Oregon Is A Place Of People's Dreams - Kathleen Leppert, Bend

Senators and State Leaders,

Oregon. The name evokes images of towering pines, rushing rivers and bubbling springs, peaceful meadows and powerful mountains. The natural wonders of the Oregon outdoors is what brings thousands of tourists to our beautiful state year-round and what also has made Deschutes County one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. As a local Realtor, one of the first questions I ask people is “what do you like to do?” You see one thing that I know is that people who move to Oregon come here to live close to what they like to do . . . in the outdoors. That may be mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing, caving, hiking, skiing, rollerblading, hunting, camping, fly-fishing, or just strolling through the woods taking in the peaceful sounds of nature.

Oregon is a place of people’s dreams. I grew up hearing that “Oregon is God’s country”. My family dreamed of Oregon and hoped to move here one day. My husband and I did just that in 1990 and my family soon followed.

Since arriving in Oregon we’ve seen both the natural wonders of the environment and the ugly nature of people. Greed has stripped Oregonians of so much of its heritage due to rampant over-development. My foray into the development arena is due to my strong beliefs in smart growth principles, which are, among other things, to utilize current infrastructure and redevelopment practices to preserve and protect our open spaces and wilderness areas. In the words of Aldo Leopold “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community.”

What is deeply disturbing is that it appears that if you have enough money and influence, you can rewrite Oregon’s laws and steal one of our crown jewels turning it from a Wild and Scenic protected habitat into a Disneyesque version of “Wet and Wild.”

What I’d like to ask is that each and every leader in Oregon protect the Metolius River Basin and preserve our heritage. This is what makes Oregon special and unique. Without it, people will stop dreaming of Oregon and we will no longer live in God’s country.

Kathleen Leppert, PC
Principal Broker/Owner, CSP, GRI
Leppert & Associates Realty
Website: www.kathleenleppert.com

Compelled To Write - Julia Clark, Eugene

[Sent to Rep. John Dallum, Senators Westlund, Walker, Kruse, Metsger, Morse, Kruse, Gov. Ted Kulongoski, and Mike Carrier:]

Hello,
My name is Julia Clark and I am writing in support of SB 30, which would prohibit destination resorts in the Metolius Basin. When I learned of this bill, I felt compelled to write and ask for your support in this matter.

My parents, Chapin and Dorothy Clark, owned a cabin on the Metolius River. What a beautiful, peaceful area it is! We spent so much time up at the cabin throughout the years and it would be an awful mark on the land to have resorts built on it.

Memories of hearing the wind blowing through ponderosa branches, listening to the rush of the river as I drifted off to sleep at night, savoring the multitude of wildflowers growing along the banks of the river and wading in the fresh cold water on a hot summer day are all fresh in my mind. I cannot picture resorts where we once enjoyed peaceful hikes; where often we saw few if any other hikers.

One of my father's passions was preserving and protecting rivers and waterways. He loved the Metolius Basin. Please, join me in supporting Senate Bill 30!

Respectfully yours,

Julia Clark
Eugene, OR

Necessity To Pass SB 30 Without Compromise - Joe Kuehn, Salem

Dear Governor Kulongoski,

I hope you have an opportunity to appeal to the Legislature and the Warm Springs Tribes supporting preservation of the Metolius River Basin.

After attending the hearing and listening to all the testimony I am even more convinced of the necessity to pass SB 30 without compromise. This is my testimony which was not permitted because of time constraints.

• I've traveled on six continents to places as varied as a South America International Biosphere in Patagonia, New Zealand's Milford Track, and mountain wildernesses on remote Indian Ocean islands.
• These rare places are sanctuaries of nature protected from damaging human encroachment.
• The Metolius River Basin although more developed, is equally rare in ecological splendor.
• The location of the proposed destination resorts on the Basin's perimeter would in my opinion, do severe damage to the delicate Metolius environment.

We live in an area in which there are many special natural places. I know you consider the need to keep those environmental lands protected from exploitation. Those who propose these destination resorts have become very skillful in couching their justification by devising ways to convince us that their projects are ecologically positive when they are not.

