Don't Turn Oregon Into Colorado - Trina Van Patton, Louisville, CO

To: Oregon Senators

Dear Senator __________,

I live in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Most days I drive from my suburban tract home to my job in another suburb of Denver. I am surrounded by multitudes of people, on the road, at the malls, at work. It is a crowded, noisy existence with frequent smoggy days, aggressive drivers and roadways dirty with litter and grime.

BUT, twice a year for a week or two, my family and I are among the fortunate to visit Camp Sherman. Why do we drive or fly 2,200 miles round-trip to come to Camp Sherman instead of just heading up into the mountains of Colorado? Because, up to now, Camp Sherman and the Metolius offer an experience, a feeling and a restoration of spirit that we cannot match in our crowded Colorado Mountains with their mega-resorts, casinos and thousands of people. A weekend visit to our front-range Colorado mountains goes like this: 1. bumper to bumper traffic on the roadways and highways; 2. often impossible to find a place to park at the trailheads, scenic areas and ski areas; 3. once in the National Forests, the trails, lakes and picnic areas are so crowded with people and 4-wheelers that you might as well have a picnic in your own suburban backyard for a little more privacy.

It scares me to think that you might allow this same scenario to happen to the Oregon treasure that is the Metolius Basin. You would allow an exquisite area to be ruined for some extra dollars in the county’s coffers? As I expressed in an earlier letter to you, the forests and waters of the Metolius Basin are magical and special beyond words. I know this. I have been coming to Camp Sherman every chance I can for over 40 years now. It would be all too easy to destroy the delicate balance of the Metolius basin with the proposed (and possibly future additional) destination resort development and necessary infrastructure -- and it would be completely impossible to restore the Metolius area to the way it is now, the way it has been and the the way it should always remain. If Central Oregon needs more destination resorts (questionable in itself) locate them far outside of the Metolius Basin. Maybe a land swap should be considered for the current large parcel land owners/developers?

I may not be a water expert, a forest expert, a wildlife and fish expert, a sewage expert, a fire expert, a traffic expert or a city planner, BUT I can see, hear and even smell the severe impact of large development in my current home state of Colorado. Please, you MUST NOT allow the county and the developers to sway you in this decision. Listen to the experts who have written, listen to the majority of the people. We, not only Oregonians but people from all over the world, are depending on you to make the right decision, the informed decision, the ONLY decision, and support the ORIGINAL SB 30. NOT the compromised current version of SB 30.

I have always been impressed with the way Oregon has been a guardian of its land and waters. Please keep this tradition and stewardship of your beautiful state for my children, your children, people everywhere and all generations to come.

Sincerely,
an Oregon fan forever (I hope),
Trina Van Patten

P.S. A funny story: When I was a child and we would be packing the car to make the yearly summer trip to Camp Sherman, our family dog was so determined not to be left behind that she would escape from the backyard and plant herself in the family station wagon and just wait for us to finish packing and go. She would not budge from her spot in the car. The closer we got to Camp Sherman the more excited she became. Even a dog can recognize how wonderful Camp Sherman is! So please recognize the privilege you have of living within a few hours drive of the Metolius and remember those of us that cross half a continent or more to spend a little of our time in the pristine and unspoiled woods of the Metolius Basin. Please protect it for us!