POTLATCHDELTIC CORP - Annual Report: 2010 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

Commission File Number 1-32729

POTLATCH CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (509) 835-1500

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    x Yes    ¨ No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act    ¨ Yes    x No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    x Yes    ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    x Yes    ¨ No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer x    Accelerated filer ¨    Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) ¨    Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    ¨ Yes    x No

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant at June 30, 2010, was approximately $1,428.7 million, based on the closing price of $35.73.

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of January 31, 2011: 40,033,182 shares of Common Stock, par value $1 per share.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the definitive proxy statement expected to be filed on or about April 1, 2011, with the Commission in connection with the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof.

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POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Index to 2010 Form 10-K

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

For purposes of this report, any references to the “company,” “us,” “we,” and “our” include, where the context requires, both Potlatch Corporation and its predecessor as it existed prior to the restructuring that became effective January 1, 2006, together with their respective subsidiaries.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This report contains, in addition to historical information, certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation, statements regarding future revenues, cash flows, the funding of our operations and debt service, the nature of our REIT income, dividend distributions, compliance with REIT tax rules, expected timber harvest levels in 2011 and beyond, log prices, lumber prices, costs, manufacturing output, housing starts in 2011 and beyond, capital expenditures, the funding of our pension plans, tax refunds, FSC certification of our timberlands, future land sales and acquisitions, realization of deferred tax assets, and like-kind exchanges and tax consequences. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “will,” “intend,” “plan,” “target,” “project,” “believe,” “seek,” “schedule,” “estimate,” “could,” “can,” “may,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views regarding future events based on estimates and assumptions, and are therefore subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Our actual results of operations could differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained in this report. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the following:

For a discussion of some of the factors that may affect our business, results and prospects, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

Forward-looking statements contained in this report present our views only as of the date of this report. Except as required under applicable law, we do not intend to issue updates concerning any future revisions of our views to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report.

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Part I

ITEM 1.

Business

GENERAL

Potlatch Corporation is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, with approximately 1.5 million acres of timberlands in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota. Potlatch Corporation derives much of its income from investments in real estate, including the sale of standing timber. Through wholly owned taxable subsidiaries we operate a real estate sales and development business and five wood products manufacturing facilities that produce lumber and plywood.

Our businesses are organized into three reportable operating segments: Resource; Real Estate; and Wood Products. Our Resource segment manages our timberlands to optimize revenue producing opportunities while at the same time adhering to our strict stewardship standards. Management activities include planting and harvesting trees and building and maintaining roads. The Resource segment also seeks to increase our revenues from non-timber resources such as from hunting leases, recreation permits and leases, biomass production, carbon sequestration, mineral rights leases and various other leasing opportunities. The business of our Real Estate segment consists primarily of the sale of selected non-core timberland real estate. The Real Estate segment engages in real estate subdivision and development activities through Potlatch TRS and also plays an active role in negotiations for all timberland acquisitions. Our Wood Products segment manufactures and markets lumber and plywood. Additional information regarding each of our three operating segments is included on pages 4-8. Information relating to the amounts of revenues, operating income (loss) and identifiable assets attributable to each of our operating segments for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is included in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements contained in this report.

We are focused on the ownership of timberland, which we view as a unique and attractive asset, due to the renewable nature of timber resources and timber’s long-term history of price appreciation in excess of inflation. Our primary objectives include using our timberland investments to generate income and maximizing the long-term value of our assets. We pursue these objectives by adhering to the following strategies:

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Potlatch Corporation, formerly known as Potlatch Holdings, Inc., was incorporated in Delaware in September 2005 to facilitate a restructuring to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. It is the successor to the business of the original Potlatch Corporation, which was incorporated in Delaware in 1903, and which was merged into Potlatch Operating Company in connection with the restructuring.

Effective January 1, 2006, we restructured our operations to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. As a REIT, if we meet certain requirements we generally are not subject to federal corporate income taxes on our income from investments in real estate that we distribute to our stockholders, including the income derived from the sale of standing timber. We are, however, subject to corporate taxes on certain built-in gains (the excess of fair market value at January 1, 2006 over tax basis on that date) on sales of real property (other than timber) held by the REIT during the first ten years following our conversion to a REIT, except for sales occurring in 2011. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, enacted on September 27, 2010, modifies the built-in gains provisions to exempt sales of real properties by a REIT in 2011, if five years of the recognition period has elapsed before January 1, 2011. The built-in gains tax is eliminated or deferred if sale proceeds are reinvested in like-kind property in accordance with the like-kind exchange provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The built-in gains tax is not applicable to the sale of timber pursuant to a stumpage sale agreement or timber deed. We are required to pay federal corporate income taxes on income from our non-real estate investments, principally the operations of Potlatch TRS. In 2010, our quarterly distribution rate was $0.51 per common share, or an aggregate quarterly distribution of approximately $20.4 million.

The REIT tax rules require that we derive most of our income, other than income generated by a taxable REIT subsidiary, from investments in real estate, which for us primarily consists of income from the sale of our standing timber. Accordingly, we restructured to create a new parent company that holds our timberlands through a REIT subsidiary and substantially all of our non-timberland assets, consisting primarily of our manufacturing facilities, assets used for the harvesting of timber and the sale of logs, and selected land parcels that we expect to be sold or developed for higher and better use purposes through wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiaries, which we refer collectively to in this report as Potlatch TRS. Our use of Potlatch TRS, which is taxed as a C corporation, enables us to continue to engage in these non-REIT qualifying businesses without violating the REIT requirements.

On December 16, 2008, we completed the tax-free spin-off of Clearwater Paper Corporation, or Clearwater Paper, which owns and operates our former pulp-based manufacturing businesses, consisting of our former pulp and paperboard and consumer products segments, as well as our former wood products operations located in Lewiston, Idaho. Our results of operations, as presented herein, have been reclassified for all periods presented to report the businesses owned by Clearwater Paper as discontinued operations.

In March 2010, we sold our Idaho particleboard manufacturing facility’s buildings and equipment. As a result of the sale, we recorded pre-tax charges totaling $0.4 million, primarily related to severance benefits.

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During the quarter ended June 30, 2010, we sold the railroad we operated in Idaho, which resulted in a pre-tax loss of $1.8 million.

In November 2010, we sold our Prescott, Arkansas lumber mill, which had permanently ceased operations in May 2008 due to poor market conditions.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We make available on or through our website, www.potlatchcorp.com (under “Investor Resources – SEC Filings”), our periodic and current reports that we file with, or furnish to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, at no charge as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file the information with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information on our website is not part of this report. In addition, the reports and materials that we file with the SEC are available at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) and at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington DC 20549. Interested parties may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

RESOURCE SEGMENT

Industry Background

The demand for timber depends primarily upon the markets for wood products, including lumber, panel products, paper and other pulp-based products. The end uses for timber vary widely, depending on species, size and quality. Historically, timber demand has experienced cyclical fluctuations, although sometimes at different times and rates within the markets for sawlogs and pulpwood. The demand for sawlogs, lumber and other manufactured wood products is significantly dependent upon the level of new residential construction and remodeling activity, which, in turn, is affected by general economic and demographic factors, including population growth, new household formations, interest rates for home mortgages and construction loans, and credit availability. Reductions in residential construction and remodeling activities are generally followed by declining lumber prices, which are usually followed by declining log prices within a fairly short period of time. The demand for pulpwood is dependent on the paper and pulp-based manufacturing industries, which are affected by domestic and international economic conditions, global population growth and other demographic factors, industry capacity and the value of the U.S. dollar in relation to foreign currencies. Locally, timber demand also fluctuates due to the expansion or closure of individual wood products and pulp-based manufacturing facilities.

Over the past two decades, timber supplies have tightened relative to demand. Particularly in the western United States, the supply of timber has been significantly affected by reductions in timber sales by the United States government and by state governments. These reductions have been caused primarily by increasingly stringent environmental and endangered species laws and by a change in the emphasis of domestic governmental policy toward habitat preservation, conservation and recreation, and away from timber management. Because most timberlands in the southeastern United States are privately owned, changes in sales of publicly owned timber affect local timber supplies and prices in the Southeast less immediately than in the western United States and other regions with large proportions of public timber ownership. Timber supplies can fluctuate depending upon factors such as changes in weather conditions and harvest strategies of local forest products industry participants, as well as occasionally high timber salvage efforts due to storm damage, unusual pest infestations such as the mountain pine beetle, or fires. Local timber supplies also change in response to prevailing timber prices. Rising timber prices often lead to increased harvesting on private timberlands, including lands not previously made available for commercial timber operations. Currently, the supply of timber generally is adequate to meet demand. While the weak U.S. housing market continues, demand from Asia has increased. Although we do not sell into the Asian markets, it affects supply and demand in the markets in which we participate and will likely continue to have a positive impact on lumber and timber prices.

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Our Operations

Our Resource segment manages approximately 1.5 million acres of timberlands we own in two regions of the United States: the Northern region, consisting of our Idaho and Minnesota timberlands, with 1.1 million acres; and the Southern region, consisting of our Arkansas timberlands, with 0.4 million acres.

Our timberlands include a wide diversity of softwood and hardwood species and are certified by the FSC. We are generally able to sell FSC-certified logs at premium prices. We own approximately 835,000 acres of timberlands in the northern and central portions of the state of Idaho that contain a variety of commercially viable softwood species, such as grand fir, Douglas fir, inland red cedar, ponderosa pine, western larch, Engelmann spruce and western white pine. We are the largest private landowner in Idaho. In Arkansas we own approximately 409,000 acres of timberlands. Primary species on these lands include southern yellow pine, red oak, white oak and other hardwoods. We own approximately 234,000 acres of timberlands in Minnesota, comprised primarily of aspen, pine and other mixed hardwoods.

The primary business of the Resource segment is the management of our timberlands to optimize the value of all possible revenue producing opportunities, while at the same time adhering to our strict stewardship standards. Management activities include planting and harvesting trees and building and maintaining roads. The segment also seeks to increase our revenues from non-timber resources such as from hunting leases, recreation permits and leases, biomass production, carbon sequestration, mineral rights leases and various other leasing opportunities.

Our strategic focus involves increasing harvest levels in ways that ensure long-term sustainability while maintaining high stewardship standards, increasing timber harvest levels in times of strong market demand and decreasing harvest levels in times of weak demand, and seeking accretive acquisitions that complement our existing timberland base.

Because timber is a renewable resource, our objective is to maximize cash flow over the long term by managing our timberlands on a sustainable yield basis, reflecting a balance between timber growth and harvesting. From time to time, however, we may choose, consistent with our environmental commitments, to harvest timber at levels above or below our estimate of sustainability for various reasons. To maximize our timberlands’ long-term value, we manage them intensively, based upon timber species and local growing conditions. Our harvest plans take into account changing market conditions, are designed to contribute to the growth of the remaining timber, and reflect our policy of environmental stewardship. We reforest our acreage in a timely fashion to enhance its long-term value. We employ silvicultural techniques to improve timber growth rates, including vegetation control, fertilization and thinning. In deciding whether to implement any silvicultural practice, we analyze the associated costs and long-term benefits, with the goal of achieving an attractive return over time.

Our short-term and long-term harvest plans are critical factors in our long-term management process. Each year, we prepare a harvest plan designating the timber tracts and volumes to be harvested during that particular year. We also update our long-term harvest plan every year. Each harvest plan reflects our analysis of the age, size and species distribution of our timber, as well as our expectations about harvest methods, growth rates, the volume of each species to be harvested, anticipated acquisitions and dispositions, thinning operations, regulatory constraints and other relevant information. Among other things, the optimal harvest cycles, or rotations, for timber vary by location and species and tend to change over time as a result of silvicultural advances, changes in the markets for different sizes and ages of timber and other factors. Since harvest plans are based on projections of weather, timber growth rates, regulatory constraints and other assumptions, many of which are beyond our control, there can be no assurance that we will be able to harvest the volumes projected or the specific timber stands designated in our harvest plans.

