Quinault Timber Harvest & Trust Forestry Program
According to the Quinault Timber Harvest and Trust Forestry Program, the forests of the Quinault Indian Nation have always been a prominent element of its history. Until the past 120 years, tall and dense stands of Douglas fir, western hemlock, sitka spruce, and western red cedar blanketed most of the area from the crest of the Olympic Mountains to the water’s edge. The presence of these trees has shaped the cultural and economic development of the Quinault Indian Nation for centuries.
Although Quinault people did not harvest trees at the rapid rate of later lumbermen, they did actively manage the forests. The Pacific Coastal tribes used wood for harpoons, baskets, and mats. Cedar was particularly important for the construction of homes and canoes. In addition, the Quinault people set annual forest fires in order to encourage the growth of certain food crops, such as berries and camas. Setting fires also improved hunting opportunities by maintaining and augmenting the amount of open land used by game animals. Out of the forests, the Quinault people actively created an environment that sustained their communities.
Quinault Timber Harvest Management is Vital
Forests are an important part of the Nation’s environment and economy. When they are well managed, forests provide clean air and water, homes for wildlife, beautiful scenery, places for recreation and products we all use every day. When they are not well managed, forests may become unhealthy or unproductive due to over-stocking, disease, insect damage, fire, windthrow, and competition for light, water and nutrients.
To maintain or improve the health and productivity of a forest and to achieve the objectives for the property, the Quinault Timber Harvest Program uses a number of management techniques, including harvesting, thinning, prescribed burning and reforestation.
Trees are harvested for a variety of reasons including forest health, controlling a site’s species composition, managing wildlife habitats, salvaging damaged trees, generating revenue for the landowner, producing forest products, and improving access to the area for recreational users. Revenues from the harvest of QIN-owned lands are used to fund administrative operations, programs, and services to tribal members.
In addition to QIN-owned land, the Quinault Timber Harvest section also oversees the management of individually-owned Indian Trust allotments within the Quinault Nation. In this capacity, QDNR Foresters provide pre-harvest planning and timber sale administration services for allotted parcels, in effort to maximize harvest revenues for the landowner.
Forestry Manager, Jim Plampin » 360.276.8215 x7290
Special Projects Forester, David Ryan » 360.276.8215 x7131
Harvest Manager, Eric North » 360.276.8215 x7513
Timber Sale Administrator, Justin Madanifard » 360.276.8215 x7563
Timber Sale Administrator (BIA), Charley Capoeman » 360.276.8215 x7534
Pre-Sale Forester, Coleman Carle » 360.276.8215 x7294
Pre-Sale Forester, Patrick Likins » 360.276.8215 x7813
Forest Roads Manager, Gary LaLonde » 360.276.8215 x7514
Additional Quinault Timber Harvest Management Resources:
Bureau of Indian Affairs (Taholah Agency)