King County to harvest alder stand on Taylor Mountain Forest

2004 Archived News

The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks will begin a 66-acre timber harvest on Taylor Mount Forest in mid-August that will leave conifer trees intact and remove a stand of mature red alder trees that are dying.

Removing the alder, and a number of big leaf maples, will aid the growth of Douglas fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock that will be planted following the harvest. The new, mixed tree stand will contain a greater diversity of species than the current alder and maple stand and result in a healthier, more ecologically diverse forest and increased habitat for a variety of wildlife.

Taylor Mountain Forest is a 1,800-acre piece of land that King County acquired in 1997 to manage as a working forest. Sustainable working forests are an important part of King County's rural landscape. They help provide clean water and air, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. They also supply a local source of wood products and jobs that contribute to a healthy economy.

King County DNRP conducted an open bid process in April and has signed a contract with Pacific Fibre Products to conduct the harvest. There will be minimal disruptions anticipated for nearby trail users and homeowners. The county worked with Friends of Taylor Mountain, a group made up largely of recreational users and neighbors, in developing the Taylor Mountain Forest Stewardship Plan, which lays out the activities that will occur on the site for the next 10 years. Safety signage will be in place, signaling any immediate harvesting activity and clearly stating which areas are closed. No public trails are scheduled for closure due to the harvest.

The harvest is scheduled to begin the week of August 16. Pacific Fibre Products has a two-year window to complete the work, but it is expected that the harvest activity will be completed by October.

The harvest will generate $80,000 in revenue for King County, which will fund the ongoing management of the County's working forests and natural lands.

The Taylor Mountain Forest Stewardship Plan guides decisions on forest practices and calls for management that generates timber revenue, protects the ecological values of the property, and allows for appropriate, passive recreational uses. The Taylor Mountain Forest Stewardship Plan can be viewed at: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/watersheds/samm/taylor-mountain-plan.htm.

For more information, please contact: Bill Loeber, King County Forester, at 296-7821.