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The following table presents our total 2010 fee timber harvest by region:

(In thousands)

In 2010, the overall harvest from our timberlands was 4.2 million tons, compared to 3.8 million tons harvested in 2009. Our harvest deferral in 2009 was approximately 0.6 million tons, or approximately 14% of our original planned harvest level for the year. Based on our current projections that take into consideration such factors as market conditions, the ages of our timber stands and recent timberland sales, we expect the overall timber harvest from our lands in 2011 to be approximately 4.2 million tons, increasing to approximately 4.6 million tons annually over the next few years, depending upon market conditions.

The volume and value of timber that can be harvested from our lands may be affected by natural disasters such as fire, insect infestation, disease, ice storms, hurricanes, wind storms, floods and other weather conditions and causes. We assume substantially all risk of loss to the standing timber we own from fire and other hazards, consistent with industry practice in the United States, because insuring for such losses is not practicable.

The Resource segment sells a portion of its logs at market prices to our wood products manufacturing facilities. Intra-company sales to our wood products manufacturing facilities in 2010 were approximately 20% of our total Resource segment revenues. The segment also sells sawlogs and pulpwood to a variety of forest products companies located near our timberlands. The segment’s customers range in size from small operators to multinational corporations. The segment competes with owners of timberlands that operate in areas near our timberlands, ranging from private owners of small tracts of land to some of the largest timberland companies in the United States. The segment competes principally on the basis of distance to market, price, log quality and customer service.

In 2010, approximately 38% of our Northern region’s volume and 72% of our Southern region’s volume was sold under log supply agreements.

We seek to manage harvest levels on our timberlands in a manner that assures long-term sustainability. We have been certified to be in compliance with the ISO 14001 standard with respect to our timberlands in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota. Our timberlands in Arkansas and Minnesota were audited in 2010 by an independent third party for compliance with the ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems. A field audit for Idaho was not required during 2010. Our timberlands in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota were also audited in late 2010 by an independent third party for compliance with the FSC forest management standard. We have not yet received our final audit reports from the FSC, but anticipate continued certification under the FSC program for our timberlands. The certification of our Arkansas timberlands is no longer subject to the resolution of a corrective action request with respect to certain harvesting and stand re-establishment issues, as those issues were successfully resolved during 2010. As a participant in these programs, we adhere to the collective principles of both organizations. These principles include commitments to sustainable forestry, responsible practices, forest health and productivity, and protection of special sites.

These certifications aid us in marketing our logs and wood products to customers who require that products they purchase for resale come from sustainably managed forests. Our sales of FSC-certified products in 2010 generally were at prices higher than average market prices for these products.

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Our operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those relating to the environment, endangered species, our forestry activities, and health and safety. Due to the significance of regulation to our business, we integrate wildlife, habitat and watershed management into our resource management practices. We also take an active approach to regulatory developments by participating in standard-setting where possible. We work cooperatively with regulators to create voluntary conservation plans that address environmental concerns while preserving our ability to operate our timberlands efficiently. Despite our active participation in governmental policymaking and regulatory standard-setting, there can be no assurance that endangered species, environmental and other laws will not restrict our operations or impose significant costs, damages, penalties and liabilities on us. In particular, we anticipate that endangered species and environmental laws will generally become increasingly stringent.

REAL ESTATE SEGMENT

The activities of our Real Estate segment consist primarily of the sale of selected non-core timberland real estate, which falls into three categories: HBU properties; rural real estate properties; and non-strategic properties. HBU properties have characteristics that provide development potential as a result of superior location or other attractive amenities. These properties tend to have a much higher value than timberlands. Rural real estate properties also have a higher value than timberlands, but do not have the same developmental potential as HBU properties. For example, these properties may be appropriate for hunting, conservation or secondary rural housing. Other non-strategic properties often have locational or operational disadvantages for us, and are typically on the fringe of our ownership areas. The Real Estate segment engages in real estate subdivision and development activities through Potlatch TRS and also plays an active role in negotiations for all timberland acquisitions.

We generally seek to acquire properties that complement our existing timberland base, are immediately cash flow accretive and have a blend of timber and real estate values. From time to time, we also take advantage of opportunities to sell timberland where we believe pricing to be particularly attractive, to match a sale with a purchase of more desirable property in order to defer taxes in an LKE transaction, or to meet various other financial or strategic objectives. Sales of conservation properties and conservation easements on our properties are also included in this segment. Results for the segment depend on the demand for our non-core timberlands, the types of properties sold and the basis of these properties, the timing of closing of sales of properties and our ability to match sales of property with acquisitions in LKE transactions. Although large, one-time sales of non-strategic properties can cause results that are not comparable or predictable between periods, we have maintained a relatively consistent level of rural real estate and HBU sales over the past 4 years.

A main focus of this segment is to continually assess the highest value use of our lands. In December 2006, we began an initial stratification assessment of all our land. We complete similar stratification assessments periodically on our existing lands and as new lands are acquired. The following tools are used in assessing our lands:

As a result of this continual assessment of our lands, we identified 235,000 to 265,000 acres of non-core timberland real estate. This includes approximately 120,000 to 130,000 acres of HBU property, 90,000 to 100,000 acres of rural real estate property and 25,000 to 35,000 acres of non-strategic timberland. Sales of these lands are expected to occur over a 10 to 15-year period, with the goal of utilizing like-kind exchange transactions or other tax-advantaged methods whenever possible.

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Sales for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are summarized in the following table:

WOOD PRODUCTS SEGMENT

Our Wood Products segment manufactures and markets lumber and plywood at five mills located in Arkansas, Idaho, Michigan and Minnesota. A description of the locations, annual capacity and production of these facilities is included under Item 2 of Part I of this report. The segment’s products are largely commodity products, which are sold through our sales offices to end users, retailers or wholesalers for nationwide distribution primarily for use in home building, industrial products and other construction activity.

Our share of the markets for lumber and plywood is not significant compared to the total United States markets for these products. We believe that competitiveness in this industry is largely based on individual mill efficiency and on the availability of competitively priced raw materials on a facility-by-facility basis, rather than the number of mills operated. This is due to the fact that it is generally not economical to transfer wood between or among facilities, which might permit a greater degree of specialization and operating efficiencies. Instead, each facility must utilize the raw materials that are available to it in a relatively limited geographic area. For these reasons, we believe we are able to compete effectively with companies that have a larger number of mills. We compete based on product quality, customer service and price.

Our manufacturing facilities can produce and sell FSC-certified products, a desirable “green” building product that generally commands premium pricing.

For our Wood Products operations, the principal raw material used is logs, which are obtained from our Resource segment or purchased on the open market. We generally do not maintain long-term supply contracts for a significant volume of timber. During 2010 and 2009, 34% and 39% of our log purchases, respectively, were obtained from our Resource segment.

Our Wood Products segment was adversely affected in 2008 through 2010 by the national decline in home building and remodeling and the resulting weak demand and lower prices for wood products. We actively manage output at our wood products manufacturing facilities to match supply with demand and minimize cash costs, which allowed us to continue operating as much as possible through the past several years. As a result of these weak market conditions, we permanently closed our lumber mill in Prescott, Arkansas in May 2008, then sold the mill in November 2010. In addition, we were forced to temporarily halt or reduce production at many of our mills for various periods of time in 2009. We did not halt or reduce production at any of our mills in 2010 due to a lack of demand. Although we believe housing starts bottomed out in 2010 and will begin to modestly increase in 2011, we do not expect any significant improvement in housing starts until 2012.

During the fourth quarter of 2009, we concluded that our Idaho particleboard manufacturing assets were impaired, and recorded a pre-tax asset impairment charge of $3.0 million. The fair value of the impaired assets was estimated based on expected discounted future cash flows. In March 2010, we sold our particleboard manufacturing facility’s buildings and equipment.

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DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

In May 2008, our Prescott, Arkansas lumber mill permanently ceased operations due to poor market conditions. We sold the mill in November 2010.

SEASONALITY

Log and pulpwood sales volumes in our Resource segment are typically lower in the first half of each year, as winter rains in the Southern region and spring thaw in the Northern region limit timber harvesting operations due to softened roadbeds and wet logging conditions that restrict access to logging sites. Real Estate dispositions and acquisitions can be adversely affected when access to any properties to be sold or considered for acquisition is limited due to adverse weather conditions. Demand for our wood products typically decreases in the winter months when construction activity is slower, and increases in the spring, summer and fall when construction activity is generally higher.

GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

All of our timberlands, other real estate, wood products manufacturing facilities and other assets are located within the continental United States. In 2010 and 2009, approximately 1% of our revenues were derived from sales of wood products to Canada and Mexico, with the remainder of our revenues resulting from domestic sales. In 2008, less than 2% of our revenues were derived from sales of wood products to Canada, with the remainder of our revenues resulting from domestic sales.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

We are subject to extensive federal and state environmental regulation of our wood products manufacturing facilities and timberlands, particularly with respect to air emissions, wastewater discharges, solid and hazardous waste management, site remediation, forestry operations, and threatened and endangered species. We are also subject to the requirements of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act and comparable state statutes relating to the health and safety of our employees. We maintain environmental and safety compliance programs and conduct regular internal and independent third-party audits of our facilities and timberlands to monitor compliance with these laws and regulations. Compliance with environmental regulations is a significant factor in our business and requires capital expenditures as well as additional operating costs.

We believe that our manufacturing facilities and timberland operations are currently in substantial compliance with other applicable environmental laws and regulations. We cannot be certain, however, that situations that may give rise to material environmental liabilities will not be discovered.

Enactment of new environmental laws or regulations, or changes in existing laws or regulations, or their enforcement, may require significant expenditures by us or may adversely affect our timberland management and harvesting activities. For example, the Clean Water Act and comparable state laws, regulations and best management practices programs protect water quality. As a result, our resource management activities adjacent to rivers and streams as well as the point source discharges from our manufacturing facilities are subject to strict regulation. Most silvicultural activities are defined by regulation to be “non-point sources” and thus do not require federal permits from the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, but rather are subject to state regulation and best management practices programs. Recent litigation, however, has challenged this silvicultural exemption under the Clean Water Act. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that our forest management activities will not be subject to increased regulation under the Clean Water Act in the future.

Similarly, a number of species indigenous to our timberlands have been listed as threatened or endangered or have been proposed for one or the other status under the Endangered Species Act. As a result, our activities in or adjacent to the habitat of these species may be subject to restrictions on the harvesting of timber, reforestation activities and the construction and use of roads.

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We expect legislative and regulatory developments in the area of climate change to address carbon dioxide emissions and renewable energy and fuel standards. It is unclear as of this date how any such developments will affect our business.

At this time, we believe that federal and state laws and regulations related to the protection of endangered species and clean water will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. We anticipate, however, that increasingly strict laws and regulations relating to the environment, natural resources and forestry operations, as well as increased social concern over environmental issues, may result in additional restrictions on us leading to increased costs, additional capital expenditures and reduced operating flexibility.

Information regarding potentially material environmental proceedings is included in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements contained in this report, and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2010, we had approximately 905 employees. The workforce consisted of approximately 230 salaried, 640 hourly and 35 temporary or part-time employees. As of December 31, 2010, approximately 18% of the workforce was covered under one collective bargaining agreement, which expires in May 2012.

ITEM 1A.

Risk Factors

Investing in our common stock involves a significant degree of risk. Our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity could be materially adversely affected by any of the following risks and, as a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. In addition to the risk factors discussed below, investors should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties presented under the following caption, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Factors Influencing Our Results of Operations and Cash Flows,” and Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements contained in this report which are incorporated herein by reference.

BUSINESS AND OPERATING RISKS

Our cash distributions are not guaranteed and may fluctuate, which could adversely affect our stock price.