Over four years ago I introduced my little grandson Joe to you “the next governor” after a rally on the capitol steps. I’ve hiked with him on the Metolius and hope he takes his son there to see it in a state much as it is today.

Sincerely,

Joseph W Kuehn Jr.
Salem, OR

Urging Your Support - Marianne Fellner, Bend

[Sent to Senators Westlund, Morse, Metsger, Kruse, and Walker, and Reps. Whisnant, Burley, and Dallum, and Gov. Ted Kulongoski:]

I urge you to support SB30 and protect the Metolius River from the encroaching pressures of developments and destination resorts. As a unique, world-class resource, the Metolius River and it's drainage basin deserves the same protection granted to protect the Columbia River Gorge. The Metolius' natural beauty and unique ecology should not be commercialized into environmental degradation. Please support laws that protect our natural resources from rampant development and exploitation. We must maintain a buffer around our natural treasures.

Thank you,

Marianne Fellner
Bend, OR

Ban Destination Resorts within at least 3 miles of the Metolius - Karen Lillebo, Bend

To Senators Westlund, Walker, Kruse, Metsger, Morse, Rep. Dallum, Gov. Kulongoski, and Mike Carrier - Natural Resource Policy Director:)

Dear Decision-makers,

I am writing in support of SB30 to ban destination resorts from being located in or within three miles of the Metolius River Basin. The spring-fed Metolius River is a world-class resource. Reading all the federal agency reports (such as ICBEMP; Dec. 2000) describing the precarious state of fisheries throughout the entire Columbia Basin area, brings home the critical significance of the healthy populations of threatened bull trout that still exist in the Metolius River. Destination Resorts consume vast quantities of water, and their golf courses, wastewater and pavement runoff can pollute surface and ground waters.

City-scale and urban development so close to the Metolius would overwhelm the natural resources of the area. Thousands of people could live at or use the Colson Destination Resort, resulting in hundreds of additional cars driving into the Camp Sherman area. The result will be traffic jams, air pollution, over-crowded recreation sites, and damage to the fragile and unique ecology of the Metolius. Consider increasing the buffer to 10 miles to reduce impacts from any destination resorts.

Sincerely,
Karen Lillebo
Bend, Oregon

Dear Governor Ted - Nancy Siverson, Portland

Dear Governor Ted:
We've all heard the phrase 'nothing is sacred anymore,' well I'm writing to dispute that trite statement! The Metolius River is just that--sacred and one of Oregon's treasures!
The Friends of the Metolius, Warm Springs Native Americans, residents of Camp Sherman and our fellow Oregonians have nurtured and protected this spot for years. The history of this area is rich with mention of its 'special' magic qualities to renew the human spirit and 'know' nature. This is precisely why it has its designation as 'a wild and scenic river,' and is available for EVERYONE to enjoy--not just the few wealthy enough to build 'trophy' vacation homes! The owners of the Metolius 'source,' where it seemingly 'spills out of the earth,' GAVE this place to the peoples of Oregon in perpetuity! Not to be diminished by golf courses, restaurants, endless contrived landscaping, and segregation for the wealthy few at the expense of most Oregonians.
Now concerning Jefferson Counties financial crisis; didn't Ron Wyden recently get an emergency supplemental appropriations bill to fully fund reauthorization of timber payments and payments in lieu of property tax on federal forest lands? Won't this affect their financial status?
I have been a regular summer camper at the Metolius River for ten years. My first visit I had no hair and was very weak, undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. A native Oregonian suggested I visit the river to relax and let nature 'work its magic.' She had fond memories of her grandfather teaching her to fly-fish at this pristine river when she was a youngster. Well I am forever grateful to her for giving me directions to this 'sacred place' since it has been a tranquil refuge to visit each summer. I have spoken to many Oregonians who feel exactly the same and view the entire Metolius Basin as a 'gem' for all to protect and enjoy.
In closing PLEASE keep me posted on Ben Westland's senate bill 30. I do NOT think there is room for compromise, these resorts and future resorts must STOP!
Some things are sacred. Once it is gone we will ALL be the ones to suffer!

Thank you,
Nancy Siverson
Portland, OR