It’s an exciting time at the Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) and I wanted to take the time to tell you about what’s been going on.
On August 23, I traveled to Snohomish County to celebrate
the completion of a purchase of almost 3,000 acres of land just west of Lake
Roesiger. Thanks to collaborative efforts between the County and DNR, land
that was destined to become another rural patch of suburbia is going to be used
as a working forest and recreation area held in perpetuity for the surrounding
community.
Also recently, I traveled eastward for the dedication of the
Springdale Lumber Mill. This opening represents the culmination of countless
hours of hard work, dating all the way back to 2009, when the legislature
authorized DNR to implement biomass energy pilot projects in eastern and
western Washington.
Before Borgford Bioenergy purchased the mill, the facility
had been closed for nearly five years. Now the mill is back up and running,
converting the waste produced by the sawmill’s operations into energy that will
support the mill and the surrounding community. In these tough economic times,
our rural communities have been hit hardest of all. Now that it has been
reopened, the mill will provide 34 full time jobs.
I’ve had a lot of proud moments at DNR, but the past few
weeks are among the most rewarding in recent memory. These examples demonstrate
what we can accomplish by working together and thinking creatively.
Our ability to be creative and manage our natural resources
efficiently will be particularly important in the current budgetary climate.
The governor has asked all state agencies to prepare for an additional 10%
deduction from their general fund allotments to help close the anticipated $1.7
billion revenue shortfall. In the coming weeks, DNR will be making difficult
decisions about how to respond to the governor’s request. It won’t be easy, but
by relying on sound science and managing our resources responsibly I am
confident that DNR can continue operating effectively.
As always, I welcome your input. The foundation of good public policy is
engagement with stakeholders. This is why I have worked so hard to generate
frank dialogue between DNR and the public. I appreciate all of your willingness
to engage with us as we work together to manage our extraordinary natural
resources in a sustainable way.
