Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Washington Board of Natural Resources voted to approve a timber sale involving land Thurston County officials want to protect.
The Chai timber sale consists of three parcels in Capitol State Forest about 19 miles west of Olympia. Almost two-thirds of the land is in Thurston County, while the rest is in Grays Harbor County. The board made the decision at a meeting on Feb. 3.
The sale covers 261 acres of land, 183 acres of which have been designated for harvest, while the rest will be conserved. Trees exhibiting structural complexity or located in sensitive areas, such as streams, wetlands and unstable slopes, were chosen for conservation.
Timber harvests from the sale carry a value of at least $2.3 million.
Amanda Taylor, of the Product Sales and Leasing Division of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), told the board that Chai does not include any stands that meet the agency’s definition of old growth. She added about 6 miles of existing roads, including routes used by recreationists, would be maintained.
Before the board took up the Chai timber sale, 28 people testified during the public comment period, with 16 speakers urging the board to remove a unit of Chai representing 31 acres. Several people cited a request from the Thurston Board of County Commissioners to conserve that specific parcel.
In a Jan. 20 letter, the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners urged DNR to exclude Chai Unit 3, stating it is one of the last remaining large patches of “structurally complex forests” in Capitol State Forest that originated in the 1800s.
The board added Chait Unit 3 is the only significant structurally complex forest in the Mox-Chehalis watershed and is a popular recreation area near the North Slope parking lot.
The request was part of a broader proposal asking DNR to conserve 2,420 acres of forest within Capitol State Forest. In determining which areas to prioritize, the county mapped out structurally complex forests that are at least 80 acres and more than 200 meters wide.
County officials framed the proposal as a compromise to protect the best remaining structurally complex forests, while allowing logging on smaller, fragmented forestlands to minimize the impacts on DNR’s timber sales.
The board voted on multiple motions before they decided to approve Chai, which was one of the seven timber sales before them during the meeting.
The board first voted to approve five timber sales, excluding Chai and another timber sale.
The board took up a second motion to approve the remaining sales, but Board member Chris Reykdal proposed an amendment to remove Unit 3 from the Chai sale.
Michael Kearney, also from the Product Sale and Leasing Division, advised that instead of amending the sale, it would be better to defer it so staff could reconfigure the sale.
When the board finally voted to remove Chai completely, the motion failed on a 4-2 vote. The board then approved the Chai sale as originally proposed on a 4–2 vote.
In a Jan. 28 letter responding to the county’s letter, Washington State Public Land Commissioner Dave Upthegrove wrote that “there are significant challenges associated with changing these sales this far into the process.”
Upthegrove added DNR has deferred multiple sales as part of the country’s request and designated 3,687 acres of structurally complex forests in Capitol State Forest for conservation.
In the county’s letter, the commissioners explained they were informed Chai wouldn’t be considered until 2028, which was why they did not mention it in previous requests. They also noted more than half of the lands designated for conservation by DNR were problematic, as they were either smaller patches of forests, misclassified stream buffers, or areas already sold to timber companies.
During the board meeting, Kearney said Chai Unit 3 complies with all existing department policies and regulations, and the objections raised were policy disagreements, not compliance issues.
Upthegrove acknowledged the value of structurally complex forests but argued that meaningful change should occur through landscape-level policy updates, such as revisions to the state’s Sustainable Harvest Calculation, rather than through individual timber sale decisions. Until those changes are made, he said he has directed staff to continue advancing sales that comply with current policy.
“I know that some are exasperated with the policies … but I want to be consistent when we direct our staff to prepare timber (sales) according to these adopted policies,” Upthegrove said. “I think the most responsible course is to move that forward and work on … systems change and policy change as we move into the future.”
Reykdal expressed frustration that similar promises have been made for years.
“My trust in you is immense, and so I have no doubt we're gonna get that conversation,” Reykdal said. “I will say, having (sat) on the board for nine years prior to you, I heard that for eight years we're just gonna get to it in a systemic way.”
10 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
BevBassett
What a disappointment Upthegrove is and has been since elected.
