Georgia-Pacific Gifts 190 Acres to Washington for Park Use After Mill Closure

 

According to a Sept. 20, 2018 report by The Post Record (Camas., Wash., USA), The Camas City Council unanimously approved the transfer of $960,000 worth of Georgia-Pacific (G-P) property (190 acres of open space) to the city’s inventory at a city council meeting on Sept. 17. The area includes the former G-P mill ditch and two Lacamas Creek dams, which create Lacamas and Round lakes.

The donation comes 4 months after the G-P paper mill began its staggered layoff of nearly 300 mill workers, ended its pulp production, and shut down the "Roaring 20" office paper line in May 2018. The property being transferred to the city represents 20% of the more than 950 acres of land G-P owns in and around Camas.

In his staff report to city council members, Camas City Administrator Pete Capell recommended council approve of the agreement, citing the "significant recreational and aesthetic benefits" to the city of Camas and its residents.

This past Monday the city acknowledged the area will be public, categorized as "open space or park space." The final agreement prevents the city from using the space’s groundwater for drinking water and disallows use "for any school, day care center or any similar use by or for children."

 

Camas is required to erect and maintain a memorial sign on the property commemorating G-P’s donation within 12 months.