In the northeastern corner of Clark County, southwest of Yale Lake between Canyon and Siouxon Creeks, 135 acres of structurally complex, naturally regenerated, and beautiful mature forests stands approaching old-growth status are about to be lost forever unless urgent action is taken now.

Washington residents, especially residents of Clark County, can help make a difference by asking our new Commissioner of Public Lands, Dave Upthegrove, to do all he can to honor the request of Clark County Council and residents to reverse the Dabbler timber sale.

On January 15th, Clark County’s Councilors sent a formal request to Washington’s new Public Lands Commissioner, Dave Upthegrove, asking him to postpone harvest of the Dabbler timber sale and create a framework for conserving older forests throughout the county.

In their request, the Clark County Council, the beneficiary of funds provided by the sale, wrote: 

“Clark County sits at the western foothills of the Cascades near the area impacted by the 1902 Yacolt Burn and contains very few remaining legacy forest resources. The proposed Dabbler sale area contains structurally complex naturally regenerated forest that are approaching old growth and therefore highly valued by our community. Not only do these remnants of our original forests provide wildlife habitat, promote watershed health, and mitigate climate impacts, but they provide public recreation and economic opportunities beyond the dollars generated through harvest alone.”

State decision-makers ignored the County Council’s request and sold the sale at auction on January 30. We’re now asking the new Public Lands Commissioner to do everything he can to undo the sale and protect these forests.

Here is how you can help:

Send an email to Washington Commissioner of Public Lands, Dave Upthegrove (cpl@dnr.wa.gov) asking that he do everything in his power to respect the wishes of the Clark County Council and residents by stopping the Dabbler Timber sale.

Below are talking points to get you started:

• I am disappointed that the state’s Board of Natural Resources did not honor Clark County’s request to postpone the harvest of the Dabbler sale. Clark County is the financial beneficiary of the sale and their wishes should be respected.

• Healthy mature and old-growth forests are critical to conserving Washington’s wildlife, slowing the acceleration of climate change, and mitigating climate change impacts. Once these forests are gone, they will take hundreds of years to recover, if they ever do.

• Although the Dabbler Timber sale was initially approved prior to the start of your term, I am asking you to do anything and everything within your authority to halt the harvest of these rare and beautiful stands of legacy forests before it’s too late.

Questions? Contact CFC’s Policy Manager, Ashley Short, by emailing ashley@cascadeforest.org