Del Norte supervisors approve consent items, budget transfers and send urgent comments on Northwest Forest Plan

The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors on March 25 unanimously approved a package of consent items and budget transfers, authorized purchases of tax‑defaulted parcels, and voted to submit an urgent comment letter on the U.S. Forest Service’s Northwest Forest Plan amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

The vote came after Supervisor Starkey asked that the county submit formal comments by the March 17 deadline and moved to add the item to the meeting agenda as an urgency matter. The motion to add the item passed on a 5‑0 vote, and the board later approved the letter for submission by the same unanimous margin.

Why it matters: Supervisors said the Northwest Forest Plan revision affects extensive public lands that touch Del Norte County’s economy and land management. Board members said they want federal decision‑makers to consult local stakeholders earlier in the planning process and to address the plan’s local economic and access impacts.

Board action and immediate results

- The board added the Northwest Forest Plan comments to the agenda as an urgency item after Supervisor Starkey noted that comments were due March 17 and that staff had prepared a draft to review. Starkey said, “On…