Upper Lochsa Land Exchange

 

In 2005, WPT acquired its Idaho block from Plum Creek Timberlands. The Idaho property represents WPT’s second largest block of land ownership, consisting of approximately 40,000 acres of timberland, and is located in the Upper Lochsa area. These parcels are within the Clearwater National Forest and lie in a checkerboard ownership pattern with USFS lands. As was the case in the Central Cascade Land Exchange, WPT saw a unique opportunity to pursue a trade with the Forest Service that would allow a government agency to acquire lands that are best suited for public ownership.

Sign on Lolo Pass

Sign on Lolo Pass

In 2008, WPT and the Forest Service entered into an Agreement to Initiate the Upper Lochsa Land Exchange, which will potentially allow the Federal Government to “block up” the land that is intermingled with the WPT property. WPT has not harvested any timber on the Upper Lochsa property and, as a condition of the proposed exchange, WPT has agreed to contribute $500,000 toward the restoration of the Upper Lochsa property.

In the original Agreement to Initiate, the Forest Service proposed to trade scattered parcels located in seven counties in Idaho to WPT.  After the Draft EIS was released, a new alternative limiting the federal trade parcels to Idaho County was proposed.  This new alternative is an acre for acre exchange which keeps a viable tax base and will create jobs in Idaho County.   The lands being offered by the Forest Service meet WPT’s primary objective which is to acquire timberlands appropriate for active timber management.

Spruce Creek in the Upper Lochsa drainage

Spruce Creek in the Upper Lochsa drainage

If it acquires the Forest Service lands, WPT will continue to meet or exceed Best Management Practices which are designed to enhance future timber yields while protecting the underlying land and water quality. Consistent with its management of its other timberlands, WPT’s operations will be conducted in compliance with state and federal regulations. For more information on this trade please see the USFS website.

Thank you Goldendale

Thank you to the community of Goldendale for meeting Western Pacific Timber’s challenge to help the people who lost their homes in the Monastery Fire. WPT initially donated $25,000 to the Klickitat Valley Fire Victims Fund, administered by the Klickitat County Rural 7 Fire & Rescue.

 

The community was challenged to match that amount with any donations in excess of the original $25,000 being matched by WPT up to $50,000. The community not only met but exceeded this challenge by raising over $79,000 prior to the 9/16 deadline. All proceeds (over $129,000) will be divided equally and dispersed to those who lost their homes.

Follow Western Pacific Timber on Twitter
Follow Us on Twitter