HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources May 22 20121
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
May 22, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (9:31:44 AM)
Present: Carl Weimer, Bill Knutzen and Sam Crawford.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Kathy Kershner and Pete Kremen.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PROPOSED INTER -TRUST EXCHANGE AND
RECONVEYANCE OF LAND IN THE LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED (AB2012-
06613)
Weimer stated the committee will discuss the draft letter in the Council packet, in
response to the letter from the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The following person answered questions:
Mike McFarland, Parks and Recreation Department Director
Crawford stated and there was discussion of questions he had regarding plans for
timber management and habitat conservation.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of where the County is at in the
reconveyance process.
Brenner stated and there was discussion of why they didn't talk to the private
foresters in the watershed, all invasive species and wildlife, districts that benefit from the
trust lands, and the Landscape Plan.
Knutzen stated the State currently deals with problems on these lands. He asked
and there was discussion of whether the timber management plan deals with problems such
as a root rot infestation that would cause mass wasting on the unstable slopes.
Kremen asked and there was discussion of whether the annual cost of maintenance
would be offset by any revenue.
Natural Resources Committee, 5/22/2012, Page 1
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Brenner asked and there was discussion of using funds from the conservation futures
fund for annual maintenance costs.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of mitigating impacts to the junior taxing
districts that get money from timber sales.
(10: 04: 27 AM)
Crawford asked and there was discussion of:
• Whether there is a timber management plan for the 900 acres at Chuckanut
and whether they should get a timber management plan for Lake Whatcom.
• What part of this area will be open to the mountain biking community.
• The role of the Whatcom Land Trust in this process.
• The cost and work associated with the long -term maintenance of the roads up
to the towers.
• The general timeframe for trail construction and infrastructure improvements.
(10:19:39 AM)
Kershner asked and there was discussion of whether any of the funds spent on
acquiring or maintaining the reconveyed land could otherwise be spent on building a new
jail.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of:
• A timber management plan that would maximize a commercial forest versus a
management plan that would transition from a commercial timber operation to an
old growth forest preserve.
• Wether there is a conservation easement on the land in the Chuckanut mountains.
Brenner stated and there was discussion of many different kinds of invasive bugs
and animals in addition to invasive vegetation. She asked and there was discussion of:
• Information on cost estimates and revenues.
• What's going on with Galbraith Mountain.
• The use of real estate excise tax (REET) II funds for a new jail.
• Putting a tower on hold.
Jack Louws, County Executive, stated the Council scheduled this agenda item. The
reconveyance decision is Council- driven. The administration and Parks Department is
willing to provide any information the Council would like. The administration is not
withholding information. It is willing to do whatever the Council requests to help make a
decision.
Weimer moved to recommend approval of the letter in the packet to the full
Council.
Crawford stated he asks that the motion be withdrawn. A recommendation to the
full Council is not necessary. He prefers to process the information discussed. He would
like there to be a motion tonight.
Weimer withdrew his motion.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of what's going on with Galbraith Mountain.
Natural Resources Committee, 5/22/2012, Page 2
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The following people spoke:
• Greg Brown stated he is opposed to the reconveyance. It's not necessary.
There isn't a public interest. Don't compare it to 900 acres in the Chuckanut
mountains.
• Dick Whitmore stated talk about the natural resources necessary to sustain
the forest community. Jobs will be lost due to the reconveyance. Taxes
won't be collected if the timber isn't harvested. The State Environmental
Policy Act (SEPA) process hasn't gone through. Do their homework before
approving this reconveyance.
• Aubrey Stargell stated the cumulative loss of timber land is killing the timber
industry. It is expensive to abandon the road. The Mt. Baker School District
was paid off, but it should be earning revenue. They have to manage timber
in designated forest land, by law, which the Whatcom Land Trust won't do.
It's not good for the watershed. They're not talking about water quality.
Forestry isn't a problem for the watershed. They need a local source of forest
products. There is a long -term cost to the County.
• Wendy Harris stated move forward with the reconveyance to provide clean
drinking water, which is a byproduct of a healthy ecosystem. The
reconveyance will provide an unfragmented piece of habitat. Use the
reconveyance as an opportunity to start looking at wildlife management.
Create a wildlife conservation plan. The DNR doesn't have the capacity for
water quality management. Invasive species are connected to the amount
and extent of development. She referenced the 2009 Clean Water Act
Assurances Report by the State Department of Ecology (DOE).
• Darrell Sofield, Whatcom Recreation Coalition, submitted a handout (on file)
and stated there are benefits to the reconveyance. There are steep slopes
that prevent timber management. The reconveyance will attract tourism that
adds a quality of life value to the community. He disagrees that this
reconveyance will harm the timber industry.
• Larry Mansfield, City of Bellingham Watershed Advisory Board, stated the
Board is in favor of reconveyance. They don't have a good handle on what
logging does to the watershed. The reconveyance involves a small amount of
land around the lake.
• Tom Westergreen stated they don't need the reconveyance to protect Lake
Whatcom. There is another side to this issue. The community is becoming
more divided. Sit down at the table to work out the issues. Consider whether
the reconveyance is a taking of land. They had good water before 6,500
homes were developed in the watershed. He's concerned that they aren't
looking at all sides of the issue, just the conservation groups. Have working
forests that produce revenues and also protect the water and provide
recreation. A conservation easement with the Land Trust won't provide local
control.
Kremen stated Tom Westergreen is an honest, good person who cares about the
timber industry and the entire community. He's had several talks with various members of
the timber community, including Mr. Westergreen. They've talked about ways the forest
industry can continue to thrive. It's a large component of the local economy. He looked at
providing corresponding forested areas that can produce revenue, jobs, and income. He
cares about the survival of the timber industry. Unfortunately, they've not been able to find
any corresponding land that could replace the 4,000 acres of the total reconveyed area that
has the potential to be forested. He will continue to look for viable, sustainable logging in
the county.
Natural Resources Committee, 5/22/2012, Page 3
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• Dan McShane stated questions about future forest planning are important.
First decide whether they are committed to the reconveyance. If so, decide
later how to best manage the land and bring all aspects of the community
together. The lands in the reconveyance are the worst lands for timber
management. That's why they're blocking the reconveyance lands. It's time
to commit to the reconveyance. Then, think about how to develop an all -
inclusive process for managing the land.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council &o.w hatcom .wa.us
Natural Resources Committee, 5/22/2012, Page 4