Legacy Forest Update
Submitted by Mary Goody
There has been a bit of a lull in activity legacy forest-wise in Clark County, but that’s just a smoke screen for what’s coming along as we enter the fall months. The BNR did not meet this month. First the sad news – all five Reflection Units sold recently for $2,305,000. None of the units were called out for a separate vote during the June BNR meeting even though Units 3,4,and 5 were partially legacy forested. Although Mary Goody spoke at the BNR’s auction day comment period, no other public comment was received for Reflection. That fact was noted by Commissioner Reykdal during the meeting.
Going forward, FOCC is determined to provide the information on the public comment periods for each upcoming auction. We must do a better job of letting the BNR know we are not satisfied with their relentless onslaught on Clark County’s legacy forests. The Council has already written 4 letters to Commissioner Upthegrove, and had several meetings with the Commissioner and DNR staff, but there has been no outreach from DNR to discuss alternative methods of harvesting other than variable retention harvests, which is basically clear-cutting.
Stay tuned to our Weekly Radar for upcoming Forest Practice Applications (the first step in getting a unit (s) ready for auction) on our Clark County legacy forest and SEPA reports. The public comment periods will be noticed as soon as we get the information. Did you
Photo of Turnover timber sale, courtesy of Tonya Enger
know that near the end of the SEPA report are maps and driving directions to the Units the DNR is seeking to auction? Most of these units are in Eastern Clark County in the Siouxon region, which is near Chelatchie; or in the Yacolt area and can be explored using that directional information.
On August 19, 2026, FOCC received notice that the Looking Lens Timber Units have a completed Forest Practice Application and SEPA, with a Determination of Non-Significance. The proposal was filed in the department’s SEPA Center at the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington Street SE, P.O. Box 47015, Olympia, Washington, on August 19, 2026. DNR will consider comments on this proposed DNS received by 6:00 p.m. on September 2, 2026. Comments should be submitted to the SEPA Center at, https://wadnr.commentinput.com?id=CJY5fAePR or P.O. Box 47015, Olympia, Washington 98504-7015 for distribution to the responsible official. Please include the file number listed above in all comments. Looking Lens is not a structurally complex forest – but the Council has asked the DNR to discuss with them other methods of thinning rather than variable retention – so mentioning the County’s 4 letters asking to partner with the DNR on cutting technique would be helpful! SEPA is here: https://dnr.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/amp_ssepa_pc_ts_lookinglens.check_.pdf
Now some exciting news regarding the Elwha Watershed in the Olympic Peninsula. Elwha Legacy Forests Coalition signed a contract Friday, August 14, 2026 with Webster Logging Co. to purchase 13 acres of the Doc Holliday legacy forest for approximately $260,000. The funds were raised by community members in three weeks. This is an area FOCC is exploring for our own forests – hoping to preserve a few of the most precious ecosystems left in Clark County, such as Wheelhouse 1. .
Finally, we have created a listing of the legacy forest units in Clark County. This list was created from a larger list that includes the plantation units. Look for details in our next newsletter! in which we will discuss the remaining sale units for 2026 in detail.