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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: May 8, 2023 <br />TOPIC: Public Access of Kittitas County Lands <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Request for the Board of County Commissioners <br />to execute a Letter to the Nature Conservancy <br />LEAD STAFF: Arden Thomas <br />RECOMMENDATION: Execute the Letter for transmittal to the Nature <br />Conservancy <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• The Central Cascades Forest LLC owns 9,600 acres of forest land on Cle Elum <br />Ridge. This land is managed by The Nature Conservancy, with the intent to <br />permanently transfer the land to an entity that will maintain the conservation <br />value of the land. <br />The Checkerboard Partnership, which includes The Nature Conservancy, has <br />identified the Department of Natural Resources as the preferred permanent <br />landowner, with the intent to manage the land as a community forest. <br />The Board has expressed a desire to communicate a County position to The <br />Nature Conservancy regarding the potential for motorized use on these lands. <br />The Nature Conservancy has expressed interest in gaining Board of County <br />Commissioner support for the transfer of land to the Department of Natural <br />Resources for management as a community forest. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The Nature Conservancy (TNC) manages 9,600 acres of forest land on Cle Elum Ridge, <br />which is owned by Central Cascades Forest LLC (CCF). TNC has been working to <br />transfer ownership to an entity, public or private, that will manage the lands to maintain <br />conservation values. The Nature Conservancy, after consultation with stakeholders about <br />potential ownership models, has identified the State Department of Natural Resources as <br />the preferred owner. Under the proposed model, these lands would be managed as a <br />Community Forest on Cle Elum Ridge, essentially expanding the adjacent Teanaway <br />Community Forest. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Individually, as County Commissioners, Commission members have expressed many of <br />the concerns reflected in the proposed Cle Elum Ridge Economic Analysis, which would <br />be funded by the Nature Conservancy. TNC seeks to provide the Board of County <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />