Land deal raises hope and questions
Published 11:31 am Thursday, December 11, 2008
By Dennis Box
The Courier-Herald
A 3,000 acre land transaction between the Cascade Land Conservancy and Puget Sound Energy has the earmark of a long-term opportunity for the region, but there are questions to be answered.
Cascade announced its plans Feb. 17 to acquire the acreage of undeveloped forested land along the White River between Buckley and Auburn.
According to the conservancy, the 10-mile stretch of land would be protected as a wildlife refuge with parks, trails, open spaces and forested areas.
Ryan Dicks, vice president of conservation for Cascade, said the organization has entered into a sale agreement with PSE.
“PSE asked us to find a good conservation solution for the property,” Dicks said. “This is a very exciting opportunity.”
Dicks said Cascade will attempt to put together a group of interested parties, both government and private, that would provide the funding and own the property.
The property is currently undergoing an appraisal according to Dicks, which he said could last about three months and the final transaction may extend over two years.
Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, has been working with the state, county, municipal and private parties for several years in an attempt to protect the land as a refuge and regional park.
Roach said she will work with Cascade and “bring in community leaders and make sure the people's voice will be heard.”
The senator has some concerns about the project.
“I want someone from each of the local cities at the table and someone from each recreational group,” Roach said. “My fear is some of the property will be sold and logged off to pay for the project. Let's be honest with the public.”
Roach had earmark $200,000 in the state's supplemental budget to study the project, but moved the funds to a trails project once the land deal was announced.
“I want to stress public meetings as much public input as possible,” Roach said.
Roger Thompson, spokesman for PSE, said a purchase agreement has not been signed, yet.
“We hope this will be a good deal,” Roger Thompson said. “We believe the public has expressed a strong interest in this land.”
An earlier assessment by PSE for 2,500 acres came in at about $30 million. PSE owned the property as part of its White River hydroelectric project for nearly 100 years.
The hydroelectric plant was closed in 2004.
The 3,000 acres would include 500 acres PSE must set aside for public benefit as part of a mitigation agreement with the Department of Ecology for the Lake Tapps drinking water rights.
PSE is waiting for Ecology to re-issue the water rights, which they intend to sell to Cascade Water Alliance, a water utility located in Bellevue.
The consumptive water rights for Lake Tapps were originally issued to PSE in June 2003.
After an appeal, in August of 2004 and the Pollution Control Hearings Board directed Ecology to reconsider the decision in light of PSE closing the White River hydroelectric plant.
Thompson said the sale of the lake to Cascade Water Alliance is moving ahead.
Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald.
