No. 07-003
January 23, 2007
Blanchard Strategies Group Recommends Framework to DNR for Managing Trust Lands on Blanchard Mountain
Group agreed on ‘multiple benefits’ recommendations
OLYMPIA – The ten-member Blanchard Forest Strategies Group has proposed management concepts to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to optimize Blanchard Forest’s diverse benefits.
The conceptual management strategies
The 4,800-acre Blanchard Forest state trust lands sit at the north edge of Skagit County. The Strategies Group’s conceptual proposal blends the continued revenue production for Skagit County services and Burlington-Edison School District, with diverse habitats, and different types of experiences for visitors. A ‘core’ of about 1,600 acres on top of the mountain would be managed for older forest conditions, providing an experience similar to an ‘unmanaged forest’ as well as scenic vistas for recreation visitors. Trails link to Larrabee State Park in the north and Samish Bay in the southwest. Different types of non-motorized trail experiences throughout the mountain also would offer opportunities for all different types of ‘working forest’ interpretive educational experiences.
The group wants to protect and enhance the unique natural diversity of Blanchard Mountain, an integral part of a forested corridor that runs from Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountains and from Skagit farmlands north to Bellingham. They support the importance of ‘working forests’ and the timber that fuels the natural resource economy in the area. A key element is financial compensation to the State Forest trust for lands protected in the ‘core.’ A standing advisory group would work with DNR’s forest land managers to offer input on proposed timber harvest designs and other activities on Blanchard trust lands into the future.
“Each member of this diverse group has moved beyond their specific interest to reach agreement on a broad spectrum of benefits from the state trust lands in Blanchard Forest,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland. “I deeply appreciate the enormous time commitment and their efforts to reach consensus.”
He continued: “Working forests are such a vulnerable and important part of Washington’s landscapes, and state trust lands are an integral part. The members of this group have learned from each other and have shown themselves to be an important part of a greater community that truly embraces working natural resource landscapes, such as long-term forestry and agriculture in Skagit County.”
“This hard-won agreement is a real breakthrough,” said Group member Bob Rose. “It balances the desire to protect the mountain’s ecologically sensitive areas with the recognition that keeping Blanchard and surrounding lands as long-term working forests is the best way to ensure the future stability of the overall landscape of northwestern Skagit County and the adjacent Chuckanut Mountains.”
Group member Mitch Friedman said: “In agreeing to protect our most treasured forests, while also securing surrounding working timber lands, we found a workable solution to the challenges of forest management in an urbanizing landscape. This sustains Washington’s heritage for wildlife and people.”
DNR’s long-term goal for Blanchard Forest is to maintain these state trust lands as working forest that is actively managed and operationally feasible. The Strategies Group was asked to develop conceptual strategies that will achieve this goal, consistent with the Legislature’s direction to DNR for managing State Forest trust lands. DNR provided the Group with established working forest guiding principles and policy framework. The flexibility in that framework allowed the group the opportunity to develop innovative and creative management alternatives for Blanchard Forest. The framework included producing sustainable revenue to the trust beneficiaries in Skagit County while providing ecological and social benefits, including recreational opportunities, and contributing to the timber supply for the community and region.
Other Strategy Group members’ comments
“The County is cautiously optimistic about the solution the group has put forward and feels that the community in general may now have a better understanding and commitment toward the value of a working forest in light of the pressures of uncontrolled growth. The group worked hard to find a common ground where all interests could be respected in the outcome,” said Kendra Smith, group member from Skagit County.
“I think people underestimate what modern forestry can do to accomplish many goals—ecological, recreational, as well as financial,” said Ken Osborn. “I hope that Blanchard will become a place to educate the public about what all types of working forests can accomplish.”
Mike McGlenn, group member said: “It was gratifying to work with and watch this group learn and embrace the multi-use concept. The ability to continue with a variety of non-motorized recreational uses was a goal that was met.”
“In my 27 years with the state Department of Natural Resources, this is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I’ve had,” said Clay Sprague, DNR’s representative on the group. “I continue to be impressed by how much can be accomplished when folks with greatly different perspectives come together and work in an open and respectful manner to achieve a greater good. No one in this group would tout this as the perfect solution, but it is a long-term, workable solution that meets so many of our common goals.”
The Blanchard Forest Strategies Group has been facilitated by John Howell from the Cedar River Group in Seattle. The group process involved a DNR representative and nine other participants representing the diverse community associated with Blanchard Forest.
Next step is public open house to show results
DNR will put together materials showing the results of the group’s collaboration. DNR and the group will share them at a public open house in mid-February.
State trust lands, managed with care
The state DNR manages 3 million acres of trust lands to provide revenue for specific beneficiaries and benefits for the public. Revenue helps fund construction of public schools statewide, universities, other state educational institutions and prisons, and funds services in many counties as well as contributing to the state general fund. Revenue-producing activities on state trust lands include harvest of timber and forest products, leasing of agricultural lands (orchards, vineyards, row crops, dryland crops, and grazing), mineral leases, and leasing of communication sites and commercial properties.
Commissioner of Public Lands, Doug Sutherland, who administers DNR, is Washington’s 12th Commissioner of Public Lands since statehood in 1889.
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