No. 08-224
January 6, 2009
Contact: Bob Redling, 360-902-1149
Board of Natural Resources Approves Land Transactions
Plans to auction 200 acres of farmland, transfer parcel to Island County, and purchase forestland near Quilcene approved
OLYMPIA – The state Board of Natural Resources today approved several transactions of state trust land, including a plan to auction five parcels of Common School Trust land in Grant County that are not providing sufficient long-term income to the trust. The parcels range from 20 acres to 111 acres in size and will be sold separately through open bidding at a public auction on February 26, 2009, in Grant County.
“These are small, isolated parcels of farmland without water rights and limited potential to produce the revenue our state needs to help fund public school construction,” said Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland. “The auction proceeds will be used to purchase other lands with better potential to produce the non-tax trust revenue that helps build public schools for this and future generations.”
Minimum bids for the properties range from $38,000 to $195,000. Four of the sites are vacant; one has been improved with potato storage facilities. Two of the parcels are located south of Potholes Recreation Area, two parcels are southeast of Quincy, and one is east of Moses Lake.
Auction proceeds will be used by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to purchase replacement trust properties, including forestlands that are at risk of conversion to nonforestry uses. Forestlands are included in the 3.1 million acres that DNR manages to provide revenue for state trusts that build schools, universities, other public institutions, and support services in many counties.
Auctions are the way that DNR can sell property to private parties. An independent appraiser helps establish each property’s fair market value, which is the minimum bid accepted at auction, plus transaction costs. Maps and other details about the properties and the auction process are on the DNR website: www.dnr.wa.gov . Click on ‘Leasing & Land Transactions’ in the Business & Permits area to find the link to ‘Trust Lands Identified for Auction or Direct Sale.’
Forestland under threat of conversion is purchased
Also today, the Board approved the purchase of 39 acres of privately owned forestland in Jefferson County for $170,000. The property, located about a mile east of the Olympic National Forest and two miles northwest of Quilcene, fills in the edge of a block of Common School Trust land. The purchase reflects a legislative directive for DNR to use funds from land sales to purchase forestland at risk of conversion to other uses.
The value of the 39-acre tract was determined by appraisal. DNR will manage the parcel for forest production revenue to the Common School Trust.
Island County to receive former trust parcel
In Island County, 45 acres of Common School Trust land will be transferred to the county through the state’s Trust Land Transfer (TLT) Program. The property is about 2 miles south of Oak Harbor. The property was not providing income to the trust and was isolated from other trust land parcels. Under the TLT Program, Island County can use the land for open space or recreation.
The total value that the Common School Trust will receive for the transfer is $625,000 ($197,000 for the timber and $428,000 for the land). The funds come from a legislative appropriation for the TLT Program. The timber value of the parcel will be deposited into the Common School Construction Account, and the land value will be deposited into the Real Property Replacement Account to acquire desirable replacement property for the Common School Trust in future purchases to be approved by the Board.
Action delayed on final proposed recreation rules
The Board today delayed action on the adoption of rules pertaining to recreation and public use on DNR-managed lands, Chapter 332-52 of the Washington Administrative Code. Board members said they generally approved of the rule revisions – the first comprehensive update since 1970 ¬– but asked for clarification of portions relating to campfire restrictions.
The rule-making process has included many opportunities for public involvement over the past four years, including statewide public workshops, stakeholder meetings, focus groups, public review and comment on the draft language, and public hearings. DNR also established an advisory committee made up of representatives from many recreation groups, other state agencies and members of the recreating public. To see the final proposed draft language, go to www.dnr.wa.gov and enter “update on rule revision process” in the search box.
Updated and improved rules to guide behavior on DNR-managed lands are intended to provide a safer, more enjoyable experience for the public when they are on state trust lands.
Opportunities for recreation
DNR manages more than 5.6 million acres of state-owned forest, aquatic, agricultural, conservation and urban lands, but most recreation on these lands takes place in the 2.2 million acres of forests that DNR manages as state trust lands. By law, state trust lands are managed to produce income for schools, universities, prisons, state mental hospitals, community colleges, local services in many counties, and the state general fund. They are also managed to provide fish and wildlife habitat, and educational and recreational opportunities.
Each year, DNR-managed lands welcome hikers, hunters, trail riders, equestrians, and campers for a total of more than more than nine million visits per year. Across Washington, DNR manages 1,100 miles of trails, 143 recreation sites, and a variety of landscapes that offer day trips or overnight visits.
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