(Sent to Senators Metsger and Walker:)
Word has it that you may still be 'on the fence' on the issue of SB 30, which provides some protection for the Metolius Basin from over development by destination resorts.
I can't urge you more strongly to understand and SUPPORT THIS BILL. With all that the legislators see cross their desks few will offer a clearer opportunity to protect one of Oregon's pristine natural treasures.
I have been a frequent visitor to the Metolius these past 35 years. I've heard Governors, Senators, and Mayors praise this place as worthy of protection. Here is the chance. This Metolius is too fragile to support destination resorts beyond those already in close proximity. There are adequate recreation opportunities for people to visit this area. There are insufficient water resources to support extended stay destination resorts, Jefferson County is hungry for revenue and has opened the door in a bad decision earlier this year. The Metolius Basin belongs to ALL Oregonian's and not just Jefferson County.
Please vote 'Yea' on SB30 and protect an Oregon icon!
Mark Dohrmann
Portland, Oregon
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Keep Central Oregon From Becoming 'Exclusive' - Liz Rink, Bend
[Sent to Sen. Ben Westlund:]
Thank you for introducing SB 30 protecting the Metolius River. We have lived in Central Oregon for 30 years and have grave concerns about our natural resources and wild areas. How about some more National Monument protection for some of the waterways. It is sad to go hiking on trails we have used for years only to find fences and No Trespassing signs. Central Oregon is becoming exclusive by excluding the very people who have loved it for years (us) and centuries (the Indians and
wildlife). Keep up the good work, Ben.
Liz Rink
DE Rink Construction, Inc.
www.derinkconstruction.com
Thank you for introducing SB 30 protecting the Metolius River. We have lived in Central Oregon for 30 years and have grave concerns about our natural resources and wild areas. How about some more National Monument protection for some of the waterways. It is sad to go hiking on trails we have used for years only to find fences and No Trespassing signs. Central Oregon is becoming exclusive by excluding the very people who have loved it for years (us) and centuries (the Indians and
wildlife). Keep up the good work, Ben.
Liz Rink
DE Rink Construction, Inc.
www.derinkconstruction.com
Support SB 30 - Liz Rink, Bend
[Send to: Lewis Pitt w/ Warm Springs, Rep. John Dallum, Sen. Jeff Kruse, Sen. Frank Morse, Sen. Rick Metsger, Sen. Vicki Walker:]
Please support Sen. Westlund's SB to protect the Metolius River basin. We
have lived in Central Oregon for 30 years and have grave concerns about our
natural resources and wild areas.
Thank you,
Liz Rink
DE Rink Construction, Inc.
www.derinkconstruction.com
Please support Sen. Westlund's SB to protect the Metolius River basin. We
have lived in Central Oregon for 30 years and have grave concerns about our
natural resources and wild areas.
Thank you,
Liz Rink
DE Rink Construction, Inc.
www.derinkconstruction.com
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
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
Keep The Metolius A Wild And Scenic River - Mike McAvoy, Portland
[letter submitted to the Oregonian:]
Dear Editor,
Development once again threatens Oregon’s waterways. Two massive mega-resort developments – over 13,000 acres and 4000 units are being planned along one of Oregon’s most fragile and pristine wilderness areas – the Metolius River. Developers are working back room deals with politicians to push this development into the Metolius River basin which has federal recognition as a Wild and Scenic River.
Sen. Ben Westlund, D-Tumalo, has introduced Senate Bill 30 on the behalf of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, in an effort to stave off development along the Metolius, one of the West’s most beautiful river basins. The Metolius, known as a blue ribbon fishery, is a cool, clear river fed by underground springs and aquifers before heading on to Lake Billy Chinook. This gem of a river is home to numerous native fish species including the Federally protected threatened Bull Trout and is an area popular with campers, hikers, kayakers, fishermen and women, nature lovers and bird watching enthusiasts The town of Camp Sherman is as it has been since it was first established – a stopping place for those recreating in the area, a place to grab a piece of pie, find out where the fish are biting, pick up necessities for the camp trip or just walk and enjoy the tall pines.
