Save a Forest in Southworth, WA

Southworth Forest Update:

Blowing Dust After Deforestation Can Be Harmful

Posted July 3, 2023 by Southworth Forest

Wind from the deforested area whips up a tornado of dust at its boundary with another property in April of 2023. No vehicular traffic on the road was involved.

It is no secret that deforestation leads to changes in soil and air conditions, and these impacts include an increase in dust. With the canopy, stumps, and understory all removed, a former forest area can become challenging to manage for dust even after seeded with grass. Roads in the new pastures are exposed to direct sunlight and generate more dust than before. Health experts say that breathing this fine particulate matter can be harmful to people downwind.

A 2023 NASA study showed that exposure to blowing dust likely contributed to 2.89 million premature deaths worldwide in 2019. "The airborne particles -- thirty times smaller than the width of human hair -- can pass easily into the lungs and bloodstream, where they can increase a person's risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lower respiratory infections," they said. "This study is a reminder that dust can have an important impact."

Since the code-violating 2019 removal of a mature forest at 11090 SE Southworth Dr. near the ferry terminal in Port Orchard, WA, wind and dust pose problems for the neighboring area. Because newly prevailing winds blow from the southeast due to the deforestation, the dust from these new pastures travels into properties to the west and north. These impacts are from a road and dry pasture land even prior to the installation of livestock and an additional roadway planned after further deforestation.

To demonstrate these dust impacts to Kitsap County's Department of Community Development for their consideration of an after-the-fact deforestation permit sought by clear-cutters Meghan and Clint Edwards, neighbors to the northwest have created a video chronicle of dust evidence. The County must compel the Edwards to mitigate both the wind and dust impacts with the replanting of conifer buffers, solid fencing, and other measures. Once livestock is installed, these issues will only get worse.

We recommend you view the dust videos at 2X speed to get the clearest view of the impacts.

Exhibit 6A: A map shows the direction of newly prevailing winds since the deforestation. The winds originate from the nearby Puget Sound to the east.

Exhibit 6B: Dust impacts from a delivery vehicle are shown (looking south) as it enters and exits the northwest corner of the Edwards property. Prevailing winds carry this dust directly onto the neighboring home site. (2022)

Exhibit 6C: Dust impacts from another delivery vehicle are shown (looking south) as it enters and exits the northwest corner of the Edwards property. Note the sustained duration of the dust as it blows directly onto the neighboring home site. (2022)

Exhibit 6D: Dust impacts from an Edwards vehicle are shown on two occasions, both trips causing sustained dust clouds that blow directly onto the neighboring home site. These impacts persist through all dry months of the year. (2022)

Exhibit 6E: Dust impacts from an Edwards lawnmower are shown in a massive dust cloud as the machine mows around the northwest entry road. (2022)

Exhibit 6S: Dust impacts from several delivery vehicles are shown (looking south) as they enter and exit the northwest corner of the Edwards property over three months in the spring of 2023. Newly prevailing winds carry this dust directly onto the neighboring home site. (2023)

Exhibit 6T: Dust impacts from Edwards vehicles are shown in April and May, 2023, each trip causing sustained dust clouds that blow directly onto the neighboring home site. These impacts persist through all dry months of the year regardless of the vehicles' speed. During this particular period, these vehicles alone often made 12 to 18 passages through this area per day. (2023)

Exhibit 6U: Dust impacts from an Edwards vehicle hauling bark or soil onto their property are shown causing sustained dust clouds that blow directly onto the neighboring home site. (2023)

Exhibit 6V: Dust impacts from the northwest corner of Edwards' property are shown, in this case without the involvement of vehicle traffic crossing the property boundary. This dust was stirred up by wind alone or other activity on Edwards' property. The intermittent clouds of dust blow directly onto the neighboring home site. (2023)

Per State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) evaluation, the relevant WAC 197-11-444 elements for these dust impacts are:

• (1) Natural environment > (a) Earth > (ii) Soils
• (1) Natural environment > (b) Air > (i) Air quality
• (1) Natural environment > (b) Air > (ii) Odor
• (1) Natural environment > (b) Air > (iii) Climate
• (2) Built environment > (a) Environmental health > (iii) Releases or potential releases to the environment affecting public health
• (2) Built environment > (b) Land and shoreline use > (iv) Aesthetics
• (2) Built environment > (c) Transportation > (ii) Vehicular traffic
• (2) Built environment > (c) Transportation > (v) Movement/circulation of people or goods