Wahkiakum and Pacific counties are considering starting a land trust that would use grants to buy thousands of acres of forest about 20 miles west of Cathlamet in coming decades.

The move would give the counties much needed timber revenue while protecting public access to the lands and potentially minimizing flooding.

The counties are considering partnering with Vancouver-based Columbia Land Trust to create what the trust calls a “community-owned forest” in the upper Grays River watershed.

Wahkiakum County plans to host a meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Johnson Park Community Center in Rosburg to address residents’ questions about the proposed project.

Pacific County will vote on whether to approve the project later this month, said Lisa Olsen, the county’s District 1 commissioner.

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