08/14/2006: "DNR Forest Health Meeting: Mt. Vernon"

Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that the Forest Health Strategies Working Group is holding a series of public meetings about forest health. The meetings will be conducted from August 14 through 31 in eight different locations throughout the state.
On August 30 - 6:30 pm there will be a meeting in Mt. Vernon at Best Western Cottontree Inn, 2300 Market Pl.

"The health of Washington's forestlands is an issue that affects all of the state's citizens. Over the past few years, overcrowded forests have led to an increase in diseases and insect infestations and susceptibility to wildfire," said Public Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland.

"These meetings are designed to provide the public with information about the health of Washington's forests, particularly those near their communities, as well as what we can do to improve forest conditions," he concluded.

The meetings have two purposes. The first of these is to provide the public with an opportunity to learn about current forest health issues and possible approaches to improve forest health conditions. The other purpose is to allow the public to comment on proposed legislation drafted to prevent or control insect and disease outbreaks.

In June, Commissioner Sutherland reassembled the Forest Health Strategies Working Group, consisting of 14 individuals knowledgeable about forests, forest ecology, or forest health issues. The 2006 Working Group is building on the work of a similar group that met in 2004 to identify opportunities to improve Washington's forest health conditions and report its findings to the State Legislature. The 2004 group's December 2004 report describes findings and recommendations for a desirable forest health program for Washington's forests.

The State Legislature asked the 2006 Forest Health Strategies Working Group to hold meetings across the state to listen to the public's concerns about forest health and proposed legislation. They are to use this information to craft a comprehensive forest health bill for the legislature's consideration in the 2007 session.

As drafted, the proposed legislation seeks to improve forest health conditions by authorizing DNR to monitor forest conditions and changes over time in coordination with universities, landowners, and state and federal agencies. It would also authorize DNR to provide technical and informational assistance to landowners, and would authorize the Lands Commissioner to establish technical advisory committees, as needed, in areas threatened by forest health conditions. The draft legislation calls for DNR to establish cooperative forest health projects to control and contain outbreaks of insects and disease.

The draft legislation and public meeting details are available at www.dnr.wa.gov/htdocs/rp/forhealth/. Additional information regarding DNR's forest health program is also available on the website.