Forest Resilience Task Force

Purpose

The Forest Resilience Task Force is created to develop a comprehensive Whatcom County Forest Resilience Plan, which will include a framework for engagement with local, state, federal, and tribal governments and relevant stakeholders on issues relating to forest management and resilience. The Task Force will report to the Whatcom County Council and Executive. 

Meetings

Members

The Task Force has 11 permanent members appointed by and representing their agency: 

  • Chris Elder, Whatcom County 
  • Frank Bob, Lummi Nation
  • Vacant, Nooksack Indian Tribe
  • Corey McDonald, Washington State Department of Natural Resources
  • Kevin James, US Forest Service
  • Vacant and Tracy Petroske, Forestry Advisory Committee (2)
  • Stevan Harrell, Climate Impact Advisory Committee
  • Barry Wenger, Wildlife Advisory Committee
  • Jim Hansen, Planning Commission
  • Carl Weimer, Parks and Recreation Commission

The Task Force has 8 community members appointed by the County Council. 

A.    One community member with expertise in forest management and/or wood products industry; Ellyn Murphy

B.    One community member with expertise in owning and/or managing forest lands for conservation purposes; Jennifer Mackey

C.    One community member with expertise in climate, salmon recovery, and natural resources policy; Brandy Reed

D.    One community member with expertise in watershed management (including Lake Whatcom) and/or land use planning; Oliver Grah

E.    Two community members with expertise in relevant science disciplines; T. Abe Lloyd and David Wallin 

F.    Two representatives from trust land beneficiaries; Russ Pfeiffer-Hoyt and Tom Smith. 

Specifications

Community member appointees will have expertise in forest management, the wood products industry, owning or managing forest lands for conservation purposes, climate policy, salmon recovery policy, natural resources policy, watershed management, land use planning, a relevant science discipline, and/or trust land beneficiaries.

Vacancies

Term Information

  • Members serve until the Task Force sunsets on December 31, 2025, or no longer than four years if the Task Force sunset date is extended.

Function

The Task Force will consider input from diverse experts, stakeholders, and community members to develop a comprehensive Forest Resilience Plan with science- and evidence-based strategies and actions towards sustaining a thriving timber economy, restoring healthy forest ecosystems for fish and wildlife, addressing stream high and low flow issues, enhancing carbon sequestration and storage, promoting robust recreation opportunities, improving watershed health (including Lake Whatcom), improving wildfire, pest, and disease resistance, and increasing the overall resilience of Whatcom County’s forests to climate impacts. The Plan will include a framework for engagement and coordination with local, state, federal, and tribal governments and relevant stakeholders on forestry issues. The Plan will also include community values and desired outcomes to inform forest management plans for publicly owned forest lands. The Task Force will also review relevant County policies, programs, organizational structure, and staff capacity, and include its findings and recommendations in the Plan. 

Additional Information 

Authority