OUR FORESTED TRUST LANDS ARE MORE THAN JUST PLANTATIONS FOR GENERATING REVENUE… THEY MAINTAIN OUR CLEAN AIR AND WATER RESOURCES, PROVIDE CRITICAL FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT AND AFFORD RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
The
time for change is now. We can start by protecting
Blanchard Hill
For the last four years the Sierra Club - Mt. Baker Group has been working diligently to protect 3,000 acres of timberland on Blanchard Hill, located in northwest Skagit County….
In 1998, we nominated
this area for conservancy in the Washington State's Natural Areas
Program and listing within the State's Trust Land Transfer
Program…
In June of 1999, a draft "Blanchard Mountain Assessment" was submitted to the Washington Department of Natural Resources for review. The draft assessment is a body of work requested by the DNR in response to the Mt. Baker Group's '98 nomination. It was prepared by an independent team of consultants with expertise in such fields as: geology, biology, hydrology and scenic resources. The final paragraph of this preliminary document (pg. 37) reads as follows:
"The Blanchard Mountain Assessment Area provides a unique combination of ecological, topographical, scenic and low-impact recreation values within Washington State. Key attributes of this area include: (1) a unique coastal mountain range with a relatively intact mature forest; (2) rare cave habitat; (3) a high diversity of fish, wildlife and invertebrates; (4) an intricate trail system; (5) a high public interest; (6) and panoramic views of a largeisland archipelago and sea-level farm lands. These values combined with those conserved in adjoining Larrabee State park help maintain many of the unique values and species assemblages in the Chuckanut Mountain Range."
The Department of
Natural Resources currently manages Blanchard for its timber
revenues. In the spring of 
2000, 40 acres
were clearcutfromnortheast face of the mountain and, at this
time, 287 aces more are scheduled for clearcutting through the
year 2003…
The nearest large urban area is Bellingham Washington with a population of approximately 50,000. To the south, the cities of Sedro Woolley, Burlington and Mt. Vernon combine with a total population of approximately 40,000…
Private land around Blanchard, contains a population of 10,600. This population is projected to increase by 40% during the next 20 years. Whatcom County holds 20% percent of this population. It is in this segment that the highest growth rate is predicted-
Commercial forestry and suburban growth represent the two greatest threats to the fragile Blanchard ecosystem
You Can Help
In December of 1998, the Sierra Club - Mt. Baker Group formally proposed to Forest Resources, of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, to reclassify 3,000 acres on Blanchard Hill from commercial forestry to protective status as a Natural Resource Conservation Area (NRCA). This process would be facilitated through the Trust Land Transfer Program. It was further proposed Blanchard Hill be incorporated into adjoining Larrabee State Park. To achieve this goal the Mt. Baker Group needs your help.
What To Do
Contact the Sierra Club - Mt Baker Group, (360) 647-2807, and explore ways that you or your organization can support the protection of Blanchard Hill -or voice your support of the Sierra Club- Mt. Baker Group's efforts to the names listed below.
WRITE A LETTER (use
the talking points below): 
William
Wallace
Manager, Northwest Region
Dept. of Natural Resources
919 N. Township St.
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
Doug
Sutherland
Commissioner of Public Lands
PO Box 47000
Olympia, WA 98504-7000
Marsha
Hixson
Forest Resources
1111 Washington St. SE
PO Box 47016
Olympia, WA 98504-7016
marsha.hixson@wadnr.gov
TALKING POINTS:
- Blanchard Mountain is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including Threatened, Endangered, and Washington Priority species.
- Preventing logging on the slopes will safeguard the watershed from flooding and debris torrents, maintain the viability of five primary salmon-spawning creeks, and protect Samish Bay shellfish beds.
- Skagit County currently has no parks in the northwestern portion of the county. Blanchard Mountain offers fully developed existing recreational facilities including 17 miles of maintained trails, three campgrounds for both hikers and equestrians, and two pristine lakes for fishermen and hunters. These facilities would be valueless if the forests were clear-cut.
- This acreage provides aquifer recharge for much of the northwest corner of Skagit County, encompassing five local communities. Under both DNR and County Comprehensive Plan mandates, designating this area as an aquifer recharge set-aside will be the most effective water quality protection for this portion of the county.
- Explosive population growth in Northwestern Washington is stripping our area of natural refuges and degrading our quality of life. Within the next twenty years we may expect this portion of the county to be heavily developed.
- The cost
of conserving Blanchard Mountain as a Natural Resource
Conservation Area will be offset by the benefits, both
economic and quality-of-life, of ensuring water quality,
healthy wildlife and salmon habitat, outstanding
recreational opportunities, and a protected watershed.
The Northwest
Ecosystem (NWEA) has joined in on the
effort to protect Blanchard Hill. For more information on
Blanchard Hill and other issues pertaining to the management and
dispensation of our state trust lands see the NWEA web
site.
For recent news on Blanchard from NWEA click on http://www.ecosystem.org/statelands/op_ed_12_02.html
The
Blanchard Hill Conservancy Effort is Endorsed by:
Bellingham
Mountaineers
Concerned Neighbors of Lake Samish
Evergreen Islands
Habitat Watch
Mountaineers
Mt. Baker Hiking Club
North Cascades Audubon Society
North Cascades Corridor Project
Northwest Ecosystem Alliance
Sierra Club - Cascade Chapter
Skagit Audubon Society
Western Federation of Outdoor Clubs
…and
over five thousand concerned and
supportive citizens from Skagit County, Whatcom County
and otrher locations in Washington Stateashington State.