The Metolius is one of those very special places in Oregon which makes our state so unique. Amongst the trees and the rushing river, the Metolius is as it has been for centuries, a place of beauty to be enjoyed by all.
Oregon’s scenic areas are under siege by the developers bull dozers. The people of Oregon and our elected officials need to stand up and determine if we’re going to let our wilderness be bought and paved to be used as a playground for the rich.
I support Senator Westlund in his fight to keep the Metolius River a wild and scenic river – I support SB 30 and hope others will as well.
Sincerely,
Mike McAvoy
Portland, OR
Dear Editor,
Development once again threatens Oregon’s waterways. Two massive mega-resort developments – over 13,000 acres and 4000 units are being planned along one of Oregon’s most fragile and pristine wilderness areas – the Metolius River. Developers are working back room deals with politicians to push this development into the Metolius River basin which has federal recognition as a Wild and Scenic River.
Sen. Ben Westlund, D-Tumalo, has introduced Senate Bill 30 on the behalf of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, in an effort to stave off development along the Metolius, one of the West’s most beautiful river basins. The Metolius, known as a blue ribbon fishery, is a cool, clear river fed by underground springs and aquifers before heading on to Lake Billy Chinook. This gem of a river is home to numerous native fish species including the Federally protected threatened Bull Trout and is an area popular with campers, hikers, kayakers, fishermen and women, nature lovers and bird watching enthusiasts The town of Camp Sherman is as it has been since it was first established – a stopping place for those recreating in the area, a place to grab a piece of pie, find out where the fish are biting, pick up necessities for the camp trip or just walk and enjoy the tall pines.
The Metolius is one of those very special places in Oregon which makes our state so unique. Amongst the trees and the rushing river, the Metolius is as it has been for centuries, a place of beauty to be enjoyed by all.
Oregon’s scenic areas are under siege by the developers bull dozers. The people of Oregon and our elected officials need to stand up and determine if we’re going to let our wilderness be bought and paved to be used as a playground for the rich.
I support Senator Westlund in his fight to keep the Metolius River a wild and scenic river – I support SB 30 and hope others will as well.
Sincerely,
Mike McAvoy
Portland, OR
Too Important To Compromise - Mike McAvoy, Portland
Dear Senator Westlund,
Thank you for this email response. I agree with you tremendously in that the Metolius river basin must be protected against development. I strongly encourage you to keep up the fight. I know too often in politics and in life there are compromises that need to be made. However, also in life there are things that must be fought for, things which are too important to compromise. The Metolius river is one of those things we cannot compromise. If this proposed development goes in along the Metolius river, this gem of our state will be destroyed. There is no co-existence of a natural wild and scenic river with a 10,000 acre development with 3700 homes, numerous golf courses, shops, paved roads, etc.
I urge you to keep up the fight for the Metolius. It is definitely something worth fighting for. I’ll write a letter to the editor of my local newspaper as well as the editor of the Bend Bulletin.
Sincerely,
Mike McAvoy
Portland, OR
Thank you for this email response. I agree with you tremendously in that the Metolius river basin must be protected against development. I strongly encourage you to keep up the fight. I know too often in politics and in life there are compromises that need to be made. However, also in life there are things that must be fought for, things which are too important to compromise. The Metolius river is one of those things we cannot compromise. If this proposed development goes in along the Metolius river, this gem of our state will be destroyed. There is no co-existence of a natural wild and scenic river with a 10,000 acre development with 3700 homes, numerous golf courses, shops, paved roads, etc.
I urge you to keep up the fight for the Metolius. It is definitely something worth fighting for. I’ll write a letter to the editor of my local newspaper as well as the editor of the Bend Bulletin.
Sincerely,
Mike McAvoy
Portland, OR
Native Fish Society Supports SB 30 - Tom Davis, Sisters
Senator Ben Westlund
900 Court St, NE, S318
Salem, OR 97301
Subject: Support For SB 30
Senator Westlund and Members of the Oregon Senate:
The Native Fish Society enthusiastically supports Senate Bill 30 because the aquatic health of the Metolius River depends on its watershed. Destination resorts in the watershed are incompatible with clean water, high quality spawning gravel and the world-class native fish of the Metolius.
