Note: We are not taking monetary donations at this time. Donations on Change.org go toward their staff and servers, not the Save McLane movement.
This beautiful backdrop, which was formerly named "BEARS U1 & U2," has been slated for auction twice in the last 10 years. With Commissioner Upthegrove's plans to save mature trees, it has been put on hold.
However, now is not the time to be complacent.
Forestry managers are keeping it on their radar for clearcutting after 2027. Our legacy forest is still in danger!
If this area is clearcut, serene walks along the McLane Nature Trail will be ruined by two years of logging noise, balding the hills above. Birds and other wildlife will be displaced. And, the adjacent creek, a recovering and much-loved salmon run, may feel the impact for generations.
What can you do? SPREAD THE WORD
Let your friends, family, and neighbors know that these woods should be protected. Ask them to visit our site, sign the petition, contact elected officials, and subscribe to show their support, and get ready... there's more to come as we strive to save the mature forests we all love!
Will Dave Upthegrove
protect the woods above McLane?
Washington State’s Commissioner of Public Lands will determine the fate of the legacy forests above McLane Creek. Please let him know that you care about our future old-growth forest, value the tranquility at McLane Creek Nature Trail, and are against clearcutting above the creek.
The Friends of McLane believe the previously titled "Bears U1 & U2" parcels are part of a carbon-dense and structurally complex forest as outlined in the DNR's 2023 legislative report.
They should not be clearcut.
Courts confirm DNR can use land for carbon storage instead of logging
The DNR has a fiduciary duty to provide revenue for the state. Recently, the Washington Supreme Court ruled the DNR does not have to maximize revenue, but can manage lands in ways that benefit residents in many different ways.
The DNR can take "Bears U1 & U2" off the chopping block
In 2023, the DNR designated 2,000 acres for conservation, permanently protecting mature forests in Jefferson (950 acres), Whatcom (650 acres), King (290 acres), Snohomish (70 acres), and Clallam (69 acres) counties. None in Thurston County. It's our turn! The DNR should spare Bears U1 & U2.
Logging affects home values
Realtors are well aware that looking at downed logs, spindly leave trees, and logging roads can impact home values.
A professor at Oregon State University conducted a study of property values and found a direct correlation between a loss of home value and proximity to logged sites.
The math is complicated, but it's easy to make the leap that decreased property values would equal less revenue for the state, overall.
An important salmon run for Thurston County
Logging will destroy the tree canopy that naturally filters and purifies rainwater into the creek, unstable root structures may lead to increased sediment in spawning grounds, and pesticides will be applied to saplings to promote new growth, which may also find their way into the stream.
We had a record salmon run in 2024! McLane Creek is important for our state's salmon rehabilitation.
Chum Salmon spawn in McLane Creek
Photo by Roger Tabor/USFWS
Bears U1 & U2 are near a scenic and densely populated area that is adjacent to a gas pipeline. Studies on forest fires have demonstrated that where even-aged tree plantations grow, fires can burn with greater intensity and speed. Young trees burn more easily than old trees, and after an area is clearcut, the first natural vegetation to grow in is often highly flammable shrubbery.
“Clearcutting can cause rapid regeneration of shrubs and trees that can create highly flammable fuel conditions within a few years of cutting.” - US Forest Service; US Department of Interior
Let's protect this valuable nature area which provides much needed scenic beauty for families, seniors, and visitors in
Thurston County!
Revenue from logging
is not reliable income for school budgets
Though revenue from timber sales represents more than 46% of DNR's beneficiary funding, that income accounts for just more than 1.3% of the state's school needs, which rarely benefits the rural districts that need it most. Plus, the income is dependent on market prices, which make school budgeting difficult. “Surely we can get schools on a more solid footing than a declining revenue source,” State Superintendent Reykdahl says. At the October 2024 Board meeting, Former Land Commissioner Hilary Franz agreed, saying the legislature needs to create a better funding system for schools.
County officials ask BNR to save our remaining legacy forests
As part of a larger plan to save the remaining legacy trees in the Capitol State Forest, Thurston County Commissioners are requesting a 10-year hiatus on logging these units until a community-wide plan to marry conservation and the DNR's fiscal duty can be developed. This includes the forest above McLane Creek.
FOM Blog
The woods overlooking McLane Creek and Nature Trail are important for residents and visitors, alike. Please read OUR BLOG where we share insights about the area and our efforts to Save McLane! -->
Do you have insights or a story to share? Email us to contribute to the blog.
