Title 79 — Title 79 PUBLIC LANDS

For the purpose of providing increased continuity in the management of public lands and of facilitating long range planning by interested agencies, the department is authorized to identify and to withdraw from all conflicting uses at such times and for such periods as it shall de…

The department may confer with other public and private agencies to facilitate the formulation of policies and/or plans providing for multiple use concepts. The department is empowered to hold public hearings from time to time to assist in achieving the purposes of RCW 79.10.060,…

Nothing in RCW 79.10.060, 79.10.070, 79.10.100 through 79.10.120, 79.10.130, 79.10.200 through 79.10.330, 79.44.003, and * 79.90.456 shall be construed to affect or repeal any existing authority or powers of the department in the management or administration of the lands under it…

Nothing in RCW 79.10.060, 79.10.070, 79.10.100 through 79.10.120, 79.10.130, 79.10.200 through 79.10.330, 79.44.003, and * 79.90.456 shall be construed to affect, amend, or repeal any existing withdrawal of public lands for state park or state game purposes.[ 2003 c 334 s 547; 19…

(1) The department shall design expansion of its land use data bank to include additional information that will assist in the formulation, evaluation, and updating of intermediate and long-range goals and policies for land use, population growth and distribution, urban expansion,…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 79.10.310, 79.10.320, and 79.10.330.(1) "Arrearage" means the summation of the annual sustainable harvest timber volume since July 1, 1979, less the sum of state timber sales contra…

"Sustained yield plans" as used in RCW 79.10.070, 79.44.003, and this chapter shall mean management of the forest to provide harvesting on a continuing basis without major prolonged curtailment or cessation of harvest.[ 2003 c 334 s 536; 1971 ex.s. c 234 s 3. Formerly RCW 79.68.0…

The department shall manage the state-owned lands under its jurisdiction which are primarily valuable for the purpose of growing forest crops on a sustained yield basis insofar as compatible with other statutory directives. To this end, the department shall periodically adjust th…

If an arrearage exists at the end of any planning decade, the department shall conduct an analysis of alternatives to determine the course of action regarding the arrearage which provides the greatest return to the trusts based upon economic conditions then existing and forecast,…

The board of natural resources shall offer for sale the sustainable harvest as identified in the 1984-1993 forestland management program, or as subsequently revised. In the event that decisions made by entities other than the department cause a decrease in the sustainable harvest…

The department with regard to state forestlands and state lands is hereby authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with the United States of America, Indian tribes, and private owners of timberland providing for coordinated forest management, including time, rate, and meth…

The department is hereby authorized and directed to determine, define, and declare informally the establishment of a sustained yield unit, comprising the land area to be covered by any such cooperative agreement and include therein such other lands as may be later acquired by the…

The department shall agree that the cutting from combined national forestlands, state forestlands, and state lands will be limited to the sustained yield capacity of these lands in the management unit as determined by the contracting parties and approved by the board for state fo…

The private contracting party or parties shall enjoy the right of easement over state forestlands and state lands included under said cooperative agreement for railway, road, and other uses necessary to the carrying out of the agreement. This easement shall be only for the life o…

During the period when any such cooperative agreement is in effect, the timber on the state forestlands and state lands which the department determines shall be included in the sustained yield unit may, from time to time, be sold at not less than its appraised value as approved b…

The sale of timber upon state forestland and state land within such sustained yield unit or units shall be made for not less than the appraised value thereof as heretofore provided for the sale of timber on state lands. However, if in the judgment of the department, it is to the …

A written contract shall be entered into with the successful bidder which shall fix the time when logging operations shall be commenced and concluded and require monthly payments for timber removed as soon as scale sheets have been tabulated and the amount of timber removed durin…

No transfer or assignment by the purchaser shall be valid unless the transferee or assignee is acceptable to the department and the transfer or assignment approved by it in writing.[ 2003 c 334 s 517; 1988 c 128 s 73; 1941 c 123 s 3; Rem. Supp. 1941 s 7879-16a. Formerly RCW 79.60…

The purchaser shall, at the time of executing the contract, deliver a performance bond or sureties acceptable in regard to terms and amount to the department, but such performance bond or sureties shall not exceed ten percent of the estimated value of the timber purchased compute…

(1) The department must develop and implement, through an inclusive stakeholder process managed by the department, an official recreational trail policy that is consistent with this section and the management mandate of the department.(2)(a) The recreational trail policy develope…

The department should work with representatives of local governments to find efficiencies in gaining local government permits for the development and maintenance of recreational facilities and trails. If barriers to permitting efficiencies require legislative action to overcome, …

(1)(a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department shall, to the extent feasible given all applicable trust responsibilities, develop and implement a policy for prioritizing investments on forest health treatments to protect state…

(1)(a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, consistent with the prioritization policy developed pursuant to RCW 79.10.520, and to the extent feasible given all applicable trust responsibilities, the department must identify areas of state…

(1) Before entering into any contract for the construction of or replacement of any bridge on department controlled land, the commissioner must consider whether to require the installation of informational signs that address the hazard of diving or jumping off the bridge as part …

(1) The department is authorized to sell any real property not designated or acquired as state forestlands, but acquired by the state, either in the name of the forest board, the forestry board, or the division of forestry, for administrative sites, lien foreclosures, or other pu…

(1) Not more than one hundred and sixty acres of any land granted to the state by the United States shall be offered for sale in one parcel and no university lands shall be offered for sale except by legislative directive or with the consent of the board of regents of the Univers…