In addition to the Metolius and it’s threatened bull trout, the tributary waters, particularly Fly Creek, are exceptionally important because of the existence of isolated populations of native Redbands, a valuable genetic resource. Based on USGS reports the deep and shallow groundwater from the Colson parcel would flow toward, and discharge into, Fly Creek and other Metolius tributaries, likely carrying contaminants such as nitrate from wastewater systems at the resorts. Such pollutants would pose a major threat to the valuable, genetic reserves of native fish.
Whychus Creek water quality will also be impacted. It is one of the primary destinations for reintroduced, native Steelhead. This is a nationally significant opportunity for re-establishing native fish in habitat that has been blocked from anadromous fish access for decades, and is the result of the Pelton – Round Butte relicensing agreements.
The sediment from soil erosion during construction, roads and other results of development at the potential destination resorts also poses a serious threat to spawning gravel and aquatic health.
Throughout our history we have usually given the benefit of any uncertainty to potential profit at the expense of precarious, natural resources such as native fish. Our decision-making usually places the burden of proof on non-market values, such as native fish. The watersheds of the Metolius including Fly Creek, and Whychus Creek, are of such high quality and value that this process deserves to be reversed. Senate Bill 30 accomplishes that and the Native Fish Society urges its passage.
Thank you for leading on this important legislation.
Tom Davis, PE (inactive)
Upper Deschutes River Steward, Native Fish Society
Sister, OR
900 Court St, NE, S318
Salem, OR 97301
Subject: Support For SB 30
Senator Westlund and Members of the Oregon Senate:
The Native Fish Society enthusiastically supports Senate Bill 30 because the aquatic health of the Metolius River depends on its watershed. Destination resorts in the watershed are incompatible with clean water, high quality spawning gravel and the world-class native fish of the Metolius.
In addition to the Metolius and it’s threatened bull trout, the tributary waters, particularly Fly Creek, are exceptionally important because of the existence of isolated populations of native Redbands, a valuable genetic resource. Based on USGS reports the deep and shallow groundwater from the Colson parcel would flow toward, and discharge into, Fly Creek and other Metolius tributaries, likely carrying contaminants such as nitrate from wastewater systems at the resorts. Such pollutants would pose a major threat to the valuable, genetic reserves of native fish.
Whychus Creek water quality will also be impacted. It is one of the primary destinations for reintroduced, native Steelhead. This is a nationally significant opportunity for re-establishing native fish in habitat that has been blocked from anadromous fish access for decades, and is the result of the Pelton – Round Butte relicensing agreements.
The sediment from soil erosion during construction, roads and other results of development at the potential destination resorts also poses a serious threat to spawning gravel and aquatic health.
Throughout our history we have usually given the benefit of any uncertainty to potential profit at the expense of precarious, natural resources such as native fish. Our decision-making usually places the burden of proof on non-market values, such as native fish. The watersheds of the Metolius including Fly Creek, and Whychus Creek, are of such high quality and value that this process deserves to be reversed. Senate Bill 30 accomplishes that and the Native Fish Society urges its passage.
Thank you for leading on this important legislation.
Tom Davis, PE (inactive)
Upper Deschutes River Steward, Native Fish Society
Sister, OR
Amenity Migration and Impacts of Large-Scale Resorts - Darcy McNamara, Bend
Senator Ben Westlund,
Thank you for taking a stand for the Metolius against destination resorts. I would like to share with you some recently published research on the topic of “amenity migration” as it relates to the Metolius and Central Oregon and I would pose the following question:
Did the decision makers in Jefferson County review the existing research on amenity migration and the impacts of large-scale resorts prior to making their decision to permit them? If not, then perhaps a time-out is in order.
