2022-06-29 Trust Land updateTrust Land update
June 29, 2022
10:42 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, Commissioner Grose, Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) Pacific Cascade Region Manager Eric Wisch, DNR Assistant Region Manager of State
Lands Steve Ogden, DNR Lewis District Manager Andy Aschenbrenner, Josh Metcalf, Becky Butler
Guests: Nic Scott, Diane Williams, Jodery Goble, Sandra Goble
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Public comment: None.
DNR Assistant Region Manager of State Lands Steve Ogden and DNR Lewis District Manager Andy
Aschenbrenner provided a Trust Land 101 presentation. Among the highlights:
• DNR manages state trust land in Lewis County, the bulk of which is forest land.
• DNR serves as the trust manager on behalf of the trust beneficiaries as is required by the state
Constitution to maintain undivided loyalty to the beneficiaries.
• Preserve corpus of the trust.
• “State Forest Transfer Lands” are lands acquired by the various counties through foreclosures
and then turned over to the state. DNR lists these as “01” lands.
• “State Forest Purchase Lands” are lands purchased using state-issued bonds. DNR identifies
these as “02” lands.
• DNR oversees roughly 43,000 acres for Lewis County.
• Lewis County’s forest lands measure as follows:
o 40,000 acres are “01” State Forest Transfer Lands.
o 3,000 acres are “02” State Forest Purchase Lands.
• Revenue from State Forest Lands is distributed to state and local schools, county services,
county roads, ports, park districts, library districts, fire districts, hospitals and EMS.
Andy said DNR keeps 25 percent of “01” timber sales and 50 percent of “02” timber sales to cover
administrative costs.
Andy outlined the following:
• Lewis County received $2.28 million in the first quarter of 2022.
• DNR anticipates sales of 5 million board feet funding distribution in fiscal year 2023.
Andy noted that previous projections did not take into account costs for shipping logs to mills. He
clarified that the 25 percent is taken from the net to cover administrative costs, reforestation, etc.
Becky Butler asked about the carbon / climate program and whether the counties could weigh in.
Eric Wisch said DNR plans to seek stakeholder input as it creates a list of potential properties that would
be available for 40-year carbon-offset leases.
Commissioner Pollock noted that larger timber would be harder to mill. She suggested siting
considerations for those specific stands.
Becky asked if the five counties with the carbon credit program had a choice in the matter. Eric and
Andy said DNR has not yet signed any leases.
Meeting ended at 11:53 a.m.