The Washington State Board of Natural Resources (BNR) approved another batch of timber harvest from Capitol State Forest for the second time in two months.
This time, the board authorized in a 4-1 vote the bidding of two forestlands — Evergreen Gold and Cake Walk — representing 150 acres at its Tuesday, Dec. 3, meeting.
The same board approved 4-2 to auction three forestlands covering 430 acres of Capitol State Forest on Nov. 7.
Evergreen Gold, located 9 miles west of Littlerock, represents 68 acres of forestland, while Cake Walk, 10 miles west of the same town, covers 82 acres.
BNR is conserving 18 and 70 acres of the two forestlands, respectively, outside of the designated areas for harvest as part of its variable retention harvesting technique. This method excludes certain significant ecological features from being removed.
Evergreen Gold is expected to yield 5,972 metric board feet of wood for a minimum bid value of $3.1 million, while Cake Walk would generate 4,873 metric board feet of wood for a minimum bid value of $2.5 million.
Forest stands from both sites date back to the 1910s, which is not enough to consider them old growth, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Environmental groups, however, see them as legacy forests that, if preserved, could mature to old growth.
Mike Sly, the assistant division manager for DNR’s Product Sales and Leasing Division, told the BNR that an existing timber easement from 1942 encumbers both Evergreen Gold and Cake Walk.
A $156 million inter-fund loan classifies a percentage of both forestlands as Trust 42, which means that BNR is obligated to sell them at some point. Ninety-five percent of Evergreen Gold and 44% of Cake Walk are classified as Trust 42 lands.
Lynn Fitz-Hugh of Restoring Earth Connection has previously told The JOLT that the loan's status should be audited before more Trust 42 lands are sold, an argument that also came up during the public comments section of the meeting.
On the list of proposed timber sales were 12 other forestlands outside Thurston County, which BNR also approved.
Board member Clare Ryan motioned to approve all the sales.
Board members Hilary Franz, Clare Ryan, Lisa Janicki and Wendy Powers-Schilling voted in favor, while Jim Cahill dissented.
Board member Chris Reykdal, who voted against the proposed timber sales in Thurston County last month, was absent from the meeting.
Cahill attempted to amend the motion by removing Evergreen Gold from the list, but no one seconded his motion.
Before the board went on to approve all the sales, Cahill reminded the board that the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) had sent a letter informing them that the county board wanted to nominate Evergreen Gold for funding in the state’s Climate Commitment Act.
“I appreciate that it doesn't necessarily technically meet that because it has an approved timber sale before the date established in the proviso, but I think it's worth waiting until DNR … is going to be meeting with Thurston County next month to talk about their timber sales,” Cahill said.
The letter, dated Wednesday, Dec. 4, and addressed to Duane Emmons, assistant deputy supervisor for the State Uplands Division, requests that the DNR withdraw Evergreen Gold's “Forest Practices Application” so that the BoCC can include it in the state’s Natural Climate Solutions program.
The letter also mentioned that if Evergreen Gold could not be included or if additional lands could be included, then the BoCC would nominate Monroe Creek, which includes a proposed timber sale nicknamed “Rad Aghast” and Perry Creek, which includes the “Matador” timber sale.
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JHermes
UM, one would hope they would realize that the reason Lacey didn't get smashed to smithereens by recent extreme rain/ windstorms was protection from Capitol Forest. It's like they think trees are trees are trees. In actuality, the big ones are important...
...as a buffer zone from weather events, but also just because that forest land is important for the health of the earth. Right now, tiny little replacement saplings are vulnerable, not protective.
Let's let the trees alone for a while.
Friday, December 6, 2024 Report this
hptrillium
Many people including myself have testified to the the BNR about the importance of the legacy forests. They are worth more to the planet in place than cut down. The majority of the BNR are not open to the will of the people. When Dave Upthegrove starts as Lands Commissioner on January 15 I hope he can reverse some of the sales. There will be lawsuits by the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition against DNR to stop some of the sales. Go to wlfdc.org to find out more about their work.
Saturday, December 7, 2024 Report this
johngreen
Of course we will never have more old growth forests because we don't allow legacy trees to become old growth. Think the forest industry hasn't figured that out? They are not allowed to cut old growth so make sure we don't have anymore. Why is there not protection for the spotted owl or marbled murrelet? Doesn't Mr. Inslee see the connection between large trees and carbon sequestration? It's great to eliminate gas but if we clearcut the legacy forests does that help climate change?
Our government seems to pay more attention to the forest industry than science, wouldn't be because of campaign contributions surely.
Hopefully Dave Upthegrove will change the dynamics of the DNR before our legacy forests are gone.
Saturday, December 7, 2024 Report this
Snevets
We'll have to start calling it Capitol Forest Clearcut.
Saturday, December 7, 2024 Report this
wildnature
I support the first 4 commenter's input.
Saturday, December 7, 2024 Report this
BobJacobs
Thanks to Jim Cahill for voting against this. And Thanks also to the citizens' groups and county commissioners for their efforts to protect legacy forests.
Bob Jacobs
Saturday, December 7, 2024 Report this
S2345S23456
The Washington State Board of Natural Resources is obviously BIASED toward the money making of corporate industry and doesn't give a dam about the health of the forests and what healthy forest support. Some trees will not stay healthy and survive unless their root system is integrated with the root system of plenty other trees around them. Trees also need wind protection. Clear cuts, especially of the older "seasoned" trees, wipe out a forest's immunity toward pests.
We need to change that board and get some more sensible people elected!!
Saturday, December 7, 2024 Report this
S2345S23456
The logging industry is going to turn Washington into California! WAKE UP before it's too late. Keep up this mass devastation, and Washington is going to start seeing more beetles destroying trees, wild fires, barren landscapes, and poorer air quality. You betchya! In this vulnerable time of Climate Change, cutting down forests in such a manner is not wise! There are more sustainable ways of getting some wood. Moving more toward models like this, which deem forests as carbon dioxide absorbers to protect, is a wise approach: https://www.conservationfund.org/our-impact/projects/garcia-river-forest/
Saturday, December 7, 2024 Report this
S2345S23456
Let's also think down the road and keep in mind: why is logging desirable? To boost the housing industry. While it is true many areas of Washington are in need of AFFORDABLE HOUSING, that need is being manipulated as an excuse to bulldoze land and sprawl with suburbs of housing (which will not actually be affordable to those who most need it). More housing will also be an open invitation for out-of-state people to move, likely people from California. The housing will boost population growth in the area, Olympia will become more like L.A., meaning more traffic, more emissions to combat, then more need to offset emissions with more trees, more development of services will be needed, also more families with kids, therefore adding a demand on the school system. More demand on the school system will trigger the reasoning for more clearcutting of forests. Do we want more people and traffic here or more trees? Would the forests grow back fast enough to sustain such development? Should our communities be like drug addicts addicted and dependent on the sales of our forests?
Saturday, December 7, 2024 Report this
S2345S23456
Housing (AKA dead wood) is kindling for fires.
Saturday, December 7, 2024 Report this