The Clark County Public Works Parks and Lands division is beginning a forest health thinning project at Spud Mountain, a property owned by the county through its Legacy Lands program.
Spud Mountain is located north of Washougal and east of Hockinson. Thinning operations are expected to begin in 2024, a release from the county stated
The county’s forest stewardship plan calls for selective thinning to create healthy forest ecosystems on county-owned forest lands, the release stated. At the Spud Mountain property, approximately 30% of the forest canopy will be thinned.
The county will auction the forest thinning project and its timber, the release stated. Income generated from the thinning will be used to support maintenance activities across the county’s Legacy Lands program.
County staff recently began preparing for the thinning project by surveying the property, preparing permit applications and collaborating with area road managers, the release stated. Nearby residents received a letter to notify them about the upcoming project and the preparations now underway.
The parks and lands division anticipates that the thinning project and timber will be auctioned this coming winter, with operations beginning as soon as spring 2024, according to the release. Operations will be complete by the end of 2024.
The Clark County Council needs to approve the auction of the project by designating the timber as surplus to the county’s needs, the release stated. Staff will present the project to the council in the coming months.
The county has used forestry practices like thinning at several properties it owns since 2011, including Camp Bonneville, Green Mountain and Camp Hope, according to the release.
The Legacy Lands program acquires and manages property throughout the county to protect lands valued for habitat, scenic corridors, low-impact recreation and other qualities that enhance the local environment, the release stated.
Information about the county’s sustainable forestry program can be found at clark.wa.gov/public-works/sustainable-forest ry-program.
