PACKET: BoCC Special Meeting - Forestry Workshop at Wed, Nov 30, 04:30 PM

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WORKSHOP re: Forest Management Options including Trust Land Transfer and Carbon Project

Topic Summary

This workshop addressed various forest management options for Jefferson County, focusing specifically on lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), including the possibility of a Trust Land Transfer (TLT) or participation in the DNR Carbon Project. The discussion compared management strategies such as carbon sequestration, maintaining the status quo (DNR management), and county-managed selective harvesting, emphasizing balancing ecological, social, and economic values. The county's own small-scale forestry program, which has generated net revenue, was presented as context for future options.

Key Points

  • The workshop aims to balance ecological, social, and economic values in developing a land management strategy.
  • Forests provide vital ecosystem services, including storing CO2, regulating temperature/moisture, absorbing rainfall, providing habitat, and recreation.
  • Challenges facing local forests include land conversion, and climate change effects such as increased temperatures, altered rainfall intensity (winter storms/floods, summer drought), and resulting forest health decline (e.g., Big leaf Maple and Western Redcedar Die back).
  • The Jefferson County Forestry Program manages 1,800 acres across 300 parcels, with 80% covered in forest; most parcels are under 10 acres each.
  • The mission of the county's program is to "Restore and maintain forest health," "Protect and enhance soil, water quality, and fish and wildlife habitat," and be "biologically, socially, and economically self-sustaining."
  • The county engages in partnerships with entities like Kitsap Forest Stewardship, Parks Dept, Fire Dept (for risk reduction/CWPP), and WSU (for local jobs/outreach).
  • A case study on the Quimper/Cape George area presented management options for these DNR lands:
    • No Action: DNR planned sale of Stand 1 in 2027, with selective thinning of 5 MBF/acre.
    • Carbon Sale: DNR planned 50 acres sale in Stand 3.
    • Selective Harvesting (County Managed): 30% thinning of 70 acres in Stand 1 (2025, 5 MBF/acre, 350 MBF total, 50% pulp); PCT (Pre-Commercial Thinning) on 25 acres in Stand 4 in 2025 and 2028.

Financials

Jefferson County Harvest Financial Summary (2019-2021 Pilot Project): - Total Acres Harvested: 188 - Total MBF harvested: 902.80 - Total JC Revenue: $85,776.55 - Contract cost (Chickadee Forestry over 2019-2021): $56,000 - Rough profit margin for forest restoration to the County to date: Approximately $29,000 - Site details: - Chimacum Park (38 acres): $86,026.49 revenue (9.9 MBF/Acre) - Trailhead (36 acres): Negative revenue of $(42,557.80) (4.0 MBF/Acre)

Quimper/Cape George Case Study Financial Estimate (through 2030, Selective Harvesting Option): - Stand 1 Revenue Estimate: 175 MBF saw logs ($113k total) + 175 MBF pulp ($40k total). Estimated net revenue (20%): $30k - Stand 4 Cost Estimate (PCT): $500/acre x 50 acres. Estimated cost: $25k - Total estimated outcome: Net gain of ~$5,000

DNR Carbon Project Financial Estimates (Based on 10,000 total acres, 3,911 acres in Jefferson County): - DNR’s analysis of candidate 10,000 acres over the first 10 years yields 917,000 carbon credits. - Total Project (10,000 acres): - $10/credit scenario (40 years): Total Carbon Payment $47,684,000.00 - $20/credit scenario (40 years): Total Carbon Payment $84,364,000.00 - Jefferson County Share (3,911 acres, 39%): - $10/credit scenario (40 years): Total Carbon Payment $18,649,212.40 - $20/credit scenario (40 years): Total Carbon Payment $32,994,760.40 - Carbon credit price is assumed to escalate by $2 every 10 years over the 40-year lease. - Total Standing Timber Value of all candidate parcels in East Jefferson County: $40,035,005 (based on $350/mbf). - Jefferson County's 40-year carbon share ($33M at $20/credit) is 82% of the original standing timber value, or 101% if G2 imperiled forest values are excluded (DNR protects G2 forests under SFI certification). - Standing Timber Value at end of 40-year lease (conservative assumption of doubling volume and value): $80,070,010.

Alternatives

  • Forest Management Strategies for DNR Lands:

    1. Carbon (Carbon Project participation)
    2. No action (DNR keep/manage for timber harvest)
    3. Jeff Co management (mix, selective harvest, emphasizing diversified forest management, trails, fire risk mitigation, and local partnerships)

  • DNR Land Options for Jeff Co Management/Input:

    • Trust Land Transfer (TLT)
    • Reconveyance
    • Carbon project
    • Co-management

Community Input

  • None specified. (Public Comment was scheduled, but the content of commentary is not included in the packet excerpt.)

Timeline

  • 2019: Feasibility Study completed (Jefferson County forest inventory, financial viability, community benefits).
  • 2020-2021: Pilot Project for forest health improvement and ecological restoration conducted.
  • 2022-11-30: Special Meeting – Workshop re: Forestry.
  • 2023-01: Report on the Cape George/Quimper Case Study is scheduled to be finished.
  • 2025: Proposed selective thinning on Stand 1 (Quimper/Cape George) to begin; PCT on 25 acres in Stand 4 to begin.
  • 2027: DNR planned sale for Stand 1 (Quimper/Cape George) under the "No Action" scenario.
  • 2028: Proposed PCT on remaining 25 acres in Stand 4 (Quimper/Cape George).

Next Steps

  • Open comments period listed in the agenda.
  • Final agenda item is "Next Steps/Closing Remarks," but specific next actions requested of the Board are not detailed in the provided text.

Sources

  • Arno Bergstrom - Forester, Kitsap County Forest Stewardship
  • Dr. Catharine Copass - Ecologist, Olympic National Park Service
  • Mike Cronin - retired Forester, DNR and Cronin Forestry
  • Owen French - Natural Resource Specialist, WA Dept of Ecology
  • Ross Goodwin - Forest Practices, Washington DNR
  • Ian Hanna - Consultant, Altruist Partners, formerly Forest Stewardship Council
  • Al Latham - Jefferson County Conservation District Supervisor
  • Tami Pokorny - Natural Resources Coordinator, Jefferson County Environmental Health
  • Denise Pranger - retired Director, Northwest Natural Resources Group
  • Matt Tyler - Director, Jefferson County Parks and Recreation
  • Csenka Favorini-Csorba (Nov 16 & 17, 2022 pers. comm.) - Source for carbon revenue data.

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