HomeMy WebLinkAboutREVIEW Letter of Support DNR Dabob TLT JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Josh Peters, County Administrator
FROM: Katie Kowal
Marine Resources Committee Coordinator, Water Resources Program Coordinator
WSU Extension
DATE: January 20, 2026
SUBJECT: MRC Letter of Support for DNR 2025 Dabob Bay Trust Land Transfer
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
In 2024, DNR approved an expansion of the Dabob Bay Natural Area's boundaries from 7,735 acres to 11,200
acres to better protect the forests, streams, wetlands, and fish and wildlife of the Dabob Bay ecosystem,
including globally rare forest types.
Two Trust Land Transfer proposals will allow DNR to transfer state lands within the boundary from commercial
timber management (or even possible sale), to permanent protection as part of the Dabob Bay Natural Area.
This transfer will help ensure long-term conservation of state lands, habitats, and water quality that are
essential to maintaining the health of the marine ecosystems in Dabob Bay.
ANALYSIS:
The Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee strongly supports DNR's 2025 Trust Land Transfer (TLT)
proposals #1 and #2 to permanently preserve approximately 2,600 acres of timber trust lands that remain
within the Dabob Bay Natural Area boundaries.
This Letter of Support was approved by the MRC at the January 6, 2026 MRC meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
I recommend approval of this Letter of Support.
REVIEWED BY:
J. Peters, County Administrator D to
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4w�s CoG 1820 Jefferson Street
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Port Townsend, WA 98368
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1ING,s.„ Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
January 20,2026
Kenny Ocker
UT Program Manager
MS 47014
Olympia, WA 98504
kennv.ocker(a dnr.wa.gov
Dear Mr. Ocker,
The Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee strongly supports DNR's 2025 Trust Land Transfer
(UT)proposals#1 and#2 to permanently preserve approximately 2,600 acres of timber trust lands that
remain within the Dabob Bay Natural Area boundaries.
In 2024,DNR approved an expansion of the Dabob Bay Natural Area's boundaries from 7,735 acres to
11,200 acres to better protect the forests, streams,wetlands,and fish and wildlife of the Dabob Bay
ecosystem, including globally rare forest types.
The TLT proposals will allow DNR to transfer state lands within the boundary from commercial timber
management(or even possible sale),to permanent protection as part of the Dabob Bay Natural Area.This
transfer will help ensure long-term conservation of state lands,habitats,and water quality that are essential
to maintaining the health of the marine ecosystems in Dabob Bay. Intact forests preserve soil integrity by
stabilizing soils and preventing damaging surface water runoff from inundating the nearshore habitat with
excess sediment loads and turbid waters. Protection of upland forest directly prevents downstream impacts
to local shellfish and fishing economies; important nursery habitat for juvenile chinook,coho and chum
salmon and a diversity of marine fish found in Dabob Bay; and the recreational areas found there, as they
depend on clean water and a healthy nearshore environment.
The Marine Resources Committee, created by the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act, is
an advisory committee for the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners.Our members represent a
variety of stakeholders with interests in the marine resources of eastern Jefferson County. The stakeholder
positions represented include recreation,commercial,environmental, marine science,tribal, residents,
youth,city of Port Townsend,and elected officials from Jefferson County and the Port of Port Townsend.
We support this Trust Land Transfer because it will protect and preserve upland habitat critical to the health
of the nearshore environment of Dabob Bay. This uniquely undeveloped watershed surrounding Dabob Bay
provides significant recreational,commercial,and ecosystem services and the Marine Resources Committee
strongly supports its protection.
Sincerely,
Heather Dudley-Nollette, Dist. 1 Heidi Eisenhour,Dist.2 Greg Brotherton, Dist. 3 Chair
Phone (360) 385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us