<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-09-010136
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20090217
<FILING-DATE>20090219
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20090219
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DeReu William R
<CIK>0001359857
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-32729
<FILM-NUMBER>09622827
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>509-835-1500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>601 WEST RIVERSIDE AVE.
<CITY>SPOKANE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>99201
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>POTLATCH CORP
<CIK>0001338749
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6798
<IRS-NUMBER>820156045
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>601 WEST FIRST AVENUE
<STREET2>SUITE 1600
<CITY>SPOKANE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>99201
<PHONE>(509) 835-1500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>601 WEST FIRST AVENUE
<STREET2>SUITE 1600
<CITY>SPOKANE
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>99201
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>Potlatch Holdings, Inc.
<DATE-CHANGED>20050914
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd234026.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001338749</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POTLATCH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001359857</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DeReu William R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>601 W. FIRST AVE., SUITE 1600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPOKANE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VICE PRESIDENT</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1350</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12436</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1937</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents award of restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) that may be settled only for shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis. The RSUs will vest on December 31, 2011, subject to continued employment through such date.  During the vesting period, an amount equal to the dividends that would have been paid on the RSUs had they been in the form of common stock will be converted into additional RSUs. The additional RSUs will also vest on December 31, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Pamela A. Mull, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
