Over the past four years, the Groundtruthing Project has produced extensive reports and other materials describing our findings and recommendations, many of which you can download by clicking the links below.

Download GT and Stewardship Reports here:

2009 Ocean Boulevard Stewardship Project Click here

SCS and the Sitka Ranger District have committed to pursuing a collaborative stewardship process in developing the Ocean Boulevard Restoration Project.

2009 Blue Lake Old Growth Click here

The Groundtruthing Project recently teamed up with local artists to evaluate the old growth trees slated for logging because of the expansion of the Blue Lake Hydroelectric Project

2009 Restoration Thinning Click here

The Groundtruthing Project has increasingly focused on how to restore wildlife habitat in logged watersheds and beach fringe forests.  This report summarizes what we have learned by spending several seasons in the field with Forest Service staff and expert naturalists.  

2008 Red Alder on the Tongass: The Underutilized Resource Click here

Red alder, a valuable species in the Lower 48 for furniture, is underutilized on the Tongass.  Managed appropriately, it can support small value-added forest products industries in Tongass communities.  Compared to dog-hair stands of second-growth conifers, red alder also provides more benefits for wildlife and stream habitats.

2008 Tongass Stream Restoration Click here

This briefing sheet discusses the need for and benefits of stream restoration and some of the techniques employed by restoration "architects".

2008 Sealaska's Future Timber Harvest Click here

Read this briefing sheet to learn more about the implications of Sealaska’s proposed land selections bill to the fragile karst resources on the southern Tongass.

2007 Kosciusko Young-growth Project Briefing Sheet Click here

The Kosciusko Timber Project is at the leading edge of the transition from old growth to young growth logging on the Tongass.  Kosciusko Island is one of great karst islands off the West Coast of Prince of Wales Island and was heavily logged during the second half of the last century.  Learn about the critical issues of transition and proposed young growth management on Kosciusko.

In June 2007, the SCS Groundtruthing Crew conducted field surveys and subsequent landscape analyses of the watersheds on the north end of Baranof Island: Rodman, Appleton, Adams, Duffield, and Fish Creeks.  These watersheds were some of the most heavily logged on the Tongass, in terms of the percentage of large-tree forests lost.  However, we discovered that these areas are still highly productive systems and ideal candidates for restoration work and revised management that protects their remaining ecological values.

2007 Restoration Project Profile - Starrigavan Watershed  Click here

Learn about stream and forest restoration work in the Starrigavan Creek Watershed in the Sitka Community Use Area.  The Sitka Ranger District has been pioneering efforts to combine community and ecological benefits in restoration projects.  This briefing sheet profiles three of these projects: cabin-logs, riparian thinning, and stream restoration. 

2005 Executive Summary - This is a synopsis of issues, findings and recommendations. Click here for a low resolution version (1MB) and here for a high resolution verison (4MB).

2005 Final Report - This is a comprehensive document with background material, methods, detail on areas visited, general findings and recommendations from the 2005 season. Click here to read the Cover Letter for the final report. This is a good place to start with your review of GT products. Click here for a low resolution version of the Final Report (4MB) or here for a high resolution version (15 MB)

Four-fold Brochure - Click here for printable 4 fold brochure that gives a basic introduction to the Groundtruthing Project. (3MB)

Narrated slide show of field survey - Click here to watch and listen to our field team as they walk through a proposed timber sale area. They narrate their findings as they go, and it really feels like you're there in the forest with them. Make sure to turn on the sound of your computer speakers.

GIS Atlas - This is an in-depth look at the spatial characteristics of each timber project area visited in 2005 and presents maps of forest and wildlife habitat condition before and after logging. Click here to view the user's guide for the GIS Atlas. Click here for a draft sample chapter (4MB). Come back soon for additional chapters.

Powerpoint Slide Show - Click here for a slideshow that introduces the project and gives example of the kinds of analyses we have done on the effects of logging on deer, bear, and big tree forests. (8 MB .zip) 

Field Journal - Two samples of our field journals are available: Emerald Bay (2MB) and Three Mile (5MB). Contact us if you would like to see more.

Photo Galleries - Click here to visit a series of photo pages for several of the project area visited -- more will be posted soon.