PBTF Public Access Policy
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Click here for Hunting Accessibility Specifications
Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P. has long had a tradition of
opening its private forestlands to the public for
recreation. Over the years, that policy has been refined as
population growth brought out safety, operational and
environmental concerns. This document seeks to explain Port
Blakely’s policy with regard to the many public uses of our
land, including hunting, fishing, motorcycle and other
off-road use, hiking, bicycling and many other pursuits.
Please read the introduction and appropriate sections
carefully, so that your visit to Port Blakely land is safe
and enjoyable.
Above all, users should remember that Port Blakely Tree
Farms, L.P. land is managed primarily for timber production.
This is not parkland, nor is it publicly owned. While Port
Blakely wishes to balance appropriate uses of our land, we
have both economic and environmental obligations to uphold.
The following purpose statement explains our objectives with
respect to public use of Port Blakely land.
Private forests sustain a number of resources, including
forest products, fish, wildlife, clean air, clean water and
recreation. Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P. seeks to allow
public access to its timberlands to the extent that there is
minimal impact to economic and environmental forest
management objectives.
Public access to Port Blakely
Tree Farms, L.P. lands should be recognized as a privilege,
Port Blakely management reserve the right to revoke this
privilege at any time.
General Policy
Gates
Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P.
lands have traditionally been open to public access for at
least portions of the year. Today, many areas are gated and
access is restricted to manage specific wildlife populations
or where garbage dumping and resource theft are high. Some
gates may be opened during the fall months for hunting and
other recreation.
Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P.
gates will be left closed and locked except during
authorized periods. Walk-in and non-motorized traffic is
allowed behind locked gates unless otherwise posted or
unless harvest activity or truck traffic is evident.
If you see a gate that has
been damaged and/or left open, and you suspect this is not
the intent of Port Blakely, please contact Port Blakely Tree
Farms, L.P. at (360) 570-1992.
Signs
Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P. endeavors to provide signs at
each gate entry, describing allowable access behind that
gate. Unfortunately, signs are often vandalized and damaged,
so we ask visitors to observe the activities in the area and
use extreme caution throughout your visit to Port Blakely
land. If you see a sign that has been vandalized, or if you
are aware of a hazard where a sign may be needed, please
call Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P. at (360) 570-1992.
Each gate should be signed
describing allowable access behind it.
Yellow Sign–
This area OPEN for
non-motorized recreation use. This sign will be attached
near all gates and other openings from county/state/other
roads.
¨ Hiking,
horseback riding, bicycling allowed
¨ Closed
to unauthorized vehicles including trucks, cars,
motorcycles, ATVs
¨ No
target shooting
¨ No
fires or camping except in designated areas
¨ No
removal of forest products without permit
¨ Vehicles
blocking gate will be towed
¨ Report
illegal dumping and other criminal activity
Green Sign
–
This area OPEN for
recreational use. This sign will be attached OVER the yellow
signs during hunting season.
¨ Hunting,
fishing and other recreation allowed in this area (dates
will be posted on sign)
¨ Keep
motor vehicles on roadways
¨ No
fires or camping except in designated areas
¨ No
removal of forest products without permit
¨ Vehicles
blocking gate will be towed
¨ Area
subject to closure at any time
Red Sign
–
This area CLOSED to
all unauthorized vehicles – ACTIVE HARVEST AREA. This sign
will be attached OVER the yellow signs, during active
harvest operation.
¨ Open
only to those associated with the active logging operation
¨ All
other uses are prohibited for safety reasons
No Sign
–
Because signs are
frequently vandalized, if there is no sign on a gate the
following access policies apply.
Closed Gate
–
Same as yellow sign
Open Gate–
Same as yellow sign
Additional signs may be
posted to advise of unusual safety concerns.
Fish and Wildlife Enhancement
Public groups
or public agencies frequently seek access for fish and
wildlife “enhancement” activities. These activities include
augmentation of fish and wildlife populations, and
manipulation of their habitat. Fish and wildlife enhancement
activities must be consistent with Port Blakely Tree Farms,
L.P.’s biological goals as stated in the HCP, forest
management activities and SFI standards.
All fish and wildlife
enhancement activities will be subject to review by the
senior biologist, who will consider possible effects before
recommending for or against Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P.’s
participation or permission of the activity. The guiding
principle for evaluating any particular activity will be how
it could affect native species, community structure and
natural processes.
Garbage
One of the most
unsightly and dangerous illegal practices on Port Blakely
Tree Farms, L.P. timberlands is garbage dumping. Port
Blakely works with county law enforcement and other entities
to minimize this problem by investigating each dump site,
aggressively prosecuting perpetrators, cleaning up garbage
and limiting future access.
