Letter to the Editor: Kopachuck Park - Logging Action Phase 1

Hello Everyone,

We are writing this note in a semi official capacity as the Vice President and Secretary, respectively, of The Kopachuck Water Association (KWA) as well as concerned citizens.  The KWA is an HOA of 8 parcels and homes bordering the Park on the south side along Henderson Bay.  The Park also effectively surrounds us to the east as well however, that easterly portion is buffered somewhat by a second development.  There is one additional parcel and home in our development which is not part of our HOA. 

We have been involved in all of the public hearings/discussions of the and we have attached a series of photos that seems to fly in the face of what all of the before mention meetings as well as what the “timber notice of sale”, that was initiated by the State DNR.   

More info on timber sale: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermits/TimberSales/Pages/Home.aspx

The entrance to has been completely decimated.  It has been veritably clear cut and all of the understory has either been bull dozed, trampled or smothered with stacks of timber; it looks as if the contractor has used this area as a staging as well as a sorting and a storage area.   It was our understanding that the  landing area would not be at the entrance of the park, the before mentioned proposals map reflect this, and it was also our understanding that no non infected timbers would be removed; Big leaf Maples, Cedars and understory was supposed to remain.  This clearly has not happened. 

Further, we spoke with a neighbor on Saturday (Feb. 25) and as we were expressing our surprise over the clear cutting that had happened at the entrance, he stated that he had spoken about this with one of tree cutting team members.  He was informed that any tree that was in that area that could possibly hit the Park Rangers house had to be removed.

We are very disturbed that what is occurring is not in alignment with what has been discussed thus far with the community and the larger question for us is where is the oversight at this point?  I do believe that we need to see the final contracts that were signed with the contractor, any modifications that have been requested to date and a designated contact person for the contractor as well as a State representative that will provide the oversight.  There is a large amount of mistrust around this project and though it feels as if the State has tried to be transparent in the process, there seem to be sweeping changes that are occurring without public notification or input.  We are also very fearful of what the continuation of this project will look like, it is not like what has been done thus far can be undone but, we can pay closer attention to what happens in the future. 

Dr. Ulf Hanebutte - Vice President

Shema Hanebutte - Secretary

Kopachuck Water Association