The Department of Natural Resources will be holding three dog and pony show meetings under the Forestry Riparian Easement Program (FREP) (don’t you just love those these governmental acronyms?) to lure the public into compensation programs for lost timber sales due to riparian regulations.  Riparian is a fancy word for fish and compensation is a fancy word for terminating property ownership via the eco-socialism toolkit.

These meetings will be held August 4th, August 9th and August 30th to supposedly share with small forest owners improvements and changes in the selection process.  DNR will take their recommendations, not your comments, to the state legislature before October 1. 2010.

The Forestry Riparian Easement Program (FREP) compensates eligible small forest landowners for 50 percent to 80 percent of the marketable timber that they must leave unharvested due to state forest practices rules that protect forests and fish. The landowner still owns the property and retains full access, but has “leased” the trees and their important riparian functions, such as clean water and fish habitat, to the state.  The question of whether you have a clear title once your enter into a contractual agreement with the government is a question that should be asked.  Another question is what does the fine print section say?  Because you may sign up for this program does that put you on the hook literally for other programs, acts and orders?

10 Minute Sovereign: Let us have a strong turn out to show DNR and the State of Washington that it is: Hands Off Washington Small Forest Owner’s Property!   This will only happen if you show up and make your voice heard all the way to the deaf Legislature.

OPEN HOUSE MEETINGS

August 4, 2010 – Spokane

When: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Location: WSU Extension – Spokane County Extension building, 222 North Havana Street, Spokane, Washington

August 9, 2010 – Centralia

When: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Location: Centralia Community College Science Center, Room NSC 121, 600 Centralia College Blvd., Centralia, Washington

From the trenches,

Celeste