Dave Upthegrove

A long-awaited policy on the forests that will become the next generation of old growth brought out many critics at the first public comment period.

After putting a pause on all DNR harvests of mature trees on his first day in office, Dave Upthegrove announced a plan to conserve 77,000 acres of state forests.

Conditions are dryer than normal and Washington state Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove says stray sparks can quickly become a hazard.

Advocates for preventing the logging say that with all the effort and millions of dollars put into dam removal and ecosystem restoration on the Elwha, cutting these mature stands doesn’t make sense.