Galbraith Mountain Annual Meeting

## MODULE S1: STUDY GUIDE **Meeting ID:** BEL-GAL-2025-01-23 ### Meeting Overview The Galbraith Mountain Annual Meeting brought together stakeholders including the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition (WMBC), property owners, Janicky Tree Farm representatives, and City of Bellingham Natural Resources staff on January 23, 2025. The meeting focused on reviewing 2024 trail activities, discussing 2025 logging plans, and coordinating management of this popular recreation area. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Conservation Easement:** A legal agreement that restricts certain uses of land while allowing others. On Galbraith Mountain, this allows public recreation access while the property remains privately owned by Janicky Tree Farm. **Trail Counter System:** Electronic devices that count trail users passing specific points. WMBC installed comprehensive counters in 2024 to gather data showing 202,000 trail users since May, with some individual trails seeing over 26,000 users. **Harvest Activity:** Commercial logging operations. In 2024, unexpected harvesting impacted 18 trails, requiring significant trail rebuilding work by WMBC staff. **Class 1 E-bikes:** Electric bicycles that provide pedal assistance only up to 20 mph and require pedaling to engage the motor. These became legally allowed on Galbraith trails in 2024 after city council approval. **Deer Management Hunt:** A controlled hunting program to reduce deer population that damages tree seedlings in replanted harvest areas. The December 2024 hunt was invitation-only and resulted in 4 deer harvested. **Watershed Property:** Land within the Lake Whatcom watershed that provides drinking water. Special restrictions apply to activities in watershed areas, including timing of trail construction. **Working Forest Easement:** A separate easement from the recreation easement that governs logging activities and forest management on the property. **DNR Parcel:** Washington Department of Natural Resources land at the top of Galbraith Mountain near cell towers, subject to a 50-acre logging auction. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Tyler | WMBC Conservation Easement Coordinator, Board President | | Eric | WMBC staff member, presenter | | Peter Wheeler | Representative, Janicky Tree Farm and Logging | | Sarah Brown | Executive Director, Galbraith Bay Coalition | | Morgan Robin | Special Projects Manager, City Natural Resources (4-5 days on job) | | Laura Bradford | Owner's representative for Galbraith Mountain | | Kelsey Hackem | Operations Manager, WMBC | | Renee | Assistant Public Works Director, City of Bellingham | | Mike | City Natural Resources contact | | Glenn | WMBC Board President (modest about role) | ### Background Context Galbraith Mountain is a 2,500-acre privately-owned working forest that operates under dual conservation easements allowing both commercial logging and public recreation access. The mountain hosts over 40 miles of mountain bike trails maintained by WMBC and sees over 200,000 annual users. The 2024 season was challenging due to unexpected logging that impacted 18 trails, requiring extensive rebuilding work. The property operates as a balance between active forest management, including periodic harvesting and replanting, and maintaining one of the region's premier mountain biking destinations. Bellingham ranks as the #1 mountain biking destination in Washington on popular apps, making Galbraith Mountain management crucial for both the local economy and forest health. ### What Happened — The Short Version WMBC presented their 2024 annual report showing 202,000 trail users and significant trail rebuilding after unexpected logging impacted 18 trails. Five new trails opened, with individual trails seeing 26,000+ users in 8 months. The mountain had two temporary closures for herbicide spraying and a deer management hunt that harvested 4 deer. Looking ahead to 2025, Janicky Tree Farm plans to harvest 80 acres and thin 200 acres, mostly in the 3rd-4th quarter. A DNR auction for 50 acres at the mountain's top will determine logging truck routes. E-bikes (Class 1) are now allowed with minimal complaints reported. The city is developing new property management guidelines while WMBC continues expanding youth programs that served nearly 1,400 students in 2024. ### What to Watch Next • DNR auction results for 50-acre logging parcel (within 10 days of meeting) will determine truck traffic routes • 2025 logging operations beginning 3rd-4th quarter affecting 80 acres of harvest and 200 acres of thinning • Possible mid-season check-in meeting in early June to coordinate ongoing activities ---