Wednesday, February 11 Report this
hptrillium
By the time Upthegrove gets around to saving the structurally complex old forests there won’t be any left. I am extremely disappointed in Upthegrove. He said he would save legacy forests and he has gone back on his word. There is such a small portion of the state forests that we are asking to be saved and DNR is dead set on destroying as much of it as possible. It seems that what the people of WA want doesn’t matter to the people in power. I am very angry about this!
Thursday, February 12 Report this
OlyBlues
So disappointed in Upthegrove. He is already turning into a seasoned politician. Makes you wonder where his true allegiances truly lie. I regret voting for him and won't next time around.
That said, the county has a history of blowing money on poor land use decisions such as the Tyson Seafood warehouse, the former Youth Service Center they sold and then immediately leased back for nearly the same amount, and the Atrium rental which was a total waste of tax dollars. If preserving these forests were so important to the county, they should put their money where their mouth is. instead of grandstanding.
Thursday, February 12 Report this
Olyrkrgrrl
Wow. It seems that Upthegrove, in his inexperience, is falling for the most often-used tricks in the book...maybe he should consult with Reykdal about how the System actually works, so that he can keep his campaign promises? I am appalled that he slid so easily into being hornswoggled like this...big disappointment. Seems to be a common theme these days in Democratlandia... Dave Upthegrove, please get smart! You will not hold your position with this kind of wishy-washy 'leadership'. We do not want to be left Up The Grove without a grove.
Thursday, February 12 Report this
Fraudguy
Keep voting Democrat, keep getting screwed over. Wake up people!
Thursday, February 12 Report this
Alexhehim
Structurally diverse lands have already been set aside in the 78 acres that are not being harvested, so there appears to be a difference in opinion of the definition of structurally diverse timber. To manage forest land, effectively and efficiently staff needs to have a forest plan. Managing a timber sale to the wishes of citizens results in inefficiencies, inconsistencies, lawsuits and wasting our limited resources. In my opinion locally provided forest products best protects our environment by reducing our carbon footprint. We are a very rich society with a huge appetite for larger homes and transportation. Sustainably managing and harvesting local forest is an easy step to reduce our carbon footprint.
Thursday, February 12 Report this
Taxpayer
How is it possible for Chris Reykdal to have enough time to be a member of the Washington State Board of Natural Resources and be the Superintendent of Public Instruction and do either job well? HINT......HE DOESN'T!
Thursday, February 12 Report this
jwiley
I am once again extremely disappointed in Dave Upthegrove. The County made a good case and it was rejected. Only extremely vulnerable land was saved, with the surrounding land to be clear cut. To be fair though, the County has totally failed us by encouraging Tumwater to approve the illegal UGA Land Swap regarding the Bar Holdings piece at 93rd and Old 99. This development sits upon extremely porous Glacial Outwash soil, making it a Critical Aquifer Resource Area, on the Extremely Vulnerable side. It is a funnel for the instream Deschutes River flow which is already compromised, and in fact all of the surrounding aquifers, including the Aquifer for the City of Tumwater. The Tumwater City Council just approved this illegal land swap with only Joan Cathey voting no. Tumwater will now have to tax it's jurisdiction to provide the infrastructure for this awful proposal if it passed through all of the hoops at DOE, and will spread out with urban sprawl into a distinctly designated rural zone despite the GMA's intention. Both are examples of Destruction of lands that all beings need to survive, which seems to be ok with our leaders.
Thursday, February 12 Report this
HappyOlympian
Boooooooooo, Upthegrove needs to go.
Friday, February 13 Report this
woodisgood
If Thurston Couinty wanted these lands "protected" it could request ownership of county trust lands and manage as a park. That requires money and they are too cheap. It is expensive to own land and Thurston County just wants to tell the state not to cut trees and be freeloaders. Put your money where your mouth is!
Local schools have a differnt view on these sales: https://aleshaperkins.substack.com/p/superintendent-reykdal-calls-for
Saturday, February 14 Report this