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April 17, 2018
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As you know from my previous updates, the work of the Wenatchee-based
Wildfire Project and its well-regarded “Era of Megafires” presentation inspired my forest health legislation passed in 2017. In addition to approving Senate Bill 5546, the Legislature also
appropriated funding to the Wildfire Project in continued support of its important education efforts.
To date, the “Era of Megafires” has reached over 26,000 people in seven
Western states and Canada. Last Friday, I had the honor of introducing the
presentation to 500 Wenatchee School District students who filled the downtown
Performing Arts Center. The Wildfire Project had partnered with the “Every Kid
at the PAC” program to help educate our local students. It was another great
example of how the Wildfire Project continues to provide our community with
helpful information on this important issue.
 The Wildfire Project’s Dr. Paul Hessburg discusses historical burn data
with over 500 Wenatchee School District students and staff Friday at the
Performing Arts Center.
Similar to my budget appropriation last year for the Wildfire Project’s
educational work, I was able to secure additional funding this year in
response to a request from the Forest Ridge Wildfire Coalition. This non-profit
group, which has done an outstanding job of implementing FireWise
principles, approached me this past summer seeking help to reduce wildfire
risks posed by a section of Squilchuck State Park.
The wildfire coalition has been working closely with the State Parks and
Recreation Commission to improve forest health in the park, which is adjacent
to the Forest Ridge community of approximately 120 homes. While important work
has been completed in much of the park, thanks to the leadership from our State
Parks department, one remaining portion (approximately 20 acres near the
southwest corner) poses a particular challenge and has yet to be treated.
This
portion of the park will continue to be a problem area and jeopardize adjacent
land if it goes untreated. That work involves more than the State Parks budget could support, so the Forest Ridge coalition, led by chairman Jerry Holm, reached out to me several months
before the 2018 session. My office developed and submitted a budget request for
$100,000 to fund the treatment of the remaining 20 acres.
We were very pleased that the Legislature agreed to fund my
request. This is a win for one of our local state parks and it is a
continuation of the awesome work being done by the Forest Ridge Wildlife
Coalition. I am very pleased to see the cooperative working relationship its members
have developed with State Parks and its staff.
In broader terms, the $100,000 funding included in the 2018 supplemental
budget is another positive product of our community’s ongoing conversation and work on
wildfire. It just goes to show, similar to the
work of the Wildfire Project, what can be accomplished when
people work together, share ideas, and find creative solutions to resolving
issues. I am very proud to have been a part of assisting State Parks and the
Forest Ridge Wildfire Coalition on this important issue.
As we approach summer and our expanding wildfire season,
please review these Department
of Natural Resources recommendations about wildfire prevention.
Squilchuck State Park (inside the white line) is adjacent to homes in the Forest Ridge community. The yellow areas inside the
park have received forest thinning treatments. My budget funding will resolve
the remaining concerns regarding the purple portion, which covers approximately 20 acres.
Thank you again for the opportunity to serve as your state senator. If you
have any questions or comments, please contact my office anytime using the
information below.
It is an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
Brad Hawkins
State Senator
Brad Hawkins
12th Legislative District
E-mail:
brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov
Website: senatorbradhawkins.org
107 Newhouse Building
- P.O. Box 40412 | Olympia, WA 98504-0412
(360) 786-7622 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000
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