Proposed Chehalis Trust Land Exchange
Proposed Chehalis Trust Land Exchange
This proposal calls for exchanging approximately 8,579 acres of state trust land for approximately 8,935 acres owned by Port Blakely Tree Farms LP. This exchange would allow DNR to acquire more working forests adjacent to other lands it manages for trust revenue, habitat protection and public recreation.
By consolidating trust ownership, DNR can reduce land management costs and increase long-term revenue to the trusts that help build public schools, universities and other public institutions in Washington and support county services. Properties included in this proposed exchange are mainly working forests in southwest Washington.
Objective
Consolidating land holdings will provide better assurance of long-term trust revenue. In addition to increasing management efficiency, having larger and more contiguous areas under public ownership would provide accessible public recreation and healthy forestland. DNR’s management under the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) also would be enhanced by gaining more land that can be managed for long-term working forestry and habitat for plants and animals, including two federally listed species: the marbled murrelet (‘threatened’) and the northern spotted owl (‘endangered’).
Details
The value of the lands exchanged is determined by independent appraisals. Each of the four state trusts involved would receive an exchange of equal value for any lands in the exchange.
Maps
DNR to Port Blakely Parcel List (Updated 12/23/2008)
Port Blakely to DNR Parcel List (Updated 1/14/2009)
Port Blakely Tree Farms to DNR-managed State Trust Lands
The state trusts would gain forestland adjacent to major blocks of DNR-managed land. These include:
• 3,685 acres in Thurston and Grays Harbor counties next to the Capitol State Forest
• 2,689 acres in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties next to the Lower Chehalis State Forest
• 1,397 acres (known as the P&E Block) in Pacific County southeast of Raymond
The trusts also would acquire several hundred acres in Lewis and Skagit counties.
DNR-managed State Trust Lands to Port Blakely Tree Farms
The state trust lands to be exchanged with Port Blakely Tree Farms would include:
• Approximately 6,515 acres in Lewis County—including 5,874 acres near
Lake Creek
• Approximately 1,938 acres in Thurston County—near Smith Ranch
• Approximately 126 acres in Grays Harbor County—near Capitol Forest
The state trusts involved in this exchange are:
• Common School (generates revenue for public school construction statewide)
• State Forest Transfer (generates revenue for county services)
• Escheat (generates revenue for public school construction statewide)
• Scientific School (generates revenue for the Washington State University)
Opportunities for Public Input
The deadline to submit written comments about this exchange was the end of business on December 29, 2008.
Send comments by e-mail to: exchanges@dnr.wa.gov
Or by mail to:
Department of Natural Resources
Asset Management & Protection Division
Attn: Chehalis Trust Land Exchange
P.O. Box 47014
Olympia, WA 98504-7014
An informational meeting about this exchange was held November 10, 2008, in Chehalis.
A public hearing—a formal process to accept public testimony about the proposed exchange—was held December 10, 2008, in Chehalis.
What’s Next
• Input from the public, including comments made at the hearing, will be reviewed.
• Parcels proposed for exchange will be appraised.
• An exchange agreement between DNR and Port Blakely Tree Farms if the two parties agree on the lands to be exchanged.
• A final agreement would be presented to the Board of Natural Resources, who represent trust beneficiaries, for decision at one of its regularly scheduled meetings.