DNR gains traction on cedar salvage and special forest-products program; compliance remains a constraint
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Summary
Department of Natural Resources staff said cedar-salvage and special forest-products activity is increasing, with a new local forester generating early revenue, but the program faces compliance and staffing limits.
DNR staff told Clallam County commissioners that a newly permanent forester in the special forest-products program has already generated sales revenue and that cedar salvage sales and small-product permits are increasing. The presenter said the forester had “paid his own salary in sales” and listed several small sales (named in meeting as examples) that have moved forward.
The agency said the division assigned a regional staff member to streamline special forest-products permitting and remove roadblocks; that staff member has held meetings with local DNR managers to identify obstacles. DNR managers expressed hope the program will adopt practices from the South Puget region, which runs an active program, and noted that compliance capacity is the main constraint: without on-the-ground compliance monitoring, theft and overlapping harvests can occur.
On seasonal products, staff said a bow/wreath contract was hoped for this year but that timing and seasonality (cutting in late September–October to supply holiday wreath-makers) make this year unlikely; staff said a contract next year is plausible if compliance and scheduling issues are resolved.
No formal county action was taken. DNR staff asked local groups to work with the agency on timing and compliance needs to expand the program safely.
Ending: Commissioners heard that special-products revenues are small now but could increase if compliance staffing and scheduling are resolved and if division-level practices are expanded locally.