We’re guessing that those of you looking for a Christmas tree this year will opt for something smaller than the 3,500 lb., 48-foot noble fir that state General Administration workers are shown in the photo carrying into the State Capitol last week. That tree — from DNR-managed trust lands near Mount St. Helens — was purchased from the trust with state funds. Unfortunately, DNR cannot allow the public to cut their own trees on state trust lands — the natural resources on those lands are managed for long-term revenue to support school and university construction, county services and more. Even at 60-feet, those trees have another 25 to 30 years before being marketable for trust income, according to DNR foresters.
Not to worry, there are many private Christmas tree farms that will allow you to select a live tree. The Seattle Times lists several on the westside. The Spokane Spokesman-Review lists some on the eastside. Some of these federal land managers also might issue permits for Christmas tree cutting at a nominal cost:
Colville National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Olympic National Forest
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
THIS JUST IN: The noble fir in the Capitol Rotunda this year was approximately 28 years old when cut (not 18 years as tweeted on DNR’s Twitter feed). It was part of a reforestation project in the blast zone shortly after the 1980 eruption of nearby Mount St. Helens. [Latest from the Mount St. Helens VolcanoCams]
