County staff seek authority to execute short‑term access agreement with Inland Empire Paper for timber harvest through Mica Peak Conservation Area

Real estate staff asked commissioners for approval in concept to authorize the chair to execute a short‑term access agreement allowing Inland Empire Paper (IEP) to use an existing forest road across the Mica Peak Conservation Area to haul timber from private property.

Jonathan Smith (Real Estate Manager) and a project presenter described the request: the road runs through the Mica Peak Conservation Area (purchased in phases in 2013 and 2018) and connects to the Mica Peak Radar Site Road on one end and IEP timberlands on the other. The requested use would be for approximately three‑quarters of a mile of road to haul timber for a commercial harvest. IEP has a history with the corridor, the presenter said, and the road is in serviceable condition but will require grading and drainage work to meet Washington forest practice standards.

Staff described the arrangement as a win‑win: IEP would perform road grading and maintenance, ensure culvert and stormwater features are functioning and conduct some fuel‑reduction work adjacent to the county property. The county noted the access would be for a short, specified window (the presenter said use would be from execution until November, a matter of months) and that IEP would return the road to a stable condition at the end of operations.

Commissioners asked whether the road would create any ongoing county maintenance obligations; staff said the road already exists and IEP’s work would likely relieve county maintenance needs rather than increase them. Staff said they would bring a formal resolution to the next week’s legislative meeting authorizing the chair to execute the agreement.

Ending

Staff will prepare a formal agreement and a resolution for the next legislative session; the board indicated conceptual support for the short‑term access agreement while asking staff to confirm maintenance and public‑use implications.