Visitors to Port Blakely Tree
Farms, L.P. lands are asked to call Port Blakely to report
any incidence of garbage dumping, so that it may be
investigated and scheduled for clean-up.
Dumping of
hazardous material is on the increase on Port Blakely Tree
Farms, L.P. timberlands as elsewhere. For this reason, only
authorized personnel should enter dumpsites or handle
garbage.
If you or your
group is interested in picking up garbage on Port Blakely
Tree Farms, L.P. land to improve our natural environment, or
if you would like to report a dump site, please contact Port
Blakely at (360) 570-1992.
Other Illegal Activity
Port Blakely
Tree Farms, L.P. in cooperation with county and state law
enforcement agencies, will deal with illegal activities
aggressively. Port Blakely reserves the right to refuse
access to any individual suspected of illegal activities on
Port Blakely land, regardless of whether prosecution occurs.
To report
illegal activity occurring on Port Blakely land, contact 911
immediately, or call Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P. at (360)
570-1992.
Specific Activities
Several specific activities occurring on Port Blakely Tree
Farms, L.P. land are covered below. This section is
separated into high, medium and low impact activities. While
an activity conducted by an individual or small group may be
considered “low impact,” a larger gathering or group
activity may increase the impact to Port Blakely’s lands.
Any group organizing an activity on Port Blakely land must
contact Port Blakely’s district foresters for permission to
stage the event.
Low Impact Activities
Many activities are considered compatible with intensive
forest management and habitat objectives on Port Blakely
Tree Farms, L.P. lands. In general, individual use is
considered low impact, but any group organizing an event
must contact the Port Blakely district forester for
permission.
The following
are considered low impact activities:
¨ mountain
bikes and other non-motorized vehicles on roads and trails
¨ horse
use on roads and trails
¨ dog
use on roads and trails
¨ bird
and wildlife watching
¨ berry
picking
¨ walking
¨ hiking
These activities are
authorized insomuch as they do not interfere with active
forest management. Visitors should carefully read the
“Signs” section above for information pertaining to closed
areas, and should at all times beware of hazards in the
forest.
Medium Impact Activities
Hunting
Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P.
opens many of its gates during hunting seasons. All hunting
laws and regulations, including appropriate use of hunter
orange garments, must be complied with.
Hunters should be acutely
aware of the their surroundings and take care not to
trespass or shoot into the direction of other private
property. Many homeowners whose property is adjacent to Port
Blakely’s have posted “NO HUNTING/NO SHOOTING” signs,
supplied courtesy of Port Blakely. Please take care to heed
these signs. If you are interested in signs for your
property, contact Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P. at (360)
570-1992.
Fishing
Port Blakely
Tree Farms, L.P. lands are open for fishing. All state laws
and regulations must be complied with.
Trapping
Trapping on
Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P. lands is limited to forest
management purposes. All trapping by unauthorized personnel
is prohibited.
Plant removal
Native plant
collection is allowed, by permit only, in authorized areas
on Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P. land. Removal of special
forest products, including floral greens, boughs, mushrooms
and other materials, requires a permit. Contact Port Blakely
Tree Farms, L.P. at (360) 570-1992 for details.
Woodcutting
Woodcutting is
allowed for personal use,
by permit only,
in authorized areas on Port Blakely land. Contact Port
Blakely at (360) 570-1992 for details or district forester
contact.
Fossils and Artifacts
Port Blakely Tree Farms,
L.P., in compliance with state and federal law, protects
sites of historical and archeological significance within
its land base. Any unauthorized removal of fossils or
artifacts is, therefore, prohibited. If you find fossils or
artifacts of any kind on Port Blakely land, please contact
Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P. at (360) 570-1992.
High impact activities
Motorcycle and off-road vehicle
use
The use of
motorcycles and other off-road vehicles
on roads
throughout Port Blakely Tree Farms, L.P. lands is allowed
only when gates are open and green signs posted for
recreational use. Port Blakely retains the right to limit
motorcycle and off-road vehicle use at any time.
The use of three- and
four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and other
off-road vehicles
on roads throughout
Port Blakely lands is allowed
only when gates are
open and no active harvest is in operation. In addition,
Port Blakely retains the right to limit vehicle use at any
time.
Any
use of three- and four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles,
motorcycles, four-wheel-drive trucks and cars are prohibited
off-road
on Port Blakely land.
Under no circumstances should
trails be built around gates or from neighboring properties
in order to gain access to Port Blakely lands. Any motorized
vehicle use of these unauthorized points of entry will be
considered trespassing and will be subject to prosecution.
If you observe prohibited
activities on Port Blakely land, please call Port Blakely
Tree Farms, L.P. at (360) 570-1992 and report it.
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