PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Board of Commissioners supports sending a letter to the state Commissioner of Public Lands regarding a pause on timber sales.
“This pause affected over $7.9 million in Clallam County timber sales and has had a devastating effect on the countywide and junior taxing districts which had budgeted for those funds,” according to the agenda memo for Monday’s work session.
The county’s Revenue Advisory Committee presented a letter to the commissioners regarding the pause.
The pause, which was originally said to be for six months, has lasted nearly eight months now, commissioners were told. One example of the effect it’s had was stated as nearly $1 million in lost revenue for the Joyce area.
“This action also has an impact on our economy — we see a continued decline in the number of family-wage jobs and the average wage as wood product manufacturers struggle to access supplies,” the committee’s letter states.
The letter provided background information on the issue.
“In January 2025 the Commissioner of Public Lands canceled, modified, or delayed eight timber sales on lands that Clallam County deeded in trust to the State,” the letter states. “These sales comply with the Washington Forest Practices Act, the 1997 State Lands’ Habitat Conservation Plan, and DNR’s own policies regarding old growth, riparian protection, and sustainable harvest. They have also undergone review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).”
Each of the commissioners stated support for sending a similar letter to Dave Upthegrove, the state Commissioner of Public Lands.
“For years, the Department of Natural Resources has had this longstanding message that they manage for the future,” Commissioner Mike French said. “We’re talking about this one goal at the expense of all these other goals. The revenue is important. The jobs matter a lot.”
The commissioners also heard about the We’re in This Together seminars for low-risk juvenile offenders through the Peninsula Dispute Resolution Center and Juvenile and Family Services. The seminar is held four times a year for 12 hours during a weekend, commissioners were told. Topics include social media safety, effective communication and substance abuse.
In other business, commissioners heard a presentation about the six-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The program is updated annually and identifies current and planned projects over the next six years. The program does not include basic maintenance, which is covered by taxes.
Clallam County has 489 miles of roads, 39 bridges and a portion of the Olympic Discovery Trail, according to the presentation. Most major transportation improvement projects rely on securing state and federal funding.
Right now, the county has 42 programmed projects where funding is “reasonably expected,” according to the presentation, and 48 identified projects which are currently unfunded.
One major safety improvement focus for the coming year is guardrails.
The six-year plan will have a public hearing before commissioners at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 4.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
