REJ Member
Joined: 21 Mar 2002 Posts: 100 | TRs | Pics
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REJ
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Tue Oct 15, 2002 9:00 am
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The Blanchard Mountains are a great trails area located south of Bellingham. In recent years this has become a very popular recreational spot for hiking, horses and mtn bikes. Historically Blanchard and Chuckanut Mtns have been a tree farm but some environmental pressure groups want to stop and/or limit logging in the area. The Washington State DNR and the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance cofunded a study to evaluate the recreational and timber value of the forest. The results of the study are out and the report is available for review. Here are a couple of opinions regarding the study results.
"People certainly value recreation on Blanchard and value the place for a good, healthy ecosystem, but the economic impact to the local community and schools significantly outweighs the economic impact of recreation." Todd Myers DNR
"Logging certainly generates a certain amount of cash but it harms those other values in ways that might not show up in tax revenues or on a Chamber of Commerce ledger." Mitch Friedman Northwest Ecosystem Alliance
More Info
Bellingham Herald article and
DNR Report Link
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