Bellingham approves deal with logging firm to thin trees in protected forest
Bellingham has approved a deal to cut about 80 acres of Douglas fir in a protected area of the Lake Whatcom watershed where trees are growing too close together and endangering forest health. City Council members voted unanimously Monday in favor of a contract with Janicki Logging and Construction Co. to thin part of the 148-acre North Beaver Creek Preserve on the north slopes of Galbraith Mountain.
According to the contract, the city will receive 20% of proceeds, or about $30,000 — money that will be used to pay for adding gravel and making repairs to logging roads, Councilman Michael Lilliquist said during Monday’s council meeting.
“No new roads would be built, but some of those (existing roads) might need to be improved to make this project possible,” Lilliquist said.
Logging of Douglas fir is planned in an 80-acre stand of mixed conifer and deciduous trees above Lake Louise Road toward Sudden Valley. The site was once was managed as part of a commercial timber operation.
“It was heavily planted with Douglas fir, a commercial species and what we’re going to be doing is going in and thinning out the trees,” Lilliquist said.
Trees have become too dense in the tract, which was purchased in 2012 through the Lake Whatcom Land Acquisition and Preservation Program to limit development near the lake, which is the drinking water source for more than 100,000 people. It was previously part of a commercial logging operation, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting.
Logging is planned for this summer, reducing the number of trees per acre from 250 to 150 and the spacing between trees to 18 feet from 13 feet spacing. Only Douglas fir with be cut, to allow for continued biodiversity, Lilliquist said.
Another round of thinning is possible, he said.
