Is Oyster Dome to Be Clear Cut?

Editor’s Note: the following was originally published on Jan. 31, 2016, at Craigromano.com/blog. Reprinted with permission.

by Craig Romano

One of Puget Sound’s most popu­lar hiking spots may soon suc­cumb to clear cut logging.

The Oyster Dome, the Pearl of the Chuckanut Mountains — the only place in the Cascades where the mountains meet the Salish Sea — is being considered for a large logging operation. A large segment of trails including a portion of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail may be se­riously altered. This would be a shame for the hiking community and a slap in the face for the con­sortium of conservationists that worked hard a decade ago so this wouldn’t happen.

An explanation. Yes, the Oyster Dome is within the Blanchard State Forest managed by the WA DNR for recreation, wildlife and timber production. Yes, I and many conservationists support this multiple use management in this forest. We realize that funds from timber harvesting in this for­est goes toward education — and we are not opposed to logging in this forest. We’re opposed to log­ging in a 1,600-acre core section of this forest — the section that contains the Oyster Dome, two backcountry ponds, several trails and backcountry campsites. Here, recreation should be the highest management priority.

In 2006, an agreement was reached with DNR that would prevent logging in this core. It was and still is supported by a wide consortium of stakeholders and Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. The agreement to protect this core called for the State Legislature to provide ap­propriations necessary to purchase replacement lands that could be harvested. The Legislature to date has provided $6.5 million. But it is not enough. $7.7 million in funding is still needed. And now 10 years later, the deadline is near­ing for the Blanchard Forest Strat­egy agreement to be completed.

Without the additional fund­ing, DNR won’t be able to pur­chase replacement lands and will be forced instead to log in the core area where so many of us recreate. Can you imagine hiking through stumps to Lily and Lizard Lakes? Or peering out over a clear cut slope with logging landings and slash piles? One of the finest views in all of Puget Sound would be seriously marred. That would be a tragedy, and one that we can avoid.

Please write to your state legis­lators and urge them to allocate the additional $7.7 million in the 2016 Supplemental Capital Budget Bill for the purchase of re­placement trust lands as outlined by the Blanchard Forest Strategy agreement.

Help preserve and keep intact the 1,600-acre core surround­ing Oyster Dome on Blanchard Mountain.

How to Take Action: Go to the following website and add your voice to supporters of the Blanchard Forest Strat­egy agreement: http://goo.gl/ JDTTTs

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Craig Romano is an outdoors writer and award winning author of more than a dozen guidebooks. He holds the following degrees: an AA in for­estry from White Mountains Com­munity College (NH); and a BA in history and masters in education from the University of Washington. He lives with his wife, son, and cats in Skagit County. Read more at http://craigromano.com/blog.