"More Than Anyone Else" - Michael Graham, Portland

Dear Senator Johnson,

Perhaps more than anyone else in Salem you know the unique and precious character of the Metolius Basin. Thank you for your efforts with Senator Westlund to protect this outstanding asset from the rapacious development by landowners who have cowed Jefferson County into submission and whose only interest is in creating obscene profits for themselves and their cronies.

For the last 30 years we have seen the Metolius Basin community slowly grow and the growth has been relatively well managed and it's effects on the basin have been minimal.

The proposed development of no less than 3000 homes on on the 3500 acres of the Colson property and over 300 units on the 640 acres on the Dutch/Pacific property are simply outrageous. The destruction of wildlife habitat, the creation of colossal traffic overloading of the roads, the additional pollution created by so many new residences in the now pristine area are mind-boggling. This pristine basin would be overwhelmed and it's unique character, a precious possession of ALL THE STATE AND, INDEED, THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, would be forever lost. All for a pitiful modest inflow of tax dollars to the county.

We know you will keep working to get the others on the Senate Committee on Education and General Government to understand the harmful effects obstruction of this bill will cause and get an uncompromised bill out to the floor for a vote which I believe will pass. Thank you for your efforts!

The Metolius basin is a unique and precious asset to the state and the country...we cannot let it be destroyed by greedy, unthinking and uncaring so-called "developers".

Michael H. Graham, MD
Portland