During a work session this week, representatives from the Washington Forest Protection Association told commissioners the updated Washington State Department of Ecology rules go beyond the original Forests and Fish agreement adopted more than two decades ago.
The proposed changes focus on tighter temperature standards along non-fish-bearing perennial streams in an effort to improve downstream salmon habitat.
Commissioner Randy Johnson said the original agreement was intended to balance environmental protection with continued timber production.
“The whole purpose was of course to protect fish and keep cool water and certainly also protect riparian dependent species. And all that was good until the Department of Ecology suddenly set foot and decided that maybe there needed to be a change for whatever reason, I’m not sure,” said Johnson.
Forestry representatives argued the revised interpretation of water temperature standards could significantly expand stream buffer requirements on private timberland.
According to figures presented to commissioners, nearly 9,100 acres in Clallam County could be affected, with an estimated $3 million impact in timber excise tax revenue over a harvest rotation.
Cindy Mitchell said the industry believes the original agreement already met federal habitat protection requirements.
“But then Ecology came along midway through that process and they reinterpreted that no measurable change could happen. So in other words, back here, these lines should be flat. That just is not nature. And it’s not something that landowners can control with buffers only,” said Mitchell.
The lawsuit challenging the rules was filed by the Washington Forest Protection Association and the Washington Farm Forestry Association. Commissioners agreed during the discussion to support joining the legal action.