Under the REIT rules, to remain qualified as a REIT, a REIT must distribute, within a certain period after the end of each year, 90% of its ordinary taxable income for such year. Our REIT income, however, consists primarily of net capital gains resulting from payments received under timber cutting contracts with Potlatch TRS and third parties, rather than ordinary taxable income. Therefore, unlike most REITs, we are not required to distribute material amounts of cash to remain qualified as a REIT. If, after giving effect to our distributions, we have not distributed an amount equal to 100% of our REIT ordinary taxable income and net capital gains income, then we would be required to pay tax on the undistributed portion of such taxable income at regular corporate tax rates and our stockholders would be required to include their proportionate share of any undistributed capital gain in income and would receive a credit or refund for their share of the tax paid by us.

Our board of directors, in its sole discretion, will determine the actual amount of distributions to be made to stockholders based on consideration of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, our results of operations, cash flow and capital requirements, economic conditions in our industry and in the markets for our products, tax considerations, borrowing capacity, debt covenant restrictions, timber prices, harvest levels on our timberlands, market demand for timberlands, including timberland properties we have identified as potentially having a higher and better use, and future acquisitions and dispositions. For a description of debt covenants that could limit our ability to make distributions to stockholders in the future,

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see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources.” Consequently, the level of future distributions to our stockholders may fluctuate, and any reduction in the distribution rate may adversely affect our stock price.

Our operating results and cash flows will be materially affected by the fluctuating nature of timber prices.

Our results of operations and cash flows will be materially affected by the fluctuating nature of timber prices. A variety of factors affect prices for timber, including factors affecting demand, such as changes in economic conditions, the level of domestic new construction and remodeling activity, foreign demand, interest rates, credit availability, population growth, weather conditions and pest infestation, as well as changes in timber supply and other factors. All of these factors can vary by region, timber type (sawlogs or pulpwood logs) and species.

Timber prices are also affected by changes in timber availability at the local and national level. Our timberland ownership is currently concentrated in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota. In Arkansas and Minnesota, most timberlands are privately owned. Historically, increases in timber prices have often resulted in substantial increases in harvesting on private timberlands, including lands not previously made available for commercial timber operations, causing a short-term increase in supply that has tended to moderate price increases. Decreases in timber prices have often resulted in lower harvest levels, causing short-term decreases in supply that have tended to moderate price decreases. In Idaho, where a greater proportion of timberland is government owned, any substantial increase in timber harvesting from government-owned land could significantly reduce timber prices, which would harm our results of operations. For more than 25 years, environmental concerns and other factors have limited timber sales by federal agencies, which historically had been major suppliers of timber to the U.S. forest products industry, particularly in the West. Any reversal of policy that substantially increases timber sales from government-owned land could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. On a local level, timber supplies can fluctuate depending upon factors such as changes in weather conditions and harvest strategies of local timberland owners, as well as occasionally high timber salvage efforts due to events such as unusual pest infestations or fires. Also, demand from Asia has increased, and although we do not sell into the Asian markets, it affects supply and demand in the markets in which we participate and will likely continue to have a positive impact on lumber and timber prices.

Timber prices are also affected by changes in timber demand at the local, national and international level. Decreases in demand in other parts of the world, such as Asia, may have a negative impact on lumber and timber prices in the markets in which we compete.

The cyclical nature of our business could adversely affect our results of operations.

The financial performance of our operations is affected by the cyclical nature of our business. The markets for timber, real estate and manufactured wood products are influenced by a variety of factors beyond our control. The demand for our timber and wood products is affected by the level of new residential construction activity and, to a lesser extent, home repair and remodeling activity, which are subject to fluctuations due to changes in economic conditions, interest rates, credit availability, population growth, weather conditions and other factors. The demand for logs is also affected by the demand for wood chips in the pulp and paper markets. The supply of timber and logs has historically increased during favorable pricing environments, which then causes downward pressure on prices. The demand for real estate can be affected by changes in factors such as interest rates, credit availability and economic conditions, as well as by the impact of federal, state and local land use and environmental protection laws. Historical prices for our wood products have been volatile, and we have limited direct influence over the timing and extent of price changes for our wood products.

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We may be unable to harvest timber or we may elect to reduce harvest levels due to market conditions, either of which could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.

Our timber harvest levels and sales may be limited due to weather conditions, timber growth cycles, restrictions on access, availability of contract loggers, and regulatory requirements associated with the protection of wildlife and water resources, as well as by other factors, including damage by fire, insect infestation, disease and natural disasters such as ice storms, wind storms, hurricanes and floods. For example, our lumber mill in Warren, Arkansas, was shut down for several weeks in the fall of 2009 as wet weather conditions caused reduced log deliveries resulting in a log inventory shortage. Changes in global climate conditions could intensify one or more of these factors. Although damage from such natural causes usually is localized, affecting only a limited percentage of our timber, there can be no assurance that any damage affecting our timberlands will be limited. Our financial results and cash flows are dependent to a significant extent on our continued ability to harvest timber at adequate levels.

On a short-term basis, we may adjust our timber harvest levels in response to market conditions. For example, in 2009 we reduced our harvest in both our Northern and Southern regions due to weak markets. We also experience seasonally lower harvest activity during the winter and early spring due to weather conditions. Longer term, our timber harvest levels will be affected by acquisitions of additional timberlands, timber deed sales, such as the Arkansas timber deed sale in September 2009, and sales of existing timberlands, such as the sales in Wisconsin and Arkansas in the third and fourth quarters of 2010. In addition to timberland acquisitions and sales, future timber harvest levels may be affected by changes in estimates of long-term sustainable yield because of silvicultural advances, natural disasters, fires and other hazards, regulatory constraints and other factors beyond our control.

We do not insure against losses of timber from any causes.

The volume and value of timber that can be harvested from our lands may be affected by natural disasters such as fire, insect infestation, disease, ice storms, wind storms, hurricanes, floods and other weather conditions and causes beyond our control. We assume substantially all risk of loss to the standing timber we own from fire and other hazards because insuring for such losses is not practicable. Consequently, a reduction in our timber inventory could adversely affect our financial results and cash flows.

Changes in demand for our real estate and delays in the timing of real estate transactions may affect our revenues and operating results.

A number of factors, including availability of credit, a slowing of residential real estate development, population shifts and changes in demographics could reduce the demand for our real estate and negatively affect our results of operations. Changes in investor interest in purchasing timberlands could reduce our ability to execute sales of non-strategic timberlands and could also negatively affect our results of operations. In addition, changes in the interpretation or enforcement of current laws, or the enactment of new laws, regarding the use and development of real estate, or changes in the political composition of federal, state and local governmental bodies could lead to new or greater costs, delays and liabilities that could materially adversely affect our real estate business, profitability or financial condition. Also, there are inherent uncertainties in the timing of real estate transactions that could adversely affect our operating results in any particular quarter. The timing of real estate sales is a function of many factors, including the general state of the economy, demand in local real estate markets, the number of properties listed for sale, the seasonal nature of sales, the plans of adjacent landowners and our expectations of future price appreciation. Delays in the completion of transactions or the termination of potential transactions may be beyond our control. These events could adversely affect our operating results.

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We may be unsuccessful in carrying out our acquisition strategy.

We have pursued, and intend to continue to pursue, acquisitions of strategic timberland properties. We compete with companies that have substantially greater financial resources than we have for timberland and other real estate acquisition opportunities. It is uncertain whether any timberland acquisitions we make will perform in accordance with our expectations. We intend to finance acquisitions through cash from operations, borrowings under our credit facility, proceeds from equity or debt offerings or proceeds from asset dispositions, or any combination thereof. The failure to identify and complete acquisitions of suitable timberland properties, our inability to finance future acquisitions on favorable terms or our inability to complete like-kind exchanges, could adversely affect our operating results and cash flows.

Our wood products are commodities that are widely available from other producers.

Because commodity products have few distinguishing properties from producer to producer, competition for these products is based primarily on price, which is determined by supply relative to demand and competition from substitute products. Prices for our products are affected by many factors outside of our control, and we have no influence over the timing and extent of price changes, which often are volatile. Our profitability with respect to these products depends, in part, on managing our costs, particularly raw material and energy costs, which represent significant components of our operating costs and can fluctuate based upon factors beyond our control.

The forest products industry is highly competitive.

The markets for our wood products are highly competitive, and companies that have substantially greater financial resources than we do compete with us in each of our lines of business. Our wood products are subject to competition from wood products manufacturers in the United States, and to a lesser extent in Canada. After years of trade disputes over Canadian lumber imports, the United States and Canada signed an agreement, which expires in 2013, establishing a system of tiered taxes and volume restrictions relating to Canadian lumber imports to the United States. Notwithstanding the signing of this agreement, there can be no assurance that it will at all times, or at any time, effectively create a fair trade environment. In January 2011, a London Court of International Arbitration tribunal found that support programs from Quebec and Ontario had violated the agreement. Downward pressure on domestic timber and lumber prices caused by Canadian imports could therefore continue or increase. In addition, our wood products manufacturing facilities are relatively capital intensive, which leads to high fixed costs and generally results in continued production as long as prices are sufficient to cover variable costs. These conditions have contributed to substantial price competition, particularly during periods of reduced demand. Some of our wood products competitors may currently be lower-cost producers than we are, and accordingly these competitors may be less adversely affected than we are by price decreases. Wood products also are subject to significant competition from a variety of substitute products, including non-wood and engineered wood products. To the extent there is a significant increase in competitive pressure from substitute products or other domestic or foreign suppliers, our business could be adversely affected.

Our businesses are affected by transportation availability and costs

Our business depends on the availability of logging contractors and providers of transportation of wood products, and is materially affected by the cost of these service providers. Therefore, an increase in the cost of fuel could negatively impact our financial results by increasing the cost associated with logging activities and transportation services, and could also result in an overall reduction in the availability of these services.

A material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities could prevent us from meeting customer demand, reduce our sales or negatively affect our results of operation and financial condition.

Any of our manufacturing facilities, or any of our machines within an otherwise operational facility, could cease operations unexpectedly due to a number of events, including: unscheduled maintenance outages, prolonged power failures, equipment

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failures, labor difficulties, disruptions in the transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, railroad tracks and tunnels, fire, ice storms, floods, windstorms, hurricanes or other catastrophes, terrorism or threats of terrorism, governmental regulations and other operational problems.

Any such downtime or facility damage could prevent us from meeting customer demand for our products and/or require us to make unplanned capital expenditures. If one of these machines or facilities were to incur significant downtime, our ability to meet our production targets and satisfy customer requirements could be impaired, resulting in lower sales and income.

Our businesses are subject to extensive environmental laws and regulations.

Our operations are subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding protection of the environment, including those relating to the protection of timberlands, endangered species, timber harvesting practices, recreation and aesthetics, protection and restoration of natural resources, air and water quality, and remedial standards for contaminated soil, sediments and groundwater. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in significant fines or penalties, as well as liabilities for remediation of contaminated sites, natural resource damages, or alleged personal injury or property damage claims.

Laws, regulations and related judicial decisions and administrative interpretations affecting our business are subject to change and new laws and regulations that may affect our business are frequently enacted. These changes may adversely affect our ability to harvest and sell timber and operate our manufacturing facilities and may adversely affect the ability of others to develop property we intend to sell for higher and better use purposes. Over time, the complexity and stringency of these laws and regulations have increased markedly and the enforcement of these laws and regulations has intensified. We believe that these laws and regulations will continue to become more restrictive and over time could adversely affect our operating results.

Regulatory restrictions on future harvesting activities may be significant. Federal, state and local laws and regulations, which are intended to protect threatened and endangered species, as well as waterways and wetlands, limit and may prevent timber harvesting, road building and other activities on our timberlands. For example, the Clean Water Act and comparable state laws, regulations and best management practices programs protect water quality. As a result, our resource management activities adjacent to rivers and streams as well as the point source discharges from our manufacturing facilities are subject to strict regulation. Most silvicultural activities are defined by regulation to be “non-point sources” and thus do not require federal permits from the Environmental Protection Agency, but rather are subject to state regulation and best management practices programs. Recent litigation, however, has challenged this silvicultural exemption under the Clean Water Act. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that our forest management activities will not be subject to increased regulation under the Clean Water Act in the future. Similarly, the threatened and endangered species restrictions apply to activities that would adversely impact a protected species or significantly degrade its habitat. A number of species on our timberlands have been and in the future may be protected under these laws. If current or future regulations or their enforcement become more restrictive, the amount of our timberlands subject to harvest restrictions could increase.

