Instructor: Brooks Miner / Classroom: MGH 287 / Tu & Th 10:30a-12:20p

Reading Schedule - now featuring annotations!

Update - April 17: please note the change to reverse chronological order.

Reading assignments will be posted every Tuesday morning for the following week.

  • Key: (see Sources )
    • Coates refers to The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline Controversy, by Peter A. Coates.
    • Durbin refers to Tongass, by Kathie Durbin.
    • Haycox refers to Frigid Embrace, by Stephen Haycox.
    • Ross refers to Environmental Conflict in Alaska, by Ken Ross.
  • For Week 10:
    • Read by Tuesday, June 2
      • Course Pack Chapters:
        • Chapters 4 and 5, p. 120-189, from The Fisherman's Frontier: People and Salmon in Southeast Alaska, by David Arnold.
        • Chapter 5 is more important than Chapter 4 - you may as well read Chapter 5 first, as they will be understandable even if read out of order. (Chapter 3 is also provided but is optional - it describes the status of Alaska fisheries until statehood in 1959.)
    • Read by Thursday, June 4
      • Ross, Chapter 12, p. 163-191. (Provides a historian's account of the Exxon Valdez and other oil spills.)
      • Course Pack Chapters:
        • Chapters 14-16, p. 216-254, from Extreme Conditions: Big Oil and the Transformation of Alaska, by John Strohmeyer.
        • (A compelling journalistic portrayal of blow-by-blow events during and after the big oil spill. Will be the easier read of these two and I highly recommend it.)
  • For Week 9:
    • Read by Tuesday, May 26
      • There is no reading for today. Also no blog post due.
    • Read by Thursday, May 28
      • Today we'll be joined by Allen Smith, who worked for many years as the Alaska Regional Director for The Wilderness Society . Allen has provided a couple of documents for you to review before his visit:
        • The Wilderness Society's publication, Alaska National Internest Lands Conservation Act Citizen's Guide. I handed out copies of this hefty booklet in class on Thursday, May 21. You should browse through this booklet and read what interests you. In particular, I encourage you to read Chapter Three, about subsistence management, and Chapter Seven, about fulfilling the promises of ANILCA.
        • A "briefing book" about Alaska lands that Allen and others prepared for incoming Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt in 1993. This was the year when president Bill Clinton first came to office, and Babbitt was his choice to head the interior department. This document details the priorities that conservation organizations had for Alaska in the new Democratic administration.
        • A two-page summary of the wilderness status of Alaska lands that Allen prepared in 1993 to go with the briefing book above.
  • For Week 8:
    • Read by Tuesday, May 19
      • Make sure you have read the Durbin chapters I assigned last week (Ch. 1, 5-7, 11-13). These will become particularly relevant this week.
      • The Tongass Forest Plan Amendment Record of Decision (ROD) of January 2008.
        • (Please skim this document by relying on the highlighting that I've added.)
      • The Summary of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the TLMP Amendment of 2008.
        • (Please skim this document by relying on the highlighting that I've added.)
      • Course Pack Chapters from Schoen and Dovichin's 2007 volume, A Conservation Assessment and Resource Synthesis. . ." These are also available right here by clicking on the chapter title - no need to go to eReserves.
        • Chapter 3. "A Comparison of Relative Biological Value, Habitat Vulnerability, and Cumulative Ecological Rish among Biogeographic Provinces in Southeastern Alaska." p. 1-7.
        • Chapter 9.2. "Wilderness in Southeastern Alaska: A History." p. 1-9.
        • Chapter 9.6. "The Southeastern Alaska Timber Industry: Historical Overview and Current Status." p. 1-20
        • (These chapters are not long, but provide an excellent overview of the history and current state of conservation science for the Tongass.)
    • Do by Thursday, May 21
  • For Week 7:
    • Read by Tuesday, May 12
      • Durbin, Chapter 1, p. 9-25.
      • Ross, Chapter 15 partial, p. 229-250.
      • Durbin, Chapters 5-6, p.73-107.
      • Course Pack Article:
        • Wallmo and Schoen. 1980. "Response of Deer to Secondary Forest Succession in Southeast Alaska." Forest Science 26: 448-463.
    • Read by Thursday, May 14
      • Ross, Chapter 6 finish (p. 251-268)
      • Durbin, Chapter 7 (p. 108-120), Chapters 11-13 (p.159-202)
      • Course Pack Articles: (Read the abstracts for all three, then choose only one to read in detail)
