HomeMy WebLinkAbout120222 Concerning the Jefferson County Public Lands Forestry Meeting_________________________________
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Greetings. I was at the meeting at the Jefferson County Library on November 30th but was unable to comment. Thank you for the opportunity to be informed. I would like to preset my comments
to you here.
From what I understood the meeting focused on two things. 1: the Idea of some form of collaboration between Jefferson County and the State DNR for management of some DNR Units (or parcels)
in the county with a focus on some plots in the northern part of the county including land around Lake Anderson, Cape George and North Jacob Miller. And 2: The Carbon Plan the DNR is
considering as an overlay/adjacent in at least one parcel – The “Cape George” parcel. This is parcel contains what is being referred to as the “Quimper Lost Wilderness” and is my area
of interest.
I understand that the Carbon Plan is a very new idea that the County has not had time to assess or analyze. And that also the “Lost Wilderness” is not part of the DNR Carbon Plan as
currently defined by the DNR. I focus my comments on the collaboration around the Cape George Parcel. I believe the County involvement in forest management of this parcel is most likely
to help conserve the unusually fine, if small section of old-growth forest of the Lost Wilderness.
The reasons provided at the meeting for particular interest in the three units of land included that they are in a drier microclimate than other parcels in the county, causing less ideal
growing conditions for an intensively managed forest, the proximity to a higher population, and the current relatively high level of utilization for recreation coupled with a likely
increase in recreational utilization is particularly true in the Cape George parcel. As was discussed in the meeting, this parcel has high quality and diverse aged forest. If a collaboration
between the County and the State DNR results in localized management decisions with a high level of transparency to the local community, I support it. If a collaboration between the
County and the State DNR results in an opportunity for meaningful input as it pertains to managing the forest resource for economic benefits of the county I support it. If a collaboration
between the County and the State DNR results in recreational benefits for the community and ecological benefits for the wildlife and species diversity of the area I strongly it.
I strongly support true forest management that provides for utilizing the forest products as well as enhancing the recreational opportunities. I support the county involvement in a management
plan with local implementation that could help reduce the real risk of wildfire, provides income to the county, and provides quality of life to the community.
Thank you
Chrissy Scannell
BS Conservation of Wildland Resources, College of Forest Resources, University of Washington
MS Urban Forestry, College of Forest Resources, University of Washington.
Resident of Jefferson County
206.276.2045