Blanchard Forest
A Working Forest in an Urban Setting
Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland approved the set of management strategies proposed by Washington’s DNR for the 4,800-acre Blanchard Forest state trust lands in Skagit County, strategies – with a few minor changes – developed by the 10-member Blanchard Forest Strategies Group. The Strategies Group represented recreation interests, conservation groups, county (as a trust beneficiary), land use interests, timber industry, and a representative of DNR.
Blanchard Strategies Approved by Lands Commissioner
The strategies are intended to help DNR meet multiple objectives and benefits from these state-owned trust lands.
Blanchard Forest Strategies Group Recommendations
Public Meeting February 12, 2007
Other Documents During Development of Strategies
Environmental Review
(Under State Environmental Policy Act process—SEPA)
Blanchard Forest History
From a fire-blackened cutover landscape to healthy sustainable forest
With its location so convenient to the Puget Sound and logging mills, the area now known as Blanchard Forest was extensively logged from the mid-1800s to 1920s. A major 1925 fire swept through, torching most of the remaining old forest. Landowners abandoned the land and defaulted on the local taxes.
Without staff to fight wildfires and manage the scorched and cutover hills, Skagit County – as other Westside counties - deeded Blanchard and other default lands to the state to manage as trust lands to generate revenue for the county and its junior taxing districts. DNR and its predecessor agency invested time, funds and effort to replant and protect the new forest that today provides so many benefits.
Blanchard Forest state trust lands, in northwestern Skagit County, are known as Blanchard Mountain or Blanchard Hill (vicinity map). In addition to earning revenue and accommodating recreation and other use, DNR ensures that public resources are protected - habitat for fish and wildlife, water quality, slope stability and more. Revenue is for specific beneficiaries: local junior taxing districts (including Burlington-Edison Schools, United General Hospital, and Port of Skagit County), Skagit County (for county roads and county general fund) and the State General Fund (earmarked for education).
As trustee and manager of Blanchard Forest, DNR wants to establish a clear strategy to protect long-term income production, habitat, and public use opportunities.
Older Reports
Blanchard Maps
June 30, 2004 Public Meeting
News Releases
- June 14, 2004
DNR to Hold June 30th open house about Blanchard Forest stewardship strategies (38KB PDF)
- May 23, 2003
State DNR invites volunteer litter cleanup on Blanchard Mountain May 31 (31KB PDF)
- October 10, 2002
Washington State DNR and Northwest Ecosystem Alliance announce results of Blanchard Mt. recreation study (61KB PDF)
- January 28, 2002
DNR contracts with Cedar River Group/Mundy Associates for evaluation of Blanchard Mountain (62KB PDF)
- November 26, 2001
DNR seeks evaluation of Blanchard Mountain's social, economic, financial values (65KB PDF)
- November 13, 2001
Public, private match funds for study of Blanchard Mountain (64KB PDF)
- November 2, 2001
Community meeting for timber sale on Blanchard Mt. (61KB PDF)