On May 20, the county’s Revenue Advisory Committee (RAC) reviewed the application and recommended the commissioners request the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) deny it. County Commissioner Randy Johnson emphasized the need to protect potential timber sale revenues to fund fire protection, roads, and schools.
“The whole issue about water and riparian areas and water quality meeting clean water standards has been in place for 25 years. To my knowledge, I have not found anyone saying that those did not meet the criteria. And certainly we heard it from the school districts and, having gone through some major financial issues, we certainly need to pay attention to not only the funding for the school districts but also the fire districts at the same time,” Johnson said.
The city seeks to protect its water supply but acknowledges the potential revenue issues. At a work session with commissioners Tuesday, city officials expressed frustration that the DNR was not communicating directly with them about the potential sale and was instead dealing only with the county.
Port Angeles Public Works and Utilities Director Mike Healey said the city wants at least a pause on the sale to analyze the impact of harvesting the timber on the Elwha watershed. He added that the river is the city’s only current water source.
“I can’t just take a pump and open up a desalination plant. We have well systems in our Capital Improvement Plan, and hopefully we’ll find additional sources of water. But that’s a hope. I think the only dependable water source for this community is the Elwha. And to do potential harm, that would be a decision you may regret,” Healey said.
Port Angeles Mayor Kate Dexter told commissioners she thinks the junior taxing districts could be offset in their loss of revenue if the land is not sold for harvest.
“I watched most of the Revenue Advisory Committee meeting and was surprised by the fact that the committee did not seem to have an understanding of how replacement lands could work in their favor, nor did they seem to have any knowledge of the ‘cash-for-counties’ provision to make them whole in the near term if the transfer were to be approved. On May 8, 2023, Paul Jewell from the Washington Association of Counties gave a presentation to you all. Mr. Jewell spoke about the money from the Natural Climate Solutions account to protect structurally complex forests as well as the benefits of replacement lands,” Dexter said.
Dexter also encouraged commissioners to support the city’s request for at least a pause on what the DNR has pinned as a potential $15 million timber sale. The DNR is accepting public comments on Trust Land Transfer proposals for the 2025-2027 biennium until June 1.