King County is suing a group of homeowners and the contractors they may have hired, accusing them of illegally cutting down or damaging over 140 trees on protected public land in Issaquah. The county is seeking more than $7 million in damages, along with penalties for negligence and trespassing.
The issue came to light after residents living at the bottom of a hill near Grand Ridge Park captured alarming footage on a trail camera — a massive log barreling down the hillside toward their homes.
“It was going so fast, so it was just incredibly unsafe,” said Caitlin McNulty, a local resident. The log landed just a few hundred feet from her backyard, an area where her two-year-old son often plays.
After investigating, McNulty’s husband and a neighbor discovered numerous other trees had been cut or damaged uphill. The residents promptly reported the incident to the county, which later confirmed extensive damage to the forest.
According to King County, a total of 142 trees were illegally cut, split, topped, or stripped of bark. The trees were located within Grand Ridge Park, a 1,200-acre forest designated for environmental preservation and passive recreation.
The county claims the tree cutting was done to benefit nearby properties, with at least one home now boasting a significantly improved view of West Tiger Mountain.
Officials also noted that the unauthorized removal of trees posed serious safety risks. At least one tree, they say, negligently tumbled down the hill and nearly crossed a road, endangering public safety.
“These are shared resources,” McNulty emphasized. “It’s not something that can be rebuilt easily. All of those trees took hundreds of years to grow.”
The lawsuit seeks compensation for environmental damage, negligence, and trespassing. Additionally, King County is asking for a civil penalty that could reflect the increased property values resulting from the improved mountain views.
“I think they’re taking a really serious stand because it’s easy for people to do this and get away with it,” McNulty said. “It’s important people know there are consequences.”
