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Kittitas County, Washington <br />BOARD of COUNTY <br />COMMISSIONERS <br />+►S OL'NT1' <br />District One District Two District Tbree <br />Cory Wright Laura Osiadacz Brett Wachsmith <br />May 8, 2023 <br />Darcy Batura <br />Forest Partnerships Manager <br />The Nature Conservancy <br />110 E First Street <br />Cle Elurn, WA 98922 <br />via email: darc..batura e,tnc.org <br />Dear Ms. Batura, <br />Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed Cle Elum Ridge Economic <br />Analysis Request for Proposals. We understand that this analysis is intended, in part, to provide <br />our Board of County Commissioners with additional information to evaluate the proposed <br />transfer of Central Cascades Forest LLC (CCF) Cle Elum Ridge lands to the Department of <br />Natural Resources as a Community Forest'. We have not taken a position on this community <br />forest proposal and appreciate The Nature Conservancy's efforts to support an evaluation of the <br />impact on Kittitas County residents and visitors. <br />The Nature Conservancy (TNC), working in partnership with Yakima Basin Integrated Plan <br />participants, including staff -level county representation and individual County Commissioner <br />feedback, has worked to develop the Cle Elum Ridge Economic Analysis Request for Proposals. <br />Individually, as County Commissioners, Commission members have expressed many of the <br />concerns reflected in the proposed scope of work. These concerns include impacts to our tax base <br />associated with the ongoing transfer of land from private to public ownership and the strain on <br />County resources associated with both the rapid growth in recreational uses and residential <br />housing demand in the Upper County. We appreciate efforts to date to identify sources of on- <br />going revenue to help the County meet these needs, such as potential transfer of lands in the <br />Cabin Creek Forest Legacy grant area to DNR as county state forest lands. To the degree that the <br />proposed Economic Analysis can identify economic impacts and actionable mitigations and <br />responses, this effort will be helpful. <br />'The Nature Conservancy (TNG) manages 9,600 acres of forest land on Cle Elum Ridge, which is owned by Central <br />Cascades Forest LLC (CCF). TNC has been working to transfer ownership to an entity, public or private that will <br />maintain conservation values in its management of the lands. The Nature Conservancy, after consultation with <br />stakeholders about potential ownership models, has identified the State Department of Natural Resources as the <br />preferred owner. Under the proposed model, these lands would be managed as a Community Forest on Cle Elum <br />Ridge, essentially expanding the adjacent Teanaway Community Forest. <br />Kittitas County Courthouse • 205 West 5* Avenue, STE 108 • Ellensburg, WA 98926 <br />(509) 962-7508 -FAX (509) 962-7679 <br />