Save Little Mountain

Public Comment Regarding FPA/N # NW-FPA-26-8688

"Worth More Standing Than Cut."

To the Washington Department of Natural Resources:

I am writing regarding FPA/N # NW-FPA-26-8688 (Cedar Hills – Mt. Vernon) and respectfully urge the Department to carefully consider the extraordinary public benefits provided by the forest proposed for harvest. Little Mountain's forest is worth more standing than cut. While this parcel may be privately owned, it functions as part of the larger Little Mountain landscape and contributes significantly to the recreational, scenic, ecological, and quality-of-life benefits enjoyed by thousands of Skagit County residents each year. The loss of these benefits would extend far beyond the boundaries of the property itself. The value of this forest to the community is not measured solely in timber, but in the experiences, health, beauty, and environmental benefits it provides every day.

This application is not an ordinary timber harvest occurring in a remote commercial forest. The proposed logging is immediately adjacent to Little Mountain, one of the most heavily used outdoor recreation areas in Skagit County. Thousands of residents use Little Mountain every year for hiking, mountain biking, trail running, wildlife viewing, environmental education, and access to nature.

The forest proposed for harvest provides substantial public benefits despite being privately owned. For many visitors, there is no meaningful distinction between the park boundary and the surrounding forest. Together, they form a single recreational and scenic experience.

The public benefits of this forest include:

• Preservation of the natural character of Little Mountain.
• Scenic views enjoyed by residents and visitors.
• Wildlife habitat and biodiversity.
• Carbon storage and climate resilience.
• Protection of the recreational experience that draws people to the area.
• Contribution to community health and quality of life through access to nature.

While private property rights are important, this proposal would convert a long-lasting public benefit into a short-term private extraction of resources. The timber may be removed in a matter of weeks or months, but the impacts to the viewshed, recreational experience, habitat, and community character could last for decades.

The optics of this proposal are especially concerning because the public would witness the removal of forest immediately adjacent to one of Mount Vernon's most beloved recreation destinations. Approval of this harvest would signal that the substantial public value of this landscape was secondary to a short-term commercial outcome.

I respectfully ask DNR to:

• Apply the highest level of scrutiny to FPA/N # NW-FPA-26-8688.
• Fully evaluate impacts to recreation, scenic resources, wildlife habitat, and public use values.
• Thoroughly review slope stability and erosion concerns.
• Consider alternatives, project modifications, conservation opportunities, or other approaches that would preserve the public benefits currently provided by this forest.
• Give meaningful weight to the long-term community value of Little Mountain when evaluating this proposal.

Once this forest is cut, the public benefits it currently provides cannot be replaced within a generation. For that reason, I urge DNR to proceed cautiously and recognize what so many residents already understand: Little Mountain's forest is worth more to the community standing than cut.