Committee hears bill to let DNR sell larger quantities of timber for habitat restoration

On Tuesday, March 18, the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee opened public testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 5157, which would let the Department of Natural Resources use direct sales for valuable materials from state lands up to $250,000 when the wood or other material is designated for habitat restoration projects.

The measure’s supporters say raising the direct-sale threshold would let salmon-recovery projects obtain large trees and intact root wads on timelines that match grant-funded work; opponents and agency witnesses urged safeguards to protect trust beneficiaries and ensure accurate appraisals.

Sen. John Solomon, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee he saw restoration work in Southwest Washington where large trees with intact root wads had measurably improved salmon habitat. “A lot of our projects don't reach the potential that they could in terms of the impact of the investment because we can't source this large woody debris…a bid is the highest sellable amount. And so they don't sync up,” Solomon said, explaining the bill raises the existing $25,000 direct-sale limit to $250,000 for this purpose.

Lily Smith, committee staff,…