Necessity To Pass SB 30 Without Compromise - Joe Kuehn, Salem

Dear Governor Kulongoski,

I hope you have an opportunity to appeal to the Legislature and the Warm Springs Tribes supporting preservation of the Metolius River Basin.

After attending the hearing and listening to all the testimony I am even more convinced of the necessity to pass SB 30 without compromise. This is my testimony which was not permitted because of time constraints.

• I've traveled on six continents to places as varied as a South America International Biosphere in Patagonia, New Zealand's Milford Track, and mountain wildernesses on remote Indian Ocean islands.
• These rare places are sanctuaries of nature protected from damaging human encroachment.
• The Metolius River Basin although more developed, is equally rare in ecological splendor.
• The location of the proposed destination resorts on the Basin's perimeter would in my opinion, do severe damage to the delicate Metolius environment.

We live in an area in which there are many special natural places. I know you consider the need to keep those environmental lands protected from exploitation. Those who propose these destination resorts have become very skillful in couching their justification by devising ways to convince us that their projects are ecologically positive when they are not.

Over four years ago I introduced my little grandson Joe to you “the next governor” after a rally on the capitol steps. I’ve hiked with him on the Metolius and hope he takes his son there to see it in a state much as it is today.

Sincerely,

Joseph W Kuehn Jr.
Salem, OR