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Clark County councilors press DNR for lighter harvest prescriptions on two state timber sales
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Summary
Councilors discussed and revised a draft letter to the Department of Natural Resources asking for less intensive 'thin' prescriptions on the Turnover and Dendrophobia timber sales while noting Copperhead appears younger and may not warrant the same change; staff was directed to send the letter to the Board of Natural Resources ahead of Dec. 2 if finalized.
Clark County Council debated edits to a draft letter to the Department of Natural Resources that asks DNR to change harvest prescriptions on three upcoming timber sales.
“For Turnover, Dendrophobia and Copperhead, our updated draft clarifies forest types and requests a lighter prescription in the cases where the site justifies it,” county staff member Jordan Bogie told the council, explaining that terms such as “maturation 2,” “structurally complex” and “old growth” are distinct and the prior draft had conflated them.
Public commenters were sharply divided. Carissa Hallstrom told the council the fourth draft “looks great” and urged approval so the letter can reach the Board of Natural Resources before the board’s Dec. 2 meeting. By contrast, Heath Heikle, representing the American Forest Resource Council, said public‑record emails show Copperhead and Dendrophobia are not maturation 2 stands and cautioned the county to verify DNR classifications and consider impacts on junior taxing districts.
Council debate centered on targeted standards rather than blanket opposition to all harvest. Several councilors said Turnover (which the county identified as a maturation‑2 stand) warrants asking DNR for a light‑to‑heavy thin instead of a variable retention (near‑clearcut) harvest prescription; Copperhead, which appears to be a younger stand, drew less support for a prescription change.
Councilor Little proposed edits to request a light‑to‑heavy thin for Turnover and Dendrophobia and not to seek a prescription change on Copperhead; several colleagues agreed to move forward with the letter but asked staff to pause any further letters until a task force or advisory body representing diverse interests can be organized to advise the council.
Councilors asked staff to refine the letter language today so it could be sent to DNR and the Board of Natural Resources in time for the Dec. 2 meeting if the council finalizes edits. Staff said a meeting with the DNR commissioner is planned for early January and that they will convene stakeholders for guidance.
