HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter re: DNR Carbon Project commentsON COS
December 12, 2022
Board for Natural Resources
MS 47000
Olympia, WA 98504-7000
Dear DNR policy leaders,
Board of County Commissioners
1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Kate Dean, District 1 Heidi Eisenhour, District 2 Greg Brotherton, District 3
Jefferson County remains wholeheartedly supportive of the spirit and intent of DNR's proposed Carbon Project. We recognize
the statewide importance of this program and its contribution to the active conversation happening in Washington about
decoupling school construction funding from timber revenue. Since early in 2022 we have asked to be included in the Carbon
Project. As we have watched it unfold we have been heartened by the inclusion of some key tracts in our county.
While we support the project, we need to know the financial implications to the county and other beneficiaries before we can
commit. In the intervening months since we last wrote, we have received much input from concerned junior taxing districts in
Jefferson County — especially those in south county that stand to lose the most from changes to management practices. While
we can digest and accept a moderate decrease in short term revenue for long term sustained income for the districts that
would be generated via DNR's Carbon Project, it's not prudent at this point to even estimate what those reductions might be.
We're willing to take a risk alongside DNR, we just need to know what risk we are being asked to take.
We remain interested in creating and implementing a vision for the future of state forestlands here, one which produces
world -class forest products while at the same time contributing to climate mitigation and a multitude of ecosystem functions,
without penalizing those that rely on timber revenue. Having information about DNR's standing timber inventory by taxing
district and harvest plans would be important for our analysis and collaboration. We have begun conversations with the
Olympic Region on developing a strategy for co -management of certain tracts of trust land in east Jefferson County. In this
work we will maintain our focus on revenue to our beneficiaries, forests with the high conservation value and those with
potential for recreation and wildfire risk mitigation near areas with current and future population growth. Further, we would
like to have the opportunity to weigh in on parcels being selected for this program once we have more information about
financial implications. Also, a question we have been receiving, will counties be able to opt out of the program if actual
revenue projections do not meet the needs of the county and other Jefferson County beneficiaries?
We know DNR and Jefferson County have a unique opportunity to partner in developing new revenue models and alternatives
that are less dependent on clear -cutting to fund schools, fire districts, libraries and other essential services. This partnership
will continue to explore the many tools that DNR has, and Jefferson County is an eager participant in, including reconveyance,
Trust Land Transfer, Community Forests, Natural Areas and alternative timber management strategies such as longer
rotations or variable thinning. We hope that the Carbon Project will be a tool in this toolbox too.
We Ik forward to a productive collaboration for the months and years to come.
Siy cerely,
e�Eisenho ur, District 2 and Chair at Dean, District 1 Gr rothe n, Di
C: Senator Kevin Van De Wege, Representatives Mike Chapman and Steve Tharinger
Phone (360) 385-9100 Fax (360) 385-9382 jeffbocc@eo.jeffersonma.us