Conservation groups ask Clallam commissioners to nominate Doc Holliday timber parcel for state 'cash-for-counties' conservation funding

Conservation groups and local advocates asked the Clallam County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 6 to nominate roughly 46.4 acres within the Doc Holliday timber sale for state Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) conservation funding, citing ecological values and a new provision that can provide counties immediate cash to offset the revenue effects of placing trust lands into conservation.

Bridal Froby, identified in the meeting as a policy adviser for the Center for Responsible Forestry, and colleague Bill Bryant described the NCS program that the 2023 Legislature funded to protect "structurally complex" forests for their climate, watershed and habitat benefits. The program pairs conservation of high‑value parcels with purchase of replacement acres for trust beneficiaries; a new "cash for counties" option in the current proviso requires at least $12,000 per conserved acre to be used for replacement-acre purchases and allows counties to take any per‑acre excess as an immediate cash payment rather than waiting for harvest revenue from replacement acres.

Presenters proposed that the board nominate a portion of the Doc Holliday timber sale (46.4 acres) for the current NCS round. Using illustrative numbers discussed at the meeting (an estimated $25,000 per acre timber market value and the program's $12,000 per‑acre replacement floor), presenters estimated the parcel could yield roughly $603,000 in cash-upfront funds to the county if appraisals and DNR selection align with their estimates. Presenters also noted portions of the sale already logged would still deliver some immediate timber revenue to the county under existing sale contracts.

Bill Bryant, a local resident who described family ties to the regional timber industry, urged commissioners to pause logging of Units 1 and 5 in the sale for ecological and recreational reasons, including trail access and proximity to a campground. He said DNR maps and earlier assessments show Unit 5 as structurally complex and deserving of conservation, and he described a willingness by the timber purchaser (Bruce Webster) to negotiate replacement-sale options with DNR.

Commissioners asked staff about appraisal timing, how the cash-for-counties option is administered, and whether replacement acres would be purchased in the same taxing districts that currently rely on timber sale revenues. Staff said DNR is responsible for appraisals and selection; those appraisals use a "highest and best use" standard (private market harvest valuation) and DNR has capacity to perform appraisals but timing varies. Staff and presenters said counties can opt into the cash-for-counties payout once appraisals are complete and the parcel is selected. Commissioners asked staff to place the topic on the revenue advisory committee agenda for technical review; staff agreed to request appraisal and timeline updates from DNR and to ask DNR to coordinate with the timber purchaser about replacement-sale possibilities.

No formal board action was taken at the work session; the commissioners asked staff to schedule a revenue advisory committee review and to request updated appraisals and timing from DNR before deciding whether to send a nomination letter to DNR.