Upthegrove questioned, Chapman cheered over legacy forest issues

by Tim Wheeler

Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove. Photo courtesy of The WA Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Michael (Mike) McIvor, Senior Graphic Designer, Office of the Commissioner of Public Lands

Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove faced sharp questions about why he has been slow to protect the Doc Holliday timber parcel, the Elwha watershed, and other legacy forests in Clallam County. The questions followed his speech to a gathering at Democratic Party headquarters in Port Angeles on Oct. 29 as part of the Clallam Democrats’ “Let’s Talk” series, where he shared an update of his first 10 months in office.

The room was packed with a cordial but also deeply concerned crowd. Upthegrove thanked his audience for helping him win election by 49 votes, a margin so close that his supporters, including some in the crowd, were on the telephone to voters helping “cure” rejected ballots so he could win.

Asked if he considers himself an “advocate” of progressive change, or a “manager” of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which he heads, Upthegrove replied that he is both. He cited his designation of 77,000 acres in additional conserved forest, claiming it is the biggest victory in a generation in saving forest land. Yet, he also warned that “I’m not going to take action right now,” given that DNR faces demands that it sell timber and distribute the revenues to hard-pressed jurisdictions like Clallam County to fund schools, fire departments, and emergency responders.

Earth Law Legal Director Elizabeth Dunne, Clallam Conservation Commissioner Wendy Rae Johnson, and other environmentalists lined up at the microphone to comment.  They reminded Upthegrove that measures like the $23 million “Cash for Counties” Natural Climate Solutions measure approved by the Legislature could purchase legacy forests like Doc Holliday. They noted with approval that, although the pause in harvesting timber in legacy watersheds that Upthegrove ordered last January is no longer in effect, legacy forest sales in the Elwha watershed are still on hold. They also mentioned that Port Angeles and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe draw drinking water from the Elwha River. 

Upthegrove hailed actions by progressive lawmakers in Olympia in passing laws that strengthen conservation and combat global climate change. He urged enactment of more state laws to strengthen his efforts to protect forests and wildlife.

Upthegrove went on to denounce President Trump for “chaos, disruption and corruption.” Trump’s threat to “terminate wildfire defense grants…is more than morally bankrupt,” Upthegrove remarked, noting that the threat adds to the revenue shortfall of over $12 billion Washington State now faces.

Upthegrove arrived half an hour late to the meeting, so Clallam County Democratic Party Chairwoman Ellen Menshew called on Washington State Senator Mike Chapman to speak. Senator Chapman drew strong applause when he urged more grassroots action and endorsed steps to protect forests in the Elwha watershed. The senator spoke at length about successes for Olympic Peninsula Tribes, including adding thousands of acres to their reservations and measures that protect forests and wildlife.

Mike Chapman (photo provided by Mike Chapman)