Oregonians Are Looking To You - Rebecca Wood Hardesty, Boise ID

Dear Representatives:

I am writing to urge you in the strongest possible way to pass SB 30 to protect the Metolius River Basin from resort development. Oregonians are looking to you as their elected representatives to protect this one of a kind, unique and pristine land from permanent destruction. This beautiful and calm river basin contains unmatched scenic beauty which Oregonians and people from all over the world treasure. The scenic and ecological wonder of the huge ponderosa pines, the deep pools of water filled with bull trout and other fish, the lazy logs stretching across the river, the Indian paintbrush and Mt. Jefferson looming in the background will never be the same if speeding past the river and through the forest are thousands of cars making their 35,000 daily car trips (the amount attributable to a resort of 3,500 homes), if exhaust from the human imprint muddies the beautiful blue sky, if trees are cut to build resort McMansions, if the road system and infra structure is improved to accommodate the new population boom. .. . and the list goes on. Consider the painting above with cars driving on roads through the forest. Would it be the same? Of course not. Nothing would ever be the same in the Metolius River Basin.

Please consider what is driving the resort rezone - solely private profit and limited county economic interests. Solely money. Is private profit a legitimate reason to forever give up this natural treasure? No.

Consider the legacy you as representatives of Oregonians will create by standing up and protecting one of the most beautiful places in the world. Do Oregonians care about advancing one or two developer's private profit interests? Of course not! This is not why we elected you! Do we care about protecting this treasure? Of course we do!

The passing of SB 30 will become a most honorable part of Oregon's history and a matter of legacy which future generations will admire and appreciate.

Thank you for your strong and courageous leadership.

Rebecca Biddle Wood Hardesty