(1) The board may create a state forestland pool, to be managed in accordance with this section, if the board determines that creation of a land pool is in the best interest of the state or affected trust, based on an analysis prepared by the department under RCW 79.22.150. The land pool may not contain more than ten thousand acres of state forestland at any one time.
(2) A county is eligible to participate in a land pool if the board determines it:
(a) Has a population of twenty-five thousand or less; and
(b) Has existing state forestlands encumbered with timber harvest deferrals, associated with wildlife species listed under the federal endangered species act, more than thirty years in length.
(3) All lands in the land pool are state forestlands and must be managed in the same manner and with the same responsibilities as other state forestlands. Proceeds from the state forestland pool must, except as provided in RCW 79.64.110, be distributed under RCW 79.22.010 and 79.22.040.
(4)(a) A county may participate in the land pool only if it is eligible, as determined under subsection (2) of this section, and the board receives a written request to do so by the legislative authority of that county.
(b) The board shall end any further participation of a county in the land pool if it receives a written request to do so by the legislative authority of that county. If the board receives such a request, that county's interest in the land pool as a beneficiary remains, but no new contributions of asset value may be made to the land pool on behalf of the county and no new lands may be purchased in that county for the land pool.
(5)(a) If a land pool is created by the board, the department and the participating counties must develop a funding strategy for acquiring land to include in the land pool.
(b) The department and participating counties may pursue funding for the transfer of state forestland encumbered by long-term wildlife-related harvest deferrals within the participating counties into status as a natural resources conservation area under chapter 79.71 RCW, and use the value of the transferred land to acquire working forestlands to include in the land pool.
(c) The department and participating counties may pursue other land acquisition funding strategies.
[ 2012 c 166 § 3.]
NOTES:
Findings—Intent—2012 c 166: See note following RCW 79.02.010.