“Amenity migrant" is a phase coined in the 80's by social scientists to describe people who seek to move into areas with high natural resource quality such as the Metolius. The rise in amenity migration is occurring in the West primarily due to increases available wealth, time (retirees), and availability of technologies such as Internet connectivity in previously remote areas.
The recently released textbook The Amenity Migrants, edited by Laurence Moss, documents the environmental, social and economic impacts to mountain communities resulting from the mass migration of people seeking to live in beautiful places like Santa Fe, Whistler, British Columbia and Jackson Hole. This is the first book to gather the knowledge about this movement. In the book, you learn that while amenity migration is a worldwide phenomenon, most jurisdictions are barely aware of the concept -- and are suffering because of it.
Some cities, such as Santa Fe, ignored the warnings of the impacts of amenity migration twenty years ago in their policy decisions and today are suffering the consequences. And for better or worse Bend, Oregon is being cited as a “poster child” of amenity migration on a USDA website along with Jackson Hole and Sedona. (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/nre/pdfs/amenity_migration.pdf)
A quote in The Amenity Migrants caught my eye: "Existing information about amenity migration indicates it is bringing about considerable physical change in the natural environment and human settlements of mountain areas. And the more this population grows, the greater is its likely impact."
An increase in destination resorts is a manifestation of the amenity migrants. While the focus of much of the debate surrounding the Metolius is about the environment, the social change that comes with a huge population influx of amenity migrants who will flock to the resort on a full-time or part-time basis is also an issue. The detrimental effects on society that result from a flood of amenity migrants are being documented by social scientists and researchers. These effects include:
• stress on traditional norms and behaviors resulting in turmoil and conflict in the community
• conflict between the core values of newcomers and the locals
• consumption of resources increases dramatically
• displacement of locals by price increases that are beyond their means (esp. real estate prices)
• profit by some but hardship results for many locals
• tensions rise over the expectations of migrants who will expect or demand a higher level of public services than the local jurisdictions can afford.
The study of amenity migration is an emerging field of research and the social, economic and environmental impacts of destination resorts are just beginning to be understood. A quote from another USDA website states: “Mobility and amenity-driven migration are major forces reshaping many rural areas. The more mobilized nature of employment, retirement, and lifestyles, which increasingly involve circulating through geographically extended social networks, has enormous impact on public lands and amenity landscapes.” http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/value/Amenity%20Migration%20and%20Recreational%20Homes.html.
Senator Westlund, I strongly support your efforts and encourage you to forge ahead with your plan to keep large-scale destination resorts out of the Metolius. But please do not stop there. Because the Metolius is a highly desirable area it is very vulnerable to the impacts of amenity migration. Defeating one set of resorts in the Metolius won’t save it from an uncertain future.
I urge you to form a task force to review the phenomenon of amenity migration as it effects Central Oregon so we can learn from other communities and not be the next example of failed planning in a textbook.
Sincerely,
Darcy McNamara
Bend, OR
Thank you for taking a stand for the Metolius against destination resorts. I would like to share with you some recently published research on the topic of “amenity migration” as it relates to the Metolius and Central Oregon and I would pose the following question:
Did the decision makers in Jefferson County review the existing research on amenity migration and the impacts of large-scale resorts prior to making their decision to permit them? If not, then perhaps a time-out is in order.
“Amenity migrant" is a phase coined in the 80's by social scientists to describe people who seek to move into areas with high natural resource quality such as the Metolius. The rise in amenity migration is occurring in the West primarily due to increases available wealth, time (retirees), and availability of technologies such as Internet connectivity in previously remote areas.
The recently released textbook The Amenity Migrants, edited by Laurence Moss, documents the environmental, social and economic impacts to mountain communities resulting from the mass migration of people seeking to live in beautiful places like Santa Fe, Whistler, British Columbia and Jackson Hole. This is the first book to gather the knowledge about this movement. In the book, you learn that while amenity migration is a worldwide phenomenon, most jurisdictions are barely aware of the concept -- and are suffering because of it.
