After becoming aware of approvals of “forest practice applications,” Bonney Lake officials sent a letter to the Department of Natural Resources DNR)(.

Community Development Director John Vodopich sent a letter April 9 stating the city has concerns regarding the visual impact and potential flooding that could be caused by logging in the area.

In his letter, Vodopich stated the area west of Myers Road is known to be “inundated with water during storm events.”

The letter also states the city has stormwater concerns regarding the applications.

City officials became aware of the applications after reading about the permits in the April 8 edition of The Bonney Lake-Sumner Courier-Herald.

Councilwoman Laurie Carter noted the city has steep-slope ordinance to help prevent erosion of the hillside when trees are removed.

“If there are no trees, there’s no help to prevent slides,” Carter said. “That’s a concern.”

DNR approved two application permits for the logging of more than 200 acres of private property near Myers Road.

According to the DNR, two forest practice permits were approved and both went through the 30-day review process and no comments were received from the public, agencies or tribes.

The largest permit, approved in December, is for 150 acres owned by Strawberry Creek East and Strawberry Creek West. The land, which sits on top of the hill west of Myers Road, is visible to motorists and residents along state Route 410.

The other permit, approved in October, is for property owned by Myers Road North and Myers Road South.

The permit is for a 55-acre, even-aged harvest between the existing Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) power line and Myers Road.

The property is flat with no waterways. Neither property is inside the Bonney Lake or Sumner city limits.