Please, no 30-foot tower

To the editor:

Project 83635/SB-2012-AK-57190, if approved, will allow the building of a 30-foot tower within the Palmer Hay Flats.

As a longtime Valley resident, I have admired the scenery along the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge and continue to track how nature is rebuilding the vegetation throughout the area. I supported the designation of the area as a game refuge as the original purpose of the game refuge was to make the area useful to wildlife, especially migrating fowl. I was pleased to see the upgrades to the Reflections Lake Trail area (restrooms, walkways, view points, etc.) making walking access easier for everyone, especially us older residents.

I do not support building a 30-foot raised wildlife viewing tower within the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge. Good grief, a 30-foot tower in the middle of this area makes no sense. Instead of viewing Sleeping Lady, eagles, wildlife, growing vegetation and the beautiful lakes and rivers, we can now view a 30-foot tower!

The tower would become the focal point of the area and would be seen from Ekultna, Knik and Wasilla. Bird hunters, bird viewers and fishers must be allowed to continue using the area as intended.

Please, no 30-foot tower.

If you agree that the tower does not belong within the Palmer Hay Flats, please submit your comments to ben.white@alaska.gov by Feb. 15.

Darlene Langill

Wasilla