Clark County will be the new owner of a campground southeast of Woodland, thanks to the state Board of Natural Resources.
Earlier this month, the board approved the transfer of an 80-acre parcel from state ownership to the county.
The state Department of Natural Resources’ old Woodland Campground will continue to be managed as a campground and recreation area. The campground itself covers 18 acres, with the remainder of the acreage managed for timber production.
The state is tapping $1.03 million in funding from the Legislature to make the transfer happen.
The Legislature’s Trust Land Transfer Program is providing $518,000 to the Common Schools Trust fund for the value of the standing timber. Timber sales under state ownership had been used for school construction.
Timber production has proven to be more difficult as homes sprout up near state-owned forests.
“The legislative intent is to continue funding schools and then also help the trust for the future by re-gearing its land assets into something more profitable,” said Bob Redling, spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources. “This forest is never going to be logged anymore. There are houses all around it.”
Another $515,000 from the Trust Land Transfer Program will be used to purchase replacement properties better suited to produce revenue in the future.
The property includes 10 campsites, six picnic tables and six vault-type toilets. It also includes such recreational amenities as a large group picnic site, a basketball and volleyball court, and two horseshoe pits.
All of it has been closed for the past year and a half due to state budget cuts, said Jeroen Kok, with Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation.
The county, facing budget challenges of its own, is planning to put the site through a formal re-use plan before reopening the campground.
“For the time being, we’ll maintain it and make sure it’s secure,” Kok said.
Erik Robinson: 360-735-4551 or erik.robinson@columbian.com.
