August 22, 2023
Commissioner Hilary Franz
Office of the Commissioner of Public Lands
MS 47001 Olympia, WA 98504
hilary.franz@dnr.wa.gov
Dear Commissioner Franz:
We are writing to request that you pause or cancel the “Power Plant” timber sale as featured in the Seattle Times July 30, 2023, story “126-acre state timber sale rankles conservationists, some leaders.” Time is needed to explore alternatives. We appreciate that you have taken similar actions regarding other timber sales and ask that you do so for this critical stretch of forest, part of which borders a popular trail to the old lower dam site.
We are concerned about the proximity of this timber sale to the Elwha River. The iconic Elwha River is important to all Washingtonians. The City of Port Angeles, in letters from City Manager Nathan West and Mayor Kate Dexter, with unanimous support by the City Council, has expressed concerns that logging of this forest compromises efforts to restore endangered salmon habitat; threatens other endangered and recovering species; destroys essential carbon sinks; and threatens the City's sole drinking water source.
The federal government has spent $327 million in Elwha River restoration post-dam removal. We want to explore win-win solutions that will help the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) be able to do its part. We recognize that you and the DNR have the important task of managing forest lands to generate revenue for beneficiaries and appreciate that, for certain lands, you have started to explore revenue generation from means other than industrial logging.
We are not expressing opposition to all logging on state lands but believe that the unique location of this forest and the importance of the Elwha River Watershed warrants proactive discussion of a long-term plan for harvests that protects the river.
Thank you for your leadership and for your consideration of our request. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
/s/ Mike Chapman
_________________________
24th LD State Representative
/s/ Steve Tharinger
____________________________
24th LD State Representative
/s/ Tarra Simmons
_________________________
23rd LD State Representative
/s/ Beth Doglio
_________________________
22nd LD State Representative
/s/ Kate Dexter
__________________________
Mayor
City of Port Angeles
/s/ Nathan West
_________________________
City Manager
City of Port Angeles
/s/ LaTrisha Suggs
_________________________
City of Port Angeles Councilmember
Individual Capacity
/s/ Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin
_________________________
City of Port Angeles Councilmember
Individual Capacity
/s/ Navarra Carr
_________________________
City of Port Angeles Councilmember
Individual Capacity
/s/ Toshiko Hasegawa
_________________________
Port of Seattle Commissioner
Individual Capacity
/s/ Dave Upthegrove
__________________________
King County Council Chair
Individual Capacity
/s/ Ed Johnson
_________________________
Former Councilmember
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
cc: Board of Natural Resources, bnr@dnr.wa.gov