        • Kirchhoff et al. 1983. "Black-Tailed Deer Use in Relation to Forest Clear-Cut Edges in Southeastern Alaska." Journal of Wildlife Management 47: 497-501.
        • Kirchhoff and Schoen. 1987. "Forest Cover and Snow: Implications for Deer Habitat in Southeast Alaska." Journal of Wildlife Management 51: 28-33.
        • Schoen and Kirchhoff. 1990. "Seasonal Habitat Use by Sitka Black-Tailed Deer on Admiralty Island, Alaska." Journal of Wildlife Management 54: 371-378.
  • For Week 6:
  • Please use the Week 6 study guide
    • Read by Tuesday, May 5
      • Haycox, Chapter 5 partial, p. 100-121. (Was assigned last week but is now especially relevant.)
      • Ross, Chapter 13, p. 192-205. (Although the first few pages are about ANCSA, most of this chapter is about the Alaska Lands Act (ANILCA), our topic for this week.)
      • On eReserve only:
        • Chapter 7, p. 181-216, from Northern Landsacpes: The Struggle for Wilderness Alaska, by Daniel Nelson. (This will be a more challenging read - take it seriously and use the study guide).
    • Read by Thursday, May 7
      • On eReserve only:
        • Chapter 8, p. 217-248, from Northern Landsacpes: The Struggle for Wilderness Alaska, by Daniel Nelson. (This will be a more challenging read - take it seriously and use the study guide).
  • For Week 5:
    • Read by Tuesday, April 28
      • Coates, Chapters 7 and 8, p. 175-250. (Most important reading for today; read this thoroughly.)
      • Haycox, Chapter 5 partial, p. 100-121. (Less important than the Coates chapters, so read second.)
    • Read by Thursday, April 30
      • On eReserve only:
        • Chapters 4 and 11 from the NRC report, Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activites on Alaska's North Slope, p. 32-50 and 155-159.(Most important reading of the day as the lead author, Gordon Orians, will be joining us in class. )
      • Course Pack:
        • Book Chapter: Strohmeyer, John. 1993. Extreme Conditions: Chapter 7, p. 86-98. (Less important for today, but a compelling and easy read about the pipeline boom.)
  • For Week 4:
    • Read by Tuesday, April 21
      • Course Pack:
        • Book Chapter: Gruening, Ernest. 1954. The State of Alaska: Chapter 25, p. 355-381. (This is a priority, but only needs to be skimmed.)
        • Book Chapters: Strohmeyer, John. 1993. Extreme Conditions:
          • Chapter 1, p. 13-22. (Definitely read this chapter.)
          • Chapter 4, p. 48-61. (This one is more for fun.)
      • On eReserve only: Hensley, Chapters 12-15, p. 107-134. (A quick but very important read.)
      • Haycox, Chapter 4, p. 83-100. (Read this thoroughly - it will form the basis for our discussion.)
      • Coates, Chapter 6, p. 162-175. (Probably the least important reading for today - skim it if you run short on time.)
    • Read by Thursday, April 23
      • On eReserve only:
        • Anderson, Robert. 2007. Alaska Native rights, statehood, and unfinished business. (Most important reading of the day as the author, Bob Anderson, will be joining us in class. You don't have to read the footnotes though.)
        • Hensley, Chapters 16-18, p. 135-160. (Equally important.)
      • Course Pack:
        • Book Chapter: Strohmeyer, John. 1993. Extreme Conditions: Chapter 5, p. 61-75. (Also important, but third in line.)
  • For Week 3:
    • Read by Tuesday, April 14
      • Ross, Chapter 8, p. 1110-121.
      • Course Pack:
        • Book Chapter: 3. Kohlhoff, Dean W. 2002. Amchitka and the Bomb. Chapters 9 and 10, p. 98-117.
        • Article: 6. Coates, Peter. 1996. Amchitka, Alaska: Toward the Bio-Biography of an Island.
    • Read by Thursday, April 16
      • Coates, Chapter 5, p. 134-162.
      • Ross, Chapter 9, p. 121-135.
      • Course Pack articles
        • 7. Brooks, Paul. 1965. The Plot to Drown Alaska.
        • 8. Gruening, Ernest. 1965. The Plot to Strangle Alaska.
  • For Week 2:
    • Read by Tuesday, April 7
      • Coates, Chapter 2, p. 63-81. (available via eReserves )
      • Haycox, Chapter 3, p. 59-82.
      • Gruening, Chapter 22, p. 307-319. (available via eReserves )
    • Read by Thursday, April 9
      • Coates, Chapter 4, p. 111-134.
      • Ross, Chapter 7, p. 96-110
      • Course Pack articles (please skim through each):
        • Now available via eReserves ! Since the Course Pack is impossible to get.
        • 2. Teller, Edward. We're Going to Work Miracles.
        • 3. Project Chariot-The Long Look.
        • 4. Project Chariot: Two Groups of Scientists Issue "Objective" But Conflicting Reports.
        • 5. Commoner, B., M.W. Friedlander, and E. Reiss. Project Chariot.
  • For Week 1:
    • Read by Wednesday, April 1
      • Haycox, Intro, Chapter 1, p.1-36.