It's time for fact-finding, not finger-pointing
Sunday, March 23, 2008 6:10 AM PDT
By Mark Doumit
For The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleThe December 2007 floods in Western Washington were devastating for many families, businesses and communities. In many areas, recovery and salvage efforts are still under way.
High winds and flooding are not unusual in this area, but this storm was historic both in its intensity and its duration. Winds as high as 147 miles per hour were recorded. The Willapa Hills received as much as 20 inches of rain in 48 hours. That's the equivalent to two months of rain in just two days. It's no wonder that the U.S Geological Survey classified this storm as a 500-year event.
A broad-based study group is now looking at the facts to determine what contributed to the extraordinary damage that occurred in Lewis County. Our conclusions need information and must be based on science because they will have long term impacts on landowners.
Unfortunately, there are some people who refuse to wait for the facts. Instead, in an attempt to advance their political agenda, they immediately point fingers. Eager to draw attention, they have tried to focus blame on timber harvesting and have asserted that the logging was inappropriately approved by our state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
With no evidence, the finger-pointers try to condemn an industry that has embraced science and is working cooperatively to conserve our natural resources and economic base. People who work in or nearby timber-dependent communities are familiar with these kinds of tactics. They also know the criticisms are baseless.
The state Department of Natural Resources is taking the impact of the flood very seriously. Just last month, Doug Sutherland, Commissioner of Public Lands, organized an all-day Forest Practices Board meeting in which more than 20 presentations were made by meteorologists, geologists, the governor's office, Departments of Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, NW Indian Fisheries Commission and stakeholders, including foresters, farmers, counties, tribes and environmental groups. The board unanimously voted to fund a study focused on forest practices and landslides. This study is part of the Forest Practices Adaptive Management program, a cooperative approach to science and part of state forest practices laws.
When natural disasters strike we need to join together to assist the people and communities affected by the flood. What we don't need is a rush to judgment designed to exploit media interest. Pointing fingers in the absence of evidence is a disservice to all of the people who make a living in the forest.
Forestry and logging has been a part of our state's culture since the mid-1800s. This industry helped build our economic base at statehood and still contributes to the prosperity of our state. Our vision is long-term, and we plan on practicing forestry for centuries to come. We strive to use sustainable forest practices so we can provide jobs and income to rural timber-communities forever while protecting public values, such as wildlife habitat, clean water and air for the common good.
If the scientific study on the December floods indicates timber harvest rules need to be changed, then we will work with regulators and scientists to make changes. It's time to work together, help in recovery efforts and not point fingers at farming, forestry or any other land use. We are learning more everyday about how to live with the land and natural events, and through scientific evaluation of what happened we will develop a reasoned approach about what can and should be done in the future.
Mark Doumit is executive director of the Washington Forest Protection Association, www.wfpa.org, based in Olympia.
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