We anticipate that increasingly strict laws and regulations relating to the environment, natural resources and forestry operations, as well as increased social concern over environmental issues, may result in additional restrictions on us leading to increased costs, additional capital expenditures and reduced operating flexibility.

Our manufacturing operations are subject to stringent environmental laws, regulations and permits covering air emissions, wastewater discharge, water usage, and waste handling and disposal that govern how we operate our facilities. These laws, regulations and permits, now and in the future, may restrict our current production and limit our ability to increase production, and impose significant costs on our operations with respect to environmental compliance. It is expected that, overall, these costs will likely increase over time as environmental requirements become more stringent, and as the expectations of the communities in which we operate become more demanding.

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Certain environmental laws, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, or CERCLA, impose strict, and under certain circumstances joint and several, liability on responsible parties, including current and former owners and operators of contaminated sites, for costs of investigation and remediation of contamination. They also impose liability for related damages to natural resources. We have in the past been identified by the EPA as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA at various locations, and we are currently identified as a potentially responsible party in connection with one of our properties. Additional information regarding this matter is included in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report, and that information is incorporated herein by reference. It is possible that other facilities we own or operate, or formerly owned or operated, or timberlands we now own or acquire, could also become subject to liabilities under these laws. The cost of investigation and remediation of contaminated properties could increase operating costs and adversely affect our financial results. Although we believe we have appropriate reserves recorded for the investigation and remediation of known matters, there can be no assurance that actual expenditures will not exceed our expectations, that reserves will not be increased, or that other unknown liabilities will not be discovered in the future.

Environmental groups and interested individuals may intervene in the regulatory processes in the locations where we own timberlands and operate our wood products mills. Delays or restrictions on our operations due to the intervention of environmental groups or interested individuals could adversely affect our operating results. In addition to intervention in regulatory proceedings, interested parties may file or threaten to file lawsuits that seek to prevent us from obtaining permits, implementing capital improvements or pursuing operating plans or to require us to obtain permits before pursuing operating plans. Any lawsuit, or even a threatened lawsuit, could delay harvesting on our timberlands or impact our ability to operate or invest in our wood products mills.

Our defined benefit pension plans were underfunded at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

As a result of the steep downturn in the stock market in the fourth quarter of 2008, our defined benefit pension plans went from being overfunded as of December 31, 2007, to underfunded as of December 31, 2008 and 2009, and remain so at December 31, 2010. Our pension plan funding requirements are based in part on the performance of the assets in our pension plans, and that performance is highly correlated with stock market performance. Depending on the timing of a recovery in the stock market, we could be faced with increased funding requirements that could be substantial in future years.

We depend on external sources of capital for future growth.

Our ability to finance growth is dependent to a significant degree on external sources of capital. Our ability to access such capital on favorable terms could be hampered by a number of factors, many of which are outside of our control, including a decline in general market conditions, decreased market liquidity, a downgrade to our public debt rating, increases in interest rates, an unfavorable market perception of our growth potential, a decrease in our current or estimated future earnings or a decrease in the market price of our common stock. In addition, our ability to access additional capital may also be limited by the terms of our existing indebtedness, which, among other things, restricts our incurrence of debt and the payment of dividend distributions. Any of these factors, individually or in combination, could prevent us from being able to obtain the capital we require on terms that are acceptable to us, and the failure to obtain necessary capital could materially adversely affect our future growth.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDEBTEDNESS

Our indebtedness could materially adversely affect our ability to generate sufficient cash to make distributions to stockholders and fulfill our debt obligations, our ability to react to changes in our business and our ability to incur additional indebtedness to fund future needs.

Our debt requires interest and principal payments. As of December 31, 2010, we had long-term debt of $363.5 million. Subject to the limits contained in our debt instruments, we may be able to incur additional debt from time to time to finance working

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capital, capital expenditures, investments or acquisitions, or for other purposes. If we do so, the risks related to our indebtedness could intensify.

Our indebtedness increases the possibility that we may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay, when due, the principal of, interest on or other amounts due in respect of our indebtedness or to make distributions to our stockholders. Our indebtedness, combined with our other financial obligations and contractual commitments, could have important consequences for stockholders. For example, it could:

Changes in credit ratings issued by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations could adversely affect our cost of financing and have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.

Credit rating agencies rate our debt securities on factors that include our operating results, actions that we take, their view of the general outlook for our industry and their view of the general outlook for the economy. Actions taken by the rating agencies can include maintaining, upgrading or downgrading the current rating or placing the company on a watch list for possible future downgrading. Downgrading the credit rating of our debt securities or placing us on a watch list for possible future downgrading could limit our access to the credit markets, increase our cost of financing, and have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.

REIT AND TAX-RELATED RISKS

If we fail to remain qualified as a REIT, income from our timberlands will be subject to taxation at regular corporate rates and we will have reduced funds available for distribution to our stockholders.

Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code to our operations, including satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, stockholder ownership and other requirements, on a continuing basis. Given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given that we will remain qualified as a REIT.

In addition, the rules dealing with federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Changes to the tax laws affecting REITs, which may have retroactive application, could adversely affect our stockholders or us. We cannot predict how changes in the tax laws might affect our stockholders or us. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that new legislation, Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions will not significantly affect our ability to remain qualified as a REIT or the federal income tax consequences of such qualification.

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If in any taxable year we fail to remain qualified as a REIT,

Any such corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders, which in turn could have an adverse impact on the value of our common stock. In addition, we would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which the qualification was lost, unless we are entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions. As a result, net income and the funds available for distribution to our stockholders could be reduced for up to five years, which would have an adverse impact on the value of our common stock.

Certain of our business activities are potentially subject to a prohibited transactions tax on 100% of our net income derived from such activities, which would reduce our cash flow and impair our ability to make distributions.

REITs are generally intended to be passive entities and can thus only engage in those activities permitted by the Internal Revenue Code, which for us generally include:

Accordingly, the manufacture and sale by us of wood products, certain types of timberlands sales, and the harvest and sale of logs are conducted through Potlatch TRS because such activities generate non-qualifying REIT income and could constitute “prohibited transactions” if such activities were engaged in directly by the REIT. In general, prohibited transactions are defined by the Internal Revenue Code to be sales or other dispositions of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business.

By conducting our business in this manner, we believe we will satisfy the REIT requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and avoid the 100% tax that could be imposed if a REIT were to conduct a prohibited transaction. We may not always be successful, however, in limiting such activities to Potlatch TRS. Therefore, we could be subject to the 100% prohibited transactions tax if such instances were to occur, which would adversely affect our cash flow and impair our ability to make quarterly distributions.

Our REIT structure may limit our ability to invest in our non-REIT qualifying operations.

Our use of Potlatch TRS enables us to continue to engage in non-REIT qualifying business activities consisting primarily of our manufacturing facilities, assets used for the harvesting of timber and the sale of logs, and selected land parcels that we expect to be sold or developed for higher and better use purposes. However, under the Internal Revenue Code, no more than 25% of the value of the assets of a REIT may be represented by securities of our taxable REIT subsidiaries. This may limit our ability to make investments in our wood products manufacturing operations or in other non-REIT qualifying operations.

Our ability to fund distributions and service our indebtedness using cash generated through our taxable REIT subsidiary may be limited.

The rules with which we must comply to maintain our status as a REIT limit our ability to use dividends from Potlatch TRS for the payment of stockholder distributions and to service our indebtedness. In particular, at least 75% of our gross income for

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each taxable year as a REIT must be derived from sales of our standing timber and other types of real estate income. No more than 25% of our gross income may consist of dividends from Potlatch TRS and other non-qualifying types of income. This requirement may limit our ability to receive dividends from Potlatch TRS and may impact our ability to fund distributions to stockholders and service our indebtedness using cash flows from Potlatch TRS.

We may not be able to complete desired like-kind exchange transactions for property we sell.

We generally seek to match sales and acquisitions of properties, which allows us to use Internal Revenue Code section 1031 like-kind exchange tax-deferred treatment. The matching of sales and purchases provides us with significant tax benefits, primarily the deferral of any gain on the property sold until the ultimate disposition of the replacement property. While we may attempt to complete like-kind exchanges whenever possible, it is unlikely that we will be able to do so in all instances due to various factors, including the lack of availability of suitable replacement property on acceptable terms and the inability to complete a qualifying like-kind exchange transaction within the time frames required by the Internal Revenue Code. The inability to obtain like-kind exchange treatment would result in the payment of taxes with respect to the property sold, and a corresponding reduction in earnings and cash available for distribution to stockholders.

We may not be able to realize our deferred tax assets.

We may not have sufficient future taxable income to realize our deferred tax assets. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which our net operating losses and temporary differences are deductible as governed by the tax code. The amount of our deferred tax assets could be reduced in the near term if future taxable income does not materialize and/or management is unable to implement one or more strategies that it has identified to generate taxable income. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements contained in this report for additional information about our deferred tax assets.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR SPIN-OFF OF CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION

If the spin-off of Clearwater Paper Corporation is determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we and our stockholders who received the distribution of Clearwater Paper common stock could face significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities.

In connection with the spin-off of Clearwater Paper, we obtained a private letter ruling from the IRS that the spin-off qualifies for tax-free treatment under applicable sections of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The ruling relies on certain representations, assumptions and undertakings, including those relating to the past and future conduct of our business and the business of Clearwater Paper, and the private letter ruling would not be valid if these representations, assumptions and undertakings were incorrect. Moreover, the private letter ruling does not address all of the issues that are relevant to determining whether the spin-off qualifies for tax-free treatment. The IRS could determine that the spin-off should be treated as a taxable transaction if it determines that any of the representations, assumptions or undertakings that were included in the request for the private letter ruling were false or have been violated or if it disagrees with the conclusions that are not covered by the IRS ruling.

If the spin-off fails to qualify for tax-free treatment, we would be subject to tax as if we had sold Clearwater Paper common stock in a taxable sale for its fair market value, and our stockholders who received the distribution of Clearwater Paper common stock would be subject to tax as if they had received a taxable distribution equal to the fair market value of the Clearwater Paper common stock that was distributed to them. Furthermore, the income that we would recognize if the spin-off were determined to be taxable could cause us to fail to meet the REIT tax requirements, including the requirement that at least 75% of our gross income must be derived from sales of standing timber and other types of real estate income. In addition, certain types of actions by Clearwater Paper following the spin-off, including certain issuances or redemptions of Clearwater Paper equity securities or involvement in certain other acquisitions of Clearwater Paper securities, could jeopardize the tax-free status of the spin-off. While Clearwater Paper has agreed not to take these types of actions and to indemnify us for

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the consequences of taking these actions, we may not be able to prevent the occurrence of actions by Clearwater Paper that would cause the spin-off not to qualify for tax-free treatment.

RISKS RELATED TO OWNERSHIP OF OUR COMMON STOCK

The price of our common stock may be volatile.

The market price of our common stock may be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including those described above under “Business and Operating Risks” and the following: actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results or our competitors’ operating results, announcements by us or our competitors of capacity changes, acquisitions or strategic investments, our growth rate and our competitors’ growth rates, the financial market and general economic conditions, changes in stock market analyst recommendations regarding us, our competitors or the forest products industry generally, or lack of analyst coverage of our common stock, failure to pay cash dividends or the amount of cash dividends paid, sales of our common stock by our executive officers, directors and significant stockholders or sales of substantial amounts of common stock, and changes in accounting principles.

In addition, there has been significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of companies operating in the forest products industry that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies.

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and of Delaware law may make it difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board of directors and may discourage hostile take over attempts that some of our stockholders may consider to be beneficial.

