The Oso landslide continues to have the attention of the public and officials. The loss of 43 lives requires that we consider the necessary steps that might help us prevent a similar tragedy.
As reported Tuesday by Herald writer Jerry Cornfield, the state Department of Natural Resources and its chief, Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, will seek nearly $14.5 million in additional funding in the coming state budget when the Legislature convenes in January. About $3.2 million will be used to boost DNR’s oversight of timber harvests on state-managed and private timberlands to decrease the potential for landslides, as well as protect salmon habitat and uphold clean water standards. The DNR also is seeking $4.5 million to restore its response to fighting wildfires. But the largest portion, $6.6 million, would be used to map portions of the state that have the potential for landslides and other geologic hazards. The mapping technology, Lidar — a term that combines “light” and “radar” — uses a aircraft-based laser to create high-resolution maps that can identify areas prone to slides and other hazards. The maps and data will be used by DNR as it reviews applications for timber harvests.
“Slides are going to happen, but we want to make sure the timber harvest doesn’t make them more frequent or more severe,” Goldmark told The Daily Herald editorial board on Monday.
But the same maps and information also will be made available to counties, municipalities and other agencies for their own zoning and planning work. To date, about 28 percent of applicable areas in the state have been mapped, the DNR reports. Mapping of the rest of the state could take another five to 10 years.
Although environmentalists and others sought a moratorium on some timber harvests while the danger of landslides was assessed, Goldmark instead opted in May to require additional geologic information for timber harvests on or near unstable slopes. Precautions above Goldmark’s recommendations are awaiting an opinion from state Attorney General Bob Ferguson as to whether the state Forest Practices Board has the authority to set a moratorium or additional precautions on logging.
There’s a tension to Goldmark’s mandate; as head of the DNR, he manages more than half of the state’s 5.6 million acres of public land to generate revenue for public schools as well as enabling private timberlands owners’ harvest of their property. But lives, property and public roads and infrastructure must be protected, too.
The spending sought by the DNR will provide data that will help balance those interests and identify hazards. State and county officials should consider what additional precautions are necessary until that and other data gives us a better understanding of where timber harvests cause the greatest risk.
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