Conservation Area Planned for Blanchard Mountain

A large chunk of Blanchard Mountain could become a natural resources conservation area this year.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is working to make the land near the Whatcom-Skagit County line a conservation area.

Hikers, horseback riders and hang gliders regularly use Blanchard Mountain.

About 1,600 acres would be protected under the DNR proposal, while the rest of the nearly 5,000 acre tract would remain a working forest, meaning logging would be allowed to occur their.

DNR is planning public hearings on the issue this spring.