RCW 79.10.520
Prioritizing investments on forest health treatments.
(1)(a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall, to the extent feasible given all applicable trust responsibilities, develop and implement a policy for prioritizing investments on forest health treatments to protect state lands and state forestlands, as those terms are defined in RCW 79.02.010, to: (i) Reduce wildfire hazards and losses from wildfire; (ii) reduce insect infestation and disease; and (iii) achieve cumulative impact of improved forest health and resilience at a landscape scale.
(b) The prioritization policy in (a) of this subsection must consider whether state lands and state forestlands are within an area that is subject to a forest health hazard warning or order pursuant to RCW 76.06.180.
(2)(a) The department's prioritization of state lands and state forestlands must be based on an evaluation of the economic and noneconomic value of:
(i) Timber or other commercial forest products removed during any mechanical treatments;
(ii) Timber or other commercial forest products likely to be spared from damage by wildfire;
(iii) Homes, structures, agricultural products, and public infrastructure likely to be spared from damage by wildfire;
(iv) Impacts to recreation and tourism; and
(v) Ecosystem services such as water quality, air quality, or carbon sequestration.
(b) The department's evaluation of economic values may rely on heuristic techniques.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section and RCW 79.10.530 and 79.64.130 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Forest health" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 76.06.020.
(b) "Forest health treatment" or "treatment" means actions taken by the department to restore forest health including, but not limited to, sublandscape assessment and project planning, site preparation, reforestation, mechanical treatments including timber harvest, road realignment for fire protection and aquatic improvements, and prescribed burning.
[ 2017 c 248 § 1.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 79.10 - Land Management Authorities and Policies.
79.10.020 - Department authority to accept land.
79.10.030 - Management of acquired lands—Land acquired by escheat suitable for park purposes.
79.10.040 - Gifts of land for offices.
79.10.050 - Gifts of county or city land for offices, warehouses, etc.—Use of lands authorized.
79.10.060 - Compliance with local ordinances, when.
79.10.080 - Classification of land after timber removed.
79.10.090 - Economic analysis of state lands held in trust—Scope—Use.
79.10.100 - Concept to be utilized, when.
79.10.110 - "Multiple use" defined.
79.10.125 - Land open to public for fishing, hunting, and nonconsumptive wildlife activities.
79.10.130 - Scope of department's authorized activities.
79.10.200 - Multiple use land resource allocation plan—Adoption—Factors considered.
79.10.210 - Public lands identified and withdrawn.
79.10.220 - Conferring with other agencies.
79.10.240 - Department's existing authority and powers preserved.
79.10.250 - Existing withdrawals for state park and state game purposes preserved.
79.10.280 - Land use data bank—Contents, source.
79.10.310 - "Sustained yield plans" defined.
79.10.320 - Sustainable harvest program.
79.10.330 - Arrearages—End of decade.
79.10.340 - Sustainable harvest sale.
79.10.400 - Cooperative agreements.
79.10.410 - Cooperative units.
79.10.420 - Limitations on agreements.
79.10.430 - Easements—Life of agreements.
79.10.460 - Contracts—Requirements.
79.10.470 - Transfer or assignment of contracts.
79.10.480 - Performance bond—Cash deposit.
79.10.500 - Recreational trail policy—Development.
79.10.510 - Recreational facilities and trails—Local government permits.
79.10.520 - Prioritizing investments on forest health treatments.