Makah Tribe of Neah Bay, WA, Celebrates Opening of Its New Sawmill

The Makah Tribe in Neah Bay, Washington, will host the grand opening of its new sawmill on Thursday, May 30th, MyClallamCounty reported (5-21-24).

The mill began operating earlier this month, cutting lumber for both private and commercial customers. The mill’s website says it is taking custom orders for rough and surfaced lumber in cedar, fir, spruce, hemlock, and alder. The mill also offers kiln drying service.

The Makah Tribe is working with the Composite Recycle Technology Center (CRTC) to mill lumber from western hemlock, a tree that is often disposed of by the timber industry. When hemlock dries, it twists and cracks, making it poor wood for lumber. CRTC has found a way to change that with a process called thermal modification, and then integrate carbon fiber with the wood fiber to create cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels for use in construction.

CRTC is so committed to the project that they built the mill for the Tribe, but it will remain under the Tribe’s ownership and operation, MyClallamCounty reported.