Tonasket 



« 



Loomis 



State 



Forest 



Washington 



Long-term management for 

 the Loomis State Forest. The 



Ix>omis State Forest, west of 

 Tonasket. is the largest block of 

 state-owned forest land tn 

 Washington. In addition to its 

 designation as a common school 

 trust land, managed to produce 

 income for construction of public 

 schools, the Loomis State Forest 

 provides valuable habitat far the 

 threatened North American lynx, 

 roadless recreation sites adja- 

 cent to the Pasayten Wilderness 

 Area, water resources for 

 downstream communities, and 

 grazing land. Controversy has 

 surrounded potential manage- 

 ment of the forest, especially 

 when such uses conflict . 



Conconully 



In the late 1 980s, a mountain 

 pine beetle outbreak began to 

 visibly affect portions of the 

 Loomis State Forest containing 

 old, large-diameter lodgepole 

 pine. By 1 993, more than 

 20.000 acres had been affected, 

 with an average of 40% of the timber volume killed on those sites. About 28,000 acres 

 containing large-diameter lodgepole pine continue to be at risk of attack. 



The Loomis State Forest is the largest contiguous block 

 (144,000 acres) of land managed by the Washington 

 State Department of Natural Resources. 



To address numerous and conflicting concerns about managing this block, an 80-year 

 plan has been prepared and approved. The Department of Natural Resources plans to 

 accelerate harvest in the beetle- susceptible lodgepole pine stands and create a better 

 mosaic of age structure. This strategy will improve lynx habitat and increase stand 

 resistance to future attack by the beetles, while not precluding other forest uses. 



Washington — 57 