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and of Delaware law may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control if our board of directors determines that such changes in control are not in the best interest of us and our stockholders. The provisions in our certificate or incorporation and bylaws include, among other things, the following:

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While these provisions have the effect of encouraging persons seeking to acquire control of our company to negotiate with our board of directors, they could enable the board of directors to hinder or frustrate a transaction that stockholders might believe to be in their best interests and, in that case, may prevent or discourage attempts to remove and replace incumbent directors. We are also subject to Delaware laws that could have similar effects. One of these laws prohibits us from engaging in a business combination with a significant stockholder unless specific conditions are met.

ITEM 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

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ITEM 2.

Properties

For information regarding our timberlands, see the discussion under the heading “Resource Segment” on pages 4-7 of this report. Our principal wood products manufacturing facilities at December 31, 2010, which are all owned by us, together with their respective 2010 capacities and actual production, are as follows:

ITEM 3.

Legal Proceedings

Other than the potentially material environmental proceedings described in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements included in this report, which information is incorporated herein by reference, we believe there is no pending or threatened litigation that would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, operations or liquidity.

ITEM 4. [RESERVED]

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Part II

ITEM 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our common stock trades on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, or Nasdaq, and the Chicago Stock Exchange. The quarterly high and low sales price per share of our common stock, as reported in the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions for 2010 and 2009 and by Nasdaq effective December 17, 2010, as well as regular quarterly cash distribution payments per share for 2010 and 2009, were as follows:

There were approximately 1,332 stockholders of record at January 31, 2011.

Our board of directors, in its sole discretion, will determine the actual amount of distributions to be made to stockholders based on consideration of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, our results of operations, cash flow and capital requirements, economic conditions in our industry and in the markets for our products, tax considerations, borrowing capacity, debt covenant restrictions, timber prices, harvest levels on our timberlands, market demand for timberlands, including timberland properties we have identified as potentially having a higher and better use, and future acquisitions and dispositions. Consequently, the level of distributions to our stockholders may fluctuate and any reduction in the distribution rate may adversely affect our stock price.

Reference is made to the discussion under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources,” of (i) the covenants in our bank credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes with which we must comply in order to make cash distributions and (ii) the REIT tax rules, which under certain circumstances may restrict our ability to receive dividends from Potlatch TRS, our taxable REIT subsidiary.

There are currently no authorized repurchase programs in effect under which we may repurchase shares.

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COMPANY STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE

The following graph and table show a five-year comparison of cumulative total stockholder returns for the company, the NAREIT Equity Index, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index and a group of six companies that we refer to as our Peer Group for the five years ended December 31, 2010. The total stockholder return assumes $100 invested at December 31, 2005, with quarterly reinvestment of all dividends.

ITEMS 6, 7, 7A and 8.

The information called for by Items 6, 7, 7A and 8, inclusive, of Part II of this form is contained in the following sections of this report at the pages indicated below:

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ITEM 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

ITEM 9A.

Controls and Procedures

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, our management, including our CEO and CFO, concluded that as of December 31, 2010, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.

MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management, with the participation of the CEO and CFO, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework.

Based on our assessment, management believes that, as of December 31, 2010, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report included on page 91.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the latest fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.

Other Information

None.

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Part III

ITEM 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Certain of the information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the information appearing under the headings “Corporate Governance,” “Board of Directors” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management – Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” from our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2011.

Our Corporate Conduct and Ethics Code, which is applicable to all directors, officers and employees, can be found on our website at www.potlatchcorp.com. We post any amendments to or waivers from our Corporate Conduct and Ethics Code on our website.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

Information as of February 18, 2011, and for at least the past five years concerning our executive officers is as follows:

Michael J. Covey (age 53), has served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and a director of the company, since February 2006, and has served as Chairman of the Board of the company since January 2007. Prior to February 2006, he was employed by Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., a timber REIT, for 23 years, serving as Executive Vice President from August 2001 until December 2005.

Eric J. Cremers (age 47), has served as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer since July 2007. Prior to July 2007, he was employed by Albertsons, Inc., a grocery retail company, and served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development from July 2002 through June 2006.

Terry L. Carter (age 62), has served as Controller and Treasurer since January 2009. Prior to January 2009, he served as Controller since September 1989.

William R. DeReu (age 44), has served as Vice President, Real Estate, since May 2006. Prior to May 2006, he was employed by Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., and served as Director, National Land Asset Management Services from February 2006 through April 2006. From December 2002 through February 2006, he was Senior Land Asset Manager, Lake States Region, at Plum Creek.

Lorrie D. Scott (age 56), has served as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since July 2010. Prior to July 2010, she was employed by Weyerhaeuser Realty Investors, Inc., and served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel from October, 2007 to July, 2010. From July 2001 until October 2007, she served as Senior Counsel at Weyerhaeuser Company.

Brent L. Stinnett (age 63), has served as Vice President, Resource Management, since August 2006. Prior to August 2006, he was employed by Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., and served as Vice President and General Manager of the Gulf South region for Plum Creek from May 2002 through July 2006.

Thomas J. Temple (age 54), has served as Vice President, Wood Products since January 1, 2009, and as Vice President from November 2008 to January 2009. Prior to November 2008, he was employed by Canadian Forest Products, Ltd., an integrated forest products company, and served as Vice President of International Sales and Panel Marketing from April 2004 to November 2007.

The term of office of the officers of the company expires at the annual meeting of our board, and each officer holds office until the officer’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until the earlier of the officer’s death, resignation, retirement, removal by the board or as otherwise provided in our bylaws.

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ITEM 11.

Executive Compensation

Information set forth under the headings “Report of the Executive Compensation Personnel Policies Committee” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Information regarding any person or group known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our common stock as well as the security ownership of management set forth under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference.

The information required by this item with respect to our equity compensation plans is included under the heading “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2001, and is incorporated herein by reference

ITEM 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

There are no relationships or transactions that are required to be reported.

The information required by this item regarding director independence is included under the heading “Board of Directors” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The information required by this item regarding principal accounting fees and services is included under the heading “Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm in 2010 and 2009” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission on or about April 1, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.

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Part IV

ITEM 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Our consolidated financial statements are listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on page 29 of this report.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Our financial statement schedules are listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on page 29 of this report.

EXHIBITS

Exhibits are listed in the Exhibit Index on pages 93-96 of this report.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: February 23, 2011

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on February 23, 2011, by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities indicated.

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POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules

The following documents are filed as part of this report:

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POTLATCH CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Selected Financial Data

The selected financial data for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements.

(Dollars in thousands – except per-share amounts)

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

OVERVIEW

Economic conditions remained difficult in 2010, although we saw some improvement. We generated $40.3 million of earnings from continuing operations during 2010. In our Resource segment, timber prices generally improved during the year before decreasing slightly in the fourth quarter of 2010. The harvest level of sawlogs increased 19% in 2010 over 2009 due to stronger pricing and improved demand, but remains well below our potential due to the weak U.S. housing market. Revenues of our Wood Products segment increased $57.3 million, or 26%, in 2010 over 2009, primarily due to average lumber selling prices 16% higher than the previous year combined with a 14% increase in sales volumes. Our Real Estate segment closed two large sales of non-strategic properties in the third and fourth quarters, contributing to $85.2 million of total revenues for the segment in 2010. Our improved operating results allowed us to end the year with $95.8 million of working capital and no borrowings outstanding under our bank credit facility.

FACTORS INFLUENCING OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND CASH FLOWS

The operating results of our Resource, Real Estate and Wood Products business segments have been and will continue to be influenced by a variety of factors, including the cyclical nature of the forest products industry, changes in timber prices and in harvest levels from our timberlands, competition, timberland valuations, demand for our non-strategic timberland for higher and better use purposes, the efficiency and level of capacity utilization of our wood products manufacturing operations, changes in our principal expenses such as log costs, asset dispositions or acquisitions, and other factors.

Cyclical Forest Products Markets. The operating results of our timber, real estate and wood products manufacturing operations are cyclical. Historical prices for our wood products have been volatile, and we, like other manufacturers in the forest products industry, have limited direct influence over the timing and extent of price changes for our products. Wood products pricing and demand affects timber pricing and demand. The demand for our wood products is affected by the level of new residential construction activity, commercial and industrial demand, and, to a lesser extent, home repair and remodeling activity, which are subject to fluctuations due to changes in economic conditions, interest rates, population growth, weather conditions and other factors. The profitability of our Wood Products segment depends largely on our ability to operate our facilities efficiently and at or near full capacity. Our operating results can be adversely affected if market demand does not justify operating at these levels or if our operations are inefficient or suffer significant interruption for any reason.

One of the most significant expenses of our Wood Products segment is the cost of sawlogs to supply our manufacturing facilities. The cost of logs that supply our lumber mills has at times fluctuated greatly as a result of the factors discussed above affecting the price of our timber. Selling prices of our wood products have not always increased in response to log price increases, nor have log prices always decreased in conjunction with declining wood products prices. On occasion, the results of operations of our wood products business have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected if we are unable to pass cost increases through to our customers.

The forest products industry in general and the wood products business in particular were adversely affected in 2008 through 2010 by the national decline in home building and the resulting weak demand and lower prices for wood products. As a result of these weak market conditions, we permanently closed our lumber mill in Prescott, Arkansas in May 2008, then sold the mill in November 2010, and sold our Idaho particleboard manufacturing facility’s buildings and equipment in March 2010. In addition, we were forced to temporarily halt or reduce production at many of our mills for various periods of time in 2009. We did not halt or reduce production at any of our mills in 2010 due to a lack of demand. Although we believe housing starts bottomed out in 2010 and will begin to modestly increase in 2011, we do not expect any significant improvement in housing starts until 2012.

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Fluctuating Timber Prices. Our results of operations and cash flows will be materially affected by the fluctuating nature of timber prices. A variety of factors affect prices for timber, including factors impacting demand, such as changes in wood products and pulpwood pricing and demand, which are affected by economic conditions, construction activity levels, interest rates, credit availability, population growth and weather conditions. All of these factors can vary by region and by timber type, such as sawlogs or pulpwood logs. Lumber prices increased in the first half of 2010, primarily due to companies restocking low inventory levels and wet weather in our Southern region. Prices decreased at mid-year once inventories were again in line with demand and harvest levels increased, but then rebounded slightly near the end of 2010. While the weak U.S. housing market continues, demand from Asia has increased. Although we do not sell into the Asian markets, it affects supply and demand in the markets in which we participate and will likely continue to have a positive impact on lumber and timber prices.

Timber prices are also affected by changes in timber supply at the local and national level. Our timberland ownership is currently concentrated in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota. In Arkansas and Minnesota, most timberlands are privately owned. Historically, increases in timber prices have often resulted in substantial increases in harvesting on private timberlands, including lands not previously made available for commercial timber operations, causing a short-term increase in supply that has tended to moderate price increases. Decreases in timber prices have often resulted in less harvesting activity, causing short-term decreases in supply that have tended to moderate price decreases. In Idaho, where a greater proportion of timberland is government owned, any substantial increase in timber harvesting from government-owned lands could significantly reduce timber prices, which would harm our results of operations. For more than twenty-five years, environmental concerns and other factors have limited timber sales by federal agencies, which historically had been major suppliers of timber to the United States forest products industry, particularly in the West. Any reversal of policy that substantially increases timber sales from government-owned land could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. On a local level, timber supplies can fluctuate depending upon factors such as changes in weather conditions and in the harvest strategies of local forest products industry participants, as well as occasionally high timber salvage efforts due to events such as storm damage, unusual pest infestations or fires. Other recent developments impacting supply and demand, primarily in our Northern region at this time, are the increasing demand for timber and wood products from Asia and the mountain pine beetle infestation in western Canada. Although we do not sell into the Asian markets, other forest products companies in our area and some of our customers do. Since it affects supply and demand in the markets in which we participate, the increased demand from Asia will likely continue to have a positive impact on lumber and timber prices. The pine beetle will continue to greatly diminish timber supplies out of British Columbia which will also continue to have a positive impact on demand and prices in our Northern markets.

