[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6207381,"mediaKeyId","3755203-db4b68d67cb052d55a5d8d7ff66c3227","parentId",3755203,"title","Gifford Pinchot officials brief Cowlitz County on Spirit Lake outflow EIS, SR‑504 closure and forest thinning plans","audioSeconds",460,"startMs",4175000,"endMs",4635000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3755203-db4b68d67cb052d55a5d8d7ff66c3227&start=4175&end=4635","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3755203-db4b68d67cb052d55a5d8d7ff66c3227/thumbnail_4175000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6207381/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Gifford-Pinchot-officials-brief-Cowlitz-County-on-Spirit-Lake-outflow-EIS-SR504-closure-and-forest-thinning-plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207381-65c4ca20f1f3a9728a067075467aec97/orig.mp4?Expires=1770623157&Signature=XZUZ6~jMv2DLz3-qNiGuPJl8sUOhgWJNAHt8IzohJubeX10On~~hPBqG7CycyAv2htXT82uRsXvYuTbe~kHUNigKRKjJ9q6EXdoj4OBZ0eA9PxlHCd2a2qJ-Kd0urLoyprMq9G9GeZHBXg5T9KIMIohZcKiasAaRKS6bhQRziAI3F7Ple1gkTTSA6v8m-S-NZ~AjSpXlMUcHqUXtKNIYUkH7Vyq38PWAy6YgCgS~h0ba~sxHqYJxTXUCsHuQvSurP3ajlv-7yvsdA9Kyv~J3AxVkghtJX1eARm26Y9whc3c5-cAg123Ug0NMMbU12yerndtoaZSL0npKTsDaI60kmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-06-10T15:14:32Z","article","Johanna Kovarik, forest supervisor for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and Nick Granham, acting district ranger for the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Mount St. Helens Ranger District, briefed Cowlitz County commissioners on a range of forest issues, including the Spirit Lake long‑term outflow review, summer roadwork and commercial plantation thinning plans.

Kovarik said the Forest Service plans to publish a draft environmental impact statement for the Spirit Lake long‑term outflow project in July and will solicit public comment. She described interagency tabletop exercises and thanked Cowlitz County emergency management for participation in moving the agency's emergency response plan to an \"emergency action plan\" aligned with national standards.

\"That effort accumulated in a tabletop exercise, which included several federal agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers as well as Cowlitz County Emergency Management,\" Kovarik said.

Officials said the long‑term outflow project is a congressional directive to examine alternatives for Spirit Lake's outflow and that safety is the top priority. Commissioners and residents asked whether options under study include alternatives to the existing tunnel and whether the plan would address logs and sediment in the lake; Kovarik said those topics are covered in the draft EIS alternatives and that the public will have an opportunity to comment.

Granham described an unusually active summer of road and bridge work on the forest and said the State Route 504 approach to the Johnson Ridge Observatory remains closed because of a landslide; the estimated re‑opening date remains 2027. He also confirmed that some visitor services continue at the Coldwater Science Learning Center and that Ape Cave timed‑use permits and recreation.gov access are in effect for the season.

On forest management, Kovarik said a forest‑wide commercial plantation thinning and potential control lines environmental analysis covered about 136,000 acres of plantations (replanted stands under 80 years old) under consideration for commercial thinning and fuels treatments to slow fire spread. She said the project includes a GIS story map that shows treatment areas and noted fuels‑treatment methods such as piling and burning.

\"That project, is an environmental analysis that looks across the whole forest at about a 136,000 acres of, plantations,\" she said.

In response to public questions, officials clarified that \"thinning\" in this program is implemented as commercial timber harvest: \"Thinning for us is logging. We're, thinning trees that are under 80 years of age,\" an official said. Kovarik added that the forest has recently produced about 30 million board feet in recent years and that a portion of timber receipts is returned to counties (the county share depends on federal receipts formulas).

Officials discussed fire staffing: the forest had around 30 firefighters distributed across the unit at the time of the briefing, predictive services showed normal or above‑normal risk for June and July with above‑normal expected in August and September, and the Forest Service emphasized public observance of fire restrictions.

The presentation also included updates on partnerships and volunteer groups: Mount St. Helens Institute continues to provide interpretive services and volunteer support; Backcountry Horsemen volunteer groups assist with trail maintenance; and the Forest Service plans a monument management plan revision that will include public comment on travel and horse access.

Commissioners and speakers asked about economic links to logging, timber receipts and how forest revenues are spent. Kovarik said timber revenues and receipts fund sale‑area improvements (culverts, watershed work, road maintenance and fuels treatments) and noted the agency's obligation to balance multiple uses, including conservation, recreation and providing sustainable timber to local mills.

