Capitol
State Forest
TAKE ACTION:
Capitol State Forest covers the entire Black Hills range west of Olympia, the region has been managed for timber production and most of its native forests are gone. It's time that we protect what's left.

NOTABLE UPCOMING
TIMBER SALES
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Biscuits
Biscuits
Timber Sale Paused
This sale would clear cut 100 acres in a single unit on a hillside in the Cedar Creek watershed. This clearcut would be one of the biggest in capital forest.

Starwagon
Timber Sale Paused
This timber sale would clearcut cut up 194 acres near Mud Bay, some of the logging would be visible from highway 101.

Sparrow Hawk
Sparrow Hawk
Timber Sale Paused
This timber sale would clear cut one of the most diverse native forests in the Waddell Creek watershed.

Class Dismissed
Class Dismissed
Timber Sale Paused
This timber sale would clear cut a legacy forest adjacent to the former Oracle timber sale, which is now being considered for protection as part of DNR's carbon project. It's only logical that this area should be included as well.

Chai
Chai
Delayed to 2027
Unit 3 of this timber sale would clear cut one of the oldest most diverse legacy forests in Capital State Forest just above Mox-Chehalis Creek.

Bears
Bears
Delayed to 2027
This timber sale, located directly above the McLane Nature Trails, would devastate a steep hillside above the creek. This forest also contains one of the only patches of old growth remaining in the area.
PARTER ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS CAMPAIGN
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Want to be more involved? Email Joshua@wlfdc.org to join the Green Mountain work group.
About this campaign:
Capitol State Forest is one of Washington's largest and most visited state forests. At 95,000 acres, it covers the entirety of the Black Hills, a region that was extensively logged prior to World War II. Today there are virtually no old growth forests remaining in Capitol State Forest, and the DNR is targeting the oldest remaining legacy forests for clear-cut logging. As recently as 2005, 40% of forests in Capitol State Forest were naturally regenerated. Now that number is down to just 8%. Capitol State Forest is now managed entirely for commercial timber production, with just 41 acres of legacy forests formally protected in forest reserves. If current practices continue, virtually all legacy forests in Capitol State Forest will be logged in the next 5 to 10 years.
The Department of Natural Resources is relying on a conservation strategy that only protects narrow buffers along streams. This is true across western Washington but is especially true in Capitol State Forest. These buffers, while they amount to approximately 27% of Capital State Forest, provide very little in the way of habitat for species that rely on mature forests with interior forest conditions. Our mapping suggests that just 15% of the acreage in these stream buffers are over 200 feet away from neighboring plantation forests, clear cuts or unprotected areas that will eventually be clear-cut. This means that the DNR’s current conservation strategy will provide almost no interior forest habitat in the Black Hills. Species that rely on old forests including the marbled murrelet, Pacific fisher, mountain beaver, and innumerable lesser-known species will have very few places to call home.

This forest is being preserved under the NCS program thanks to our work with Thurston County and the Center for Responsible Forestry

Forest walk

This forest was auctioned in spring 2025 despite the current pause on mature forest timber sales.

This forest is being preserved under the NCS program thanks to our work with Thurston County and the Center for Responsible Forestry
Luckily, Thurston county is leading the fight to protect our legacy forests, joining the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition as a co-plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the Carrot timber sale. Likewise multiple community groups and thousands of citizens have mobilized to protect the last remaining legacy forests of Capitol State Forest, sending thousands of letters to DNR, testifying at public meetings and even participating in nonviolent civil disobedience.
Now, LFDC is working with Thurston County to develop a new vision for Capitol State Forest. We have identified and ground-truthed nearly all remaining legacy forests in Capitol State Forest and have mapped priority restoration zones that, if restored would create larger landscapes of mature forests across the Black Hills. We are currently working with a forestry consultant to analyze the impact of creating these reserves on junior taxing districts, and continue to invest in on-the-ground surveys to ensure that every legacy forest is identified and a plan is created for its protection.
Our work in Capitol State Forest has already yielded results:
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In early 2024, we in partnership with Thurston County, were able to successfully delay multiple timber sales that were scheduled to be auctioned that year. While many of these sales ended up being auctioned at the end of Hillary Franz's administration some of the best legacy forests in the Black Hills, which were scheduled to be auctioned are still on pause.
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Pause sales include: Starwagon, Ghost, Class Dismissed, Sparrow Hawk and Chai
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In late 2024 we worked with Thurston County to nominate the Fuzzy Top legacy forest to receive protection under the Natural Climate Solutions program, successfully preventing the auction of the Rad Aghast timber sale and preserving the 160 acre forest. This area has not officially been protected yet however it is in the process of being protected.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. If you live in Thurston County, Grays Harbor or recreate in Capitol State Forest:
Please reach out to the Thurston and Grays Harbor County Board of County Commissioners with a personalized email to tell them that you support protecting the Legacy Forests of Capitol State Forest.
2. If you are part of an NGO or community group in the Thurston or Grays Harbor area:
Please work with your group or organization to send a letter of support for the protection of Capitol State Forest to the county commissioners and Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove. Additionally, please feel free to reach out to us if you would like someone from our organization to present at one of your events.
3. Please send a friendly email to the Commissioner of Public Lands asking that DNR work with Thurston County to implement the Capitol State Forest plan.
Dave Upthegrove
Commissioner of Public Lands
Contact Commissioner Upthegrove at cpl@dnr.wa.gov
4. Signed the petition!
Find the petition linked below.
Capital State Forest Plan
Download Petition: