.
U.S. Forest Service Wrangell District Ranger Tory Houser hopes to have the causeway repaired ahead of the 2025 deer hunting season, which begins Aug. 1. She said the Forest Service is actively working to issue a closure for the causeway and dock, but they hope to have the loading ramp cleared by the end of the week.
The causeway, now split in two after the tree ripped through its planking and railing, is the island’s most popular access point. While it is used year-round, Houser said she is grateful that the damage occurred after hunting season concluded.
Interestingly enough, on the exact same week two years ago a windstorm caused damage to the island’s dock, which is connected to the wooden causeway. The dock was repaired this past summer, and this month’s storm did not damage it.
“Who would have thought those trees … were going to fall exactly so that they squished through the gangway,” Houser said. “I don’t know if anybody could anticipate that.”
Houser said the closure order will encompass both the dock and the gangway. She encouraged folks to be careful during storms.
“Our trees don’t have a deep root system,” she said. “They do tend to blow over during these large wind events. It’s hard to anticipate where they’re going to fall.”
As for the repairs process, Houser said she expects to get an assessment done as soon as possible, and hopefully the Forest Service can move forward once a contract is in place. She anticipates funding for the repairs coming from several places. She listed grants, emergency funding, and facilities and road maintenance as possibilities.
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