Some cities, such as Santa Fe, ignored the warnings of the impacts of amenity migration twenty years ago in their policy decisions and today are suffering the consequences. And for better or worse Bend, Oregon is being cited as a “poster child” of amenity migration on a USDA website along with Jackson Hole and Sedona. (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/nre/pdfs/amenity_migration.pdf)
A quote in The Amenity Migrants caught my eye: "Existing information about amenity migration indicates it is bringing about considerable physical change in the natural environment and human settlements of mountain areas. And the more this population grows, the greater is its likely impact."
An increase in destination resorts is a manifestation of the amenity migrants. While the focus of much of the debate surrounding the Metolius is about the environment, the social change that comes with a huge population influx of amenity migrants who will flock to the resort on a full-time or part-time basis is also an issue. The detrimental effects on society that result from a flood of amenity migrants are being documented by social scientists and researchers. These effects include:
• stress on traditional norms and behaviors resulting in turmoil and conflict in the community
• conflict between the core values of newcomers and the locals
• consumption of resources increases dramatically
• displacement of locals by price increases that are beyond their means (esp. real estate prices)
• profit by some but hardship results for many locals
• tensions rise over the expectations of migrants who will expect or demand a higher level of public services than the local jurisdictions can afford.
The study of amenity migration is an emerging field of research and the social, economic and environmental impacts of destination resorts are just beginning to be understood. A quote from another USDA website states: “Mobility and amenity-driven migration are major forces reshaping many rural areas. The more mobilized nature of employment, retirement, and lifestyles, which increasingly involve circulating through geographically extended social networks, has enormous impact on public lands and amenity landscapes.” http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/value/Amenity%20Migration%20and%20Recreational%20Homes.html.
Senator Westlund, I strongly support your efforts and encourage you to forge ahead with your plan to keep large-scale destination resorts out of the Metolius. But please do not stop there. Because the Metolius is a highly desirable area it is very vulnerable to the impacts of amenity migration. Defeating one set of resorts in the Metolius won’t save it from an uncertain future.
I urge you to form a task force to review the phenomenon of amenity migration as it effects Central Oregon so we can learn from other communities and not be the next example of failed planning in a textbook.
Sincerely,
Darcy McNamara
Bend, OR
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Don't Let The Developers Win This One - Marina Martinez-Cavallo, Bend
Dear Senator Westlund,
I am writing as a community member of Central Oregon and as a workforce and career education consultant, regarding SB 30 (Metolius). I want to express my overwhelming support for your senate bill. I have never written my senator before but this matter requires urgent action.
PLEASE DO NOT COMPROMISE THIS BILL!
I moved to Central Oregon a few years ago and have been visiting it quarterly for over twenty years. I have come to learn that the Metolious River Basin is a precious diamond in this land. People actually go there to restore their sanity and to remember why they live in this beautiful state. It’s not uncommon for people to call this area “a spiritual place.”
We need this senator. People need to find peace so that they can go on and deal with the changing global workplace, leaders they can’t believe in most of the time, and now the uncertainties of the global warming threat. Over 60% of marriages end in divorce, we have children taking care of their aging parents, and jobs that come and on a regular basis. We need a place that feels good and feels like “home.” In sum, this area is rehabilitative to most of us.
Quite simply, if we don’t take care of the precious landscape we have, it won’t be able to take care of us. PLEASE DON’T LET THE DEVELOPERS WIN THIS ONE! Don’t let us become another uncaring California!
Clearly, the Metolious River watershed is at risk:
• Destination resorts consume vast quantities of water (shouldn’t we be saving?)
• Their golf courses, wastewater and pavement runoff can pollute surface and ground waters (Do we NEED more than 35 golf courses in an area this size? We have SO many ways tourists can enjoy our area)
• Thousands of more visitors will crowd the unique Metolious Wild and Scenic River (I have camped here for over 20 years; I already see the pressure from too many people. It’s getting much harder for this area to bounce back)
• Damage to the sensitive riparian areas and healthy fish habitat, not to mention wildlife like river otters will occur.
