Read FOCC’s April 2026 Comments to the Clark County Council Regarding Legacy Forest Timber Sales
Dear Councilors:
My name is Mary Goody. I am writing on behalf of Friends of Clark County and myself as a resident of Clark County. I write to inform you of two matters of importance. The first concerns our legacy forests; and the second regards the NCS funding/land purchase recently discussed with the Department of Natural Resources. FOCC asks the Council to write a letter to Commissioner Upthegrove, and the DNR, expressing your desire to explore options to clear-cutting the forests; and also to communicate with DNR about a proposed site option to utilize NCS funding.
I have included with this letter a number of important recent communications/court cases that address these two issues. As you are aware, the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition has been very active in trying to assist the Commissioner and the DNR with a new, correct map of the 77,000; and the Commissioner has hired Paula Swedeen to be a deputy reporting directly to him. FOCC believes we may have a better opportunity to really communicate your concerns because of this new hire. Also, there is a new deputy director of Forest Lands coming on board. Both of these folks are picked by the Commissioner to assist him in realizing his campaign goals.
It is my understanding that at least three timber sales are being planned in Clark County in 2026 and 2027. To my knowledge, SEPA Environmental Impact Assessments have not been completed for any of these timber sales which means there is an opportunity to proactively engage with DNR before they make significant investment in these sales. The three named timber sales that we are aware of are:
- Reflection (in progress)
- Looking Lens (12/2026 Auction)
- Pea Pull (3/2027 Auction)
The Reflections timber sale research process has started, but to my knowledge only the Forest Practices Board worksheet (attached) has been completed. Work on the SEPA Environmental Impact Assessment for Reflections will likely begin in early spring, according to Becky Von Dracek, our representative for the Pacific Cascade Region, DNR Sales. While Reflections sale is slated for December 2026, the Board of Natural Resources will likely vote on whether or not to cut the unit(s) in the fall.
Recently, Commissioner Upthegrove met with you via Zoom and, among other issues, spoke about the fiscal problems the DNR currently faces, problems with arrearages, and the significant financial investment in research and groundwork that goes into each timber sale. This investment of time and money compels DNR to follow through with the sale. FOCC believes, if we want to save our legacy forest units from auction (and basically clear-cutting), we must be proactive in engaging with the Commissioner and the DNR. We also believe that if we can get out in front of the DNR research costs for our legacy units, it may provide an opportunity to save the forests or perhaps utilize better cutting strategies–such as thinning–or investigate land swaps. The draw for DNR to our older forests is clearly the fact that the trees are bigger, and bring in more revenue for DNR.
FOCC President Ann Foster and I recently met with Public Works Director Ken Lader and County Lands Division Manager Kevin Tyler regarding DNR legacy forest timber sales and other issues we jointly share. Public Works is very interested in the legacy forests of Clark County. We are hoping to engage them in our research on upcoming timber sales.
FOCC does not stand alone in our push against legacy forest timber sales. The public testimony opposing legacy forest sales across Western Washington during each Board of Natural Resources meeting is overwhelming in scope and information. Opposition comments during BNR meetings far outweigh the timber and mill industry comments in favor of the sales. Also, the Thurston County Commissioners have written a lengthy letter to the DNR (attached), asking to settle the question of conserving structurally complex forests in Thurston County “once and for all.” This is not the first letter written by Thurston County to the DNR, but the most recent of many.
We thank you for the previous time and effort you have put into the four letters you have written to the Commissioner and the DNR. We understand that you are not interested in writing letters every time a sale is coming up. There are potentially 71 units of DNR forest lands left in our eastern Clark County area. Only the three timber sales that I mentioned above are in active auction status. We would like to see you take a firm stand, as Thurston County has, to attempt to save the last of the potential structurally complex forests we have here in our county. Worsening climate issues and environmental deficits in carbon capture are another reason to demand an alternative to clear cutting these beautiful giants. Getting involved NOW before more time and money is spent by DNR preparing the forest units for auction may be the answer.
As you know, the NCS swap land the Council suggested was rejected by the DNR. Joshua Wright of LFDC has reviewed the map of DNR’s alternative suggestions and believes the DNR has suggested lands that have spotted owl habitat which means there would be no additional benefit in protecting these forests because DNR has to protect a certain number of acres by law. Joshua suggested that the Council continue to discuss alternate locations either on Larch Mountain (Yacolt Burn area) or another smaller Clark County parcel near Camp Bonneville (map of suggested parcel attached). The latter could be a great start for the County to begin these yearly conversations with DNR regarding the use of NCS funds.
Several recent decisions in the Washington Courts have determined that DNR has not met all of its responsibilities in determining important SEPA considerations for specific species protections, as well as climate concerns. FOCC would ask that language from the decisions be utilized in correspondence to the DNR in an effort to emphasize your request.
We would be happy to discuss this with you further, and provide other materials as necessary to assist you in moving forward with communications to the Commissioner and the DNR.
Thank you for your patience and your leadership in this most challenging matter.
Yours very truly,
Mary Goody
Friends of Clark County Board of Directors
Attachments: Forest Practices Application No. 2944231; January 20, 2026 Correspondence from the Thurston County Board of Commissioners to Members of the Board of Natural Resources; Map from Joshua Wright of the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition; Vancouver Audubon Society et al v. DNR; LFDC Letter to BNR; Division 1 COA Opinion; CSE Settlement Offer