Review of DNR's Eastern Washington Sustainable Harvest Calculation

PLANNED STUDY QUESTIONS | SEPTEMBER 2025

Suzanna Pratt, team lead
Stephanie Hoffman, deputy legislative auditor | Eric Thomas, legislative auditor

Why we are doing this study

The 2021 Legislature directed the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) to review the methods and data used to calculate the sustainable timber harvest level.

• The review must include the forest inventory, forest growth, harvest and yield data, and modeling techniques that impact harvest levels.
• JLARC staff must hire at least one expert contractor to inform the review.

The Board of Natural Resources (Board) must consider the JLARC report before setting the next sustainable timber harvest level.

Read the study mandate ➜
SSHB 1168 (2021)

Background

Figure 1: Map showing eastern and western Washington as defined by DNR

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Source: JLARC staff depiction of maps provided by DNR.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages more than two million acres of forested land. The Board sets policies and management objectives to guide DNR's actions.

DNR harvests and sells timber from these lands. This generates money for K-12 public schools, state universities, buildings on the capitol campus, correctional facilities, and certain counties. Statute directs how money is distributed.

Statute directs DNR to calculate a sustainable harvest. A sustainable harvest is the amount of timber that can be cut without affecting the ability to harvest timber in the future. DNR provides a range of harvest options to the Board, which sets the harvest level for 10-year periods.

DNR sets different sustainable harvest levels for eastern and western Washington. It does this because forest conditions are different on each side of the state. DNR last calculated the sustainable harvest for Western Washington in 2015 and for Eastern Washington in 1996.

Study scope

DNR calculates the sustainable harvest level through a mathematical, computer-based modeling process that considers management objectives such as revenue generation and habitat protection. DNR expects to complete its sustainable harvest calculations for eastern Washington in 2026. JLARC will oversee a team of consultants who will review the data and methods of the DNR's eastern Washington sustainable harvest calculation.

This study's scope is limited to DNR's approach to calculating the sustainable harvest and will not include a racial equity analysis.

Study questions

Study questions define the scope of the audit, based on the study mandate. They reflect preliminary outreach, research, and analysis of potential racial equity considerations per RCW 44.28.076.

1. What data and methods does DNR use in its sustainable harvest calculation?
2. Is this approach consistent with best practices?

What's next

• Preliminary Report: To be determined, based on DNR's timeline
• Proposed Final Report: To be determined, based on DNR's timeline

Learn more about our study process ➜

Study team

Suzanna Pratt, team lead, (360) 786-5106
Joshua Karas, research analyst, (360) 786-5298