No. 07-011
January 30, 2007
Contact: Jane Chavey, 360-902-1721
Blanchard Forest Strategies Open House February 12
Evening public meeting from 6:00 to 8:30
OLYMPIA – An ‘Open House’ will be held to show the public the conceptual strategies developed by the Blanchard Forest Strategies Group—strategies that will be proposed to Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Blanchard Forest State Trust lands are managed by DNR to contribute long-term revenue to several Skagit County services such as Hospital District 304, Port District 2, and the Burlington-Edison School District maintenance and operations, as well as to help pay off their school bonds.
Ten members of the local community and a DNR representative were appointed by Sutherland as the Blanchard Forest Strategy Group. The local members represent the county (as a trust beneficiary), recreation interests, conservation groups, land use organization and the timber industry. Their recommendations for management of Blanchard embrace a wide range of benefits—revenue for county services and education, contributions to the local timber supply, and recreation and education opportunities for local families.
Blanchard Forest Strategies Group Open House
Monday, February 12th, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Burlington Edison High School Cafeteria
Open House attendees can meet members of the Group and DNR managers of Blanchard Forest to ask questions, review the concept and provide written comments. Topics will include:
• An overview of the economic, environmental and social values of Blanchard;
• Recommended future management of Blanchard;
• Working forests and the local timber supply; and
• The Blanchard Forest Strategies Group, their process and next steps.
Attendees are welcome to come and stay any length of time between 6:00 and 8:30 p.m. A brief welcoming is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Written comments will be collected during the evening or may be E-mailed to blanchardforest@dnr.wa.gov. Comments will be submitted to Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland, along with the Group’s recommendations.
The Group supports Blanchard as a ‘working forest’ with a ‘core’ zone of about 1,600 acres on top of the mountain to be managed as older forest, with trails and scenic vistas for visitors, and links to Larrabee State Park and Samish Bay. The whole forest would offer different types of non-motorized trail experiences, with interpretive educational opportunities as well.
State trust lands and Blanchard Forest
Washington’s Department of Natural Resources manages the 4,800 acres of Blanchard as part of State Forest trust lands. Forestry on Blanchard also supports the local timber economy. Blanchard and other natural areas are experiencing pressures from significant population growth and development.
Blanchard Forest is part of the roughly 3 million acres of state-owned trust forest, agricultural, range lands and commercial properties that earn income to build schools, universities and other state institutions, and help fund local services in many counties. In addition to earning income, trust lands are habitat for native plant and animal species. They also protect clean and abundant water, and offer public recreation and education opportunities statewide.
For all the people of Washington, DNR is steward of more than 2.4 million acres of aquatic lands – the beaches and under Puget Sound and the coast, navigable lakes and rivers. They are home to fish and wildlife, provide commerce and navigation, and access for all the people of the state. And DNR manages state Natural Resource Conservation Areas and Natural Area Preserves that protect unique and threatened native ecosystems, and which offer educational and research opportunities. Some natural areas also are open to hikers.
Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland, who administers DNR, is Washington’s 12th Commissioner of Public Lands since statehood in 1889.
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