Please, Please, Please CONTINUE to be our leader on this. I so appreciate that you have stepped up to the plate. I was Shocked that a legislator did, and relieved that you and Representative Dallum did.
THANK YOU
Marina Martinez- Cavallo, M.S.
Bend, Oregon
I am writing as a community member of Central Oregon and as a workforce and career education consultant, regarding SB 30 (Metolius). I want to express my overwhelming support for your senate bill. I have never written my senator before but this matter requires urgent action.
PLEASE DO NOT COMPROMISE THIS BILL!
I moved to Central Oregon a few years ago and have been visiting it quarterly for over twenty years. I have come to learn that the Metolious River Basin is a precious diamond in this land. People actually go there to restore their sanity and to remember why they live in this beautiful state. It’s not uncommon for people to call this area “a spiritual place.”
We need this senator. People need to find peace so that they can go on and deal with the changing global workplace, leaders they can’t believe in most of the time, and now the uncertainties of the global warming threat. Over 60% of marriages end in divorce, we have children taking care of their aging parents, and jobs that come and on a regular basis. We need a place that feels good and feels like “home.” In sum, this area is rehabilitative to most of us.
Quite simply, if we don’t take care of the precious landscape we have, it won’t be able to take care of us. PLEASE DON’T LET THE DEVELOPERS WIN THIS ONE! Don’t let us become another uncaring California!
Clearly, the Metolious River watershed is at risk:
• Destination resorts consume vast quantities of water (shouldn’t we be saving?)
• Their golf courses, wastewater and pavement runoff can pollute surface and ground waters (Do we NEED more than 35 golf courses in an area this size? We have SO many ways tourists can enjoy our area)
• Thousands of more visitors will crowd the unique Metolious Wild and Scenic River (I have camped here for over 20 years; I already see the pressure from too many people. It’s getting much harder for this area to bounce back)
• Damage to the sensitive riparian areas and healthy fish habitat, not to mention wildlife like river otters will occur.
Please, Please, Please CONTINUE to be our leader on this. I so appreciate that you have stepped up to the plate. I was Shocked that a legislator did, and relieved that you and Representative Dallum did.
THANK YOU
Marina Martinez- Cavallo, M.S.
Bend, Oregon
Monday, April 2, 2007
Metolius Is Sacred - Nancy Siverson, Portland
(Sent to the Bulletin:)
We've all heard the phrase 'nothing is sacred anymore', well I'm writing to dispute this trite statement. The Metolius River in Central Oregon is sacred, and now two destination resorts are threatening the future of the Metolius River Basin.
The Friends of the Metolius, The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, residents of Camp Sherman and our fellow Oregonians have nurtured and protected this spot for decades. The history of this area is rich with mention of the magic qualities to renew the spirit, and commune with nature. The headwaters of the river, where the water seemingly springs out of the earth, was given to the peoples of Oregon in perpetuity, not to be diminished by trophy homes, golf courses, restaurants, endless contrived landscaping, and segregation for the wealthy elite at the expense of most Oregonians.
Please join me at a public hearing on April 5th at 8:15am, hearing room B capital building Salem, to support Senate Bill 30, stop this before we all lose our sacred spaces.
Nancy Siverson
Portland OR
We've all heard the phrase 'nothing is sacred anymore', well I'm writing to dispute this trite statement. The Metolius River in Central Oregon is sacred, and now two destination resorts are threatening the future of the Metolius River Basin.
The Friends of the Metolius, The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, residents of Camp Sherman and our fellow Oregonians have nurtured and protected this spot for decades. The history of this area is rich with mention of the magic qualities to renew the spirit, and commune with nature. The headwaters of the river, where the water seemingly springs out of the earth, was given to the peoples of Oregon in perpetuity, not to be diminished by trophy homes, golf courses, restaurants, endless contrived landscaping, and segregation for the wealthy elite at the expense of most Oregonians.
Please join me at a public hearing on April 5th at 8:15am, hearing room B capital building Salem, to support Senate Bill 30, stop this before we all lose our sacred spaces.
Nancy Siverson
Portland OR
