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9!K7h <br /> Kittitas County, Washington <br /> BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> District One District Two District Three <br /> Cory Wright Laura Osiadacz Brett Wachsmith <br /> May 11, 2026 <br /> Dave Upthegrove <br /> Commissioner of Public Lands <br /> I I I I Washington Street SE mail Stop 47001 <br /> Olympia, WA 98504-7001 <br /> RE: Cle Elum Ridge Property Transfer and Green Zone Parcel Considerations <br /> Dear Commissioner Upthegrove, <br /> We appreciate the thoughtful engagement your department has demonstrated in discussions regarding <br /> the future ownership and management of the Cle Elum Ridge property,particularly with respect to <br /> County concerns about recreation-related infrastructure impacts and the effects of continued private- <br /> to-public land transfers on the County's tax base. <br /> Given the magnitude of this transaction,the fact that approximately 73%of Kittitas County is <br /> already in public ownership, the ongoing service demands associated with recreation on public lands, <br /> and the inclusion of extensive green zone properties in this transaction,the County continues to <br /> carefully consider the long-term economic implications associated with reductions in privately <br /> owned land. In particular, maintaining the tax base necessary to support critical governmental <br /> services remains an important consideration for the County and other local taxing districts. These <br /> considerations are especially significant given that water right mitigation constraints already limit the <br /> availability of land capable of supporting future development. <br /> The County's concern regarding green zone properties is heightened by the limited availability of <br /> land that can support development requiring water, due to water right mitigation constraints in <br /> significant portions of the County. Green zone properties are lands with access to legal water <br /> mitigation that can support new water uses. This contrasts with the nearly 40,000 acres of red zone <br /> property in private ownership that are essentially undevelopable due to the unavailability of suitable <br /> water rights to mitigate new uses. The transfer of additional green zone lands into public ownership <br /> further reduces the already limited inventory of potentially developable private land. <br /> As you have previously communicated, DNR intends to manage the Cle Elum Ridge lands <br /> transferred into your ownership as Trust Lands for commercial harvest, generating revenue for the <br /> County and other taxing districts. We appreciate DNR's commitment and responsiveness to our <br /> concerns. We also respectfully request that DNR work with Kittitas County staff to identify <br /> undeveloped green zone parcels currently owned and managed by DNR that could potentially be <br /> made available for private purchase. An initial review of DNR ownership suggests there may be <br /> several parcels that could have a higher and better use as developed property, contributing to the <br /> County's tax base. <br /> Thank you for your continued commitment to problem solving and for maintaining strong working <br /> Kittitas County Courthouse• 205 West 5'Avenue,STE 108 •Ellensburg,WA 98926 <br /> (509)962-7508 -FAX(509)962-7679 <br /> www.co.kittitas.wa.us <br />