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05/31/22 09 AM: Board Approves Deferral Letter for Beaver Valley, Penny Wise Sales

Board Approves Deferral Letter for Beaver Valley, Penny Wise Sales

Commissioners approved 2-1 letter to DNR/BNR requesting up to one-year deferral of Beaver Valley Sorts and Penny Wise timber sales for older forest strategy development on SFT lands, amid JTD revenue concerns.

Approval of Letter to DNR Requesting Deferral of Beaver Valley Sorts and Penny Wise Timber Sales for Older Forest Strategy Development

Metadata

  • Time Range: 02:08:29–02:51:31 (PART 1)
  • Categories: land use, planning, budgeting, operations, contracts, other

Summary

The Board of Commissioners deliberated on drafting and approving a letter to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Board of Natural Resources (BNR) requesting deferral of the Beaver Valley Sorts (BV Sorts) and Penny Wise timber sales for up to one year to enable collaborative strategy development on managing older/legacy forests on State Forest Transfer (SFT) trust lands, including potential inclusion in DNR Carbon Project Phase II. Discussion addressed agenda limitations on taking action, with Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Philip Hunsucker confirming inclusion of Penny Wise was permissible under OPMA due to its mention in the agenda request analysis. The letter was edited to incorporate "up to a year," "strategy development," and both sales; it was approved by a 2-1 vote for the Chair to sign and send to BNR with a cc to the state legislative delegation.

Key Discussion Points

  • Commissioners debated public comment timing and whether sending the letter constituted "action" on Penny Wise, given the agenda specified no action on it; preference expressed to take comment after initial discussion but before finalizing the letter.
  • Commissioner Kate advocated including Penny Wise deferral alongside BV Sorts, citing ecological concerns in Unit 7 and need for consistent precautionary approach; Commissioner Greg opposed Penny Wise deferral due to opposition from junior taxing districts (JTDs) like fire and school districts needing revenue.
  • Edits to letter included "up to a year" for flexibility (suggested by public commenter Bill Turner), "strategy development for collaborative co-management," and explicit inclusion of both sales as pilot projects.
  • Reference to prior BV Sorts deferral (April 2022 letter, auction postponed to July 2022); DNR's June 7 meeting confirmed; concerns raised about cumulative deferrals impacting operable land base and JTD revenues.
  • Broader context: 1,400 acres of older forests (13% of operable SFT acres in Jefferson County); DNR age classes show limited older stands; potential tools like Trust Land Transfer (TLT), reconveyance, carbon credits.

Public Comments

  • Bill Turner: Recommended verifying legacy forest data with DNR, not external groups; noted all upcoming sales qualify as legacy under some definitions; suggested "up to a year" for flexibility; impacts to JTDs delayed but significant.
  • Ed Bollen: Opposed deferrals, citing excessive existing deferments (13+ in 2019) preventing productive forest use; urged including language on reconveyance for parks.
  • Heath: Emphasized operable land base context (1,400 acres = 13% operable, not 8% total); DNR has ~304,000 acres over 40 years (operable), 62% younger; deferrals frontload age class issues.
  • Elizabeth: Supported precautionary principle for irreversible actions; urged including Penny Wise (small acreage, old/structurally complex); public already commented via prior draft letter, emails, petition (280+ signatures).
  • Jean Ball: Praised collaborative tone; public unaware/shocked at harvesting older trees; supports harvest generally but not these; questioned small tree marking in Penny Wise.
  • Mary Jean Ryan: Excited by new model; supported deferring both (Penny Wise 98-year average age); "up to a year" allows faster decisions if possible.
  • Patricia (Dr. Jones): Supported strategy development; balanced conservation, JTD funding (e.g., Quilcene school/fire district), timber volume; offered to help find backfill funds; include Penny Wise.
  • Brel Froby: Include Penny Wise to align with partnership spirit, as it would otherwise proceed; addressed leakage via DNR's Keep Evergreen reforestation; distinguished pre-1945 natural regeneration from plantations.
  • Jessica: Legacy forests small percentage long-term (9.3%); referenced forester Mallory Weinheimer's work on conservation metrics.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • BV Sorts: 66 acres, all SFT trust lands, 76+ years old, southwest of Teal Lake (District 3); reconveyance option; prior deferral to July 2022 auction.
  • Penny Wise: Referenced in agenda request analysis; JTDs impacted provided input May 23; Chief Hunsucker confirmed inclusion permissible.
  • Broader: ~15,000 SFT acres in county, 1,400 older forests; DNR tools (TLT leases with Jefferson Land Trust, carbon credits, Dabob Bay expansion); fiscal impact TBD; ongoing TLT work group.
  • No divergence noted; letter aligns with staff outreach by Commissioner Eisenhour to DNR, JTDs, residents.

Financials

  • BV Sorts and Penny Wise sales impact JTDs (fire/school districts); revenues critical per JTD testimony (e.g., Chief Manley, Chief McCarr); cumulative deferrals prevent productive use.
  • Fiscal impact TBD per agenda request; alternatives like carbon credits, TLT explored for revenue without harvest; short-term delay vs. inconsistent DNR timing/capacity constraints.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Reconveyance of SFT older forest lands to county for parks/co-management.
  • Inclusion in DNR Carbon Project Phase II; TLT leases; carbon credit sales/leases.
  • Letter amendments: Add "up to a year," "strategy development for collaborative co-management," explicit Penny Wise inclusion; pilot both sales; no formal rejections stated.
  • Commissioner Greg suggested Beaver Valley only as compromise, citing JTD support for Penny Wise harvest; not adopted.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "We approve the letter as presented here to be signed by the chair." (Motion, verbatim; includes deferral requests for BV Sorts and Penny Wise.)
  • Vote: 2 ayes, 1 nay (unanimous on sending letter process; nay on content per Commissioner Greg).
  • Next Steps:
  • Chair signs and sends letter to Board of Natural Resources.
  • Cc to state legislative delegation.
  • Initiate strategy development process with DNR on older forests/SFT lands.
  • No specific deadlines specified.

Background Materials

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