For months, JC Davis has been trying to rally his community to fight for the trees that surround his lifelong home.
He and other residents around Summit Lake are worried that a planned Department of Natural Resources timber harvest could result in landslides, flooding and water quality issues. Several local and statewide environmental groups have joined the cause, and more than 500 people have signed a petition titled "Save Summit Lake!"
The Thurston County Board of Commissioners is the newest group to join the fight. The board, made up of Carolina Mejia, Gary Edwards and Tye Menser, sent a letter to state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and the Board of Natural Resources on June 1 opposing the proposed Delica cuts above the south shore of Summit Lake.
The letter states that the proposed cut of 16 acres would create flooding, property damage, increased sedimentation, water quality problems and more.
"The collateral effects of these particular cuts are unacceptable given the particular context of their proximity to Summit Lake," the commissioners wrote.
The letter states that Summit Lake is the only surface water body in the county that its surrounding residents drink from. And with an uptick in residents in recent years, more people are relying on untreated water that has contained toxic algae on more than one occasion.
Nutrient-rich sediment can cause toxic algae blooms in lakes and other bodies of water, and that can come from runoff from streams. There are several streams that run into Summit Lake, including a couple that run just below the proposed cut. But the DNR in the past has said there's no risk of toxic algae blooms from DNR cuts.
The department's Forest Practices Application for this cut includes information on potential for landslides and erosion. The proposed cut area has continued to shrink as the department has identified potential unstable areas that are now being filled with "leave trees," so as to not disturb the ground. But much of the land is on a heavy slope, meaning if anything goes wrong with the cut up the hill, it will travel down to the lake and residences.
Tom Anderson, a resident of the community for more than 45 years, blames previous DNR cuts for almost taking out his cabin.
During a May 3 DNR meeting, Anderson said he has land that adjoins DNR land and has experienced wind damage to the trees on his property after trees further up the hill were cut. Some of the hills rise nearly 800 feet above the lake, according to topographic data.
Anderson said his 1942 cabin sits in a grove of trees more than 100 years old that should be protected, as well as a seasonal stream that sees Kokanee salmon spawning yearly.
In the last 15 years, Anderson said they've experienced three major flooding events, one of which destroyed one of his culverts and nearly destroyed the cabin and the neighboring house. It also dumped rocks and silt into their yard and the lake.
"I am concerned that any logging activity could and will destabilize an already fragile watershed and I and my neighbors will suffer the consequences and financial loss," Anderson said.
The county commissioners wrote that these problems could be seen again if the cut goes through. The letter included county data on water quality and quantity, as well as a report from the county's hydrogeologist, Kevin Hansen, who reported the potential for increased flooding, sedimentation and chemicals even from modern cutting practices.
According to the letter, these practices affect groundwater and create streamflow depletion that can last 45 years after a cut. County staff reported more than 30 years ago that there were concerns over the water quality of Summit Lake due to forest practices.
"Agencies responsible for permitting and enforcing forest practice activities are not setting permit conditions and enforcing permit requirements to the degree necessary to protect the water quality of the lake," according to a 1991 Summit Lake water quality report.
The commissioners wrote that they had meetings with residents of Summit Lake and used their stories and photographs to corroborate the county data. They said even if the cut goes through, there are alternative methods that could be used to alleviate residents' concerns that the DNR hasn't proposed.
The commissioners, with guidance from the county hydrogeologist and other scientific studies, suggested strategically sparing trees within a cut and requested that, at a minimum, the DNR include alternatives in its reports to avoid clear-cutting and using herbicides at all.
If the DNR doesn't agree to these recommendations, the commissioners wrote that the state should take financial responsibility for the downstream effects the department's forest management practices have on the county, Summit Lake and its residents.
A representative from the DNR couldn't be immediately reached for comment as of June 2.
In an interview with The Olympian on June 2, Davis and resident Kimberly Sowa said with all the information presented to the DNR, it would be a slap in the face at this point if they don't halt the sale.
"For all the people who have stood up for Summit Lake, there's no question that nothing inside this watershed should be cut," Davis said. "It's important to keep these natural, regenerated legacy forests intact."
Davis said the letter from the commissioners reassures the Summit Lake community.
"I'm proud of our community; everybody did so much on their own," Davis said. "We're a part of something way bigger than just right here. It's time to change these old mindset policies and focus on the future generations."