Harvest Levels. Changes in harvest levels on our timberlands also may have a significant impact on our results of operations. Over the long term, we manage our timberlands on a sustainable yield basis to achieve a balance between timber growth and timber harvests. From time to time, however, we may choose, consistent with our environmental commitments, to harvest timber at levels above or below our estimate of sustainability for various reasons. On a short-term basis, we may adjust our timber harvest levels in response to market conditions. For example, in 2009 we originally planned to hold harvest levels at approximately 4.4 million tons, or essentially flat compared to 2008 based on weak market conditions. However, due to further weakening of the markets in 2009, we deferred harvesting approximately 0.6 million tons, or 14% of our planned harvest, and harvested 3.8 million tons. In 2010, our harvest levels increased to 4.2 million tons due to improved market conditions over 2009. Based on our current projections that take into consideration such factors as market conditions, the ages of our timber stands and recent timberland sales we expect the overall timber harvest from our lands in 2011 to be approximately 4.2 million tons, increasing to approximately 4.6 million tons annually over the next few years, subject to adjustment depending upon market conditions.

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We also experience seasonally lower harvest activity during the winter and early spring due to weather conditions. Longer term, our timber harvest levels will be affected by acquisitions of additional timberlands and sales of existing timberlands or timber deed sales. In addition to timberland acquisitions and sales, future timber harvest levels may be affected by changes in estimates of long-term sustainable yield because of silvicultural advances, natural disasters, fires and other hazards, regulatory constraints and other factors beyond our control.

Competition. The markets for our timber and wood products are highly competitive, and companies that have substantially greater financial resources than we do compete with us in each of our lines of businesses. Logs and other fiber from our timberlands, as well as our wood products, are subject to competition primarily from timberland owners and wood products manufacturers in North America.

Demand for Real Estate. A number of factors, including availability of credit, rising interest rates, a slowing of real estate development, changes in population growth patterns and changes in demographics could reduce the demand for our timberland as a real estate asset. In addition, changes in the interpretation or enforcement of current laws, or the enactment of new laws, regarding the use and development of real estate or changes in the political composition of governmental bodies could lead to new or greater costs, delays and liabilities that could materially adversely affect our real estate business. The timing of real estate sales is a function of many factors, including the general state of the economy, demand in local real estate markets, the number of properties listed for sale, the seasonal nature of sales, the plans of adjacent landowners, and our expectations of future price appreciation. Delays in the completion of transactions or the termination of potential transactions may be beyond our control. These events could adversely affect our operating results.

Interest in our timberlands for rural real estate remained fairly steady in 2010. Sales of rural real estate continued with approximately the same number of sales and at prices reasonably similar to previous years as this market did not seem to be impacted by the economic downturn. The demand for and prices of HBU properties weakened somewhat in 2010 compared to previous years, but we expect continued strength in pricing as the economy continues to improve.

Acquisitions and Dispositions. In addition to sales of timberlands as rural real estate or for HBU purposes, our business strategy also includes the disposition of non-strategic timberlands when we desire to create financial flexibility and when we believe pricing to be particularly attractive. Changes in investor interest in purchasing timberlands could reduce our ability to execute sales of non-strategic timberlands and could negatively affect our results of operations. Strong interest in our timberlands, primarily from timber investment management organizations, continued in 2010 as we completed two large sales of non-strategic timberlands in Arkansas and Wisconsin. One large sale of non-strategic timberlands in Idaho is scheduled for 2011.

As a result of our REIT conversion, we are better able to compete for acquisitions of timberlands against other entities that use tax-efficient structures. It is uncertain whether any timberland acquisitions we make will perform in accordance with our expectations. We anticipate financing acquisitions through cash from operations, borrowings under our credit facility or proceeds from equity or debt offerings. Our inability to finance future acquisitions on favorable terms or the failure of any acquisition to perform as we expect could harm our results of operations.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Our accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require management to make estimates that affect the amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities reported. The following are critical accounting matters which are both very important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and which require some of management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgments. The accounting for these matters involves forming estimates based on current facts, circumstances and

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assumptions which, in management’s judgment, could change in a manner that would materially affect management’s future estimates with respect to such matters and, accordingly, could cause our future reported financial condition and results of operations to differ materially from financial results reported based on management’s current estimates. Changes in these estimates are recorded periodically based on updated information. Our critical accounting policies are discussed below.

Timber and timberlands. Timber and timberlands are recorded at cost, net of depletion. Expenditures for reforestation, including all costs related to stand establishment, such as site preparation, costs of seeds or seedlings and tree planting, are capitalized. Expenditures for forest management, consisting of regularly recurring items necessary to the ownership and administration of our timber and timberlands, are accounted for as current operating expense. Our depletion is determined based on costs capitalized and the related current estimated recoverable timber volume. Recoverable volume does not include anticipated future growth, nor are anticipated future costs considered.

There are currently no authoritative accounting rules relating to costs to be capitalized in the timber and timberlands category. We have used relevant portions of current accounting rules, industry practices and our judgment in determining costs to be capitalized or expensed. Alternate interpretations and judgments could significantly affect the amounts capitalized. Additionally, models and observations used to estimate the current recoverable timber volume on our lands are subject to judgments that could significantly affect volume estimates.

Following are examples of factors that add to the complexity of the assumptions we make regarding capitalized or expensed costs:

Different assumptions for either the cost or volume estimates, or both, could have a significant effect upon amounts reported in our statements of operations and financial condition. Because of the number of variables involved and the interrelationship between the variables, sensitivity analysis of individual variables is not practical.

Long-lived assets. A significant portion of our total assets are invested in our timber and timberlands and our wood products manufacturing facilities. The cyclical patterns of our businesses cause cash flows to fluctuate by varying degrees from period to period. As a result, long-lived assets are a material component of our financial position with the potential for material change in valuation if assets are determined to be impaired.

Our long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, as measured by its undiscounted estimated future cash flows. We use our operational budgets to estimate future cash flows. Budgets are inherently uncertain estimates of future performance due to the fact that all inputs, including revenues, costs and capital spending, are subject to frequent change for many different reasons, including the reasons previously described above under “Factors Influencing our Results of Operations and Cash Flows.” Because of the number of variables involved, the interrelationship between the variables and the long-term nature of the

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impairment measurement, sensitivity analysis of individual variables is not practical. Budget estimates are adjusted periodically to reflect changing business conditions, and operations are reviewed, as appropriate, for impairment using the most current data available.

During the fourth quarter of 2009, we concluded that our particleboard manufacturing assets were impaired, and recorded a pre-tax asset impairment charge of $3.0 million. The fair value of the impaired assets was estimated based on expected future discounted cash flows.

Income taxes. We believe it is more likely than not that we will have sufficient future taxable income to realize our deferred tax assets. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences are deductible. In making this assessment, we consider the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities (including the impact of available carryforward periods), projected taxable income and tax planning strategies. In order to fully realize the deferred tax assets, we will need to generate future taxable income before the expiration of the deferred tax assets as specified in the Internal Revenue Code. Based on projected taxable income for Potlatch TRS, over the periods for which the deferred tax assets are deductible, as well as certain tax planning strategies that management has undertaken and expects to have the ability to undertake in the future, we believe that it is more likely than not that we will realize the benefits of these deductible differences and carryforwards, net of the existing valuation allowances at December 31, 2010. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced and management is unable to implement one or more of the tax planning strategies that it has identified. Such tax planning strategies include the transfer of income-producing timberlands from the REIT to Potlatch TRS to generate income sufficient to fund our pension and other postretirement employee benefit obligations, and thus realize our deferred tax assets.

Certain federal energy tax credits claimed during 2009 associated with our former pulp and paperboard operations that were spun off to Clearwater Paper and our Warren, Arkansas manufacturing facility have been reflected in earnings from continuing operations, as such tax attributes remain with us.

Discontinued operations. At times, transactions occur that we determine to be discontinued operations, such as our pulp-based operations that were spun off into Clearwater Paper and the permanent closure of our lumber mill in Prescott, Arkansas. These events require us to record estimates of liabilities for employee benefits and other costs at the time of the events. In making these judgments, we consider contractual obligations, legal liabilities and possible incremental costs incurred as a result of these transactions. Our estimated liabilities could differ materially from actual costs incurred, with resulting adjustments to future period earnings for any differences.

Environmental liabilities. We record accruals for estimated environmental liabilities when such contingencies are probable and reasonably estimable. These estimates reflect assumptions and judgments as to the probable nature, magnitude and timing of required investigation, remediation and monitoring activities. In making these estimates, we consider, among other things, the activities we have conducted at any particular site, information obtained through consultation with applicable regulatory authorities and third parties, and our historical experience at other sites that are judged to be comparable. We must also consider the likelihood of changes in governmental regulations, advancements in environmental technologies and changing legal standards regarding liability. Due to the numerous uncertainties and variables associated with these assumptions and judgments, and changes in governmental regulations and environmental technologies, our accruals are subject to substantial uncertainties, and our actual costs could be materially more or less than the estimated amounts.

Pension and postretirement employee benefits. The determination of pension plan expense and the requirements for funding our pension plans are based on a number of actuarial assumptions. Two critical assumptions are the discount rate applied to pension plan obligations and the expected rate of return on plan assets. For other postretirement employee benefit,

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or OPEB, obligations related to certain health care and life insurance benefits provided to qualified retired employees, critical assumptions in determining OPEB expense are the discount rate applied to benefit obligations and the assumed health care cost trend rates used in the calculation of benefit obligations.

Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements includes information on the components of pension and OPEB expense and the underlying actuarial assumptions used to calculate periodic expense for the three years ended December 31, 2010, as well as the funded status for our pension plans and OPEB obligations as of December 31, 2010 and 2009.

The discount rate used in the determination of pension benefit obligations and pension expense for 2010 was calculated using a hypothetical bond portfolio consisting of “AA” or better rating which matches the expected monthly benefit payments under the pension and OPEB plans. The portfolio consisted of approximately 50 bonds which were well-diversified over corporate industrial, corporate financial, municipal, federal, and foreign government issuers. Prior to 2010, the discount rate used in the determination of pension benefit obligations and pension expense was a weighted average benchmark rate based on high-quality fixed income investment interest rates, as well as the amount and timing of expected benefit payments. At December 31, 2010, we calculated pension obligations using a 5.65% discount rate. The discount rates used at December 31, 2009 and 2008 were 5.65% and 6.15%, respectively. To determine the expected long-term rate of return on pension assets, we employ a process that analyzes historical long-term returns for various investment categories, as measured by appropriate indices. These indices are weighted based upon the extent to which plan assets are invested in the particular categories in arriving at our determination of a composite expected return. The expected long-term rates of return on pension plan assets used for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were 8.5%, 8.5% and 9.0%, respectively.

Total periodic pension plan cost in 2010 was $2.2 million. An increase in the discount rate or the rate of expected return on plan assets, all other assumptions remaining the same, would decrease pension plan cost, and conversely, a decrease in either of these measures would increase plan cost. As an indication of the sensitivity that pension expense has to the discount rate assumption for the year ending December 31, 2011, a 25 basis point change in the discount rate would affect annual plan cost by approximately $0.1 million. A 25 basis point change in the assumption for the expected return on plan assets would affect annual plan cost by approximately $0.9 million. The actual rates of return on plan assets may vary significantly from the assumption used because of unanticipated changes in financial markets.

For our OPEB obligations, expense for 2010 was $0.1 million. The discount rate used to calculate OPEB obligations, which was determined using the same methodology we used for our pension plans, was 5.40%, 5.65% and 6.15% at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The assumed health care cost trend rate used to calculate OPEB obligations as of December 31, 2010 was 0% for our salaried and non-represented plans and a certain group of participants over age 65 in our hourly plan; 7.5% for our Arkansas participants covered by a collective bargaining agreement, grading ratably to an assumption of 5.0% in 2070; and 6.0% for a certain group of participants under age 65 in our hourly plan, grading ratably to an assumption of 5.0% in 2010.

