Legacy Forest Updates
Photo of Turnover timber sale, courtesy of Tonya Enger
Turnover and Dendrophobia Timber Sales
Since the devastating loss of the Dabbler legacy forest to a Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) timber sale, FOCC became aware that additional legacy forest timber units in Clark County were being considered for auction when we learned about the Turnover legacy forest timber sale AFTER the SEPA comment period had closed in late May. We then learned about the Dendrophobia timber sale, with the Clark County Council being informed of it just one day before the end of its SEPA comment period.
It continues to be a mystery as to why such precious public trust lands were evaluated and determined to be ready for auction without more obvious notice to the Clark County Council and the community.
Following the Money
We are still awaiting final confirmation about how the funds from the Dabbler timber sale were distributed. Dabber was sold for about $5.2 million, with the portion to be distributed to Clark County being about $2.8 million. The Junior Taxing Districts who were in line to receive funds were the State School Pt. 1 and 2, Clark County itself, Clark County roads, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, the Battle Ground School District Enrichment, and N. County Emergency Medical Services General. It is important to note that the DNR receives approximately a quarter of the funds. These numbers illustrate that while Clark County provided the timber to support these taxing districts and agencies, we do not receive the majority of the funds. In total, $2.3 million went somewhere other than Clark County.
FOCC Took Action
Earlier in June, we wrote a letter to the Clark County Council regarding our frustrations with the loss of the Dabbler legacy forest case and the new Turnover timber sale. We reminded the Council that they had previously asked the DNR to honor our wishes to retain legacy forest lands, which had largely gone ignored. For example, the Council had asked for the preservation of Clark County legacy forests going forward, yet the DNR went ahead with moving the Turnover sale through the SEPA process anyway. We also informed them that the comment period for the Turnover sale had already come and gone right under their noses, even as multiple members of county staff were notified of the sale. Additionally, FOCC submitted a late comment to Scott Sargent, the DNR Pacific Cascade Region Manager, on the Turnover Sale in July.
FOCC, in conjunction with the local Sierra Club, also made several public record requests of the DNR regarding the timber auction development process. From this effort, we learned that certain county staff were not informing the Clark County Council of timber sales of potential interest (such as Turnover), despite knowing the Council and community’s concerns after what happened with the Dabbler.
Fortunately, through conversations about our concerns with Clark County’s policy analyst (who is in charge of advocating to the DNR on behalf of the council), FOCC has successfully ensured that Clark County DNR timber sale notifications will be communicated to our elected officials going forward.
Furthermore, FOCC has been urging that the public, or at least select representatives from local advocacy organizations, be involved in county interactions with the DNR, as Clark County legacy forests belong to the citizens of Clark County, the DNR has a history of ignoring our concerns, and the DNR has a vested interest in the logging of these forests due to the large sums of money they are allotted with every timber sale.
After first denying FOCC’s request that the public be included in upcoming site tours led by the DNR with the council, the DNR inexplicably changed course and allowed the public to attend! FOCC intends to have representatives and allies present at these tours and will keep you posted.
When we learned of yet another timber sale (Dendrophobia), we also took action. Outrageously, this was the 3rd timber sale since the Clark County Council heeded the calls of its residents and asked the DNR to stop selling off structurally complex forests on Clark County trust land and start managing them for conservation. FOCC’s own Mary Goody testified to the council last week, calling on the county to submit comments for the record on Dendrophobia, and they heeded our call! The council is growing increasingly frustrated with their wishes going ignored by the DNR and are questioning why the DNR’s stated “pause” on timber sales has them still moving through the SEPA process —a clear indication that they are anticipating that auctions will be permitted at a future date.
What’s Next for Protecting Clark County’s Forests
In conversations with other forest groups, we learned that the most important body to keep informed of our efforts is the Clark County Council itself. Keeping the Council informed about planned DNR activities that do not reach their radar has become one of the lessons learned, so while we feel confident about the aforementioned changes in protocol regarding timber sale notifications, we will continue to monitor the DNR and engage with the council as well.
Fortunately, there are signs of hope:
- The Turnover sale has been paused indefinitely
- The Council got on the record with the Dendrophobia sale
- Turnover and Dendrophobia’s companion forest units – Copper Head and Looking Lens (located either partially or completely in Clark County) have not yet entered the SEPA review process.
- Washington Commissioner of Public Lands, Dave Upthegrove, will visit with our Council in the near future.
- The Council has indicated interest in some type of forestry commission or task force to help better monitor and conserve Clark County’s forests.
- We are closely monitoring how a commission might integrate with the strong climate policies regarding trees and forests that will be considered for adoption in the Clark County Comp Plan update.
Hopefully, by the time the next newsletter comes out FOCC will have answers to some of these most interesting questions, and more information about protection of these unique—and irreplaceable in our lifetimes—legacy forest holdings.