Leaves change color, they fall and nature transitions to handle our cold, wet, quiet winters. Spring ushers in warmth, growth, the flush of leaves and the return of the birds.
Everything has an impact on the environment. It is measurable, and, in fact, inevitable. It is also usually transient.
Now think of human impacts.
We cut the grass — it grows again. We cut the forest — it grows again. We live in a dynamic system shaped by our intent and actions. Even when we work to ensure there is no change in a system we fail. Ask any gardener if weeds return after pulling.
Change happens.
That is why it makes no sense that Washington’s Department of Ecology has decided there can be no measurable temperature change at no time in no place on our forested headwater streams after timber harvest.
They are willing to force a vote on a new rule at the Forest Practices Board that will take $2 billion in asset value and $6 billion in economic value from our westside rural counties to enforce this idea of no change, ever.
Most of that economic value is here in Southwest Washington, with Lewis County (20.5%), Pacific County (14.3%), Cowlitz County (13.5%) and Grays Harbor County (11.9%) hardest hit.
Small forest landowners have been arguing against this proposed taking of private assets for nearly a decade.
The Department of Ecology says it’s just enforcing the Clean Water Act, but the Clean Water Act doesn’t say that there can be no change at no time in no place — that is an interpretation by the Department of Ecology, and not a reasonable one.
They also say it’s to protect the fish; there are no fish in these headwater streams. The transient temperature change after harvest was expected and approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the 2006 Habitat Conservation Plan.
What is really going on?
Why inflict so much harm on our rural timber dependent communities?
Bureaucrats inside the Department of Ecology are taking this opportunity to push their ideology, an ideology that seems to believe timber harvest is an environmentally harmful practice.
They seem to have forgotten that a core tenet of the Forests and Fish Agreement is to maintain a viable forest products industry.
These bureaucrats are supported by tribal entities who want to set a precedent with forest land, a precedent they can use to force draconian water protection measures on the agriculture community.
Both groups are willing to step on anyone who gets in their way. This process shows a shocking disrespect for the principle of solving mutual problems best exemplified by Billy Frank Jr. coming to the table for Timber, Fish and Wildlife negotiations.
His bust at the U.S. Capitol represents “The Washington Way.”
This is not the Washington Way. Those most impacted must dissent. Please join me as the Forest Practices Board takes their final vote on this matter on Nov. 12.
More details at www.wafarmforestry.com/np-rule-affects/.
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Elaine Oneil is the executive director of the Washington Farm Forestry Association.