As an indication of the sensitivity that OPEB expense has to the discount rate assumption, a 25 basis point change in the discount rate would affect OPEB expense by less than $0.1 million. A 1% change in the health care cost trend rate assumption would have affected 2010 OPEB expense by approximately $0.1 million and our OPEB obligation (liability) by approximately $0.8 million, as reported in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements. The actual rates of health care cost increases may vary significantly from the assumption used because of unanticipated changes in health care costs.

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Periodic pension and OPEB expense are included in “Cost of goods sold” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The expense is allocated to all business segments. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, liabilities are recorded for underfunded plans. The funded status of a benefit plan is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation. For underfunded plans, the estimated liability to be payable in the next twelve months is recorded as a current liability, with the remaining portion recorded as long-term. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

Clearwater Paper spin-off. On December 16, 2008, we spun off our former pulp-based manufacturing businesses consisting of our former pulp and paperboard and consumer products segments, as well as our wood products operations located in Lewiston, Idaho, into a new company, Clearwater Paper. These businesses are presented in the results of operations as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The decision to present these businesses as discontinued operations was based on the fact that we have no material continuing involvement in, nor do we have the ability to exert significant influence over, the decision-making process of these businesses. Management made critical judgments regarding the classification of certain items to include in discontinued operations, including corporate administration costs directly attributable to the discontinued operations that will not be incurred in the future, one-time spin-off transaction costs incurred during the spin-off process and adjustments to instruments associated with equity-based compensation plans in connection with the spin-off.

COMPONENTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES

Revenues. Revenues consist of sales of logs, standing timber, real estate and wood products, net of discounts, returns and allowances and any sales taxes collected. Sales taxes, when collected, are recorded as a current liability until remitted to the appropriate governmental entities and presented net within revenues.

Cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold consists of depreciation of manufacturing assets, depletion, cost basis of real estate sold and amortization, plus materials, labor and other operating expenses. Materials, labor and other operating expenses consist primarily of the cost of raw materials, including wood fiber, energy and chemicals, personnel costs, repair and maintenance expenses, and freight associated with customer shipments.

Selling, general and administrative expense. Selling, general and administrative expense primarily consists of compensation and associated costs for sales and administrative personnel, as well as depreciation and amortization on assets used in administrative functions.

Interest expense, net. Net interest expense is the interest paid on our outstanding debt, offset by interest income from any short-term investments. This category also includes amortization of debt issuance costs and the net changes in fair value of our interest rate swap derivatives and associated hedged items.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

As of December 31, 2010, our business is organized into three reporting segments: Resource, Real Estate and Wood Products. Sales or transfers between segments are recorded as intersegment revenues based on prevailing market prices. Because of the role of the Resource segment in supplying our Wood Products segment with a portion of its wood fiber needs, intersegment revenues can represent a significant portion of the Resource segment’s total revenues. Our other segments generally do not generate intersegment revenues.

In the period-to-period discussion of our results of operations below, when we discuss our consolidated revenues, contributions by each of the segments to our revenues are reported after elimination of intersegment revenues. In the “Discussion of Business Segments” sections below, each segment’s revenues are presented before elimination of intersegment revenues.

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YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009

The following table sets forth year-to-year changes in items included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.

Certain 2009 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2010 presentation.

Revenues. Revenues increased $63.3 million, or 13%, in 2010 compared to 2009, primarily due to increased revenues from the Wood Products segment and sales of non-strategic timberlands by the Real Estate segment, partially offset by decreased sales from the Resource segment. A more detailed discussion of revenues follows in “Discussion of Business Segments.”

Cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold increased $85.0 million, or 25%, in 2010 over 2009, primarily due to a higher total cost basis of real estate sold, higher logging and hauling expense from the Resource segment primarily due to increased harvest levels coupled with higher diesel fuel costs, and increased log costs and other expenses associated with increased production at our wood products manufacturing facilities.

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $8.0 million, or 17%, in 2010 from 2009, primarily due to decreased compensation and benefits-related expenses in 2010.

Environmental remediation charge. In the fourth quarter of 2010, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $4.1 million associated with estimated liabilities related to our Avery Landing site.

Asset impairment charge. In the fourth quarter of 2009, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $3.0 million associated with the impairment of our particleboard manufacturing facility. There were no asset impairment charges in 2010.

Interest expense, net. Net interest expense increased $5.9 million, or 27%, over 2009, primarily due to interest expense associated with our $150 million senior notes issued in November 2009, partially offset by the fact that we did not incur any interest expense related to our bank credit facility, as we had no outstanding borrowings during 2010.

Income tax benefit (provision). The income tax provision for 2010 was due to the pre-tax income for Potlatch TRS, a charge of $1.4 million related to deferred taxes associated with our retiree health care liabilities and a charge of $0.3 million with

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respect to built-in gain taxes attributable to the sale of REIT properties, partially offset by recognition of a tax benefit of $2.1 million from an adjustment of deferred tax liabilities. The income tax benefit for 2009 was due to the pre-tax loss for Potlatch TRS, recognition of a $6.2 million federal tax benefit with respect to electricity produced from qualified energy resources and sold to an unrelated party, and recognition of a tax benefit of $1.0 million from an adjustment to prior year state income tax returns, partially offset by $10.5 million with respect to built-in gain taxes attributable to the sale of REIT properties that were not deferred under the LKE provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Discontinued operations. Results from discontinued operations in 2010 primarily relate to the sale of the Prescott lumber mill in November 2010, which resulted in a pre-tax gain on disposal of $0.9 million, partially offset by other Prescott expenses of $0.6 million. The 2009 results included a pre-tax charge of $5.75 million for the legal settlement related to the sale of our oriented strand board, or OSB, manufacturing facilities in 2004, as well as $1.2 million of OSB-related legal expenses.

DISCUSSION OF BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Resource Segment. Revenues for the segment decreased $8.6 million, or 4%, in 2010 from 2009, primarily as a result of decreased revenues due to the $49.0 million of revenues from the timber deed sale in 2009, partially offset by an 8% increase in total sales volumes and increased average sales prices. The increase in total sales volumes was attributable to increased demand in 2010 and our planned harvest deferral in 2009, which occurred primarily in our Northern region. We harvested 4.2 million tons of wood fiber in 2010 compared to 3.8 million tons in 2009. In our Northern region, sawlog sales volumes and prices increased 21% and 14%, respectively. Northern pulpwood sales volumes and prices decreased 27% and 2%, respectively. The pulpwood market in Idaho declined during 2010 due to a region-wide reduction in demand as a result of other companies’ closures of two large pulp manufacturing facilities in the Pacific Northwest in early 2010. Our 2010 Northern pulpwood sales volumes were also affected by the sale of our Wisconsin timberlands. In our Southern region, sawlog sales volumes and prices increased 15% and 6%, respectively, in 2010 over 2009. Southern pulpwood sales prices increased 10%, while sales volumes decreased 5%. Expenses for the segment increased $11.1 million, or 7%, in 2010 over 2009, primarily due to higher logging and hauling expense primarily associated with increased harvest levels and higher diesel fuel costs, partially offset by decreased depletion due to the timber deed sale in 2009. Operating income for our Resource segment decreased $19.7 million, or 24%, in 2010 from 2009.

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Real Estate Segment. Revenues increased $19.9 million, expenses increased $38.4 million and operating income decreased $18.5 million in 2010 compared to the 2009, all primarily due to the sale of 87,827 acres of non-strategic timberlands in Wisconsin and Arkansas for $64.8 million in 2010 compared to the sale of 24,549 acres of non-strategic timberlands in Arkansas for $43.3 million in 2009. The Wisconsin timberland was purchased in 2007, so there was a higher cost basis associated with these acres than with the Arkansas timberland that we have owned for a much longer time.

Wood Products Segment. Revenues for the segment increased $57.3 million, or 26%, in 2010 over 2009, primarily due to average lumber selling prices 16% higher than the previous year combined with a 14% increase in sales volumes. Sales prices and volumes both increased as a result of slightly improved economic conditions in 2010. In addition, several of our mills ran at reduced production levels in 2009 due to market conditions and lack of demand for manufactured wood products. Expenses for the segment increased $29.7 million, or 13%, in 2010 over 2009. The increased expenses were the result of higher costs of sales associated with increased sales volumes. Also included in the segment’s 2010 results is a pre-tax loss of $1.8 million from the sale of the railroad we operated in Idaho and a negative $2.9 million unrealized mark to market adjustment related to our lumber hedge that will cash settle at various dates from February through September 2011. The Wood Products segment reported operating income of $7.1 million for 2010 compared to an operating loss of $20.5 million in 2009.

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008

The following table sets forth year-to-year changes in items included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

Revenues. Revenues increased $36.2 million, or 8%, in 2009 compared to 2008, primarily due to the sale of a timber deed in Arkansas for $49.0 million, increased external sales from the Resource segment and higher Real Estate revenues, partially offset by decreased revenues from the Wood Products segment. The increased external sales from the Resource segment in 2009 are due to sales to Clearwater Paper businesses in 2008, before the spin-off, that were eliminated as intersegment sales. In 2009, those sales are reflected as sales to external customers and are not eliminated. A more detailed discussion of revenues follows in “Discussion of Business Segments.”

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Cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold increased $8.0 million, or 2%, in 2009 over 2008, primarily due to higher costs associated with the increased sales of logs and residuals, primarily chips and shavings, to external customers. In addition, depletion expense increased in 2009 over 2008 due to the Arkansas timber deed sale. These increases to cost of goods sold were partially offset by decreased costs related to lower harvest levels, lower production levels at our wood products manufacturing facilities and cost control measures implemented by the Resource and Wood Products segments during 2009.

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $5.7 million, or 14%, in 2009 over 2008, primarily due to higher compensation-related expenses in 2009.

Environmental remediation charge. In 2009, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $0.7 million associated with estimated liabilities related to our Avery Landing site.

Asset impairment. In the fourth quarter of 2009, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $3.0 million associated with the impairment of our particleboard manufacturing facility. There were no asset impairment charges in 2008.

Interest expense, net. Net interest expense totaled $21.9 million in 2009, an increase of $1.8 million, or 9%, over 2008, primarily due to interest expense related to the $150 million principal amount of senior notes issued in November 2009, partially offset by lower amounts of borrowings outstanding during 2009 under the bank credit facility and lower interest rates associated with the bank credit facility borrowings during 2009.

Income tax benefit. The income tax benefit for 2009 was due to the pre-tax loss for Potlatch TRS, recognition of a $6.2 million federal tax benefit with respect to electricity produced from qualified energy resources and sold to an unrelated party, and recognition of a tax benefit of $1.0 million from an adjustment to prior year state income tax returns. These were partially offset by $10.5 million with respect to built-in gains taxes attributable to the sale of REIT properties that were not qualified for deferral under the LKE provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Our income tax benefit for 2008 was $25.2 million, primarily due to the pre-tax loss for Potlatch TRS.

Discontinued operations. In 2009, we recorded an after-tax loss from discontinued operations of $4.1 million, compared to a loss of $20.3 million in 2008. The 2009 results included a pre-tax charge of $5.75 million for the legal settlement related to the sale of our oriented strand board, or OSB, manufacturing facilities in 2004, as well as $1.2 million of OSB-related legal expenses. The 2008 results included pre-tax charges totaling $3.0 million related to settlements with the direct and indirect purchaser classes in the OSB antitrust lawsuit and $3.7 million of OSB-related legal expenses. Discontinued operations for both periods also included transactions associated with the Clearwater Paper businesses spun off in December 2008 and the Prescott mill closed in May 2008. The amounts recorded in 2009 for these two discontinued operations were immaterial.

