Mount St. Helens Project Update Conservation and Economic Development March 16, 2011

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1 Mount St. Helens Project Update Conservation and Economic Development March 16, 2011

2 Paul Pearce Mount St. Helens Project Skamania County Commissioner, District 1 Bob Cannon Glenn Lamb Wash. State Dept. Natural Resources Forest Legacy Program Administrator Columbia Land Trust Executive Director Jon Rose Olympic Property Group A Pope Resources Company President 2

3 Mount St. Helens Project Property: 24,000 privately owned acres Location: Swift Reservoir, Skamania County, WA - Lewis River valley - Adjacent to National Monument and GPNF - 70 miles from Portland Defining Issues: Land use: Conversion versus conservation Habitat: Bull trout, Spotted owl, Elk winter forage National Buffering from sprawl Monument Financial County economic development 3

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10 Other Dev. Photos?

11 Mount St. Helens Project Conservation Goal 20,000 acres proposed to be protected Economic Development Elements 4,000 acres in master planned recreation community Creation of scenic byway linking the Columbia River and Mount St. Helens 4 seasons of recreation 11

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13 Mount St. Helens Project - Update Conservation Goals Purchase and Sale Agreement: 9/10/10 Phase 1, $2.5 million Forest Legacy grant 6,900 acres Closed in December 2010 Endangered Species Grants Fee sale $12.1 million In negotiations, potential for June 2011 closing Phase 2 and 3 Forest Legacy grants $2.0 and $4.0 million Highly ranked, BUT will there be funding? 13

14 Mount St. Helens Project - Update Economic Development Goals Rehabilitation of Forest Service 90 Road Scheduled for upgrade in 2013, the county owned 25 slumps and 25 culverts Mt. St. Helens Citizen Advisory Committee (U.S. Congress) Recommendation for resorts north and south of National Monument Pine Creek Visitors Center Multi party effort with significant volunteer effort 18,000 visitor sign ins in first 8 months Cell phone service initiated Non-motorized passive recreation/public access is preserved 14 (unsubsidized state park program)

15 Issues and Opportunities Local Government Partner, Paul Pearce Commissioner, Skamania County Maintain a rural resource economy in most threatened areas Leverage/preserve natural assets for tourism economy Hiking, fishing, hunting No operating cost to public agencies Every year: More people, less money, less land Provide tax base diversification 15

16 Issues and Opportunities Conservation Partner: Glenn Lamb, Columbia Land Trust Conserve Working Forests Natural Resource and Rural Economy Habitat Dissolve stereotypes and build bridges Partner and funding opportunities and challenges Multiple but often conflicting program goals Recreation, habitat, economy/forestry Landowner and agency flexibility Philanthropic and non-governmental funding Can create and expand government options Can engage more people ( United Way ) How can a conservation exchange facilitate? 16

17 Issues and Opportunities Funding Agency Bob Cannon Forest Legacy Program Director, Wash. Dept. Natural Res. Between a rock.and another rock (severe negotiating constraints) Yellow book: Complex and seemingly onerous to owners Limited deal flexibility Volatile market = havoc with appraisal, and owner expectations Lack of data for conservation sales Matching funds always needed Community forestry bond tools could bring match 17

18 Issues and Opportunities Land Owner Perspectives Jon Rose President, Olympic Property Group, a Pope Resources Co. Overall: Public putting its money where its mouth is Understand reasons for ownership Long term versus shorter term hold Strategic versus non-strategic holdings Corporate structure Turn conservation donations into income tax credits Time commitment Highly motivated, underfunded buyers Higher deal costs (purchase agreements) Appraisal uncertainty keeps projects from being proposed Risks Unclosed deals look bad, usually worse for the seller Long deal term things change, opportunities appear 18