FORKS — A King County judge’s decision Tuesday throwing out the 10-year sustainable harvest calculation by the state Department of Natural Resources could jeopardize the future of timber communities that depend upon timber trust revenue, said Forks Mayor Nedra Reed.
“I think this is just horrible,” she said Tuesday after hearing of the judge’s decision.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen to timber communities and their schools, hospitals and other junior taxing districts until we look at where our priorities lie.”
Reed said the Department of Natural Resources’ responsibility is managing the state’s timber trust lands for junior taxing districts, such as school, hospital and fire districts.
“Timber resources are the lifeblood of our community,” Reed said.
“A timber sale set for today had a revenue stream that would have resolved a lot of issues, and now it’s gone.”
Environmental groups, such as the Washington Environmental Council, that continue legal challenges to increased timber harvest levels are well-intentioned but have lost track of what their efforts are doing to timber communities, Reed said.
“I compliment DNR for their efforts. They did the very best job they could,” Reed said.
“They considered the communities and the environment.”