Support The ORIGINAL SB 30 - Marie Sheahan Brown, Camp Sherman

[Sent to all State Senators:]

I urge you to support the ORIGINAL version of SB 30 to Save the Metolius. This bill was submitted because, last December, Jefferson County officials decided in favor of changing forestland into giant destination resorts. In doing so, they failed to consider adequately the significant harm to one of Oregon’s and America’s ecological treasures. The bill as currently amended would put the same official body right back in the bulldozer’s seat.

The Senate Education and General Government Committee’s April 26 amendment prohibits the resorts “UNLESS the county first finds that siting destination resorts in or within three miles of the basin will not have a significant adverse impact.…”

Why didn’t Jefferson County officials investigate the ample warnings of “significant adverse impact” in the first place? Clearly, in this matter of destination resorts, the officials see increased tax revenue as the overriding value. They have already shown, by their actions, disregard for the higher values of the Metolius Basin, of which many people have written eloquently and expertly. What incentive would these same officials have to honor the intent of the amendment? I suspect the easy tax money still dangling before their eyes would blind them to the ecological facts and allure them to work the amendment’s loopholes.

Money cannot buy the 10 Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Metolius Basin recognized in its Wild and Scenic River status. Countless numbers of American citizens hold these values dear. Two giant destination resorts would surely harm the delicately balanced ecology, draining the Basin of the very values the resorts would exploit. No one has the right to do that. Money cannot buy what has been given to ALL the people by One greater.

Some of us working to Save the Metolius happen to own the relatively few parcels of private property in the Metolius Basin (the vast majority of acres being Forest Service land). We are not laboring to Save the Metolius only for ourselves. Most owners, alert to forces of harmful exploitation over the decades, have acted as caretakers of the treasure so that many people, generation after generation, from every country in the world, can visit the Metolius, rest lightly for a while, restore their spirits ~ and, we hope, do no harm.

Citizens now and future will thank you, Senator, for your principled support for the ORIGINAL version of SB 30.

Sincerely,
Marie Sheahan Brown
Camp Sherman OR