WA public lands agency confronts operating cash crunch, as logging revenue lags
A regional timber industry group warns that Washington’s Department of Natural Resources is headed for deep budget trouble that will result in state worker layoffs and force taxpayers to foot more of the bill to keep the agency running.
Counties that rely on logging revenue from land the agency manages could be at financial risk, too, argues the American Forest Resource Council.
While it’s become common for the group to clash with the department, they’re not the only ones complaining.
Foresters inside the agency are pointing to Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove’s decision to pause some timber sales for eight months as a reason for the looming deficit in a key operating account, which covers many of the department’s expenses for managing timberland.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/05/11/wa-public-lands-agency-confronts-operating-cash-crunch-as-logging-revenue-lags/