Herald Story And News From DNR

The Herald ran a story on the Reconveyance Challenge today.  You can take a look at the story by clicking here http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/05/29/3028264/foresters-join-challenge-to-whatcom.html

Also of importance, I've received confirmation from the DNR that the Reconveyance issue will not be addressed by the Board of Natural Resources in their June meeting next week.

Below, for fun, is a scan of a page in the 1898 annual report of the Department of the Interior.  In the late 1800s the United States Geological Survey did a section by section analysis of the forests of the United States.  The below is from the 1898 19th annual report Vol. 5.  I know its a little slanted.  I was standing on a hillside when I scanned it.

Whatcom Land Trust Allowed To Intervene But Is Restricted To Addressing Challenge Issues

The pre-hearing conference between the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board, Jack Petree and Whatcom County was held this morning.

Despite not having yet been accepted as an Intervener, Whatcom Land Trust's attorney, Heather Wolf, called and signed into the conference as well.

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Whatcom Land Trust's view of how large the local forest products industry should be

The land trust participation was a good thing in the sense that we were able to address my objections to the Trust's participation today without having to disrupt the schedule.

The Land Trust was allowed to intervene in the case but, the Trust was limited by the Board to addressing only issues brought up in the challenge to the reconveyance so, the potential for a circus revolving around issues having nothing to do with the reconveyance is avoided.

Lots of work for the remainder of the month asking for new materials to be added to the exhibit list and so on. 

We're More Than Just A Pretty Face Now

I received a form from the Prosecutor's Office Friday with the case number on it.  Apparently we are Hearings Board number 13-2-0016 based on that communication.  I have not yet been formally notified, probably because mail is a bit delayed from Olympia.

Meanwhile, I thought you might enjoy the photos below, taken in the 1890s.  The two forests pictured are not the Reconveyance lands but are of forests similar to Whatcom County's.

The takeaway is that the pre-settlement forests were not static. They burned, they died, they were blown over in windstorns and they grew again.

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According to the survey of the nation's forests accomplished in the last years of the 1800s, much of the forest in Whatcom County had burned before it was harvested.  Note the forest in front of the McMansion in the bottom photo.