Owned Metolius Property Since 1918 - Erskine and Sandy Wood, Vancouver WA

[Sent to Senators Metsger, Westlund, Walker, Morse, Kruse, Johnson, Brown:]

Dear Senator Metsger,

My name is Erskine Wood and my family (the Erskine Wood (Sr.) family has owned approximately 80 acres of property on the Metolius River since 1918. Charles W. Allan and his wife, Florence, were homesteaders on the original property. Unfortunately, several years of farming in what we call the Meadow proved too lean to sustain a living. With reluctance, he decided to sell. My grandfather had the foresight to purchase this pristine parcel of land reminiscent of his youth. When he was in his teens he went by arrangement between his father, Lt. C.E.S. Wood, and Chief Joseph to spend two summers to live in Joseph’s teepee on the Colville reservation. Settling in Portland as a prominent attorney, he sought to find a retreat not unlike those youthful days in Eastern Washington. Truly, the crystal clear waters and magnificent ponderosa pine of the Metolius River Basin captured this vision.

This land has passed from Erskine Wood, Sr. to his son, Erskine B. Wood, and now onto the five adult children of Erskine B. Wood. I know that that I can speak for my brother and three sisters to say we recognize the value of such pristine land and intend keep it unspoiled and away from developers. We have often taken our children and now our grandchildren to camp on the Metolius and hike Green Ridge to see the magnificent views of the Cascades. These experiences now are open to all who visit the Metolius area. To bulldoze, log, pave, and build on parts of Green Ridge would be so contrary to this natural landscape. Yes it is desirable by many to have their own trophy homes in this small paradise. What some fail to see is the increased density, increased traffic, loss of natural areas, will destroy exactly what people are coming to see and experience.

Is the profit of a few developers, the filling of county coffers with increased taxes, worth the immense loss this development would be to the State of Oregon.

I urge you to take every action possible to prevent the proposed development in the Metolius River area and to support and pass SB 30.

Please keep us informed on your position on this bill by sending updates to our email address at erskine42@msn.com

Thank you.

Erskine Wood
Sandy Wood

P.S. Our recent move to Vancouver after 65 years an Oregon resident allowed us to save an endangered salmon spawning site, protect valuable wetlands, and restore a family home.