The Bellingham Herald this morning reported on a judge’s decision last week to allow DNR to continue carrying out the Blanchard Forest Strategies. The headline was misleading and we would like to clarify. The ruling actually upheld DNR’s view that the management strategies developed by a group of Skagit County citizens and conservationists didn’t need an environmental impact statement (EIS) to be implemented, not that logging on the mountain is automatically exempt from an EIS. In fact there have been three EIS documents that analyzed the impacts of logging in Western Washington, including on Blanchard Mountain.
The article failed to mention that the Blanchard Forest Strategies actually allows DNR to set aside 1600 acres of forest from logging for recreation and conservation while maintaining a working lands base in Skagit County.
The strategy was upheld by last week’s court ruling which calls for managing this state trust land for a variety of compatible uses, including providing resource-based revenue and jobs to Skagit County. Of note is that one of the main uses Skagit County has had for trust land revenue, including revenue generated from Blanchard Forest, is preserving open space, retaining current agricultural and forest land, and stopping urban sprawl – the very same values that draw so many people who visit Skagit County’s treasured Blanchard Forest share.
An interest-based group, which included representatives from the Back Country Horsemen, Skagit Land Trust, Conservation Northwest , and Friends of Blanchard developed the strategy. It also included local citizens and, importantly, Skagit County – the predominant beneficiary of trust revenue from DNR-managed lands in Blanchard Forest.
The strategy also meshes well with Skagit County’s comprehensive plan which includes promoting recreation and land preservation that do not conflict with the long-term commercial significance of natural resources and critical area or rural life styles important to Skagit County residents.
More protections coming to Blanchard Mountain
A new Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA) on Blanchard Mountain was initiated by Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark earlier this year. The NRCA goes beyond the Blanchard Forest Strategies to protect the core area into perpetuity for future generations and wildlife to enjoy.
We will keep you posted as the details for the NRCA develop.
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