Officials said they will share the draft EIS and the annual road maintenance plan with the county emergency manager and return to the commission for further updates as the projects progress.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cowlitz County Commissioner Open Public Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","Johanna Kovarik, forest supervisor for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and acting district ranger Nick Granham briefed the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on the Spirit Lake long‑term outflow environmental review, summer road and bridge work and a forest‑wide commercial plantation thinning analysis.","taxTitle","Cowlitz County, Washington","taxId",5122,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6207386,"Cowlitz County commissioners approve $60,000 contract for on-site case management at Sunrise Village",1078,3148000,4226000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3755203-db4b68d67cb052d55a5d8d7ff66c3227&start=3148&end=4226","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3755203-db4b68d67cb052d55a5d8d7ff66c3227/thumbnail_3148000.jpg","/articles/6207386/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-commissioners-approve-60000-contract-for-on-site-case-management-at-Sunrise-Village","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207386-0cd89a732f8742783636d865ee8a6210/orig.mp4?Expires=1770623157&Signature=S9M-YsMKMZBwETHvH2RnLT1bzigL7N7FSxsUqWaRt1E2MkOeX45jo7qPCXVKjwOZaevuj1EQfi89bzTffYKDiBhIxO2supuaH3a~47gkKWhtInCKTS2KbZOOzKktc32VUKRuNU7pNE6iZkkpfvNsP~-Uzu7WGTfC8knQwvvF7WF62Zi0n8K6jHp2Ozm5Zx8-i7pDr~ydiyKTxlBFvh2YYZNRBwi23057Uv3d2epk~05ua967nNkkqkamjRzk1UdcPal~AtTBDuRVDe92b6lcSl0AmML0TC7fnVpeyowlqa4RrN6B-R~u~PqMY0jiOR~yEIX50MMX9fLfPfB6M~9H5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners voted to approve an agreement with Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington to fund on-site case management services at Sunrise Village, a new 60-unit affordable housing development, under a contract not to exceed $60,000 over three years.

Gina James, Health and Human Services, told the board the $60,000 is a one-time funding package for supportive services at Sunrise Village, which opens this month. \"This contract is, as I mentioned, not to go above the $60,000. It will run over a 3 year period, and that's the total contract amount. That's not 60,000 each year,\" James said.

Commissioners and members of the public pressed for details on rent levels, tenant eligibility and reporting. James said Sunrise Village includes set‑asides for lower‑income households: about 24 units are designated for households at or below 30% of area median income and additional units for those at or below 60% of area median income. She said some units will use HUD vouchers but that she did not have exact rent figures available at the meeting.

Several commissioners and public speakers expressed concern that the term \"permanent supportive housing\" could be interpreted as an entitlement to stay indefinitely. James explained the terminology: permanent supportive housing generally refers to units without a forced exit date, and tenants must still meet lease obligations and pay a portion of rent. \"As long as they're being good tenants and following the boundaries in place at Sunrise Village, and are able to pay their portion of their rent... they'll be allowed to continue to stay there,\" she said.

Members of the public raised practical concerns about move‑in costs and deposits. A resident noted application and security deposit amounts discussed by staff: application fee $46; security deposits listed in the project materials of $300 for one‑bedroom, $400 for two‑bedroom and $500 for three‑bedroom units; and a $200 pet deposit. James confirmed the $60,000 in this contract covers case management only and does not cover move‑in fees or deposits.

Commissioner discussion led to a requirement for annual reporting. Commissioner Ron asked for an annual report to the board. James said the contract will be updated in the DocuSign version to require an annual report by June 30 each year; the county will seek flexibility in what the report includes and expects it to cover the physical condition of the building as well as client services and outcomes.

The board approved the consent agenda and later approved the Sunrise Village agreement by voice vote. The motion on the Sunrise Village item was recorded as \"approval of motion item number 8, agreement with the Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington to provide permanent supportive housing and case management services at Sunrise Village.\" No roll‑call vote totals were recorded in the public transcript.

The board and staff emphasized that the county funding is intended to support supportive services and that other funding sources (including HUD vouchers and other partners) are expected to support operations beyond the three‑year contract.","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners approved a three-year, not-to-exceed $60,000 agreement with Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington to fund on-site case management at the new 60-unit Sunrise Village development. Commissioners required annual reporting and discussed tenant contributions, voucher set-asides and inspection reporting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Gifford Pinchot officials brief Cowlitz County on Spirit Lake outflow EIS, SR‑504 closure and forest thinning plans

Cowlitz County commissioners approve $60,000 contract for on-site case management at Sunrise Village