The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) extended the public comment period on its proposed Land Bank Exchange until Dec. 6.

The exchange includes two parcels located within Jefferson County; a 40-acre parcel in Paradise Bay, called “Teal 40” and a 40-acre parcel in the lower Duckabush River area, called “Canal 40.”

These parcels are currently trust lands: set aside from federal land grants at statehood to generate revenue for schools, colleges, public institutions and counties. But according to the proposal, these properties are considered “no longer suitable for trust ownership.”

The exchange will place the parcels into a “land bank” which will allow DNR to purchase more viable lands that will generate revenue for schools. Meanwhile, the parcels may be auctioned, but according to Kenny Ocker, a communications manager for DNR, auction is not the only possibility.

An auction “is not set in stone yet,” Ocker said. Once they are in the land bank there is opportunity for a land swap, purchase by county, or auction.

The proposed exchange of these two parcels goes against Jefferson County’s own forest management plan, which was created in 2011 and states that these parcels should continue to be held by DNR or become community forest or protected forest habitat.

This document was created by former DNR forester Mike Cronin, with help from Peter Bahls, director of the Northwest Watershed Institute and Olympic Forest Coalition’s Connie Gallant.

The county’s plan recommended that the Duckabush forest parcel be transferred through a Trust Land Transfer to state parks or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect recreation and elk habitat.

Research to create the management plan found that this parcel has high quality riparian habitat along the lower Duckabush river, as well as old, high quality forest along the river.

The Duckabush river is an important habitat for salmon, and any threat to the riparian zone surrounding the shores of the river could also threaten the livelihood of salmon.

There is also a non-migrating herd of elk that call this parcel of land home. Not only that, but it is located directly next to part of a larger restoration project by the Jefferson Land Trust.

Jefferson County Commissioners discussed sending a letter to DNR asking for more time to make input on the decision.

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t have more opportunity for consultation,” said commissioner Kate Dean.

But Ocker said the county was notified several times, and will be given more chances to communicate with DNR in the future.

It is expected that the transaction will be discussed at the Feb. 4 meeting of DNR’s board of commissioners, but that is not finalized yet, Ocker said.

Meanwhile, the public has more time to comment on the proposal. Written comments will be accepted through Dec. 6. Members of the public can submit comments via mail, addressed to the Department of Natural Resources, ATTN: Land Bank Exchange, PO Box 47014, Olympia, WA 98504-7014. Testimony may also be emailed to exchanges@dnr.wa.gov (include the exchange name in the subject line).