The department shall exercise general supervision and control over the sale for any purpose of land granted to the state for educational purposes. It shall be the duty of the department to prepare all reports, data, and information in its records pertaining to any such proposed s…

All state lands shall be sold on terms and conditions established by the board in light of market conditions. Sales by real estate contract or for cash may be authorized. All deferred payments shall draw interest at such rate as may be fixed, from time to time, by rule adopted by…

Any person desiring to purchase any state lands shall file an application on the forms provided by the department and accompanied by the fees authorized under RCW 79.02.250.[ 2003 c 334 s 311; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 s 151; 1979 ex.s. c 109 s 2; 1967 c 163 s 4; 1959 c 257 s 3; 1927 c…

Whenever application is made to purchase less than a section of unplatted state lands, the department may order the inspection of the entire section or sections of which the lands applied for form a part.[ 2003 c 334 s 327; 1959 c 257 s 9; 1927 c 255 s 28; RRS s 7797-28. Prior: 1…

The department may cause any state lands to be surveyed for the purpose of ascertaining and determining the area subject to sale.[ 2003 c 334 s 330; 1982 1st ex.s. c 21 s 153; 1959 c 257 s 11; 1927 c 255 s 30; RRS s 7797-30. Prior: 1909 c 223 s 2; 1907 c 256 s 5; 1903 c 74 s 1; 1…

When in the judgment of the department, there is sufficient interest for the appraisement and sale of state lands, the department shall cause each tract of land to be inspected as to its topography, development potential, forestry, agricultural, and grazing qualities, coal, miner…

Except as provided in RCW 79.11.340, all sales of land under this chapter shall be at public auction, to the highest bidder, on the terms prescribed by law and as specified in the notice provided under RCW 79.11.120, and no land shall be sold for less than its appraised value.[ 2…

In no case shall any lands granted to the state be offered for sale under this chapter unless the same shall have been appraised by the board within ninety days prior to the date fixed for the sale. A purchaser of state lands may not rely upon the appraisal prepared by the depart…

Before any state lands are offered for sale, the department may establish the fair market value of those authorized improvements not owned by the state.[ 2003 c 334 s 336; 1979 ex.s. c 109 s 5; 1959 c 257 s 14; 1927 c 255 s 34; RRS s 7797-34. Prior: 1915 c 147 s 2; 1909 c 223 s 3…

When the department decides to sell any state lands, or with the consent of the board of regents of the University of Washington, or by legislative directive, decides to sell any lot, block, tract, or tracts of university lands, it is the duty of the department to fix the date, p…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2348.SL) ***(1) The department shall give notice of the sale by advertisement published not fewer than two times during a four-week period prior to the time of sale in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the whole, or a…

Actions under this chapter are subject to the notification requirements of RCW 43.17.400.[ 2007 c 62 s 3.]Notes:Finding—Intent—Severability—2007 c 62: See notes following RCW 43.17.400.

The department is authorized to expend any sum in additional advertising of such sale as it determines to be for the best interest of the state.[ 2003 c 334 s 348; 1927 c 255 s 48; RRS s 7797-48. Prior: 1923 c 19 s 1; 1897 c 89 s 14. Formerly codified as RCW 79.01.192, 79.12.320.…

Sales by public auction under this chapter shall be conducted under the direction of the department or its authorized representative. The department or department's representative are hereinafter referred to as auctioneers. On or before the time specified in the notice of sale ea…

A purchaser of state lands who is not the owner of the authorized improvements thereon shall deposit with the auctioneer making the sale, at the time of the sale, the appraised value of such improvements. The department shall pay to the owner of the improvements the sum deposited…

Any sale which has been offered, and for which there are no bids received shall not be reoffered until it has been readvertised as specified in RCW 79.11.130 and 79.11.140. If all sales cannot be offered within the specified time on the advertised date, the sale shall continue on…

The department shall enter upon its records a confirmation of sale and issue to the purchaser a contract of sale if the following conditions have been met:(1) No fewer than ten days have passed since the auctioneer's report has been filed;(2) No affidavit is filed with the depart…

If any land offered for sale is not sold, it may again be advertised for sale, as provided in this chapter, whenever in the opinion of the commissioner it shall be expedient to do so. Whenever any person applies to the department in writing to have such land offered for sale, agr…

The purchaser of state lands under the provisions of this chapter, except in cases where the full purchase price is paid at the time of the purchase, shall enter into and sign a contract with the state, to be signed by the commissioner on behalf of the state, with the seal of the…

Each and every contract for the sale of, and each deed to, state lands shall contain the following reservation: "The party of the first part hereby expressly saves, excepts, and reserves out of the grant hereby made, unto itself and its successors and assigns forever, all oils, g…

Whenever the state shall have heretofore sold or may hereafter sell any state lands and issued a contract of purchase or executed a deed of conveyance therefor, in which there is a reservation of all oils, gases, coal, ores, minerals, and fossils of every kind and of rights in co…

The department shall cause all unplatted state lands, within the limits of any incorporated city or town, or within two miles of the boundary thereof, where the valuation of such lands is found by appraisement to exceed one hundred dollars per acre, to be platted into lots and bl…

When, in the judgment of the department the best interest of the state will be thereby promoted, the department may vacate any plat or plats covering state lands, and vacate any street, alley, or other public place therein situated. The vacation of any such plat shall not affect …

Whenever all the owners and other persons having a vested interest in the lands abutting on any street, alley, or other public place, or any portion thereof, in any plat of state lands, lying outside the limits of any incorporated city or town, petition the department, the depart…