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DISCUSSION OF BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Resource Segment. Revenues for the segment decreased $30.9 million, or 12%, in 2009 from 2008, primarily due to reduced fee harvest volumes as a result of our planned reduction in harvest levels, lower timber sales prices and reduced intercompany sales, partially offset by $49.0 million in revenues from the Arkansas timber deed sale in 2009. We harvested 3.8 million tons of wood fiber in 2009, which was approximately 0.6 million tons, or 14%, lower than our original planned harvest level for the year. In the Southern region, total sales volumes decreased 3% and prices for sawlogs and pulpwood decreased 10% and 11%, respectively. In the Northern region, total sales volumes decreased 19% and prices for sawlogs and pulpwood decreased 26% and 4%, respectively. Expenses for the segment decreased $36.7 million, or 19%, in 2009 from 2008, primarily due to lower logging and hauling costs associated with reduced harvest levels and cost control measures implemented in the segment, partially offset by increased fee depletion expenses related to the timber deed sale. Operating income for our Resource segment increased $5.8 million, or 8%, in 2009 over 2008, primarily due to the $41.5 million contribution to operating income from the timber deed sale, partially offset by reduced harvest volumes as a result of our harvest deferral and lower timber prices.

Real Estate Segment. Revenues for the segment increased $19.3 million, or 42%, in 2009 over 2008. We sold 24,549 acres of non-strategic timberland in Arkansas in January 2009 for $43.3 million. In 2008, we sold 42,841 acres of non-strategic timberland in Minnesota for $16.1 million. Segment expenses increased $1.8 million, or 13%, in 2009 over 2008, primarily due to a higher cost basis associated with the acres sold in Arkansas in 2009. Operating income for our Real Estate segment increased $17.4 million, or 55%, in 2009 over 2008.

Wood Products Segment. Revenues for the segment decreased $46.5 million, or 18%, in 2009 from 2008, primarily due to 13% lower lumber sales prices, partially offset by a 4% increase in sales volumes. Our lumber mill in Warren, Arkansas was shut down for several weeks in the fall of 2009 as wet weather conditions caused reduced log deliveries, resulting in a log inventory shortage. Due to insufficient demand, our Minnesota and Idaho lumber mills operated at approximately 75% of normal production for most of the first quarter of 2009 before returning to full production levels and our plywood facility operated at approximately 60% of normal production at the beginning of 2009, before returning to full production in early May 2009. Our particleboard plant was shut down for approximately three months in 2009 and operated at approximately 50% of capacity for the remainder of 2009 to better balance production with the available fiber supply and demand for particleboard. Expenses for the segment decreased $39.7 million, or 14%, in 2009 from 2008, primarily due to lower log, labor and supply

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costs, which are all associated with reduced production levels, decreased lumber shipments and cost control measures implemented during 2009. In addition, the segment recorded a $3.0 million asset impairment charge related to our Idaho particleboard manufacturing facility in 2009. The Wood Products segment reported an operating loss of $20.5 million for 2009, compared to an operating loss of $13.7 million in 2008.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

At December 31, 2010, our financial position included long-term debt of $368.5 million, including current installments on long-term debt of $5.0 million. Long-term debt at December 31, 2009 was $368.4 million. Stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2010, was $204.4 million compared to the December 31, 2009, balance of $229.8 million. Distributions to common stockholders in 2010 totaled $81.6 million. The ratio of long-term debt to stockholders’ equity was 1.8 to 1 at December 31, 2010, compared to 1.6 to 1 at December 31, 2009.

Working capital totaled $95.8 million at December 31, 2010, compared to $63.2 million at December 31, 2009. The significant changes in the components of working capital are as follows:

Scheduled payments due on long-term debt during each of the five years subsequent to December 31, 2010, are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)

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Cash Flows Summary

The following table presents information regarding our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations in 2010 totaled $126.1 million, compared to $119.9 million in 2009 and $40.0 million in 2008. In 2010, lower net earnings from continuing operations as compared to 2009 were affected by the increased basis of real estate sold in 2010 and the change in deferred taxes compared to the change in 2009. The favorable 2009 to 2008 comparison was primarily due to fewer LKE transactions in 2009, higher earnings from continuing operations and increased cash from inventory changes in 2009 compared to 2008.

Net cash used for investing activities from continuing operations was $45.5 million in 2010, $46.7 million in 2009 and $26.4 million in 2008. In 2010, we increased short-term investments by $31.7 million and used $15.0 million for capital expenditures. In 2009, we increased short-term investments by $31.8 million and used $15.7 million for capital expenditures. In 2008, we used $36.8 million for capital expenditures and $27.3 million for deposits on timberlands, partially offset by a $37.3 million decrease in short-term investments.

At December 31, 2010, our authorized capital spending budget totaled $18.8 million. Our capital spending is primarily related to reforestation expenditures, logging road construction, smaller high-return discretionary projects and routine general replacement projects for our wood products manufacturing facilities.

Net cash used for financing totaled $79.5 million in 2010, $64.7 million in 2009 and $76.1 million in 2008. Net cash used for financing in 2010 was primarily attributable to paying our regular quarterly cash distributions to stockholders, which amounted to a total of $81.6 million in 2010. Net cash used for financing in 2009 was primarily attributable to paying off the $129.1 million balance of the bank credit facility and paying our regular quarterly cash distributions to stockholders, which amounted to a total of $81.1 million in 2009, partially offset by the $147.4 million proceeds from the issuance of the senior notes. Net cash used for financing in 2008 was primarily attributable to paying our regular quarterly cash distributions to stockholders, which amounted to a total of $80.7 million in 2008 and a change in book overdrafts of $8.2 million, partially offset by an $18.8 million increase in borrowings on our bank credit facility.

Cash provided by discontinued operations totaled $3.0 million in 2010, and primarily reflects the net proceeds from the sale of the Prescott mill assets in November 2010. Cash used for discontinued operations in 2009 totaled $7.9 million, and primarily resulted from the $5.75 million OSB settlement with Ainsworth and the related legal expenses. Cash provided by discontinued operations totaled $54.3 million in 2008, and included the OSB purchaser-class settlements and related legal expenses, the spin-off of the Clearwater Paper businesses and the closure of the Prescott mill in May 2008.

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Our current secured bank credit facility, which expires on December 8, 2013, provides for a revolving line of credit of up to $250 million, including a $35 million subfacility for letters of credit and a $20 million subfacility for swing line loans. Usage under either or both subfacilities reduces availability under the revolving line of credit. Subject to certain conditions and agreement of the lenders, the bank credit facility may be increased by up to an additional $100 million. As of December 31, 2010, there were no borrowings outstanding under the revolving line of credit, and approximately $2.4 million of the letter of credit subfacility was being used to support several outstanding letters of credit. Available borrowing capacity at December 31, 2010 was $247.6 million. Pursuant to an amendment that became effective February 4, 2011, we reduced available borrowing capacity under our bank credit facility from $250 million to $150 million.

The bank credit facility is secured by a pledge of the capital stock of our subsidiaries and by 640,900 acres of our timberlands in Idaho to satisfy the minimum collateral coverage ratio, as described below. This pledge is on an equal rights of payment and level of seniority basis with the $22.5 million principal amount of 6.95% debentures due 2015 and the $48.8 million principal amount of medium-term notes due 2011 through 2022.

The agreement governing our bank credit facility contains certain covenants that limit our ability and that of our subsidiaries to create liens, merge or consolidate, dispose of assets, incur indebtedness and guarantees, repurchase or redeem capital stock and indebtedness, make certain investments or acquisitions, enter into certain transactions with affiliates or change the nature of our business. The bank credit facility also contains financial maintenance covenants establishing a minimum interest coverage ratio, a minimum collateral coverage ratio and a maximum funded indebtedness to capitalization ratio. We will be permitted to pay distributions to our stockholders under the terms of the bank credit facility so long as we remain in pro forma compliance with the financial maintenance covenants.

The table below sets forth the most restrictive covenants in the bank credit facility and our status with respect to these covenants as of December 31, 2010:

The Interest Coverage Ratio is our twelve months ended EBITDDA divided by interest expense for the same period. EBITDDA, as we define it, is earnings from continuing operations adjusted for net interest expense, provision/benefit for income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, and the basis of real estate sold.

The Collateral Coverage Ratio is the appraised value of our timberlands in Idaho pledged to secure the bank credit facility divided by our total secured debt plus our available borrowing capacity on the bank credit facility. Our secured debt consists of the $22.5 million principal amount of 6.95% debentures due 2015 and the $48.8 million principal amount of medium-term notes due 2011 through 2022.

The Funded Indebtedness to Capitalization Ratio is our total funded indebtedness divided by our total capitalization. Our funded indebtedness consists of our long-term debt, including the current installments on long-term debt, plus the total amount outstanding under the letter of credit subfacility. Our total capitalization per the bank credit facility is comprised of our funded indebtedness plus shareholder equity plus an adjustment up to $150 million to compensate for any negative accumulated other comprehensive loss included in shareholders’ equity.

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We believe that our cash, cash flows from continuing operations and available borrowings under our bank credit facility will be sufficient to fund our operations, regular stockholder distributions, capital expenditures and debt service obligations for the next twelve months. We cannot assure, however, that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that we will be in compliance with the financial covenants in our bank credit facility so that future borrowings thereunder will be available to us. Thus, our ability to fund our operations and stockholder distributions will be dependent upon our future financial performance, which will be affected by general economic, competitive and other factors, including those discussed above under the heading “Factors Influencing our Results of Operations and Cash Flows,” many of which are beyond our control.

Based on our outlook for 2011 and taking into account planned harvest activities, we expect to fund a majority of our 2011 annual cash distributions from cash on hand at December 31, 2010, and by using the cash flows from our REIT-qualifying timberland operations and revenues from sales of timberlands. The rules with which we must comply to maintain our status as a REIT limit our ability to use dividends from our wood products manufacturing business for the payment of stockholder distributions. In particular, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year as a REIT must be derived from sales of our standing timber and other types of real estate income. No more than 25% of our gross income may consist of dividends from Potlatch TRS and other non-qualifying types of income. This requirement may limit our ability to receive dividends from Potlatch TRS and may impact our ability to fund distributions to stockholders using cash flows from Potlatch TRS.

On November 3, 2009, we sold $150 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes. The notes are due on November 1, 2019, have an interest rate of 7.5% and were issued at a price equal to 98.284% of their face value. Approximately $73.0 million of the net proceeds were used to repay the outstanding balance on our bank credit facility. The remainder was invested in short-term investments and has been or will be used for general corporate purposes.

The terms of the notes limit our ability and the ability of any subsidiary guarantors to borrow money, pay dividends, redeem or repurchase capital stock, enter into sale and leaseback transactions, and create liens. With respect to the limitation on dividends and the repurchase of our capital stock, these restricted payments are permitted as follows:

FAD, as defined in the indenture governing the senior notes, is earnings from continuing operations, plus depreciation, depletion and amortization, plus basis of real estate sold, and minus capital expenditures. For purposes of this definition, capital expenditures exclude all expenditures relating to direct or indirect timberland purchases in excess of $5 million. Under this definition, our FAD for 2010 was $105.1 million and our distributions paid in 2010 were $81.6 million.

The major debt rating agencies routinely evaluate our debt and our access to capital, and our cost of borrowing can increase or decrease depending on our credit rating. In October 2010, S&P affirmed our corporate BB rating, with a stable outlook. In December 2010, Moody’s affirmed our corporate Ba1 rating, with a stable outlook.

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Our ability to fund distributions through bank borrowings is subject to our continued compliance with debt covenants, as well as the availability of borrowing capacity under our lending arrangements. If our operations do not generate sufficient cash flows and we are unable to borrow, we may be required to reduce our quarterly distributions. In addition, even if cash available for distribution from our REIT operations is sufficient on an annual basis to fund the entire distribution to stockholders, we anticipate that it may be necessary to utilize some short-term borrowing to fully fund distributions in the first half of each year as a result of lower harvest activity during winter and early spring. Significant decreases in timber prices, reduced harvests or other factors that have a material adverse effect on the cash flows from our REIT operations could result in our inability to maintain our current distribution rate.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2010. Portions of the amounts shown are reflected in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, as required by generally accepted accounting principles. See the footnotes following the table for information regarding the amounts presented and for references to relevant consolidated financial statement notes that include a detailed discussion of the item.