Private funding could benefit public forests

Growing up in Kettle Falls, I enjoyed a skyline of Colville National Forest evergreens, which could be seen from just about anywhere in town. I was raised to appreciate their beauty and still do — but today, I see the forest’s potential to be a loud, roaring engine — an economic engine.

In Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties, the Colville National Forest provides jobs, energy, and recreational opportunities for our communities in Northeastern Washington. Over the years I have walked the forest and met with the Forest Service many times. We have discussed the numerous challenges facing ou...