Training the next generation should always be a priority for the forestry industry. But it’s even more heartening to see a robust forestry education program in the heart of Washington’s timber country, like Grays Harbor County. According to Grays Harbor Talk, Grays Harbor College is offering a new Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Forest Resources Management (BAS-FRM). Founded in the … Read More

Rural communities in Washington often get overlooked amidst all the attention about the intense economic growth of Seattle and its surrounding cities. But Washington is much more than just Seattle. State Rep. Mike Chapman (D-Port Angeles) represents the 24th Legislative District, which includes large portions of Grays Harbor County. He understands that our small towns, many of which have been … Read More

A second cross-laminated timber factory has been announced for Eastern Washington in a span of just a few months. The Spokane Valley factory from a California company called Katerra was announced last week, less than four months after Vaagen Brothers announced a new CLT company based in Colville, about 90 minutes north of Spokane Valley. The new facility in Spokane … Read More

CNBC reports this week that momentum is building in Congress for legislation to declare woody biomass as carbon neutral, which would help increase its use as a widespread source of renewable energy. The momentum is growing not just in Washington, D.C.. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced in August that his administration would move to designate fuel derived from felling trees and … Read More

Forest landowners are the state leader in clearing fish passage barriers in Washington over the past two decades. Since 1999, with the passage of the historic Forests & Fish Law, state officials estimate that 6,000 barriers have been removed, and about 6,000 miles of habitat have been opened up, with forest landowners responsible for up to 75 percent of the … Read More

The Jolly Mountain Fire has burned 26,000 acres in Central Washington and threatens the cities of Cle Elum and Roslyn. Residents of the Suncadia Resort, near both Cle Elum and Roslyn, have been warned of the fire, but so far, the threat to the resort has not been as dire because of active management of the forests nearby, according to … Read More

Foresters understand there is always something new to learn about their craft – continuing education is key. Which is why it’s normal for 250 people to attend a recent family forestry workshop in Oakville, Grays Harbor County, organized by the Washington State University Extension. Andy Perleberg, a WSU Extension forester, told the Centralia Chronicle that most family foresters aren’t motivated by … Read More

Washington has become an epicenter for innovation when it comes to using wood slash from forests to make jet fuel for airliners, according to a new story in the Seattle Times. Alaska Airlines recently flew the first commercial flight using jet fuel from wood, a milestone that stemmed from five years of research and testing conducted by the Washington State … Read More

A new article in the Seattle Times shows how Washington forest landowners have played an instrumental role in improving fish habitat over the last two decades. In the 1990s, Washington salmon were encountering serious obstacles to their survival. Private forest landowners responded to the threat by entering into collaboration with tribes, conservationists, and local, state and federal government agencies. The hard … Read More