Nov 18th Launch event
Our meeting began at 7 PM at the Crystal Lake Clubhouse and ran until about 8:30 PM with standing room only. We counted about 125 people in attendance at the peak - almost capacity for the building! There was coffee, tea, cookies and other treats, and a fire crackling in the stone fireplace. Attendees filled out written questions and signed in with their contact information at the door. The audience included community members from both the immediate neighborhoods surrounding Hooven Forest as well as the Crystal Lake Community, as well as elected officials Washington State Representative Davina Duerr and Woodinville City Council Member Al Taylor.
Solveig Whittle, Friends of Hooven Forest Steering Committee member and Crystal Lake community member, opened the meeting with some housekeeping details, then introduced Steering Committee member Randy Whalen. Randy's presentation covered the history of the Hooven Forest DNR parcel from the beginning of human habitation through settlement by Europeans, logging, and up to the present. It also included pictures of the 100+ year old Douglas fir, Western red cedar and big leaf maple trees and understory, maps of the Crystal Lake and Bear Creek watersheds, some historical photos and maps of the area, and an overview of the ecosystem services provided by this important forest.
Solveig explained that individuals from the community of Crystal Lake have had over 12 years of communication about this DNR parcel with DNR employees and others, such as elected officials and Snohomish County Parks. To date, no solution has emerged to conserve this forest.
After the presentation, the Steering Committee was expecting to introduce Washington Commissioner of Lands-elect Dave Upthegrove to share some remarks on the importance of legacy forests like Hooven Forest to the State of Washington. Unfortunately, Dave had a scheduling conflict and had not arrived by 8 PM. Although we were all disappointed that he was ultimately unable to attend, he has sent us a video with his thoughts. Dave has offered to return to the community in the near future to meet with the community to discuss legacy forests in general as well as Hooven Forest, and the Steering Commitee is working hard to set that up (hopefully at the Crystal Lake Clubhouse again).
We were excited to have Tlingit Tribe member Linzie Crofoot, who also works closely with the Tulalip Tribe, explain the link between tribes and this forest, and the Steering Committee affirmed that it is interested in making contact with the Tulalip and other tribal entities interested in partnering with Friends of Hooven Forest to work toward our common aims.
Randy and Solveig ended the meeting by answering those questions they could. After the meeting, the Steering Committee was excited to connect with community members willing to volunteer to assist the Friends of Hooven Forest with important activities such as social media and other needed roles.
