HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment of Natural Resources
September 29, 2022
Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands
cpl@dnr.wa.gov
Office of the Commissioner of Public Lands
MS47001
Olympia, WA 98504-7001
RE: Aldwell Timber Harvest Auction #102215
Dear Commissioner Franz:
On behalf of the City Council of Port Angeles, I request that you delay the Aldwell timber harvest auction #102215,
and further request that this important legacy forest be considered for the Carbon Offset Program. It is critically
important that you allow the City and other stakeholders the time to review impacts to watershed and Climate Action
Plan policies. City Council unanimously voted September 20, 2022 to voice their concerns via a letter regarding the
timber auction.
On September 6, 2022, the Washington Board of Natural Resources approved the logging of timber in the Elwha River
watershed, referred to as the Aldwell timber sale. If your office approves the sale of this legacy timber, the timber will
go to auction. This action will be the demise of a valuable legacy forest on the Olympic Peninsula.
For a number of reasons, this sale has detrimental effects on the citizens of the Olympic Peninsula and the community
of Port Angeles. Legacy forests store and sequester carbon and aid in reducing climate change. Timber and complex
forest canopies provide major biodiversity to our area that we cannot stand to lose. The City has an obligation to our
citizens to protect our local water supply and it is important to share that through interlocal agreements this water is
purveyed beyond City boundaries. As a City we must have ample time to review the long-term impacts to our local
water supply and the watershed that contributes to it. The forests are a valuable resource to local tribes, and these lands
must be protected. The federal government spent millions on restoration work during dam removal and re-establishing
the Elwha River Watershed and therefore we must be diligent with decision making in this area.
The City initially commented on this sale on May 26, 2022 and requested you consult with us prior to making a
decision. In addition, we requested additional time for review. We again request that any decision be delayed on the
Aldwell timber harvest auction until you have had time to directly consult with the City of Port Angeles and our
neighboring Lower Elwha Klallam and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribes.
Sincerely,
Kate Dexter
Mayor
CC: Senator Kevin Van De Wege
Representative Steve Tharinger
Representative Mike Chapman
321 East Fifth Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362
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