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Protection of Blanchard Mountain

​After a nearly 20-year effort, Blanchard Mountain is finally protected.

Located between Bellingham and Burlington off Chuckanut Drive, Blanchard Mountain is a hugely popular recreation destination visited by as many as 100,000 people from across the Puget Sound region each year. It is the heart of the newly-renamed Harriet Spanel State Forest. For decades, trails, recreation destinations and habitat were at risk of being closed or gravely altered by logging. Thanks to a collaborative effort by local groups, citizens and elected leaders, the core of the Forest around Blanchard Mountain is now permanently protected for future generations to enjoy!

Background
​About 20 years ago, local conservation leaders began an effort to gain permanent protection for the scenic, recreational, and ecological gem that is Blanchard Mountain, heart of the then-named Blanchard State Forest. The land has long been managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for logging to generate revenue for Skagit County and other trust beneficiaries, and logging of key areas has been a continuous threat during this two decade period even as recreational use and other visitation grew rapidly. In 2008, the Blanchard Forest Strategy agreement was reached among a stakeholder group convened by the DNR. That agreement called for the protection of a 1,600 acre core zone that would be protected for recreation and environmental qualities and would no longer be logged for state trust lands beneficiaries. However, to implement the Strategy DNR needed funding to purchase replacement timberlands to offset those in the core zone. Due to the recession and other challenges, it took until spring of 2018 to secure the final increment of the needed funds. Now the mountain is safe and we can celebrate! Read more at: www.conservationnw.org/blanchard-mountain.

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  • About
    • Mission
  • Action Teams
  • Get Involved
    • Support Team
    • Environment
    • Immigrant Support >
      • Immigrant Support 2022 Action Report
      • Immigrant Support 2021 Action Report
      • Immigrant Support 2020 Action Report
      • Using Position of White Privilege to Advocate for Latino Family
    • Elections
    • Rural Voices Project
    • Statewide Action Group
    • Housing 4 Skagit
    • Gun Safety >
      • Safe and Sane Skagit
  • Accomplishments
    • Action on Gun Legislation
    • Biden/Harris Event
    • Blanchard Mountain
    • Civil Discourse Workshops
    • Coffee & Cards
    • Gun Safety >
      • Gun Violence in our Communities
      • I-1639 Notes From The Anacortes Ferry Line
    • Immigration >
      • DREAMers Club
      • NW Detention Ctr Resistance
      • Rally Protesting Separating Families
    • Indivisible Skagit Meetings About Immigration
    • Plastic BAG BANd Wagon
    • Protecting Public Lands
    • Student-Led March Against Gun Violence
    • Voting Rights Rally
    • YesOn1631
  • Skagit Scoop Watchdog Blog
  • In Memoriam
  • Contact
  • Climate Resilience Conversation