HomeMy WebLinkAbout080922 My Quilcene WA property is covered in Scotch broom________________________________
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Dear Commissioner Franz,
In October 2021, my wife and I purchased 18 acres of logged forestland adjacent to Penny Creek in Quilcene, with plans to restore native forest and enjoy the land and the Penny Creek
flowing through it. We’ve spent the past nine months planting close to 600 native trees including Western Red Cedar, White Pine, Grand Fir and white clover to revitalize the soil. Once
spring arrived, we were dismayed to find that invasive non-native Scotch Broom is growing everywhere across our land.
It's taken us a few months to gather the information we wish had been available prior to our purchase, to understand that this non-native species damages soil, impacts growth of native
plants, and that each plant has thousands of seeds lasting decades.
May is the time of year when Scotch broom’s bright yellow blooms make abundantly clear that it is overtaking Western Washington. With the amount of Scotch broom on our property, it would
take an army of people working daily for months or years to eliminate the new growth while simultaneously contending with the mature plants that have already gone to seed. It feels
like an endless battle and is something we are dedicated to doing to ensure our forest is healthy, diverse, and native.
We’ve also come to notice that while the majority of our trees are Red Alder and Big Leaf Maple, there are no new Alders growing, which maybe a bi-product of the abundance of Scotch
Broom.
We are wondering what state agencies including DNR are doing to address Scotch broom? Every highway we drive from Seattle to Quilcene is lined with Scotch broom. Our property and neighboring
properties are covered in Scotch Broom. The neighboring properties are covered in Scotch Broom. The logged lands are covered in Scotch broom. We understand that gravel quarries are
also covered with Scotch broom, and deliver seed- infested gravel to new construction, maintenance, and restoration projects throughout the region – which explains why roadsides and
gravel logging roads are lined with it..
Our forests need a concerrted effort to remain healthy and vital.
We have been working with local ecologists to develop a plan to eradicate the Scotch broom on our property, but if the State doesn’t have a plan of action that prevents to continued
spread,, our work will only be a tiny drop in the ocean of impact..
As landowners, we are committed to reforesting our logged land. We will do whatever it takes to make sure we are good stewards to this land and the environment at large. We need assistance
from the DNR, the County, and the State to ensure that we are able to fulfill our commitment.
I look forward to hearing from you and learning more about the efforts the Washington State is taking to eradicate Scotch broom.
Sincerely yours,
Genessa Krasnow
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Genessa Krasnow | www.genessakrasnow.com <http://www.genessakrasnow.com> | 206.353.9079