City of Hoquiam recognized for opening up fish habitat

The City of Hoquiam was recognized for their efforts to open fish passage on city forestland.

Washington state’s large landowners have corrected nearly 8,500 fish passage barriers and reopened 5,200 miles of fish habitat since 2001 under the Washington Road Maintenance and Abandonment Plan (RMAP) process. 

Those landowners were recognized by the state Forest Practices Board for their investments in protecting clean water for humans and fish alike.

That included the City of Hoquiam work.

Hoquiam City Administrator Brian Shay spoke about the recognition at their recent City Council meeting and said that the recognition came after the state ordered the city to complete the work.

The Forest Practices Board established RMAP in 2001, requiring large landowners to bring all roads constructed between 1976 and 2001 up to current forest practices standards. 

Originally, the program had a deadline for completion by large landowners in 2016. However, in 2011, the Board allowed for a five-year extension due to the economic impacts of the Great Recession. 

The Board recognized the landowners that were granted extensions, and completed their work under RMAP by the new deadline.

“The improvements made through RMAP represent one of the greatest successes of Washington’s Forest Practices Rules. Thanks to the collective work of the state, tribes, and landowners over a span of twenty years, we have made massive strides to protect clean water and crucial fish habitats for future generations,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. “I’m honored to recognize these landowners today, and the years of work they’ve completed to benefit our Evergreen State.”

 Shay added that the city put in the efforts after recommendation from their city forester Loren Hiner.

RMAP has also resulted in about 31,000 miles of forest roads being brought up to current forest practices standards and another 4,000 miles of roads being abandoned.

Large landowners recognized, grouped geographically by DNR Region, include: 

Northeast Region             

• Manulife Investment Management

Northwest Region

• Mid-Valley Resources
• Sierra Pacific Industries

Olympic Region

• Anderson and Middleton
• Bavarian Timber
• City of Hoquiam
• DNR State Lands – Olympic Region
• Fruit Growers Supply Company
• Olympic Timber LLC c/o Campbell Global
• Rayonier Forest Resources, LP
• Weyerhaeuser Company

Pacific Cascade Region

• BTG Pactual OEF
• BTG Pactual PNW Fund III REIT, Inc.
• DNR State Lands – Pacific Cascade Region
• Fruit Growers Supply Company
• Mid-Valley Resources
• PacifiCorp
• Rayonier Timberlands Holding Company, Washington, Inc.
• SDS Company, LLC
• Sierra Pacific Ryderwood
• Weyerhaeuser Company – Aberdeen
• Weyerhaeuser Company – Longview/St. Helens
• Weyerhaeuser Company – Lower Columbia Region
• Weyerhaeuser Company – Pe Ell
• Weyerhaeuser Company – Vail

South Puget Sound Region

• DNR State Lands – South Puget Sound Region
• Fruit Growers Supply Company
• BTG Pactual

For a map of DNR’s regions, click here.