Lessons From California - Frances B. Hogan, Palo Alto, CA

Dear Senators [Westlund and Burdick]:

My parents leased a lot from the Forest Service on the Metolius River in 1939, and now my husband and I continue to lease it. There are four generations of family, who enjoy vacationing there. We all realize how precious the Metolius Basin is and the irreplaceable qualities depend on the effects of the ecology and the natural resources!

Senate Bill 30 was a remarkable bill to be proposed by some of your senators!! They were recognizing the need to preserve and protect the Metolius Basin. Destination Resorts in that area would harm the treasures of the Metolius! Unfortunately the committee who was in charge of sending it the Senate added an amendment, which put it back in hands of the County, who evidently would like to reap the tax benefits from developing resorts. The resorts would not protect the ecology of the basin.

The residents of Camp Sherman and the Forest Service homeowners act at stewards of the basin and caretakers of the area so that others may come and enjoy it---safe-guarding it from investors who looking for the monetary gains. Living in California we know how important it is watch out for such inroads! This project sounds like a perfect example of things that occurred in this state. Fortunately we are in an area where people are concerned about preventing any environmentally incorrect things to happen.

I can't imagine that the eco-resort that has been proposed will be able to carry out many of their goals. With houses being built on it, how would it create a low impact, environmentally oriented, vacation community. It is bound to effect the environment. This land would be better used by the Land Trust or the Nature Conservatory where people can enjoy trails and the forest.

Sincerely,
Frances B. Hogan
Palo Alto, CA